#Let these boys go crazy and kiss and kill and much more amen

[celestial-clownz]

I’m going to become a modern Socrate with you (/silly) it is really tragic how people don’t do more with them considering their character like Scott’s brand vs his personality is like the when you learn the general cutsey unicorn mermaid ( this is his brand) idea of mythos was gentrification for marketing and they can actually get really gruesome and insane (his personality) like that is the best analogy I can think of him. He is yuor angle or yuor devil. Sweet kind sassy gay man but he can and will say and do evil things to you. And Martyn on the other hand is just literally so big dog codded. He has his set people he sticks with that are his and he gets possessive. He’ll kill for them but when the time comes he’s not afraid to, as my friend rose has said, treat them as equals and have a fair fight with them. And they know this, but even after that he still holds them near and dear. And a lot of people think Martyn gets remorseful over that but he doesn’t. It never made sense to me, hes a guy who’s getting kicked and tortured around by gods yes, but he’s also out for blood.  in the same light Martyn is also a dork loser (affectionate) The thing about Scott and Martyn though is that they’re both loyal in different ways but it just works so well together too. Like I’ll never get over how Scott let Martyn kill him because he didn’t want anyone else to have his time. And then when Scott was talking about Martyns birthday party with him (important to add HE KNEW WHEN HIS BIRTHDAY ON THE ACTUAL DATE  AND NONE OF THE OTHERS DID) he was like “Scott could I please kill you it’s my birthday 🥺” he loves it. He loves it sooooo much because he’s a freak. And it was so pathetic and sad what’s wrong with him. but also Scott’s the one who’d put himself up on the chopping block for him and let Martyn kill him. That is their love. That invented love. And Scott has said he’d would even wanna pair up with him again and again in later series if he didn’t have his allies. In contrast to how flower husbands said they weren’t coming back. They are both just able to be their craziest around each other!!! But GRAAAAHHH I DONT SEE MANY PPL USE STUFF WITH IT. HELL I KNOW SCOTT AND MARTYN  ARE EVEN MORE ABNORMAL IN OTHER SMPS. I know the mcyt loves cannibalism but Yknow I’ve only seen ONE FIC where they cannibalize each other AND THAT WAS THE MOST INSANE THING IVE SEEN WITH THEM SO FAR AND ?? IT COULD BE SO MUCH MORE INSANE?? PLEASE MAKE THWM WORSE GUYS PLEASEEEEE LET ME OUT OF THE BARS OF MY ENCLOSURE IT CAN BE SO MICH WORSE THAN CANNLIBLISM

Anyways I had more to say but I’m jsut sososos not normal 

I think we should have Martyn and Scott be more insane

[mikauzoran]

Lukadrien: Zebras Can’t Change Their Stripes: Chapter Ten

Read it on AO3: Zebras Can’t Change Their Stripes: Chapter Ten

The days slowly passed and coalesced into weeks which gradually became months, and, still, nothing seemed to be happening romantically between Marinette and Adrien.

“I wish they would just get it over with already,” Luka groaned, letting his forehead thunk against the table in the pub. “It’s killing me having this hang over my head.”

Marc grimaced as he reached out and patted Luka on the shoulder. “Luc, we all love you and want to support you, but I think your dwelling on losing Marinette and Adrien to each other has reached an unhealthy level.”

“You’ve been on about it for five months now,” Jacob sighed into his Bourbon.

Josie took another shot of Tequila and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “Honestly, I don’t think you have anything to worry about when you and Adrien are already practically married.”

Luka blew out a snort. “Josie, it’s not like that between us.”

“Sure, it’s not,” she scoffed. “And I guess you and Adrien tell other people ‘I love you’ all the time too?”

Luka’s face flushed. “Those are platonic ‘I love you’s.”

“What about the handholding?” Jacob challenged, weighing in on the matter. “You didn’t hold my hand that much when we were dating, but you and Adrien are always walking around holding hands or linking pinkies.”

“It’s…platonic,” Luka insisted, trying to keep his wits about him as his friends ganged up. “Adrien is a really tactile person. Holding his hand helps him feel grounded.”

Marc cleared his throat, setting his limonade aside. “I usually stay out of this kind of thing…”

Luka deflated, knowing that all was lost if Marc were eschewing his neutrality.

“…but you and Adrien kiss each other on the cheek an awful lot for it to still be considered platonic, Luc. Adrien doesn’t interact with us like that. Maybe you should start to consider that it’s not totally platonic on his end either,” Marc gently suggested, not wanting to push too much but feeling like desperate measures were warranted after so much time had passed with Luka continually chasing his own tail.

“And what about the way you two are always snuggling and nuzzling each other?” Josie chimed in with a fresh attack (and none of Marc’s subtlety or finesse). “And the nose touches? Friends don’t touch their noses together like that.”

Luka winced, straightening up to grab his glass of water and sip at it sullenly. “I’ve told you before. Adrien was kept isolated from other people until he was thirteen, and he was raised in an abusive, affectionless home. He’s not very good at determining what’s socially acceptable, he sucks at boundaries, and he’s deplorably touch-starved. You can’t judge his feelings by his behavior according to normal societal standards.”

“Maybe not,” Marc agreed, “but we can compare Adrien’s behavior towards you with Adrien’s behavior towards others. While he is affectionate with us, it’s nowhere near as affectionate as he is with you.”

“You should ask Nino,” Jacob suggested, leaning forward to grab a slice of bread from the basket in the center of their table.

“I witnessed Adrien licking Nino’s cheek the other day when they were baking together,” Luka grumbled. “I don’t think Adrien’s affectionate behavior indicates much else besides the fact that he’s comfortable with me.”

There was a brief stretch of discontent silence filled by the mumble of the other pub patrons before Jacob spoke up again:

“But you told me a month ago that you and Adrien had started having sleepovers. That’s got to mean something, doesn’t it?”

Marc and Josie both whipped their heads around to gawk at Jacob and then Luka.

“Wait. What?” Marc choked.

“You and Adrien hooked up?!” Josie gasped.

“No-no-no!” Luka set his glass down so that he could frantically wave his hands to accompany his denial. “No. Not like that. He just—I was just—One night we were lying on his bed watching a movie, and we started to fall asleep, so I was going to get up and go to my own room, but he said to just sleep there, and…and I was so tired that I did.”

Josie arched a skeptical eyebrow. “And then what?”

Luka’s gaze dropped to the table. “And then the same thing kept happening? Though, recently, he’s been asking to sleep in my bed from the start, so…I don’t know. He likes snuggling, and he doesn’t like being alone. When we were teenagers, he used to use me as a body pillow all the time when we hung out and he spent the night. The bed sharing and the snuggling aren’t really new.”

“It’s just different now that there’s no Juleka or Rose or Capitaine to walk in on you if things start getting spicy,” Jacob snickered.

Luka reached out and smacked the bassist soundly on the arm. “It’s not like that. It would be criminal to make a move on Adrien. He trusts me.”

“Maybe we’ll all get lucky and he’ll make a move on you first,” Marc sighed, picking up his limonade and taking a long pull on the straw, lips puckering at the sweet and sour tang of the drink.

“Amen,” Josie clucked. “At any rate, you and Adrien need to sit down and have a ‘define the relationship’ conversation before you drive the rest of us nuts. This has gone on far too long, and I’m starting to consider having an intervention.”

“Josephine,” Marc warned lightly as Luka growled, “Don’t you dare. Things are still a little unstable for Adrien, and he needs to be able to feel safe in his own home. Don’t you dare tell him about my feelings and take that peace of mind away from him.”

Josie let out an enormous sigh, putting her hands up in surrender. “Luc, you’re such a martyr. It kills me.”

Jacob reached out and rested a hand on Luka’s forearm. “Honestly, I don’t think you’re giving Adrien enough credit. He’s a tough guy. I don’t think he’ll spook if he finds out how you feel.”

Luka bit his lip. “…I’m more concerned about him feeling indebted to me and pressured to try to pay me back, honestly.”

Jacob winced and gave Luka’s arm a supportive squeeze. “Yeah. Okay. That’s legit.”

“I don’t think you have to worry about him feeling obliged to return your feelings,” Josie added softly, all teasing and belligerence gone from her voice.

“I agree,” Marc seconded, putting a hand on Luka’s shoulder. “I genuinely think that Adrien is interested in you.”

Luka hung his head and shook it. “Thanks, guys, but…I just don’t know. I’m still too beat up over Marinette to put my heart out there again and risk what’s left of it getting pulverized.”

Josie opened her mouth to say something supportive, but she caught sight of a familiar blonde entering the restaurant over Luka’s right shoulder and snapped to attention, warning her friends, “Look sharp, Gents. Baby Boi incoming.”

Marc and Jacob casually withdrew their comforting hands from Luka so as not to draw suspicion, and Luka nearly vibrated in his seat from the sheer willpower it took not to turn around and stare.

Adrien entering a room always took his breath away, and Luka was afraid the raw emotion written on his face if he turned to watch would be too obvious.

“Hey guys!” Adrien greeted as he closed in on their table. “Mama-Marc…Jojo…Jacques.” He went around the table anticlockwise, giving each of their friends a set of air kisses to the sides of their cheeks.

He received a warm welcome of hugs and kisses and claps on the back in return.

When he got to Luka, Adrien sank down into the chair that had been saved for him on Luka’s side of the table and shone a brilliant smile on his roommate.

“Hey, You,” Adrien breathed, voice soft and intimate as his eyes bubbled with warmth and affection.

“Hey.” Luka internally swooned.

That smile, those eyes, and that tone of voice always did him in.

Adrien topped it all off by leaning in and placing a whisp of a kiss on Luka’s cheek, lingering for a breath and making Luka dizzy.

Luka mentally chided himself for being such a lightweight in love, but Adrien seemed to know how to effortlessly press all of Luka’s buttons.

Adrien drew back with a coy smile, holding Luka’s gaze for just a second before turning to the rest of the gang.

“Sorry I’m late. We got a last-minute order for two-hundred macarons, so things were a little crazy, and Tom needed me to stay later to clean up, since the macaron order put us behind.”

Even as Adrien’s attention was on the other three, his arm snaked around the back of Luka’s chair possessively, proving that Luka was still, at least subconsciously, on Adrien’s mind.

It was the little things like that that gave Luka a torturous glimmer of hope.

“No worries,” Marc assured with his usual golden retriever smile. “Sorry work was so hectic.”

“Yeah, you’re good. Luc already ordered for you, so it’s not like you held us up or anything,” Josie informed with a wink and a sly smile.

“No harm done,” Jacob confirmed, giving Adrien’s arm a light punch. “Sorry work sucked.”

Adrien turned back to Luka with a face glowing in gratitude. “You ordered for me? Thank you so much.”

Luka’s ears started to burn like dry leaves. “I got you the vegetable tart and Evian to drink. I hope that’s okay.”

Adrien nodded, stressing, “That’s perfect. Just what I wanted.”

He then peered curiously at Luka’s glass.

“And what are you having?”

Luka rolled his eyes in fond exasperation. “Water.”

Some days Luka thought it was sweet that Adrien cared so much about Luka having a healthier relationship with alcohol; some days Luka felt like a child being supervised.

But then Adrien smiled his most innocent smile at Luka, and Luka’s mild irritation vanished.

“I’m really proud of you, you know?” Adrien metaphorically cut the final string keeping Luka suspended over the shark tank.

Luka was a goner, completely turning to goo at Adrien’s praise.

“I’m so proud that you’re staying sober despite hanging out with those two lushes.” Adrien quirked his head at Jacob and Josie who burst into peals of slightly tipsy giggles.

Luka gave his eyes another roll. “They are enough to drive a man to drink, aren’t they?”

“Be nice, Luc,” Marc scolded even as he chuckled at Josie and Jacob’s expense.

“It’s okay,” Josie snickered. “I mean, it is true.”

Jacob shrugged good-naturedly and took another sip of his Bourbon. “So, what else did you do today besides bake macarons, Adrien?”

Adrien blew out a sigh, leaning back in his chair. “Today was kind of busy. I had business and acting classes back-to-back, and then I went for my therapy appointment before heading to the bakery for my shift.”

Josie let out a long whistle. “You really did have a jampacked day. Just thinking about it makes me tired.”

“It wasn’t so bad.” Adrien tried to reassure her. “My schedule was a lot worse as a teenager with school and modeling and all of my extracurricular activities.”

Josie groaned. “Don’t remind me. I had almost forgotten about how much I want to hit your father over the head with a clipboard.”

“I don’t know how you managed so well,” Marc confessed, grabbing a slice of bread from the basket as he slowly shook his head in wonder.

Adrien’s cheeks colored as he smiled bashfully, trying to convince them, “It really wasn’t that bad.”

“Yes, it was,” Jacob snorted.

“You’re just that amazing,” Luka whispered—perpetually in awe of Adrien—as he leaned in to press a kiss to Adrien’s cheek.

“Hm?” Adrien didn’t quite hear Luka over the cacophony of the pub and turned to ask him to repeat what he had said.

As a result, the kiss intended for Adrien’s cheek ended up on the corner of his mouth.

Luka pulled back with a start, and the two stared at one another in disbelief for a moment.

It was like the first time Adrien had kissed Luka on the cheek on his way out the door. Back then, they had both pulled back and stared for a beat before deciding that cheek kisses goodbye and hello were now something normal that they did.

A hush seemed to fall over the entire pub as Luka waited for Adrien to spring back in alarm.

Instead, Adrien’s initial surprise thawed into a content smile, and he slowly, intentionally moved forward. He pressed the softest, lightest, sweetest kiss to Luka’s lips, and it was absolute perfection.

Luka’s entire body tingled as he applied just the smallest amount of pressure back.

In truth, he wanted to dive right in and drown in Adrien, but this, now, was enough for the moment.

Adrien gradually pulled away and gave Luka another dazzling smile before turning back to the rest of the band.

“So, what did I miss? What were you guys talking about before I got here?”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” Josie interjected. “Nuh-uh. Not so fast. What was that?!”

Adrien blinked and tipped his head to the side. “What?”

Jacob let loose a short burst of laughter. “Don’t ‘what’ us. You know what. What was that?!”

Adrien looked to Luka (who was currently no help because metaphorical fireworks were going off in an epic display in his brain) and then shrugged.

“Nothing. Obviously, just an accident.”

“Pft!” Marc looked away to avoid spraying his friends with spittle as he was caught off-guard by a skeptical laugh.

“Right. An accident,” Josie scoffed.

Adrien shrugged again unflappably. “He was obviously aiming for my cheek. It’s not a big deal. It’s only a big deal if you make it a big deal, and I’m not going to.”

Josie glared at her uncooperative adopted little brother. “Right. Well. It just so happens that before you got here, we were talking about you and your very good just-a-friend Marinette.”

Adrien’s brow pinched into a miffed frown.

Josie’s lips quirked upward into a smirk as she felt she’d regained control of the situation. “How is your just-a-friend Marinette?”

Marc cast a surreptitious glance Luka’s way to ascertain whether Luka was okay with the topic of conversation, but Luka was still in a delirious daze over the kiss and didn’t seem fazed.

“Marinette’s fine, thank you,” Adrien replied cordially, stubbornly digging in his heels and refusing to let Josie win their ongoing contest of wills.

Josie’s eyebrow arched impishly. “Is she still just a friend, despite the fact that you work at her family bakery and her father wants to adopt you as heir?”

Adrien rolled his eyes, leaning in to grab a slice of bread. “Yep. She’s still just a friend. Thanks for asking.”

He took an unconcerned bite of the sliver of baguette.

“Are you sure?” Jacob chimed in with an air of amusement. “Not only does Tom have you set to take over the family business, but Marinette’s got you working modeling her designs too. Does Marinette know you two are just friends?”

“Yes,” Adrien answered emphatically. “Marinette and I are definitely on the same page about our relationship. Working for her family is just a matter of convenience. They’re friends doing me a favor because not a lot of people are comfortable hiring Adrien Agreste, and, I mean, I have to put myself through school somehow.”

Though, Adrien had often thought that he wouldn’t mind becoming a baker. He enjoyed the work, and Tom had such a passion for it that it was hard not to catch his enthusiasm. But it wasn’t like Adrien was going to tell his bandmates that because it would only give Josie and Jacob fodder with which to tease him.

“Not to split hairs over trifles, but isn’t Luka putting you through school?” Marc hummed, raising his straw to his lips.

“Et tu, Marc?” Adrien groaned at the implicit betrayal.

Marc shrugged, shooting Adrien a sheepish smile.

“I’m going to pay him back someday,” Adrien asserted. “Once I’m a famous actor…or successful business owner or something. I’m not sure which one of my degrees is going to be profitable first, but I’m going to pay him back as soon as I can.”

Jacob dropped his joking tone and rested a hand on Adrien’s arm. “Relax. We know you will.”

Further discussion on the topic was interrupted by the arrival of the meal.

 The pub wasn’t far from their flat, so, after saying goodbye to the gang, Adrien and Luka walked home hand in hand. They released their hold on each other when they reached the apartment building and had to proceed one by one up the narrow flight of stairs to the third floor.

As Luka finished locking up behind them, he bit his lip and hesitated before remarking, “…So…about that kiss…”

“Don’t worry about it,” Adrien assured as he shrugged off his coat and hung it on the coat tree next to the door. “It’s not a big deal.”

A thought hit Adrien like a bolt of lightning, and he whirled around to study Luka’s expression. “Unless I made you uncomfortable?”

“No!” Luka’s voice thundered in the quiet apartment, and he cleared his throat and lowered his volume before continuing levelly, “No, kissing is good. I wasn’t uncomfortable.”

“Good,” Adrien exhaled in relief, the sudden burst of tension gradually dissipating from his body. “I’m glad I didn’t screw anything up.”

Luka’s tone turned soft and fond. “No. You’re perfect, Perfect Fifth.”

“I don’t know about that,” Adrien chuckled, stepping in to carefully unloop the scarf from around Luka’s neck.

Luka’s cheeks flushed at the intimate gesture combined with Adrien’s proximity. He hoped Adrien might mistakenly attribute Luka’s rosy cheeks to the cold.

“Hey,” Adrien whispered.

Luka quirked an eyebrow, brain refocusing on Adrien—every blink of his eyelids, every twitch of his muscles.

Adrien licked his lips and looked up at Luka with an expression filled with raw vulnerability. “May I sleep with you tonight?”

Luka’s stomach flipped, and he had to fight to tamp down his visceral initial reaction. “O-Of course. …Why do you ask? Is something wrong?”

Battling back shame, Adrien nodded. “It’s dumb. I know I shouldn’t be upset about it, but there was this jerk at the bakery today who had a bone to pick with my father and took it out on me instead.”

Luka’s fingers curled into fists, and his teeth sank into his bottom lip. His body started to tremble as instant rage ignited within him.

Adrien took Luka’s hand and gently undid the fists one by one, a grateful smile hovering on his lips.

“Shh. I’m fine,” he promised. “Tom let the guy have a piece of his mind, and Sabine told him he wasn’t welcome at the bakery anymore, so it was fine, but—”

“—That’s not fine,” Luka hissed, pulling Adrien into a protective embrace. “It’s not.”

Adrien let himself go slack, relaxing into Luka’s arms. He’d been longing to retreat there all day, and finally being wrapped up in the safety and warmth he’d craved felt exquisite.

“Orpheus,” he breathed, surrendering himself to be cared for and fussed over.

[angelmavmurdock]

Our Little Secret: Part Two - A.R.

Word count: 2880 Summary: Lenora introduces y/n and Arvin and something seems to spark between the two of them. 

-

Arvin's POV

I got home from work at 4 which was early for working in the mines.

"Afternoon, Earskell." I nodded my head as I walked up the stairs to the porch of the house where Uncle Earskell sat on a rocking chair.

"Afternoon, boy." He nodded to me.

I walked inside and took my jacket and cap off, sitting them on the side table by the door.

"Grandma?" I called through the house.

"Kitchen!" She replied.

I walked through the house and into the kitchen where Grandma was cooking.

"Hey," I kissed her on the cheek.

"You're back early," She smiled.

"Yeah, we got off for the weekend." I said, sitting down at the table.

"That's great. You need your sleep." She stroked my hair.

I smiled weakly, "I know."

Grandma went back to cooking and I looked around with my brows furrowed.

"Where's Lenora?" I asked curiously.

Grandma sighed, "She said she'd be studying after school so I guess she's just caught up. She knows to come home by 5."

I clenched my jaw. I was very protective of Lenora. Probably too protective. I hated the fact that she wasn't home straight after school. She could be getting harassed by those god darn bullies again. The boys in that popular group of school always torment her. She does nothing wrong, Lenora is the kindest and sweetest girl out there, she wouldn't hurt a fly, but that's what those assholes like.

"She should be home straight after school, Grandma." I shook my head.

"She's nearly 18, Arvin, you have to let her become her own woman without you shadowing her."

"She's hardly a woman, Grandma. She's gettin' bullied senseless by those popular boys." I scowled.

The popular group in school never liked people like Lenora who were smart and kind and timid, that's why they prey on her. They never liked me much but after a handful of fist fights, they got the memo to stop. Anyway, I was out of school so it didn't matter.

We heard the front door open and I snapped my head around. Lenora had come in with a huge smile on her face, looking almost flushed with glee as she skipped through the house.

I stood up, "Where the hell have you been?" I asked sternly, looking down at her.

"Woah, Arv, what's wrong?" She asked, her brows furrowed.

"Did those boys hurt you? I'll kill them-"

"No! They didn't!" She smiled, holding my shoulders.

"Then where were you?"

"I met a girl who's new to town and we got to talkin'! Oh she's lovely, we're already close!" She beamed, sitting next to me at the table.

I squinted and joined her, "Who is she?"

"Her name is y/n. She's from New York, can you believe it?! And she lives up-state with her mother - who is from Ohio originally - and her father."

"She lives up-state? And she's friends with you?" I asked, raising a brow.

"Yes, Arvin. She's so nice. You'd expect her to be really mean because she's in the popular group but-"

"Nuh-uh. No way. You are not hanging out with a girl from that group." I pointed at her.

Grandma called uncle Earskell inside and sat our dinner in front of us.

"Why? She's not like the rest of them, Arv. She's really nice and we'll be hanging out a lot more so expect to see her around." She smiled.

I shook my head, "They'll be playing with you, Lenora."

"No they're not! She told me she doesn't even like them! She's just in the group because she was new and everyone was goin' crazy over the fact she was rich and from New York." She took a bite of her food.

"She don't sound like good news to me." I shook my head.

"Arvin, Lenora can be friends with whoever she wants. You should invite her over for dinner." Grandma smiled.

"Oh she'd love that!"

