#My niece is going to loose her MIND over this thing

[emile-hides]

Behold. Son.

[sukunas-wife]

Ryoumen “i want a second son” Sukuna except he gets a feral little princess who matches his energy and is not above taking big bites of dad and only yuuji-nii can control her sksks

Eegehehe- warning- I suck at writing for girls actually😭 I’ve never had a younger sister or niece 🥹 my female cousins are literally non existent also,

The doctor became nervous after your newborn started crying. The maids made quick work of taking care of everything and handing you your child already bundled up. Sukuna was just as confused before he took his child from you, carefully unfolding the blanket.

The room was silent, everyone turning to Sukuna, for a brief second your aching muscles were numb that you didn’t feel after birth. You were nervous, what happened, why didn’t anyone say anything? Sukuna held the child with two large hands supporting it, using his other two hands to carefully pull back the blanket. He didn’t lift his head, but you watched his mouth gape slightly like he wanted to say something. He turned his head slightly, settling on just looking at you through the corner of his eyes. It was a low rasp “she’s a girl,” he cleared his throat wrapping her back up. Without a doubt it was his, his pink hair, she had even taken to his red eyes like Yuji had. His fixed stare didn’t show it but he was concerned for her, even if he had wanted a second son, “Lord Sukuna we co-No.” he turned to Uraume, “It’s my child regardless if it’s a boy or not. She stays here.” He leaned back, handing you your daughter.

After everyone had cleared the room you were breastfeeding your child. Sukuna sat with arms crossed, eyes closed and his head resting back against the wall. You were staring down at your little girl and you realised, “You didn’t want a daughter because it’s going to force you to settle down.” You were grinning like a fool when you turned to look at Sukuna, he grunted not opening an eye or looking at you. “I’d be a fool to let anything happen to my daughter.”

You hummed, “If she’s anything like you I’m sure she can handle her own like Yuji when she’s older.” Sukuna opened an eye looking at you, “Anya..” you turned to look at him. “Her name is Anya.” There was no room to argue with him on that. He stood up, “I’ll bring Yuji.”

He left the room before you mocked him “oouu I’m Sukuna I’m gonna protect my daughter I’m a big bad tough guy.” You scoffed to yourself, “He doesn’t realise he’ll never hurt another child again Anya.” Leaning down you kissed her little head, and she barely opened her eyes.

—————

“hehehe” Sukuna was sitting on his throne head resting on his fist, eyes closed. You left a while ago to do something he already forgot about. Yuji wanted to go with you but Anya held him back, Anyways was an anomaly. She had no cursed energy or presence. Yet she still had the power to read minds, it was something that baffled Sukuna.

He learned she had that power at the worst time, when you were all gathered eating breakfast. When he thought about getting a collar. Anya just jumped excited “are we getting a dog like the one’s old man sells in town?!” Everyone looked concerned at Anya and she pointed at your husband with a bright smile, “Papa was thinking about buying a collar!” You looked at Sukuna “When did you- Right now! He was thinking about looking for a collar and a really good one so it doesn’t slip up or come loose.” It was the heat on your cheeks when you realised what collar he meant, but you were more concerned when you thought he was actually saying these things out loud in front of Anya.

Sukuna was looking away trying to clear his throat, ‘What the hell is this brat on about? I didn't say that shit out loud… did I?’

“OOOO PAPA SAID A BAD WORD!” Anya covered her mouth with her hands and she turned to you, your mind was drawing a blank ‘…what..what’s going on…”

Yuji was spaced out shovelling food into his face before he looked over, “Anya sit down don’t stand on the chair.” She listened to his not so demanding verse and sat down, “okay Yuji-nii.” She plopped down in her chair before perking up, “Are we getting a dog?”

