#Made an entire presentation only to confuse her friends further on the bird situation

[deva-arts]

Seraphina, a bit of a bird , a bit of a human . Maybe. But, my question. When she eats eggs, is it technically cannibalism?

Long answer: no. Short answer, no.

[currantlee]

Language: English Rating: General Audiences (G) / P6 Warnings: - Fandom: Kingdom Hearts Genre: Slice of Life Characters: Roxas, Kairi Relationships: Roxas & Kairi Words: 5,118 Chapter: 1/1 Beta: No beta, I’ll die like Ven (didn’t in KHUX) Notes: I apologize if there are any vocab / grammar errors as English is not my first language. I hope you enjoy it regardless 😊

Roxas blocked the strike just in time. He had thought Kairi was aiming for his hands in order to knock the struggle bat out of his hand, but as it turned out, she had aimed for his legs instead.

He staggered backwards. Her strikes weren’t exactly powerful – she wasn’t the strongest fighter in general, neither on offense nor on defense. A single well-placed hit could render her incapable of going on in a serious fight. But Kairi was quick enough to avoid most if not all of these, and her impossibly high stamina was giving Roxas a hard time actually securing any kind of hit in their current sparring session. He knew he was running out of strength, and the hot, humid air of Destiny Islands wasn’t doing him any favor either. If he didn’t manage to land a hit soon…

Another strike followed swiftly, but this time, he didn’t manage to block it – she hit his arm full-force. Which, considering that it was Kairi, wasn’t much. But even with just a Struggle bat as a weapon, it was enough for Roxas to drop one of his bats.

She didn’t give him any chance to recover, let alone counter. At least Roxas was able to block the next strike this time, even though he already missed the bat he’d dropped. He really was better off dual-wielding.

Kairi aimed for his legs once more – no, wait, she was aiming for his flank! He managed to jump out of the way just on time, but still…

Roxas gritted his teeth. He needed to get back on the offense.

Another strike almost hit his other arm. She knew she had her chance, and she wasn’t going to miss out on it. knew that it was only a matter of time until she secured her victory in this match. He hadn’t been quick enough landing his hits on her – if she didn’t get cocky and gave him another opening, this was a loss.

Maybe he could…

Roxas smirked and took a small step forward, despite the fact that she was obviously going for another attack.

Kairi stopped her attack and withdrew immediately. She changed into a more defensive stance, obviously thinking that she had given him an opening, and prepared to block his incoming strike – one that would not come yet. Kairi lowered her bat in confusion.

There was his chance.

She let out a yelp of surprise as she staggered backwards. She obviously hadn’t taken the possibility of a bluff into account. Then again, Roxas didn’t use the tactic very often.

But Kairi wasn’t finished yet.

Just as Roxas wanted to take this opportunity and go for another strike, she dropped her bat and charged towards him, tackling him with her entire weight. He yelped as he dropped his other bat, both in surprise and an attempt to catch her, lost his balance and fell onto his back. Good thing the sand of the beach was so soft.

Kairi, who was slumped right across his upper body, rested her head on her hands and grinned at him over her shoulder. “Do I win?”

He might have lost both of his bats and Kairi had more stamina than him, but that didn’t mean Roxas wasn’t able to fight anymore. She let out a squeak when he suddenly flipped their positions. Now she had her back on the ground, and he was on top.

Roxas grinned. “Not so fast.”

“Aw, come on,” Kairi protested with a fake pout. “I had you!”

“Had,” he countered. “Because now I have you.”

She smirked. “You sure about that?”

Roxas could tell she was up to something. She always had that mischievous smirk on her face whenever she was about to make a rather dark-natured joke or planning something. She probably had another surprise move in stock… Should he put a little more of his weight onto her? He didn’t want to hu-…

Something started tickling on his flank.

“Hey, that’s unfair!”, he yelped. He couldn’t help but start giggling immediately afterwards though. He pressed his eyes shut out of a reflex. He had to laugh so hard that he could barely breathe, and it was hard to control the rest of his body.

“I thought the bad guys don’t care about honor and rules,” Kairi said, and Roxas could almost hear the smirk in her voice. “So why should I?”

“Stop!”, Roxas laughed instead.

“Only if you admit that I win.”

“Never!”

“Hm. That’s truly unfortunate.” Kairi managed to sit up somehow, even though she push him off her entirely. She smiled mischievously. “I guess I have to keep tickling you until you finally admit to your loss…”

In moments like these, Roxas wondered whether she truly was a Princess of Heart. Weren’t they supposed to be pure light and good? Well, Kairi surely had a devilish streak. “Fine! Let’s call it a draw,” he giggled. He knew that despite her claims, she wouldn’t keep this up forever, but he didn’t know whether he could hold out until then.

“… Okay.”

And finally, the tickling stopped. Roxas took a deep, relieved breath.

“A draw it is then,” Kairi smiled.

For a moment, time seemed to stop. Suddenly, he could hear the chirping of the insects, the birds singing, the roaring of the sea and the waves crashing at the shore – all those things that had been there all the time, but he seemed to have forgotten or simply not perceived them.

Then, he realized he was laying right on Kairi’s lap.

If he could have, Roxas would have blushed now. He could almost feel his vascular liquid flowing into his cheeks, and the characteristic cackling of a slightly embarrassed Nobody escaped his throat.

“You know,” Kairi smiled, “it’s a real shame you can’t blush. I bet it would look cute on you.”

“I could put some rouge on if you want to see what it would look like on me,” Roxas offered. It wouldn’t be the first time he did this, although he had to admit that the thought of wearing it because Kairi wanted to see how a blush would look like on him was much more pleasant than wearing it in order to hide that he was a Nobody. Not all worlds were as accepting of them as Destiny Islands and Radiant Garden were.

“Aw, that’s sweet! You don’t have to though,” Kairi quickly dismissed the offer. Maybe she thought that he minded wearing makeup – which Roxas did, but it was more because he minded having to hide who he was than the makeup itself. Therefore he was glad that he didn’t have to do that in most worlds.

“You’d like it though,” Roxas pointed out.

The always-present peach flush on Kairi’s cheeks intensified – she was blushing. Heh. He had caught her. Roxas smirked. “Well, look who’s blushing now.” It made her look very cute.

Kairi giggled softly. “Okay, you win this round.”

It was like someone had wiped all of the mischief off of her. If Roxas hadn’t known her as well as he did, he wouldn’t have believed that the girl who had tickled him until he admitted that he hadn’t won their sparring match earlier and this girl who giggled while admitting that he got her were the same person. But they were one and the same person. It was incredible how Kairi could be impossibly cute in one second and incredibly mischievous in the other, and one of the many things he liked about her.

Kairi was just overall a very likable person, Roxas thought. She was a great friend who always looked out for others, even though she could be mischievous at times. She was always so patient and never got annoyed with his or Naminé’s incompetence when it came to everyday stuff, instead trying to understand their situation as best as she could. She was dedicated to whatever she set her mind on, something that Roxas found admirable, especially when it came to fighting. It clearly wasn’t her strongest suit, but despite that, she kept trying her best at over and over again.

“I gotta say though, you are improving,” Roxas smiled while sitting up. “When it comes to sparring I mean.” He didn’t think anyone could match her when it came to wits – or at least Roxas hadn’t met anyone yet.

“You think so?”

He nodded. “Yeah. I really had a hard time against you today.”

She blushed again, and even turned away. “I got lucky,” she tried to brush it off.

Roxas shook his head. If she had just gotten lucky this once, he wouldn’t have struggled as much against her. “There’s always a little bit of luck involved in a fight,” he argued. “But I don’t think it’s just that, Kairi.” There was no reason for her to be humble about her growing skill, so he wouldn’t accept it.

“Are you sure about that?”

Roxas smiled and nodded. “You still aren’t the best fighter, that’s true.” He wanted to be honest with her. “But you don’t have to be. You have other qualities that are far more important than that.”

Kairi smiled. “Thank you for saying that, Roxas.” She was still averting her gaze. “You’re so sweet.”

Another cackle escaped him at that. He didn’t want to address it any further though, so he just shrugged while he stood up and patted the sand off his swimming trunks. They were at the beach, so he had figured it would be a good opportunity to finally wear them, even if he didn’t go into the water. “I’m just telling you how I see it, that’s all.” He held out his hand to her in order to help her up. “Wanna go for another round?”

“Maybe later,” Kairi answered as she gently took his hand and stood up as well. Roxas noticed that she was trying to do most of the work by herself. “I could really use some cooling off right now, and you look like you could too.”

She was right. He was still sweaty, and while the climate on Destiny Islands wasn’t searingly hot, it was fairly humid. Roxas didn’t hate it, in fact he even liked being on Destiny Islands, but he preferred Radiant Garden when it came to the climate, especially when it came to physically demanding activities like sparring.

“Would you mind if we go into the water for a bit?”, she asked.

Roxas gulped. Yes. Yes, he did. To be fair, he should have known that training on the beach would lead to that sooner or later, but…

The warm feeling of Kairi’s hand on his shoulder interrupted any more incoming thoughts. She looked at him with a concerned and slightly serious expression. “It’s okay if you don’t want to,” she said. “I know even the thought of setting a foot into the water scares you. But the sea is quite calm today. It’s completely save.”

It didn’t look that way to him. The sea looked dark and deep – how deep, he had no idea. Maybe Kairi knew. Besides, the water was moving. Sure, the waves weren’t as strong as they were on most other days he had seen, but they were still there. Could the force of a single one be enough to knock him over?

Roxas sighed. He knew that he couldn’t avoid any water that wasn’t rain, from a shower, in the sink or for drinking forever. Besides, Kairi was here. She had saved him once already. If he was save near water with anyone, it was her. He had to start somewhere.

So he nodded. “I’ll try.” His voice came out a lot more quiet and squeaky than usually.

A wide smile spread across Kairi’s face. “Okay. Shall I go up ahead?”

“That would be fine with me,” he said. “Just… Don’t go too far away, please?” Roxas felt silly saying this, but he also didn’t want to be alone out there.

“Alright.”

She didn’t waste a single second. While Roxas still fiddled with his shirt, admittedly dawdling, she already made her way to the shore and walked into the waves. She was wearing one of those water shirts alongside her bikini panties, and had already discarded her shorts before they started sparring.

Roxas sighed again after he had finally pulled his t-shirt over his head, and bashfully scratched his arm. He felt so stupid… Like he was overreacting. Rationally, Roxas knew that back when he had almost drowned, it had been because he had been wearing a heavy, black coat and been thrown into the water by complete surprise, without even knowing that he would have to keep himself afloat. Rationally he knew that now, this wasn’t the case. But it didn’t feel that way. It still felt dangerous and like something he’d rather not do because he wanted to live a while longer. And while Roxas knew by now that emotions and rational thinking didn’t work in the same way, it still confused him whenever his heart and mind weren’t just slightly off-tune, but directly opposing each other.

Well, there was no way around this anymore – he had already agreed to going into the water with her. Roxas sighed once more and finally followed her slowly. He absolutely didn’t feel like running towards the shore, it was not like he was looking forward to this. Sure, he was sweating as well, but still…

He stopped. Maybe this wasn’t a good idea at all.

A rather large wave came and reached his feet. It wettened the sand underneath his soles, and washed around his feet. Roxas was surprised to find that it was cooler than the humid air around him, but not unpleasantly cold. Maybe he should go in, just a little bit? But then again, what if the water pulled him downwards again, under its surface? If he couldn’t breathe again? Then he would…

Roxas gritted his teeth and pressed his eyes shut. ‘Maybe as long as my feet stay on the ground, I should be safe.’ The last time, his feet hadn’t been on the ground… It had been too deep down for him to stand. But as long as he could, everything should be okay, right?

He took a few steps forward, until the water reached his ankles. The sand beneath his feet was surprisingly soft, and not hot like on the beach at all. Maybe it was the water since it was cooler. He took another step. This really wasn’t so bad…

Roxas opened his eyes, only to see Kairi floating in the water with her face up and her eyes closed.

No… No, no, no, no, no! This wasn’t good… This couldn’t be good! Was she unconscious? Had something happened to her? Why had this to happen now? What was he supposed to do? He couldn’t swim!

“Kairi!”

She wasn’t too far away from him. Roxas remembered the promise they had made to each other, that if one of them were to come into a life-threatening situation, the other was not going to sacrifice themselves. But he had to try and do something! Maybe his feet would still reach the ground where she was now…

Disregarding the fact that he was in the water, Roxas walked over to her as fast as he could. It made every single step harder, and not just because he felt like he was risking his life. It slowed him down significantly, as if it was pushing against him. The waves didn’t help either.

He didn’t want another person who was important to him to die… He had lost too many of them already. Losing her too… He couldn’t bear the thought of it. Fortunately, Kairi was drifting not too far off.

Surprisingly, the water wasn’t too deep – it barely reached his hips when a wave rolled around, so it had to be shallow enough for her to be able to stand without problems as well. What had happened?

It didn’t matter now. He needed to get her out of the danger first… If he could. Roxas tried to remember how Kairi had done it back when she had rescued him from drowning, but the memory was foggy. He knew that she had pulled one of his arms onto his back, was he supposed to do that too? Wouldn’t that hurt her? He knew his arm, especially the wrist, had stung afterwards, although a simple healing spell had quickly fixed that.

He decided to go for the option that seemed like the most comfortable one to him: to simply grab her under the arms and try to pull her out of the water.

Kairi let out a tiny scream. With a movement that was a lot swifter than Roxas would have predicted, especially considering how much harder the water had made reaching her, she was back on her feet and turned around. Roxas almost expected her to summon her Keyblade as well – if she wasn’t who she was, she probably would have, judging by her expression. Fighting was usually Kairi’s last resort if everything else failed.

“Roxas? Sheesh, don’t give me a scare like that…”

He raised his hands in defense. “Sorry,” he murmured. “It’s just… You were drifting motionlessly and I thought…”

‘I thought I was going to lose you too.’ He didn’t want to say it. He didn’t want to even think about it. That meant thinking about the people whom he had lost already. Thinking about that time he almost lost his own life. Thinking about the possibility that it might happen again. Thinking about how he didn’t want to lose her in particular… And forgetting about the bliss that was not thinking too much.

“Oh.” Kairi bit her lip. “I’m sorry. I should have considered that…”

Roxas shook his head. “It’s fine,” he said. “You can’t take everything into account. Besides, you just gave me a scare, that’s all.” He was pretty sure that wouldn’t happen again. Next time, she’d probably warn him or something – that was just how Kairi was. Snarky and mischievous, yes, but also kind and considerate.

“Oh, okay. I guess we’re even then.” She sighed in relief and let herself fall onto her back again. Roxas was surprised to see that she stayed on the surface of the water – despite her feet not touching the ground.

There was a strange beauty to Kairi floating in the water like this, he thought. Her hair was open today, and right now, it flowed around her head like gravity wasn’t a thing anymore. Her entire being seemed to be weightless, but especially her hair. It was long, and floated around her head in three-dimensional waves and swirls, creating unique and fleeting patterns. It was actually darker than its usual maroon whenever it was wet – Roxas liked to compare the color to chili chocolate. But when the sun was shining on it, the red came out even more. But the water seemed to distort some of the light, and those distorted reflexes just added even more depth to those patterns.

She seemed to be completely in her element, and she made it look so easy… But he knew the dangers of the water. He had almost fallen victim to them himself before. Seeing Kairi float like this, even when he was right there and had already overreacted… It made him feel even more uneasy than he already was.

Roxas swallowed. “Why are you doing this?”

She opened her eyes a bit. “Because I find it relaxing,” she replied. “Trust me, the water isn’t as scary once you know how to move and to keep yourself afloat properly. It can even be your friend.”

That sounded like the complete opposite of Roxas’ experience with this element – the last time his feet hadn’t touched the ground of a stretch of water, he had felt like something was pulling him under the surface of the water constantly, and he hadn’t been able to breathe, let alone cry for help.

“I can show you what I mean if you want to.”

He had to admit, he was curious.

“Does it involve going into the water any deeper or… You know…” He took a deep breath. It was getting ridiculous at this point – he couldn’t even say one single word. Roxas gulped. “D-Diving?”

Kairi shook her head. “Nothing like that,” she said. “I just thought about carrying you around a bit.”

“You mean a piggyback ride?” They had done that before, although he had been the one carrying her. Roxas wondered how that was supposed to show him that water wasn’t scary.

“I mean bridal style.”

Oh. So she was talking about carrying him in front of her, in her arms. Roxas had to admit that he kinda liked the idea,  but at the same time he couldn’t help but think about how she was going to manage that. The one time he had carried Kairi before had been extremely exhausting, and he was probably a bit heavier than her. Plus, even though Roxas admired her seemingly limitless stamina, she wasn’t exactly physically strong.

Besides, there was the issue with the water. It had pulled him down last time, why should this time be any different? Could she really withstand that pull downwards?

“I don’t know…”

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to,” Kairi said. “It’s just a suggestion.”

“I might be too heavy for you,” Roxas pointed out. “No offense, Kairi, but… You aren’t exactly the strongest…”

“True,” she nodded. “The water will carry a lot of your weight for me though.”

That sounded like the opposite of Roxas’ previous experiences with water… But he also knew Kairi wouldn’t suggest this if she wasn’t absolutely sure. If he had to entrust his existence – his life – to somebody, it would be her. It wasn’t like she hadn’t already saved him from drowning once, and Roxas had no doubt that she would do it again if she had to.

He didn’t want to bring her into the situation again, but the fact was just… She knew better than him with his fear of deeper stretches of water and little life experience. If she deemed it safe, then perhaps it was a lot safer than he thought.

Roxas slowly took a few more steps into the water, closing the distance between them. By the time he stood in front of her, he was deep enough for the waves to cover the scar on his abdomen.

Kairi waited for him patiently. Since she was smaller than him, the water reached up to her ribcage.

Roxas swallowed. “How do you suggest we do this?”

Kairi smiled, hearing that he really wanted to do this. “However you feel the most comfortable,” she said warmly, and that alone made Roxas feel a little bit more secure. “We can go a bit closer to the shore if you feel more comfortable with that, or…”

“Can I just hold on to you?”, he interrupted her. He didn’t know where that came from – he just felt a lot safer with her.

Kairi shrugged. “Whatever you feel most comfortable with.”

If she wanted to carry him bridal style, he couldn’t just hug her, Roxas realized. So he put his arms around her neck instead.

Kairi wrapped one of her arms around his torso. “Ready when you are.”

Roxas nodded. “Okay.”

He actually didn’t like the thought of his feet leaving the sandy ground of the ocean at all, even with Kairi holding him… Didn’t that mean he brought her into danger too? Since he couldn’t swim… What if he panicked in her arms? Would she be able to handle that?

Roxas didn’t remember that time when he almost drowned too well. He only remembered not being able to breathe and the feeling of being dragged down. The way Donald and Goofy had described it in their retelling of the events however, it sounded like he had been panicking back then too though. Kairi had been able to save him despite that. She knew what she was doing… But also, Roxas didn’t want to bring her into this situation again.

… Fine. He just had to not panic then.

Roxas lifted one of his feet up. He immediately felt the waves stronger than before, like they were trying to push him off balance – would he fall? Was this it? He pressed his eyes shut and gasped for air. Maybe he could…

“Easy,” Kairi said, and he felt her other arm in his kneecap, realizing that she kept him from sinking. “One step at a time.”

He opened his eyes again. Kairi looked completely calm – not scared in the slightest. Somehow, that made him feel a bit calmer as well.

Roxas knew from experience that fear rarely got better from waiting too long. If he left his other foot on the ground for too long, it would eventually take over once more, and they would get nowhere from there… And he had come this far. Roxas grit his teeth as he took another breath, then pushed himself off the ground.

There was the fear again.

He gasped for air once more.

‘Don’t panic.’

Now that both of his feet weren’t on the ground anymore, he just waited for the water to pull him downwards once more.

‘Don’t panic!’

Or a for a wave to wash both him and Kairi away. He just hoped she would be able to come out of this unharmed…

‘Don’t panic!!!’

This had definitely been a bad idea… A thousand things could go wrong…

But nothing happened.

Roxas opened his eyes again – he hadn’t even noticed that he has pressed them shut this time around.

The first thing he saw was Kairi’s face. She was smiling at him, with a sense of pride in her expression. “You did it.”

For a short, weird moment, Roxas wanted to argue. He hadn’t really done anything, except successfully suppressing a panic attack, but before he could say that, he realized something way more important: he wasn’t sinking. Despite the fact that his feet didn’t touch the ground anymore, the water didn’t pull him under the surface. Sure, Kairi was there holding him too, but for some reason, Roxas didn’t get the feeling that she was fighting to keep him afloat. It was almost as if she didn’t have to carry the entirety of his weight – as if the water was helping her.

“How are you doing that?”, Roxas asked. “Are you using magic or…”

Kairi laughed. “Actually, I’m not doing much,” she confessed. “The water keeps you afloat on its own. It’s just what it does.”

“But…” The last time it hadn’t done that. “How?”

Kairi laughed. “I don’t know if I’m good at explaining this, but it’s basically because water is part of what your body is made of.”

That couldn’t be right. Ansem had explained Roxas how a body worked in detail when he had first nursed him back to health after…

“It’s made of cells,” he corrected her. “And I think those are made of various carbon compounds, not water.”

“Can’t argue with that,” Kairi shrugged. “Still, your body contains lots of water too, but a lot less salt than the sea does. Salty water is heavier than sweet water is, so you float on the surface.”

Huh. That sounded logical. Still… “The water was salty too last time though.”

“But you weren’t wearing swimming trunks back then,” Kairi pointed out. “Clothes tend to drag you down when they get wet.”

That made sense to him as well. “Fair point,” Roxas admitted. Maybe this was a lot safer than he had initially thought… He even relaxed a little.

Up until now, Roxas hadn’t realized how tense he had been – he had been clinging to Kairi’s neck like his life depended on it. To be honest, that was how he had felt. But after all, it didn’t feel all that dangerous. Even if Kairi wasn’t able to hold him anymore, he could simply put his feet back onto the floor of the ocean.

“Hey, would you mind if I go in a little deeper?”, Kairi asked. “I think that would make it a bit easier for me to carry you.”

Roxas didn’t know how he felt about that… Did deeper water mean greater danger?

Kairi smirked in that mischievous way she always did whenever she was up to something. “I promise I will never let you drown.”

Somehow, the joke did its job – it managed to get a small, albeit nervous laugh out of him. “Good one!”

Roxas knew that Kairi would never expose him to danger on purpose. He trusted her. Besides, if it was too much, he could always back out. She would never force him to face his fears, even though she sometimes gave him the motivation he desperately needed. Besides, he really wasn’t a good judge when it came to water.

So he nodded. “Alright.”

Kairi smiled. “Tell me when to stop, okay?”

“Okay.” He didn’t plan to though. He wanted to push his own limits a bit, and how to do this better than together with someone he trusted, who also knew the thing he was afraid of a lot better than he did?

It was still good to know that he had the option though – even if he didn’t plan on using it now.

Kairi walked deeper into the water slowly. To Roxas’ surprise, he barely noticed it. Either Kairi was lifting him up higher by herself, or the water was – most likely a bit of both though.

She stopped once the water reached her chest. “Is this okay?”

Roxas nodded. “It’s fine.”

He relaxed some more, this time his entire body. Now that he did, he suddenly felt how tired his muscles were, and not just from the training earlier. A general wave of sleepiness washed across him. Must be the adrenaline rush wearing off…

Roxas leaned back so the back of his head was against the water. For some reason, he didn’t mind the water flowing into his ears anymore, nor did he mind the muffling of all the sounds he had heard before. Instead, he could hear a light, quiet crackling. Kairi was right… He had done it. And he would do the rest that it took to learn how to swim as well… Maybe not today, but this was certainly a beginning. But he couldn’t have done this without her.

He lifted his head a bit and smiled at her. “Thank you.”

Kairi smiled back. “You’re welcome, I’m glad I could help a bit.”

Roxas sighed as he leaned back once more. “You know, Kairi… As long as you’re with me, I know I’m safe.”

[s-creations]

I Saw Uncle Under the Mistletoe

During the holiday celebration, José and Panchito arrive to the McDuck manor as a surprise to Donald. During their visit, the kids come across their uncle being more than a little friendly with the other two birds. Now the holidays have become a little more stressful when the triplets believe the person that's cared for them their entire lives is going to leave them behind.  

Fandom: Ducktales (2017), The Three Caballeros.   Rating: General Audience   Relationships/Pairings: José Carioca/Donald Duck/Panchito Pistoles  Other Tags: Secrete Relationship, Misunderstandings, Angest with a Happy Ending, Christmas Themed, Use of Google Translate, Long One Shot.

It was a small request for the holiday season. But there was a hope that this year would be somewhat quiet for the McDuck/Duck family. Sure, there was still the annual ‘Set up the traps to keep Santa away’ day. It was more of the thought of not having to deal with evil plans or ne'er-do-wells that would rain terror down on them. No on breaking down their door. No one trying to steal from the McDuck fortune. No one being kidnapped and held for ransom.

 So, it was a bit worrisome when a large box, wrapped in shiny red wrapping paper with a white bow resting on top suddenly appeared in the foyer. The only person who seemed unconcerned with this was Scrooge. Which, at the moment, no one could really tell if that was a good or a bad thing. It wasn’t going to be a surprise created by some enemy, which was the original worry. But there was a curious thought as to what could be inside and what Scrooge could possibly be planning.

 “Are we...going to approach it?” Louie asked, trying to sound casual as he eyed his great-uncle.

 “It might be best if we look for a tag.” Scrooge helpfully suggested.

 Dewey instantly sprang into action. With a call of “I’m on it!” he was scrambling around the wrapped box. The necessary discovery made at the very top. “It says it’s for Uncle Donald! Oh, and that he needs to open it immediately.”

 Said duck was confused by this. Going over in his head what he could have possibly bought recently to need this kind of fanfare. Or even what else someone could have bought for him. Apparently Dewey wasn’t going to wait for his uncle’s confusion to take up further time. The duckling pulled Donald forward, the older unable to do more than to unwrap the large present.

 There was a collective outcry of surprise when the present bursted open. Two familiar birds jumping out and tackling Donald onto the polished floor.

 “José? Panchito?” Donald voiced in absolute shock.

 “¡Hola amigo!” The red rooster beamed pulling the baffled duck into a tight hug.

 “What- but how?”

 José could only chuckle, placing a hand on Donald’s shoulder, “Blame your uncle. He arranged all of this.”

 “Merely an early Christmas present,” Scrooge quickly intervened, “I know how much you’ve missed them. So, they’re my- ah, your guests until the new year. As long as they stay in line.”

 Neither José or Panchito were worried about the soul crushing glare the multi-millionaire duck was given them. The green parrot even letting out another chuckle as he greeted Scrooge properly. “It is wonderful to see you again  Senhor Scrooge.”

 “You really paid to fly two people to Duckberg? Two people from two different parts of the world.” Louie casually commented to Scrooge as both watched Donald be pulled up from the floor and pulled into a proper group hug.

 “Don’t be daft. I had Launchpad pick them up.” Scrooge scoffed, ruffling the top of the duckling’s head.

 The triplets were not quite sure what they thought of the flashy birds. After all, the last time they were in their lives, they were liars and were talking about taking Donald away. So the ducklings were cautious around José and Panchito. Even with each bird making their personality known and clearly trying to no longer be strangers in the younger’s lives.

 José was the calmest of the two, that was for sure. More than not, you could find him sleeping the day away in different parts of the mansion. Mainly in areas that had the sun beating down. Huey was a little shocked to find the green parrot bundled up one afternoon and resting poolside. José only seemed ‘awake’ in the evening and into the night. Pulling whomever was near into a quick dance, which Dewey happily participated in, until dinner was ready. Then he would happily regale stories of his travels and the numerous people he’d met along the way. Webby taking full advantage of this and asking as many questions as she could.

 Panchito was...loud. And overly energetic. He was up before anyone else and was the last to settle down for the evening. He seemed to sing wherever he went, no matter what activity he was doing. It would be accompanied with some random song that just popped into his head. It was rare to see him sitting still, which didn’t happen until dinner was ready to eat and he seemed to finally relax. The triplets also learned that the rooster was one for physical affection. Louie swears his back had broken and was then put back together after two different morning hugs he’d received from Panchito.

 Both birds seemed okay, but the triplets were still reserved about the entire situation. Even if Webby was chattering about how great they were. But, despite their reserve, it was clear their uncle was thrilled to have his friends there. Constantly smiling, constantly laughing, tossing stories around as easily as the other two.

 Seeing this caused Huey to worry. Which he voiced one evening before dinner to the small group.

 “Do you think Uncle Donald regrets taking us in?”

 “What?” Dewey sat up quickly. Almost banging his head on the bunk bed above him. His eyes narrowed on Huey, who winced. “Why in the world would you say that?”

 “Because he’s so happy right now.”

 “We’ve seen him happy before.” Louie casually argued back.

 “But not like this. He’s been happy for us. I’ve never seen him happy for himself.”

 “Okay, so, why are you blaming us for this?”

 “Because when he took us in, he pushed everyone away. Even close friends. So maybe...if he hadn’t taken us…”

 “He would be happier?” The duckling dressed in green voiced weakly. Now looking as worried as Huey.

 Dewey let out a snort, however, and waved his hand. “Okay, before we panic too much over this, why don’t we just ask Uncle Donald. Easy solution.”

 “He’s just going to lie,” Huey argued, “He’s going to do everything he can to keep us happy.”

 “Well it’s a better idea than just moping around about it. If you’re both so worried, I’ll go ask.”

 “I’ll come!’ Webby bounced up, “I’ve been meaning to test my ‘lie detecting’ skills.”

 “Perfect. Sit tight you two. We’ll be back with information.” Dewey took Webby’s wrist and they raced from the room.