I rolled my eyes and continued eating, a scowl on my face.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

It was Wednesday and I was waiting outside of the high school to pick Lenora up. She didn't mention going to see her mother's grave but just in case, I came along. I waited outside, lighting a cigarette as I watched some students flee the grounds before the bell. My elbow rested outside the window, breathing in the smoke then blowing it out and breathing in fresh air.

The bell rang and not even a minute later kids were flowing out the doors. I watched them, trying to spot Lenora and any of the assholes that would follow.

I turned the radio up and kept watch, she was usually one of the first out. I was getting angsty. Where is she?

I nearly got out the car to search for her but I saw her arm in arm with a girl in a cheerleading uniform.

The cheerleader was beautiful. She had her hair tied up in a ponytail by a yellow ribbon and her skin was glowing. The cheerleading uniform was a yellow and blue cropped top, showing her midriff, and a white pleated skirt with white frilly socks and soft shoes. They were walking out together, laughing and Lenora looked really happy. I smiled briefly but I remembered...

That's the popular girl.

"Arvin!" Lenora exclaimed, waving at me.

They jogged over together, looking at me through the car window. The cheerleader seemed shy.

"This is y/n, remember I told you about her?"

I moved my eyes over to her, scanning her body from her shoes to her eyes. She blushed and gulped, looking away.

"Vaguely." I commented, blowing smoke out of my mouth.

"Well, Grandma said it was okay for her to come over for dinner so could you take us back home?" Lenora asked.

I licked my back teeth, looking at Lenora's hopeful face to y/n's awkward one.

I sighed, "Fine."

They squealed with joy and they got in the car; Lenora next to me and y/n in the backseat.

I drove off and we sat in silence, letting the music play through the radio into the car.

"So, y/n, you're here from New York?" I asked, throwing the cigarette butt out the window.

She nodded, "Yeah."

"You live up-state?"

She nodded again, "Yeah."

I looked at her through the rear-view mirror.

"You don't speak much do you?" I asked.

"Depends on who I'm talking to." She retorted.

I bit my tongue and held back a smile. She definitely wasn't the shy girl she seemed to be.

"You're accent is southern, how do you get that from living in the big city?"

"My mother is from Ohio. Not Coal Creek but she lived here her whole childhood so I just inherited her accent." She spoke but didn't look at me.

"But your daddy's from New York?"

"Yeah."

"I'm guessing you were the popular girl back in the city, huh?" I asked, looking at her through the rear view mirror.

She licked her teeth, turning her head and looking back at me.

"Yeah but I don't like it. It just happens." She shrugged.

I nodded slowly, thinking of my next question. I was just trying to catch her out. I needed her to say something nasty so I could tell Lenora never to talk to her again.

"Where about up-state are you?" I finally asked.

"Fernpark House." She said.

"Fernpark House?" I repeated, turning around to look at her in shock.

I didn't realise she was that rich.

"Arvin!" Lenora whisper-shouted at me.

I turned back around and didn't ask any more questions.

Fucking Fernpark House. The biggest house in the whole village, maybe even the whole fucking state.

I drove the girls back to the house and they leapt out the car as soon as I came to a stop.

"Careful, Lenora!" I shouted after her as she and y/n jumped up the stairs.

I shook my head and sighed, turning the car off and getting out. I walked up the stairs and nodded to Uncle Earskell again.

"Hey boy, who's that girl?" Earskell asked.

I sighed, leaning against the wooden pillar at the top of the porch stairs and bringing another cigarette out. I cupped my hand over it and lit the end, inhaling then exhaling.

"Lenora's new friend, y/n."

"y/n? That don't sound like an Ohio name."

"She's new from New York. Popular, rich, city girl. Livin' up state in Fernpark house."

"Fernpark? Damn boy, she's doin' good for herself." He chuckled.

"Yeah well, somethin's off about her. No popular kid's ever wanted to hang out with Lenora. I bet it's a set up." I shook my head, taking another breath of tobacco.

Uncle Earskell shook his head, "Just cause she a cheerleader don't mean nothin'. You gotta stop being so darn protective over Lenora."

"How can I stop when those jocks are after her?" I raised my voice.

I sighed, "Sorry, it's just frustrating I can't do nothin' about it. Now one of them is in our house?"

"That's an innocent girl, Arvin. Not a 6 feet tall hooligan wantin' to harass a young girl. Let it go."

I dropped the cigarette and squashed it with my foot, "Easier said than done."

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

We sat down for dinner at the usual time. I sat next to Uncle Earskell while Lenora and y/n sat opposite. They had a whisper fight about who would sit where and I couldn't tell if she didn't want to sit across from me or Earskell but she sat in front of me. I lifted my glass to my lips, watching her over the crystal as she sat down.

She was beautiful and looked innocent. Her skin looked soft and glowing and the smile she seemed to constantly wear was almost infectious...and I'm not a smiler.

Grandma served us food and she sat at the head of the table, next to Uncle Earskell and Lenora.

"Let's pray." She smiled before everyone dipped their head.

"Heavenly father..."

I looked up from my lap like I usually did. I wasn't religious or a prayer so I usually just stared into space. But this time, I had somethin' to look at. I looked up and y/n was sitting opposite me, eyes clearly open but kept lowered to be respectful. I watched her with my head still tilted down, looking at the way her mouth twitched side to side with awkwardness. She must have felt my gaze on her because she looked up and we caught eyes. A small smile lifted my lips and she flashed a genuine smile at me. It was our little secret.

"The power and the glory forever, amen."

We all lifted our heads and dug into the food. Grandma spoke to y/n most of the time and she gleefully complied, chatting away. Grandma clearly already loved her. I seemed to be the only one wary of her antics.

It hit 9 o'clock and I was sitting in the living room listening to the radio, a glass of whiskey in one hand and a cigarette in the other. I heard Lenora's door open and she came out with y/n who still had her uniform on and carried her backpack on one shoulder.

"Thank you so much Mrs Russel for havin' me." She smiled to Grandma as she got up to say goodbye.

"Oh please, call me Emma, and it was no trouble at all, darlin'." Grandma rubbed y/n's back.

"Are your parents outside?" Lenora asked.

"Oh no, they're not collectin' me I'll just be walkin' home." She smiled.

"Nonsense, you are not walkin' alone at this time of night with that outfit on." Grandma said.

I kept my back to everyone, prayin' Grandma didn't call on me.

"Arvin,"

I clenched my eyes shut in annoyance, knowing what she was about to ask.

"Why don't you take y/n home?"

"Oh no please, I don't wanna be no trouble-" y/n began to protest, probably knowing how much I didn't want to.

"No, come on Arvin. He'll take you no problem." Grandma smiled at me.

I sat my glass down and rubbed the cigarette out on the ash tray.

"No problem at all." I said, standing up.

"Great...thank you." She smiled.

While y/n said goodbye to everyone I grabbed my cap and jacket with my keys inside. I opened the door for her and she quietly thanked me on the way out. Lenora stood by the door and waited on us. We got into the car and it was already awkward. I turned the car on and we buckled in, waving to Lenora as I reversed out and drove away.

I turned the radio up once we got on the straight road.

"Pretty woman, walking down the street,"

I heard y/n's soft hum as she listened to the radio. I looked over at her. She had her elbow outside the car and rested her head on her hand, letting the wind fawn over her face. Some of her hairs became loose but she didn't mind. She looked gorgeous.

"Pretty woman, the kind I like to meet,"

"Do you know where you're goin'?" She asked softly, still not looking at me.

"Yeah I know the way." I said.

"No one could look as good as you."

"You like the radio?" I asked, coughing awkwardly.

She nodded with a smile, "I love music."

I smiled slightly, "Me too."

"What's your favourite song?" She asked, turning her head to look at me.

I shrugged, "Don't have one. I just listen to whatever's on the radio."

She moved more so she would be facing me.

"You don't have a favourite song?" She asked, a smile spread across her face.

"No." I smiled briefly at her then focused on the road again.

She paused for a second, looking at me.

"Hmm." She hummed, sitting normally in the seat again.

"Pretty woman, won't you pardon me,"

"Well, this is one of my favourite songs." She said.

I looked over to her, "Yeah? Why?"

"He talks about her nicely." She smiled.

I scoffed, "That's what makes you like a song? If a man talks of a woman nicely?"

"Well yes, it's important that a man talks about a woman nicely. Or else he's just a sick bastard on the highway to hell." She commented.

I scoffed a laugh which turned into a chuckle. She laughed too. Again with that somewhat dark humour you wouldn't expect a girl like her to have.

I turned up on Fernpark drive and kept driving through the wooded area. The road was real smooth, unlike everywhere else in this town. That's when you knew you were well off.

"You can just drop me here-"

"No need, I'll drop you outside your house."

"But my ma and daddy might see you and think-"

She stopped mid-way through her sentence.

I looked over to her. Her mouth was open, not saying anything like she had frozen in time.

"Your ma and daddy might see me and think what?" I prompted.

She was gonna say somethin' about my tatted clothes and my rusty car. Somethin snobby. I had her, finally.

"They might think we've been...you know..." She fiddled with her fingers.

I held back a smirk cause' I knew what she was implying. I just wanted to hear her say it.

"What?" I finally stopped the car outside her house.

"They might think we've been doin' somethin'."

I chuckled lowly, "You're gonna have to be more specific, darlin'."

She gulped and her cheeks flushed pink, "Submarine racin'!" She whispered, grabbing her bag from the floor of the car.

I raised my brows, "Submarine racin'? I doubt it. A pretty, rich girl like you wouldn't date no worker like me that's for sure, never mind submarine racin'."

She tilted her head, "I will date anyone I want to, Arvin. Even some worker like you. As long as a man treats a woman right, then that's all you can ask for ain't it?"

I smiled and nodded, "I guess so."

"But so we're clear; I wouldn't date you because you're Lenora's brother." She said proudly.

"But you find me attractive?" I smirked, licking my lips.

She stuttered, "No. I don't find you attractive, Arvin. And I would never date you, so don't try and put words in my mouth."

I held my hands up, "I wasn't gonna."

"Good."

"Good."

We sat silently, both thinking about what it would be like to date or even submarine race...

"y/n?! Is that you?!" A woman in a white silk robe shouted by the door.

"Shit. I gotta go, thank you Arvin!" She called, jumping out the car and shutting the door.

She hurried up to her mother at the blue front door and I could hear the distant questions being asked.

"Who is that?" "Lenora's brother?" "He drove you home?" "He polite? He nice?" "Fine."

Her mother waved and I waved back before driving out of the grounds and down the private road until I hit pot-hole city on the ground again.

I kept driving back home, noddin' my head to the music.

"Pretty woman, walkin' down the street..." I sang to myself the whole way home.

-

Submarine Racing: "Watching the submarine races" is a euphamism for making out (and more) in a car.

{Tags: @notanordinaryprincess95​}

[tomorrowsdrama]

Do You Like Brahms Ep 8

My Thoughts:

(side note, I finally figured out that the video player I was using to screenshot the episodes was saving them all weird and I‘m so annoyed because all my prior screenshots were weirdly squished)

Wow, Jung Kyung actually gave Song Ah good feedback and constructive advice.  Color me surprised.  As twisted and messy as she is in her personal relationships, it seems like Jung Kyung is a decent enough person when it comes to music/teaching.  Look at that, a multi-dimensional crazy second lead girl.

Gosh, the contrast between all the notes Jung Kyung wrote for Song Ah and the clean music sheets from Song Ah’s professor/”advisor” kills me.  You know, maybe if Song Ah’s professors actually tried to help her instead of insulting her all those years, she’d actually improve. 

Speaking of insults, is it a day ending in “y” if someone doesn’t insult Song Ah unprompted?

Same, girl.  I’m also tried of people constantly putting you down for no good reason.

Just two cuties being cute.

And the “let’s further isolate Joon Young and remind him that his life is not his own and people’s worth are measured purely by how good others perceive them to be” train keeps coming and running over poor miserable Joon Young. One of the very few joys he gets out of playing piano is playing with his friends but now even that is being taken away.  And it’s all because they’re not at his “level.”  He’s already a very lonely person because of his status as a world class pianist who has to constantly travel around the world to play concerts.  But now they’re further separating him from his very few friends and making it out as if it’s his fault for being too good. Talk about making him resent and become burdened by his genius even more than he already was.  I guess that saying “it’s lonely at the top” bears some truth.  The only thing is, Joon Young doesn’t want to be alone.  He’s being pushed towards the top by everyone but himself.  Even during his sabbatical he’s pressured into participating in a competition to maintain his status and income.  

 He rips off the orchestra seating arrangement because he doesn’t want her to obsess over it but she takes it the wrong way.  All the talk about different levels leads up to the two of them having their very first serious (albeit still very polite because this is still Song Ah and Joon Young we’re talking about) argument.  

Oof, he uses the word “meaningless” and you could tell it was the wrong word to use with Song Ah because of the way her face changes.  He wasn’t belittling the orchestra arrangement or by extension, Song Ah’s last place position, by calling it meaningless.  To him, it’s meaningless because he doesn’t value people based on their orchestra position (unlike everyone else in the field).  However, his point of view is different from Song Ah’s. 

And once again Joon Young is being alienated (albeit unknowingly) because of how good he is.  We know how important being a violinist is to Song Ah so it makes sense that the orchestra seating is for her.  Because no matter how hard she’s tried in the past four years, there doesn’t seem to be any sign that she’s improving or on the right path.  Being able to move up one seat would be the type of concrete validation she would be able to see to prove that the path she has chosen is the correct one.  Also, she is constantly being reminded of how subpar her violin playing is so of course she would be obsessed about moving up in the orchestra seating.

Omg Joon Young’s poor face as he lets the words sink in.  This is the last thing he wanted to hear after a day replete with people telling him who he shouldn’t spend time with because of their difference in musical talent.  The thing is, I was not upset with Song Ah for saying this.  I wish she hadn’t said it because of how much it hurt Joon Young, but I also understand why she did it.  She’s feeling insecure and unsure because (1) people constantly look down on her because she’s not “up to their level”; (2) Joon Young seems to be at a level she is unable to reach and; and (3) people have been telling her (1) and (2) non-stop.  So I get where she’s coming from and it’s really not that unreasonable to react the way she did given the circumstances.

And then you see Joon Young get upset with Song Ah for the first time and he actually expresses it.  You can tell that it catches Song Ah off-guard, too.  One, because she was too caught up in her own insecurities and feelings that she didn’t realize she was hurting Joon Young.  But also two, because Joon Young has always been amenable and went along with everything, no matter the discomfort to himself, to keep the peace.  Just like I don’t blame Song Ah for how she reacted, I don’t blame Joon Young for this either.  He’s feeling frustrated and trapped by all this talk about levels.  He just wants to be free to live however he wants and be with whoever he wants.  Song Ah is the last person he would expect to also subscribe to all this “difference in levels” nonsense.  The fact that Joon Young who always agrees to whatever people say is speaking up about how upset he is shows how important Song Ah is to him.  He likes her too much to just go along with her incorrect assessment that they can’t be together because of “difference in levels.”  To be honest, even though that confession and kiss at the end of the episode was epic (so much squealing!), I think this moment did more to move their relationship forward.  I mean, they were actually communicating with each other about their concerns instead of letting it fester within themselves!  When do you ever see a couple communicating BEFORE a big misunderstanding that could jeopardize the relationship happens in a drama?

This sums up Joon Young and it worries me to be honest.  When you live your entire life putting everyone first and just trying to please everyone, you’re going to reach a breaking point.  I just want Joon Young to be happy and live the life he wants to live!  And speaking of going for what he wants in life...

Omg he confesses to her and gives her the kiss that she deserves!  Oooh boy, I was seeing stars just like Song Ah was.  What a tender, yet searing kiss!  I love that she stumbles a bit and her hand slams on the piano keys.  I say, just let these two sweet, beautiful people make out for the rest of the drama!

[courage-in-immensity]

18 any OTH dynamic

OTH Prompt: “If I die, I’m haunting you first”

Clara Backstory: OC Dynamic

“If I die, I’m haunting you first!” Sara’s shrill voice reached Jessica’s ears over the rush of the water below them. “Do you even know how high this bridge is?”

“I couldn’t tell you in feet, I’m British,” her room-mate shrugged, grinning infuriatingly. Where the hell did the girl get her reckless nature?

“I really don’t like you sometimes, Parker,” Sara groaned, shuddering as she peered into the water against her better judgement.

“You love me,” Jessica giggled. “I’d jump with you but the boys around here might get the wrong idea if you take so long that we have to keep holding hands.”

“If I wasn’t so freaked, I’d be offended, but as it happens, you’re off the hook. That guy Alex from the diner earlier has been ogling you for ages. Why don’t you just leave me here and go for it?”

Jessica’s eyes lit up when she spotted the dark-haired flirt staring at her from a distance. “That boy is fine,” she sighed dreamily. Then she bit her lip regretfully. “Will you be okay on your own?”

“I’ll manage,” Sara muttered, the nervous tension twisting her insides in knots. “Go!”

The hustle and bustle of the bar she sat in wrenched Jessica from her musings eventually. She had wanted to be helpful but just arriving back on American soil for the first time since her college years had thrown her for a loop. Add to that the fact that her best friend was dead and she didn’t really know how to feel right now. Even the chattering of other patrons couldn’t pique her interest right now, notorious gossip though she was.

“Is this seat taken?” Jessica lifted her head reluctantly, prepared to snap at whoever dared interrupt her internal whirlwind of emotions. Instead, she felt her jaw drop.

“Alex,” she whispered. Then found her voice to speak louder over the noise around them. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“You really have to ask?” he demanded, none of that cockiness she remembered in his words. “Sara’s gone.” Struggling to breathe around the lump swelling in her throat, the British girl gestured at the empty seat beside her. “I brought my Nonna’s famous pasta recipe all the way from Europe. How lame is that?”

“It’s not lame at all,” Jessica told him. “You come from the land of the ultimate comfort food, we could all use some of that.”

“You look good, Jessie,” he said softly. “I hope it’s okay to say that. I’m way out of my element here.”

“I think we all are,” she pointed out. “Did you go to see Clay already?”

“That sister of his is acting like a gate-keeper,” Alex grimaced. “Makes you wonder how bad the spiral must be if even we feel this crappy.”

“She’s just trying to protect him,” said Jessica defensively.

“Oh that’s right, Jessica Parker can’t hear a word against Lily and James Potter,” Alex teased, sounding like the guy she remembered from college for the first time. “You’re like a loyal little puppy.”

“Shut up!” She took a swing at him, but Alex grabbed her hand before she could land a punch to his arm.

“Oh no you don’t, missy.”

“Let go of me, Alex,” Jessica demanded and it was her tone that made him drop her hand. He was used to annoyance and exasperation from the British girl; this sadness was new. But then, what else could there be but misery under the circumstances?

“Sorry,” he sighed. “You know I don’t mean to bug you, it just kind of happens.”

“Life happens,” Jessica pointed out quietly. “And sometimes it royally sucks.”

“Amen,” Alex agreed, raising his beer in her direction.

“You’re not even offering to buy me a drink with that smug grin?” Jessica marveled. “I guess times really have changed.”

“I can take a hint, Parker,” he said stiffly. “I’m here for my best friend, chasing you was never my intention.”

“And my best friend is dead,” Jessica breathed, the words barely audible since they didn’t feel remotely real to even say out loud. “You know, all I can think right now is how she promised to haunt me if that bridge jump that we did in college had killed her? How ridiculous is that?”

“I don’t think it’s ridiculous at all,” Alex told her softly. “Man, that was a crazy day, huh?”

“Wild,” she agreed. “Did you know that even after things ended between us, Clay and Sara were the reason I believed in soulmates?” Jessica took a deep breath, the threat of tears was way too real right now. “This isn’t fair!” With an involuntary squeak of suppressed emotion, the girl covered her eyes. “Oh God, I promised myself I wasn’t going to lose it. I came here to be useful, damn it!”

“You’re plenty useful, Jessie.” She felt Alex put his arm around her, not trusting herself to look up yet.

“You’ve gone soft, Walker,” she mumbled, attempting to joke but the pain was still too close to the surface. “I’m uh…I’m sorry about this.”

“I’m not,” he said truthfully. “It’s nice to have something feel so familiar when the idea of Sara being gone is so damn surreal. Don’t you think so?”

“I…I hadn’t really thought about it like that,” Jessica stammered. She finally lifted her head and immediately wished she hadn’t. Alex’s dark eyes were full of more warmth and understanding than she had ever known him to possess in college. “This feels so bizarre.”

“By this do you mean us?” Alex asked, gesturing between them, and she nodded mutely. “It doesn’t need to, you know. We’re both here for the same reason, nothing else really matters right now.”

“I suppose you’re right.”

“Could you say that again? I don’t think I heard you right.” Just like that the teasing smirk was back and Jessica rolled her eyes at him half-heartedly.

“Would it kill you to be sincere for more than five minutes, Alex?” she mused in exasperation. “You are so frustrating!”

“You love me,” he said jokingly, if for no other reason than to get her out of her own tornado of feelings. What he wasn’t expecting was a shaky nod.

“God knows why, but I actually do,” Jessica sighed, wiping her eyes subtly. “I missed you, Alex. I just hate that it took Sara freaking dying to get us back on the same page. I wish things were different. I mean just thinking about that poor little baby is breaking my heart.”

“It’s a good heart you’ve got there, Parker,” he said, throwing caution to the wind to give her a one-armed hug. “For the record, I missed you too.” He cautiously pressed a kiss to her cheek and rather than the instinctive urge to flinch, the fleeting touch felt like a safe haven. “We’ll get through this, okay? I promise!”

“Do you still want to buy me a drink?” she asked with a shaky laugh.

“If that’s what you want, absolutely,” said Alex without even thinking.

To his surprise, Jessica swiveled her bar stool around to face him and pressed herself into his arms. “Actually, what I really want is this, believe it or not.”

“That works too,” said Alex, stroking her hair gently.

She couldn’t blame the surprising tenderness entirely, but that touch was when Jessica finally broke. “She’s really gone,” she choked. “How the hell does shit like this happen?”

“I don’t know.” Alex sighed and pulled her closer. “Life is short, Jessie. Why don’t we head back to Clay’s and I can make my Nonna’s famous pasta for everybody? I think sticking together is how we’ll get through this.”

“He’s a mess,” Jessica warned. “I flew from England with Lily, she’s the only one he’s letting down the walls for right now. I feel so freaking helpless.”

“All the more reason,” said Alex gently. “He’s my best friend…I’m going to do whatever it takes.”

“I’m with you,” said Jessica decisively, wiping her eyes once more. “Whatever it takes. Can I just do one more thing before we call a cab?”

“Hmm? What’s that?” asked Alex, toying with her slender fingers the way he used to all those years ago. And she kissed him again, pouring all the grief into the one thing that made her feel very much alive right now. Everything seemed to have turned upside down but it was comforting to know that love always remained. 