Sukuna cleared his throat again looked right at her, if his hunch was right, ‘No, we’re not bringing some mangy mutt into the house’

Anya deflated and rested her chin on the table pouting, “why not?” ‘Because I said so.’ “Then why’d you say?” ‘Because I’m the owner of this house I decide what goes and comes.’ Anya sighed, getting teary eyed, trying her best to plead silently the way Yuji had taught her. Yuji snickered and he turned to you, you were sitting down whispering and asking Yuji if he knew what was going on. He explained to you that he figured out Anya could read minds not too long ago when she kept beating him in stone, parchment, shears, (please I’m sorry😭), hide and seek, and their little treasure hunting games. What he didn’t tell you was he also used her to out scam the guy who shuffles a gold token and bets money you’ll never find it.

It explained to you why Sukuna was just giving her looks and she was vocally responding.. it left you to worry how many of your thoughts she had actually heard. 😭

On a side note- here are some cannon events in the process of Anya growing up 😭😭

As a baby she was menace 🥺 she liked biting/trying to chew her dads fingers when he’d poke her cheeks. Not a cute nibble either, she’d dive in predicting the “If you eat his finger you’ll get stronger”

When she took hold of his finger the first time he was in love. That was his daughter and she meant the world to him. Then she dug her nails hard into his skin making him wince and immediately clip her nails. But when you don’t clip her nails because you're scared you’ll hurt her he always ends up with a scratched chest and hands when she’d try to take hold of something. She’s the reason he started wearing shirts even if they were uncomfortable on his massive arms 😔

Was kinda glad she didn’t sleep in the bed with both of you. She loved sleeping on his chest and Sukuna did also. But only allowed it when he could put those baby gloves on her.

After hitting age one she loved messing with Yuji and Sukuna while they were sleeping. You continuously went after her picking her up with your hand sunder her arms. She’s let out her baby screams and wiggle her body you could hear your husband’s attitude, “unhand me mother! I crave chaos! Ahahahsgsghshss!”

The older she got the more both of you learned the way Yuji admired his dad but was a total mama’s boy? It was almost the same case. Except she admired her dad.. and was a daddy girl. Yes she loved you and thought the world of you, but daddy’s so cool because he has so many cool powers! 🥺

It didn’t matter if she was sleeping in your arms, she was laughing and having the best time with you. If she even felt or heard the slightest sound, meaning Ryomen was in the room, she would scream and cry for him to pick her and take her with him. The same case as Baby Yu, you were jealous Ryo got all the attention and baby love even if they were attached to your chest most of the time.

Speaking of jealous, Yuji was the most jealous little 10 year old boy 🥹 “MY DADDY!” He’d carry Anya back to you so he could sit in HIS dads lap. Sukuna found it amusing and more often than not bullied Yuji. Which actually led to your funny little schedule where when Anya was briefly awake Yuji would be glued to your side. When Anya was asleep Yuji would run and stick to his dads side.

Sukuna has a permanent dent in his side boob where 2yo old Anya crawled over to him on your bed and then latched on, i don’t mean milk- i mean she saw a mound of flesh and went ‘nom’ He grunted and it took everything in him to not swat her instantly. He sat up after pulling her away. She was dangling by her feet clapping her hands and laughing, Sukuna was pressing his hand to his chest helping himself and cursing because no way he really let this brat catch him off guard and mess him up 😭

Which is also when it hits him, she has no presence because she has no cursed energy. He was disappointed but relieved she’d never have a reason to be caught in trouble 🥹

Here’s a little montage of moments 🥹

An invisible child means invisible crimes. Sure, Ryomen could actively tell where she was. But it’s his child he could let his guard down and close his eyes to think about the things he had to do. Breathing became slower the more he started to relax almost to napping completely.

1…2…3…4… “YUJIII NIII I GOT THE THING”

Kamutoke… she took the Kamutoke

Sukuna was going to get up and chase after her but she tripped and face planted into the shiny floors Sukuna had to pick her up and wipe off her tears and snot while telling Uraume to put up his tool because there was no doubt in his mind Yuji or Anya would kill the other with it by mistake

Anya loves her parents, but when Sukuna is thinking Sinister thoughts she runs to Yuji.

Ex. The four of you went out into the city, Anya was riding on her dad’s shoulders the way Yuji used to. She was patting away on his head when she heard the thought, “I should kill that man, I’ll start by slowly gutting him a- wwaahhhhh” followed by squirming and Anya basically jumping over knocking down Yuji. When you asked her what was wrong she said “…nothing… papa is kinda scary.”