 They already knew that they should start with the kitchen first. Panchito and Mrs. Beakley had agreed to trade off on evening cooking duty while the rooster was visiting. Panchito saying he wanted to share his family favorites with his growing family. Mrs. Beakley happily passed those nights over, enjoying her evenings off as an early gift to herself.

 This was Panchito’s evening, so there was a chance that Donald was with him. And in fact, he was. Both ducklings paused to peek around the corner. Peering into the kitchen from the hallway doorway.

 Panchito was moving around the kitchen at ease. The stove on full force as he worked on the large meal. Donald was sitting on the nearby countertop, his legs slowly swaying as he watched on. They were talking quietly. Dewey eventually realized they were speaking Spanish.

 “I didn’t know Uncle Donald could speak Spanish… Weird. Oh well, let’s go talk to him.” The duckling in blue was quickly pulled back into place by Webby. Dewey released a choked quack as it happened.

 “Hey-”

 “Shush.”

 “But-”

 “Shush! I’m listening.”

 “You know Spanish?”

 “Yes, now hush.”

 Dewey huffed but kept quiet and watched. He wasn’t sure what Webby was waiting for. They just seemed to be chatting about random things. Like what he and his brothers did when Donald would cook on the boathouse. Except it was just old friends catching up, so nothing that should keep Webby’s interest like this. He was about to complain once more when Panchito turned to face his solo audience. Boldly stating something that caused Donald to turn red and Webby to gasp softly.

 “What happened?” Dewey asked. All he got in response was a pat on his face and another “Shush!”.

 His argument died on his throat when Donald, still flushed, pushed at the rooster’s lower back with a foot. Panchito, in turn, grabbed the extended ankle. Easily pulling at it to bring Donald right to the edge of the counter and stepping between the duck’s legs with a raised brow. Hands resting on Donald’s hips and bending forward. Donald, on his part, took it all with ease. A smirk on his own bill as he draped his arms over the rooster’s shoulders. There was a small mutter of something. Nothing that either duckling was able to catch but could tell it wasn’t malicious. It was almost (Dewey panicked slightly) loving. But, whatever was said, was enough to fluster Donald once more before he pulled Panchito into a kiss.

 Dewey’s mouth dropped in absolute shock. Webby had to clamp her bill shut to keep the squeal of absolute joy from escaping. But she did let out a small noise as she was forcefully pulled away. Dewey leading the way back to the bedroom. Eyes wide and frantic.

 “Whoa, what happened?”

 Dewey jumped at Huey’s voice, not realizing they had arrived back. His mouth opened and loaded a few times. But nothing came out. He was still in too much shock to properly explain what happened.

 “Dude, just spit it out.” Louis huffed.

 “Your uncle and Panchito are secret lovers!” Webby answered, ending with a  small scream of glee.

 “What!” Huey exclaimed, Louie dropping out of his bed and onto the floor in shock.

 “They’re...in the kitchen,” Dewey voiced weakly, “and they just…”

 He created ‘mouths’ with his hands to press them together. Huey and Louie both let out small noises of distress.

 “You can’t be serious.” The duckling clad in red voiced weakly.

 “I just saw it happen! It’s burned into my retinas and my memory. I wouldn’t make this up.”

 “Wait, wait,” Louis recovered, “Was this just a recent development?”

 “I mean, based on everyone’s reactions, I would say no one else knew.”

 “No! I mean, did they just start ‘dating’ or have they always been in a relationship? And if they have been together all this time, why would Uncle Donald hide something like this from us?”

 “We could just ask him?” Webby offered.

 Dewey shook his head. “I’m not going to back down until the food is ready and I can focus on that.”

 “Plus, if this is a secret relationship, calling it out could be damaging. We know Uncle Scrooge isn’t...too wild about them. He might not like Uncle Donald dating. We’ll need to talk to Uncle Donald alone some time.”

 “Which won’t be happening anytime soon,” Louie huffed, “He’s always with those two until he goes to bed.”

 Webby shuffled her foot nervously before she quietly added. “Unless Panchito shares the bed.”

 The outburst of disgust was almost defining.

 ___________________

 As the days passed, the four were still unable to figure out how they were going to approach Donald. It was getting closer to Christmas and there were still a multitude of tasks to accomplish. Baking, shopping, wrapping, decorating, setting traps; the kids were too exhausted at the end of the day to worry about anything else. That doesn’t mean the issue ever really left their mind.

 It was in the middle of a decorating day when the next surprise was dropped.

 Huey and Louie were traveling through the one of the last few undecorated hallways. The duckling in red going down a list of the remaining decorations. Discussing, more to himself as Louie was barely paying attention, about what should go where and why. Eventually reaching the dead end, Louie leaned against the wall as he continued to slowly nurse a can of Pep. Lazily watching as Huey wrote down a few more notes.

 “So, that’s the tentative plan,” Huey concluded as he closed the guidebook with a snap, “What do you think?”

 “Yep, sounds good.”

 “...Were you even paying attention.”

 “Oh sure.”

 Huey glared at Louie, who only smiled innocently back. “Well, no matter. We can start setting up when Uncle Donald and José get here.”

 “They are taking their sweet time.” Louie grumbled.

 “Do you think something happened?”

 “Don’t stress, we would have heard something.” As if on cue, there was a loud ‘thump!’. Which was followed by a loud and familiar quack that was undoubtedly their uncle. “There they are.”

 “Let’s go see if they need help.” Huey ignored the small noise of complaint that Louie gave as he rushed by.

 He was about to turn the corner to confront the new arrivals. But faltered hearing an accented voice softly say, “You need to be careful meu amor.”

 That caught his attention.

 Huey instantly pressed himself against the well. Pulling Louie close and covering his bill before he could let out a noise of surprise. His glare didn’t deter Huey, who merely replied with a shake of his head and a pointed look to the corner.

 After an understanding to remain quiet, they peered around cautiously. They found Donald leaning against the wall, holding his no doubt injured foot to check it over for any damage. José was running his thumb over the slowly reddening area. The boxes of decorations laying nearby.

 “I really wish Scrooge would move that Grandfather Clock,” Donald grumbled, “It’s too close to the corner.”

 “Or you could remember that it is there and not hit it.” José offered with a smile.

 “Hush. You’re not the one with the throbbing foot.”

 “Oh, pobrezinho. Would a kiss make it better?”

 Donald merely rolled his eyes, but didn’t resist as he was pulled close. Both duckling’s mouths dropped as the adults shared a kiss. One that went on longer than either Huey or Louie were comfortable with.

 “Wait, wait,” Donald laughed softly as José moved to nip at his neck, “The kids are nearby.”

 “Is your foot feeling better?”

 “If I say yes, will you let me go?”

 José sighed dramatically. “If I must.”

 “You must. Let’s get the boxes delivered before the kids start to worry.”

 Huey began to panic. Knowing he and Louie couldn’t just abandon the hallway without a good reason and they couldn’t flee fast enough. But he really didn’t want to face his uncle after that. He also really wanted to talk to Dewey and Webby about what happened because this was getting crazy!

 Huey turned to whisper frantically to Louie, with a plea for help.

 Only to be sucker punched in the gut by the youngest triplet.

 It wasn’t a hard enough hit for Huey to blackout. But he doubled over in pain, having difficult breathing as Louie gave him support on his weak knees. The duckling in red let out a weak groan of pain just as Donald and José entered the hallway.

 Rightly so, Donald panicked. “Huey? What happened?”

 “Oh gee Uncle Donald, I think Huey has a little stomach ache. I think all this Christmas excitement is a bit overwhelming. I was going to take him back to our room to rest.” Louie laid it on thick, making sure to wrap one of Huey’s arms around his shoulders.

 José frowned, placing his box down quickly. “Do you want some help? I can carry him.”

 “No, no, you two carry on with the merriment. I can get Huey to bed easily. Don’t you worry.” Louie didn’t drop the act until they were a few hallways away. He leaned his brother against the wall, the older triplet glaring at him. Huey holding his stomach in some way of comfort.

 “You...couldn’t...have warned me?”     

 “I panicked. Now hurry up and catch your breath so we can report back to the others.”

 ___________________

 “So, wait, is Uncle Donald dating both?” Dewey asked weakly.

 “Apparently? It’s the only explanation I can think of for why José was so...lovey dovey.” Louie choked out with Huey letting out an agreement groan from his bed. Dewey was not showing the same discomfort. In fact, he looked more frantically worried than anything.

 “Is he...cheating-”

  “Whoa, whoa, let’s take a step back,” Webby instantly took control over the situation. The triplets now held the same level of concern from the single word Dewey almost uttered. “Now, I’m  one to always offer ‘the sneak way’ to find information. But that’s normally used against the enemy. This is your uncle. Why don’t we just go talk to him?”

 Huey and Dewey looked nervous about the possible confrontation. Louie, however, stood up, appearing angry and agitated.

 “You know, I want to talk to those two. We know next to nothing about them. Maybe they’re playing some game with Uncle Donald.”

 Webby frowned. “Do you really think that...low of them?”

 “I don’t know what to think of them because I don’t know them! But we know Uncle Donald and he wouldn’t pull this kind of stunt. Those two however…” Louie didn’t finish that sentence. Instead, he stuffs his hands into his hoodie pocket and stomped his way towards the door.

 The other three had no choice but to quickly follow after. They made their way down to the backyard pool. Knowing the green parrot, he was out by the poolside soaking up some sunlight. Even with snow laying on the ground, the cold didn’t really seem to bother José.

 Louie was first out the back door and marched his way over to where the parrot was currently resting. Only to falter when the boathouse opened and Panchito stepped out. The rooster shivering from the cold, even with a heavy coat on. Louie was quickly pulled into the bushes by Webby. Huey and Dewey already hiding back there.

 “How can you just lay out in the cold? ¡Está helando!” Panchito exclaimed.

 José barely cracked open an eye to regard the shivering bird. “I have been to colder areas. This is actually rather mild.”

 “Pavonearse.”

 “Is Donald still tinkering away at the heater?”

 “Si. I had to get out of the way or else I would have become an unfortunate victim.”

 “No heater and you are standing in such freezing temperatures? Venha aqui, let me warm you up.” José opened his arms and they were quickly filled with a shivering rooster. The parrot merely laughed, gently preening the red feathers he could reach. “If you are so cold, why don’t you just go into the mansion?”

 “Because being in there alone is so unwelcoming.”

 “...Scrooge invited us.”

 “I know.”

 “But years of animosity does not just go away.”

 “...Si.” Panchito let out a small noise as he was moved to sit up. But he didn’t complain when José kissed him softly.

 “It will be fine… We will be fine. And soon we will not have to worry about leaving Donald ever again.” José laughed as Panchito’s mood instantly rose.

 “Do you think the papers will arrive on time?”

 “Oh, I doubt it. But we will just think of it as a late present.”

 Both fell quiet when the boathouse door opened once more, Donald walking out. Wearing an old, plain white shirt that was stained from numerous years of use. Spots of oil could be seen clumping his feathers.

 “It’s fixed,” Donald announced, “It’ll be a bit until the entire boat is warm again. But it’s going to be better than out here.”

 Panchito let out a cheer and raced up the ramp, pulling the duck into a quick kiss. “You know where to find me!”

 And down into the boat the rooster went.

 José quietly strolled up the same ramp, clearly in no hurry to leave the sun. “Have I ever told you I am quite enamored with the working man?”

 “Every time I fix something.” Donald rolled his eyes, but his feathers ruffled in embarrassment.

 “Then you know it is true.”

 “Would you just get in here. I need to shower before my feathers are stained black.”

 “Would you like to save on water?”

 “Just get in!”

 José was not offended by the sudden outburst as Donald’s feathers puffed out further. The parrot claimed his own kiss before he entered the boat, pullin the flustered duck in as well.

 As soon as the area was clear, Louie quickly stood. Heading back into the mansion. Not looking back to see if the rest were following. Huey was up next, not bothered when Dewey quickly reached out and grabbed his hand. Both pressing close as they followed the younger triplet. Webby brought up the rear. Realizing something was weighing heavily over them, but not fully sure for what reason.

 “So...we know no one’s cheating on anyone.” She offered weakly, giving a small smile. Which slipped away when she didn’t receive a reply. “Guys?”

 “He’s still lying to us.” Louie muttered darkly. He’d taken residents on the window seat, hood up and curled in on himself.

 “Why didn’t Uncle Donald tell us?” Dewey asked weakly. He and Huey had claimed the lowest bunk, clinging to each other.

 “Maybe to not hurt us,” Huey offered, “Maybe he had to break it off when he took us in. He couldn’t raise three kids and maintain a long distance relationship.”

 “So it’s our fault.” Louie snapped.

 “Hang on guys. You’re still just jumping to wild conclusions,” Webby interjected, “He loves you guys. He wanted to take you in.”

 “Do we know that? Every story we’ve heard, it was a sudden reaction. He just took us. Maybe it was his way to improperly grieve.” Huey argued back.

 “Maybe he just took us in so he could be close to mom in some way.” added Dewey.

 “You don’t know that. Come on, we’re going back down there to talk to Donald. Let’s go do that.” Webby waved her hand, a gesture for the trio to follow.

 “Are they going to take Uncle Donald away?” Dewey asked.

 Huey swallowed weakly. “That’s what it sounds like.”

 “What a perfect Christmas present,” Louie huffed, “Gets to run off with his lovers while he leaves the troublesome nephews. How romantic.”

 Dewey let out a small whimper, hiding himself away in his older brother. That seemed to snap Louie out of the fog he was in and he rushed over to the bed. Quickly clamoring up and joining in the small huddle. Webby could only watch. Frozen in spot as her mind raced with how she was supposed to help.

 ___________________

 Donald was close to having an episode. Because something was wrong with his boys and he had no idea what it was. He’d been so focused on José and Panchito he hadn’t really given time to his own kids. Now it was a spiraling descent of feeling guilty for his actions, but knowing he had a right to be with his own boyfriends.

  “I know that look.”

 Donald looked up from the well worn table as José and Panchito slid in on either side of him. “What do you mean?”

 “It may have been a few years. But that is a look of forlorn. One you have when you have started berating yourself.” José continued.

 “What’s wrong mi amor?” Panchito asked, cutting right to the chase.

 Donald huffed, ruffling his feathers. “The kids have been acting...strange, and I can’t figure out why. Now I’m worried I haven’t been paying attention to a problem that shouldn’t be one. And the boys won’t talk to me. They just hover nearby and run when I get too close.”

 “José and I could talk to them?”

 The green parrot frowned. “Except they have been avoiding us as well. I am afraid we are not going to be much help.”

 “What about la niña pequeña, Webby? We could ask her?” The rooster offered.

 “I have barely seen her as of late as well.”

 “Uh...Scrooge and Beakley?”   

 “Trust me, if they knew, they would have already ‘talked’ to me about it.” Donald grumbled.

 José pulled the duck closer, smiling softly as he eagerly shuffled closer. “It is Christmas, we are all a little stressed. Let us just get past all of this craziness. Then we will sit down with the kids and talk.”

 Donald really hated that was their best plan. But he also knew there was very little else they could do.

 Christmas day arrived with rather subdued fanfare. The kids were clearly excited to finally open the pile of presents that were under the large pine tree. But Donald was also aware of the numerous, nervous glaces thrown his way. Some rather hard ones given out when José or Panchito was nearby. It was worrisome to think the kids were angry with his lovers. Granted, secret lovers, but the point still remained.

 ...Did they find out and silently didn’t approve? If this was true, why wouldn’t they just talk to him? He could explain, he could talk to them and hopefully ease their worries.

 Donald jumped back to reality feeling a hand placed on his shoulder. He looked up to find Panchito giving him a worried look. He attempted to smile back, but it was clear it wasn’t comforting.

 The pile of presents slowly depleted throughout the morning. Donald’s nerves soothed slightly hearing the triplet’s calls of glee with each new gift they unwrapped. Even seeming content with what José and Panchito had given them.

 He raised a brow when Scrooge walked over to the couch he, José, and Panchito were sitting on. The older duck cleared his throat, gaining the attention of the other two before holding out an envelope for each.

 “Happy Christmas.”

 Donald watched as the two birds took an envelope, opening it cautiously. Panchito was the first to fully open his, pulling out a piece of paper and reading it over quickly. He let out such a yell of absolute joy that Donald was worried it would shatter the nearby windows. The rooster leapt up and pulled Scrooge into a tight hug just as José read over his own paper. The parrot’s beak dropped in surprise, wide eyes traveling to Donald as he passed the paper over.

 Curious, Donald accepted it. As his eyes traveled down, his own excitement grew, a wide smile breaking out. “...You’re both…”

 “We are officially legal!” Panchito cheered, finally releasing Scrooge. Who subtly rubbed his lower back when the rooster turned away. “We are now citizens!”

 “We were not expecting these papers so soon.” José mumbled weakly.

 Scrooge gave a small chuckle, giving a knowing smirk when all eyes were back on him. “You can get things moving fairly quickly when you have enough money.”

 He winced as Panchito pulled him into another quick, but still bone crushing hug. “There is not enough thanks in the world!”

 Donald could only laugh as he and José were pulled off the couch by the rooster. “We can stay, we can finally be close to each other. We can buy a home and-”

 The joyous moment was quickly cut short when a loud ‘thud’ interrupted the event. Louie had stood, the present given to him by the two colorful birds had been tossed to the side. Donald would have berated the duckling, if he wasn’t stunned by the look on the triplet’s face.

 Anger.

 Absolute anger.

 Before anyone could speak, Louie left the room, hood flipped up and hand shoved into his pocket. Shoulders up to make himself small as he stormed away.

 Shockingly, José followed.

 Confused and hoping for some answers, Donald turned to the remaining two. Only for Dewey to rush out next. With hands pressed to his beak and (Donal’s heart jolted) tears threatening to spill out. Panchito followed the duckling close behind. That left Huey with Donald. The duckling, the smallest Donald had ever seen him. No one commented as Donald picked Huey up and carried him out of the room.

 ___________________

 Louie was fast when he wanted to be. José was thankful that the duckling was heavy footed. Because there was no other way he would have found the duckling in this maze of a building. Louie had taken up residents by a large window, far away from everyone else. Hood still up and knees pulled close, glaring at the outside estate. José approached cautiously, clearing his throat to announce his arrival. The duckling didn’t move.

 “May I join you?”

 There was still no reply. José didn’t mind, taking a seat and turning so he could view the outside world as well. “I will admit, I never thought I would be one for snow. I grew up in such warm climates. I believed when I experienced sheer cold, I would hate it. But, when I gave it a chance, I found it to be wondrous. True I do have to bundle up in order to enjoy it. It is still such a thrill to see though.”

 “I’m not accepting you.” Louie replied shortly.

 “But you have not even gotten to know me. It is unfair for you to jump so quickly to such a conclusion.”

 “Well, you never got to know me. You spent all your time with Uncle Donald.”

 José let out a slow sigh and nods. “That is true. And I hope you will understand why. I have not seen your uncle in such a long time. At least in a way that I have had so much time to spend with him. Not just a day or a few hours. It has been wonderful...and I may have gotten a little carried away at keeping your uncle’s attention.”

 “Because you’re dating.” Louie stated, staring the parrot down.

 José blinked in surprise, but did not dispute it. “Yes we...we were.”

 “Were? My brothers and I have seen you and the rooster hanging off of Uncle Donald! You are dating.”

 “Were. We broke it off a short time after you three were hatched. Your uncle wanted to focus on you and we were unable to stay.”

 “And now you can. Now you’re legally able to. Now you can take Uncle Donald away from us.”

 “Ai meu deus, Louie. Where did you get that idea?”

 “Just now! With Panchito saying ‘we’ and how you all were going to buy a house!”

 “I… the ‘we’ was Panchito and I. We would only ask Donald to move in if all four of you would have agreed.”

 That caused Louie’s glare to soften. “...Four?”

 “We, that being Panchito and I, would love to have all of you live with us. I am sorry to make you and your brothers think we would not welcome you properly into our lives. I suppose a proper start would be necessary.”

 José cleared his throat and held out a hand, one that Louie gingerly took. “Hello Louie. I am José Carioca, an old relation to your Uncle Donald. It is wonderful to see you.”

 “...Louie Duck. Nephew of Donald Duck...and CEO of Louie Inc.”

 The parrot laughed jovially at that. “So young and already a businessman. Tell me Louie, have you been to Bahia?”

 “I don’t think so.”

 “Well, if you have time, allow me to regale you a few tales.”

 ___________________

 “Dewey! Dewey, please stop!” Panchito grumbled when the duckling sped up instead. Mentally berating himself knowing that wouldn’t have worked. The rooster picked up his own speed when Dewey darted into the triplet’s bedroom. Just fast enough to stop the door from closing with his foot. He only entered when he heard Dewey settle down on a bed.

 Letting out a slow breath, Panchito walked in. He cautiously stepped over the chaotic mess as he approached the beds. Dewey was lying on the second bed, covered by the blue blanket, small sniffs heard from within. Slowly climbing up the bedside ladder, Panchito leaned over and rested his upper body on the bed proper.

 “You are a speedy little guy. Kind of shocked I was able to keep up.” Panchito laughed softly. He frowned when Dewey didn’t reply.

 “...I know the want to just run away from your troubles. I have a big, big family. Seems like the only way to avoid fights was to run away. Run far and fast. So that is what I did. When I could not just smile any longer, I would run.”

 He fell quiet when Dewey shuffled, the lump under the blanket moving closer to the rooster. Panchito smiled gently as the duckling’s face appeared. Eyes red with the feathers around them damp. “Hola.”

 “...Hi…”

 “Why did you run?”

 Dewey didn’t reply. He instead sat up and asked his own question. “Is that what you did when we hatched and Uncle Donald started to raise us? That we were a problem you didn’t want, so you ran?”

 “What? No, no niño, no. José and I weren’t able to stay. We were young, had no income, no way to get citizenship. We really, truly wanted to stay… But even your Uncle Donald knew how impossible it would be for us.”

 “So you broke up?”

 Panchito coughed weakly, suddenly feeling flustered. “I, well, w-why would you say that?”

 “We’ve seen you, José, and Uncle Donald together.”

 “Ah...suppose we were not that sneaky. But, yes, we did break up. We did not want to...but our options were low or impossible to get.”

 Taking a bit of a risk, Panchito reached out to gently dry off the damp feathers. Dewey didn’t protest. He even smiled weakly, shoulders relaxing.

 “I fell in love with you three the moment you hatched. And I know José feels the same. You had such big eyes and were covered with fluffy, yellow feathers. Oh, dios mío you boys were so adorable. I am sure my heart burst with happiness.”

 “Really?”

 “Of course. I wanted to hold you all and never let go. And you clung to me, you would giggle and I would just melt every time.”

 Dewey laughed weakly at that. He inched closer until he could wrap his arms around Panchito. The rooster instantly pulled the duckling closer, beaming.

 “I am not running away. Not now, not ever.”

 ___________________

 Donald knew when Huey was upset, he needed to let the duckling lead. Don’t question, don’t prod, don’t poke. When Huey wanted to talk, he would talk. So Donald waited, holding the duckling’s hands and gently running his thumbs along the back of them. Huey was staring at the ground. The quiet was broken when a small sniff or hiccup escaped him. Other than that, it was silent between them.

 It remained this way for a few minutes until Huey weakly squeezed Donald’s hands. A non-verbal indication that he had calmed and was ready to talk. Even then, it took awhile for Huey to find his voice.

 “I’m sorry.”

 Donald shook his head. “You have nothing to be sorry for. I don’t even know what’s wrong.”

 “We know you, José, and Panchito are...together. In a relationship.”

 “Okay. Well, I suppose that’s something I should be apologizing for. I was going to tell you three. Should have done that a lot sooner. But you don’t need to apologize for finding out.”

 Huey shook his head but didn’t say anything. Donald was at a complete loss.

 “Huey...I can’t help you if I don’t know what the issue is.”

 “Do you hate us?”

 He felt as if he had been punched in the gut. It took a few seconds for Donald to compose himself before he could speak again. “No, why would you think that?”

 “You love them, but you never mention them. Never talk about them. You had to give up your life with the people you love because we… Because we were dumped into your lap. You didn’t get a choice and you had to give up so much. Because of us. How could you not hate us?”

 “Huey, Huey, I need you to slow your breathing.” Donald quickly took back control, hand slowly rising and falling for Huey to follow. He waited for the duckling to calm again before asking, “Do you want me to take your hands again?”

 That was answered with a short nod and Donald complied. “Now I want to make something perfectly clear. I am, in no way in any shape of form, angry at you or your brothers. You weren’t dumped into my lap. I willingly took you in and I don’t regret it at all. I loved raising you three and I love you three now.”

 “But...you left them.”

 “Because they couldn’t stay here. And I didn’t want them to feel as if they had to put a pause on their lives for me. I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if they had spent years trying to return here to live here. We were wild when we were younger, them more so than I. They would never admit it, but it would have driven them crazy if they had to stay here. I wanted them to experience the world they had always talked about. To experience what I had when I was growing with Uncle Scrooge.”

 “How come you never talked about them?”

 “I’m not sure. If I really think about it, I think I would have broken down. I love them so much...and I didn’t want you three to worry when I began to blubber over people you’d never met.”

 “Are we going to move in with them?”

 “How about we live through this and then we’ll discuss that. All of us.”

 Huey hummed softly and nodded. “Okay.”

 “Feeling better?”

 “...Yeah. Yeah, I am,” Huey looked up with a small smile, “Thanks Uncle Donald.”

 Donald smiled back, he pulled the younger into a tight hug. “I love you and I love your brothers. Never doubt that. Now, how about we go find everyone?”

 Huey nodded once more and didn’t argue when he was picked up again. As they neared the crossroads, they unintentionally came across the missing party members. José holding Louie’s hand as the older was leading the way. Dewey was riding on Panchito’s shoulders, wearing the large sombrero that was slowly slipping down to cover his eyes.

 They all shared quick glances before Donald laughed softly. “I’ll take it, we’ve all talked and are feeling better?”

 All parties nodded, sharing calm smiles. Panchito stepped forward and pulled all into a tight hug. None complained about how crushing it was, the triplets finding it comforting.

[talk1about7seventeen]

Warnings: Flirty situations, suave Taehyung, witty protagonist/ reader, romance.

Pairing: Taehyung x reader / suave!tae x witty!y/n

Word Count: 1744

Notes: Hello! Welcome! This was written in mind for my best friend (love you babe) but I hope you enjoy regardless! Remember, I'm not trying to be the most accurate with my depictions of Taehyung, yet a characterized version of the beloved K-pop artist. This is just for fun so don't think too much into it!

Genre: Romance ♡

Without further a-do, enjoy!

✲ﾟ｡.✿ • .ू • ❁.｡ू *ﾟ✲ﾟ• . *｡

The sky was alive as it always was in the early morning. Clouds danced amongst pinks and hues of gold, such a beautiful sight to wake up to. It was easy to be in a good mood in the city you lived, especially because of the skylight right above your bed where you could peer up into the sunrise yourself. You had made a great living for yourself to be able to afford such lovely apartment. It was at the top of the building, which is why you had a skylight in the first place. The window acutely placed against the ceiling, bringing light into the room so delicately that any movement may break the rays that glistened down upon you. Another day, another adventure. You would wake up with ease, brush your teeth, get dressed in something appropriate for the breezy Summer's day and make your way to the local coffee shop across the street. Yet, the feeling of your bed sheets was so much more alluring than anything else in that moment. The kind of calm that accompanied this room was enough to make any growing artist obtain their inspiration, and such you were.

"Okay." You spoke to yourself, mentally preparing yourself for the day ahead of you. Walking out of the room into the bathroom, you flipped on the light to get a good look at yourself. The short curls on your head stuck out wildly in every direction. Maybe you should have gotten that silk pillow case at the store when it was presented to you. Pillow cases aside, you had more important matters to deal with; today's look. You were feeling something more refined this morning. Maybe a touch of white, a hint of brown, or better yet---maybe lavender.

After brushing your teeth you went to retrieve the outfit of the day which ended up being a long deep colored brown blazer on top of a cream colored sweater slightly tucked into tan shaded long pants with not even a wrinkle on them. The pants in question fanned out at the end which gave you a more prestine and dare one would even say, artsy look. As you returned to the bathroom, you managed to tame the mess of curls on your head into a slick and neat style, one which you had done many times before. "There we go." You smiled at yourself. Over time you have really learned how to put yourself together. A wonderful trick you had learned from any art class; trusting the process. Sure, it may not look ideal at the beginning, but the end result would, if not most times, work out in your favor. You were beautiful, and you knew this. The confidence you radiated, a younger version of yourself envied. But there was no time for envy now, only self appreciation and admiration. You located a long bag you would wear on your shoulder with all the essentials tucked in neatly in each crevice. Now you were ready to start your day, and what better than something warm to sip on.

"Y/n! Good to see you dear!" The older women who ran the coffee shop bubbled at your presence. "Hello, Madam Loretta. Lovely to see your face again." You replied in a respectful tone. This women made you feel at home when you were far from it. Madam Loretta was a kind soul who had a knack for delicious coffee and you were surprised her shop wasn't as well known as it ought to be. "Not a minute late either. What will you be having today?" The women peered at you with curious eyes. Placing a finger on your chin, you pondered for a moment. "Surprise me." She nodded and made her way back to the coffee machine where she began to make your surprise drink, humming a tune you had heard many times before.

The shop wasn't crowded but it had a good amount of people there. One being a particularly interesting fellow you hadn't seen before. His style of clothing was similar to your own and his attention was being pulled from the book in his hand to the beverage in front of him. You watched him as you walked back to your usual seat, pausing when his eyes shifted to you. He looked you up and down for a second and gave a small smile. You shook your head out of your own thoughts and sat down at your seat.