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10358158/1/Your-Love-Is-A-Song

[iicewitch]

☀️ cult of dionysus

a playlist for my friend caz link to playlist: here tracklist and favorite lyrics below

1. only as good as my god - everything everything And on the steps of my church There, I'm chasing down a red girl with my hooves upon a- Ooh - Wild Ooh - Child If they crawl out of the mud Wash them away in a flood I'm only as good as my god Burnt hair and more money 2. disciples - captain murphy Don't you want devoted followers? Who leave their families for you Give their money to you Give their bodies to you Give up their lives for you Consider you God, and will kill for you Don't you want to become a cult leader? Since the death of God there has been a vacancy open You can fill that void, here is how 3. dionysus - bts Just get drunk like Dionysus Drink in one hand, Thyrsus on the other Art splashing inside this clear crystal cup Art is alcohol too, if you can drink it, you'll get drunk fool I'm now in front of the door to the world The cheers I hear when I get up on stage Can’t you see my stacked broken thyrsus At last I’m reborn 4. good hand - turbowolf And I say No pain, no gain That's the mantra I'm repeating No sun, no rain That's the mantra I'm repeating No pain, no gain, no sun, no No pain, no gain, no sun, no rain 5. addicted to love - robert palmer Your lights are on, but you're not home Your will is not your own You're heart sweats and teeth grind Another kiss and you'll be mine 6. cult of dionysus - the orion experience Or start a secret society for the wild and free Our ideology is "You can do what you want Too much is never enough" We are the Life, we are the light We are the envy of the Gods above 7. hitting on all sevens - lyndon smith Make of me a subject caste Pressed and kept beneath thy glass Every heart thy sent in heaven Always hitting on all sevens One by one as ordered Flank to flank and facing forward Hanging by the word In chapter, verse and sentence heard 8. touch tone telephone - lemon demon Don't hang up yet, I'm not done I'm an expert, I'm the one The one who was right all along Better to be laughed at than wrong I'm an expert in my field UFOlogy, yes, it's all real Ancient aliens, it's all true I'm an expert just like you 9. sundial - lemon demon Don't mind me, I've just got some problems to work out I'm only passing through or maybe just right out Somehow something set my sundial backwards tilted and upside-down Now the shadow hand is pointing time right out of town I don't remember what it is that I just said to you I've got Anubis on my back and something in my shoe 10. mother’s talk - tears for fears It's not that you're not good enough It's just that we can make you better Given that you pay the price We can keep you young and tender Following in the footsteps of a funeral pyre You were paid not to listen now your house is on fire 11. light up the night - the protomen There is a city that this darkness can't hide. There are the embers of a fire that's gone out, But I can still feel the heat on my skin. This mess we're in, well you and I, Maybe you and I, We can light up the night. 12. pure morning - placebo A friend in need's a friend indeed, A friend who'll tease is better, Our thoughts compressed, Which makes us blessed, And makes for stormy weather, 13. aspiring fires - mother mother Baby, so you think you know crazy I think you know what you know, But what you know you don't know for sure A little advice for aspiring fires You'll get put out if you don't get a little wild Try again, try again, it ain't right You don't got the due diligence to lose your mind You're not getting it right 14. oh ana - mother mother I'll play god I'll play god I'll play god I'll play god today Ante up and play that god a poker game Walk away with all our little God's spare change Playing this god it can't be good for— Ana's safety, Ana hear me ! 15. this devil’s workday - modest mouse So I ate the wedding cake 'til the whole damn thing was gone. And I'm gonna drown the ocean. Now ain't none o' that so wrong? I could buy myself a reason. I could sell myself a job. I could hang myself on treason. Oh I am my own damn god. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha 16. kiss me son of god - they might be giants I look like Jesus, so they say But Mr. Jesus is very far away Now you're the only one here who can tell me if it's true That you love me and I love me And a world screams, "Kiss me, Son of God" Yes a world screams, "Kiss me, Son of God" 17. personal jesus - depeche mode Take second best Put me to the test Things on your chest You need to confess I will deliver You know I'm a forgiver 18. charlie’s inferno - that handsome devil Catch you later, I'm off to see the man upstairs They all look like ants from here Stars and crystal chandeliers Excuse me, sir! There must be someone you've confused me for If I could see someone who knew me or someone in uniform I go to church on sunday, truly, usually more! Screaming at the angels while they pushed him through the door! 19. old 45s - chromeo Don't wanna settle Or didn't you get the memo You only get a date if you're walking in stilettos This is enough to drive you mad If you think romance is dead and gone Find an old jukebox full of 45's Pop a nickel in it and it all comes back 20. down at the midnight rectory - ted neeley Down, down, down at the midnight rectory! With jiggle juice frisking under the marquee! The peacocks are strutting behind velvet ropes, Sipping away on their heavenly dope. Gimme two alleluia's and an amen! 21. elevate - dj khalil Can't stop me, can't break me (can't break) What don't kill me, gon' make me (gon' make) Shoot for the stars, no safety (no safety) And now I see clear in HD 'Cause I win, over and over again Battlin' evil, I'm hopin' to win Fightin' my demons, I'm nice for a reason Enticed with the bleedin', I'm showin' my sins 22. come along - cosmo sheldrake We'll dance and sing 'til sundown And feast with abandon We'll sleep when the morning comes And we'll rise by the sound of the birdsongs We'll be here when the world slows down And the sunbeams fade away Keeping time by a pendulum As the fabric starts to fray 23. just one yesterday - fall out boy I thought of angels Choking on their halos Get them drunk on rose water See how dirty I can get them Pulling out their fragile teeth And clip their tiny wings If heaven's grief brings hell's rain Then I'd trade all my tomorrows for just one yesterday 24. church - fall out boy And if death is the last appointment Then we're all just sitting in the waiting room I am just a human trying to avoid my certain doom If you were church, yeah I'd get on my knees Confess my love, I'd know where to be My sanctuary, you're holy to me 25. beast dance - kurage p Cast aside your humanity, before you have to grovel on the ground, being at the bottom of society. You want to be loved? In that case, come on. ”Roar roar roar roar roar roar” Inside the cage, ‘kay? 26. black and white - MASA Pour the gospel echoing through the world into your glass. Black&White! Practice your faith through shots and prayers. Open the bottle. Black&White! 27. sister’s mercy - hitoshizuku-p Jesus!! Pray and pray Believer, if you demand for salvation Oh Yeah!! Then pay up more and more for this Bright Red, now! Cheers!! Pour and pour When you’ve filled your stomach with this bright Red, Aa! All your wishes will come true 28. inferno pt. 2 - the buttress The depth of my breadth is unmet I'm becoming unraveled on the road less traveled I know Jesus wept But I abhor the Lord Fell on my sword Forever slept 29. let’s just live - casey lee williams Let's just live Just one day Let's forget about our problems Let's fall in love with life And just be free The sun will never fade The night won't steal our day Let's dance and laugh and love And let's just live 30. ignite - casey lee williams Fool, you shouldn't stare into these eyes of fire You're goin' to regret this little fight You don't wanna mess with me, I'm something higher You'll watch yourself suffer You'll watch me ignite 31. god’s gonna cut you down - johnny cash Well you may throw your rock and hide your hand Workin' in the dark against your fellow man But as sure as God made black and white What's down in the dark will be brought to the light 32. royals - lorde Let me be your ruler (Ruler) You can call me queen bee And baby, I'll rule (I'll rule, I'll rule, I'll rule) Let me live that fantasy 33. you should see me in a crown - billie eilish Count my cards, watch them fall Blood on a marble wall I'm gonna run this nothing town Watch me make 'em bow One by one by, one One by one by You should see me in a crown 34. rev 22:20 - puscifer Pray til I go blind (Pray) Pray cause no one ever survives Prayin' to stay in her arms just to die longer Satyrs and saints, devils and heathens and lies 35. this must be the place - talking heads Home, is where I want to be But I guess I'm already there I come home, she lifted up her wings I guess that this must be the place I'm just an animal looking for a home and Share the same space for a minute or two And you love me till my heart stops Love me till I'm dead 36. razzle dazzle -  richard gere Give 'em the old razzle dazzle Razzle Dazzle 'em Give 'em an act with lots of flash in it And the reaction will be passionate Give 'em the old hocus pocus Bead and feather 'em How can they see with sequins in their eyes? 37. you’ll be back - jonathan groff You say our love is draining and you can't go on You'll be the one complaining when I am gone And no, don't change the subject 'Cause you're my favorite subject My sweet, submissive subject My loyal, royal subject Forever and ever and ever and ever and ever 38. no light, no light - florence and the machine No light, no light in your bright blue eyes I never knew daylight could be so violent A revelation in the light of day You can't choose what stays and what fades away 'Cause it's so easy, To say it to a crowd But it's so hard, my love, To say it to you out loud 39. shiny happy people - r.e.m Meet me in the crowd, people, people Throw your love around, love me, love me Take it into town, happy, happy Put it in the ground where the flowers grow Gold and silver shine Shiny happy people holding hands Shiny happy people holding hands Shiny happy people laughing 40. a good song never dies - saint motel There was a moment, a hole opened in the sky A chance to join that pantheon For all the times they never heard your battle cry Now be an angel, sing along 'Cause a good song never dies It just reminds you of where you were The first time it made you cry The first time you felt alive 41. king of the clouds - panic at the disco Some only live to die, I'm alive to fly higher Than angels in outfields inside of my mind I'm ascendin' these ladders, I'm climbin', say goodbye This old world, this old world I don't trust anything Or anyone, below the sun I don't feel anything At all 42. battle for the sun - placebo I, I, I will battle for the sun, sun, sun, sun And I, I, I, I am the bones you couldn't break Break, break, break, break, break, break, break 43. walk like an egyptian - the bangles All the school kids so sick of books They like the punk and the metal band When the buzzer rings (oh whey oh) They're walking like an Egyptian All the school kids so sick of books They like the punk and the metal band When the buzzer rings (oh whey oh) They're walking like an Egyptian 44. credens justitiam - yuriko kaida and eri itoh Free, they are With no malice they sing quietly And they told me that my song was louder/lighter Their song Releases the day of all malice I want to be like them And my mind (their minds are) Free 45. 99.9 - mob choir The protagonist of this stage is me Cryin' my life, cryin' my psyche Cryin' my heart in such commonplaces Is this my ideal? Is this my mind? Ahh, I’m looking for the answer ! 46. cruel angels thesis - yoko takahasi But someday you will notice On those shoulders of yours There are strong wings To guide you to the far future. If there is any meaning In the fate that pulled us together, Then I am, yes, the Bible That teaches you of freedom. A cruel angel's thesis And then sorrow comes forth 47. peace and love on the planet earth - zach callison I guess we're already here I guess we already know We've all got something to fear We've all got nowhere to go I think you're all insane! But I guess I am too Is there anything that's worth more? Is there anything that's worth more? Is there anything that's worth more Than peace and love on the planet Earth? 48. now we can see - the thermals We were born in the desert We were reared in a cave We conquered in the sun but we lived in the shade We were born on an island we grew out of the sand Never saw another creature never knew another man 49. love today - mika I said Everybody's gonna love today Gonna love today, gonna love today I said Everybody's gonna love today Gonna love today Anyway you want to, anyway you've got to Love, love me, love, love me, love, love 50. where is my mind? - the pixies With your feet on the air and your head on the ground Try this trick and spin it, yeah Your head will collapse If there's nothing in it And you'll ask yourself .. Where is my mind? Where is my mind?

[thirsty-pixie]

Richie x Reader. Part 5

Part 1, part 2, part 3, Part 4

Part 6

I got home and checked the mail seeing a bright blue envelope with my moms name on it, I grabbed it and sat on the couch while the boys raided my kitchen for snacks. I opened the letter not recognizing the name on the return address, it came from California where my mom said she lived as a little girl.

Dear Teresa,

I know it's been 20 years since we last spoke but your father is sick and would like to make amenities and we are willing to send you a plane ticket to fly to California. We miss you dearly and hope you can forgive us for everything. We hope you will consider coming home you can hall us at 530-838-2356 (idk if it's a real number I kinda made it up lol)

Love, mom and dad.

I stood up and looked at Richie who was drinking a soda and leaning against the kitchen entryway watching the guys. "I just got a letter from my moms parents" he turned and looked at me "I thought she told you they died...?" He looked at the letter then back at me. "She did.... should I call" I scrunched my eyes as I read the number again. He shrugged and looked at the phone, "it wouldn't hurt to try..." I nodded and walked to the phone hanging on the wall.

The phone rang twice before a womans voice answered, "um hi uh...." I didnt know what to say "Hi may I ask whose calling?" I swallowed the lump in my throat before answering in a shakey voice."Yeah you sent a letter for Teresa Brooks.." the woman gasped "Is this Teresa?" She asked excited, I cleared my throat and sigh "no I'm sorry you have to find out like this but she passed 2 years ago.. but I an her daughter Y/n" the woman was silent for a few moments before I heard a muffled cry. "I'm really sorry I wish you could have found out differently." I played with the cord waiting for her to respond.

After a few moments of silence the woman sniffled "you said you are her daughter.." i cleared my throat again and nodded "yes ma'am" she was quiet for a second "well Y/n do you want to fly to California to meet some of your moms family?" I smiled and said yes. I hung the phone back up and turned around, Richie was standing behind me "well?" He asked curious about how the call went. "I'm going to California to meet my moms family" I said excitedly smiling at him.

~~~Time Skip a week after graduation~~~

I was waiting at the bus stop looking for Richie, he was supposed to meet me here to say goodbye. My bus was supposed to be here in 10 minutes, the rest of the losers club had come to say goodbye which ended up making me cry. "You'll be back though right" Mike asked as he hugged me, "yeah in a year or so." I wiped my eyes looking around one last time for any sign of Richie. But he wasn't around, and here came my bus.

I grabbed my bag and handed it to the bus driver to put in the storage area under the bus, I gave the guys one last hug before I turned to get on the bus. "Y/N" I stopped hearing someone yell my name, I looked down the road seeing Richie running towards me. I smiled and looked back at the driver "just give me a minute please" he nodded and got on the bus. Richie ran up to me pulling me into a tight hug, I hugged him back and my eyes began to water.

"I'm gonna miss you Trash Mouth" I pulled back and he wiped my tears before kissing me. "I'm gonna miss you too but you're gonna be back in no time." I smiled and hugged him again. They all waved as the bus drove off leaving Derry and all of my friends behind.

~~~time skip 2 years later reader is 20 losers club is 18~~

I sat on the bus staring out the window as we drove passed the welcome to Derry sign. It had been 2 years since I had left to meet my family and I was more than happy to be back in my hometown. Richie and I would talk every day while I was gone for the first year but by the second year we would only send a few letters a month. I walked off the bus and grabbed my bag from the driver throwing it over my shoulder, while I was gone I rented out my house to an elderly couple who just move out last week. I had called a moving company to move all of my furniture from storage back into the house so it would be ready when I got home.

The walk to my house from the bis stop was about 20 minutes so I stopped at the drug store to get a soda. As I was leaving I seen Richie and Eddie walking down the road, "hey losers" I said as I walked up to them. It took them a few moments to realize who I was, Richie hugged me like he was trying to squeeze the life out of me. "Oh my god how long have you been back" I pushed him off and smiled "maybe 5 minutes" Eddie hugged me briefly before telling Richie and I he'll let us have some alone time.

Richie walked me home and we talked about everything that had happened since I left. When we got to the house I invited him in and we sat on the couch awkwardly, "so are we still uh....." I wasnt sure how to as if him and I were still dating. "Still a thing?" He said finishing my question I looked at him and nodded. "Do you want to be?" He added looking at me smiling "I do if you still want to" as soon as i finish my sentence he leaned forward kissing me. It felt like the first time all over again, within a few minutes we were giggling and making our way up to my room.

I stood infront of my bed as he shut my door and walked up to me, he shoved me back and I fell onto my bed with a sight bounce. He pulled his shirt off tossing it aside and climbed on top of me he began kissing my neck and down to my collarbone. He both groaned when we heard a loud banging on my front door followed by the sound of Ben, Eddie, Stan, Mike and Bill Singing Don't you by Simple Minds. I laughed and pushed Richie off and stood up handing him his shirt, "as much as I'd like to finish this they wont be leaving any time soon." He rolled his eyes and put his shirt on.

I opened the door and seen the group of boys I had come to think of as my brothers, "Y/n! " the all came into my house talking loudly. Richie stood at the top of the stairs watching us all hug and say our hellos, "you gonna stand up there all day?" I asked looking up at at him. He nodded walking down the stairs wrapping his arm around me, Eddie and Richie looked at each other's like they were nonverbally communicating.

"So how was California?" Stan asked leaning on the back of my couch, "it was good my moms parents are crazy rich it was weird. My mom had like 4 brothers and 6 sisters. They took me to Hawaii to visit my moms oldest brother who was in the Army" I looked at my shoes then back at Stan. Eddie came back into the room from the kitchen "Wow how was the beach?" I looked at him and shrugged "it was fine not really my scene" the guys started talking amongst each other loudly, I leaned against Richie and sighed.

"What's wrong" Richie asked resting his chin on the top of my head "nothing.... its just happy to be home." I smiled as Eddie and Stan started arguing while Mike and Bill tried to break it up. I turned wrapping my arms around Richies waist resting my head on his chest "I missed you so much" he hugged me back"i missed you too Y/n" I kissed him and turned to look at the guys. "Hey losers let go down to the quarry like old times" they all agreed and we left the house walking down the road to th drug store because I wanted to get some snacks.

Eddie went in with me to fill his inhaler, Gretta was at the pharmacy counter when we went in and she smiled at me. "Wow Y/n you finally go out of this shit town but you came back." I fake smiled and looked down the snack aisle. "Good thing you and Richie were on a break while you were gone right?" She popped her gum as she spoke and I walked up to the counter. Eddie stepped back from the counter and watched nervously as I slammed my hands on the counter. "What are you talking about... we were never on a break" if looks could kill Gretta would gone, "oh well according to him you were" she smirked and looked put the window at Richie.

"What are you trying to say Gretta" I said through clenched teeth. "Oh was it not obvious? I'm saying I fucked your boyfriend. Multiple times." I stormed put of the drugstore and shoved Richie. "What the fuck Richie" he looked at me confused, "what's wrong with you" he rubbed his chest where I shove him.

"You fucked Gretta?!" He looked down immediately when I said this "so its true... " he looked ath me and nodded "you were gone for two years Y/n what did you expect" his words were like a slap in the face. "That shouldn't have mattered! I didn't sleep with anyone I thought you loved me as much as I loved you but clearly I was wrong." I felt a burning in my eyes as tears made their way down my cheeks. "I don't know what you want me to say. You left." He stuffed his hands in his pockets and kicked a rock that was sitting on the sidewalk.

"I just found out I had family and I wasnt alone anymore. I wanted to meet them and get to know them." Richie glared at me. "Not alone anymore? Really you were never alone! You had Bill, Mike, Stan,Ben and Eddie..... you had me. Were we not enough for you?!" I stepped towards him and he stepped back. "You expected me to wait for you like some stupid romance movie. Well news flash Y/n this is the real world! Nobody knew you were coming back I wasn't going to wait forever. I do love you and I want to be with you but honestly look at the bigger picture" wasn't sure if I was angry crying or sad crying but all I knew was I felt betrayed.

"Dont play that you didn't know if I was coming home shit because I told you I would he back" he rolled his eyes and turned his head away as I talked. "You're a real asshole Richie" I wiped the tears away and he just looked at me and shrugged. I wait for him to say something anything "that's it?" He nodded "like I said I dont know what you want me to say you were the one that left" he shrugged and raised his eyebrows "you're right and I shouldn't have come back either...." I turned and started to walk away but he grabbed my arm. "Stop Richie.....I'm done I don't want this anymore" I pulled my arm away and left Derry i sold my house and moved to California with my family. That was the last time seen or talked to any of the guys.

Part 1, part 2, part 3, Part 4

Part 6

[magggg202]

Making A Deal With The Enemy

Gregg sat on Annie’s floor helping her pack for a weekend away with Beth and Ruby. Lately he has been having a hard time talking to her. He didn’t know why she was still with Noah. He didn’t understand why she wasn’t mad at Beth for killing Rio. He didn’t understand how she could even go away.

Annie walked in with her luggage, Gregg looked up at her. She knew what he was about to say, he’s been asking for over 3 months now.

“I didn’t kill him Gregg.”

“You were apart of it.”

Annie wanted to tell Gregg the truth, she been begging Noah and Beth, they both said for the time being their secret must stay a secret.

“Can we not do this today Gregg please.”

Gregg got up off the floor, “I’m going to pick Sadie up from school.”

“Please bring him home before you go to your house, I want to see him before I leave tonight.”

Gregg shook his head yes and left. He was mad. Rio and him hadn’t been close in years since, Rio started running the gang but that was and always would be his best friend.

Later that night and a 3hr and 40 minute plane ride later. Beth, Annie, Ruby and Noah all landed in Cancun Mexico.

“The car will be here in 2 minutes,” Noah told the girls.

When the black car and tinted black windows pulled up and the door opened, Rio got out and gave everyone a smile.

“Miss me?” He smirked.

Beth ran over and hugged him tight, this had been the longest month of her life.

Rio places his hand on Beth’s chin and kissed her softly, he had really missed her. He breathed in her red door perfume, he had missed that smell so much. He missed everything about Beth. But he missed her most of all.

Beth pulled away so Rio could say hi to everyone else. He gave Ruby and Annie a hug and shook Noah’s hand.

“Well let’s get going shall we?” Rio gestured for everyone to get in the car.

A few minutes later they were pulling up a long drive way to a huge brick house the over looked the ocean.

“Holy Shit,” Annie stares at the house. “This place is fucking beautiful.”

“It really is.” Everyone turned around and saw Gregg standing behind them. He was clearly very angry.

“Gregg what the hel-.”

“DON’T.” He shouted at Annie.”

Rio steppes in front of Annie. “Bro, don’t be mad at Annie, she wanted to tell you.”

“For over a month I have been think you were dead.”

“You were supposed to, everyone, except the people here are supposed to think I’m dead Gregg.”

“Why!”

“Come in my house so we can talk privately.”

Everyone goes in the house, Rio shoes them to their rooms. Annie and him go to Greggs room to speak to him about what really had happened a month ago.

“How’d you know where to go?” Annie said walking in the room.

Gregg looked out the window at the waves crashing on the shore. “I knew something was up, I’ve known since last week when I heard you talking on the phone to Beth, begging to tell me the truth. I booked at ticket. I picked Sadie up from school and brought him to Nancy’s told them I had to go somewhere for the weekend. I waited all day at the airport for you guys to come. I rented the car outside and when I saw you I followed you.”

“You’re a better cop then Noah and you aren’t even a cop,” Rio laughed.