Yuji had to piggy back her the rest of the day when she didn’t feel like walking but she sang her cute little “Family ooting” song

This is both Yuji and Anya when daddy’s home ,

(I’m sorry I’m so bad at writing for girls 😭 I don’t have a niece to spoil or interact with, I’ll have to steal my friend and her little sister next time and play with her 🥹 I’ll do better for next one i promise 😤)

Tag: @sad-darksoul @cyder-puff @satorisgirl @bontensbabygirl @lupita97lm @queen-luna-007 @sakuxxi @mercymccann @simpforyoubitch @certainduckanchor @domainofmarie @najiiix @bakugou-katsukis-wife @amitiel-truth @souyasplushie @mylovelessnightmare @dolliira @ilovemybabies378

[feathersandfarmers]

I did some fast sketches of another Chicken Run OC of mine: Tobias Finch a.k.a Toby Finch!

Toby is Kipper's best (human) friend. They go to the same school and are in the same class.

Toby is a goofy boy with a very prominent sweet tooth! He's described as....kinda dim,but still very loyal and protective of those he cares about. He doesn't think things through, and in the right situation, his stupidity can move mountains.

However, he's still a kind boy and will defend Kip from bullies at school.

He lives alone with his grandmother (Gran) and her cat Marmalade (who hates him). Toby's dad, Leonard, is a fisherman who is often away from home. Toby doesn't have a mom (he doesn't fully know what happened to her). This gives Toby a hidden sadness, which he masks through humor.

Gran has a few screws loose but is a sweet little old lady nonetheless. Gran is terrible cook, so Toby doesn't really know what a delicious home cooked meal truly tastes like. He once was invited over to eat with Kip and the Tweedys and was floored at how great Mrs Tweedy's dinner was!

Toby gets his sweet-tooth from his Gran, who fills the house with cakes, toffees, and numerous kinds of brightly wrapped sweets! Because of this, Toby will often have a piece of candy stuck to his hair or will literally eat out of a jar of jam at lunchtime!

Mrs Tweedy, dislikes him....thinks he's an idiot, and a bad influence on her niece,Kip. While Mr Tweedy thinks he's a fine boy, who's just a bit odd.

Hope you all like him. He's been in my mind for a few years but I never took the time to really sketch him and come up with a personality for him! He's kinda based on Buster, from the PBS kids show Arthur!

I plan to expand and eventually present Gran,Leonard, and Marmalade, too!

[writing-until-i-drop]

Wildflowers For A Hangman Ch. 22

Summary:

Daisy, a career novelist, moves in with her college best friend Phoenix who has been permanently assigned to Top Gun with Dagger Squad. She finds herself instantly connected with a cocky pilot who's soft only for her and Jake can't help but want to know everything about her. When the past comes knocking at both of their doors, will they stand together or fall apart?

Or: The Dagger Squad can't cook and Jake falls in love with a woman who makes a mean lasagna while they work their personal trauma.

Jake "Hangman" Seresin x writer!femOC | 18+ (eventually) minors dni. Fluff, smut (eventual), idiots in love, past trauma.

Jake misses Christmas, Rooster realizes a few things

AO3 Link

Previous Chapter

The first couple of weeks had been hard on everyone. Natasha and I had spent the first few days curled up in one bed, then she had slept over with Javy more often than not. Proving to the world that Tasha and I were right when we said that Bob was the best person in the world, he had let me sleep over on his couch whenever I felt like it, which had been quite often. We would watch old movies and order take out, ending the night the same way every time by looking at dog pictures. 

I was doing…okay, all things considered. Until Harvey sent a text asking if I was still coming to Iowa for Christmas. Sure, I knew Christmas was coming, it was hard to miss the decorations everywhere, but it hadn’t really sunk in that Jake wouldn’t be there until that moment. Somehow I had managed to get through the call without crying, confirming that I would take a flight up in a few days to spend Christmas with them. Seeing my nieces would help distract from the pain of Jake being away and I would be able to spoil them rotten with presents.