You hadn't meant for the odd stranger to look at you, but now that was all he was doing. His coffee colored eyes swirled and glistened in the sunlight. They seemed warm and mesmerizing. You found yourself staring back. "Y/n, darling!" Madam Loretta called placing a coffee mug on the counter. Rising from your chair you walked up to her, trying not to look at him as you were moments ago. You dipped your head lightly at the woman and thanked her warmly. As you had almost made it back to your space, you heard a noise from where the man sat. "Hmm?" You turned to face him. He gently held up a hand a beckoned you over. Against anything you would have tried then, you were awfully curious of who he was and why he was looking. This was the moment you would let your interest get the best of you.

"You aren't very good at subtlety, are you?" He comments, his voice even and smooth. This caught you by surprise. "I beg your pardon?" He let out a chuckle. "Sit, please." Gesturing to the seat across from him, he watches as you move. You weren't sure if he was looking for something in particular but that wasn't of the utmost concern. You sat down, placing your coffee mug in front of you cautiously. "Well, is there something you need?" His smile grows. "My apologies, y/n, was it?" You nodded, looking at the cup in front of him. "Odd that you chose to order tea at a coffee shop." You commented. "They have it here, don't they?" He placed a hand on his cheek. "I suppose. What would they call you, stranger?"

"Ah, I've forgotten an introduction, haven't I? Kim Taehyung, ma'am, pleasure to make your acquaintance." Taehyung gave a little wink that made your heart race. Odd. "Well, Kim Taehyung, I wouldn't call yourself subtle entirely for you stared first." You say without issue, taking a sip of the coffee without breaking eye contact. It was rich and tasted of hazelnut. A smile spread across your face naturally. Taehyung caught this. "What's so funny?" He tilts his head to the side. "The coffee is good....it always is here." You would thank Madam Loretta before you left. "You should try it sometime, instead of getting a tea at a coffee shop." You teased lightly. Taehyung let out a small giggle. "I don't really like coffee." He said. Now this started to confuse you. "Then why are you here?" He looked around at the chattering customers, the prestine glass windows, everything and then back at you. "The atmosphere is addictive, is it not? Is that not why you're here?"

"A bold assumption, we hardly know each other, Kim Taehyung." He licked his lips softly. "For now." He set both hands crossed in front of each other on the table. "You are an interesting character." You tell him. "All the more reason to talk to me, I presume." You let out a laugh which catches him by surprise. "What a day already." You tell yourself aloud. "I'm glad you find me amusing." He smiles wider, showing his teeth which are perfectly straight. "I do. But I must be on my way." The time of your interaction has run short. You were too busy to keep this up much longer which caused a string in your heart to play a saddened tune. His frown made the song duller---or should one say, more sorrowful. "Can I meet you again?" You ask for a reason unbeknownst to yourself. This question causes him to smile. "You'll find me where the tops of the building meet the sky. And I shall be waiting for you there, dear y/n, I assure you." He tells you poetically. "Okay, Kim Taehyung, until then." He dips his head and gives a little wave goodbye as you walk up to the counter saying your grace to Madam Loretta, and then leaving soon after.

Art classes go ever so slowly this day, for your mind was on the suave man at the beloved coffee shop across the street. You weren't quite sure what he meant in his response before you had left but you were determined to find out. On beautiful days like this, you would walk up to the roof of your school and sit there as the sun left the sky, and today was no different. You walked up the stairs and opened the door with a firm push. To your surprise you weren't alone this time. A beautiful song filled the air. It was deep and moving. The voice could surely only belong to a professional singer, someone of value. You hadn't heard such a lulling tune in quite some time, it was enthralling. You scanned the area looking for who it may be, and there he was, Kim Taehyung. The door behind you shut with a loud click and the song stops abruptly. He turned and smiled as your eyes meet. "I hadn't expected this is where I would find you. You aren't following me, are you?" You walk towards him slowly. "Not at all. You aren't the only one who comes to appreciate the sky, nor will you be the last." You now stand side by side with him as you watch the sun decend over the horizon. You look out into the city with its towering buildings, and chattering tourists and in this moment, you feel like the art instead of the artist. "Meet me here again, y/n. I will wait for you and the sun."

"You're awfully bold, sir." He laughs. "One would ought to be." After that there were no words spoken, only the chirping of birds in the distance as the sun became a canvas for watercolors so bright that you would forget it wasn't a painting entirely. "I will." You tell him finally, and he smiles at this. Eventually, so do you.

[an-ambivalent]

Oath Of Desires: One

Synopsis: [Yandere! Jungkook x Reader x Taehyung] [Poly AU]

It had only been them three for a long time. Not one person more, not one person less – just Jungkook, Taehyung and [Name].

Jungkook was elated when Taehyung and [Name] told him that they had become a couple. He literally could not have been happier.

They were his favourite couple, and he loved them both…. A little too much.

When there was a hindrance in Taehyung and [Name]’s relationship which caused them to fall apart, Jungkook was distraught. Afterwards, when he realized the depths of his love for his ‘friends,’ Jungkook made an oath of his dark desires – he was going to do whatever it took to get them back together. And this time, he was also going to become part of their relationship.

Warning: As this story contains yandere themes, the characters display behaviors that can be triggering or uncomfortable to read. Read at your own risk. This work is purely fiction. I do not believe any of the mentioned members would display any sort of this behaviour irl.

“The strongest drug that exists for a human, is another human being.”

-Ella Frank, A Desperate Man: Volume 1

The sun rays peaked through the white clouds that were suspended in the air, and shone brightly on top of the car’s windshield. The light of the rays was harsh enough to make both Taehyung and [Name] wince, and simultaneously, they lowered their sun visors. The day was bright, and a bit too sunny,  as Taehyung drove himself, and [Name] to Jungkook’s residence.

The main road was busy with its usual traffic. So when Taehyung drove, the sound of others cars driving around them, birds chirping here and there, and other people walking on the footpath was all part of their current mundane background. As Taehyung signalled to drive into the right lane beside his current one, so he could take the next right, [Name] spoke.

“How do you think Jungkook will react?” She asked, and turned her head towards Taehyung, whom’s eyes flickered to the rear mirror, before they focused back on the road in front of them.

He pressed his lips in a thin line.

“I don’t know,” Taehyung began, as his eyes shifted to [Name]. His gaze returned to the road momentarily,  and then down towards her lap. He eyed her hands for a few seconds, before grabbing her right hand, and intertwining their fingers together. “Jungkook can be unpredictable sometimes. He’s especially really iffy when it comes to the two of us. I don’t know if you’ve noticed but sometimes when we talk to someone that isn’t him, the look on his face is abnormal. Or that one time, when we had plans and I couldn’t meet up with him, he was a bit too furious.”

“I… get what you mean but cut him some slack Tae. Jungkook hasn’t had the best childhood so of course, sometimes the way he behaves would be questionable and strange. Despite everything he went through, I think he’s doing really well adjusting to the outside world.”

“Yeah, too well.” Taehyung noted, and he furrowed his eyebrows. “Don’t you find that a bit weird sometimes?”

[Name] frowned.

“Why are you being so doubtful of him all of a sudden?” [Name] asked, and just as Taehyung opened his mouth to answer, she shook her head.

“You know what, don’t answer that. I don’t care what you have to say about that. I, personally think it’s great that Jungkook is not struggling the way we expected him to. I’m quite proud of him,” She said smiling.

Taehyung glanced at her, before he scoffed.

“You baby him too much. And all I wanted to say was that Jungkook is just a bit weird, just be careful around him sometimes. Don’t trust him blindly because at the end of the day, he’s a man and you never know what a man might do,” Taehyung warned, and his grip on the steering wheel tightened. At his words, [Name]’s eyebrow twitched because at this point,  only a deity could help her. She did not know how many times she had heard the same thing from her father, male cousins, and now, her own boyfriend.

“You are a man too, last time I checked. Does that mean I shouldn’t trust you fully either?” She questioned mockingly. Sarcasm and sass was laced in her voice, and it was obvious from the way she had spoken that she was challenging Taehyung with his own statement. She expected him to scowl at her, and then return her banter with even more sass the way he usually did. However, Taehyung was completely serious, and the punch line she was waiting for, was never delivered.

Instead, his following words caused shivers of unknown fear to run through [Name].

“Yes, don’t trust me fully either for your own safety. You never know what sort of horrifying lengths a man would go to simply because he can’t win over his own desires. And neither Jungkook, or me are an exception to that reality,” Taehyung stated simply, and that was the end of their conversation for the rest of the car ride.

Presently, [Name] and Taehyung were at Jungkook’s residence. The youngest of the trio, Jungkook, had wanted to have a movie night rather than go out. And because [Name] and Taehyung wanted to “break” the news to him, and were exhausted from their day activities, they had agreed without any hesitancy. So, the infamous slasher ‘Psycho (1960)’ was playing on Jungkook’s television. [Name] and Taehyung had squished themselves by each other’s side on Jungkook’s small couch, and left no room for him.

Jungkook had been annoyed by that, but reluctantly sat on the ground where he could be between both of his friends. He claimed an entire bowl of popcorn for himself as a sort of “revenge” against them for hogging the couch, and left the other bowl to be shared between just two people. Given the recent development in their relationship, [Name] and Taehyung did not mind. However, in order to not raise suspicion about it, they kept a safe amount of distance from each other.

While the film was playing, and Jungkook seemed to be immersed in it, they conversed amongst themselves ‘quietly.’

[Name] elbowed Taehyung, which made him glance towards her. Then with her eyes, she gestured towards Jungkook, while mouthing the words “tell him.”

Taehyung merely ignored her, and returned his attention towards the film. [Name] knew that he had done this not because he was actually invested in the film, but because he was trying to delay their situation as much as he could.

Of course, [Name] could not fathom why Taehyung was being so difficult about the situation, or was being hesitant in telling Jungkook. This annoyed her, and finally, she was at the end of her patience because she nudged him on the shoulder firmly.

“Why are you being so difficult?” She whispered harshly, as she moved herself closer to Taehyung. She pressed her body against his, and was too focused on the current situation to notice how his tan cheeks had reddened slightly at the contact. “He will find out sooner or later. Better from us, than on his own.”

“I know, I will tell him, just give me some time. I’m trying to think of what to say,” Taehyung whispered back, and [Name] rolled her eyes at him.

“You don’t need to think in general to start running your mouth. Why the unnecessary effort now?” She sassed.

“If you are that keen, then why don’t you talk to him?”

“I did talk to him last time we addressed an issue. Now, it's your turn. Stop chickening out, chicken.”

“Don’t call me a chicken! You know how much I hate tha--”

“If you don’t call a chicken, chicken, then what else would you call it--” And as [Name] and Taehyung continued to bicker, with amusement on their faces, they had forgotten that the very person they were talking about, was right in front of them, listening to their each word. Finally, Jungkook spared them any further trouble and turned towards them.

Wonderment over what they wanted to tell him was etched in his irises.

“What are you being so secretive about?” He enquired. Immediately, [Name] and Taehyung stilled in the midst of their banter. Turned out, that their little argument had taken a rather physical turn, because Taehyung was holding [Name] down in his lap, and getting ready to tickle her. Between their movements, her shirt had ridden up slightly. When she caught Jungkook’s eyes focusing on her revealed skin, it felt wrong. [Name] sat up right away, and pulled her shirt down. She refused to return Jungkook’s stare, who’s attention was eventually, and fortunately taken away from her because Taehyung had finally started talking.

“Um, there’s something we should probably tell you,” Taehyung began with a strained and awkward smile. The evident and unusual nervousness in his voice caused Jungkook to narrow his eyes at them. He was responding before Taehyung had even finished explaining.

“Is someone bothering you in anyway? Just tell me, and I have connections that can--”

“What? No one is bothering us,” Taehyung interrupted him, and he furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. “Even if they were, you have connections that can what?” He demanded.

Taehyung did not receive the response he wanted from Jungkook. This was because Jungkook had smiled innocently at him, rather than elaborating on his words further.

“I was just kidding. I guess it was a bad timing for a joke, sorry. Continue, I’ll be mindful to not cut you off like that again,” Jungkook said, and rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.

Taehyung was suspicious, and he was going to act on his suspicion. However, when he noticed the glare that he was getting from [Name], he decided against it, and simply decided to do as she wanted -- for now anyway.

“Okay so the thing we were secretive about was because  it feels a bit awkward to say this. But, [Name] and I have started dating,” Taehyung said simply.

Jungkook blinked once, twice, and then a third time. Afterwards, he just stared at his two best friends, being unable to process the situation.

“What?” He asked, more to himself, than to them.

[Name] and Taehyung glanced at each other, before they returned their eyes to Jungkook. [Name] was the first one to move closer towards him, and settled her hand on his shoulder as a comforting gesture.

“I understand if its a lot to take in, or you are disappointed. But I promise you that you won’t feel left out--”

“You two are dating?” Jungkook asked, with wide doe-eyes as he looked at [Name], and then at Taehyung. Soon, the ‘doe’ innocence in his eyes was replaced with eagerness.  

The two glanced at each other again, before they nodded.

Taehyung sighed. “As [Name] was saying, we understand if you are disappointed--”

Jungkook shook his head a little bit too excitedly.

“I’m not disappointed! Why would I be? This is so great, my two best friends -- dating! You’ll be like those couples in the movies now going on dates, sharing kisses, and getting married. Wow, and I’ll be able to see that happen… Speaking of which, have you guys gone on your first date yet?!” He asked, and his eyes were literally shining.

[Name] and Taehyung were rather surprised at Jungkook’s reaction. Out of everything, they had not expected this. They had prepared for the worst. But, it seemed as if they had been worried over nothing, especially Taehyung. Finally, he relaxed physically, as if a great burden had been lifted off his shoulders.

He should have expected better from himself than to let his own insecurities take over so much, that he ended up being so doubtful over his close friend.  

His eyes flickered towards [Name], who was adorning a small blush on her cheeks.

“We haven’t yet,” She replied, and then covered her face with her hands in order to hide her blush. Her words only enticed Jungkook further, because he was close to bouncing up and down on his feet in joy.

“Oooh, that’s even better then! Because that means I can help Taehyung plan your first date, and accompany you two to make sure that everything goes perfect.”

[mangsdiary]

Call Me Baby i

Reader x Jungkook Summary: Jungkook has an urge that only you can satisfy. Warning: sub!Jungkook & Smut

Part 1 |

"Oppa?!" Your voice was shrill and laced with surprise as the word fell from your lips.

"You should call me Oppa." The response immediately followed, not a second wasted, from the boy that sat directly beside you. Tall, muscular, slim: Jeon Jungkook, whose expression was intense as his chin rest against his fist.

You couldn’t tell if he was joking, gaping at him as your frazzled brain tried to comprehend the oddity of the situation. You'd known the boy for only a handful of months, and your relationship could easily be described in one word: curt. With every word that left his mouth, a sneer seemed to quickly find itself onto the features of your face. With his every action, you'd respond with a roll of your eyes. To you, he was an annoyance, yet the two of you were always forced together due to somehow belonging to the same friend group. That being said, in the short time you had been acquainted with the boy, this was the first time he’d ever made such a request.

"No!" Finally, the word fell from the confines of your lips. It was, of course, followed by a roll of your eyes before they inevitably settled back on the computer screen before you. You were determined to finish your term paper tonight, even if it was due in a week.

The early bird catches the worm.

"Why not?" You weren't looking at him, but you could practically feel the way curious eyes stared at you.

"Because I said so."

"But, shouldn’t you call me that?"

“No.”

“Why?”

"Because I'm older than you."

"You're older than me?" His surprise was genuine. You certainly looked younger than him.

You heaved a heavy sigh, pushing the heels of your palms against your eyes. You briefly wondered how you ended up in this situation before it all came back to you. Namjoon, a mutual friend between you and the little bug to your right, invited you over for a study session. The two of you were supposed to be studying for an upcoming exam, but almost as soon as you walked through the door, his five other roommates swept him away, leaving you alone in their apartment. 

Somehow, however, and unfortunately, Jungkook had been out running errands when all of this transpired. So, imagine his surprise when he returned to find an apartment devoid of sound, except for you diligently typing away at your computer. 

“You couldn’t figure that out?” You sneered. “Do you still want me to call you Oppa?”

Jungkook, who had been staring at you, twisted his face into an expression resembling disgust. Being surrounded by the older men within his immediate friend group, many women seemed to automatically peg him as older than he really was. As a result, they would refer to him as Oppa. When he told them his age, however, they would coo sickeningly, and argue that Oppa was a name that suits him fine. To which, he vastly disagreed. He thought it was weird.

He shook those unsavory thoughts from his head. “So, I will call you Noona?”

“No!” Your eyes narrowed in warning.

“Why not?”

“Because we’re not that close.”

“Couldn’t I just call you Noona anyway?”

You groaned, ready to pull your hair out at the younger boy’s constant pestering. You always found him annoying, but now he was especially so. Rather than choke the life out of the poor kid, you settled with slamming your laptop shut. Finally, you’d resigned yourself to believe that you were never going to get any work done as long as the little bug hovered over your shoulder. Shoving your laptop into your bag, you stood from your spot on the living room couch to make your way out of the apartment. 

Jungkook, only mildly surprised by your behavior, followed you to the door. “You’re leaving?” 

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re bothering me.”

“I am?” A frown tugging at the corners of his lips.

“Look,” you stopped your trek to the door, eyes closed and hands praying in front of your nose as you took in a deep breath. “Why are we even having this conversation?”

The younger, albeit taller, boy stared down at you, expression morphing from that of expectation to one of perplexity. "Do I need a reason to talk to you?”

You should’ve expected that sort of response. Still, however, you couldn’t help the way your eye gave the most subtle twitch. It was moments such as these that reminded you just how short your fuse really was.

With exasperation, you heaved a sigh, pivoting on your heel to take your leave. However, for a reason unbeknownst to you, as you approached the threshold separating indoors and out, Jungkook reached out to stop you.

“Wait, Noona--!”

"I told you not to call me that!”

Jerking away from the boy as his fingers managed to curl around your shoulder bag, said object yanked from your person and sunk to the floor. It took more than a second to realize what happened, but the sickening cracking noise that followed was sufficient in reorienting you. 

Both you and Jungkook stared at your helpless shoulder bag as it lay on the floor as if expecting it to leap its way back onto your shoulder. It, of course, did not, and you were the first to sink to your knees and assess the damage.

With shaky hands and batted breath, you rummaged through your bag, quickly pulling your laptop to your chest. At least, that was what you attempted to do. Its top half managed to break away, dangling by a flimsy wire. From what you could see, the screen was also cracked, and a few keys had broken loose. Needless to say, the longer your eyes lingered, the more you could feel your heart sink deeper into your stomach. It was a feeling accompanied by dread, but soon something else entirely swelled within you.

Biting your lips and clenching your fists, you dropped the broken technology, the abused object returning to the ground with a sharp clack. Red practically blinded you, and by the time you stood, eyes returning to the offender, you were seething.

His eyes were wide with surprise, mouth set in a line before they parted to speak words that never met existence.

“Do not. Say. A damn. Word.” Your tone was low and cutting, effectively silencing the boy. “If I even hear your voice, I might scream. You’re so fucking annoying! Why can’t you just leave me alone?!”

The more you spoke, the louder you got. By the end of it, your face red with anger, and your fists were clenched at your side. Your body quivered from each wave of rage, but you bite your lip. There were no more words to describe how you felt about the boy.

Jungkook, who did nothing but stand stiff as you yelled at him, now had his own dusting of red on his cheeks. His, however, was not from anger. Instead, he bit his lips, words seeming lost on him, while his eyes shifted from you to the side and back. If you weren’t so infuriated, you would have taken the time to savor this rare moment of the younger boy’s speechlessness. Rather than, however, you heaved one last frustrated huff before turning to take your leave, yet again. You were stopped, however, by the sight of Namjoon and the boys standing at the door. They looked as stunned as Jungkook. 

You paid them no mind, pushing past their confused stares until you were out of the building and on your way home. You hadn’t even bothered to gather your broken laptop or your bag, leaving them on the floor.

“What the hell--?” Namjoon muttered when the door slammed after you. When he turned to question Jungkook, however, the youngest was no longer there; the sound of another door quietly shutting instead filled the space where he once stood. 

Within the security of his room, Jungkook sat at his desk, diligently typing away on his laptop. He and Yoongi were the resident photography majors in the group. As such, he was presently searching for music to accompany their group project for the videography class they shared. He absorbed himself so much into the search, he almost didn’t hear the sound of his door creaking open. 

“Hey,” Namjoon stepped into the room. “What was that back there? Did you break her laptop?”

Jungkook swiveled in his chair to face the older man. “Oh,” he started, cringing slightly before his expression melted into an awkward smile. “That was an accident. I’ll buy her a new one tomorrow, so you don’t have to worry about it.”

Namjoon observed the younger closely, arms crossed over his chest. “You okay...? You wanna talk about it?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.” Jungkook turned back to his laptop, continuing to search through his vast archive of music. He shrugged, “What’s there to talk about?”

“Alright...” Namjoon wasn’t convinced but decided not to push the matter further. “Let me know if you need anything.”

Letting out a hum of acknowledgment, Jungkook continued to mindlessly scroll through his list of songs. It was when he heard the door close that he realized he was just staring at the words on his screen, and not actually reading them. Once he noticed, he closed his laptop, running his hands over his face while a heavy sigh pulled from his lips.

As soon as you entered the warmth of your own home, the peace was disturbed by you slamming your door shut. The short commute back to your place wasn’t long, yet managed to quell some of your anger. Still, you were far from sated. Shoes sprawled lazily by the door, jacket tossed haphazardly on the floor, you all but stomped your way to your room, ready to sleep your frustrations away.

Your phone pinged. 

“Don’t you think you were too hard on him?” It was a text from Namjoon. 

With a scoff, you tossed your phone onto your bed, following after to bury your head into your pillow. The last thing you wanted to think about was the little pest that broke your laptop. So you didn’t; pushing the thoughts away, you closed your eyes and fell asleep.

Clanging: the sound of metal sliding against metal, the most prominent sound that filled the mostly empty room. Clad in nothing but boxers, the other space was filled by Jungkook, strapped down to a silken bed with chains around his wrists. At the foot of the bed stood you, flogger held tight in hand as you stared down at him. 

You smirked, voice coming out as a smooth purr. “You’ve been so naughty, baby. Should I punish you?”

His expression read as panic as he gazed at you, eyes darting between your own and the flogger. Maybe he would’ve questioned you, but the ball gag settled between his lips prevented him from doing so. 

“Baby, talk to me.” Jungkook’s body trembled uncontrollably as you teased the flogger against his thigh, eyes widening when you lifted your hand and brought the flogger down on his bare leg.

The pain came immediately, radiating throughout Jungkook’s whole being. Back arching, his legs tried to jerk away only to be kept in place by the bonds around his ankles. Tears stung the corners of his eyes, teeth biting down onto the gag as the flogger was brought down on him again and again, and oh god, it felt glorious.

When you finally dropped the flogger, Jungkook’s chest was heaving up and down as muffled, broken moans scratched at his throat. Eyes fell, tears wetting his cheeks, he sucked in greedy amounts of air through his nose.

“Did that feel good?” You crawled onto the bed, hands caressing his abused thighs as you made your way upward. It was hard for you not to relish in the way his body trembled underneath yours as you settled your person over his hips.

Jungkook’s mind was swimming, thoughts clouded and wholly overtaken by you. The pain you supplied was bitter, and it stung, but he craved it. Had the ball gag not been firmly lodged between his lips, he’d beg for more. 

To you, his pleading eyes were a drug, and you wanted more. You rolled your hips against him, nails scratching down his chest, your lips parted in awe at the welts that emerged in their wake. Leaning down, you kissed the ball gag, tongue flatting against his lower lip and licking the red plastic. The taste was bitter and waxy, but you didn’t mind.

Overwhelmed, the sting lingering throughout his body, Jungkook began to lift his hips to yours, an action that pulled a pleased gasp from your lips. His breath escaped as sporadic huffs through his nose as he rutted against you desperately as he chased his own high. Feeling so close, his head tipped to the side, eyes rolling back. When you took note of how his eyes veered from yours, you were quick to grip at his hair, forcing his sight back to you.

“Don’t look away. Keep your eyes on me.” Your voice was low, lips tugging into an almost endearing smile at the pained cry that settled in his throat. He was so close, edged on by the pain that now radiated across his scalp. “Go on,” you urged. “Cum for me, baby.”

A/N: This has been in my drafts for a minute. I hope you enjoyed it! Stay tuned for Part 2!

[sevi007]

Gen, No-Pairing, only Friendship here.

Setting: Pre-Game, Missing Scene, Interlude, ignores a tiny part of the novel

Summary: Doubts and fears are ever-present. Too many of their friends are missing. Their foe seems unstoppable, and time is running out. Somewhere in the middle of this, on their way to Red Grave City, V comes to realize he knows less than he would like, and feels more than he should.

Characters: V, Nero, Nico, Griffon, Shadow

Word Count: 9166

Shoutouts to:

@rex101111 and @fuckoland for being amazing friends who talked me through whenever a writer’s block threatened to hit me or I got stuck - guys, I couldn’t do it without you, thank you so much! =D (Bear, thanks extra for the taste in Nico’s sandwich choices, it’s perfect.)

@dragonbasket, @syfyravalkyrie, @headcannon-central, @noiroux, @icecreamraven, @indewy

_________________________________________________________

 Dusk turned into night while they took their first, reluctant break on the way to Red Grave City, and by the time stars sprinkled the firmament, they were still waiting.

 They had pulled the van over the side of the deserted street, parked in the field just beside it with nothing besides the starry sky above and the darkness of the night around them while they waited. Nico had declared she would take a nap while she had the chance, and done just that, falling asleep on the small couch under a thick blanket with rumbling snores and the lights in the van still on. It didn’t seem to matter to her.

Nero had been much more restless, unable to lie down and sleep, be inactive, and had gone outside, first to circle the car as if to check they were well and truly alone. Then to lean next to the neon sign while he inspected his weapons for the umpteenth time. Devil Breakers safely tucked into the belt at his leg, gun cleaned and loaded. Over and over again he went over it, checking and checking again, constantly moving in some way or other with barely withheld energy. Every now and then he would glance up, scan the sky to see if Griffon was returning, only for his scowl to deepen and his hands to pick their work up again when there was no sight of their feathery scout. Constantly on the move, never staying still.

 It would have been nerve grating, had it not lead to the young hunter being distracted enough that he did not notice he was being watched intently.

 Sitting in the open side door of the van, one hand on his propped up cane, V used the open book on his knees as a cover. In truth, neither his gaze nor his focus had been on the familiar pages for a long time now – his mind jumping from his companions to places far away and back again, and his gaze straying every so often to Nero, watching the young man as if he could start reading him like one of his poems.

 V wished he really had that skill, to read people like books. It would have made his situation easier, he was sure. But it eluded him, seemingly getting farther from his reach the more he wished for it – like everything did, it seemed.

His whole existence – the outcome of a horrifying measure taken by a desperate, broken man.

His body – falling a bit more apart with each step he took, each cough wracking his frame.

His first plan to right the wrong he had done – failed, all but exploded in their faces, and now Dante was gone, and Urizen seemingly stronger than ever.

All V had left now was a fool’s hope, an iron will born from having nothing to lose… and companions he couldn’t make any sense of.

 His gaze strayed to Nero again, just in time to catch the other man lift his gun, inspect it, and slide the barrel back into place with a soft click and a decisive twist to his lips.

One companion in particular that he couldn’t make sense of.  

 Who are you?

He wanted to ask the other, wanted to grab him by the shoulders and shake an answer out of him if need be. Yet he knew very well that Nero would not be able to give him an answer even if he should want to.

Who are you?

The boy did not seem to know either.

Nero scrambled for an answer to that question even more desperately than V did. Not sure about his place in the world, not yet, not wholly. Insecure enough under all his bravado that a single word from Dante could break him down easily, bring him to his knees quicker than any foe could.

Deadweight

That, at least, V could exclude. Nero was stronger than he should have been, if Griffon’s conclusion of the boy being little more than human was correct (“More than human, yeah, but there’s little demonic energy in him now, not enough that I can really catch it.”) and V had to believe his familiar on that, since he couldn’t check himself. But the boy simply could not be what he was so afraid of being – useless, weak, deadweight.

He couldn’t be, since Dante had apparently decided to believe in the boy.

He couldn’t be, since V had to believe in the boy now.  

There was no one else left to believe in, with Dante gone.

 “V, get Nero out of here!”

 But why, V pondered, gaze unseeing, neither taking in the beloved poems or the man sitting a short distance away. Why had the boy been Dante’s first priority in this doomed situation – not himself, not the women he so clearly held in high regards, not even the lost fight and what would follow because of it – no, nothing of that. Dante’s first thought had been for Nero and his safety, and nothing else.  

 Could it be that you saw our last hope in him? Fingers tapping a rhythm against the cane’s handle without much sense, V snapped his book shut, accepting that there would be no reading for him anymore when his thoughts were racing like this. Yet you did not want to get him involved even then, adamant to do it yourself, so it seems unlikely.

What is so important about this one, Dante?

Why him?

What is Nero to you?

Who is he?

 And there he was again, circling round and round the same question. This would not get him anywhere.

With a quiet sigh, V started to massage the bride of his nose between two fingers gingerly, feeling a piercing pain starting up in the same spot. It is of no use. I can only hope…

 “You okay over there?”

Blinking, V resurfaced from his thoughts, the cane he had twirled between his fingers coming to a sharp stop.

Nero was watching him now instead of the other way around, eyebrow raised inquiringly. “Looked a bit out of it there,” he explained once he noted how confused the other blinked at him still.

It took another too long second, but V managed to pull up a smile somehow. “I’m quite well, but thank you for asking.”

“Uh-huh…” Nero’s eyebrow raised even higher, clearly unconvinced.

 “Aaaah, that was some good shuteye!” The exclamation in his back saved V from any further questions, and he scooted to the side as much as he could when Nico appeared behind him in the door.