“Shut up,” Annie rolled her eyes.

Rio sat on the edge of the bed. “Noah felt bad for lying to Annie about everything, he told them he wanted to help and he did. Beth and I came up with a plan. Well we all did. Noah got me a bullet proof vest. The plan was to trick Turner and that we did. I kidnapped him and I had to threaten Beth to make her get mad at me and make it believable for Turner. And she had to shoot me. I got my hands on some supplies that made it look like I was dead and bleeding. I got a some guys to be on standby with an ambulance, where they dropped me off at a private jet that took me here to my safe house.”

Gregg burst out laughing, this was all fucking crazy he had thought. “Didn’t’ Turner want to see the body?”

“That’s what Noah was for. I beat up Turner so well that he had to go to the hospital and Noah took over and acted as if he saw me.”

“That’s kind of Genius.”

“We had to get him off my back and Beth’s and so far I think we did a pretty good job.”

Annie sat next to Rio and sighed, “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”

Gregg turned and looked at them, he walked over and hugged them both. “I’m still mad you guys didn’t tell me, but I forgive you.”

They all hugged it out for a good five minutes, when Beth walked in.

“Mind if I still him?” Beth have Rio a smile.

“We do not,” Annie and Gregg said in unison.

Rio and Beth walked hand and hand into his room. Rios room was huge, panting on the wall, pictures of him and his son Miguel on his night stand. White fitted sheets on the California king bed.

Beth pushed Rio on top of the bed, he let out a light laugh. Beth climbed on top of him holding his hands in the back of his head.

“I really missed you.” She said.

“I missed you more.”

Beth leaned down and kissed Rio. It was a long hot and passionate kiss. The one she had been waiting for, for weeks. Rio let go of her hands and ripped open her buttoned poke-a-dot dress. He flipped Beth over and started kissing her from her lips down to her stomach, Beth moaned with pleasure. She had missed his body on hers.

Rio had missed the feeling of being inside her.

After they made love Rio and Beth maid staring at each other. Beth maid her head on Rios chest, which was still bruised from the bullets. She rubbed over it with her hand. He pushed her hair out of her face.

“Sorry I shot you.” Beth frowned.

Rio smiled, “you had too.” He kissed her forehead.

“Remember all those years ago at Annie’s baby shower.”

“What about it?”

“I told you I was going to be with you someday.”

Beth looked up at Rio. “And you did.”

The next morning, the girls all laid on the beach soaking up the sun, while the boys were inside, drinking and sharing stories.

“I want to marry Beth.”

Noah and Gregg put their beers down and looked at Rio.

“I’ve been thinking about it for a few months now, I love her more than anything. I’m not going to stay hidden forever. And if we get married she can’t testify against me.”

“I honestly don’t know what to say.” Gregg raised his eyebrows.

“I already got a ring.”

“What?” Noah was shocked.

“Tonight at dinner I’m going to ask her to be my wife.”

Gregg sipped his beer. “Just don’t ever give up on your marriage like I did. I will forever regret losing Annie.” He looks at Noah. “Don’t you ever hurt her.”

“I don’t plan on it.” Noah said.

In the corner of the kitchen Annie let out a light cough. The guys all look at her, Noah and Greggs eyes went wide. “You guys going to come swimming?” She acted like she hadn’t heard anything. “Yeah babe coming.” Noah chugged his beer and followed Annie outside.

“You got to get her back Gregg, you love her. You have a kid. Noah’s a great dude but he’s not the one for her, you are.”

Gregg stares at Annie, “I love her more than anything.”

“She loves you too, I can tell.”

Gregg walks over and hugs Rio. “Thanks bro.”

They walk outside to join the others.

At dinner the guys anxiously wait for Rio to pop the question, when finally he stood up and looked at Beth and who looked back at him confused.

“Elizabeth I have loved you since I first met you 16 years ago at one of Greggs house parties. It was only a quick hello but I knew I could love you,” he gets on one knee.”

“Oh my god,” Ruby says.

“This past year getting closer to you have been not only wish of mine but a true honor. It sounds corny but I’ve never wanted someone so bad to be in my life. I know I make mistakes and I know I’ll make more in the future but I will never make the mistake of hurting you or letting you go. I know that this is crazy but I want you to be my wife. Will you-.”

“You don’t even have to finish your sentence, I love you Rio and I would love nothing more than to be your wife.”

Rio opens up a small case threat olds a square shaped 14 karate gold diamond ring. Beth covered her mouth in shock, Rio took her shaking hand and slipped on the Ring that for her perfectly. Ruby and Annie were crying, they were so happy for Beth. They thought she was crazy but they were happy. Everyone clapped and Beth and Rio kissed. They were getting married.

During the night Annie woke up and for some reason decided to look out the window where she saw Gregg sitting on the beach. She grabbed her robe and went outside.

“You okay?” She sat down next to him.

“I love you Annie, I want to have more kids with you because the one we made is pretty fucking fantastic. You have been my best friend for years. And when Rio asked Beth to marry him tonight it reminded me of us.”

“I love you too.”

Gregg looked at her surprised. “You do?”

Annie signs and takes his hand, “I love Noah but I also love you. I’m so confused Gregg. But I dont know what to do right now okay? I need time to figure it all out.” Gregg leaned over and kissed Annie’s cheek. “I’ll wait for you, forever.”

Annie leaned her head on Greggs shoulder. They stayed there all night.

The next morning Rio made everyone breakfast, Noah walked over to him and congratulated him on his engagement to Beth. Today was the last day they’d all see each other for a while. They had to make sure no one was on their trail.

“Still can’t believe I made a deal with the enemy.” Noah laughed.

“I am not the enemy Noah.”

Beth walks over and wraps her arms around Rios waist while he cooked scrambled eggs.

“Noah haven’t you learned Rio has a big heart, but he makes dumb decisions. We all have to make a living.”

“Amen,” Ruby says. “I defiantly needed this vacation, but I miss my husband and my kids. But mostly my husband, because after hearing you too last night, I got to get me some sex too.” They all laughed.

“Well we had to celebrate our engagement,” Rio smirked.

Annie walks in the kitchen her hair a mess, “you had to celebrate it all night long? My room was next to yours you know. That fucking head bored. Bang, ba, bang, ba, bang. I mean I was only there for like 2 hours because Gregg and I sat outside but still.”

Once again everyone laughed.

“Later on you and I are going to walk the town Elizabeth.” Rio looked at his fiancé. He had never been this happy. He hoped from this day forward everything would go well and if it didn’t, it didn’t matter he had Beth by his side.

[moirasimagines]

Right Here | Chapter One {Steve Harrington x Reader}

Summary: In which Steve Harrington can’t quite see what’s been right under his nose the whole time.

PROLOGUE | CHAPTER 1 | CHAPTER 2 | CHAPTER 3 | CHAPTER 4

Halloween night hits Hawkins, and nothing goes according to plan. (Songs mentioned in this chapter are all from Pink Floyd’s album Wish You Were Here. I recommend listening to Wish You Were Here (the song, not the whole album) and the following song on the album as they are mentioned in the story! Links: Wish You Were Here: x , Shine On You Crazy Diamond Pts. 6-9: x )

Word Count: 2,923

Warnings: Language, mentions of drinking, some angst

It wasn’t that you didn’t like parties. You did–– albeit, usually on a smaller scale. Steve had tried to convince you to come, but you’d passed on it. You said it was because you didn’t want to be there if the party got busted, you didn’t like the idea of the whole high school crammed into one house, you didn’t want to get… ‘sheet-faced.’ (The pun made you want to gag.) It might’ve been a little heavy-handed to give three excuses, but your best friend didn’t seem to notice. Again, he was focused primarily on Nancy, on distracting her from whatever was getting her down. You had to admit, even you had noticed she was acting different.

It was the whole reason you didn’t want to go. This party was going to be Steve and Nancy’s thing. Even though he’d broken with his usual popular gang, he was undoubtedly going to be surrounded by an adoring public of your peers, and you didn’t feel like competing for his attention tonight, much less competing for it with his long-term girlfriend.

He, of course, still came over to show you his costume before picking Nancy up. The boy could have passed for a hummingbird, he was flitting around your basement so nervously.

“I really just want her to have fun.”

“She will, Steve. And if she doesn’t, it’s not on you. You can be there for her and try to have a good time; but ultimately, if she’s not up for it, you can’t change that.” He plunked down next to you on the couch, dragging a hand through his hair. You tried not to notice. (It looked good. Really good.)

“I guess. I just… she needs a break. She deserves to just let go and be a teenager for a night, you know? There’s only so much longer we’re gonna be able to, like… do that.” He was right. You’d both turned 18 since junior year, and you could feel ‘adulthood’ looming over you. The college process, too. Who needed a Halloween party with that constant terror every day? You sighed and stood up in front of Steve, leaning forward to put your hands on shoulders.

“Listen,” you said, jostling him a bit, “if you’re miserable this whole party, she’s gonna be miserable too. Okay, dummy? So just lighten up a little.” He snorted a laugh.

“Fuck. You’re right.” You smiled and let go of him, padding over to the fridge.

“I’m always right.”

“Uh, I’d beg to differ. What about––”

“I’m holding two beers right now, you want me to make it one?” Steve didn’t continue. You spun back around with a triumphant smile.

“That’s what I thought.” You popped the caps off and handed him one, settling back down onto your couch. Steve was headed out in about a half hour so the two of you just shot the shit until he had to go. It was nice to have a little moment with him, the Charlie Brown special playing in the background. A small halloween celebration with the person you wanted most to share it with.

Finally, he stood up to go, thanking you for the pep talk. He was sure Nancy would have a blast. As the door shut behind him, you started feeling a little forlorn. Your friend Margot was coming over to hang out with you though, and that made it easier to bear. She lived a few towns over where you grew up, and you were looking forward to just checking out for the night and catching up with her. You knew you’d end up telling her about Steve, but it would be better to talk about it than just suffer in silence.

When Margot arrived at your house, you greeted her with a giant hug and a squeal. She laughed and pulled you in close. She was still one of your best friends, even if you didn’t live close. The phone bill could probably attest to that.

“Happy Halloween, hot stuff!” Margot exclaimed, swinging you back and forth in the embrace.

“Thank you for coming over babe,” you said, “I hope you didn’t turn down any good parties or anything.” Margot rolled her eyes at this, but smiled at you.

“As if any party is better than spending time with my best friend.” She pulled a bottle of wine out of her bag, jiggling it in her fist. “And a little bit of the devil’s grape juice,” came the afterthought. You laughed and took her hand, dragging her to the basement. You’d pulled out a few records to play while you guys talked. Some funky stuff, to at least give you some kind of Halloween-y feeling. You put on Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars by David Bowie and opened up the wine, pouring each of you a healthy amount while Margot settled herself into your couch. When you sat beside her, she lifted her glass.

“May we never have to go through anything more horrific than high school. Ghouls and spooks included,” she offered as a toast.

“Amen,” you replied with a sigh. The two of you spent the first hour of Margot’s visit catching up, talking about school, how heinous college applications were, which classes you liked and which ones made you want to scream. Soon, the album was over, and you’d long since finished your drinks. Neither of you bothered to put on another record, electing to just talk. As more time passed, the buzz died down. Margot kicked her legs over your lap, laying out across the couch.

“So,” she said, “real talk now.” You raised an eyebrow at her. She just grinned. “When are you gonna fuck big hair boy? Have you already done it? I feel like you’ve been pining forever and last time we talked, you said he and his girlfriend were fighting a lot, so… spill! Come on!” This made you laugh, albeit a little half-heartedly.

“No, um… They worked it out. Or at least I think they’re trying to. I didn’t… I never told him anything. I mean, it wouldn’t have been fair to him. And I was never really sure about how I felt, so––”

“Bullshit. Y/N, that’s utter bullshit and you know it. I mean, props to you for like, respecting his space, but this has gotta be driving you absolutely fucking crazy. I mean, don’t you think you’d feel better if you just got it off your chest? He’s a big boy, he can handle it.

“I don’t know, Margot. I’ve been fine. I mean it sucks, but it’s fine. And he’s been my best friend since we moved here. I don’t know what I’d do if I lose him. And his name is Steve, so.” She waved a hand dismissively.

“Okay, first of all: you’re not fine. This is killing you. I can tell because I’m your best friend.” She said this last part pointedly, giving you a look, though you could tell she was teasing.

“I’m allowed to have more than one, you know,” you countered. She laughed.

“I’m just messing with you,” she said fondly, “and I’m only bothering you about this Steve guy because you’re obviously in love with him.”  She arched an eyebrow at you, expectant look on her face. You sighed, not replying, and looked away.

Margot stood then, and sighed, reaching over to ruffle your hair. “You know what you need? Some Pink Floyd. This way, you can just stop thinking about it for a while. Just an hour, okay? You’re beating yourself up over this and it sucks.”

She walked over the the record player and loaded up your favorite album, Wish You Were Here. You both loved it, and it was trippy enough that you could listen to it and just let your mind go blank. As the first few notes began to play, Margot laid down on the floor, motioning for you to do the same. It had become something of a ritual between you two; heads just barely touching, eyes closed, letting the music wash over you. After a while, it started to work. You weren’t thinking about Steve, or about school, about how his date at the party with Nancy was going, or what you were going to do if you moved out of Hawkins and left him and Margot behind.

Before you knew it, the synths were fading out, and your ears were soon met with the clicking sound that meant the record was over. You could hardly even remember getting up to flip to side B. Somehow, it hadn’t broken the spell the music put over you. Margot turned her head and smiled at you, pressing a kiss to your upside-down forehead before sighing and sitting up. She checked her watch and groaned.

“I should get going. I told my parents I’d be home by one am which, by the way, I am shocked they agreed to.”

“Yeah, wow. Are you good to drive? I know it’s been a little while, but...”

“No worries, babe. It takes an hour for your system to process a drink. And it’s been, like, three hours. I’m absolutely fine. See?” She spread her arms out and touched her first two fingers to her nose the way they did on cop shows. “Clean as a whistle.”

“Okay. I’ll call you soon. Love you.”

“Love you too.” You both stood, and Margot pulled you into one last hug before walking to her car.

“Take care of yourself, Mother Theresa,” she called from the window.

“You too, Debbie Harry.” Margot laughed, blew you a kiss, then drove away. You watched her car disappear and went back inside, padding to the basement.

It was always good to see Margot. Being around her made you want to be your best self. Unfortunately, that caused a little internal conflict within you. She had been right. This thing with Steve was starting to suffocate you. As much as you were afraid admitting your feelings would ruin your friendship, the way you felt now certainly wasn’t doing it any good. Maybe the honesty would be a balm. He could hear you, process it, and you could both get back to your lives. Hearing it aloud would help. You’d get a concrete answer from Steve and you’d stop letting yourself dwell on it.

You put on another Bowie album (Scary Monsters this time) and plopped onto your couch, hugging your knees to your chest. The plan was a good one logically, but it did nothing to lift the weight you felt in the pit of your stomach. It was a big step, but it would help. You were sure of it. It had to. You couldn’t just keep sitting on your hands. After the record’s A side ended, you decided to stop listening to music and put on the TV instead. You needed something to quiet your mind. Numb it, even. You barely watched the middle of some unheard of horror flick, and when that didn’t help, you gave up and put on Wish You Were Here again. In the middle of Welcome to the Machine, you started to hear a faint knocking from above.

Glancing at the clock, you realized it was nearing 2:30 in the morning. It was probably Steve, come to tell you what a success his night had been, thanks to you. Tonight wouldn’t be the night you told him. He deserved a break from the drama for at least a week. When you got upstairs and opened your kitchen door, you were shocked to find Steve crying. This wasn’t something anyone saw often. Not even you.

“Holy shit,” you murmured, reaching for his hands, “what happened?” Steve didn’t meet your eyes. He was looking everywhere else: at the ground, at his shoes, your bare feet, your hands clasping his.

“Nancy got blasted at the party,” he said, a hint of venom in his voice. “She said she didn’t love me, that we were pretending. That it was all bullshit. She kept saying that over and over again, that it was all bullshit.” Your brow furrowed. You’d had no idea Nancy felt this way. Evidently, neither had Steve. Even if she’d been totally drunk, this didn’t sound like something anyone would say lightly. You looked at Steve’s face, and he finally returned your gaze. His lips were pinched with hurt, his brow knit together.

“I’m so stupid,” he said, another tear slipping down his cheek.

“Hey,” you said firmly, “no. You are not stupid.” You wiped the tear away with the knuckle of your index finger. He scoffed, and you knew it was directed not at you, but himself. “Stop it,” you murmured, “don’t do this to yourself right now, just… Just let me be here for you, okay?”

Steve said nothing for a moment, and then nodded, reaching to pull you in for a hug. You fit snugly under his arms and took a breath, holding him tightly. As you rubbed his back you couldn’t help but think that if the circumstances were different, you’d have been content to stand there like this forever.

The last swell of the guitar riff at the end of Have a Cigar floated up the stairs from your basement and you reluctantly pulled away.

“Come downstairs with me,” you said gently, “we’ll just sit and listen to music. You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to. There’s a really good song about to come on. It always makes me feel better.” You looked up at him for an answer. Steve gave a half nod and followed you to the basement.

Wish You Were Here began softly as you sat down on the couch, patting the space next to you. Steve sat heavily beside you, slinging an arm over your shoulders.

“This sucks,” he mumbled.

“I know. I’m sorry.”

You squeezed his knee, feeling more comfortable now that you were in slightly more familiar territory. You’d moped together on this couch before. “Just listen to this song, okay?” Steve simply nodded. The lead guitar started, and you felt him lean into you slightly. It was like he was deflating. You hated seeing him so hurt, and you wanted nothing more than to soothe the pain.

Absently, you let your thumb brush against the side of his knee. A smile spread across your lips when the lines leading up to your favorite lyric resonated throughout the small room. You turned your head so you were looking at Steve, and sang softly along, jostling his knee to the rhythm.

“We’re just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl…”

You trailed off, letting Roger Waters finish the line for you. Steve was smiling, now. It wasn’t without a twinge of sadness, but you were content that you’d made him feel at least a little bit better. With a final affectionate squeeze to his knee, you returned your gaze to the wall ahead of you. Steve kept looking at you. You could feel his eyes on the side of your face, and you turned your head again.

“What?” you asked, voice only a whisper. Steve didn’t answer. Slowly, he began to lean in, eyes searching yours for permission to do what you’d longed for him to do for months now, if not more. The thought alone made your breath hitch, and you inhaled sharply, letting your eyes flutter shut.

You couldn’t do this.

You opened your eyes again, and Steve’s face was so close to yours you could feel his breath against your cheeks. His eyes were closed now, awaiting your decision. His nose nearly brushed against yours as he canted his head to the side, leaving himself vulnerable to you. Your heart ached in your chest. It would be so easy. All you had to do was let your lips connect with his. Heat rose in your stomach and travelled up until it coiled around your neck. With a shaky breath, you rested your forehead against Steve’s, hands laying on his chest, keeping him at bay.

“We can’t,” you whispered.

“Y/N…”

“We can’t. I know that… that tonight was rough, but things might not be over between you and Nancy and I can’t––” Tears were spilling down your cheeks. “Not like this,” you said, “It can’t be like this.”

Steve opened his eyes and immediately took your hands in his when he saw that you were crying. The slow sweetness of the previous song ended, and the sounds of rushing winds and an eerie baseline began to fill your ears.

“Hey,” Steve said softly, “don’t cry. Please don’t cry.” You shook your head, not ready to open your eyes, and slipped your hands out of his. It was getting harder to breathe and you stood up without looking at him, swiping your sleeve across your eyes in a futile attempt to stop the tears.

“Uh… I think you should go, Steve.”

“Y/N, wait––”

“No, it’s… It’s okay. I just need to get some sleep, uh–––” Your voice shook and the tears kept coming. “Can you, um… Can you just turn the record player off? I need to–– I just need to go to bed.”

“Y/N, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to––”

“No, you didn’t–– It’s not your fault, uhm…” you sucked in a breath, “I just really need to go.”

And with that, you turned and ran up the stairs, leaving Steve alone on your couch, stunned, and afraid that he’d lost you for good.

[lenavonschweetz]

Let’s Play Pretend - Part 3

Bucky Barnes x Female Reader

Synopsis: Requested by @finnofamerica -Bucky agrees to be your fake boyfriend for your brother’s wedding to appease your family.  There’s only one problem - you want him to be more than just a fake boyfriend.

Warnings: Fluff, fake boyfriend troupe, language, a sprinkle of angst, sexual situations, sexual tension, adult content, Big Family Shenanigans™️, the stupidest pun you’ll ever see.

A/N: The third and final installment of Let’s Play Pretend!  This has been a lot of fun to write, and although it fought me like CRAZY once I finally broke my writer’s block and got into this, it became one of my favorites that I’ve ever written :)

A/N/N: I did my best to leave the reader’s ethnicity, religion, weight, height, and appearance all very vague so as to not leave anyone out.  I hope it reads alright!

HUGE HUGE HUGE SHOUT OUT TO @thetruealphasmccall for being my AMAZING beta and saving me about ½ a million headaches. Bless. You.

Masterlist

Let’s Play Pretend - Part 1 || Let’s Play Pretend - Part 2

Sounds of mirth and chatter float up to your bedroom as you slowly come to consciousness.  You smile at the sound, knowing that your family is all in town now, up and at’em to get ready for the wedding that evening.  You stretch your limbs from where you’re laid on your stomach, delighting in the pops of your sore joints.

“Good morning, beautiful.”  Bucky’s husky morning voice whispers right in your ear.  In a flash, you’re propped up on your forearms and you suddenly become very aware of the position you’d just been in.  “How’d you sleep?”

“Uh...”  You say lamely, still reeling from the sudden movement after only just waking up.  Also, the shock of cuddling up to a wall of muscle that had effectively rendered you speechless.

“I slept wonderfully.”  He winks, tightening his metal arm around you where it rests across your low back.  He’s entirely too close.  “You know, you're precious when you sleep.”  He brushes a lock of hair away from your face absentmindedly, mischief playing in his newfound smirk.  “Well, until you drool on my tits.”  He chuckles, the sound only rising in volume when you slap his pec playfully.  Damn.  You were hoping he’d gift you with that adorable pout.

“Oh, stuff it, Barnes.”  You wiggle your way out of Bucky’s arms and the bed sheets.  You miss the way he eyes you from behind as you make your way to the bathroom.  And you definitely miss the way he whispers ‘oh, I’d like to stuff something.’ as your shirt rises when you go to put your hair up, giving him the perfect peek at the curve of your bottom.

You exit the room first, dressed for the drive to the venue where you’ll get ready further.  You greet all the family members that got in late last night or early that morning before rounding up your brothers to head out.  Bucky kisses your cheek as you leave - a little show for your family - and says he’ll ride up with the extended family later.  He manages to pull one more blush out of you before you depart, whispering, “See you later beautiful.”  That didn’t feel like it was quite so much for your family’s benefit as it was yours...