But today seemed to be the day of overwhelming phone calls because as soon as I was done with Harvey, my agent, Jason, called. 

“Heya, D. How’s the draft coming along?” I rolled my eyes, laying back in my bed. Jake’s pillow still smelled like him, mostly because Javy had stolen Jake’s cologne for me to spray on it, and I found myself sleeping on it more often than my own.

“You’ll get the pages when I’m ready to share them, nosy,” He laughed. I could imagine him sitting with his feet up on his desk, tie hanging loose around his neck. “How’s the scheduling for the book tour coming? Any way we could do it in the next six months?” Keep busy. That’s what Penny had said to do and being away from the apartment for a month or two, every second of my day being directed by Jason and Grace, would be the perfect way to keep my mind occupied. 

“You’re never this eager to do a book tour,” Jason laughed again. “I can schedule something out for March, four months should be enough time to book everything. Grace will be ecstatic, I’ll call her once we hang up. Ooh, I could conference her, one sec.” 

“You don’t have to-”

“Whaddya want, Jason?” Grace’s thick Jersey accent came over the line and I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing.

“Our little angel is on the call, she wants to do a book tour.” Grace gasped,

“Hell must have frozen over, good lord. Daisy, is this true?” 

“It’s true, dang, you two don’t have to act like I physically run away from you guys to avoid public engagements.” As soon as I said it, I knew what Jason was going to bring up.

“Do you remember Tucson?” 

“Nevermind, proceed with the roasting,” I groaned, “I deserve that.” Grace and Jason began to regale me with all of the times I had claimed to have a cold or a headache to get out of events. 

There was still no news on whether or not they would be able to talk with Jake and Rooster during the deployment, so Penny had told me to write letters but not send them. Letters from loved ones were notorious for getting lost, so it was more of just an exercise in letting out my emotions. So that’s what I spent my flight to Minnesota doing, writing out letters in the cursive scrawl Jake had once called pretty, detailing how much I missed him, what was going on at home, and other random thoughts that popped into my mind. 

My suitcase was filled with presents and enough warm clothes to survive the drastic weather shift. Christmas wasn’t the same without snow and I was happy to see that Minnesota had gotten the memo, the ground being covered in inches of the powdery whiteness. 

“Auntie Daisy!” Sarah screeched, waving excitedly beside her sister, Haley, who was also waving. Harvey looked good, his ginger mustache waxed into a handlebar, wearing matching Christmas sweaters with his wife Emma, whose blond hair was held up 

“Hey there, babies!” I sweep both of them into a tight hug, letting their giggles wash over me, the love making me feel warm from head to toe.

“It’s so good to see you, DeeDee,” Harvey pulled me into a hug, kissing my temple, his mustache tickling me. “It’s been way too long.” 

“God, did you get even taller?” Harvey had long surpassed my height but it was still fun to tease him, “Emma, you must be feeding him well.” I hugged my sister-in-law with a grin,

“You know me, Harvey’s been doing all the cooking. I’m glad you’re here though, his cooking’s got nothing on yours.” 

“I see what this is,” I laughed, feeling lighter than I had since Jake left. “Invite me here just so I’ll make lasagna for you.” God did it feel good to be around family. 

The days until Christmas were filled with festive activities with the girls, going sledding, building snowmen, making homemade hot chocolate and marshmallows, and decorating too many gingerbread cookies for my wrists to handle. On Christmas, after everyone had gone to bed, Harvey and I had sat down on the couch one night with hot toddies and gingerbread cookies, curled up under blankets.

“So, how’s everything been going with that pilot of yours?” Harvey sipped his mug of tea and bourbon. I smiled, feeling a tinge of sadness thinking about Jake. When did I go from being completely opposed to a relationship to being so stupidly in love that I couldn’t go a few days without missing one person? 

“He wants to get married,” Harvey’s expression took on that of a teenage girl who just got told Taylor Swift was coming to town.

“Oh my God! That’s so exciting, I mean, do you want to get married?” His excitement was understandable, I had loudly proclaimed my resistance to get married many times in the past, much to my brother’s disappointment. My face must have given the answer away because he gasped dramatically, hand over his heart. “Oh my God, you do.” 