Taking the opportunity to end the conversation about his well-being, V quirked a smile, reciting freely from memory, “Awake the dawn that sleeps in heaven…”

“You got a poem for everything, don’tcha.” The mechanic stretched with a grimace, grinning again when the crick in her back loosened somewhat, jumped past V out of the van, and dropped her hands to her hips. “Rise and shine, boys, I’m good to go again!”

Nero’s gaze strayed from V only slowly, but once he met Nico’s grin, he was scoffing at her again good-naturedly. “Rise and shine? You’re the only one who got any sleep here.”

“Explains your pissy mood,” Nico pointed out, sticking her tongue out when Nero rolled his eyes at her.

“Anyone would be in a bad mood after hearing you snore for hours-…”

“Excuse you, I ain’t snoring, ever-…”

“Oh, yeah, sure, I should have so recorded that…”

 Their chatter quickly filled the once quiet night, and to his own surprise, V noted that it also put a stop to his spiraling thoughts, anchoring him in the here and now when his mind threatened to slip again. Watching the back and forth, gesticulating hands and animated expressions of his unlikely companions, made him feel calm in a way that felt utterly at odds with the sheer noise of it. He watched the entire thing unfold with an amused curl to his lips, noting idly that he had been completely forgotten by his companions.

 Until Nero suddenly stilled, interrupting himself while he raised his left hand, head cocked to the side.

Nico feel instantly silent, eyebrows raised while she straightened. “What?”

“Something’s coming.”

Grasp around his cane tightening, V tried to sense something, anything, yet his newly human senses made it near impossible, and he conceded defeat with clenched teeth, watching Nero reach for his gun instead. The other man at least seemed to have some idea where they were being approached from, gaze wandering to a spot ahead and above while he waited.

 Then there was a tickle of familiar energy at the edge of his consciousness, and V breathed out, slow and deep. “Griffon.”

Nero’s hand fell, gun vanishing back into its holster with a flick of his wrist, and he nodded silently in understanding. Okay.

At the same time, V lifted his left arm and braced himself for the added weight – once again glad that his familiars did not weigh much. This body of his did not allow a lot of feats asking for strength, after all.

 The hiss of air being parted, the sound of wings fluttering, and Griffon all but dropped out of the sky above them, appearing so suddenly between them as if he had been shaped from the night sky itself. A croak, another flutter, and the demon bird landed safely on V’s upper arm, claws wrapping around the limb without scratching it.

“Phew!” The exclamation was more an explosion of breath than anything else, even the nightmare sounding a bit winded. “Finally! Alright, who missed me? You can be honest with me. I will only laugh at you for a bit.”  

“That,” V started, eyes crinkling as he heard Nico snort behind him and Nero muttered something scathing under his breath, “did take you longer than expected.”

“What?!” The single word was a shout, and Griffon drew himself up to his full height, wings thrown out as he whipped around to fix his master with a glare equally parts offended and annoyed. “Alright, poetry boy, next time, you do the work, and I kick back with something to read.” Griffon huffed, flapping his wings as if to loosen them. “Longer than expected. Do you have any fuckin’ idea how fast I flew?! I broke all records. I got wing cramps. Can you imagine? Cramps! I’m not even supposed to get those!”

“Griffon,” V intoned mildly, trying very hard to bite back the smirk wanting to spread over his features.

“I mean, am I made out of fear and magic or what? Who in their right mind gives me muscles that can-…”

“Griffon. What did you see?”

“Alright, hold it, I’m getting there.”

“You mean, before the sun comes up?” Nero didn’t even try to pretend he wasn’t annoyed, arms crossed and eyebrows raised.

That, at least, seemed to break Griffon out of his rambling, and he directed a gleaming red gaze at the young man. “Oho, it speaks. What did you do while I was working, kid – wallow in self-pity again? Yeah, that’s productive.”

Something dark passed over Nero’s face, fist balling on his upper arm, and even Nico took a short step forward. V considered it time to end this conversation. “Enough of this. Griffon.”

 “Oh, fine,” the demon bird croaked, hopping a bit closer to V’s shoulder. Maybe he, too, had realized that he might have overstepped. He was quick to keep talking. “It’s basically what we already expected. Fuckin’ tree has spread roots and vines all over the city now, it’s nearly become one with it. Those humans who didn’t make it out in time are dust and empty husks. Those human footsoldiers have set up camp around the city borders, but ain’t much they can do about it. There’s demons crawling the entire city from top to bottom, looking for the blood stored in the tree or survivors. The roots are taking those critters apart, too – perfect blood bags for good ol’ Qliphoth. Let it keep going on with this, and the damn thing actually has enough to transfer completely into this dimension.”

 And to grow the fruit. His goal all along, V finished where Griffon trailed off, glad that for once, his companion knew not to give too much information. The ones he had given already hung in the air between them as it were, heavy and dark. Reflected in the paleness of Nero’s face and the harsh line Nico’s lips had pressed into.

Even V, who had anticipated this already, felt sick and tired of it. He could see it in front of his eyes – the horror the Qliphoth brought, the swarms of demons following in its wake – but that was not what he was here for. Not the main source of rottenness in that city.

 Feeling the breath hitch around his next words, V began, “And what of…”

“Was Dante there?”

That was Nero, sharp and straight to the point, eyes hard as flint as her stared at Griffon as if he could draw the answer he wanted so much out of him.

This time, not even Griffon seemed to be in the mood for jokes. He lifted his wings lightly, struggling through the motion as if they weighted a ton, and sighed. “No, kid. Or at least I didn’t see him anywhere.”

 An array of emotions flitted over Nero’s face in quick succession before the man swore, harsh and loud, turning away from them as he kicked at something, anything, to let his anger out. He stayed like that, shoulders drawn up while stared into the night with a grim look, teeth grinding.

Nico lifted her hand as if to touch the tense line of Nero’s shoulder – only to drop it again, shaking her head. She shuffled around, crossing her arms over her chest, and gnawed on her bottom lip in thought.

Something about the display of helpless anger and pain tugged at V; more than the tug of his familiars leaving him to take form, and nearly similar to the pain while his body had started crumbling around his very core, too. Something quite too familiar, and better left forgotten.

 “Mother? Dante? Where are you?! Mother?!”

 Pushing the memories of a frightened, small voice away, sealing it away deep in his chest, he asked the question Nero had interrupted before, “What of Urizen?”

“Didn’t see him either – and let me tell you, ain’t like I wanted to!” Feathers fluffing up, Griffon shook himself. “Scary bitch that one. But judging on the sheer amount of energy around the middle of the Qliphoth, he hasn’t moved from the place we saw him last at.”

“A king resting on his cursed throne,” V mused aloud, tapping his knee slowly as he thought. “At least we do not have to wonder where to find him. It is unlikely that he will leave the heart of the Qliphoth… others will do his bidding outside of it.”  

“Oh goodie. What are the chances we don’t have to visit him? At all?”

“Hardly existent, seeing as he is our finish line.”

“Great, great,” Griffon all but slumped into himself on V’s shoulder, heaving a sigh. “I’m just never lucky with this kind of thing.”

“It does seem so,” V agreed with a twitch of his lips while pushing to his feet, cane and book under his arm.

 “Well if that’s settled, does that mean we can do this now?!” Nero turned again, striding over. His fists were clenched, knuckles white and metal creaking under the force, and a muscle in his jaw was ticking.

V gracefully slipped into the van and out of the way before he could get pushed over by the other in his determined steps. “Certainly, yet…”

“Ah-ah, cool it, hothead!” Nico reached inside the van, one foot on the step to get to the right height, and whacked Nero over the head with her flat hand, earning a grunt that sounded more annoyed than pained. It did get him to stop, though. “We’re not going anywhere until I made sure we did good work on our van here. If the city is really that overrun with those crawling shitpiles of demons, then I’m better off checking if the reinforcements on the thing are gonna cut it.”

Nero let out a noise reminding of a whine, shoulders slumping. “Can’t we just…”

“Ten minutes. Fifteen. A bit more. Max.”

“Nico…”

“No, zip it - you want me to drive you into the middle of a demon apocalypse, you better let me make sure this baby is gonna hold up during a run-in with said demons, alright?” Nico dropped back out of the car and pointed a finger at Nero with a ferocity as if she was going to stab him with it, eyes blazing. “I work quickly, but that still needs time. Sit your ass down, or go out and take a damn walk, but don’t whine at me.”

“Alright, I got it,” Nero muttered, waving anymore sharp words off quickly. He made to wander deeper into the van, unhappy frown still etched into his expression, only to pause and turn, hard lines softening as he scratched his cheek sheepishly. “You, uh, gonna need some help?”

Some of the fire in Nico’s eyes cooled, and she snorted, shaking her head. “Nah, thanks, I’m good. You take a break now – I had mine already. Let me do my job.”

“Alright, alright, sheesh.”

 V watched quietly as Nico vanished from sight, the sound of the van’s hood being opened sounding a second later.

Nero lingered, clearly feeling out of place. He bounced on his feet, rolled his shoulders, gaze wandering to the open door and to the windshield and back again.

Highly amused by the show of excess energy in the young man, V settled on the couch, cane coming to rest next to him, and made himself comfortable before he asked, “May I offer you something to help with the boredom while we wait?”

“What?” Nero’s gaze snapped over to him, confusion clear. When he noticed the poem collection being tilted in his direction, Nero barked out a perplexed laugh. “No, thanks – don’t want to steal your reading material.”

“Very well then.”

More fidgeting filled the silence between them, before Nero sighed deeply, all but deflating as he came to a conclusion. “Alright, fuck it.”

He crossed the inside of the van with two long strides, apparently aiming for the makeshift kitchen in the back. “If we’re gonna be stuck here awhile, I’m gonna eat something. You hungry, V?”

“I do understand your need to fulfill this mission as quickly as possible,” V spoke in lieu of a real answer, choosing his words carefully, “Yet impatience might prove to be your downfall against the foe we are about to face.”

 Shuffling sounded, and Nero’s head popped around the corner to the kitchen, one eyebrow lifted. “That a poem again?”

Perhaps it had been meant as an insult. Be that as it may, it still drew a chuckle from V, and he closed his book, finger between the pages to mark his place as he answered. “Call it my attempt at advice.”

“Huh. With you being so cryptic, it sure sounds like one of your poems,” Nero vanished again, and more shuffling sounded as he dug through the contents of the fridge. His words had a slight echo to them, spoken into the enclosed space as they were. “I’m not going to storm ahead blindly, don’t worry. I listened to you so far, after all. Just doesn’t sit well with me when I have to… well, you know.”

“Sitting around idly?”

“Yeah, that. Not my thing… aha!” The sound of triumph was followed by the click of a box being opened. “Sweet! Hey V, you want a sandwich, too?”  

“I would not want to steal your food.”

“Did you just throw my own words back at-… you’re a real joker, aren’t you? No, seriously, you want one? Kyrie always makes too much food, anyway, think we would all starve without her-…”  

 Suddenly something clicked, words familiar and yet new bringing something to the forefront of V’s mind, the memory echoing much too clearly and without any warning-

 - pain, pain, pain, threatening to bring him down to his knees, but he couldn’t stop, not now, he wouldn’t get up again if he did. The lure of Yamato the only thing driving him forward, a beacon to guide his stumbling steps, leading him to the tiny garage in the middle of a once-familiar city. The voice of a young man asking, talking, prodding not unkindly, but not really heard over the pulse of pain and want that coursed through him. The last thing he heard, crystal clear before all his senses zeroed in on the weapon he needed so much, was an offer…

“What is it, you hungry? Well, you’re in luck pal, ‘cause food’s ready and Kyrie always makes too much.” –

 V felt the grip on his book slip, pages fluttering as it threatened to fall, before he caught himself and grabbed and snatched it up, tucking the beloved item safely into his coat again while trying to pace his racing heartbeat.

He could feel sweet bead on his forehead even though he felt cold. A sliver of annoyance flitted through his mind as he noted the light tremor to his fingers as he reached up. I do not have time for this. This is not something I can make right again.

 “…-hey, V. Hello? Did you fall asleep on me?”

Shaking his head, V managed to ban the memories that were not quite his again, focusing his gaze again.

As if to mock him, his eyes fell first onto the Devil Breaker with its metallic gleam, stretched out towards him, before he managed to wrench his gaze away and up to meet Nero’s.

Not something I can make right again…

Nero was looking at him slightly askance. “You want it or not?”

Another quick glance down revealed that the other was offering him a sandwich, basically had it thrust into his face. The scent of bread and something spicy tickled his nose, scents once familiar and now seeming so new and exotic. V picked the treat up slowly, reluctantly, unable to really process what he was supposed to do with it. To just have it handed to him. “This…”

“Cheese,” Nero informed him, striding past him to drop unceremoniously onto the floor opposite of the couch, right next to the table, his own sandwich in his hand. When V didn’t answer, he scoffed. “Didn’t get an answer from you when I asked you which one, so a cheese sandwich it is.”

“Thank you.” The words felt clumsy in his mouth, unpracticed, even though V meant them.

When had been the last time someone had just given him something, for free? Nero didn’t even seem to expect something in return.

What a curious young man.

 “You’re supposed to eat it, not stare at it,” Nero informed him after a beat of silence, his gaze wandering from V to his own food and back. With a shrug, he seemed to deem it useless to convince the other to eat, and instead took a bite of his own dinner, chewing with clear satisfaction. Mouth full, he added on a mumble, “If sandwich isn’t your thing, we could try roasting your bird.”

“What?!” Griffon materialized with a burst of ink and pricking energy on V’s shoulder, almost throwing him off balance. With a hiss, the bird glowered at Nero, throwing his wings out as if ready to take flight and swoop at his opponent. “Roast me?! Watch it so I don’t roast you, lil’ boy!”

The threat didn’t seem to particularly impress Nero. If anything, the gleam in his eyes was more amused as he considered the demon bird. “You wouldn’t be so different from turkey, I bet. Or chicken.”

“Ohoho, that’s it – let me at him, V, I’m going to fry his face!”

“Griffon…”, before V could further intervene, he felt the telltale sweep of another consciousness in his mind – curiosity, amusement, something else - then the tingle of ink moving, and while Griffon was still swearing and grumbling, Shadow rose from the seals, taking form in the middle of the van with a flex of muscles and a huff.

 “… and now the kitty wants to play, too, ain’t that just great.”

If the shapeshifter took offense in Griffon’s quip, they didn’t show it, merely blinked at their master and partner before their attention swung back around to Nero, and they moved the few steps closer to the young man.

Nero didn’t as much as blink at the prospect of having a demon cat on eyelevel with him, sniffing at his ear curiously, sharp teeth right beside him. He merely chuckled and leaned out of reach of the tickling sensation. “Okay, okay, hello to you, too.”

V noted absentmindedly that there was a smirk on the other’s features despite the grumbled words.

Bereft of the opportunity to bury their snout in the man’s hair, Shadow started sniffing curiously at his hands instead, ears twitching.

“What, you hungry, too?” Nero frowned down at the cat, before looking up at V. “Yo, V, are you not feeding them? Never seen them eat, now that I think about it.”

V hummed, surprised as well as amused by the question. “They do not require food.”

“What, really? No eating at all?”

“No. They need other things, to sustain themselves. Mostly energy.”

“Huh.”

“Does not mean we don’t enjoy the taste of food,” Griffon spoke up, still sounding miffed. “If it’s good food, that is.”

“Heh, then I got news for you – Kyrie makes the best damn food around,” as they did so often when talking about his girlfriend, Nero’s eyes sparkled and his expression brightened. Coming to a conclusion, he ripped the untouched end of his sandwich off and offered it to Shadow, who was still sniffing it curiously. “Go ahead. Don’t bite my good hand off, though.”

 Shadow glanced up at the young hunter, fathomless red eyes revealing nothing. Not even V was sure how exactly his familiar would react to the offer – after figuring out that they did not require food like he did, he had… frankly, he had never tried to feed them. The thought had not occurred, especially with how difficult it had been to scrape up money and food for himself after… after coming into existence like that.

 How curious, that it was the hunter who would think of this first.

 Just as he wondered if Shadow even really understood the offer, the demon opened their maw wide, wider than should have been possible, and swallowed the food up with one gulp. Chewing twice before swallowing, they started purring loudly, a rumbling sound almost as loud as the van’s engine, all the while licking their lips as if to catch the last traces of the taste.

Nero’s chuckle was almost lost in the sound, grin bright in the dark of the car. “Good, yeah?”

Instead of a verbal answer, the purring increased, and Shadow stretched, claws skidding over the van’s floor, then proceeded to sprawl out next to Nero, licking their paws and mouth clean, absolutely at ease there despite the young hunter with his weapons right next to them.

 Or maybe because of?

 The thought came out of nowhere, insistent enough that it stayed once it had appeared. Curious despite himself, V attempted to call Shadow back into their dormant state, close to him in magical ink. Not forcing them – he was too grateful for their assistance to be cruel to them, and imprisonment he had already had enough of himself – simply a small tug at their bond, a prickle of energy calling out to them to return, if they were so inclined.

Shadow stopped in their thorough cleaning, tail twitching as they looked over at V curiously, before seemingly deeming it safe to stay. They went straight back to lounging next to Nero, huffing in obvious contentment.  

V blinked, surprised, gaze flickering between Shadow and Nero, who didn’t even seem to have noticed what had just taken place. Then a smirk twitched around his lips. Curious indeed.

 “Soooo,” Griffon lifted off V’s shoulder, drawing the man from his musing. Flying in a tight curve, the bird managed to maneuver through the air and land on the table beside Nero without hitting any of the near walls. Head tilting curiously this way and that, he eyed the remaining food. “What does a bird got to do here to get a taste, too?”

“Oh, now you want something from me?” Nero snorted, narrowing his eyes at him. “What was that about frying my face a minute ago, chicken wings?”

“What?! That was self-defense! You wanted to cook me!”

“Maybe I just wanted to be productive, eh?”

“Oh, that’s what this is about?! You gotta be… oh, fine.” Feathers puffing, Griffon fluttered his wings, the picture of indignation. If he could have, he surely would have gnashed his teeth right then and there. “You’re very productive. I take back when I said otherwise. Enough?!”

“Not really. But it’s enough for some food,” with a snort, Nero broke a generous bit of his sandwich off and chucked it over at Griffon. With a flutter and a croak, the demon bird hopped over to where it had landed on the table, starting to fairly dissect the food into its ingredients with claws and beak, picking at some of them and gorging others down with quick moves of his head.

“Ugh, table manners, dude.”

“Ain’t no table manners where I’m from,” Griffon threw back. His annoyance seemed to burn out as he reached a bit of ham, a delighted noise croaking in his throat. “This is some good stuff!”

“Told you. But seriously, can’t even stop talking while you’re eating?” Nero pulled a face at the bird wolfing it all down in record time. “Gross. Are all your friends like that, V? Non-stop talking and rude as fuck?”

 It took him a second to register who – what – Nero meant with friends, and once it did, V almost started laughing.

It wouldn’t have been a nice or happy laugh, far from it. In fact he was fairly sure it would have sounded downright terrifying, because… friends? Friends? Oh they were trusty and at his side like friends, that was for sure, yet they had once been his nightmares. His torture.

Now they were on his side.

They had once been his enemies, but now…

But now… to be honest, he was not sure anymore what they were to him.

The knowledge of another thing he was not sure about did not sit well with him, and he frowned to himself.

 Luckily, Nero didn’t seem to have expected an answer, since he had already turned away and toward Shadow. “What about it? You a talkative one, too?”

Shadow blinked up at him slowly, yawning so widely their tongue lolled out, before lowering their head to the ground again with a silent snort, eyes closing.

“Taking that as a No,” Nero summarized, taking another bite of his sandwich. He didn’t even seem to realize that he was still absentmindedly petting the demon’s back with his free hand while he muttered around his mouthful, “Maybe for the best. Tweety over there talks enough for all of us.”

“Ain’t seen that stopping you. You still ran your mouth,” Griffon snapped. Yet no threats followed while the bird picked his piece of sandwich apart, avidly searching for favorite bits.

Nero shrugged, chewing, but didn’t bother to correct him or snark back.

 For the moment, all three seemed more focused on sleeping or eating rather than fighting over little things, and…

And they almost looked content with each other, V noted with something beyond curiosity – it was close to awe and utter confusion, at this point. Two of that strange trio were not even made for contempt. It defied their very reason for being. They were nightmares given flesh. And the third one…

 Nero looked up and frowned at him, stopping mid-motion and only inches away from his next bite. “What?”  

“Ah,” he must have been much more obvious in his observing than he had thought. “Nothing, really.”

“Uh-huh, sure. What is it? You want a different one?”

V blinked, gaze dropping back to his own food when the other gestured in that direction. He had all but forgotten about it, even if his grip around it had stayed tight, as if someone could take it away again.

Somehow, the fact that Nero actually seemed to consider getting up and giving him a different one just so his dinner would meet his taste amused him greatly, and he chuckled quietly, shaking his head. “No, this is fine.”

“Right. I got something on my face then or-…?”

 “You are quite different from what I expected.”

 The words had slipped out much without his say-so, and for a moment, V was surprised to hear them aloud at all.

Then he instantly wished he could have taken them back. He might have just given away more of his thoughts than he had ever meant to.

 Nero’s eyebrows had reached his hairline, clearly as surprised by the statement as V himself. One hand came up to scratch his nose, the gesture apparently unconscious. “Yeah? What did you expect?”

Nothing, was V’s first thought, nothing, because this boy, this man, had never been part of the plan. Different, the next, since his first impression had been that the other surely must be very similar to Dante, cocky attitude and sharp wit and all, but that had also proven wrong. Nero had proven it wrong, because while there were similarities, he was, ultimately, nothing like Dante, and nothing like he first appeared.

Nero was proving that now, when he tried to look disinterested and amused, but his posture was guarded, as if readying for an insult, and there was genuine interest in his eyes.

 Who are you?

You don’t know either, do you?

 V’s gaze strayed to Griffon, who was still invested in his food, and Shadow, who seemed fully at ease sleeping with their head propped up against Nero’s knee.

“Well,” he started, setting on one easy truth rather than divulge his whole mess of a thought process with the other. “You seem to get along with demons surprisingly well for a demon hunter, for one.”

 It was easy to tell that was in no way what Nero had expected, a surprised snort leaving the younger while he leaned back, tension seeping out of his frame. “What, you mean these guys?” One hand dropped to scratch Shadow between their ears, eliciting more rumbling purrs. “Not like they tried any funny busy yet, so I’ve no reason to shoot them.”

“Oh, I would like to see you try,” Griffon grumbled from behind him, wings fluttering.

“Still making up my mind about shootin’ you, you chicken.”  

“I’m shaking in my boots-… wait, I don’t have any. Hah!”

“That was a terrible line and you know it.”

“Like you got any better ones, kid!”

The banter picked up again without a second of hesitation, and V actually indulged the thought that, maybe, it would distract Nero enough to make him forget his questions.

No such luck, of course.

 “What’s the rest?”

“Excuse me?”

Finished with his dinner, Nero licked the last few stray crumbs of his fingertips before angling a napkin from the table and wiping his hands cleans. At the same time, he nodded at V, eyebrows raised. “You said for one. What’s the rest that you didn’t expect about me?”

Having anticipated more questions, it was easier this time to simply shrug and smirk a little, expression giving nothing away. “This and that.”

Something flashed in Nero’s eyes, and V half expected an angry quip, but instead, the other man smirked back at him. “You’re a jackass.”

It did not sound angry, and V’s smirk only widened. “Why, I will take that as a compliment.”

“Oh, shut up and eat your sandwich already,” when V blinked, consternated, Nero groaned and let his head drop back in obvious exasperation. “Are you going to fucking tell me you forgot the food right under your nose?”

“It was pushed onto me a bit surprisingly,” V ignored when Nero continued talking – it did sound a lot like Griffon’s grumbling, and he tended to ignore that, as well – and took another look at the food that had been so dropped into his lap. Shrugging, he took a bite, if only so he wouldn’t be teased about it any longer.

Only to almost choke on the first, tiny bite when flavor burst in his mouth, making him freeze. The scent had already been a revelation of sorts, but tasting the cheese, spice and apparently self-made bread made him freeze, senses near overloading with the impression of the food now and memories, paled and blurred, of when he had last something similar. This was a far cry from the simple food he had bought the last month, not really caring about the quality of it all, if only it would sustain him well enough.

 A chuckle made him start breathing again, chewing quickly so he could swallow. He blurrily noticed his hands shaking.

Nero was grinning crookedly at him when V managed to look up. “Man, your face right now. Never had a cheese sandwich or what?”

“I…,” V started, and trailed off, not really knowing what he had wanted to say at all.

Something about his consternation must have shown, because Nero’s grin flickered and vanished. “Hey, what? No good?”

“No. No, it’s good,” that was an understatement, but he didn’t have words to explain it fully, so V simply shook his head for emphasis, taking the next bite. And the next, before he had even swallowed the first. Each bite seemed to taste better than the one before, even though he knew that was ridiculous, yet he couldn’t shake of the feel that he never had had anything that tasted quite this good. In mere minutes, he had finished of the last bit, and was almost disappointed about it. He even made sure to suck the last bit of dip from his thumb before conceding that there was nothing left.

 He didn’t have much time to contemplate what felt like a loss before a napkin was thrown into his lap. Taking it with a grateful murmur, V started to wipe off his hands.

“You know,” Nero started, confusion and amusement clear in his voice. “could have just said that you’re this hungry.”

A chuckle wrenched itself from V’s throat. “I might… have not paid too much attention to that.”

“Ye, I noticed.”

A careless gesture to where the sandwich had been just seconds before, and V sent the smirking young man a halfhearted glare.

 “Alright, sweethearts, I’m done!”

 With a grin on her face, Nico climbed into the van, closing the door behind her. There was a bit of grease smeared over her cheek, and a few unruly locks had escaped the headband keeping them in place, yet she was clearly pleased with the work she had just finished.

“Oh, great,” the back of Nero’s head hit the table behind him with a silent Thunk as he rolled his eyes up to look at her with the most annoyed gaze he was capable of. “Can we finally go now?”

“Sheesh, you really need to learn some patience… Wait.” Nico halted in her steps, sniffing the air. “Is that bacon I smell here?”

“BLT sandwich. On your workbench,” Nero mumbled, gesturing vaguely in said direction. When Nico rushed off in the indicated direction, letting out something that could only be described as a shout of glee, he called after her, “Wash your hands first!”

“Oh shut up, that was one time where I forgot!”

A smirk flickered over Nero’s face as the faucet sounded– only to drip right off again when Nico spoke up next “Extra bacon? Bro, if Kyrie was here right now, I would fuckin’ propose to her.”

“Hey.”

“Aw, calm down, as if anyone could get between you lovebirds.”

“Who are you calling lovebirds-…”

“Uh, you and your girl, disgustingly sweet all the time? Ring a bell?” Nico imitated exaggerated kisses into the air before she laughed at the face he pulled in response. “See, that’s why I gotta put up with all the time!”

“It’s not!”

“It is an’ you know it!”  

There was amusement dancing in Nero’s eyes, making it clear he was not taking any of this seriously, but the two still exchanged a quick succession of grimaces and crude hand gestures as Nico walked past again, happily chewing, heading towards the driver seat. It was enough to pull a mad cackle from Griffon and an amused quirk of lips from V.

 “So,” Nico declared once she had taken her place in the driver seat again, turned sideways and mouth full with food. “I was thinkin’, boys…”

“Oh now I’m worried.”

“… you two could get some shuteye while I keep drivin’,” without even stopping in her explanation, Nico flipped her friend off. “Should take us a few more hours before we get there, after all.”

Giving a thoughtful hum, Nero considered the option, absentmindedly patting Shadow one last time, then pushed himself to his feet, stretching. “Alright then.”

His gaze landed on V and he pointed decisively at him. “You can take the couch.”

The comment seemed so out of context, V could only stare at him. “Why would I need the couch?”

“’Cause I can sleep in the passenger seat and I don’t think you could do that, not with her driving style and smoking habits,” Nero jabbed his thumb over his shoulder at Nico while he bent and retrieved a big blanket from beside the couch, pretending not to see her, once again, raised middle finger in his peripheral vision. “I got used to that already.”

“And you can sleep everywhere,” was quipped from the driver seat.

“That’s a talent, alright.”

 V was fairly sure he was still staring much too obviously, but he managed to get his expression under control at least, surprise settling into mild amusement, as if the suggestion alone was ridiculous. “No need. I will not sleep anyway.”

“We’re gonna be there in a few hours.”

“Which is precisely why I won’t sleep. We need to be prepared…”

“What exactly are you going to do to prepare, if not sleeping while you still can?”

V opened his mouth to give an answer… and found that he didn’t have one. There was no plan to go over, since everything they had was stop Urizen. All he could have done – would have done – was sit in silent contemplation, go over his memories and thoughts for the umpteenth time, and reassure himself that he was going down the right path.

 (Memories and goals were all he had, after all. No strength left, life slipping through his fingers much too quickly… his memories were all that he could cling to, bitter as they might be. Mistakes he had made, wrongs he had done, loss he had endured – he needed to see this through, to make this right where he could. Those memories reminded him why he had to keep going.)

 Nero seemed to consider his silence a victory, since his lips twitched up and he nodded. “Thought so.”

“Oh shit, he got you,” Griffon exclaimed, sounding much too delighted over the fact that his master had gotten outwitted for the moment. V’s sharp glance over at him did not do anything to quell his obvious enjoyment. “You gonna get out of that one, Shakespeare? Any comebacks? No? Hah! Booksmart my feathery ass.”

Not in the mood to deal with his familiar on top of it all, V waved his hand, pulling. It would never have worked if Griffon had resisted, yet either the bird was too surprised or not really minded despite his indignant squawk, since his form melted into shadow and ink. A moment later, his being had settled to black swirls on V’s skin and a nagging voice inside his mind.

Hey! We were just getting to the fun part!