The bridal suite where all the women were getting ready had been a giant ball of excitement.  From the moment you arrived to two hours later when you were finally zipping yourself in your bridesmaid dress.  Each of the girls had gotten their own custom cut of gowns in the same color - but varying hues - that complimented each body type and skin tone perfectly, and everyone looked absolutely gorgeous.  Em really had done a wonderful job of picking out dresses for everyone.

Speaking of which, the bride was absolutely glowing as the wedding photos wrapped up and everyone prepared for the ceremony.  Seeing your brother and Em so happy had absolutely been worth the crazy trip.  You’d never seen Gordon look at someone the way he looked at his bride and you found yourself simultaneously ecstatic for the two of them and hopeful for your own future.  Would you ever find that happiness?

...Had you found it already?

Being in the wedding party didn’t give you much of a chance to catch Bucky before the ceremony started, which you felt immensely guilty about.  He had gone out of his way to assure you thousands of times that it was ok, but it still didn’t help.  Especially since you had to leave him alone with your family.

When the ceremony begins, you’re the third bridesmaid to walk in, arm-in-arm with Emely’s younger brother.  You clutch your small bouquet in your hand, scanning those seated on the groom’s side as you walk.  Then you see him.

If your escort hadn’t been hauling you along, he would’ve left you in the dust.  The sight of Bucky had struck you dumb and you’re sure your jaw is hanging low to the ground.  Your faux boyfriend had his hair tied back into a low bun, small pieces of chestnut hair that were too short to tie tucked just behind his ears.  The way it framed his sharp features almost made your mouth water.  Almost.  

Until now, you’d only ever seen him in his tactical gear and everyday get-ups.  You were sure Bucky couldn’t have ever been more attractive in your eyes, but boy, were you wrong.  His crystal blue eyes are emphasized by his black ensemble, his attention on your brother Will as he tells Bucky something that makes him chuckle quietly.

Jenni sees you first, your stepmother tapping your dad on the shoulder and informing the men beside her of your arrival. Will is the first to turn around and your youngest brother immediately beams as he sees you, and you find yourself doing the same.  But then your gaze meets Bucky, and immediately both of your smiles make way for a wave of shock.

Your eyes only hold each other for a moment before Bucky’s begin to scan down your body with an almost hungry intensity.  When he looks to your face again, you think you even see tears in his eyes, but quickly convince yourself otherwise.  Not allowing yourself to be distracted any longer, you wink at your date, the super soldier’s infamous smirk crossing his beautiful face before you are whisked away to join the other bridesmaids.

The entire ceremony you can feel his gaze on you, though you don’t look to him.  If you did, lord only knows that the blush that you’re already fighting back would turn you every shade of embarrassment from head to toe.

Thankfully, it isn’t long before Gordon and Emely are exchanging rings, professing eternal love for each other, and sealing the deal with a kiss.  You follow the procession out; giggling at Will giving you the goofiest thumbs up as you pass. Jenni promptly smacks him on the back of the head.

As soon as the wedding party begins to split up to make their way to the reception, you make it your priority to find the delicious man who’d been flustering you all damn day.  You find him exactly where you thought you would, exchanging jokes and stories with Will and your father as Jenni makes her way over to you.

“Y/N.  For the love of god, if you don’t marry that man I will kill you.”  She threatens lowly with a grin.  “If I don’t get to see that perfect ass at every family event, I’m blaming you!”

“Jenni!”  You hiss under your breath, unable to hold back your laughter as she teases you.  “Trust me, I-”

Before you can finish your sentence, however, Bucky sees you again and a blinding smile crosses his face.  Jenni, thankfully, takes that as her cue to disappear.  But not before tugging Bucky down to her level so she can whisper something in his ear.

From the way he straightens up as his eyes flick to you, a low chuckle filling the entryway, you just know she’s said something embarrassing.

“James, would you mind?”  Jenni’s voice breaks you from your trance as she plucks your phone from your hands, briskly giving it to Bucky as she tugs all present family members into her.  “I haven’t gotten a single picture with my kids yet, what with them all being in the wedding party!”

“Not a problem, ma’am.”  You all smile as Bucky raises the phone, and you can’t help but find yourself a little tickled at the way he fumbles with the technology.  Sure, Tony had taught him almost everything he needed to know about the 21st-century amenities, but some things still eluded him.  It’s when his brows furrow for a moment, eyes shooting wide the next that your heart stops.

“Bucky, don’t tell me that you broke my phone!”

“N-not at all, Doll!  J-just trying to get this picture right.”  There’s a tremor in his voice, a hesitancy you’d never heard from him.  Surely he couldn’t have found...

But then, you’re broken from your thoughts as Bucky hands your phone back, your family making their way to their own car with a quick goodbye.

“Doll.”  Bucky damn near sighs as he approaches you, immediately curling his arms around your waist.  “You...you look...”  Silence washes over the two of you as he leans forward, gently pressing his lips against your forehead.  “Doll, you’re the most beautiful gal I’ve ever seen.”

“Right back atcha”  You tease, instantly bumbling over yourself.  “But a man, not a gal, you’re, uh,”  maybe clearing your throat as loud as possible will help.  “You look g-good.”

Well, that could’ve gone better.

Almost instantly, the intimacy evaporates as Bucky snorts at your lame attempt at a compliment, stepping away from you to drop his hold on your waist and shake some car keys in your face.

“C’mon, smooth talker, let’s get to the reception before all the food is gone.”

“Good lord!”  If one were to google ‘wedding reception aesthetic’, you have no doubt that each and every picture would look just like the venue that stared back at you now.

“Doll, don’t you mean Oh! Em, Gee?”  Bucky says in mock disappointment, obviously trying not to split at the seams as he quotes the greeting sign at the door.  You would kill Gordon for using their nicknames for the dumbest pun you’d ever seen at his freaking wedding.

“Whoever convinced them to put ‘Oh! Em, Gee! Welcome to our Ever After, Happily!’ needs to be smacked upside the head.” 

“I know, it completely throws off the feeling of the whole reception!”  Bucky scoffs, immediately dropping his jokingly posh tone to ask, “Do you think it was Will?”

“Oh, it was most definitely Will.”

“Can I be the one to smack him?”  There’s the pout you were hoping to see this morning!

You smile at the handsome man who has your arm in his as you make your way to your seats, winking at him with a giggle.

“Be my guest.”  The big oaf does a fist pump.

The reception is as beautiful as the wedding, ridiculous puns aside, and you find yourself dancing the night away with friends, younger relatives, and grandparents.  You’re dancing with your father to a slow song for the third time this evening, telling him all about the missions you’ve taken all over the globe (well, telling him what isn’t classified, that is) when a cool hand finds its way to your shoulder.

“May I cut in?”  Beautiful, blindingly white teeth peek out from impossibly red lips as Bucky smiles at you, then your father.  “If that’s alright with you, sir?”

There’s a moment as your father looks between you and Bucky, and you wonder if he’s going to say no.  But then he nods, biting back a grin as he over-exaggeratedly bows to you before kissing you on the cheek and informing you that he’s going to look for your stepmother.

Then it’s just you and Bucky.  Bucky, who in an instant is sweeping you into his arms and gliding you elegantly around the dance floor.  You openly gape at him, earning a chuckle from the deadly assassin.

“Don’t look so shocked Doll, I did plenty of dancing in my time.  You don’t have to worry about me stepping on your toes or anything.  Now, if it were Steve you were dancing with...”  Giggles are shared between the two of you as you spin around the dance floor, Bucky leading your every move.  “Y’know, as weird as this is, I’m glad you invited me this weekend.”

“Don’t you mean you’re glad I was forced to invite you?”

“Details, Doll, details.  But really.  This has been a nice break from everything.  No explosions, no super powered dumbasses running around the tower.  Just a weekend of...normalcy.”

“Yeah...yeah, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t glad you had to tag along.”  He cocks an eyebrow at you, spinning you elegantly under his arm before capturing your hand and waist once more.

“I’m touched.”  He chuckles, rolling his eyes at your wording.  “Seemed to me you were plenty happy I came, if your camera roll had anything to say about it?”

“My camera roll, Bucky what are y-oh my god Bucky did you go through my phone?!”  Instantly he steps back, hands raised in surrender.  Your sudden fury conflicted greatly with the melody of Lee Brice’s song - I Don’t Dance.

It would’ve made you laugh if you weren’t absolutely mortified.

“I got confused when trying to operate it, it’s not my fault they keep updating and changing the damn things after I finally figure them out!  Don’t change the subject.”

“Bucky Barnes, I will kill yo-”  Your thoughts are cut off when you end up in his strong embrace again, him casting a smile at a curious aunt who’s eyeing the two of you in suspicion.  Huffing in irritation, you fall back into position and dance closely with your teammate, doing your best to ignore how good the hand on your hip feels.

“Yeah, yeah, I’ve heard it before Y/N, you’re gonna kill me.  Slowly, painfully, the works.  But I have one last request before you do...who was the picture for?”

You're sure your face is all shades of embarrassment at the moment.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Uh huh. Of course, you don’t.  The picture.”  He clarifies, elongating the word as if this might jog your memory.  “The one that I had specifically, and jokingly I might add, asked you for.  That picture.”

Damn him and his overconfident smirk!

“I...was feeling myself.”  You fib with a shrug, falling into the steps of the dance easier as time goes on.  “Why not commemorate it.”

“You took a selfie.”

“Yes”

“In your underwear.”

“Mhmm.”

“For no one else.”

“Yup.”

“Because you were ‘feeling yourself’?”

“Oh, don’t act surprised, Barnes, tons of women do it.”

“I will never understand women.”  He sighs.  “So it had nothing to do with the fact that I had just asked for a similar picture?”

“Nope.  None what so ever.”  Narrowed but playful eyes stare you down and you’re almost sure Bucky can see every atom of the nervous sweat on your face.

“Doll?”  You hum in response, meeting his suddenly serious eyes.  “Did you have any intention of sending that to me?”

You weigh your options for a moment,

“Honestly?  Yeah, I - oh don’t look so damn pleased, you dick - I was about to...but then you said you were joking and I just...choked.”

“Sooooo, if I had just kept my big mouth shut, you would’ve sent it to me?”  Tentatively, you nod.  Bucky surprises the both of you by smacking his forehead with his palm, a groan rumbling in the chest you’re currently -and quite shamefully - burying your head in.  “I’m an idiot.”  He whines, recovering not a moment later. “Sometimes I wonder if all the brainwashing didn’t end up frying my brain.”  There’s a moment of silence as his words settle over the two of you, and to an outsider, they would’ve just sounded like one big joke.  But you know Bucky.  Know him like the back of your hand.  His past is something that still bothers him, but even still he doesn’t want it to define him or how others treat him.

“You can be a real idiot sometimes.”  You giggle.  He shrugs innocently, a smile crossing his face.  Though his past haunts him, he does not like to be treated like some fragile victim because of it.  Even though you say them in a joking manner, your words comfort him significantly.  You never treated him like glass.

It’s nice, dancing with him like this.  No missions.  No teammates.  Just the two of you swaying together.  Lost in the moment, you almost don’t notice when you let yourself lay your head against his chest.  If it weren’t for him resting his chin on your head moments later, you may never have known you did that.

“Would it be idiotic of me to kiss you right now?”  His voice is quiet, scared that he’ll break the moment.  Your heart speeds up, words all but fleeing your mind.  When you look up at him again, you remind yourself why he’s even here in the first place and brush his request off as nothing more than part of the act.

“Uh, I mean, it would probably make Jenni ecstatic so if you really wa-”

“Not for them, Doll.  For me.”

Oh.  Well, that debunked that theory.

“Why would you want to kiss me?”  You ask quietly, shrinking in on yourself in your beautiful dress.

“Doll.  I’m the one who’s supposed to be slow on the uptake, at least I have an excuse - being several decades behind the times and all that.”

He stares at you expectantly, eyes soft and lips curved into a tentative smile.  Suddenly it hits you, and you gasp so loudly you think you may have swallowed your tongue.

“Bucky Barnes...do you...like me?”  Once again, Bucky’s boisterous laugh sends your heart galloping as he throws his head back in amusement.

“Give the little lady a prize!”

“Oh, don’t go all Coney Island on me right now you big oaf...You like me...”  You test the words again, reveling in how they feel so right on your tongue when you’ve been hoping for them for so long.

“I think we’ve already established that.”  He chuckles, then suddenly he’s unable to look you in the eyes.  “But, uh, don’t feel like this has to change anything.  I-I mean, I did just spring this on you, I understand if you don’t feel the same-”

“Don’t feel the same?!  Jeez, Bucky, how blind can you be, I was going to send you a panty pic for god’s sake!”  Your voice is a hiss of a whisper and you desperately hope that none of your more conservative family members are within earshot.  Bucky has the audacity to look confused.

“I thought you were going to send it to just play along with my joke?”  You could smack him.

“Who send someone a nude as a joke, Barnes?”  You deadpan, cocking an eyebrow.  It takes a few moments of sheepish struggling before Bucky can find the right words.

“Fair point.  Sooooo.  What does this mean?”

“It means you should kiss me, dumbass.”  A blinding smile overtakes his face, and you’re sure you’re wearing a grin just as wide.

“Ma’am, yes ma’am.”  Slowly, tentatively fingers are carding through your hair, pulling you ever closer to this furnace of a man.  He smiles shyly at you, you echoing the action as you bring your palms to rest on his chest and give you support as you rock forward on your tiptoes, capturing his lips in a gentle kiss.

Sweet, soft lips move with your own as his hands come to a stop to cradle your head and waist as you all but melt against him.  His stubble scratches against your chin, his hands coming up to cup your face.  One calloused and warm, the other smooth and cool.  Two warring sensations that you knew you’d never be able to live without.

“Oh, yuck!  Get a room, Y/N/N!”  Will calls from another spot on the dance floor, but you’re far too lost in Bucky’s touch to give one single shit.  Bucky, however, is painfully aware that he is surrounded by your family, and though he could take any of them with both hands tied behind his back, Bucky is a gentleman.  And he doesn’t want to let himself get too carried away with an audience.  “Ow!”  Will’s voice grabs your attention again, and you notice Jenni’s sister chastising him as he rubs the back of his head.

“Aw, man.”  Bucky teasingly says.  “I was gonna do that.”

It’s hard saying goodbye to your family, their presence over the past few days reminding you of how much you’d really missed this.  Luckily, the thought of returning to your ragtag Avengers family softens the separation a little bit.

That, and the fact that Bucky was by your side every step of the way.  He hugs your family goodbye with the same intensity you do, promising he’ll see them again soon.  Jenni holds you to that.

When you get back to the tower, you’re more than ready for some time to yourself, maybe a nap - with 1 superhuman pillow perhaps?  But those plans are shelved the second you walk through the common room, hand in hand with Bucky.

“Pay up, Lang,”  Tony says at the sight of the two of you, barely even glancing up.  Somewhere in the other room, you hear Scott before you see him.

“Damn it!”  He says, skidding around the corner with Sam and Steve hot on his heels.  At the sight of the two of you, Scott groans while Sam and Steve grin ear to freaking ear.  “Seriously, you guys couldn’t wait until you got back to bang?”

“Oh for-we didn’t ba-hang on a second, Tony did you guys bet on us?”  The billionaire shrugs before accepting the twenty-dollar bill Scott begrudgingly slides his way

“Oh, c’mon, Y/N.  You’ve seen the movies, read the books.”  Suddenly, he looks at you over his reading glasses, lazily gesturing between you and Bucky.  “No one who looks at each other the way you two do does the whole ‘fake couple’ bit without falling in love.”  And with that, Stark tucks the cash into his pocket and returns to whatever gadget he’s fiddling with.

“Ok, but the important thing is that they’re in looove.”  Sam all but sings as he flings an arm over Bucky’s shoulder.  The latter violently shrugs his arm off with an eye roll.  “So, tell me, how did it happen?”

“Who made it happen?”  Steve clarifies with a raised eyebrow.

“Oh god, don’t tell me you two bet on who would confess.”

“Y/N, I would never...tell you that.”  The little shit grins at you, batting his eyes.  You groan, dropping Bucky’s had to make your way out of the living room.  However, before you can make it very far, Bucky’s speaking.

“Well, it’s hard to say, Y/N was the first to voice is.”  Steve’s victory yelp and outstretched palm towards Sam grabs your attention enough for you to stop and watch the spectacle. “You bet against me?!  Thanks, Punk.”  

“Well, Steve has always believed in the underdog.  Plus, it’s you, Buck.  It took you weeks before you could talk to me.”  Beside you, Steve points in your direction as if to say ‘she’s not wrong.’

The blonde shrugs, but the brunette levels him with a smirk, casting his gaze your way.  You don’t like the mischievous look in his eyes.  “I doubt we would’ve come clean at all, had Y/N not shown me her panties.”

The room falls silent, all eyes falling on you and your jaw that is now taking up residence on the floor where it fell only mere moments ago.

“Bucky!”  Ok, admittedly, you didn’t mean to screech like that.  Sam, however, doesn’t seem to mind as he hoops loudly, the bet completely forgotten.

“Oh, now, this I have got to hear.”

Wondering when I’ll post next? Check out my Posting Schedule!

TAGS:

TRUE LOVE TAGS:

@bxtchybrie , @sergeantjamesbarnes107th , @itsanotheravengersimaginesblog , @blackcoffeeandgreenteaforme , @james-bionic-barnes , @mickeyl322 , @stank-tower , @lostinspace33 , @thecrownedrose , @nikkitia7 , @redroomproperty , @magpiegirl80 , @fifi1433 , @knittingknerdy , @specs15 , @justareader , @metalarmandredstar , @agentsofcap , @marvel-lucy , @pickylittlebitch , @shamvictoria11 , @twistedfate108 , @tori-medusa-belongs-to-bucky , @too-many-fandoms-and-shitposting, @allinhishands , @hellomissmabel , @mizzzpink , @smexy-bucky-waifu , @annwhojumps , @avengerofyourheart , @saffreelove , @palaiasaurus64 , @flowercrownsandmetallicarms , @sexyvixen7 , @armenian-nerd, @thiddlestoff , @callingmrsbarnes , @avengebuckybarnes , @splaine-to-me , @to-be-a-sunshine , @heismyhunter , @miladycollie , @4theluvofall , @sebastianbarnesandchrisrogers , @writingourwildestemodreams , @imadandelion-yourearose, @sebbymylove16, @harrysbbby, @italyand5soslover283, @gingerbatchwife,@httpbarnes, @subtletynotwithstanding, @panickingwiththefalloutboys, @hardcorehippos, @ryverpenrad, @stellarfairie, @nativesebby, @violentlyfarts, @dianelogan, @mrtinslydia, @ladylizzieofdarbyshire, @unidentifiedanonfics, @microscopicmonsters, @elohunnie, @ifoundlove-x0vanessa0x, @paprika0437

BUCKY BABES:

@meganlane84 , @thewinterher0 , @winter-in-wakanda , @221bshrlocked , @iamkaties111003 , @castiel-barnes , @creideamhgradochas , @sebbytrash , @nykitass , @livenicebebeautiful , @slickblitz , @supersoldier-buckybarnes , @jarnesbrnes , @my-wings-will-heal, @octopishisahybridanimal, @harleyscheekheart, @leoberosis, @da-sebooty-be-plentiful, @jamesbarncs, @thenightmarebeforesam, @mermaidinplaid, @gucci—garbage, @siliverin, @ageekybookworm, @nilly-willy , @musichowler, @mermaidinplaid, @theliarone, @rebelfleur22

LET’S PLAY PRETEND TAGS:

@l4life, @julesthequirky, @happy-pooter, @angelsofalliteration, @mlehbleh, @maximofos, @fuckthatfeeling, @marvel-fan-queen, @buckyisthepuresthuman,  @sicparvismagnaxi, @jamesbbarnes17, @some-emo-ass-poetry, @natalia-romvnova, @the-mrs-cap-evans, @savetoreadzx, @alyxandriamac, @just-add-butter, @anotherotter , @crazybunny02-blog , @spnthefam, @marie-is-in-the-dark

[askauradonprep]

About That Super Long Playlist

Long information post behind the cut! It’s pretty much the songs in the stages of the crew’s relationship.