“Kind of want to have kids too, one or two of them, watch them run around with the girls and have fun.” Harvey looked like he was about to pass out from happiness. Honestly, I had never thought that I would end up being this happy in my life, not since the day our parents died, and it was kind of surreal to even be voicing this aloud, especially to Harvey. “Kind of want to be Mrs. Daisy Seresin when he gets home from wherever the hell he is.” 

X

“Stop grinding your teeth, you’ll get a headache,” I reminded Hangman for the third time that day. Poor guy had been on edge since the moment we got on the ship and I was under strict instructions from Daisy to keep an eye on him. “One day at a time, man, we’ll get through this.” 

What we had assumed would be a standard deployment, hanging out on the ship, flying recon or just for practice, and getting to call home every night, had turned out to be a top-secret mission that needed them on standby just in case. This meant that there would be no phone calls home, no letters unless sent through command staff, and not knowing what was going on unless they got the go. The uncertainty of it all was killing me but nowhere near as bad as it was Jake. 

I understood. I mean, he wanted to get back to his girl. Back to Daisy, who, if I was being honest, was way out of his league. They were clearly in love, the kind of love that no one could deny or question, and again, if I was being honest, I couldn’t help but be a little jealous of. Though, both of us going insane being separated from our partners probably would’ve resulted in a stolen jet and joint court-marshalling for being AWOL and theft of government property. So maybe it was a good thing that I wasn’t in love. 

“This is going to be the longest six months of my life,” Jake groaned, unclenching his jaw. I crossed my fingers that Daisy would somehow get letters to Jake through command, for my own sanity if nothing else.

Next Chapter

Taglist: @dizzybee03 @littlezee80 @nervousenemyduck @carolina-on-my-mind03 @mizzzpink @beltzboys2015-blog @writingrose @hookslove1592 @closetspngirl @samanddeaninatrenchcoat @closetspngirl @shanimallina87 @owenniasstars @cevansbaby-dove @caitsymichelle13 @bigstrongblackheart @mrsevans90 @djs8891  

[graciegoeskrazy]

inside your mind

matty healy + niece!daniel!teen!reader

warnings: mentions of slapping and punching, mentions of bullying, alludes to reader being g depressed, a cherry topping of teen angst, short short short

a/n: just a lil somthing to tide u over! i missed dad matty lol. SEND IN REQUESTS! even if you send in multiple! or if you are the same person! i don’t care! i love them and i need them! unless i replied no (which j don’t think i have) they r all coming. slowly but surely. ty anonie who requested!

This wasn't your proudest moment. It also wasn’t the first time something like this had happened. You had to watch them place a call and talk to your father on the phone. You couldn’t make out his exact words, but knew they were full of honest sympathy. They told him what they told the other parents. Something along the lines of This behavior is not acceptable and she will have to be reprimanded for the damage she has done to others. You thought it was all shit. You are a freshman with a 4.5 GPA and take classes 2 years above your grade level. Meanwhile, your opponent that day was some lonely 12th grader with anger issues and nothing better to do.

You sat near the front door of the the front office, anxiously awaiting his arrival. That was until you heard the front door open and saw Matty standing there. He sighed as he walked in and spotted you.

You stood up with your bag. “What are you doing here?”

“Dad’s in a meeting. I offered to bail you out.” He said.

You sighed and headed for the door.

“I don’t need to talk to anyone?”

“Nah. They already suspended me for 3 days.”

“Jeez, babe.” He sighed again as he headed to the car. “Do you want to tell me what happened?”

“Just…bitches.” You tried to shrug it off, hoping he wouldn’t bring it up again. “People were being bitches, so you punched them?” He opened the door for you, prompting you to get in.

“I didn’t punch them…it was more on the lines of a slap.”

“So that’s supposed to make it better?”

“I never said that. Just wanted you to get your facts straight.” You smiled at him as you got in.

“Smart ass.” He said, smiling and slamming the door. He got in on the other side. Before he could start the car, you interrupted him and spoke.