“I am not tired.”

It sounded unconvincing even to his own ears, and V winced a little bit at it. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he could sense Griffon laughing at him, and wished, just for a crazy second, the bird was still corporal so he could have at least glared at him for it.

 Nero rolled his eyes at him, and although that should have been a gesture of annoyance, there was also a smile curling around the young man’s lips, making it look almost… fond?

Before V could process that, Nero threw the blanket into his lap without warning, and laughed when V missed on the first grab and had to scramble for it.

Laughed. Not the usual chuckle or short huff of amusement, but a full laugh, warm and without any mockery. It somehow made V pause, rattled him more than it should have.

 “Sleep, V,” Nero said, still smirking in that much too understanding way, seemingly misinterpreting why the other looked so dumbfounded. “You really look like you need it.

“He’s right about that one!” Nico chimed in, turning in her seat to wave at him over the backrest. “Like, no offense, but those shadows under your eyes? So clearly not eyeliner, hon.”

“What she said. We’re gonna wake you should something happen, okay? But dammit, get some shuteye, or I knock you out.”

“He’s gonna do it.”

“Damn right I’m gonna do it.”

 “I…” V wanted to protest, he really, really meant to, but something about Nico’s bright grin, something about the fondly exasperated way Nero was still looking at him – really looking, seeing his exhaustion and nervous drive to stay awake still for what it was –made it very hard to argue.

Even Shadow seemed the conversation to be over. They rose with a yawn, stretching, and in the blink of an eye, their form wavered and vanished, settling back into inky swirls on skin.

It almost tugged a sigh from V. You, too?

Rumbling purr echoed through his mind, and Griffon cackled even louder. Traitors, the lot of them.

Clearing his throat uneasily, V relented. He was clearly outnumbered. “Fine. But should something happen…”

“… you’re gonna know it.” How Nero managed to make an eyeroll audible was a miracle.

Nico’s grin was even easier to spot, stretching from ear to ear as she waved in Nero’s direction. “You’re gonna be wide awake once Mister Bigmouth over there starts swearing.”

“And you will have to drop me off at the city’s edge like we agreed…”

“Gonna kick you out right there.”

“Literally.”

 There was nothing more he could argue with, and both Nero and Nico knew it. They were grinning at him, so very triumphantly, as if making him take a nap was a battle to be won and be proud of…. And V couldn’t help but smile back. “Dealing with either of you is a challenge, is it not?”

“Oh, now he notices that,” Nero rolled his eyes and turned to Nico, who was spluttering with laughter and exclaimed, “Duh!”

“I had my suspicions,” V sighed – perhaps a bit too dramatically. Perhaps purposely so, just because it threw the other two into another fit of laughing and eye-rolling.

Ah, he noted with only a little sense of trepidation, I’m starting to feel too at ease with them.

That, as well, was not supposed to happen.

 He answered Nero’s wave while the other walked away with a slight nod of his own, thanked Nico automatically when she turned the lights in van off so they wouldn’t disturb his sleep. Conceding defeat, he stretched on the old couch. It was soft from long use, long enough to accommodate his lean form, and very comfortable, all things considered.

Yet he didn’t sleep immediately, even though exhaustion was pulling at his consciousness greedily, instead stared into the dark above him unseeing while his thoughts raced.

 What is Nero to you?

 If things kept going like this, V realized, if Nero kept acting like this… then he would probably need to direct that question no longer only at Dante, but at himself, too.

And he wasn’t sure if he was going to like the answer to it.

 You already know you don’t, Griffon echoed in his mind, something like a laugh, something like a croak mixed into each syllable. You have your answer, no matter how you try runnin’ from it, Shakespeare. You feel save with them. What more proof do you want?

Do not think you can torment me any longer, Griffon. Those times are long gone.

Me? You are the one who created me. Or a bit more poetic for you- I am but nothing than your own nightmare. You’re tormenting yourself, wise guy.

I cannot start to care about them. Any of them.

Perhaps, Griffon whispered, no malice in his voice this time, simply exhaustion. Perhaps, you should have thought of that sooner.

 V shook his head as if that could shake off the words, the thoughts, the truth. Resolutely, he rolled onto his side, drawing the blanket tighter around himself.

The blanket was warm and soft, smelling very, very faintly of Nico’s cigarettes and metal and, much stronger, of something flowery – soap, maybe – and it shouldn’t starting to be so familiar, that strange mix. It shouldn’t have made him feel protected and safe, but it did.

Another tiny proof, as if to mock him, and V had to confess - he was fighting a lost battle, and the worst thing about it was that he knew it.

 From the front, Nico’s voice drifted back to him, the lilt to her words even stronger while she sang along to a song on the radio with fiery passion, yet quiet enough that it became clear she was trying to keep quiet enough as not to disturb him. Nero said something, voice light, and Nico laughed aloud before shushing herself with a hiss. A chuckle, a quiet whisper – V managed to catch his name falling when he strained a bit – before it became quieter again. Nico was still singing, voice a whisper now, while Nero was humming along.

 Somehow, the odd little melody was soothing, and V felt some of the pressure on his chest ease, felt able to draw breath again. A bit of peace that allowed him to sort through his worries long enough to come to one final conclusion.

 Nero was their last hope now. An unexpected hope, a number not taken into account, a joker in a game with stakes too high. But a hope nonetheless. Maybe it was a fool’s hope, yet… for the first time in a very, very long time, V dared to hope. To believe.

Perhaps we can make this right.

We. The single word brought a hesitant smile to his face. It did not sound all that bad.

Somewhere in his mind, he thought his familiars agreed with him.

 V fell asleep to the sound of a car engine and whispered words, the murmuring and purring in his mind keeping any nagging thought at bay, surrounded by warmth and familiarity.

He didn’t stay awake long enough to worry one more time.

                                 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ D ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Somewhere in the middle of arguing about the choice of radio station and arguing about the possibility of Nero ever singing along so they could do a duet… really, just, somewhere in the middle of arguing in general did he notice that the third in their little party had been quiet for a bit too long.

 Throwing his good arm over the backrest, Nero turned in his seat – ignoring the warning to stay seated while driving that came from his side – and glanced back towards the couch. He could barely make out V’s head, the only thing not covered by the old blanket, and the deep, calm breaths that had the other’s chest rising and falling slightly.

“He asleep?” Nico inquired, not even wondering what he was looking out for.

“Yup,” with a satisfied noise, Nero dropped back into a more comfortable position, kicking his feet up onto the console. They had both had the feeling that they would have to point out again to V that he needed the rest, but apparently, they had been wrong about that.  

“Not tired, he said,” Nero snorted to himself, albeit quietly. “He was out like a light.”

“Shhhhh,” Nico hit him in the shoulder without even taking her gaze off the road, earning a grunt. “Let him sleep, guy already had bags under his eyes deeper than the Grand Canyon.”

“I am letting him sleep, what? I was the one who said he should sleep in the first place!”

“Uh-huh, and you did good with that, but now don’t wake him up again with your blabberin’.”

“I was quiet-…!”

“Shhhh!”

“Okay, you know what?” Nero throw his hands up, ducking away from another well placed punch while he scowled at her. Not that that had ever impressed Nico, who grinned back at him unrepentantly. “I’m sleeping now. You can nag at someone else.”

“Oh good, don’t gotta listen to you anymore,” Nico snickered as the scowl deepened and a rather rude gesture was sent her way. “Night, dude.”

“Yeah, yeah. Night, Nico,” Nero’s words was little more than a grumble as he reclined in his seat, tipping his head back and closing his eyes.

 Nico counted ten heartbeats before the man’s shoulders relaxed, breathing evening out. Shaking her head, she mumbled with a crooked grin, “Really can sleep anywhere, the guy.”

She had aimed for exasperated, but it came out too fond, and she knew it.

Ah, well. Nobody was awake anymore to call her out on it, she reckoned, grin softening into a honest smile as she turned the radio off and slowed the car down a bit. If they reached the city half an hour earlier or later, it wouldn’t make a difference, surely. On the other hand, this would probably be the last time those two boys that had somehow stumbled into her life and made themselves comfortable there would get some good sleep before shit went down.

 And if she actually had to mind speed limits to assure them a good night’s sleep – well, that was a small price to pay.

[stereksecretsanta]

Merry Christmas, @oldestcharm!

*****

Stiles was in a department store-not his favorite place to be, but he was buying Christmas presents for his friends and he was almost done with his list. All he needed was something for Derek. There isn’t really a ‘brooding Alpha werewolf’ section at Macy’s. He thought about a history book, but that’s so predictable. Stiles wanted to get the man something special (for reasons he wouldn’t share).

He stopped at every aisle and stand, checking if anything would fit. Unfortunately, he was out of luck. The sweaters were all too bright and festive, he was pretty sure Derek would strangle him with it if he gave him one.

Maybe cologne? Stiles wasn’t sure what kind the man would like, though. He wasn’t going to buy something cheap, but he didn’t really have the money for Dolce and Gabanna. Still, wouldn’t hurt to try them out.

He picked up a golden bottle first. Velvet Tender read the bottle. Spraying a tiny amount on his wrist Stiles grimaced at the odor. That one was definitely a no.

Next he tried one called The One. He tried spraying it but nothing seemed to come out. Shaking the bottle, he tried again. Of-course he had to hold it the wrong way, spraying it all over his face. “Fuck!” Stiles cried out as the liquid hit his eyes. He stumbled backwards and into a wall.

“Hey! Watch it!” someone shouted.

Stiles barely forced his eyes open and realized he hadn’t hit a wall, but a woman. A woman who was carrying a bag which was now lying on the floor. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry!”

“You imbecile!” the woman cried out. “You just ruined 6 months of hard work!” she shouted, pointing towards the bag.

“I’m really sorry! I didn’t see you and I was trying out perfumes and-what are you doing?”

The woman was glaring at Stiles now, chanting something under her breath.

“Um, ma’am? Are you okay?” he asked, confused and slightly worried.

“Great moon in the sky hear my ploy, a curse I shall lay on this mannerless boy. Teach him a lesson, two or three, only under one condition shall he be set free. A kiss from his true love before Christmas eve, a symbol on his arm, under his sleeve. Ignore the curse that I have sewn, and witness your body turn to stone.”

Stiles swallowed the lump in his throat. “Men… All idiots…” the woman muttered as she picked up her things and left.

Did he just get cursed by a witch?

-

“SCOTT!” Stiles shouted as he ran through the front door of Scott’s house and up the stairs to his bedroom. “Scott! Scotty!” He busted open the door to the bedroom, finding the boy playing a game.

“Dude, where’s the fire?” Scott asked, not breaking eye contact with the TV.

“Scott! Witch! Macy’s! Curse! Perfume!” Stiles was frantically pacing around the room, which got his best friend’s attention.

Scott grabbed him by the shoulders and made him look in his eyes. “Stiles! Deep breaths! Can you do that with me?”

He nodded, trying to get his breathing under control.

“Better now?” Scott asked smiling.

Stiles exhaled. “Yeah…”

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

“Um… Well, funny you should ask…”

“Stiles?”

“I might have gotten cursed by a witch,” he sheepishly admitted.

Scott’s eyes widened. “You WHAT? How?!”

“I was shopping for a stupid Christmas present and accidentally bumped into a lady and broke some of her stuff! Then she started chanting and now I think I’m cursed!” Stiles was starting to panic again, but Scott had him focus on his breathing again.

“Do you know what the curse is?”

Stiles gulped. “I… I think I have to kiss my true love before Christmas eve, or I’ll turn to stone…”

“Oh, shit,” Scott cursed. “That’s serious.”

They fell into a momentary silence until Stiles spoke up. “Can you kiss me?”

Scott’s eyes widened again. “What?! No!”

“Dude! You’re my best friend! My brother! That has to count as true love!” Stiles pleaded.

“Which makes it even weirder!”

“You’d rather have me be a bird fountain than kiss me once?!”

Scott chewed on his bottom lip for a bit. Stiles tried his best puppy-eyes look, and it worked (it always worked on Scott). “Fine! But nobody can know!”

“Okay, Mr. Homophobe.”

“I’m not homophobic! I just don’t want-ugh! Do you want me to do this or not?!”

“Yes!” Stiles cried out.

Scott took a breath and brought their bodies closer. Their faces were inches apart, he could feel the heat from Stiles’ face.

“Today, Romeo!” Stiles groaned.

“Shut up!” Scott cupped Stiles’ face and closed his eyes, pulling the other’s face to his, interlocking their lips. He was about to pull away when Stiles entered his mouth with his tongue. Scott panicked for a moment but decided to go with it, there was no going back anyway.

Stiles pulled away moments later gasping for air. “Dude, that was… really intense…” Scott mumbled.

“Sorry, bro, but I’m not taking any chances,” Stiles responded, checking his arm. “Damn it! The mark is still there!”

“So, this was all for nothing?”

“I wouldn’t say that,” Stiles said in defense. “We’ve gotten to know each other on a whole new level, dude!”

Moments later Stiles was pushed out of the McCall house, the door slamming behind him. “Love you, too, bro!”

-

Next stop was Lydia’s house. Surely she would have an idea for a solution, right?

Stiles knocked on the brightly decorated front door impatiently waiting for an answer, Seconds later the door swung open and Stiles was greeted by the sight of none other than Lydia Martin herself. She was wearing a wine red sweater with a reindeer on it-Stiles had to laugh, it was weird seeing the usually serious girl in such attire.

“Can I help you, Stiles?” she asked in an annoyed tone. “It better not be supernatural related because I have an entire house full of distant family members and I just can’t deal with more.”

“Well, now that you mention it…”

“Stiles,” she moaned.

“Can I just come in? It’s really important!”

Lydia exhaled through her nose and further opened the door, letting the boy in. “Don’t talk to anyone!” she ordered and made her way upstairs to her room, Stiles right behind her.

They were almost at her room when one of Lydia’s aunts stopped them. “Lydia! Who is this?!” the older woman chimed.

“Auntie Karen…” Lydia sighed. “This is Stiles, remember?”

“Oh, the boy who had a crush on you?”

“Excuse me?” Stiles was taken aback. Lydia talked to her family about his feelings for her?!

“Nice to meet you, Stiles, was it?” the woman smiled, extending her hand. “I’m Karen, Lydia’s fun aunt.”

Stiles shook her hand, not quite sure what to say.

“My, what beautiful cheekbones you have! Why won’t you date him, Lydia? He’s very handsome!”

“Auntie Karen! You should go into the kitchen! I think mom brought out the good champagne!” Lydia grabbed Stiles by the hand and ran off to her room. “And I’m not dating anyone!”

She locked the door behind them, exhaling in relief.

“You told your aunt about my crush?!” Stiles said in a hurt tone, resting his hands on his hips.

“This isn’t about me! I thought you had something important to talk about!”

He groaned but decided to let it go. Another time, there were more urgent things to discuss. “So, I was shopping for some Christmas presents and I accidentally bumped into a lady and broke some of her stuff, and then she started chanting and before I knew it I was cursed and had this mark on my hand, and now if I don’t kiss my true love before Christmas eve I’ll turn to stone!”

Lydia stood there for a while just staring at Stiles, not saying a word. After a while it was starting to freak him out so he spoke up again. “Lyds? Lydia? Did your brain break?”

“Shut up.”

“Okay.”

“I’m not quite sure what you want me to do about a curse.”

Stiles groaned and ran his fingers through his hair. “Don’t say that! You know everything!”

She puckered her lips and hummed. “What if you joined one of those dating websites?”

“Dating websites?”

“Yeah… I mean, it’s a fast and easy way to get to know people. You have like, what, a week?”

“I guess we could try…”

And they did. They set up a profile for Stiles on a speed dating website. Lydia had to try her best to get a good photo of the boy, but in the end, they succeeded and Stiles’ profile looked very presentable.

“Now what?” Stiles asked.

“Now we wait for someone to message you,” Lydia replied, getting up. “Now, if you’ll excuse me I have drunk family members to deal with.”

Stiles got back into his car and was about to drive away when his phone buzzed. He set up the site’s notifications to appear on his phone so he’d see them as soon as possible.

Looking at the message he freaked out a bit. It was from a guy! Did Lydia put ‘interested in women and men’?! Then again, thinking about it, what if his true love was a man? Could he deal with that? He never thought about it. Okay, maybe a little. Stiles was a curious guy; can you blame him?

Hey sexy! Wanna grab a drink? ;)

He stared at his phone for what felt an eternity, but eventually replied with a ‘sure’. To Hell with it, he was not taking any chances with this stupid curse.

The guy (named Brandon) messaged him the place and time. It was a bar on the outskirts of town, Stiles had only been there once with Scott. It wasn’t anything special, but at least they’d have some privacy.

At 7pm later that day Stiles got into his jeep ready to drive to the bar. He put on his nicest looking shirt and jeans; he was very determined not to screw anything up, he didn’t have the time for that!

But, of course, he was Stiles and he just couldn’t catch a break. His beloved Roscoe decided to die on him. “Oh, come on!” he cried out hitting the wheel. Looking around he realized he was really close to Derek’s apartment. His common sense told him no, but his will to live told him yes. So he managed to park his jeep in an empty space and ran up to Derek’s loft, knocking frantically on the door.

“Go away, Stiles,” the man shouted from inside the building. How did he even know it was him? Oh yeah, werewolf senses.

“Derek! I need your help! Please! It’s a life or death situation!” the teen pleaded.

He heard shuffling on the other side and the door opened, revealing a sweat drenched Derek in a wifebeater and black sweatpants. Needless to say, Stiles was very curious then.

“What do you want?” the werewolf asked, crossing his arms. “I’m busy.”

“I, uh…” Stiles tried really hard to form a sentence but he just couldn’t for some reason. The sweat across Derek’s biceps made them look really big-although they probably were that big.

Derek rolled his eyes and tried slamming the door shut but Stiles quick stopped him. “Wait! I’m cursed!”

That seemed to grab the man’s attention. “I accidentally ruined a witch’s something and she sorta cursed me, so now I have to kiss my true love before Christmas eve or I’ll turn to stone!” he rambled, showing the mark on his arm.

“I’m not kissing you.”

“That’s not what I meant! I’m going on a date with someone but my car broke down and I really don’t wanna ask you for help, but I’m kinda desperate here!”

Derek seemed to be mulling it over for a bit. “Please, dude! I really don’t wanna be turned to stone!”

“Maybe then you’ll finally be quiet.”

“Dude! Come on!”

Derek rolled his eyes and sighed. “Fine. Wait here,” he said and closed the door.

A few minutes later a fully clothed Derek reappeared, and he smelled really good. Not that Stiles was into it or anything, cause he really wasn’t.

They got into Derek’s Camaro and drove off to the bar. “Dude, I owe you big time,” Stiles said checking himself in the sun visor mirror. Had to make sure he looked the best he could.

“I can’t believe I’m driving you on a date.”

“Yeah, me neither,” Stiles muttered under his breath.

Derek, of-course, heard that and bumped the car a bit to make Stiles hit his head on the window. “Ow!”

A few minutes later they arrived at the bar and Stiles quickly jumped out. “I’ll call you when it’s over!” he said and closed the door.

“Stiles, no!” Derek called after him but it was too late. He groaned and drove off. Why was he being nice to the guy?

Walking into the bar Stiles scanned the room and smiled when he recognized Brandon. He made his way over to him, trying his best to look cool and not a nervous mess.

“Brandon! Hey!” he called out and tripped over himself. He landed face down on the ground and made everyone stare at him. Real smooth.

Brandon made his way over and helped him get up. “Uh, hey, you alright?”

“Yeah, just checking the air down there,” Stiles joked, trying to lighten up the situation and make himself look less spazzy-if that was even possible.

Brandon let out a weak laugh and led him to their table. “Can I get you something to drink?”

“Uh, a beer’s fine.”

The young man nodded and went over to the bar. Stiles groaned and cursed himself under his breath. ‘Can I be cool for one minute?’ he thought.

A minute later Brandon still wasn’t back. Stiles looked over at the bar and didn’t see the guy anywhere. Maybe he went to the bathroom? He pulled out his phone and started playing a dumb game to pass the time.

12 levels and 30% less battery later he realized Brandon still wasn’t back, and he probably wasn’t coming back at all. Stiles texted Derek that he can come pick him up now.

He went outside and waited for the man while looking at his dating site inbox. No new messages. His stomach felt heavy with worry. Why did he think he was going to find his true love on a stupid dating website? Especially in such short time. He was so stupid. He deserved to be turned to stone, he always ruined everything.

A loud honk snapped him out of his thoughts; it was Derek. Stiles got into the car and slumped down in the seat. “Did it work?” Derek asked.

“No,” Stiles replied with a scoff. “It didn’t work. I fucking tripped over myself the second I walked into like a total moron, and the guy didn’t even try to forget it. He just said he’s getting us drinks and then bailed! I mean, I don’t even blame him. I wouldn’t go on a date with myself. There’s nothing special about me; I’m a spazz with no attention span that trips over air and breaks stuff belonging to angry witches. Might as well let myself be turned into stone, maybe then-”

Stiles’ rant was cut short when Derek pulled him by his shirt to himself. He thought the man was about to punch him or rip his tongue out, but what he wasn’t expecting was to be kissed by him. Derek pushed his tongue into Stiles’ mouth, freely exploring his mouth.

It felt strange. Very strange. The man had stubble and he was rough, but… Stiles was weirdly into it. He started pushing back, challenging the older man. Their tongues swirled and danced with each other, causing Stiles to let out a loud moan. Derek practically growled and Stiles had never been so turned on as in that moment.

Derek pulled back, though. “What was that?” Stiles asked.

“I could smell your boner when you came to my apartment. I knew what you were thinking when I opened the door.”

“Dude, that’s cheating.”

“Check your arm,” Derek said.

Stiles quickly pulled back his sleeve and his eyes widened. The mark was gone. It was actually gone. “Dude,” he said, looking at Derek. “This is really awkward. You’re my true love?”

Derek started the car and grinned. “Wanna go to my place and take care of your other problem?” he asked, looking at the road.

Stiles’ cheeks turned bright red when he realized what Derek meant. Stupid werewolf senses.

THE END

[afootnotetoallthisnoise-blog]

on ‘lady bird’, ‘love, simon’, and teenagers’ relationships on film

(Plug: this new YouTuber is way better at analysing film/TV than I am.)

I just watched Lady Bird and Love, Simon on a flight to New York, and since both films are deeply preoccupied with teenagers’ platonic, romantic, and familial relationships, I wanted to look at what I thought was original and fresh about these films’ perspectives – and what was more derivative and inauthentic.

i. parent-child relationships: attention and complexity

Lady Bird is centred around the titular girl and her developing identity, relationships and aspirations through her final year of high school. Easily the deepest and most emotionally arresting aspect of Lady Bird is Christine’s, or ‘Lady Bird’s’, relationships with her family, particularly her mother, Marion. This film works hard to expand a turbulent mother-daughter relationship past the simple archetypes of ‘moody teenage daughter’ and ‘unreasonable bitch mother’, into a more complex, three-dimensional whole which incorporates both the faults and the humanity that both characters have. Not only are both characters viewed singly as well as in relation to each other – LB is not solely ‘Marion’s daughter’, Marion does not solely exist as ‘LB’s mother’ – the film moves past a simply summed-up conflict into a more complicated picture, where both LB and Marion are driven by desires, fears and anxieties they can’t completely articulate to themselves, but which drive conflict both through difference in perspective and through inability to communicate.

There are painful, powerful, intense moments in Lady Bird where LB and Marion are struggling to communicate, to reconcile their differing views and convey themselves properly. LB’s confused but intense desire to go to New York, a place where she believes she will experience things which constitute ‘life’, exists alongside Marion’s grief at LB’s ostensible rejection of the life she has worked to give her, and neither are made out to be ‘right’ or ‘wrong’. They love each other deeply, but they can’t articulate the fears, anxieties, and stubborn desires which complicate their relationship, so their silent moments of shared, intense emotion – like the audiobook at the beginning of the film – are coupled with frustrated moments of crosstalk, mutual misunderstanding, hurt, affront, and anger. LB, as a self-centred, self-discovering adolescent, often fails to think about how her actions and speech are affecting her family, whilst Marion’s worry and care about LB manifest in being overly critical – she seems completely incapable of speaking positively to LB, including a deeply painful moment where she refuses to compliment LB’s prom dress.

They both reminded me of real people I know, real pangs of discomfort I’ve felt hearing a family friend speak slightly disparagingly about her daughter’s university chances, or an old acquaintance roll his eyes at his parents’ careful efforts to help him. It felt so refreshing seeing that complexity get handled on film – often parents are just supplementary figureheads in their child’s story (or vice versa), and if the film is interested in the parent-child relationship, it rarely gets its teeth into the sheer nastiness which can come out in certain parent-child relationships. There are, of course, teenager-centric films which get into complex parent-child dynamics – the differing burdens of childhood illness on parents and children, like in The Fault in Our Stars; parents’ work intersecting with children’s feelings of neglect, like in Coraline; radical inability to communicate or understand, e.g. The Virgin Suicides – but that richness of both love and frustration on both sides is a rare thing to see.

Love, Simon isn’t aiming to be as deep on this matter as Lady Bird, but it still has its own insights. Mostly Simon’s family is pretty happy and saccharine, but when Simon comes out, I think Simon’s father’s reaction – garbling a joke, panicking, leaving, shutting down – showed excellent acting and direction: it did what most good acting does, which is to break down a dichotomy of response (here, between the coming-out reactions of ‘I love you and everything’s fine’ and ‘BEGONE FROM THE PREMISES, DEMON GAY’). That confused, choked response conveyed the rush of forces acting on Simon’s father: desire to defuse the tension, desire to support, desire to downplay the situation, confusion, shock, grief at the reality of change, grief at the loss of a presumed similarity, grief that he hadn’t realised sooner. I’m sure more realistic reactions like that have happened in films before, but I haven’t personally seen any, and I found it refreshing: it broke down the scripted feel of both overly saccharine and uniformly harsh reactions, both of which close the door to further growth and development in the parents’ reaction to their child’s queerness.

ii. romantic relationships: centrality, development

In Love, Simon, there are tropes present, but I liked how it approached some aspects of teenagers’ romantic relationships. The ambiguity about Blue’s identity meant that we got a different model for how relationships can develop, pertinent in an age where dating is conceptualised as mainly visual (think the structure of apps like Tinder) and connection is determined through in-person interaction, but where, conversely, deep, lasting relationships have developed without that visual focus since the advent of the internet (through MMORPGs like World of Warcraft, for instance). The bit at the end was cheesy, but that’s what they were going for, and it was so sweet to watch.

Most of the other romantic stuff was pretty run-of-the-mill – the couple who like each other but things keep getting in the way; the unrequited crush; etc – but there’s one other aspect I’d like to mention, which is how Simon’s falling-out with his friends is handled about 2/3 of the way through the film. A less nuanced film would just have Abby, Leah, and Nick getting pissed that Simon meddled in Abby and Nick’s relationship, without them understanding about Simon’s bind due to Martin’s blackmail. But what I liked was that both Abby and Leah acknowledge the pressure that the blackmail put on Simon, but they make clear that it doesn’t excuse his disrespect for both Abby (by treating her like a ‘piece of meat’ to be given to Martin in exchange for his own safety) and Leah (by sending her on a date with a man he thought she loved, knowing that he wasn’t interested in her). It’s not the tired ‘it’s all a misunderstanding, guys’ conflict: they understand what happened, but they still argue that Simon’s disrespect for their own romantic lives and autonomy wasn’t okay.

While Love, Simon is dually focused on Simon’s coming out and his budding relationship – though the two threads aren’t separate – LB’s relationships in Lady Bird are significant but aren’t the central focus of the movie, which I liked; while it makes sense for a romantic relationship to be central to Love, Simon, since it’s a sensible mode within which to discover something like queerness (which is intrinsically tied up with your relationships to other people), Lady Bird’s focus on self-discovery works better with the romantic relationships not being central, otherwise it would perpetuate the tired stereotype that a woman’s ‘coming of age’ has to be pretty-much-entirely experienced through falling in love with a man. (It being central is fine, but I don’t like the implications that somehow, teenage girls cannot Mature into Full Human Beings unless a dude and his dick shows up.) LB’s two relationships are with the too-perfect-guy and the douchebag-who-doesn’t-give-a-shit, neither of which provide really new perspectives on teenagers’ romantic relationships – neither character has much depth in the film, either – but I thought the sex scene and its aftermath was very well done: LB’s recognition that the performative significance she’d given her first sexual experience was different from the reality, and her recognition that the guy she’d slept with wasn’t worth the language she’d inherited for it, rang very true. (Also, the situation bore out some excellent humour. ‘I was on top! Who the hell is on top for their first time?!’)

iii. friendships: the status problem

I think Lady Bird is a great film, but the part I found the least inspiring was LB’s friendship arc. I’m pretty sick of this formula: protagonist is best friends with good, loyal, but low-status friend/s -> protagonist manages to get in with the popular kids and abandons their low-status friend/s -> protagonist realises popular kids are shallow assholes and they’ve made a horrible mistake -> protagonist apologetically returns to low status friend/s, there is a bit of anger and conflict, but eventually they all make nice. I’m sick of it because I feel like it doesn’t ring true.

Now, I have been through secondary school, recently though not overly so (I graduated from sixth form in 2015). I know that status is a thing in secondary school and that it exerts an influence. But I dislike this ubiquitous storyline which implies that a) every school conforms to a rigid hierarchy of popularity and that b) literally everyone gives a shit about improving their status. I found Love, Simon’s group of four much more authentic in this regard: ultimately, Simon’s group of four just enjoy each other’s company, rather than being rigidly grouped based on status or fitting a recognised ‘type’. Depicting popularity as being present but not all-encompassing seems to resonate more with how my school worked, where there were recognisable groups but a lot of boundary-blurring, and where different subcultures could - usually - peacefully coexist alongside each other.