First Round of Recruiting

1 What About Us 2 At the End of the Day 3 How Far I’ll Go 4 Brave 5 Anthem of a Runaway 6 Come Back (Ella Eyre) 7 She Got the Best of Me 8 Glad You Came 9 You Walked In 10 You’re Beautiful 11 You Don’t Know Me 12 Enchanted 13 Felt Good On My Lips 14 Girl Crush 15 Crashed 16 Do It For Her 17 Who Are You When I’m Not Looking 18 Wildest Dreams 19 Started With a Song

Rise to Power

20 You and Me 21 Bad Reputation 22 Playing With the Big Boys 23 I Bring the Darkness (End of Days) 24 Warrior 25 Let It Go

Descendants 2

26 What’s My Name 27 Here Comes the Thunder 28 One Way or Another 29 Greatest Show on Earth 30 The Edge of Glory 31 One Day More 32 Dyin’ Ain’t So Bad 33 You’re Going Down 34 Hit Me With Your Best Shot 35 Look Down 36 King of Anything 37 Rich 38 Fly 39 It’s Goin’ Down

Uma Leaving

40 Evermore 41 If Only 42 The Winner Takes It All 43 It’s Over Isn’t It

Rough Mental Health Period

44 Supergirl 45 Ring of Fire 46 Monster 47 Little Toy Guns 48 Mayday 49 Cry 50 Bad Day 51 Because of You 52 Burning House 53 Stilettos 54 Out of the Woods 55 Ask Me How I Know 56 Tomorrow 57 Landslide 58 Better Man 59 Done You Wrong 60 Stupid Boy 61 Chasing Pavements

Uma’s Return

62 Girl on Fire 63 Keep Holding On 64 Umbrella 65 Make You Feel My Love 66 If You’re Going Through Hell (Before the Devil Even Knows You’re There) 67 I’ll Stand By You 68 Safe & Sound 69 Dancing On My Own 70 Wanted 71 Innocent 72 Invisible 73 It’s Okay To Cry 74 Break On Me 75 Let It Out 76 Here Comes A Thought 77 She Will Be Loved 78 Everytime

Recovery

79 The Good Stuff 80 My Life Would Suck Without You 81 Just Give Me A Reason 82 For The Long Run 83 Shake It Out 84 I Ain’t Giving Up On You 85 True Colors 86 Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain) 87 Warrior 88 Here’s To Us 89 Little Girl 90 Mine 91 Fly 92 War Paint  93 I Won’t Let Go 94 Clean

Comeback

95 Royals 96 So What 97 Still Not Giving Up 98 Back in Black 99 Bad Blood 100 Angel With a Shotgun 101 Payback 102 Another One Bites the Dust

Second Recruiting Period

103 We’re Going to Be Friends 104 Worth a Shot 105 Enchanted (Owl City)* 106 Break Up In The End 107 I Would’ve Loved You Anyway 108 Replace Your Heart* 109 Come Back Song 110 Let’s Be Us Again 111 All Together Now 112 Jessie’s Girl 113 I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You 114 Both Of You 115 Bury the Hatchet 116 Team 117 Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now 118 I Will Follow You Into the Dark 119 I've Got Your Back* 120 Ain’t No Stopping Us Now

Hooking Up

121 Play It Again 122 Love Will Do That 123 Ready to Run 124 I Don’t Dance 125 Hold My Beer 126 As She’s Walking Away 127 Make You Mine 128 See About A Girl 129 Merry Go ‘Round 130 Johnny & June 131 Somebody to Love 132 She Won’t Be Lonely Long 133 Friday Night

Getting Together Officially

134 History in the Making 135 How to Love 136 Complicated 137 Heart Attack 138 Give Your Heart a Break 139 Strong Enough 140 Good to You 141 What Ifs 142 Yours If You Want It 143 Waterloo 144 Bring It On 145 Best Shot 146 Begin Again

Early Relationship

147 Love Me Like You Mean It 148 Cool With That 149 Just a Kiss 150 (Kissed You) Good Night 151 Feels Like That 152 My Girl 153 You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away 154 Dress 155 We Danced 156 Secret Love Song 157 The Fighter 158 I Like The Sound of That

Getting in Trouble on the Isle

159 Super Villain 160 Good Girls Go Bad 161 Came Here to Forget 162 Home Alone Tonight 163 Good Together 164 I’ll Be The Singer, You Be The Song 165 Bounty 166 Run 167 Bad Boys 168 Bad Girls

Partying

169 Fix A Drink 170 We’re All Right 171 What Was I Thinkin’? 172 Bonnie and Clyde 173 She’s My Kind of Crazy 174 Toxic 175 It Ain’t My Fault 176 Wild Things 177 Downtown Kids 178 Let’s Get Rowdy 179 Fastest Girl in Town 180 Somethin’ Bad 181 Me Against the Music 182 Somethin’ We Shouldn’t Do 183 Exstacy 184 Criminal 185 Like You Do 186 We Are Young 187 Setting the World On Fire 188 Die Young 189 Anthem 190 Kiss Me Quiet 191 Up All Night 192 Hurricane 193 Perfect Storm

Getting Closer

194 Quiet 195 Easy Silence 196 Soak Up The Sun 197 I Like Me Better 198 I Won’t Say (I’m In Love) 199 If I Ain’t Got You 200 You Are In Love 201 Clarity 202 Count Me In 203 Good Time 204 Halo 205 Just The Way You Are 206 Ours

Descendants 3

207 Not Ready to Make Nice 208 My Lullaby 209 Stronger (Under the Sea)

Getting Invited to Auradon

210 Long Live 211 Hall Of Fame 212 Peter Pan 213 That’s When You Know It’s Over 214 Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You) 215 Just Like You 216 Wasting All These Tears 217 Since U Been Gone 218 I Wonder 219 Praying 220 If I Die Young 221 A Little Bit Stronger 222 Survivor 223 Be Wherever You Are 224 Anywhere With You 225 We Are the Champions 226 Let It Go (Demi Lovato) 227 Fight Song 228 Eyes Open 229 Change

Dating In Auradon 

230 Kiss The Girl 231 Somewhere Only We Know 232 Always the Love Songs 233 They Don’t Know About Us 234 Blank Space 235 Womanizer

Going Public

236 She’s With Me 237 A Guy With A Girl 238 A Place In This World 239 Unforgettable 240 Fearless 241 Skydiving 242 Sparks Fly 243 Dirt Roads Scholar 244 Sunshine On the Line 245 Jumped Right In 246 This Is How We Roll 247 Cruise 248 Wastin’ Gas 249 Fast Cars and Freedom 250 Old Alabama 251 Shotgun Rider 252 400 Lux 253 Parking Lot Party 254 Beat Of the Music 255 L.A. Boyz

Auradon Partying

256 Here For The Party 257 Up All Night 258 Raise Your Glass 259 Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) 260 Middle of a Memory 261 Cop Car 262 Crash My Party

Getting to the First ‘I Love You’

263 I’m Only Me When I’m With You 264 Can’t Say No 265 I See The Light 266 I Think I Love You 267 The Only Exception 268 A Thousand Years 269 Criminal 270 You Love Who You Love 271 Girlfriend 272 Hooked 273 I Hope You’re the End of My Story

Being Split Up By Auradon Prep

274 Stay Beautiful 275 One Number Away 276 Thinking ‘Bout You 277 I Hope You Dance 278 Sleepin’ Around 279 Think of You 280 More Than A Memory 281 Picture 282 Hung Up 283 Need You Now 284 I’m Comin’ Over 285 Just To Get To You 286 Hell Bent For Buffalo 287 Warm Safe Place

Feeling Hopeless

288 Like A Cowboy 289 Remind Me 290 Long Live The Night 291 Don’t You Wanna Stay 292 Runnin’ Outta Moonlight 293 Secret Love 294 Carrying Your Love With Me 295 Wherever Love Goes 296 I Could Use A Love Song 297 Colder Weather 298 Red 299 True Love 300 Highway Don’t Care 301 Say You Do

Fixing Things and Reuniting

302 Man in the Mirror 303 Die of a Broken Heart 304 Let’s Not Let It 305 I Won’t Give Up 306 Hey There Delilah 307 Mamma Mia 308 Where We Left Off 309 Stuck Like Glue 310 Style

Post-Reunification Relationship At Auradon Prep

311 Young Forever 312 Somewhere On A Beach 313 Cheap Seats 314 Firecracker 315 Somethin’ Stupid 316 My Best Friend 317 Lucky 318 You Won’t Ever Be Lonely 319 Do It With You 320 I Wanna Dance With Somebody 321 Somebody Like You 322 My Baby Loves Me 323 The Way You Love Me 324 Love Me Like That 325 Love Like You 326 H.O.L.Y.

Post-Graduation Adult Relationship

327 Next Stop, Anywhere* 328 I Hate Love Songs 329 One In A Million 330 Now That I Found You 331 Because You Love Me 332 For You 333 Good Kinda Love 334 Loving You Easy 335 We Found Love 336 We Weren’t Crazy 337 Because You Loved Me 338 Mean To Me 339 The World 340 Alright 341 Doin’ What She Likes 342 Somebody Wrote Love 343 Love Me Like There’s No Tomorrow 344 Yours 345 Hard To Love 346 That Kind of Beautiful 347 Jealous of the Sun 348 Never Comin’ Down 349 This Love 350 I Run To You 351 God Gave Me You 352 All About Her

Proposal and Engagement

353 That’s When You Know 354 Baby, I Love You 355 She’s In Love With the Boy 356 Amazed 357 The Rest of Our Lives 358 Lost In This Moment 359 It’s Your Love 360 Livin’ Our Love Song

Wedding and Honeymoon

361 For Just One Day Let’s Only Think About (Love) 362 Marry Me 363 Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not? 364 A Thousand Years Part 2 365 I Do 366 It’s A Beautiful Thing 367 I Got the Boy 368 Hold It Against Me 369 Black 370 I’ll Name The Dogs

Married, Childless Life

371 Your Man 372 No Such Thing As A Broken Heart 373 Come A Little Closer 374 Sky Stays This Blue 375 Dear Life

Kids Being Born

376 It Takes A Man 377 Life Changes 378 You’re Having My Baby 379 Isn’t She Lovely 380 You’re Gonna Be 381 Chasin’ Girls 382 Laughed Until We Cried 383 Who Wouldn’t Wanna Be Me 384 Hey Pretty Girl 385 Who Would You Be

Post-Kids Life

386 Superman 387 I’m Already There 388 Home 389 Woman, Amen 390 Good Morning Beautiful 391 A Woman Like You 392 All of Me 393 She’s Good For Me 394 Forever Love 395 I Walk The Line 396 Forever and Ever, Amen 397 You Make It Easy 398 My Wish 399 In Case You Didn’t Know 400 You’re Still The One 401 Just To See You Smile 402 I’ll Still Love You More 403 If You Ever Stop Loving Me 404 I’ll Always Love You 405 Die A Happy Man 406 Love Like Crazy 407 Remember When

Older Adults, Post Kids Growing Up

408 Moments 409 I Go Back 410 Then 411 I’d Love You All Over Again 412 Still Into You 413 In Color 414 Bless the Broken Road 415 Greatest Love Story

Legacy

416 For Good 417 I Was Here 418 Don’t Blink 419 Forever Rebels 420 Legends

* = Not on Spotify

[firenationskydominion]

Chapter 2: The Analysis of Ozai

Prisoner Ozai has been moved to a modern house on a distant volcano island, which is not known on Firenation maps as it’s in another dimension. A force field limits exiting the perimeter around the house. Another force field restricts the movements of the prisoner: he can be touched but when he shows aggression the field stuns. The house has advanced electronics to monitor all rooms.

  Ozai wakes in the morning, surprised to find himself in a comfy bed in silk sheets instead of his prison cell. He hears beautiful music and birds singing. It’s warm. He thinks: I must be dead, but not reborn. I feel alive, but this is too nice to be hell. A faint beep is heard regularly. It stops when he opens his eyes. He sees a white ceiling, he’s in a wooden bed. Drapes are drawn on one side of the room and a blinking white machine stands beside his bed. A shadow vanishes under the bed. His reflexes kick in. He jumps out of the bed and looks below it. Two blue eyes look back at him. A small animal with blue eyes, a long tail, cream colored with brown paws and snout looks at him. Like a batcat without wings, he thinks. The animal approaches and vocalizes something, then it runs off.

  He gets out of his bed and looks at his worn but toned body. He looks into the mirror. He has aged, but he trained in his cell. He is naked and follows the lights on the floor to another room. He remembers entering the pod and then having faded out. And a kiss. He is aroused but feels horribly sick at the same time.

  He is startled by a voice coming from a round sphere rolling around on the floor. A digital assistant who greets and welcomes him, shows him the bathroom, his wardrobe and the rooms amenities. Ozai is shocked by the advanced technology and confused, but happy to be free and able to clean up and put on proper Firenation clothing.

Please follow me the sphere says and leads him to a darkened room with a screen in the front. The sphere bids him to sit down and watch. A curtain opens up on the screen and the Fire nation throne room comes up.

  Courtroom

  Present Firelord Zuko, Avatar Aang, Judge Kanto, Jury members, Timelord Mya in the defense of former Firelord Ozai.

  JK:       You, Timelord Mya have come forward to demand an inquest into former Firelord Ozais imprisonment. Mya Timelord, would you like to give your opening statement?

  M:        Firelord Zuko, Avatar Aang, Judge Kanto, dear Jury. I have asked you to join me today to offer you a request. I am a time lord. Whenever I see an imbalance in the time space continuum I come and intervene. In this case I saw that the imprisonment of Ozai will lead to a spiral of violence which will plague your world for centuries and which will ultimately lead to the destruction of your civilization. Furthermore there are legal issues with his imprisonment which I want to elaborate in this court. This is why I have made the decision to intervene. I have a proposition for you. Hand Ozai over to me, as a prisoner. I will remove him from your world for the time being until he is reformed.

  JK:       In order to judge on your request we need witness accounts. Do you have witnesses?

  M:        Honourable Judge, I would like to call in Avatar Aang as witness.

JK:       Calling in Avatar Aang.

M:        Avatar Aang, was Ozai the first Firelord to pursue you?

A:         No, Azulon started the quest.

M:        Did Ozai start the Hundred Year war?

Aang:   No. Sozin started the war. It was then continued with great advances by Azulon and then Ozai took over.

M:        So did Ozai kill all the airbenders and the water tribes?

Aang:   No Azulon and Sozin did.

M:        Was Ozai involved in any military offensives before he took over the reins three years ago?

Aang:   No, Iroh led the offensive and siege on Ba Sing Se.

M:        So we can only judge three years in which Ozai took over from his father and brother?

Aang:   Yes, that’s right.

M:        Do you agree that Ozai was not involved in any of the crimes committed by other family members before his reign?

Aang:   ....Yes.

M:        How about the outer rim of Firenation and the colonies. Is there any cultural exchange or economic exchange between the colonies and the Fire Nation?

Aang:   Yes, a few of the cities have really grown in the colonies and are thriving.

M:        So I formally object that we blame Ozai for any failings, which were done by any other Firelord and also acknowledge that apart from his later continuation of the ongoing offensive on Ba Sing Se, his main objective was to increase trade exchange.

JK:       Objection approved.

M:        Then let's see. Ozai planned to scorch the Earth nation, but was defeated by you before he managed to do that.

A:         Yes, that's true.

M:        Crazy guy, wanting to burn a whole country down, isn't it? Like someone on a rage spree burning down his neighbours house. If he had been a farmer, we'd call him mad for burning down his neighbours crops and give him therapy, maybe lock him up in a mental institution. But it’s his bad luck that he's the Firelord and a powerful fire bending master under the magnifying force of a comet. He clearly had a manic meltdown. So we lock him up in a cold cell without daylight. Do you think opportunity facilitated the crime in this case?

A:         I guess so.

JK:       No assumptions, please.

M:        Fine, my angle here is that we are blaming Ozai for an opportunity he only had because he was pushed into that position. He is manic-depressive. The pressure of the siege led him to experience a manic episode. If we judge him, we must also judge the fire sages and all noble people of the Fire Nation who expected him to do something outrageous, to make his mark as the second born pretty boy son. They nurtured and fed his manic state of mind. But this is not a trial of fire nation society, but of one man. Not a monster, not a demon, just one guy who went on a crazy rampage burning everything because for one moment during Sozins comet he could. A man, who had nothing to his name - except being the second born prince. Who spent his youth not chasing girls but training firebending on Ember island and training his abs. Who - without experience or any formal military role - became the Firelord. A man with a troubled family. A guy who perfected his skills of firebending. The only thing that was left to him after his wife left. A craft, which you ultimately took from him.

A:         Yes I did.

M:        Firebenders need sunlight. If you lock an earthbender or a waterbender into a cellar, he will still be exposed to his elements several times a day. But a firebender in a cold hole below earth is particularly cruel. He can’t bend fire, but denying him sunlight is torture.

A:         ....

M:        So why do you all fear him so much still? You have taken all he had. Let me deal with the rest. All I ask from you is to leave him to me. I will take him to another dimension where we will work on his issues. The chances of progress are far better there than here. Furthermore, he won't be able to contact any of his former allies. He’ll be safely locked away.

  As second witness I call in Fire Lord Zuko:

  M:        Firelord, you're the son of Ozai. I understand the pain he has brought on you, like all of us will. But tell me, when you were little, were things different then?

Z:         Well, I suppose yes. I remember him as my father. He was always very strict but we also had good times on Ember island on the beach.

M:        When did things go sour?

Z:         When Lu Ten fell in the war and my father was suddenly pressured by many noble people of the Firenation to become Firelord.

M:        How do you mean pressured?

Z:                     They had all lost family and General Irohs reaction - although very understandable - enraged many of the families who had pulled through similar tragedies.

M:        Was your father used to this kind of pressure?

Z:         No, I don't think so.

M:        Did he have any military role or training?

Z:         No, he was a master firebender and was more into expanding that craft. He wanted to be the best and do new innovative stuff.

M:        So we have a man who is pushed to a spot, where he has no experience and where his hunger for power ultimately backfired. And he paid a big price for his inquest, didn't he.

Z:         Yes, my grandfather, FireLord Azulon asked him to kill me.

M:        And yet you are alive!

Z:         Yes, my mother found a way to deal with Azulon and went to exile for that.

M:        Did you know that your mother had married Ozai on an arranged marriage?

Z:         Yes, but on amicable terms.

M:        Did you know that she was engaged before and who kept up that relationship even after she became Firelord Ozai's wife?

Z:         !!!!!

M:        I am sorry to bring this up. But this was the moment when things went sour for Ozai. She told your father that her former fiancé was your father, but Ozai knew that she was lying. She did it to hurt him. He in turn promised her to treat you like a bastard son, so that you would turn out different than him. He loves her still and he loves you, in a twisted way. This culminated in your scorched face and your exile to get you away from him. He still loves your mother, Firelord. And all he does is a futile attempt to get her back.

Z:         No, this can't all be true!!

M:        I am the Timelord, I see it clearly. I can play it to you, but I want to spare you the pain. Ozai is a conflicted man, full of doubts and a volatile self-esteem, who easily falters under extreme pressure. He is manic-depressive. The loss of his wife tossed him into a manic-depressive cycle. The phoenix king is his manic side. He was left by all women in his life. His mother died young, his beloved wife played him and does so still now. Locking him up is not going to produce any betterment or results.

  JK:       I want to see if there is any base to your accusations. We will retreat to the private chamber and adjourn this session in 20 Minutes.

  Twenty minutes later back in the courtroom.

  JK:       I am reopening the session after the break. The accusations of Mya Timelord were accurate. I am sorry, Firelord Zuko.

Z:         This cannot be....

M:        Things are not always the way they look on the surface. Overcome your own hunger for revenge and take an unbiased view on Ozai.

M:        As third witness I want to call in the brother of the accused, Retired General Iroh.

JK:       Calling in Retired General Iroh of the Fire Nation.

  M:        General Iroh, you fought for years for the Fire Nation?

I:          Yes...

M:        In that function you were responsible for directly slaying hundreds of people during the war. Yet you changed sides after your own son died. It took a personal hit to make you fall, the fate of others never left you unhinged.

I:          It was a bloody war on all sides...

M:        Yet, If you had not gone travelling in those lands during exile, but stayed in FireNation, do you think you would be this amicable towards the other cultures of this world?

I:          No, I don't think I would.

M:        So why do you think that Ozai, who in fact has never left FireNation but was brainwashed by all his family to hate and look down on anything other, should be lenient? He is a product of his upbringing and of his surroundings. Do you think that he might have changed if you had become Firelord and he had gone to exile instead?

I:          (ponders... ) I don't know. He is very strong willed, power hungry, ambitious and has a loose temper. But he might very well have.

M:        So in deed, we have someone who never really had the opportunity to learn other views, who is blinded by his convictions, who has manic episodes and we lock him up in a cell where he simmers in his own soup of prejudice, depression and misanthropy. And we call that progress...?

I: ...

  Zuko:    We cannot let him go like this. Not after all that he did!

M:        We are better than him, aren't we? And dont' forget. He will not be free. He will be in a maximum security facility in another dimension, with me. He will have access to daylight. He will have no contact to other people unless it's in alignment with his parole regulations. So are we better than Firelord Ozai?

Aang:   I guess so. In order to create balance we must adjust the scale. Punishment is not productive, I agree on that.

M:        A dictator is the sum of function inducing fear, appearance and power. You have taken away the function, the fear and the power, what left is just the guy. Let me deal with the guy. You can then focus on rebuilding this world without his shadow. Let his shadow be my problem.

  JK:       The Jury will now retreat to consult with the Firelord and the avatar.

  They left to consult behind closed doors.

  JK:       We are concluding our session with my closing statement and verdict. The jury together with the Firelord and the Avatar have listened to all objections and inquests of Mya the Timelord. After weighing in the testimonies and the evidence we comply with Timelord Mya's request, under the condition that we get weekly progress reports on the developments and any change of his parole regulations are defined by this panel. The jury will drink the potion of lost thoughts and will forget all said today. I herewith sign the sentence.

  Mya approached the Judge and scanned the sentence with a blue stone.

  The film ends and Ozai is utterly confused. What is a time lord? Why Timelord and not Timelady? And why does she take such a great interest in him? He feels exposed and vulnerable. He hates that feeling. He almost wishes to be back in his cell. He sits there clenching his fists, trying to control the anger. Who is she to drag his life into the open like this and his feelings for Ursa, his rage, his sadness, his will to outshine his misery? At least the jury is not going to spill the beans to the public. He gets up, angry and looking for answers.

  The sphere offers to show him the house. Ozai follows. The house is modern with wood set in nature. Exotic plants and birds are outside the windows. The sphere takes him through a long corridor to a large living room with a high fireplace and gallery on top lining the room. He imagines the magnificent fire and instinctively poses his hand to ignite. Then he remembers his loss of firebending. The room is decorated with antique Asian and Polynesian artworks. Many dragons, which remind him of home. Wherever he walks the beautiful music follows him. The room smells of jasmine and sandalwood. Two beautiful blue-eyed cats are roaming around and a crow watches him attentively from the gallery. On one side, he sees a door to a dining room and another one to a vast library. He goes into the library and sees that most books are not in Kanji. On the mantle are little pictures of Mya and others in silver frames.

  The dining room is empty, but a fruit bowl makes him realize that he’s no longer sick and how hungry he is, so he grabs an apple. The other fruit look unknown to him. He leaves back for the living room which has a french window to the terrace.

  Ozai is met on the terrace in front of a infinity pool by Mya. She is wearing a sheer blue and green gown over a bikini. She has flowers in her hair. He gets hard immediately seeing her like that.

  M:        Welcome to the island, Ozai. Thank you for being my guest.

O:        I saw that ridiculous trial. I did not think that you despise me that much... dragging my life out like that. I thought you‘d fight honourably.

M:        I don’t despise you, I am trying my best to understand you. I wanted you out, I got you out. Sometimes a good result requires bad methods. I am not an angel. I wanted you to see it. No secrets, full transparency.

O:        So what is this all about? What am I doing here?

M:        We are here to work on your issues. I did not mean to hurt you. I am sorry.

O:        So you think I am a crazy man?

M:        You’re an overambitious man who did bet on the wrong horse. You took a plausible path, albeit not the most ... humanitarian one. We have opposing views on a few things. But we can work together.

O:        Tell me, what am I doing here? Am I your slave? Who are you to distort my life like this.

M:        Your story, dear Ozai, does not end in a dim prison cell. You still have a big role to play - a role which will dwarf being the Phoenix king- and to redeem yourself. I will guide you on your journey.

O:        I am leaving...

M:        Make no mistake, my love, you are still a prisoner. But in a more agreeable jail. If you try to run a force field will contain you. Same for violence. But you are free to move about in and around the house, if you follow my instructions. Our conversation is recorded for further parole hearings. So consider well, if you prefer the cold dark cell.

  Ozai seems to be mad, but then he closes his eyes. When he opens them he’s much calmer. He looks around, sees the vastness of the sea, the mountain rising at the other horizon, the surrounding exotic jungle. His spirits rise. He smiles. There are flocks of birds flying over the sea and the scent of flowers is in the air. And the sun is shining full force. He takes off his cloak, stands in the sunlight, showing off his abs, with his eyes closed and fuels in on the sunlight.