“Is he mad?’ You kept your gaze in front of you. You were genuine this time. Not like the ��smart ass’.

Matty took a moment before answering. “No, I think he’s just confused.”

He looked at you and reached over the console. “What’s going on, love? Hm? What’s happening in that brain of yours?”

“So much and so little at the same time.”

“Does it just get too loud sometimes?”

You shrugged and looked down.

“You’ve not been yourself lately.”

You rolled your eyes. “You sound like him.”

“Because I agree with him!” He moved a loose piece of hair behind your ear while you sat still, not acknowledging it. “Where’s the old y/n who used to laugh at every word I say and giggle so loudly she peed herself?”

“No one liked her.” You said abruptly.

“Well, I loved her.” He said, matter of fact-ly. “Do things just feel kind of…grey now? He asked, cautiously.

“Yeah.” You said, through the beginning of your tears.

“You need to talk to your Dad, love.” You rolled your eyes slightly but all it did was push him on. “Whatever is happening…this ‘grey’ shit- it’s gone on for too long. I want my girl back.” He planted a kiss on the side of your head and whipped a tear that had fallen. “Talk to him for me, okay?”

You nodded and finally looked up at him. “Okay.”

[rosedforbes]

made another drabble for my dearest @galvanizedfriend !! just like the other one, it's connected the Yokan's series THE WOLF on AO3!! this time, I'm bringing Kol + child!Eve to the table :)

DISCLAIMERS: Eve is NOT my character; English is NOT my first language; please, be nice 🙏

He misses being a witch with his whole being, would even trade a sibiling or two just to spend one single day with pure magic flowing through his veins again. However, he can't help but admit that being a vampire has its perks.

Most people only focus on immortality, conviced that the possibility of becoming as old as dirt really is the best part of being a vampire, but Kol has learned that it's more of a curse rather than a blessing, especially if you had to spend half of it closed in a dusty box. Some of them, the slightly smarter ones, believe that the strength and the speed are the real gifts of vampirism, alongside the over-developed hearing. It makes sense, Kol thinks, particularly for the ones who lived like a prey for all of their life, constantly devoured by the thought that their next breath might be the last.

But his personal favorite, the one that everyone seems to forget about, is the ability to get into someone's mind.

Truth is, it doesn't really work the way people expect it to, just looking in their eyes and – poof, I know that you think about your ex whenever you look at your new flame, Susan. No, it's a bit more complicated than that, but when you're as old as Kol, you learn a trick or two to make sure that even the strongest mind will fold at your touch.

Even though Kol is so fond of this little advantage, he never feels the need to use it with Caroline. Nobody does.

She is his favorite member of their twisty and cursed family — not that he will never admit it out loud, not to her, certainly not to Rebekah — but God, that girl could have a stake pointed at her big golden heart and she'd still be unable to lie. Caroline Forbes excels at so many things, but concealing her thoughts and feelings will never be one of them.

And that's why he's counting the minutes that will take her to walk inside his room and ask whatever the bloody hell she wants.

It was funny when he reached five minutes. A little less when he got to fifteen. Very annoying when he counted twenty. By the time the thirty hit, his patience was already five meters under the ground.

"Finally," Kol exclaims in relief as soon as she enters the room. "I was beginning to think that you'd forgot how a door works." he says, earning nothing but a dirty glare.

"Ha-ha, very funny," Caroline mocks, although he can see how she's trying to hide a little grin. "I need a favor."

Kol dramatically gasps, placing his hand on his chest. "You don't say! Color me impress-"

"Can you watch Eve?" Caroline cuts him out, not really feeling the need to listen to the rest of his mockery.

Kol stares at her for a minute, blinking repeatedly while moving his head a little to the side, like a confused puppy. "You waisted half an hour of your time just to ask me that?" He says, visibly impressed and annoyed.

Caroline huffs, fixing a loose curl behind her ear. "I'm sorry, it's just... I used to leave her at the camp with Mary, so she could go around and play with other kids all day and eat all the sweets she wants — even if they both deny it." She drawls around an eye-roll. "But since we got you all back, Eve has been reluctant to go there." She explains, looking at him with a mixture of exhaustion and...fondness.