Because it adheres closely to the student-social-climber model, the astounding depth of familial relationships and notable depth of romantic relationships in Lady Bird isn’t replicated in LB’s friendships. Not every character needs to be an incredibly complex seventeen-year-old (I’m fine with Kyle just being a bit of a bored poser), but I feel like the film either tried and failed to give Jenna depth or just agreed she wouldn’t have any, and I feel like it would have really served the story for LB to realise that the girl at the top of the totem pole actually had problems and internal conflict, despite her status and wealth. As it is, she just stays ‘bored rich chick’ from beginning to end. Julie isn’t given as much depth as she could be either – all her appearances just seem to reinforce ‘sweet nerd archetype’, and no attention is given to her own brief romantic relationship and romantic turmoil - though I don’t begrudge them the prom scene (it was very sweet).

Overall, I didn’t realise just how refreshing it would feel to see a group of friends who experience growth, development and conflict, but who also just really like getting iced coffee together! And the fact that it did highlights a problem with friendship stereotypes in high school movies.

[saikostories]

GOT7 - Unanimous (BamBam ft. Mark) (M)

It had been a while since you and BamBam had joined his housemate, Mark on a night out – as it always tended to get more than a little crazy. They were both the best of friends in terms of their relationship, but Mark was notoriously known to be one hell of a party boy once he got his liquor game on. BamBam on the other hand, more often than not preferred to stay in and have a nice chill evening with you; but tonight, you had all ventured out to the clubs together in search of a good time.

It has just turned 2am when you, BamBam, Mark and some random girl he had picked up came stumbling out of the club that was currently in the process of trying to heard the drunken masses out like sheep. Luckily, their apartment was a short ten minute walk from your current location – as looking for a taxi was damn near impossible at that time of night. As you and BamBam walked together – his arm around you while he and Mark were drunkenly singing, you tried your best to make conversation with Mark’s hookup. You’d always found it somewhat awkward to try and converse with the many girls who he brought back for the night; but this one was more than super friendly and lovely towards you. You’d managed to get her name – Allie, and the walk home consisted of you two getting on like a house on fire.

“Yeah boy! Home!” BamBam shouted upon unlocking the door to their apartment, before all four of you began removing your shoes.

“Bam shush! You’re gonna wake the neighbours!” you covered his mouth with your hand, but you couldn’t stop giggling at his rosy-cheeked, glowing face – a common display once BamBam consumed enough alcohol. While both of you continued to play-fight back and forth, Mark began pulling Allie in the direction of his room – with one thing on his mind.

“See you love-birds in the morning” he hummed, his bedroom eyes on full display as Allie let a small drunken chuckle escape her throat, before Mark closed his door behind him; leaving you and BamBam alone in the open planned living room.

BamBam looked to you with a grin on his face as his hands snuck their way around your back, pulling you closer into his chest before his lips found the skin of your forehead. “You tired baby? You wanna come to bed?” his voice was low and teasing as his hands cupped themselves underneath your ass through your high-waisted jeans.

“Mmh, I’m a little tired…but..” you trailed off into a smile as you raised your head slightly to find your lips pressed against his, before being trapped in his eager kiss that left you longing for more.

“Come on then” he whispered, taking you by your hand and leading you down the hall into his own room, both of you feeling the effects of the alcohol mixed with excitement in your bodies.

Mark sat on his bed with Allie – both of them wantonly spreading their hands over each other as Mark got to work on her skirt; hiking it up skilfully as she kissed him back heavier and heavier. Not being able to wait any longer, Mark leaned back towards his dresser to pull out a condom before removing his t-shirt and jeans - letting them fall to the floor. But, upon turning back around, he found Allie completely passed out on his bed – gone.

“No…are you serious? Agh…” Mark dropped his shoulders in defeat, attempting to wake her up out of her alcohol induced sleep while feeling his semi hard-on in his boxers beginning to bulge against its confinements.

“Please wake up? Don’t do this to me oh my god” he leaned forward to speak in her ear, but she was truly dead to the world in the land of nod.

“Great – just great” he sighed as he sat back, feeling more than hard done by and completely regretful. Knowing that there was nothing more he could do, he lifted Allie up and placed her under the covers of his bed, putting her on her side and tucking her in. “Sleep well, I guess” he lamented – before getting up and going in the direction of the bathroom to sort out the ‘problem’ he had in his boxers.

Upon closing his bedroom door behind him, Mark began making his way to the end of the hall – the bathroom being right next to BamBam’s room. He tiptoed quietly through the darkness, and just as he was about to open the bathroom door to go inside and jack-off, he heard sounds coming from you that made his relatively small issue between his legs grow just that bit larger.

“Damn…” he thought, finding himself caught in a moral dilemma. Fuelled on by his arousal and the alcohol that was still swimming in his veins, Mark quietly pushed open BamBam’s door – being met by one of the most hedonistic, beautiful sights he had ever seen.

You lay on your back – your clothes already littered across the floor as BamBam had his face right in between your legs. Mark’s eyes came alive at the side view of you tugging on BamBam’s hair – pulling him closer into your slick heat as his tongue dipped in and out of your opening, before his plump lips began sucking on your clit as his fingers plunged themselves knuckle-deep inside you.

“Fuck…don’t stop BamBam” you continued to moan with your eyes shut tight, grinding your lower half into his face in search of more friction as his tongue flicked rapidly over your swollen nub. By this stage, Mark couldn’t help but let his hand travel inside his boxers as he shamefully began pulling himself off – your body and moans being enough to produce pearl-sized droplets of precum on the tip of his cock.

BamBam – who had his eyes on you, let his vision wander to his right slightly where he saw Mark standing. Possibly, under normal and sober circumstances – he would have felt slightly enraged at the fact his friend was ogling your naked body in the midst of your orgasm building inside of you. Yet – a part of the situation just seemed to turn BamBam on even more. Mark locked eyes with him as BamBam sent an orgasm rushing through you – your legs quivering as you came hard and gripped the bed-sheets beneath you. You moaned helplessly – not caring if anyone was to hear as you thought that Allie and Mark were probably doing much the same. As you let your body relax, you felt BamBam lap up your soaking pussy – not leaving any drop left behind.

“Hey baby?” BamBam purred as he leaned back a little – his fingers ghosting the skin of your inner-thighs as you opened your eyes to be welcomed by the view of his cock that was standing to attention on his lower abdomen.

“It appears we have a visitor…” he chuckled, turning his head in the direction of the door. You furrowed your brows in response, before looking over to the door to find Mark standing there with his hand stuck inside his boxers and his lip caught between his teeth.

“What the hell? Mark, what are you doing? Where’s Allie?” you asked, sitting up a little and trying to gather some of the blankets to cover yourself with.

“She passed out before we could uh…you know” he murmured back – feeling his cheeks turn red in embarrassment as he pulled his hand away from in between his legs, feeling rather ashamed of his impulsive actions. “I heard you both and…well – yeah, this is awkward” he laughed through his nose. “I’m sorry – I’ll leave. I’ll let you two get back to it”

“Wait!” BamBam piped up – both you and Mark looking to him in confusion.

“Baby – if it’s okay with you, do you wanna let Mark join in? Could be fun~” BamBam cocked his left eyebrow with drunken deviance present in his voice. You blinked a few times – looking between both BamBam and Mark while your mouth opened and closed as you tried to answer him. You loved BamBam with all your heart – but you couldn’t deny that Mark was also ridiculously attractive. When you first met him, he appeared as the typical ‘shy and quiet’ type that could make anyone fall for him. But that was only part of his charm. In reality, Mark – once you got to know him, was anything but shy and quiet…and it always intrigued you.

“Well…if you’re okay with it…and if Mark’s okay with it…I’m down” you replied – hardly believing the words that came out of your own mouth. “Must be the alcohol” you concluded as you let a shy smile unfold on your lips, but you were curious nonetheless. Mark – who was also dumbfounded at BamBam’s proposition and even more so at your agreement, continued to stand at the doorway, still being able to feel how hard he was at that moment.

“Alright then” BamBam chuckled – finding Mark’s face more than hilarious as he pushed you back down on the bed and began gifting you featherlike kisses upon your neck. You felt strange knowing that Mark was watching such an intimate moment occur between you and your boyfriend, but as you looked over to him; you felt strangely turned on by the fact Mark was viewing the entire thing.

“Are you gonna come over here or just stand there and watch?” BamBam addressed Mark in between kissing down your chest. “I mean – if you wanna watch, that’s alright too” he smirked, before rolling his tongue over your hardened bud that had you reeling in sensitivity. You looked down to BamBam before looking back over to Mark – catching his gaze and beckoning him forwards with your eyes.

“Fuck it” Mark shook his head – and without further hesitation, he walked over to you both before kneeling on the bed beside you, just watching how BamBam teased and toyed with your pert nipple in between his teeth. You felt Marks weight shift on the bed as he lay his face next to yours – looking into your eyes as his hand came into contact with your cheek.

“C-can I kiss you?” he asked somewhat nervously as BamBam looked up to see your reaction.

“Y-yeah” you replied rather awkwardly, before Mark moved his face forward and began gently moulding his mouth with yours – your tongues intertwining as the sound of your kisses filled the air around you. It felt strange to kiss him, and you couldn’t help but compare it to the kisses you were used to sharing with BamBam. Mark seemed softer – more nervous, but you concluded that it was probably due to the odd situation that all three of you found yourselves in.

“Touch her” BamBam whispered as he lay back, stroking his cock while watching the two of you before him. Mark instantly let his hand travel down your stomach – his fingers tickling your hips before he let them slide between your slick folds. You moaned into his mouth as you felt his long fingers enter you – pumping your walls slowly as he bit your bottom lip.

“Mark…” you breathed as you reached towards his boxers – trying to pull them down but failing from the angle you were currently at. It was then you felt BamBam’s hands on top of yours as he exposed Mark’s erection, yanking down his friends boxers to let you touch him in return. You looked down at it – observing that he was much similar in size to BamBam – yet a little thicker in diameter. And upon wrapping your hand around his shaft to begin moving it up and down in pleasured motions, Mark couldn’t help but groan in response.

It was then you sat up slightly, breaking the kiss with Mark to motion for BamBam to move closer to you as you didn’t want him to feel left out. Mark saw BamBam inch forwards to your right side on his knees, so he followed suit by getting up on his; both boys at either side of you with your face level with both of their cocks within reaching distance. It was awkward as hell – but none of you felt it due to the intoxication still well residing in your systems. You looked up between them both as you continued pumping Mark with your left hand, while taking BamBam’s cock in your mouth and reaching the base with your right hand in turn – before switching and doing the same with Mark; giving them both equal amounts of attention. While both boys took turns at feeling your tongue swirl around their sensitive tips and the way your cheeks hollowed as you took their entire length to the back of your throat, you looked up to observe nothing but sensual gratification on their faces. Mark began entangling his fingers through your hair as BamBam placed his hand to the back of your neck – pushing you further down on to him before pulling you off and placing your mouth over Mark.

“Fuck…(Y/N)” Mark let a throaty moan pass his lips as you looked up into his eyes – letting him watch as his cock disappeared inside your warm mouth. You let him go with a pop before moving back to BamBam – licking his shaft and sliding your tongue along his vein-filled edges before you moved your head to the side to speak.

“I think…you should both kiss, hmm?” your mouth produced a wry smile as you lay back, waiting for them to react to your statement. Both of them chuckled ineptly – looking back at you to check if you were being serious; and you absolutely were.

“Alright then – pucker up BamBam” Mark made the first move on his younger friend as he came closer to him on the mattress.

“Woah there” BamBam began giggling as Mark lay him down on the bed – making you laugh in shock as you couldn’t believe they were both actually going to do it – and it turned you on to the point of feeling your arousal heat up in your stomach. You watched Mark lay his chest across BamBam’s – both of them massaging each other’s tongue as Mark’s slipped in and out of BamBam’s mouth, with BamBam occasionally sucking on Mark’s in turn. As you watched, you couldn’t help but part your legs at the sensual sight before you – how good they both looked as BamBam’s hands began to trail down Mark’s smooth back and rest just above his hips while Mark took a firm hold of BamBam’s neck. You found yourself letting your own fingers dip in and out of your heat as you observed Mark grinding his hips wantonly into BamBam – with BamBam gripping them with his fingertips and letting small, breathy mewls escape him.

“Ohhh my god” you chuckled mid-breath, attracting both their attentions as they looked at the sight of you lying before them with your legs wide open – their eyes both glistening in delight at seeing you so wet and touching yourself. BamBam looked back at Mark as they both nodded, before Mark pulled himself up off of him.

“Do you uh…have a condom?” Mark asked. He knew you were on the pill and had been for a while – but he didn’t want to just go balls deep without making sure both of you were okay with it. However, BamBam reached underneath his bed before producing a familiar foil packet, handing it to Mark and giving him a knowing look.

“Fair enough” Mark said to himself as he smiled and tore the packet away from the latex as he began rolling it down over his length. “Makes sense that he doesn’t want to me to bareback his own girlfriend. I’d be the same if she was mine…”

“Is this what you want baby? You’re still okay with this?” BamBam lay back down beside you – searching your eyes for any indication that you possibly didn’t want to continue.

“Yes~ It’s okay” you responded quickly, much to BamBam’s surprise. You felt Mark move between your legs as he wrapped them around his waist – angling his cock right at your sopping entrance, before he slowly sunk himself into you, probing you gently as he felt your snug walls hug his shaft neatly.

“Fuck (Y/N)…your pussy…shit” he almost choked – holding his breath in an attempt to try and control himself from cumming too early.

“She feels amazing, right?” BamBam cooed into your face as his ring and middle finger pressed against your clit, rubbing it gently in circular motions to add to Mark’s building thrusts inside you. You let out a silent groan as Mark began fucking you harder – his hands having a firm hold on your hips as he angled you for a deeper reach inside. You could feel him hitting one of your sensitive spots within you, and along with BamBam toying with your clit in between his fingers – you were in absolute heaven. You could feel Marks strokes getting sloppier and heavier, and with a few more movements of his hips, you clenched your walls around him purposefully – and you had him sinfully moaning as he emptied himself into the condom.

“Mmm~ Mark” you let his name pass your lips to fuel his ego as he slowed his movements – but his name in your mouth in such a way had BamBam feeling a little insecure. He didn’t like the sound of it coming from you in that way; for the only name he wanted to hear from you when you’re feeling pleasured like that was his.

Mark pulled out of you, sweaty and breathless as he removed the condom and got off the bed in search of BamBam’s trash-bag. While he was gone, BamBam whispered softly in your ear.

“Hmm…he didn’t make you cum – did he?”

You looked over at Mark who was placing the soiled condom into a black trash-bag, before averting your eyes back to BamBam and silently shaking your head in comedic disappointment.

“Poor baby…want me to make you feel good? Is that what you want?” he began nibbling on your neck – sweeping his tongue across your collarbone as he got on his knees to mount you much like Mark had, but BamBam had your legs almost behind your head with the way he pressed down on them to give him a much clearer line of sight of his cock resting on your folds. Mark looked back over to you both – seeing BamBam about to take control of the situation.

“Uh…I’m gonna go back to bed, see you guys in the morning” he began scratching the back of his head as he picked up his boxers – neither of you answering him as you were both too caught up in the moment.

“Well…this is awkward” Mark raised his eyebrows as he turned towards the door, stepped out into the hallway and closed it gently behind him. “Mark…what the fuck was that?” he shook his head as he began walking back towards his room to get in beside Allie in the hopes of being able to just go to sleep; rather than thinking about everything too much.

You only noticed that Mark had left when BamBam began pummelling into you mercilessly, his hips snapping against the backs of your thighs as he pressed his forehead against yours. He was fucking you so deeply that you were sure you could feel him hit the bottom of your stomach, but you were too enthralled in the rapture of his penetration to think about anything else other than your orgasm that was fast approaching.

“I didn’t like the way you were moaning his name (Y/N)” BamBam growled roughly into your mouth as he pinned your wrists to the bed below you, loving the sounds you made that were entwined with pain and pleasure.

“But he couldn’t make you cum, could he? He can’t make you cum like I can, can he?” his voice was patronising yet there was an element of truth to his words – one that you couldn’t deny, especially as you could feel your toes beginning to curl while you arched towards BamBam and felt your high almost upon you.

“No he can’t – holy shit” you almost screamed, but his mouth swallowed your voice with his kisses as he truly pounded you hard and fast – the bed jolting forward in the wake of his thrusts into you causing your entire body to shake beneath him. You shut your eyes tight while your nails dug themselves into the skin on his back – making him hiss from the pain while moaning from the feeling of your walls almost clamping shut around his entire girth.

“Cum inside me Bam…please~” you whispered into his ear, nibbling on his sensitive lobe while you continued moaning for him. BamBam – not able to hold on any longer, didn’t hold back as he let his seed fill you entirely. You relished in the hot, creamy feeling it gave you as he slowed his movements – some of it leaking out and spreading between your bodies that just made the aftermath of sex just that little bit more pleasurable.

BamBam collapsed on top of you – his head in the crook of your neck as your heartbeats seemingly banded together and hummed to the same tune. You raised your hand – running your fingers through his hair and patting it down as you listened to the sound of both your laboured breathing die down.

“Bam…did you get jealous?”

“…kind of”

You smiled a little, thinking back to just how weird and awkward things were when Mark was in the same room. Having a threesome with Mark had definitely piqued your interest in the beginning. But upon your curiosity being satisfied, you realised that there was no one else you’d rather share your body with, other than BamBam.

“It was going okay until he started…having sex with you. I really regretted it after that” he whispered into your skin, his lips pressed against the top of your breast ever so gently.

“Why didn’t you tell me baby? If you weren’t comfortable with it then I would have stopped…” you looked down to him as he moved his face upwards slightly to look into your eyes.

“I just…I don’t know. I thought I was just feeling weird for a second but when you were moaning for him and saying his name, I just felt really…I don’t know. I didn’t like it and it won’t ever be happening again. Okay?” he said in a rather serious tone – one that made you chuckle in both disbelief and pity.

“Ah…well, to be honest…I don’t think threesomes are really my thing. Mark’s cute but…he��s not you. And he’s definitely not as…skilled as you either” you felt a little embarrassed at saying it as your cheeks turned pink, but you fuelled his ego nonetheless.

“That’s because I know your body better than anyone else. I know all the little things that you like…all the things that turn you on and I know how to get you screaming – if I really want you to” he winked devilishly, to which you playfully gave him a slap on his arm.

“…do you think things will be awkward with Mark now?” you asked, biting your lip as you thought about what could possibly happen in the morning.

BamBam reached down the bed, lazily pulling one of the blankets around his feet up and over your bodies before repositioning his head back on your chest. You smiled at the feeling of his arms around you as they squeezed you tightly.

“Knowing him? Probably not. But if they are, we’ll just talk about it and clear the air for the future – sound good?” he replied sleepily, his lips once again pressed against your skin like he often did when falling asleep.

“You’re right~ You know I love you so much, don’t you?” you smiled, leaning your head down slightly to kiss his forehead before plopping you own head back down on the pillow.

“I love you more.” he whispered.

[imaginetonyandbucky]

Tony was in a bad relationship with someone and had to skip town to keep himself safe. Tony goes into hiding. He comes along a small town and a little diner/bar that is hiring. Using a false name he takes a job. The place is run by Bucky and co. (Steve, Natasha, etc.) Bucky starts to fall for the mysterious person that doesn't share much about his past. Tony thinks things are starting to look up, until his ex comes looking for him. Overprotective Bucky comes to the rescue.

[A/N:I swear to god, we were just going to write a longish-but-manageable15k for this prompt, and then… we wrote an entire 75k+ novel in less than a week, it ate our brains so hard. Anovel for which we have multiple sequels in the works, noless.

PerIT&B’s new long-work posting rules, the first chapter is going uphere, with the prompt it answers, and the remaining chapters will beposted only at AO3. We’ll post reminders here every couple of weeksand when it’s complete, but if you’d rather just subscribe there,here is the link.]

Safeand (the) Sound, Chapter One

Theentire world shuddered to a stop.

Tonylifted a hand to the side of his face and it was already tender, hotto the touch, the sound of the impact still echoing.

“Tony,”Ty said roughly, his eyes wide in shock. “You… You know I didn’tmean to do that, I never would have done that if I wasn’t sostressed out over this presentation, baby, you knowthat.”

Dadhad always had excuses, too. Ty waited for Tony to say something, butthere weren’t words.

“Comeon,” Ty cajoled, “it was just an accident, right? I’m notreally mad at you, okay?” He crossed the room and reached, thenpulled back when Tony flinched away. “Don’t be like that, I’llmake this up to you, all right? I’ll–” His phone started beepingurgently.

Tycursed and dragged it out of his pocket to glance at the screen andsilence the alarm. “I have to get back,” he said. “Thispresentation, it’s important.”It was important to Ty, anyway. His promotion – his future in thefirm – hinged on it.

Tonykept watching Ty, only half-listening, more aware of the way his facewas stinging as blood rushed into the damaged tissue on his cheekboneand the side of his eye.

Tyhad sworn. He had sworn,when he’d asked Tony to move in with him, that Tony’s days asHoward’s victim were done. That no one would ever hit Tony again.And Ty… Ty had a temper, but he took it out on things–dishes and knicknacks and books and Tony’s laptop, once – but he’dnever hurt Tony. Not until now.

(mobile readers, beware the readmore!)

“Iknow I’ve been working too much lately,” Ty said, “but it’sjust… it’s so important to me that I can be able to takecareofyou, Tony. I need to be able to make you happy.” He put on his mostwinsome smile and sad eyes. “You… know that, right?”

“Iknow,” Tony said, because arguing with Ty was pointless. Even thatbit of talking made his face hurt more. “You should go. You don’twant to be late.”

“Yeah,I just… You’re gonna be okay, right baby?” Ty scooped up hissuit jacket from where he’d dropped it when he’d come in to havelunch. “This is going to change our lives, Tony, you’ll see. I’llcome back right after, as soon as I’m done, and then I’ll make itup to you, okay? Anything you want, I promise.”

Tonynodded, and Ty flashed a brilliant grin. He swooped in and ignoredTony’s flinch to plant a gentle kiss on his uninjured cheek, andthen dashed out the door.

WhatI want,Tony thought, his thoughts running slow like syrup but crystal clear,isto never be hit again.

Itwas several long minutes before he could even move, and then it wasonly to slump down onto the edge of the bed, shivering and gaspingfor breath.

Hewasn’t sure how long he sat like that, waiting for his heart tostop fluttering in his chest like a frightened bird, fighting for airlike he was sucking it through a straw, his skin running alternatelyhot and cold.

God,he’d been so stupid.He’d thought Ty was the best thing that had ever happened to him,given him a foothold and the courage he’d needed to get out fromunder his father’s thumb. Why hadn’t he seen that he’d justbeen trading one bad situation for another? And now that Ty had hithim once – it would certainly happen again, if Tony forgave it, letit go. It would happenagain. And again. And again.

No.He couldn’t go through that again. He wouldn’t.Neveragain.He’d spent years coddling Ty’s jealousy, letting Ty pull himfurther and further from his few friends, letting Ty take more andmore control of his life.

Andnow, what could he do? The apartment was in Ty’s name. The car wasin Ty’s name. The bankaccountwasin Ty’s name. Tony had to leave, but all he had was the cash in hiswallet and whatever he could carry, and he hadn’t spoken to anyonewho wasn’t a friend of Ty’s in… two years? Three?

Fuck.

Tonyscrubbed his hands over his face, hissing as he scraped over theswelling bruise, and gave himself just five more minutes to give into the pain and the fear and the grief. Five minutes, and that wasall, because he had to be gone before Ty came back.

Fiveminutes passed, and Tony forced himself to stand up and go to thecloset. He considered the expensive travel luggage, but no – itwould be too hard to lug around, and too conspicuous. He dug past itand found his old backpack, from when he’d been a student. (Ty hadpromised that he could go back to school some day. But those had beenempty promises, hadn’t they?)

Hepushed that aside; he didn’t have time to list all of Ty’s wrongsagainst him. Tony had to pack. Underwear and t-shirts. One extra pairof jeans. Socks. A hoodie. A minimal tool kit: multitool, some coiledwire, duct tape. He didn’t want to keep any of the things Ty hadgiven him, and the things that might be worth pawning were engraved.Recognizable. He didn’t have time for it, anyway. He considered hisbooks, but books were heavy.

Tonyglanced at the clock. Fuck, he’d wasted too much time to the shock.He had maybe an hour left before Ty came back, and he needed to belong gone before then. He tossed his phone onto the bed – hisaccount was attached to Ty’s, of course – then fished his walletout of his pocket and rifled through it. The credit card followed thephone as being too easy to track. Driver’s licenses had RFID chipsin them now, too, didn’t they? His Metrocard was trackable, but itwould get him as far as Grand Central, at least. He wouldn’t needhis Kung Pao Takeout loyalty card, or half-a-dozen old receipts,or… Christ, there was a lot of junk in his wallet. Hurriedly, hedumped it all out and counted the cash; he had about fifty dollars.Shit.

Onelast time check – Shit, he’d have to runtocatch the next train – and he was out the door. He left it standingopen; if he was lucky, some opportunistic robber would come in andhelp themselves to Ty’s things and confuse the trail.

GrandCentral Station was a madhouse this close to rush hour. Tony clutchedhis backpack tightly and twisted through the crowds, making sure todrop his Metrocard. Someone would find it and use it, and if Ty hadit tracked, it would go… somewhere that Tony wasn’t.

Itwas about a mile from Grand Central to Penn Station. The clock tickedin Tony’s ears like a bomb counting down, and he jogged the wholeway.

Tonysquinted at the bus destination board. No big cities, that was tooobvious. No one-cow towns, either; there was no way to blend in. Whathe needed was a nice, middling-sized city, with a bus leaving in thenext fifteen minutes. And a ticket that, preferably, wouldn’t useup allhiscash.

VirginiaBeach stood out. Beaches were nice, Tony thought, though he couldn’tremember the last time he’d had anything like a vacation. Beacheswere full of tourists, where Tony’s accent wouldn’t beremarkable, where people lost their IDs and credit cards all the timeand so lots of places accepted cash that wouldn’t, otherwise. Theywere coming up on summer, so he might be able to find work doing oddjobs. And a transient population meant that it would be easier to notonly blend in with the crowds, but to move around.

Theticket was only $35. And the bus was a red-eye due to arrive arounddawn the next morning, which meant Tony had a place to sleep for thenight, even if it was a seat on a bus.

Right.Virginia Beach it was.

“Iam going to kill Bobbi,” Bucky said, shoving Clint’s shit into aduffle bag. This was the third time in two years that Bobbi Morse hadshown up, flirted a little with Clint, and suddenly Bucky was shortboth a renter and an employee. If Clint wasn’t such a loveableasshole, Bucky wouldn’t have given him his job back the first time.That, and no one else really wanted the damn job in the first place.Washing dishes by hand, sweeping the floor, and bussing tables wasnot exactly fun, and in the tourist town, it was hard work, too.

Therestaurant was failing, slowly but surely, Bucky knew that, so thewages he could offer weren’t great, either. The only good thingabout the job was that it came with meals and a discount on rent forthe little apartment over the garage that Bucky used to try to earn alittle extra on the side. Bucky had paid Clint under the table andtaken the rent out of it directly, which was a nice arrangement forthem both.

Atleast, it was nice right up until Bobbi had showed up flush with cash– she was a professional card cheat – and dragged Clint off foranother of their whirlwind adventures. The two of them would be gonefor months.And tourist season was just starting. If Bucky had to bus tables aswell as manage the restaurant and cook on Steve’s off-shifts, hewas going to die of sleep deprivation. “Killher,”he stressed. She couldn’t have waited until September to stealClint again?

“Youalways say that, and yet, you never do,” Nat said, pulling her hairback in a ponytail and grabbing the broom. “I’ll takebus-and-sweep today. Maybe Steve can do dishes in between cooking?”

“Idon’t do dishes,” Steve yelled from the back. That man had earslike an elephant, he could hear a whisper a mile away, especiallywhen it was about doing extra work. “I’ll bus, but I don’t likecooking when my fingers are all raisin-y.”

Natashabrandished the broom threateningly. “You know that sex you wantedto have, like ever again? Do the damn dishes, Steve.”

“CallSam,” Steve suggested. “I heard his transmission is going out. Hemight need the extra work for a few days?”

“Youcall Sam,” Bucky said. There weren’t customers yet; technicallythey opened at eleven on weekdays – brunch on Saturday and Sundaystarted at nine – but they usually didn’t start having sitdownsuntil half-past. “I’ll put a sign up and call down to the paper.”Who knew, maybe someone in this town had a teenager who needed somework. That wasn’t likely – there wasn’t any publictransportation that stopped close to the restaurant, and teens whohad cars also had access to better-paying jobs. But who knew? Someday, one day, Bucky’s luck would change. Maybe.

Buckywent to the supply closet and cussed for a while. Part of Clint’sjob was also keeping that room neat, but of course he didn’t do it.Mostly he did dishes and stole food and table scraps for his dog –oh, Christ, that was another thing to check. Had he left Lucky, orhad he and Bobbi remembered to take the dog with them? – and flirtedwith the customers. Clint wasn’t a bad guy, he was just…directionless.

Onthe other hand, Clint was on his way to Nevada with the love of hislife and he’d probably come back in four months with a lot ofamazing stories, which was more than Bucky had ever done. Docksidehad been his parents’ place – a beach restaurant that servedgreasy burgers, fries, crabcakes, and whatever catch of the day Buckycould buy off the boats before the bigger places crowded him out –and Bucky had never been more than two hundred miles from home in hiswhole life. So, maybe Clint had a better life philosophy than Buckydid. It was just inconvenient for the rest of them.