  M:        Are you enjoying the sun?

O:        Yes, I feel the sun on my skin! Finally! I feel much stronger. Much more alive.

M:        I am glad to hear that.

O:        You call me a madman and yet you kissed me...

M:        You looked very... kissable. You’re interesting. I am not afraid of you, although maybe I should be.

O:        How did I get here?

M:        Sorry, I had to sedate you for transport for this location. You‘re not supposed to know where you are.

O:        We are not in Fire Nation territory?

M:        No, we’re not. I’ll tell you more in due time. Let‘s just soak in the sun, shall we?

  Both lie in the sun on loungers in silence for a while.

  M:        Do you ever get sunburnt?

O:        Never...

M:        We should record a session for your dear son.

O:        Spare me with requests from my son. I don‘t want to think about him now. I want to feel alive again. I want to look at the sea, at the sky, the sun and at you! I want to feel the energy and feel alive from core to shell.

M:        You look quite alive to me. Alive enough to answer my questions.

  Ozai felt a short tight squeeze on his chest from the force field. He gasped for air, looked at Mya in anger and then complied.

  Session 4:

  M:        What would you do at home on such a lovely day?

O:        We were at war. I did not have the luxury to enjoy sunny days.

M:        Before you became Fire Lord?

O:        Training outdoors, firebending and Agni Kai against other firebenders. Family. Maybe Ember island.

M:        And as Fire Lord? How did a typical day look?

O:        I was woken by a servant, prepped and dressed. Then I had breakfast, sometimes with my generals or my daughter. Then strategic meetings. In the evening I’d meet with influential families to gain their support for the war.

M:        How did you relax?

O:        ???

M:        You’re so intense, there must be a way in which you let off steam... Making love to beautiful girls and/or boys?

O:        I won’t answer that (embarrassed)

M:        You cannot just pile on without letting off some steam...

O:        Fire bending... training forms... Agni Kai...probably.

M:        Now without your bending powers you must be quite stressed out.

O:        I meditate.

M:        Do you achieve balance?

O:        I feel the rage.

M:        Too much energy?

O:        I don’t like being confined. I was now confined for two years.

M:        Let’s try something. Follow me. Sit down to meditate. Don’t be afraid, it’s nothing to be worried about.

So, are you calm and relaxed?

O:        I can’t relax.

M:        Give me your hands. We will make a journey in your mind.

O:        No, thank you. I have no intention to. Last time it left me shattered when I woke up and had to face the grim reality of my prison cell.

M:        Fair enough, then let’s just sit together and enjoy the sun, enjoy being alive and have some good tea.

O:        Where is the tea?

M:        Would you like some? I have some exquisite Gyokuro tea...worthy for a celebration on your first day with me.

  Mya goes, gets the kettle, sets up tea in a tiny Japanese tea set. Ozai watches her and is feeling very hot. But he also feels that he‘s restricted by the force field, which creates an invisible pulsating cage around him.

  M:        Your tea, Lord Ozai.

O:        Now I feel alive.

  We drink tea silently. Awkward silence. He looks relaxed and musters something akin to a smile. I feel like kissing him, but I restrain myself.

  Then I pour him a cherry blossom tea. He closes his eyes and enjoys the smell. When he opens his eyes I see desire in them.

  He slowly drinks tea and watches me with his sly ember eyes, like a fox eyeing his prey. His hands reach forward to touch my breasts. He is surprised that there is no stun. I move towards him and whisper in his ears that I’ve stopped the tape and his cage. His arms grab me and we kiss. He drags me to his bed. He undresses me slowly until I am naked. His lips and tongue are on my neck. I feel his breath on my skin. I feel his tongue in my mouth, the heat from his body. The smell of his body. I feel his possessiveness and the frenzy of a madman, the fire and the danger. I taste the salty taste of his sweaty skin. We make love and I enjoy every bit of him until I lose myself. When he did he had gripped the mattress of the lounger, which was now scorched.

  O:        This feels so good, you feel so good, I have been waiting for this for so long...

  He smelled the burnt linen and opened his eyes.

  O:        Did I do this?

  He looked at the lounger incredulously.

  M:        Remember, Aang said you can‘t bend fire to harm others. So if you find a new approach to firebending, your powers might come back. Sex might be a first clue. We might call it Firefucking or maybe fuckbending?

O:        Then let‘s fuckbend ten times a day... he whispered and grinned ear to ear. For the first time since I knew him, he seemed happy.

  He was exhausted and I covered us up with a blanket. I took a shower and then I jumped into the pool and he followed me.

  O:        the water is warm!

M:        Yes, I know you folk don‘t like cold water.

He pinned me against the edge and kissed me. He looked tired.

I was getting aroused again, but I worried about him, so I got out.

  M:        Prison surely strained you. We’ll do a health check to see if you have any imbalances.

O:        What health check?

M:        Heart, BP, Blood, the usual.

  We went to the medical bay.

  M:        Are you cold. You look queasy.

O:        I am not used to stand around like this, exposed in front of a pretty woman.

M:        We’re not being naughty now, sorry. O: My dick thinks otherwise.

M:        Don’t worry, the check will be over soon and then we can continue our fuckbending research.

  Does medical check.

  M:        Your body has suffered in jail, but we can patch you up.

  Moves to desk, mixes a protein drink.

  M:        Drink this, it will help you recover your strength. You’ll need all of it for our journey.

O:        Is the journey spiritual or are we really going away? I am starting to like it here.

M:        For the time being we’re here, but our time together is a journey.

  We went to the dining room, both hungry like wolves. The sphere had already served different dishes. I was amused to see that Ozai put huge amounts of hot sauce on everything.

  After dinner I pulled him into his bedroom. I kissed him and he took me slowly from behind.

  I lay in his arms and he caressed my face.

O:        You‘re such a strange girl...

M:        No one called me a girl since ages...

O:        Why did you really save me?

M:        You‘re too hot to rot in jail... and then as I said, the world is in turmoil and I need your help. I‘ll tell you all about it tomorrow.

We went to bed and he fell asleep at once.

  Ozai woke up, me in his arms.

O:        You‘re still here.

M:        Yes, I have been watching you sleep.

O:        Why would you do that?

M:        In sleep we are unmasked. I see your pain, your fear of abandonment. You still love her, don‘t you?

O:        Did I say her name in my dreams?

M:        ... She hurt you, left you, married another guy she was dating behind your back. And yet, you love her still. You‘re a good guy, Ozai.

O:        (laughing) No one ever called me that before!

M:        It‘s true. You‘re hurting. Your whole self esteem came crashing down when she ditched you for a farmer. I feel your sadness.

I kissed his head

M:        I mean it. You‘re so loyal, that it breaks you. You got played and everyone needs to suffer because you can‘t punish those who have hurt and abandoned you.

O:        Whenever I see my kids, I see her.

M:        And in her you see your loving mother who also left you so early. You‘re haunted, you need to let go, move on, build a new life. All the violence in the world will not turn the clock back. I know you feel like destroying everything, but it’s not a solution. We’ll fix your broken heart and your complicated life. We‘ll work on it, here.

O:        Is that the journey?

M:        Part of it. Remember: you now have the freedom to just be Ozai, without the Firelord burden. People here will like you for who you are, not what crown you wear. You don‘t have to induce fear to be loved and respected.

O:        Can you bend time? Make all this go away.

M:        I so much wish I could. Doesn’t work that way, sorry.

I hugged him and whispered that I’d stay by his side.

O:        Until you leave me too.

M:        No, my love, you will leave me eventually, but I will always remember and preserve you in my heart.

Ozai closed his eyes. Then he suddenly grabbed and hugged me, held me and kissed my head, then my lips.

  O:        Mya, you’re a gift from the gods!

M:        Ozai, some people consider me a God.

O:        Oh, I just fucked a goddess, my goddess of fuckbending.

  Mya left to shower and to get dressed. Ozai let the hot water pour over his body. When he got dressed, Mya was already gone. Ozai went out to find her.

  He stood in the living room and saw Mya on the terrace. She was sitting at a table. The cats, a black squirrel and the crow were listening to her attentively. Then he noticed that all the shrubs around her were full of songbirds. The ground was full of spiders. She let the crow fly, it let out a craw and was answered by a thousandfold other crow voices. The cats and squirrel ran, so did the wave of spiders. All songbirds flew out and darkened the sun for a brief moment, before they also flew away.

  She turned around.

M:        Ozai, you are here.

O:        What was this?

M:        My messengers flew out. I need to know about the state of the worlds.

  Mya smiled and approached him. Ozai felt uneasy. This was a type of magic that he had never seen in his world. He was weary of women with mystic powers, he had been burnt once already...

  M:        We have had two wonderful days, but now it is time to get to work.

O:        What are you talking about?

M:        I have to hand in a report with your progress and we need to make quick strides. Follow me!

  Mya led Ozai through the garden downhill over stone steps. At the bottom of the path they reached a road and next to it was an arena with stone figures.

M:        This is the place where we will rediscover your firebending - without carnal pleasures. You can train here.

O:        But my bending is gone.

M:        We will see. I want you to be ready to use your craft when your bending powers return. I can also show you some new tricks. Clench a fist, yes, but stronger. Don’t let go!

  Mya pointed with one finger and then hit his nerve superfast. His fist sprang open involuntarily.

O:        Aah! What was that?!?

M:        Speed, element of surprise and detailed knowledge of human anatomy.

O:        My hand is still sore!

M:        I use this if my opponent has a dagger.

O:        Honourable warriors don’t fight like this.

M:        Not all foes have honour.

O:        ...

M:        Show me some forms, I want to learn.

  Mya and Ozai spent the day practicing forms. As a Timelord Mya had the unique talent to empathize so greatly with people that she would literally replicate them and their abilities. Ozai was a great firebending teacher and more patient than Mya would have expected. After an hour Ozais hands started to smoke and a small flame showed. He was very excited.

  O:        My power is returning! But, how?

M:        You are using firebending for altruistic reasons: you are teaching and helping me. And you’re a motivated teacher. As the Avatar said: to not use it for evil purposes or against others.

  After hours passed, Mya had also managed to produce some smoke and Ozai left again for the house.

  In the evening Mya wrote her first report.

 Report 1: Week 1

This is an account of prisoner Ozais progress.

  Ozai is a deeply conflicted person who has detachment issues and who resorts to rash decisions when under extreme internal or external pressure. He has a manic-depressive disorder. In his manic episodes, he shows megalomaniac tendencies, while his depressive side is more subdued. In those episodes, he tends to make self-harming decisions.

  Without the shell of his function as Firelord there are traces of kindness. His empathy needs cultivation.

We have these points, which I want to stress in him:

Detachment and inner balance

Cultivation of empathy

Balance

Coping with stressors to avoid triggers

Developing maturity

Sense of self

Responsible decision-making

 The same evening, cozied up in his arms in front of the fireplace, we also recorded another session:

 Session 5:

 M:        So, we’re back on tape. Ozai, how are you?

O:        Fine. I feel good.

M:        Zuko was worried about your dignity. All intact?

O:        You showed me that nasty trick and my hand feels dead... other than that all dignified and good.

M:        Anything you want to say?

O:        I wish that you could also talk to Azula, but I worry for your safety if you did.

M:        With her I would take on another approach, not one that might remind her of her mother.

O:        I tried my best when they were small, but being a father and a firelord at war, it is hard not to confuse both roles. One gets used to ... violence.

M:        Everything was meant to fail from the beginning. And all parents fail their kids. They’re both alive and fierce.

O:        Zuko hates me. I am concerned about Azula. My wife... I should have protected Azula from her scheming. I was totally focused on myself, Firenation and the siege on Ba Sing Se.

M:        Are you convinced that Zuko hates you? Does it make you sad?

O:        Sad?...

M:        He‘s the one pestering me about your dignity and your wellbeing...

O:        ... I wasn‘t aware of that. It pleases me to hear that. But that boy is just too soft to stand the hardships of being a Firelord. All those Agni Kais I had to fight against usurping generals to strengthen my position. Some of which I had considered personal friends! All those hours I had to learn tactics, strategy, negotiation skills... only to find out that sometimes brute force was the only viable solution. He hasn’t fought or learnt one of these lessons. His days are numbered.

M:        Here, a jasmine tea flower. Let me pour you a cup. Close your eyes, feel it.

O:        A symbol of love?

M:        Of love and redemption.

O:        I guess I could use both...

M:        You can get love from me, redemption is yours to make.

 Ozai was tired after the recording. I sat next to him and took his hand.

 M:        Things will improve.

O:        There are still people who consider me the real god given Firelord. Zuko should have killed me to take the throne.

M:        He cares too much about you to do that. Do you still want to be Firelord?

O:        More than anything else.

 I caressed his face, those beautiful warm coloured but cold eyes. He closed them. Was he yet revealing too much? He seemed sad. We sat next to each other for a while. Then he looked at me, got up and left. I found him in his room. As I wanted to enter, he bid me to leave.

O:        I am your prisoner. I want to be alone. Give me some privacy to meditate.

M:        Of course.

 I retreated.

 He sat down to meditate, but he could not concentrate. He had to think about her all the time. He was falling for her and he did not like much of what she said, although it felt true. He missed her touch, her voice, her body... he thought about her all the time. He was falling in love. His heart was on fire.

[redpensandgreenarrows]

HVFF Nashville wrap-up!

I think the shock has worn off enough for me to remember most of what happened ^_~. So, let’s dig in to the story of my first con!! :-) 

Sorry if this gets a little long, but I’m going to gush! THERE WILL BE SPOILERS so be warned! ^_^ Also, any pics I post are mine, please do not use without credit!!

HVFF Day #1

@ireland1733, @emmilynestill, @jedichick04, @laurabelle2930, and I all met up and headed into the con. I was so thankful to have a few HVFF veterans in our group, because I was able to follow their lead! Heading back to the autograph booths, we met up with @scu11y22 and @quant-um-fizzx. Stephen’s line was filling up quick, so we went to David’s booth because there was no one in his VIP line yet! 

Poor David. All the hugs to that man, because he didn’t fly in from Vancouver until that morning. Combining that fact with a flight delay, DR was running late (we were able to get the complete run down of his schedule from his con agent who we befriended while waiting in line X-D). In total we probably waited 2 hours or so for David to show up, but we found ways to pass the time. Hanging with this group of ladies is always a good time with many laughs and craziness. Plus, Stephen showed up during the midst of our waiting and since his booth was right next to David’s we got to stare at the pretty for as long as we wanted!! It took a few minutes for it to sink in that I was seeing the pretty IN PERSON. *sigh* it was lovely. 

--SIDE STORY-- While waiting for David, we got to watch Stephen take a picture with adorable little baby who was dress up in a green arrow onesie that was made to look like the Arrow jacket. It was precious! And the best part, we found out thanks to @hope-for-olicity - who was also waiting with us - that the baby’s name was Oliver! ADORABLE!

Finally David arrived! Immediately, he tried to grab SA’s attention, and wadded up a piece of paper or something and threw it at him. As Stephen slowly made his way over, David turned to all of us and said, “I gotta go hug my boyfriend.” A+ moment. I will forever live for the David/Stephen bromance.

When my moment finally came to meet David, I asked for a hug and he was all for it. I can back up everyone’s claim that David 100% gives the best hugs. They’re so big and teddy-bear like. For how muscly he is, David is super cuddly. I told him it was my first con and he said I was a natural. He signed the picture I picked out and I asked for his favorite Diggle quote (Stephen also signed this pic, so you’ll see his autograph too):

David: “Oliver, don’t.”

I also asked for a S6 spoiler. I never mentioned anything about Olicity or that I was an Olicity shipper. His immediate response was “Do you like weddings?” ;-)

This man is a precious cupcake and completely worth the wait. We bonded; it was beautiful. ^_^

Once we finished up with David, Stephen’s line amazingly had no one in the VIP section, so we jumped at the chance and he was even taking selfies that day!! Stephen’s line obviously moved more quickly due to the number of people, but he was super sweet as well. Similar to David, I asked for one of his favorite Oliver lines.

Stephen: “Suit up.” 

Once he signed the pic, he shook my hand, held it during the picture, and then complimented my Star Wars phone case ^_^. I know it’s silly, but I will never be over that!

Finishing up with Stephen, our group grabbed a bite to eat and then waited to be seated for Stephen’s panel. (Shout out to @hotcookinmama and her adorable daughter - dressed as Felicity - who we ran into before the panel!!)

@jedichick04 asked the very first question of Stephen’s panel, and it was the “two truths and a lie” question which has been floating around tumblr and twitter. His panel was as fun and humorous as they normally are, and it was so fun to see it in person.

Following his panel, we walked back to the autograph booths to see who we could hit up next...

- Echo Kellum: SUPER sweet <3. Similar to David he’s very much a hugger. His hugs are great too. Echo is just a lovely person and so thankful to his fans. And he was also the first person who got the “Have you all been kidnapped?” question (aka THE QUESTION) that @ireland1733, @emmilynestill, and @laurabelle2930 forced me to ask the actors. He was definitely shocked by the question and wondered why I didn’t want to know if they were even alive! It was pretty funny. He claimed that he didn’t know and wasn’t sure what was happening quite yet. So, I’m not sure if he truly knows, but I didn’t get a definite ‘No.’ 

- Rick Gonzalez: OMG, THIS PRECIOUS PUPPY. I JUST WANT TO HUG HIM ALL THE TIME. Okay, so Rick is the sweetest, most humble person ever. @laurabelle2930 and I walked up to say hi and get a pic, and he was just so thankful! You can tell he is so happy to be a part of Arrow, and just so thankful to his fans. Super sweet, A+, I wish I had the chance to go back to his booth before the weekend was over. Rick was asked THE QUESTION as well, and his reaction was too funny! His lips pressed together and bulged like he was trying to keep the words from spilling out. He said that he was trying really hard to tell us, but they just wouldn’t come out!! Hilarious. Again, no ‘No.”, but maybe a slight hint?? Who knows *shrugs*.

After Rick, most left to prep for the Nocking Point party, but @jedichick04 and I had time to kill because our photo ops with SA weren’t until later. So, we bopped around the vendor area and ran into @jbuffyangel and her daughter, who too was dressed as Felicity. We chatted about spoilers, and Jen said that she was told there was going to be a conflict between Oliver and Diggle this coming season (almost Civil War style), and I revealed what David told @emmilynestill - how Diggle was going to be the Green Arrow for part of the season. (What is happening on S6 of Arrow!?!?!)

My photo op with Stephen was lovely. I wish I had asked for a true hug, than just the side hug, but I think I still had first con jitters. Plus, IT’S STEPHEN FREAKIN’ AMELL. I touched him in some capacity, and it really hasn’t sunk in yet. 

After the photo, Rachel and I met up with the ladies again, and added @mel-loves-all, @vaelisamaza, @smoakingbabbles, @tdgal1, and a couple others to the group for dinner before the NP party. Good friends, good food, A+ time ^_^.

Nocking Point Party

WHAT a blast! I sampled some excellent wine, and danced the night away with my friends. The band was great! Their name was The Remedies, and the were just having a ball! They were an excellent cover band, playing lots of 80s and “fan favorite” songs (think wedding reception band). They were so happy the crowd was getting into it and dancing. 

We ran into David’s con agent - Mary - again, and BOY was she having fun!! She was dancing with us, and when David finally showed up to the party, got us a group picture with him! @jedichick04, @emmilynestill, @ireland1733, @laurabelle2930, and I were posing with David when he suddenly lifted up his leg and yelled, “Someone hold my leg!” Like the 5 women around him wouldn’t do that! ;-) It was so much fun!

There was a hilarious Q&A session with Stephen, Drew, Cassandra, and Rick! Highly enjoyable. AND STEPHEN SANG!! He belted out Summer of ‘69 with the band. I love that song, so it was great to hear!! I have a video of the last half of the song, so hopefully I can get it up soon. :-)

However, the best part of the night - coincidently - was the end. Stephen was on stage, saying thank you and good night everyone present. He started to walk off stage when SUDDENLY A WILD DAVID RAMSEY RAN UP ON STAGE AND GRABBED THE MIC!! Because were they done yet!? According to David, not so fast!! He had a few words for the crowd: 1.) Thanking the fans over and over again for their support, because “according to the producers” he was told that viewing had gone UP this passed season thanks to all the fans, 2.) Thanking Stephen for being an amazing leader, and how he loves getting to work with such a great guy, 3.) “Can I get an AMEN!? We are in Nashville after all.” (yes there was an AMEM! ^_~), 4.) CHEEK KISS AND BRO HUG WITH STEPHEN. IT WAS THE BEST THING EVER! 

And then just before my storage ran out on my phone, I got one last pic that I think is my favorite from the night: “NAAAAAASHVIIIIIIIILE!”

HVFF Day #2

Arrow panel up first!

And guys... I ASKED A QUESTION. 😱😱😱 I might have been shaking a bit, but I made it through! I asked Rick if the Rene/Lance relationship/moments would continue in S6, because I enjoyed them last season, and will Lance still help Rene get his daughter back. Rick said he hoped so, because he loved working with Paul and their dynamic on the show. And being a father himself, he enjoyed that Rene was a father too, and getting to play that part of his character on the show. Because as Wild Dog, he’s such a “bad ass”, but then you get this different side to him when he interacts with his daughter. I hope we get it too!!

Many hilarious moments, but I think the absolute best question was when a woman asked David what cologne he was wearing the previous night at the NP party, because her friends thought he smelled wonderful and wanted to buy the cologne for their husbands. David’s reaction was priceless! (But he did answer: Tom Ford - Wood)

After the panel the rest of the day was autographs/selfies with the crew, and a couple more photo ops! So lets break it down...

- Katrina Law: First was an autograph and selfie with her - I had a photo op later. She is just a precious sinnamon roll, who is sweet, super friendly and energetic. She complimented my style and was super sweet during the selfie - we did a “normal” one, then she made us do “diva” poses ^_^. I want to be her BFF4LYFE. We asked her THE QUESTION as well, and she just shrugged it off saying “Naw... everyone’s hamburger meat.” Haha! ^_^

- John Barrowman: Similar to Katrina, I had a photo op later, but we hit his line for an autograph and a group selfie. John takes his own selfie, and MAN does he have it down to a science! “Okay, everyone squeeze in, find an opening, you crouch down, look, and smile!” He took like 5 normal ones before yelling “Ugly one!” John and I are the only ones making faces, because the rest just cracked up ^_^. He gives a good hug too. 

We hit up Echo and David again for group selfies, and then the end of my day was just checking out the vendors and my 3 photo ops. 

The last bit of my story I have to write out is about my last photo op, which happened to be David. When it was my time for the photo I said to David: “You started my con and now you’re ending it too, can I get one last hug?” He said absolutely and gave me a great big bear hug. The photographer took the photo, and then David refused to let me go. Hugging me for a few seconds longer, he did a little rocking motion (like when you give someone a really big hug), and then when he let me go he said he’d see me next con!

Damn. Straight.

So, to say my first con was a success I think would be an understatement. I had SO MUCH FUN, met many of my favorite actors, and hung out with so many of my fandom friends... truly I must be blessed. Everything I did, and every cent I spent was completely worth it. 

And I can’t wait to do it again. <3

[latchingontoallofyou]

Wedding Part 1 - Valenna

This is the first part of probably 3 based on the 3 day wedding weekend. 

Sitting in the make-up chair, Jenna feels a bit overwhelmed. She keeps trying to remind herself that this isn’t her wedding so she has no reason to be stressed. She feels like wants everything to be prefect. Her hair, her make-up, her dress, all of it, perfect. She unusually quiet and she can tell her make-up artist can tell something is up. She keeps trying to engage her in conversation but for some reason, she just keeps letting the conversation die. She is in the room with the wedding party ladies getting their make-up done. Everyone else is deep in conversations but she just can’t seem to do it.

“Jenna, I’ll be right back. I need to go grab something I forgot in my car. Take a break for a bit.”

“Ok.”

She relaxes back into the chair and looks around. She thought she might calm down a bit seeing everyone else being so comfortable but it didn’t work. She almost feels more stressed. She decides to get up and walk around. She just needs some fresh air. She starts to walk towards the door but feels a hand on her arm.

“Jen.”

Jenna looks down at the hand to see who’s hand it is but her mind is so scattered she can’t make the connection. It’s starting to freak her out. Her breathing is starting to quicken and everything in her is telling her to run.

“Jenna, what’s going on. Look at me.”

Jenna finally looks up and looks at who is still holding her wrist. It’s Peta. She looks so worried but still gorgeous.

“Sorry.”

“What are you apologizing about? What’s going on? Is something wrong?”

“I… I don’t know. I’m sorry.”

“Jenna, stop apologizing. Just talk to me. What’s going on? What’s freaking you out?”

“I don’t know, Pete. I’m freaking out and I can’t figure out why. I mean, you’re so calm and you’re the one getting married.”

“I’m going to stop you right there before you continue. I am totally freaking out. My heart is going a million beats per minute.”

“But you’re hiding it so well.”

“Thanks. I’m trying. Now, what’s freaking you out?”

“I don’t know.”

“Yes you do. Talk to me Jenna.”

“I just… I… I know it’s not my wedding but I just feel like everything has to be perfect. I mean like, I have to be perfect.”

“Oh Jenna.”

“I just don’t get it, though. I don’t understand why I’m feeling like this.”

“Did Val say something? I’ll talk to him right now. Where is my phone?”

“No, he didn’t say anything.”

“Good. Jenna, you always look beautiful, no matter what you are wearing. Make-up, no make-up, shorts and a t-shirt, a fancy dress, or anything in between, you always look gorgeous. You know Val loves you for you not what you are wearing or the make-up you have on. He loves you for you so please don’t stress.”

“I know he loves me. Even after all we’ve gone through, that has never left me. I’ve always known that.”

“Good. You know I’m rooting for you two, right?”

“Thanks Peta” she says with a blush. “I think I’m about worried about being around all those cameras with Val. Like I know people are going to take pictures and they’ll get posted and I won’t know what they are. We’ve talked about posting pictures of the two of us together this weekend but we can control those. I think it’s the fact that I can’t control all that goes out there freaks me out. Those Chmerkovskiy boys are so handsome that…”

“Amen!” Peta interrupts saying, earning a laugh from Jenna.

“That it’s a bit intimidating being next to him in a picture. I think that might be what’s freaking me out.”

“Oh Jenna, you two never take a bad picture. That’s one thing I secretly am so jealous of. Don’t worry about it Jenna.”

“Thank you. I’m feeling a bit better. Oh, here comes Audrey. I should probably get back to my chair so she can finish up. Thank you for helping me calm down.”

“I’m always here for you babe. Come find me whenever you need, ok?”

“Thank you” Jenna says with a smile and slips back into her chair, much calmer than before.

~

Jenna walks back into their room and Val is just sitting around in his underwear. She laughs and walks further into the room.

“Hey baby” he smiles at her.

“Hi.”

“You look beautiful.”

“Thank you. I hope that isn’t what you plan to be in all night.”

“What’s wrong with this?” he says pulling at one leg of his boxers.

“Shut up” she says rolling her eyes.

“No, you know Peta would kill me if I walked out like this. Even around the house she tells me to at least put some shorts on.”

“Well yea, it’s her house. It’s different at ours… I mean…”

“So when I come over, I can come in my underwear?”

“I didn’t mean that! I meant like in the future. Like when we are … Uh… Can we talk about something else?”

“Am I making you flustered?” he says getting up from his spot at the table and slowly making his way closer to her.

“Shut up! I just…”

“Relax babe. I’m just teasing you. I love you.”

“I love you too. You need to get dressed. We both do.”

“We have time.”

“No we don’t. Plus, I still have to be careful of my make-up.”

“I can be careful” he says holding her a bit tighter.

“I love you but no. Not now.”

He gives her a quick, soft kiss on her lips and lets her go. He goes to the closet in their room and grabs his suit and starts to get dressed. She just sits and watches, unable to go and get herself dressed.

“Am I distracting you babe?” he says with a smirk.

“Maybe…”

“You said we don’t have a lot of time baby.”

“I know, I know. I’m going” she says pushing off chair she was sitting on and goes to get her dress.

She slips out of her street clothes and pulls out her red dress for the night. She knows the halter top and plunging neck line will drive Val crazy. The low back is one of her favorite parts because when Val holds her close, whether they are dancing or just standing together talking with other people with their arms around each other, she’ll be able to feel Val’s skin against her back, something she loves.

Val had slipped into the bathroom so she finally is able to put her dress on. She is just buttoning the back of the halter when she feels Val zipper the lower back of her dress. He then runs his hands over her back. He keeps one hand on her back as he walks around her to see the rest of the dress he gasps and runs a light hand over the front of her dress.

“You look stunning!”

“Thank you” she blushes.

“Good thing you’ll be by my side tonight.”

“You really like it?”

“I love it! You’re going to be the most beautiful girl in the room.”

“Peta won’t like that” she laughs.

“She always says how much she wants me to be happy and you make me happy so she’ll be fine with it.”

“I sure hope so. Are you ready?”

“Yes” he says holding his arm out for her to take. She slips her arm in his and they head out of their room but not before one last kiss.

~

“I’m so tired” Jenna whispers in Val’s ear as they dance closely together. Once they had gotten on the dance floor that night, they never left. She had ditched her shoes long ago and her feet are killing her.

“Ready for a break?”

“No.”

“Would it help if I said I am?”

“Oh good. Yes.”

He takes her hand and leads her off the dance floor but they get distracted before making it to their table. Henry and a few others are dancing together and Henry is whispering in a girl’s ear. They can’t make out who it is. Next thing they know, Henry and the girl are backing away from each other and phones are being take out.

“It’s dirty dancing!” Jenna screams to Val over the music.

“What?” he yells back.

“The song. It’s Dirty Dancing.”

“Oh! You’re right. I bet he’s going to do the lift.”

“No way!”

They are just about at the part of the song that goes with the lift and they watch as Henry and the girl nod at each other. She starts to make her way to him and he gets ready to lift. As Henry lifts her easily into the air, everyone around them goes crazy. Jenna watches as Val walks out, hands in the air, clapping and then whistling in excitement. He steps back towards Jenna who is smiling happily seeing so much excitement. She puts a hand on his shoulder as Henry brings the girl back down. Val turns back to smile at her and then slips his arm around her back.

“How crazy was that?” he says.

“I wouldn’t put it past Henry. I mean it’s been his life for so long now.”

“You want to try it?” he winks at her.

“No way! I seriously don’t have enough energy for that.”

“Do you want to go up for the night?”

“No. Let’s just go sit down.”

“I’m sure Mama has been looking for us all night. She’s wanted to talk with us since we got to New Jersey.”

“Should I be afraid?”

“No. She’s just going to say how excited she is and how she hopes we’re next and the likings.”

“But we’re…we just…”

“Hey, relax. She knows. She won’t push it. She’s just so excited that I came to my senses and knocked off the foolishness. She loves you.”

“I love her. Can we go sit please?”

“Oh right. Sorry.”

They go and sit at the table with Larissa. Larissa patted the seat next to her and told Jenna to sit there. Val reaches for Jenna’s feet and rubs one while they sit and talk.

“I’m so happy” Larissa says.

“You should be. Your son is getting married tomorrow.”

“Oh yes, but that’s not all.”

“No?”

“No. I’m happy about you.”

“I’m happy to be talking to you too, Mama.”

“I always love talking to you but I mean you and Val. He was stupid.”

“Oh Mama, we… neither of us were in the right place. We…”

“We’re better now” Val says leaning around Jenna to look at his Mama with a smile.

“I’m happy. He was stupid.”

“No he wasn’t” she says smiling at Val.

“I was but thanks you, love.”

“We’ve both grown and we’re better than ever now.” Jenna turns from Val and looks back at Larissa. “Thank you for always loving and accepting me no matter how well Val and I were. I really appreciate it.”

“Oh Jenna. I would love and accept you even if you weren’t with Val. You are the sweetest and I’m just so glad you’ve chosen my son to love. Wait, you love him right?”

“Yes” she says with a smile, connecting eyes with Val. “Yes, I do love him. A lot.”

“YA sobirayus' nachat' planirovat' vashu svad'bu! (I’m going to start planning your wedding!)”

“Mama!”

“What did she say?” Jenna whispers towards Val.

“Nothing” he says quickly, not wanting her to freak out.

“Ok” she says with a questioning look.

“Vyydi zamuzh za neye pervym. Togda, pozhaluysta, detka. (Marry her first. Then a baby please)”

“Mama! Jenna, let’s go get something to drink.” He doesn’t really give her a choice and takes her hand, pulling her up from her chair and away from the table.

“What’s wrong Val?” she asks when they are away from the table far enough that Larissa won’t hear them.

“She was getting ahead of herself. Let’s just leave it at that. How are you doing? Are you tired?”

“A little bit.”

“Do you want to go upstairs?”

“For the night?”

“If you want to we can.”

“It’s not too early?”

“No. We can go up anytime you want” he says playing with some of her hair.

“I don’t think I’m ready to go up yet. Can we go dance some more?”

“Of course, we can” he says and takes her hand and follows as she leads him onto the dance floor.

“Baby, what was she saying?” Jenna asks once again.

“You really want to know?”

“Was it bad?

“No, not really.”

“Ok, then yea, I want to know.”

“She said she is going to start planning our wedding.”

“Oh…”

“Yea. Don’t worry though. She’s just joking. I mean, I’d love to marry you at some point, I…”

“Don’t worry about it Val. I’d love to marry you but we aren’t quite there. Tell her not to start planning just yet.”

“Yet?”

“Yet” she says with a smile.

~

“I’m so tired I’m not sure I even have enough energy to get undressed.”

“I can help you” he says with a smirk.

“Not happening tonight Val.”

“Just turn around.”

“Val.”

“I’m just going to help you get your dress off. You said no. I respect that.”

“Thank you. I have to get up and work out. I made a bet.”

“Yea, good luck with that.”

“I’m going to do it. I don’t want to lose money.”

“I’ll pay it.”

“I’m going.”

“Yea, ok. We’ll see. You shouldn’t have made that bet without me there. I would have talked you out of it.

“Whatever. Can we just go to bed so we have enough energy for tomorrow? You have a big day tomorrow.”

“So do you.”

“No I don’t but that’s sweet of you. All I have to do is show up.”

“That’s not true.”

“We are not arguing about this now” Jenna say reaching for the light and turning it off before she turns and kisses him and cuddling up with him as they drift off to sleep in their favorite places, each other’s arms.

[sabrinauniverse]

Harry Potter?

♡ the character i least understand

i think the character i least relate to is pansy parkinson, because there is nothing to describe her unless those acts where she is just the meanest girl ever (and everybody in the fandom loves her, because she's slytherin and part of the not-so-golden trio). she is shown to be just a horrible person, who is mean and greedy. i don't think i can relate to that. i think i can relate to the fanfictions-pansy, tough, because they write more about her than it's written in the books.

♡ interactions i enjoyed the most

fred and george, OBSVIOUSLY. but the whole weasley family interaction thingy going on has me feeling so incredibly cozy and warm that i can't describe how much i love those ginger, second-handed vests dressers.

♡ the character who scares me the most

bellatrix used to scare the shit out of me, because she was a total psycho in my head. i don't think there's a character that scares me now, but i see that dumbledore was bat shit crazy, and that is kind of scary, having in mind that he knew about everything and just used harry in his plans when he thought it was good.

♡ the character who is mostly like me

i would like to say that i'm more like a mix between ginny and luna, like if i was them combined, if that makes sense. but for real, counting ALL the characters, i'm INCREDIBLY equal to helga and that's why i say i'm her daughter. that freaking woman, man. that freaking woman.

♡ hottest looks character

ginevra weasley is the hottest person in the whole harry potter saga. she's bold, she's fearless, she's strong, she's independent and she's extremely hot and wanted by all sapphic girls and straight boys in hogwarts. she's secretly my wife, btw, so don't mind me rambling about her everytime.

♡ one thing i dislike about my fave character

one thing i dislike about ginny is the fact that she's unreal, she's fake, she's a fictional character and i can't kiss her lips as hard as i can, because she doesn't exist. the rest, in the books, i dislike the fact that she marries harry potter. she should marry me.

♡ one thing i like about my hated character

one thing i like about snape is that he was smart enough to be a double agent. everybody that is a double agent is smart to me, because you have to got the skills to work with such a thing.

♡ a quote or scene that haunts me

a scene that haunts me everytime is the scene that dumbledore is falling from the observatory. just falling, in the movies. and the description of it in the books. and how he died because he fell and not because snape "avada kedavra"d him. because even if snape is a total shit, he didn't want to kill with that spell and you need to have the desire for those types of curses to work. and he died. HE DIED, GUYS. DUMBLEDORE DIED. or when bellatrix kills sirius in the movies and goes out screaming that she did it, and........... ugh. so many things in harry potter haunt me everyday. next question, please.

♡ a death that left me indifferent

there's no such thing as that in harry potter, you guys. but i think nagini DESERVED to die (see? not even a real person)

♡ a character i wish died but didn’t

everytime i think about a character that i wish have died, i think of snape. but he did die, so there's no way he could fit here. so i would say... i can't think about it, because everytime i think i hate a character, and i wish it had died, i think that this character was hella important to the story. let's see... i wish umbridge died, because she was such a horrible, mean and petty person. there's lots of reasons to hate umbridge and i could rant about it for hours, but i can't imagine how it would affect in the real thing.

♡ my ship that never sailed

linny will be forever in my heart. and not linny from luna + ginny. but linny from lívia + ginny. amen.

send me a fandom and i’ll tell you things about them!

[hello-bangtanboys]

A Blood Sacrifice(Teaser)

Pairing: Jeon Jungkook x OC 

Genre: Supernatural; Vampire AU; Werewolf AU

A/N- I have been working on this for while now and decided to post a sneak peak. I hope you all enjoy. -Admin Kook

It's that time again. The time to give blood for the sake of the village. I know what you're thinking: blood for the sake of the village? Why? To tell you the truth, I don't really know the true reason why, nor do I care to, but it's just a bunch of town folklore. Well, to me anyways. You see, long ago, the first settlers in our village were the so called “Blood Gods.” They lived a fabulously wealthy life, well, as fancy as one could get in the Settlers Era. One day, just like the pilgrims took over the native land, my ancestors came and ran the blood gods out of house and home. Unlike the Natives, the Blood Gods didn’t sit still and watch their land be taken over. Instead, they charged back, torching everything they had worked to create, cutting off food supply from my ancestors, anything to make them afraid and miserable. Finally, my ancestors gave in and went out to the forest where the Blood Gods, supposedly still reside to this day, to come to a compromise. And they did. Which leads to the rules that apply to all villagers: Never venture past the village line, never look out your window after sacrifice, and always offer two souls for the blood sacrifice every month. In turn they will watch over us and be sure no harm will ever come to us.

I, myself, do not believe in all the “blood sacrifice” bullshit. I think it’s a complete farse used to scare bad children into behaving. The monthly ceremony takes place tonight and I can’t help but think of all the time the city council is wasting, sitting in some room, pretending to prepare offering to some supposed gods that none of us have ever seen before. I heard a soft knock on the wall and I turned to see my maid, Dina. Dina is like mother. She isn't my actual mother, but she might as well be. My mom and dad don't do enough to show that they care about me. All they do is look like complete lunatics for some spiritual bullshit ceremony for a god or two that might not even exist instead of take care of their daughter.

"Ms. Jin, your father has asked me to let you know that he won't be in tonight.", she said with a sad smile. Dina was a soft soul. She hated seeing them run about like this as if they were turkeys with their heads cut off. She sees the way they neglect me and she steps in to care for me.

"Yeah, for the ceremony. I'm aware.", I replied. I hated it. It never fails to make me feel like the lesser.

“Dinner's  almost ready so some on downstairs. Your mother will be here in about 5 minutes.", she told me before walking out.

"Okay.", I replied before clutching the crystal jewel around my neck.I made my way downstairs just in time to see my mother appear through the door with a big smile.

"Hello sweetie.", she greeted and I hugged her.

"Will father be joining us?", I asked and she sighed.

"You know what today is Soo Jin. Your father won't be in till tomorrow morning.", she explained and I nodded.

"What that we sacrifice two of our own to the blood gods in the forest? That's a bunch of crazytalk mother.", I stated and she sighed.

"It's not crazy talk honey.", she replied.

"You expect me to believe that we kill two people every month?", I argued.

"We don't kill them. We offer them to the blood gods to keep this town protected and everyone in it.", she retorted.

"It's just for kicks. In the middle of the night the two people are set free and paid to disappear.", I said, placing sarcastic air quotes around the word disappear.

"Then the farmer down the road kills two of his pigs to splash their blood and guts everywhere.", I finished.

"Soo Jin that's enough!", she spat and I sighed. "This is for your protection. Remember that.", she smiled. My dear old mummy was known to change her temper very often and very quickly. And it never ceases to amaze me with the quickness of the situation.

"Yes of course.", I said. Dina began to lay out our meal before my mother and I, giving my mother her lieway into her religious beliefs and practices, pulling us into saying grace. I murmured a half hearted amen as my mother proceeded on to her nightly small to relieve us from the strain of the foolish discussion we had previously taken part in.

"So how are your studies?", My mom asked me.

"They're going okay. I'm passing in all my advanced classes."

"Yeah, she's gonna end up being the smartest in the town.", Dina praised.

"Don't say that.", I pouted, embarrassed.

"Aww it’s true dear.", Mother added.

After a while of chatting and talking about little things, the town's bells began to ring through the entire town.

"Time to put everything away now. Off to bed the both of you.", Mother instructed and we both got up from the table.

"Goodnight loves.", she added with a smile as two people were dragged by some townsmen. One of the men being  my father.

"Go on upstairs Soo Jin.", My mother snapped and I went up the stairs.

Dina disappeared into her room while I went into my own and closing the door behind me. I turned the lock and went to my window to watch the last minute preparations. The two so called sacrifices were lowered in the  well and closed in as the top closed shut.

"Bunch of bullshit.", I mumbled.

I saw my mother walk towards the well and kneel to pray before she kissed my father's cheek and walking away. I changed clothes and got into bed before closing my eyes to sleep. After a few hours my ears perked upon hearing a scream. I shot up out of bed and ran towards my window.

"This time I'm gonna catch you.", I mumbled.

"Please spare me!", the black haired woman shouted before a man wrapped his hand around her throat. Immediately her cries were cut off by the sounds of distorted cries and the struggle to get air into her lungs. This man was merciless and he seemed to enjoy it.

He smirked before sinking his teeth into her neck while she struggled to get free. My eyes widened at the scene before four more showed up. They laughed at her agony before a brown haired boy snapped her neck. They tossed her body aside before advancing onto the other woman. Her eyes bulged before she took off running into the forest. I covered my mouth in shock, a single tear running down my cheek. I uncovered my mouth and continued to watch with laboured breathing.

"Yah finish this one. Leave that one for Hoseok and Jimin.", a blonde stated.

They all turned to leave while dragging the dark haired woman's body and I felt my blood run cold. One of the men stopped in their tracks before turning his head towards my bedroom window. We locked eyes and a smirk played on his lips before I fell onto my bed fainting. The sound of the birds chirping caused me to open my eyes only to be blinded by the sun. I scurried off of the floor to close the curtains before a soft knock was heard at my door. I turned in time to see Dina poke her head into my room with a smile plastered on her face. "What are you so happy about?", I asked. "Your parents said we can leave the house now. Last night was successful.", she said and I nodded. I don’t understand how anyone could be in a good mood today. Especially not after what I had witnessed the night before. "Okay. I think I'm just gonna venture around town for a few hours.", I said with a small smile. I had too much on my mind to stay in a single place. Dina smiled at me before walking towards the kitchen and I ran a hand through my hair letting my thoughts wonder. Is the other woman alright? Surely this isn’t real. Hopefully this walk will let me get my thoughts together. I refuse to believe any of this is even slightly real.

There won’t be another offering till next month so I decided to do the unthinkable. I have to see if she’s alright. Watching her run for her life made me worry. I didn’t know her, but what this town was doing, what this town was giving into, it’s not human. It’s not something to praise or offer these living, breathing, people to. Shove them in a well to die? How did my parents sleep at night knowing that every night they sacrificed some innocent soul to what they think are gods? I was wrapped up in my own thoughts before my mother wrapped her arms around me.

“Is something wrong dear?”, She asked with a smile.

“No nothing is wrong mother. I’m just going to head into town for a bit.”, I told her and she nodded. I hated lying to her but after seeing what her and my father agree to do every month sends chills down my spine.

“Now Soo Jin, you be back before 7. You’ve been asleep for quite awhile and I don’t want you out late.”, she stated.

“I understand mother.”, I sighed.

“Well then run along. I’m sure that lovely young man Yugyeom will be at the market today. Why don’t you have a chat.”, She suggested and I sighed.

“Maybe if I have time mother.”, I said and she nodded before making her way to the door.

“I can’t wait to hear all about it dear.”, She laughed as she walked down the hall. How can she laugh after killing those women. Makes me sick to my stomach.

I quickly changed into my pants and boots before walking to the door. I scanned the streets and noticed my parents talking to the mayor. Unfortunately, I couldn’t go out that way so I scurried to the back door and quickly jumped over the fence before stalking into the forest.