Finally,Bucky found the signs: HelpWantedandRoomfor Rent.He brushed them off; Clint had obviously been eating in the closet,since there were crumbs everywhere. Bucky made a mental note to getmore insecticide. The last thing he needed at the beginning oftourist season was an infestation of palmetto bugs. Palmetto bugswere enormous, flyingcousinsto roaches, fully an inch and a half long, and they freaked thetourists right out. Not that Bucky would blame them at all; he’dbeen known to shriek when one of them scuttered out from undersomething, too. And then there’d be problems with Maria Hill, thelocal Health Inspector.

Buckyhung the signs in the window, then took the broom from Nat. The porchshould be swept, too, even though that was a hopeless task. The beachsand always ended up everywhere. But it gave him a few minutes to beoutdoors, breathing in the brackish scent of the sea, combined with amild odor of seaweed and dead fish. It was home. He couldn’t giveup now.

Turnedout Sam had managed to win two hundred dollars on a scratcher, andwhile he was willing to help Bucky while the Dockside wasshorthanded, he didn’t need a second job. Bucky would send Nat outto the S-turn later in the afternoon. The local teens hung out therenear the little inlet, and they might know someone who needed thework.

~ @everyworldneedslove & @tisfan

[strawberrymarshmallowstories]

Oneshot | Meeting His Parents

Title: Meeting His Parents

Pairing: Hoseok/OC

Word count: 2,5K of something!

Summary: Meeting his parents managed to scare the wits out of you. And without any warning, made you drown in your fears.

You turned down from the main road, relieved to escape the cold jungle of steel and asphalt. Welcomed by the green trees and leafy bushes, you took your time to notice every single plant growing in its own way, creating a symbiosis in the scenery; up to the smallest flowers which had an incredibly important part to play in this picturesque view full of many colours, all complimenting each other. You rolled down the window, slowed the car down a notch and took in a deep breath of fresh air to enjoy this beautiful spot hidden in nature, buzzing with life on its own.

There was a river sending its greetings from the right and there was a deep quiet forest on the left, edged by small farmlands with small lonely houses in between, and only your promise to go back one day kept you on your track without a stop.

 Ensuring there was still time, you cast a last glance towards the river flowing in the opposite direction, coaxing you to join, to go along; and all you could do was sigh. You brought yourself back from cloud nine, reminding yourself there was a birthday to attend and this time no excuses were accepted.

 It was Hoseok's mother's birthday after all.

All persuasion tactics had gone down the drain as he wasn't buying any of your reasonings; that it was bad timing with his mother's birthday, that there were too many strangers who didn't know you would be going, and most of all, you were afraid the whole evening could be ruined by awkward tension in the air. You would have preferred to give your good wishes on a different day, with just his parents present so you could solely focus on them and not run around like a headless chicken.

After all, celebrations were not your thing and you strongly believed they belonged to be held among family members. Mothers always wanted to see their children, to hear and be assured they were doing well.

And you didn't think that was best time to be introduced to his parents.

With all these people watching your every move.

 You weren't surprised at the fear that rose from somewhere deep within. You felt scared to face this all alone and couldn't help but release another sigh because why did this feel so hard and difficult?

 All the fears buried somewhere deep within emerged, buzzing on the background ever since you put this date down on your schedule - when it was confirmed. It was important for Hoseok and that's what mattered you the most.

 Fears would not be able to defeat you. They were just shadows that haunted the deepest parts of your mind - relentlessly following you around and feeding you with unnecessary thoughts.

 And that's when you saw it - a small little house further off. You recognised it as it was something Hoseok and you had viewed with the estate agent, now all painted in pastel blue and made up. It was his gift to his parents that he had longed to give for ages; and you had loved helping him choose the colours, the furniture, the themes. It was a beautiful house somewhere quiet.

 You had fell in love with the spot immediately.

 And you hoped his parents had also.

 The gates were open so you just drove in, anxiety building in your stomach and your mind went around in circles without any practical thoughts. But you resisted - you were strong and resisted because even though it made you want to run away on the spot, you stayed - pressed your nails into the wheel as you parked your car as you took in the view of the other side of the garden.

 Smoke rising, younger people standing around, older people sitting on the benches or makeshift chairs. Everyone was laughing, chatting, eating, drinking.

 Hoseok was in the midst of it all, you could hear his laugh from far away as you saw him explaining something to his mother, animatedly. The elderly had all circled around him, eyeing him curiously, probably questioning him on his life, on his future, and maybe even tried to match him with their own granddaughters.

 You shook your head as you pushed out all images and thoughts of young beautiful ladies throwing their flirting techniques at Hoseok; and to your surprise, you also had to push out all thoughts regarding you not being good enough. Checking the mirror, you pulled your hair back into a low ponytail, checked your make-up, and added just a tiny bit of tinted lip balm on your lips.

 You opened the door and grabbed a hold of a big colourful box from the back-seat, decorated with a bright yellow ribbon which now made you feel a little stupid. Hoseok had said his mother had forbade any gifts but you couldn't go empty-handed. So, after a little bird had hinted you that his mother loved health foods with passion, you had prepared everything you could to collect the best immune boosting herbs and foods you could find.

 At least you two had something in common so that was a good start.

  There was only one task left - to actually face them. Greet them.

 At this age you could care less what strangers thought of you, but weirdly enough you cared too much of the opinions of people you hadn't even met yet. You kept procrastinating and knew it'd get worse the longer you wait; your legs were already shaking, your skin covered with goosebumps.

 The second you stepped out you saw children freeze on their spots, some running back to their mom's and dad's - most probably at the sight of you as you definitely were not what they had expected.

 You were beautiful, yes, but you were also a foreigner.

 Hoseok was already making his way over, a big grin plastered on his face as he opened his arms in welcome. So inviting, so warm, so safe. But that was nothing compared to what was going on in your mind. It was in pure panic from your own fears, your own anxieties and all stories you had heard from your friends were running through your mind, leaving trails of alarmed confusion as you couldn't control your thoughts. Only through habit you started to regulate your breathing, taking a deep one in and releasing it, trying to ground yourself.

 And you wanted to seek comfort so bad, but the only way you knew how to deal with this anxiety was to put yourself in your work persona. One that kept herself isolated from everything personal. So you gave him a brief wave, avoided any physical touches that could be frowned upon by the elderly, and decided this was for the best. Even though his smile dissipated, he must've understood. He did not look happy but he knew better than to start arguing.

 'Did you get here alright?' He asked as he stopped his hand coming up to your face and caressing your cheek - something that had become natural to him. You didn't want him to hold back, but you couldn't accept it this time.

 You would make it up to him.

 So you nodded and his hand landed lightly on the small of your back, leading you over, and you took your little bit of comfort from the heat of his palm, his energy calming but also slightly nervous.

 The children were still keeping their distance, their eyes big with curiosity as they kept coming and going, every single one of them some sort of a spy with a mission to collect information. They were curious and you knew they'd approach you as soon as they could.

 The elderly were a different story. You knew Hoseok had been praising you until the ends of the world, easing them into the thought of their baby boy dating a foreigner, but you were scared you wouldn't live up to their expectations.

 If they had any expectations.

 Some little ones were making their way closer inch by inch, eyeing you with hesitation. They glanced at their parents to seek approval.

 You would have loved a second to enjoy the view of the place, to walk around the big garden full of flowers of different sorts and colours. Everything seemed to radiate with its own energy but you were stuck in the situation in front of you - scared, suppressed by your own fears.

 'Mom, dad,' Hoseok addressed his parents, now in Korean, and you felt all air leave your lungs in the blink of an eye. Not only his parents, but all pairs of eyes in the garden were focused on you two and you straightened your back, refusing to let this drag you down. You didn't dare to take his hand in support but that's exactly what you felt you needed at that moment.

 You introduced yourself politely, glancing around and bowing in the direction of his parents as well as others, a sweet humble smile plastered on your lips that seemed so effortless due to years of practice at work.

 Hoseok never really understood how anxious you could get; all because what you portrayed in those situations never matched your words. He said you looked confident but friendly, that you excluded charisma without meaning to and you had laughed because you knew exactly what he was talking about. To you it was a compliment which you were already aware of - it had taken you years to perfectly play the role of an actual extrovert, but what you felt inside was an entirely different story.

 It had taken Hoseok a while to understand.

 You hadn't been sure which one of you he had fallen for - but it seemed there was a good balance which kept him on his toes, as he said.

 You had finished your introductions, his mothers' hand in yours by now, soft and gentle, her eyes looking up at yours and she had many emotions pass by her eyes - she wasn't certain of you yet and you didn't blame her. But you wanted her to like you so much.

 And then you were bombarded with questions about where you were from, what were you doing for a living, what were your plans for the future. You tried to answer all of them and thought you did pretty well as Hoseok stood next to his mother, a smile on his face.

 A proud one, a supportive one.

 And just like magic, as soon as you mentioned that you were working at Samsung headquarters as a HR manager, everyone seemed to loosen up, more curious than timid. Some still cast you glances from the corners of their eyes, but that was more in curiosity.

 You felt eyes boring into your back and noticed a couple of girls around your age here and there - just a couple, and you knew there had been a matchmaking event planned for the day as well. Maybe that's why Hoseok needed you there today. They were incredibly well-dressed, high wedged heels appropriate for landscape, displaying their brand-name bags as they were talking in low voices.

 Obviously their matchmaking event was down one person thanks to you.

  But soon enough all these thoughts disappeared as you saw Hoseok's mother walk back towards the house. Hoseok had gone off with his dad who had snatched him away to get some wood for the grill and you had been left to make your rounds of introductions.

 But when you saw her reaching the house you excused yourself and followed. You made your way over to the terrace, a kind smile on your face  as you saw she had started peeling fruits. You immediately grabbed a knife as well and joined in, resisting her complaints that it was unnecessary and that it was not a job for a guest.

 You told her you wanted to help and she must've read something from your face as her eyes softened and a half-smile appeared on her lips.

Even if she did it out of the love for her little boy.

 She didn't waste any time as she asked you about your life on a more personal level - about your thoughts, your principles, your hopes and dreams. She asked you about his plans with Hoseok, nodding while you answered her questions one by one, thinking everything through before representing it.

 And you found yourself opening up to her. You realised there were so many similarities between the two - that she was a fantastic woman who had raised such a wonderful son. A son who would do anything for her.

 Unexpectedly she told you about her life, about what she had lived though and gone through, how she had given her all for her son. She also held a lot of guilt in her heart, for not being able to offer him more, for not being there more when he needed her.

 So when you finally heard Hoseok's voice calling you and you turned your head to see him, your eyes welled up with unexpected tears and you saw Hoseok's face tighten, his expression alarmed. You shook your head as you managed a comforting smile and he must've noticed tears in her mother's eyes as well as he went over and pulled her into a strong hug.

 It was a scene that would be burned to your mind forever.

   'So, how do you like it here?' he asked as you were walking along the river, his voice expectant as he held your hand in his, firmly, as if he was afraid you would let go.

 'Everyone is wonderful', you said, 'they are kinder than I expected, but I think it's mostly because of their love for you. Hoseok, all these people love you very much.'

 He smiled knowingly, and you knew he was grateful as he placed his arm around your shoulders, pulling you closer to him as your steps slowed.

 'But,' you started again, trailing off, 'I don't know if I can ever see them again.'

 'I thought everything went well, what happened?'

 You dragged on the moment of silence before he stilled and locked your eyes with his.

 'She asked me about babies, Hoseok, babies!' You said, eyes wide in surprise and you saw him suppressing a smile before bursting out laughing, you joining him as neither of you could stop until your stomachs were cramped up and your cheeks hurt.

 'I think she just likes you because of your job,' he said, grinning.

[valkyrieelysia18]

Insight on a Drunken Bird

Oscar could describe Qrow Branwen's training sessions in one word: HELL.

The former farm boy collapsed onto the bed in the room he shared with Qrow (Ruby and the others having their own room to share), feeling as if his bruises had bruises and any feeling he had of his legs evaporated as soon as he hit the mattress.

The drunken man simply waved the kid off as he headed towards the door. "I'm off to get a drink. Try not to die or throw up on the carpeting while I'm gone."

Oscar didn't even see the man leave, simply content to hear the door shut behind him.

Which left him to groan on his own. "I HATE him!"

Now, you don't mean that. Or at least aside from Ozpin in his head.

"Yes I do, and I'm pretty sure its mutual considering the day I just had! And everything up until now."

Well, I won't deny that there isn't truth in that. The problem is you're not originally a fighter and Qrow has practically fought his whole life just to stay alive. And with you as my successor and the short amount time we have, it's just a frustrating situation.

"Yeah, well, I'm not you."

He felt a kind of weary mental acknowledgement from the old man in his mind. No, you're not. You're your own person. And Qrow knows that, even if he doesn't like to admit it.

Oscar sighed. leaning back into the mattress. "I wonder...."

Then there's how you are with Jaune, Ren, Nora, and especially Ruby.

"Yeah, and I thought my Aunt was protective of me when I was younger. Kind of made it hard to make friends." A twinge of regret entered his mind as he wondered how she was doing with him gone. She must be frantic.

It's...not quite that simple.

Oscar would sat up if he had the energy so he only asked further. "What do you mean?"

I can't claim to know everything that goes on in Qrow's mind, but after knowing him many years I can venture a guess. When he looks at you, he sees a living reminder of his failures and his regrets.

Oscar's eyes blinked a few times in confusion. "I don't understand."

You've seen enough of my memories that I don't think I need to explain everything, so I'll just give you what you need to know presently. Calling Team STRQ's current situation complicated is an understatement to say the least. Summer was the one who really kept those three together and when she died, anything that could have been fixed was irreparably broken. If not for Yang and Ruby, I'm pretty sure at least one of those three would be dead by another's hands by now.

Oscar grimaced. "Okay, that's kind of messed up, but that doesn't explain anything."

You've gotten along pretty well with Jaune, Ren, and Nora; Jaune especially. Ruby is only a temporary member for them, I get the feeling she'll reunite with her team soon enough. But you...you click with them very well, it's like you four are a team already. I think Qrow sees you four and it makes him miss what he once had.

Oscar sighed a bit, his aches not as bad as it was a few minutes ago. "Okay....I can kind of understand that."

Then there's your obvious feelings for Miss Rose.

"I thought you disapproved."

I still do, but I can't do anything about how you feel for her. Besides, I....technically have no right to judge you in regards to loving someone.

"Another memory of yours you're suppressing from me?"

That is another story for another day. The point is you and Ruby have very strong feelings for each other and in any other circumstances I would have bet on you two.

An incredulous tone crept into the young man's voice as he answered. "I still can't believe you and the other teachers at Beacon have a betting pool on whether students will end up together or not."

I have won quite a bit of Lien because of that pool, but that's off topic. To make a long explanation very short, let's just say you're not the only person to fall very hard and very fast for someone with a very noticeable cloak and pretty silver eyes.

It took about five seconds for that sentence to sink in. "Oh."

Then it really snapped in Oscar's mind as past memories of Qrow came up. "OHHH....so wait, you mean...?'

Yes, though just to be clear if you say anything about it, Qrow really WILL try to kill you. Or at least find a way for you to never speak again. Especially to Ruby.

"GREAT. Why tell me all this?"

I just don't want you to hate Qrow for something that isn't either of your faults. It's not fair to judge someone entirely without knowing the full story.

Oscar sighed. "I guess you might be right. Doesn't mean I'm happy with all these bruises."

A knock on the door cut off any response Ozpin might have made. Feeling less sore, Oscar got up from the bed and opened the door to find Ren and Nora standing there, arms full with sugary snacks and drinks. "Oh hey guys, what's up?"

Nora cheerily answered. "Well, we were kind of flipping around the channels earlier and apparently there's this awesome action adventure romance about to come on and we wanted to know if you wanted to watch it with us. You know, kind of a break from your training."

Ren calmly spoke then. "According to Ruby and Jaune, it's a must see. Unless of course, you'd rather not..."

Oscar shook his head, a smile coming to his face. "Sounds cool. I could use something to get my mind off it all for a while. Besides, Qrow went out and probably won't be back until tomorrow so I'm all up for hanging out with you guys."

Nora exclaimed happily. "Great! Let's go then!"

The hyper girl turned to walk fastly back to her room while Ren and Oscar followed behind her with a smile, the farm boy also smiling inwardly at these brief normal interactions without the fate of the world on his shoulders.

Wow, this was something I didn't expect to do again. I do most of my these kind of musings of FanFiction.Net. Not really a tumblr user. Not that good of an ending though.

Oscar as the newest member of Team JNPR. YES. Also, am a fan of Summer x Qrow. And Ozpin has secrets.

I've had more than a few ideas on what my next big story should be involving RWBY. Maybe I'll post them another day.

[imsarabum]

Unanimous (M) // BamBam & Mark Tuan

Pairing: BamBam x Reader x Mark

Genre: Smut, Threesome/Menage-a-trios, HouseMate!AU, Angst.

Summary; Upon returning to your boyfriend BamBam’s shared apartment after a crazy party, Mark finds himself wanting to join in on the fun you’re both having in BamBam’s bed.

Please note that this scenario is rated M for MATURE as it contains scenes of a sexual nature - drunken sex, threesome sex.

It had been a while since you and BamBam had joined his housemate, Mark on a night out – as it always tended to get more than a little crazy. They were both the best of friends in terms of their relationship, but Mark was notoriously known to be one hell of a party boy once he got his liquor game on. BamBam on the other hand, more often than not preferred to stay in and have a nice chill evening with you; but tonight, you had all ventured out to the clubs together in search of a good time.

It has just turned 2am when you, BamBam, Mark and some random girl he had picked up came stumbling out of the club that was currently in the process of trying to heard the drunken masses out like sheep. Luckily, their apartment was a short ten minute walk from your current location – as looking for a taxi was damn near impossible at that time of night. As you and BamBam walked together – his arm around you while he and Mark were drunkenly singing, you tried your best to make conversation with Mark’s hookup. You’d always found it somewhat awkward to try and converse with the many girls who he brought back for the night; but this one was more than super friendly and lovely towards you. You’d managed to get her name – Allie, and the walk home consisted of you two getting on like a house on fire.

“Yeah boy! Home!” BamBam shouted upon unlocking the door to their apartment, before all four of you began removing your shoes.

“Bam shush! You’re gonna wake the neighbours!” you covered his mouth with your hand, but you couldn’t stop giggling at his rosy-cheeked, glowing face – a common display once BamBam consumed enough alcohol. While both of you continued to play-fight back and forth, Mark began pulling Allie in the direction of his room – with one thing on his mind.

“See you love-birds in the morning” he hummed, his bedroom eyes on full display as Allie let a small drunken chuckle escape her throat, before Mark closed his door behind him; leaving you and BamBam alone in the open planned living room.

BamBam looked to you with a grin on his face as his hands snuck their way around your back, pulling you closer into his chest before his lips found the skin of your forehead. “You tired baby? You wanna come to bed?” his voice was low and teasing as his hands cupped themselves underneath your ass through your high-waisted jeans.

“Mmh, I’m a little tired...but..” you trailed off into a smile as you raised your head slightly to find your lips pressed against his, before being trapped in his eager kiss that left you longing for more.

“Come on then” he whispered, taking you by your hand and leading you down the hall into his own room, both of you feeling the effects of the alcohol mixed with excitement in your bodies.

Mark sat on his bed with Allie – both of them wantonly spreading their hands over each other as Mark got to work on her skirt; hiking it up skilfully as she kissed him back heavier and heavier. Not being able to wait any longer, Mark leaned back towards his dresser to pull out a condom before removing his t-shirt and jeans - letting them fall to the floor. But, upon turning back around, he found Allie completely passed out on his bed – gone.

“No...are you serious? Agh...” Mark dropped his shoulders in defeat, attempting to wake her up out of her alcohol induced sleep while feeling his semi hard-on in his boxers beginning to bulge against its confinements.

“Please wake up? Don’t do this to me oh my god” he leaned forward to speak in her ear, but she was truly dead to the world in the land of nod.

“Great – just great” he sighed as he sat back, feeling more than hard done by and completely regretful. Knowing that there was nothing more he could do, he lifted Allie up and placed her under the covers of his bed, putting her on her side and tucking her in. “Sleep well, I guess” he lamented – before getting up and going in the direction of the bathroom to sort out the ‘problem’ he had in his boxers.

Upon closing his bedroom door behind him, Mark began making his way to the end of the hall – the bathroom being right next to BamBam’s room. He tiptoed quietly through the darkness, and just as he was about to open the bathroom door to go inside and jack-off, he heard sounds coming from you that made his relatively small issue between his legs grow just that bit larger.

“Damn...” he thought, finding himself caught in a moral dilemma. Fuelled on by his arousal and the alcohol that was still swimming in his veins, Mark quietly pushed open BamBam’s door – being met by one of the most hedonistic, beautiful sights he had ever seen.

You lay on your back – your clothes already littered across the floor as BamBam had his face right in between your legs. Mark’s eyes came alive at the side view of you tugging on BamBam’s hair – pulling him closer into your slick heat as his tongue dipped in and out of your opening, before his plump lips began sucking on your clit as his fingers plunged themselves knuckle-deep inside you.

“Fuck...don’t stop BamBam” you continued to moan with your eyes shut tight, grinding your lower half into his face in search of more friction as his tongue flicked rapidly over your swollen nub. By this stage, Mark couldn’t help but let his hand travel inside his boxers as he shamefully began pulling himself off – your body and moans being enough to produce pearl-sized droplets of precum on the tip of his cock.

BamBam – who had his eyes on you, let his vision wander to his right slightly where he saw Mark standing. Possibly, under normal and sober circumstances – he would have felt slightly enraged at the fact his friend was ogling your naked body in the midst of your orgasm building inside of you. Yet – a part of the situation just seemed to turn BamBam on even more. Mark locked eyes with him as BamBam sent an orgasm rushing through you – your legs quivering as you came hard and gripped the bed-sheets beneath you. You moaned helplessly – not caring if anyone was to hear as you thought that Allie and Mark were probably doing much the same. As you let your body relax, you felt BamBam lap up your soaking pussy – not leaving any drop left behind.

“Hey baby?” BamBam purred as he leaned back a little – his fingers ghosting the skin of your inner-thighs as you opened your eyes to be welcomed by the view of his cock that was standing to attention on his lower abdomen.

“It appears we have a visitor...” he chuckled, turning his head in the direction of the door. You furrowed your brows in response, before looking over to the door to find Mark standing there with his hand stuck inside his boxers and his lip caught between his teeth.

“What the hell? Mark, what are you doing? Where’s Allie?” you asked, sitting up a little and trying to gather some of the blankets to cover yourself with.

“She passed out before we could uh...you know” he murmured back – feeling his cheeks turn red in embarrassment as he pulled his hand away from in between his legs, feeling rather ashamed of his impulsive actions. “I heard you both and...well – yeah, this is awkward” he laughed through his nose. “I’m sorry – I’ll leave. I’ll let you two get back to it”

“Wait!” BamBam piped up – both you and Mark looking to him in confusion.

“Baby – if it’s okay with you, do you wanna let Mark join in? Could be fun~” BamBam cocked his left eyebrow with drunken deviance present in his voice. You blinked a few times – looking between both BamBam and Mark while your mouth opened and closed as you tried to answer him. You loved BamBam with all your heart – but you couldn’t deny that Mark was also ridiculously attractive. When you first met him, he appeared as the typical ‘shy and quiet’ type that could make anyone fall for him. But that was only part of his charm. In reality, Mark – once you got to know him, was anything but shy and quiet...and it always intrigued you.

“Well...if you’re okay with it...and if Mark’s okay with it...I’m down” you replied – hardly believing the words that came out of your own mouth. “Must be the alcohol” you concluded as you let a shy smile unfold on your lips, but you were curious nonetheless. Mark – who was also dumbfounded at BamBam’s proposition and even more so at your agreement, continued to stand at the doorway, still being able to feel how hard he was at that moment.

“Alright then” BamBam chuckled – finding Mark’s face more than hilarious as he pushed you back down on the bed and began gifting you featherlike kisses upon your neck. You felt strange knowing that Mark was watching such an intimate moment occur between you and your boyfriend, but as you looked over to him; you felt strangely turned on by the fact Mark was viewing the entire thing.

“Are you gonna come over here or just stand there and watch?” BamBam addressed Mark in between kissing down your chest. “I mean – if you wanna watch, that’s alright too” he smirked, before rolling his tongue over your hardened bud that had you reeling in sensitivity. You looked down to BamBam before looking back over to Mark – catching his gaze and beckoning him forwards with your eyes.

“Fuck it” Mark shook his head – and without further hesitation, he walked over to you both before kneeling on the bed beside you, just watching how BamBam teased and toyed with your pert nipple in between his teeth. You felt Marks weight shift on the bed as he lay his face next to yours – looking into your eyes as his hand came into contact with your cheek.

“C-can I kiss you?” he asked somewhat nervously as BamBam looked up to see your reaction.

“Y-yeah” you replied rather awkwardly, before Mark moved his face forward and began gently moulding his mouth with yours – your tongues intertwining as the sound of your kisses filled the air around you. It felt strange to kiss him, and you couldn’t help but compare it to the kisses you were used to sharing with BamBam. Mark seemed softer – more nervous, but you concluded that it was probably due to the odd situation that all three of you found yourselves in.

“Touch her” BamBam whispered as he lay back, stroking his cock while watching the two of you before him. Mark instantly let his hand travel down your stomach – his fingers tickling your hips before he let them slide between your slick folds. You moaned into his mouth as you felt his long fingers enter you – pumping your walls slowly as he bit your bottom lip.

“Mark...” you breathed as you reached towards his boxers – trying to pull them down but failing from the angle you were currently at. It was then you felt BamBam’s hands on top of yours as he exposed Mark’s erection, yanking down his friends boxers to let you touch him in return. You looked down at it – observing that he was much similar in size to BamBam – yet a little thicker in diameter. And upon wrapping your hand around his shaft to begin moving it up and down in pleasured motions, Mark couldn’t help but groan in response.

It was then you sat up slightly, breaking the kiss with Mark to motion for BamBam to move closer to you as you didn’t want him to feel left out. Mark saw BamBam inch forwards to your right side on his knees, so he followed suit by getting up on his; both boys at either side of you with your face level with both of their cocks within reaching distance. It was awkward as hell – but none of you felt it due to the intoxication still well residing in your systems. You looked up between them both as you continued pumping Mark with your left hand, while taking BamBam’s cock in your mouth and reaching the base with your right hand in turn – before switching and doing the same with Mark; giving them both equal amounts of attention. While both boys took turns at feeling your tongue swirl around their sensitive tips and the way your cheeks hollowed as you took their entire length to the back of your throat, you looked up to observe nothing but sensual gratification on their faces. Mark began entangling his fingers through your hair as BamBam placed his hand to the back of your neck – pushing you further down on to him before pulling you off and placing your mouth over Mark.

“Fuck...(Y/N)” Mark let a throaty moan pass his lips as you looked up into his eyes – letting him watch as his cock disappeared inside your warm mouth. You let him go with a pop before moving back to BamBam – licking his shaft and sliding your tongue along his vein-filled edges before you moved your head to the side to speak.

“I think...you should both kiss, hmm?” your mouth produced a wry smile as you lay back, waiting for them to react to your statement. Both of them chuckled ineptly – looking back at you to check if you were being serious; and you absolutely were.

“Alright then – pucker up BamBam” Mark made the first move on his younger friend as he came closer to him on the mattress.

“Woah there” BamBam began giggling as Mark lay him down on the bed – making you laugh in shock as you couldn’t believe they were both actually going to do it – and it turned you on to the point of feeling your arousal heat up in your stomach. You watched Mark lay his chest across BamBam’s – both of them massaging each other’s tongue as Mark’s slipped in and out of BamBam’s mouth, with BamBam occasionally sucking on Mark’s in turn. As you watched, you couldn’t help but part your legs at the sensual sight before you – how good they both looked as BamBam’s hands began to trail down Mark’s smooth back and rest just above his hips while Mark took a firm hold of BamBam’s neck. You found yourself letting your own fingers dip in and out of your heat as you observed Mark grinding his hips wantonly into BamBam – with BamBam gripping them with his fingertips and letting small, breathy mewls escape him.

“Ohhh my god” you chuckled mid-breath, attracting both their attentions as they looked at the sight of you lying before them with your legs wide open – their eyes both glistening in delight at seeing you so wet and touching yourself. BamBam looked back at Mark as they both nodded, before Mark pulled himself up off of him.

“Do you uh...have a condom?” Mark asked. He knew you were on the pill and had been for a while – but he didn’t want to just go balls deep without making sure both of you were okay with it. However, BamBam reached underneath his bed before producing a familiar foil packet, handing it to Mark and giving him a knowing look.

“Fair enough” Mark said to himself as he smiled and tore the packet away from the latex as he began rolling it down over his length. “Makes sense that he doesn’t want to me to bareback his own girlfriend. I’d be the same if she was mine...”

“Is this what you want baby? You’re still okay with this?” BamBam lay back down beside you – searching your eyes for any indication that you possibly didn’t want to continue.

“Yes~ It’s okay” you responded quickly, much to BamBam’s surprise. You felt Mark move between your legs as he wrapped them around his waist – angling his cock right at your sopping entrance, before he slowly sunk himself into you, probing you gently as he felt your snug walls hug his shaft neatly.

“Fuck (Y/N)...your pussy...shit” he almost choked – holding his breath in an attempt to try and control himself from cumming too early.

“She feels amazing, right?” BamBam cooed into your face as his ring and middle finger pressed against your clit, rubbing it gently in circular motions to add to Mark’s building thrusts inside you. You let out a silent groan as Mark began fucking you harder – his hands having a firm hold on your hips as he angled you for a deeper reach inside. You could feel him hitting one of your sensitive spots within you, and along with BamBam toying with your clit in between his fingers – you were in absolute heaven. You could feel Marks strokes getting sloppier and heavier, and with a few more movements of his hips, you clenched your walls around him purposefully – and you had him sinfully moaning as he emptied himself into the condom.

“Mmm~ Mark” you let his name pass your lips to fuel his ego as he slowed his movements – but his name in your mouth in such a way had BamBam feeling a little insecure. He didn’t like the sound of it coming from you in that way; for the only name he wanted to hear from you when you’re feeling pleasured like that was his.

Mark pulled out of you, sweaty and breathless as he removed the condom and got off the bed in search of BamBam’s trash-bag. While he was gone, BamBam whispered softly in your ear.

“Hmm...he didn’t make you cum – did he?”

You looked over at Mark who was placing the soiled condom into a black trash-bag, before averting your eyes back to BamBam and silently shaking your head in comedic disappointment.

“Poor baby...want me to make you feel good? Is that what you want?” he began nibbling on your neck – sweeping his tongue across your collarbone as he got on his knees to mount you much like Mark had, but BamBam had your legs almost behind your head with the way he pressed down on them to give him a much clearer line of sight of his cock resting on your folds. Mark looked back over to you both – seeing BamBam about to take control of the situation.

“Uh...I’m gonna go back to bed, see you guys in the morning” he began scratching the back of his head as he picked up his boxers – neither of you answering him as you were both too caught up in the moment.

“Well...this is awkward” Mark raised his eyebrows as he turned towards the door, stepped out into the hallway and closed it gently behind him. “Mark...what the fuck was that?” he shook his head as he began walking back towards his room to get in beside Allie in the hopes of being able to just go to sleep; rather than thinking about everything too much.

You only noticed that Mark had left when BamBam began pummelling into you mercilessly, his hips snapping against the backs of your thighs as he pressed his forehead against yours. He was fucking you so deeply that you were sure you could feel him hit the bottom of your stomach, but you were too enthralled in the rapture of his penetration to think about anything else other than your orgasm that was fast approaching.

“I didn’t like the way you were moaning his name (Y/N)” BamBam growled roughly into your mouth as he pinned your wrists to the bed below you, loving the sounds you made that were entwined with pain and pleasure.

“But he couldn’t make you cum, could he? He can’t make you cum like I can, can he?” his voice was patronising yet there was an element of truth to his words – one that you couldn’t deny, especially as you could feel your toes beginning to curl while you arched towards BamBam and felt your high almost upon you.

“No he can’t – holy shit” you almost screamed, but his mouth swallowed your voice with his kisses as he truly pounded you hard and fast – the bed jolting forward in the wake of his thrusts into you causing your entire body to shake beneath him. You shut your eyes tight while your nails dug themselves into the skin on his back – making him hiss from the pain while moaning from the feeling of your walls almost clamping shut around his entire girth.

“Cum inside me Bam...please~” you whispered into his ear, nibbling on his sensitive lobe while you continued moaning for him. BamBam – not able to hold on any longer, didn’t hold back as he let his seed fill you entirely. You relished in the hot, creamy feeling it gave you as he slowed his movements – some of it leaking out and spreading between your bodies that just made the aftermath of sex just that little bit more pleasurable.

BamBam collapsed on top of you – his head in the crook of your neck as your heartbeats seemingly banded together and hummed to the same tune. You raised your hand – running your fingers through his hair and patting it down as you listened to the sound of both your laboured breathing die down.

“Bam...did you get jealous?”

“...kind of”

You smiled a little, thinking back to just how weird and awkward things were when Mark was in the same room. Having a threesome with Mark had definitely piqued your interest in the beginning. But upon your curiosity being satisfied, you realised that there was no one else you’d rather share your body with, other than BamBam.

“It was going okay until he started...having sex with you. I really regretted it after that” he whispered into your skin, his lips pressed against the top of your breast ever so gently.

“Why didn’t you tell me baby? If you weren’t comfortable with it then I would have stopped...” you looked down to him as he moved his face upwards slightly to look into your eyes.

“I just...I don’t know. I thought I was just feeling weird for a second but when you were moaning for him and saying his name, I just felt really...I don’t know. I didn’t like it and it won’t ever be happening again. Okay?” he said in a rather serious tone – one that made you chuckle in both disbelief and pity.

“Ah...well, to be honest...I don’t think threesomes are really my thing. Mark’s cute but...he’s not you. And he’s definitely not as...skilled as you either” you felt a little embarrassed at saying it as your cheeks turned pink, but you fuelled his ego nonetheless.

“That’s because I know your body better than anyone else. I know all the little things that you like...all the things that turn you on and I know how to get you screaming – if I really want you to” he winked devilishly, to which you playfully gave him a slap on his arm.

“...do you think things will be awkward with Mark now?” you asked, biting your lip as you thought about what could possibly happen in the morning.

BamBam reached down the bed, lazily pulling one of the blankets around his feet up and over your bodies before repositioning his head back on your chest. You smiled at the feeling of his arms around you as they squeezed you tightly.

“Knowing him? Probably not. But if they are, we’ll just talk about it and clear the air for the future – sound good?” he replied sleepily, his lips once again pressed against your skin like he often did when falling asleep.

“You’re right~ You know I love you so much, don’t you?” you smiled, leaning your head down slightly to kiss his forehead before plopping you own head back down on the pillow.

“I love you more.” he whispered.

[keptin-indy]

Dresden Files: Salem

I’ll try to post these on Mondays or Tuesday, since that’s when I do the previous weekend’s writeups.  Feel free to ask questions if anything not clear or you just want to know something!

Background info

If you know the Dresden Files books, this game starts during the events of Changes, but with some small changes.  If you don’t know the books, the relevant info is that wizards and “Red Court” vampires have been at war for some years now and the main character, Harry Dresden, just managed to set off a really powerful curse that killed all of them.  For some reason, during the fight leading up to that, the Wardens - wizard cops - were unable to help him because “they were sick”.  The big change in this campaign is that the illness was a deadly plague set off by the vampire ambassador who had just been by and it killed a swath of the powerful people who had gathered to meet her.

I’ll try to link Dresden-specific terms to wiki pages for people unfamiliar with the universe.  There may also be some easter eggs in the links sometimes...

Setting (in the GM’s words)

If anyone in America were asked to compile a list of the locations important to the occult history of the country, it would surely include Salem.  The town is nearly universally associated with the witch trials of the 1690s.  Everyone, clued-in or not, associates Salem with witches, and, in this world of the occult, associations can have power.  In this case it has lead to Salem having probably the largest supernatural community on the east coast of North America.  That area includes (for the supernatural community at least) Boston as well.  

And community it is, much more so than many other cities around the globe.  Salem is a geographically small town, yet rich in history, emotions, and magic all attracting a different crowd from the spooky side, if they didn’t have some structure and order there would be constant conflict (well, more-constant conflict).  The city has evolved a particular brand of stability, with regular gatherings of all the major power-players in the city.  This isn’t a court or anything so formal as that, but usually neutral parties will side with the aggrieved party in conflicts, preserving the status quo.  Until recently these gatherings were informally lead by [Warden regional commander] Michael Rowland, one of the more powerful denizens of Salem, how they will shake out going forward remains to be seen…

Characters, or at least what was known about them at the start of game.  The Dreseden Files RPG is set up so that most of the PCs had met each other by the start of game, but we weren’t a coherent party yet.

Murchah O’Dougal has lived in Salem for a long time.  He switches jobs every few decades, but it’s Salem, so people have caught on that the tall, thin, taciturn, middle aged man isn’t your vanilla mortal.  Additionally, he likes taking long walks on the beach...the parts under the water, without the benefit of breathing gear.  He’s not a very social man, but he helps out where he can, especially if it involves ghosts, which he can see and interact with.  He’s the one who convinced Eunice to leave her nursing home.

Eunice Featherham’s son married a witch.  Now, Eunice was an intelligent woman and knew there was no such thing as magic, so it was pretty insulting that her daughter-in-law could use it.  It was even more insulting that she taught it to their daughter Evelyn, but then both her son and the witch had to die in a house fire, leaving Eunice to raise Evelyn the Right Way, eg without magic.  Over the years as Evelyn grew up, Eunice could feel her age catching up with her, and when it was time for her granddaughter to go to college, they sold Eunice’s house for tuition and put her into a nursing home, where she eventually died.  Damned if that was going to stop her, though, not when there were so many people who needed her sage advice, starting with the nurses at the home.  In desperation, the home called the Salem Witches’ Circle (kind of a magical chamber of commerce), who asked Murchah to talk the irate ghost out of terrorizing the staff.  

They also called Dr. Evelyn Featherham, who was now living in Boston as the city’s only therapist dealing with the supernatural.  After a long struggle with Eunice’s parenting, Evelyn had finally reclaimed her magical heritage and was using her experiences to help others through situations they couldn’t explain to anyone else.  One of those people, 10 years ago during her clinicals, was a teenage mage grieving over the loss of his father.  Now, though, she had to deal with being permanently haunted by her grandmother and trying to convince her receptionist not to quit because of the new office ghost telling her how to answer the phone correctly.

Once upon a time, a witch found a tiny black kitten in a dumpster.  She had been looking for a familiar, so it seemed like serendipity and she took him in and named him Sir Adler Toebeans.  She was absolutely not expecting her cat to start talking a couple years later and even less to change his shape into anything he felt like.  It seemed her kitty was in fact some kind of fae or at least a changeling, though he didn’t have any more idea what he was than she did.  Regardless, she switched awkwardly from pet mom to real mom and Adler eventually moved out and got a job at Count Orlok’s Nightmare Gallery, where he worked in the museum itself and made short films as both advertising and subtle education. [A note on pronouns: I’m using “he” because Adler has presented as slightly more masculine than anything else during the game.  He doesn’t seem to have an innate sex or gender, so I may switch back and forth with “they” depending on how game goes/the situation.]

A wizard with a mysterious past came from Syria to America and fell in love with a woman whose high-society family had profited off of the supernatural while disdaining them as people.  The pair ran away together and she was disowned, so they settled in Boston where he took magical odd jobs and she tried to figure out how to be working class.  Eventually Sebastian “Baz” Bassam was born and later his sister Olivia, and their father began to teach them how to control their magical talents.  When Baz was 14, his father was killed in a multi-car pileup, but not before his uncontrolled magical energies shorted out an entire hospital wing, unintentionally taking a lot of people with him.  This large-scale violation of the First Law of Magic brought the attention of the local Warden-Commander, Michael Rowland, and when Baz subsequently brought down a possession victim with his therapist during his grief counselling, Rowland decided to train the boy alongside his daughter Sylvia.  These days he’s a full-fledged Warden who likes to think of his duties as magical community outreach rather than beheading first ans asking questions later.  He also looks like a cheerful Syrian lumberjack.  [Note: Dat’s me!  It’s going to seem like I spent a narcissistic amount of time on my own character in the writeups, but a) the first arc just has a lot of Baz-plot and b) when the GM asks if anyone is doing anything, the others haven’t really answered much and I hate to leave the GM hanging.]

As part of his education in control, Rowland sent Baz to a Tibetan monastery when he was 19 to learn meditation and healing with the monks there, traditional allies of the White Council of Wizards.  While there, Baz befriended a litter of Temple Dogs, newly returned from having been dognapped and taken to Chicago of all places.  One of the puppies was notably rambunctious and ended up outside the monastery walls trying to eat a yeti several orders of magnitude bigger than it.  The puppy ran back to the temple, yeti in hot pursuit, and hid behind the Warden-in training, who fought off the yeti and saved the puppy and monks from the puppy’s own bad decisions.  As a “reward”, he was given the perpetrator so the monks wouldn’t have to deal with it.  Baz named him Samuel Gompers Bassam and took him back to Boston, where he grew into a very large Tibetan Mastiff who can see spirits and whose teeth technically count as a holy weapon, which he mostly uses against Baz’s shoes.  At one point while attempting to eat a ghoul, Sam met Adler as a dog and brought him back home, where he stayed for a few days before abruptly turning into a bird, thanking Baz for his hospitality, and leaving before any questions could be asked. [Note: Yes, Sam is a PC.  One of my friends decided it was an awesome idea to play an actual, only slightly magical, non-talking dog.]

Session 1

The town of Salem had been enjoying an uneventful Fall, supernaturally-speaking.  Even Halloween, always an anxious time for those in the know, had gone by without any major mishaps.  That all changed one night in November, when every practitioner or supernatural being in the world awoke from vivid dreams of the world ending in fire and blood.  Many people recognized the dreams as the psychic backlash from some kind of spell, and those with more magical experience further narrowed it down to some kind of worldwide curse effect even though such things were thought to be impossible.  Around Salem, the Community woke in terror and reached out to one another.  The shapeshifter Adler called his mother in the Witches Circle, who told him that calls had begun to come in from several of their members, including some of the older ones, who were so shocked by the experience that they had been taken to the hospital.  Dr Evelyn Featherham likewise checked in with the Circle and headed to the hospital herself to volunteer for on-call psych services.  Her late grandmother, Eunice Featherham, checked the news on the constantly-on TVs in her nursing home and saw confused reports rolling in of simultaneous coups and assassinations in several South American countries, which she assumed was the work of either the CIA or Communists.  Finding that news less than interesting, she floated out to track down her granddaughter.  Murchah O’Dougal, always watchful of the ocean for reasons known only to himself, walked into the Bay, but saw nothing amiss; whatever he was looking for had not been disturbed by the hideous dreams.  Baz Bassam, Warden of the White Council, immediately checked on his mother but found that her sleep hadn’t been disturbed at all; presumably meaning that regular mortals were unaffected by the spell’s backlash.  He called his sister at college, who most definitely had woken up, but had nothing to offer her besides assurances that they were all okay for the moment.  Knowing Warden-Commander Rowland was in Edinburgh at the moment, he called head witch Mary Harrison, who was coordinating a makeshift command center to coordinate help to those who needed it and a response, should it become necessary.  Before heading over to lend his help there, he checked in with Warden Command at Edinburgh, but found chaos there, too.  The wizard who answered the phone said that they only thing they knew right now was that the Red Court appeared to be no more.  From what they could tell, every single member had been wiped out at once by a spell.  Once they had more information, they’d be sure to get back to Warden Bassam, but in the meantime they had to figure out who was in charge of the Wardens.  This was almost as alarming than the giant curse as far as Baz was concerned, but with no more info coming from Edinburgh, all he could do was head to the witches’ command center and try to keep people calm and safe until more news came out.

After a long, sleepless night, morning came with no more information.  Invitations went out to the members of the Greater Boston supernatural community from Ian Fitzpatrick, the caretaker of the largest neutral territory in the area, Hamilton Hall.  Before the meeting in the evening, one of Edinburgh’s army of clerks called Baz to read off the last wills and testaments of Michael and Sylvia Rowland, naming him as heir to their magical holdings.  Baz was gutted, as Michael Rowland had been his mentor and surrogate father-figure since his father’s death, and he’d grown up and trained alongside Sylvia for nearly ten years.  The clerk couldn’t tell him how they had died or any details about what was happening within the Wardens; only that he would likely get “official” notification of the Rowlands’ deaths at some future date.  That the lawyers were working faster than the Wardens was significant cause for alarm all on its own.

That evening, Fitzpatrick welcomed representatives from all the major power blocs and notable individuals into Hamilton Hall, formally allowing everyone through the threshold.  Baz sought out Mary Harrison before the meeting proper began and warned her about the deaths of the Rowlands and magical killing of the Red Court.  Fitzpatrick brought the meeting to order and announced the Rowlands’ deaths himself, calling for a moment of silence that was observed by most people present, with the notable exception of the representatives of the Winter Court (and Eunice, though due more to her difficulty hearing than any disrespect).  Adler asked how they had died and Fitzpatrick said there had been an attack on the Wardens in Edinburgh, which was the first Baz had heard of it.  Ignoring that for now and trying to give the impression of a calm and level-headed authority figure who wasn’t grieving, Baz announced that he knew where the nightmares had come from and explained the curse that had taken out the entire Red Court.  The gathering was shocked that something that large could have happened and that the threat of the Red Court was suddenly gone (though the Summer Court and Daniyah, a powerful local sorceress, seemed less surprised), and Fitzpatrick adjourned the meeting , saying that he knew full well some people were going to use the situation to jockey for power.  He gave them a week to get it all out of their systems and then he would call another meeting to see where Boston should go from there.  The jockeying and networking began before anyone even made it out the doors.  Baz asked Daniyah what she or her spirits knew about the attacks, but she would only tell him that “things” were awakening that had lain dormant for many years.  Knowing it would do no good, Baz continued to press for details and was informed that the city faced two threats...from within and from without.  Eunice floated from group to group eavesdropping and overheard the Winter Court proposing to murder someone for the sole reason that the scarier warden was dead now, which she dutifully reported to Baz with a stern admonition to stop them.  Without more details, Baz simply went over and stood meaningfully by the faeries.  Meanwhile, Adler took on his dog form and sought out Sam, warning him that his wizard was in danger and offering his help guarding him for the next few days.  Sam, in turn, told him to be aware of Daniyah, who no longer smelled purely human anymore, but instead like some kind of spirit, and also her owl familiar, who was definitely a spirit, though he hadn’t been able to figure out what kind without licking it.  Baz turned around to see a familiar black dog incongruously petting his own dog, and asked if he would stick around and answer some questions this time.  Adler agreed, but answered everything as literally as possible without offering any information was wasn’t specifically spelled out and some that was.  He told Baz that he had enjoyed the name he’d given him last time and to keep using that, and that he would follow and protect Baz along with Sam while the immediate danger hopefully passed.  Seeing that Baz was distracted from his rightful duties, Eunice got into an argument with the Winter Court, but her attempt to spook them into following the straight-and-narrow backfired when they scared her right back, startling her back into a dementia episode.  Baz and his two large dogs circulated amongst the other faction heads, assuring them that he was as dedicated to keeping the peace as his predecessor and generally attempting to politic.  Murchah drew him aside and offered to train him to use the sword he carried and Baz tried to find a polite way to tell him that he had specialized in swordplay for years.  Unconvinced, Murchah asked to see his fighting stance and was pleasantly surprised to find that Baz was not merely boasting.  

Finally, the meeting broke up and Murchah headed back out to his ocean patrol, only this time he noticed strange behavior in the fish.  Not being a spellcaster himself and having no way to track magical energy, he called the Circle, who told him to call the Warden.  Baz had not yet made it home, so Murchah left a cryptic message with Baz’s mother to call him back.  Eventually Baz returned home with one dog more than he left with and reintroduced “Fenrir” to his mother, warning her this time that he was definitely sentient and could talk (though Adler refused to do so on principle now).  He returned Murchah’s call, but with nothing more to go off of than “the fish are weird”, decided to let it wait until morning.  Adler insisted on sleeping in Baz’s room, which required some setting of ground rules, starting with a promise never to harm his mother.  Adler agreed, but was less forthcoming in answering Baz’ questions about his nature or allegiance, saying only that he wanted to protect both Sam’s human and the city balance he represented as a Warden.  He otherwise revealed only that he could take on many forms, though he wouldn’t say if he had a natural or default one, and that he usually worked at Count Orlok’s Nightmare Gallery, where he could use his skills to great effect.  Baz was both fascinated and slightly frustrated at the mysterious creature playing bodyguard for him, but when he found that Adler could use computers, he immediately handed over the password for the email account Olivia had maintained for him and begged his help keeping in contact.

“Fenrir” woke up early the next morning and got the household coffee, which he served to them with creepy mostly-human hands on a dog body.  Betsy (Baz’s mother) was relieved when Baz gathered the dogs and put on some swimwear to meet Murchah at the beach.  After some discussion about everyone’s underwater capabilities, Baz conjured air bubbles around his and Sam’s heads while Adler turned into a Lovecraftian fishman, and the group followed Murchah into the Bay, but Baz was at a loss figuring out what was causing the irregularities Murchah claimed to see.  Sam happily ate one of the affected fish.  Returning to the surface, Baz asked Murchah to call Dr Evelyn Featherham, who was more sensitive to tracing ongoing magical effects than he was, but shortly after her receptionist answered the phone, the poor woman was shoved aside so that Eunice could do her job “better”.  Talking around the old ghost, Baz asked the receptionist to pass the message along when Evelyn had a free moment.  Evelyn eventually had a chance to call back from her ghost-proofed office and promised to come out during her lunch break.  Murchah hired a boat so that Evelyn (followed, of course, by Eunice, who was determined to chaperone her daughter meeting a young man on a beach) wouldn’t have to get her work clothes wet, but she couldn’t see the magical eddies from above the water and ended up having to do into the drink anyway.  Unfortunately for her, only Adler seemed to be adapted enough for underwater hunting of this kind, and he realized that the fish were all swimming in a huge circle tens of miles across.  The group returned to the boat to track down the center of this circle, which was occupied by a “fishing trawler” that didn’t seem to be doing any fishing.  Adler turned into a bird to scope it out and noticed that some of the “fishermen” milling around on deck not fishing were concealing decidedly non-standard tentacle-arms.  When he reported this back to the group, Eunice immediately floated over to the trawler and began haranguing the people on deck about their terrible work ethic.  The “fishermen” were not expecting a sudden ghostly tirade and very sensibly tried to escape her senile wrath.  Taking advantage of this distraction, Adler changed from a bird into a rat, dropping onto the deck and scurrying below.  One of the doors inside was both locked and well-sealed, so he disconcertingly grew hands in order to pick it.  The door swung open, revealing the rat with hands on the one side, and a number of tentacled cultists chanting around a circle on the other side.  Adler scurried out of sight, but the cultists merely locked the door rather than give chase.  Adler tried to direct Eunice’s wrath downstairs, but she found that the room was warded against spirits.  Adler again reported back to the other boat and Murchah drew up alongside the trawler so the mages could board and follow the shapeshifter below.  Adler once again picked the lock and Baz opened the door and demanded to know what was going on with as much gravitas as a man wearing a tank and swim trunks could manage.  The cultists rushed to attack the newcomers while Murchah ran straight for the summoning circle and began disrupting it, hearing unsettlingly familiar and ancient voices whispering in his head while he did so.  As Baz and Sam fought the cultists, Adler transformed into a hideous claw monster and jumped into the fray, startling everyone on both sides.  Eventually the cultists were knocked unconscious and Evelyn could examine the remains of the circle Murchah was still determinedly wrecking, declaring that it had been meant to awaken something deep in the ocean.

[s0021816]

C. Film 2 Key Sequences – NOTES

Screening notes: Beauty & The Beast 

Beauty & the Beast is based on a traditional fairy tale, the Beast is based on the same character from that fairy tale.

Actual understanding the audience have that the beast used to be a human allows them to sympathise with him, and develop a human-like relationship with him.

About the beast :

He was cursed by a witch because he showed no love to anyone but himself, he was also a prince – so it is his duty to care for others – presents him as an antagonist.

The spell can only be broken if or when the beast truly learns to love someone other than himself and is loved by another – until then he will remain in the form of the beast.

When Belle first meets the beast he is angry, possibly due feeling the despair of being trapped In the beast's body for a long time

He initially reacts to belles love with fear, which causes him to appear increasingly antagonistic.

The audience begins to sympathize with the beast because we understand he struggles to show love to others, yet it is apparent that the objects around his house respect him, which causes the audience to question his true character. 

The beast appears to have a very bitter outlook on his life and is quick to become frustrated when things did not work out the way he wanted them to.

The beasts reaction to things not going his way allows the audience to understand that this behavior may have been learned during his childhood, as a young prince, therefore his privileged life allowed him to become selfish and inconsiderate during his youth, which has continued as he's grown older.  

The Beast is in his current situation due to his temperamental nature and inability to show care to others, which therefore causes him to feel a deep sense of insecurity and shame because his past actions cost him, what he loved about himself most.

Throughout the entire film, it is evident that the Beast's biggest conflict is his current hideous appearance as a beast, and the retention of his human being, trapped inside. 

The audience is able to understand through the use of mise-en-scene that the beast has remained in his current form for a while because his house appears old and tattered, which implies he has been this way for a while, without visitors – allows the audience to sympathise with his character because we understand that he is actually a human, who has not interacted with another human in a long time.

Belles honest and protagonistic character is also portrayed to the audience within the scene where she enters the beasts house in order to save her father because she doesn’t appear frightened of the beast, which encourages the audience not to fear his character either.

Due to the state of the beasts house, the audience understand that he has lived there for a long time, which also suggests that he has become accustomed to his current state, and he does not believe that he can change, possibly due to the fact that many people could not even recognize him as once being human. 

It is also evident to the audience that The Beast hates his current appearance and is ashamed of the monstrous aspect of himself 

One of the main things that frustrates the beast and causes him to react in a beast like way,  is when people react to his appearance or his inhuman instincts because he his human underneath his apparent beast-like appearance. 

It is hinted to the audience that the beast behaves this way,  due to a self-fulfilling cycle that he has created, as the Beast reacts In a vicious behavior because he was seen as a vicious beast.

“So, you've come to stare at the Beast, have you?

                    ―The Beast, as he confronts Maurice

(Spell check bellow)

This may be why the beast showed some remorse after reacting angrily once he met belle for the first time, because she did not react in a way everyone else did, she did not only see him as a monster, she saw him as a person.  

The initial antagonistic impression of the beast is not developed as the narrative progresses, as he also demonstrates protagonistic traits. For example, although he is stubborn and lacks manners, it is evident he can care for others though he finds it difficult to contain his negative thoughts about himself, inorder to allow him to express empathy. 

The audience are first exposed to the beasts kind nature, as he appears to feel genuinely regretful towards Belle after he sent her father away without letting her say goodbye to him. This may be due to the fact that the beast is able to empathize with Belle and the heartache she feels, due to his past experiences as a outcast. 

The beast also "invites" belle to dinner, though it was closer to a command than an actual request. – though still showing he is beginning to transition into a kinder individual, and more human like.   

Although the beast is human in form, he exhibits primalistic animal behaviours, which prevents the audience from developing a fully, human to human relationship with him. For example the beast begins to growl and roar when he gets angry – which further reflects how long he has been an animal for. The beast also demonstrates animal like behaviours when eating as he forgets his table manners – again reflecting how hong he has been an animal for.  

Growling and forgetting his table manners liken the beast to an untamed animal, though not in a violent way

After belle is attacked by the pack of wolves, the beast cares for her- demonstrating his depth of character, that he is not just a beast, he is also a gentle being too, which allows rhe audience to connect with him. 

The beast is keen to impress belle, which is shown through how he begins to behave around her, he remembers his table manners, and begins to feed the birds- now choosing not to behave like an animal also demonstrates the beasts human like nature, which allows the audience to sympathise with him.  

The beast shows belle the library -he  wants to do something kind and considerate for belle, which is something he hasn’t done before, showing his character is evolving and he is more human like than the audience anticipated at this stage. 

Belle teaches the Beast how to dance -  which makes him overjoyed, human attachment to another character provokes the audience to feel the same too.

As the beast begins to care for Belle, not only after she is attacked by the wolves, but throughout the film, this also reveals a fiercely loyal side to him, this is further demonstrated towards the latter part of the film, as the beast was willing to give his life in order to protect Belle, and again as he lets her leave to go to her father, sacrificing his own happiness for belles, because he knows that if she leaves he will remain a beast forever. 

Noticeable change in character appears when the Beast saves Belle from the pack of wolves – not only emotional changes, as the beast is now more caring, his dress style also changes, as he becomes more disciplined and smart, - demonstrating he cares for his appearance and is keen to impress belle because he likes her. this change in character is most evident as the beast is seen in his ballroom outfit,  (a gold vest with a white dress shirt, white kerchief, black trousers lined with gold, and a navy blue ballroom tail coat also lined with gold) further symbolising his human like nature, as he is wearing human like clothes now – also in great contrast to the costume the audience first see the beast in, as he was intitally topless.

“I know he looks vicious, but he's really kind and gentle. He's my friend.”

―Belle telling the villagers not to fear the Beast

When the gang of villagers, led by gaston, come to attack the beast, the beast does not attack them in a beastly way, and when Gaston finds the Beast, the Beast does not fight back, because he beelives that he has lost belle, his love. As the beast continues not to fight, due to the fact that he is still in a state of depression, Gaston prepares to kill him, when Belle returns, and begins to shout at Gaston telling him to stop hurting the beast. The beast then gets up and begins to fight back against gason. – this demonstrates that the beast is extremely human like, because he no longer just values his own life, and instead he feels as through his life would not be worth living without his love, belle. Furthermore, because Belle shouts at gaston to stop hurting the beast this finally confirms to the beast and the audience that belle truly does care about him. 

During the fight on the balcony Belle turns the beasts face towards her, and The Beast smiles at her,- confirming to the audience that they have made an emotional bond with eachother.

Before the beast transforms back into his human form, Belle begs him not to leave her as she breaks down into tears. She also admits her love for him a few seconds before the last petal falls from the enchanted rose- which shows that the beast has not only shown love to another, but he has gained love from another.  

As the beast transforms back into a human Belle begins to cry because she beelives that she has just lost her love. As the transformation takes place a cluster of shimmering light beams fall onto the Beast. – aesthetically presented in an angelic way, confirming that his character has fully transformed and he is no longer an antagonist. 

The Beast's body rises and begins to float in the air, which is followed by his body being covered by his cape. He transforms, fully, back into a human. He then gets up, looks at himself, and then looks at Belle, who initially looks very confused as to who he is. Belle then recognises him by his blue eyes. – he has returned with his love, and he is no longer confined by his beast like appearance, although he is still the same person belle fell in love with.

After the transformation, The Prince and Belle share their first kiss which breaks another spell that was cast over the beast and his castle. the castle is restored and returns to its shining state. – demonstrating how apearences have affected the interpretation of individuals morals throughout the film, and teach the audience not to behave in this way too.

The Prince's servants, Lumiére, Cogsworth, Chip, and Mrs. Potts, are also transformed back into humans. The film ends with Belle and the Prince dancing in the ballroom, surrounded by his servants and her father watching them happily.- further confirms the complete character revelation of the beast.