Kol gives her a small, tight-lipped smile, with his eyes firm on his fidgeting hands.

He lied before. Caroline is on the podium, but she's not his number one of the family. No, that place has been taken by a little girl who made him realize that maybe Nik's mischievous grins, accompanied by a pair of dimples and witty eyes, are not so bad, after all.

Ever since they got back, his niece has been looking at him and at the rest of sibiling with a look full of curiosity and eagerness, like a kid who discovers that there are different types of chocolate and can't wait to taste them all.

The situation is still a bit unsteady and Kol is constantly busy doing something from dawn until dusk, but whenever he goes home to catch a moment and maybe grab a bag of B+, he always finds Eve with at least one of his siblings.

Of course, most of the time, it's Nik, and he really can't blame either of them. He would've never put his money on it, but Niklaus does make a great dad, although he knows most of the credits go to Caroline and Eve rather than his brother.

Still, if she's not with the brother with anger issues, then Eve is with the one with the commitment ones, making pancakes with more rainbow sprinkles than flour. They are good, and it always takes him a minute to debate if he should keep it to himself and not give Elijah his satisfaction, or if he should admit it to see a proud smile breaking through his niece's face.

If she's not making diabetes-azard-pancakes with that retired-looking-lawer, then Eve is with either Freya or Rebekah, playing with the light of the oldest's candles and giving opinions about some old fashion style with the youngest.

Kol knows what she's doing. She wants to compensate for the time they have lost together. It makes him joyful and bitter at the same time.

he snaps back to reality when Caroline starts to talk again. "Klaus and I have to go meet Bonnie to talk about some of the spells of the house, while Freya, Elijah and Rebekah are going on a journey to see another witch who thinks can find a way to make us immune to Marcel's venom." She rambles. "And besides, you two hadn't been together for a while. She misses you."

Kol feels a pang through his chest, looking at Caroline with guilty eyes. "I'm... sorry. I've never meant to make her feel ignored or disengaged, I had so many-"

"Kol," she says softly, showing him a comforting smile. "I know — Eve knows. I'm not blaming you, I just thought this would be an opportunity for you to both take a break and spend some time with her."

"I..." Kol gulps, trying to recollect himself. "Of course. You don't even have to ask, Caroline. You know I'd never say no."

Caroline sighs contently as she gently squeezes his hands as a form of gratitude. "Thank you, Kol."

──────

"You're thinking about it too much, Spawn. You're so focused on the words that you forget to actually put energy into it." Kol explains to her, looking down at the two leather cords.

How did he end up in this situation?

"Come on, Unc' Kol!" Eve whines. "You always say that your knowledge about magic is so vast that it would take you five lifetimes to write it all down!"

Kol keeps pretending to read the newspaper, a tactic that he had to muster to protect himself from his niece's puppy eyes. He has seen tons of them during his life, either on the face of his victims a moment before their last breath, or when his lovers tried to convince him to take their relationship to another level, deluded by the thought that they could change him, fix him. Ironically, both situations ended with Kol walking away from a corpse with a full stomach.

With Eve, though... He always finds himself incapable of not obliging. Kol really doesn't know how she does it. He's half convinced that Eve actually knows more magic than she lets them see, and she found a spell that helps her bewitch everyone with a single look.

"And I stand by that," Kol tells her. "But your parents are going to kill me if I teach you a new spell without their approval and supervision." He points out, and really, he can hardly recognize himself. He was never one to follow the rules — actually, more the reason why they were created, due to his wild and chaotic spirit. But now... He spent centuries trapped in a box, and so the last five years. He has no intention of going back in a coffin.

"Well, good thing you're immortal, then!" the little devil says, giving him a large, not-so-innocent smile.

Kol lowers the newspaper enough to show Eve his scowl. "You are hilarious, Spawn."

she huffs in defeat. "Please, Unc' Kol," she says in a sad voice, looking at him with those puppy eyes he tried so hard to avoid. "Just one?" She repeatedly flaps her eyelashes at him, just to give him the final blow.

Kol drums his fingers on the table near him for about a minute before sighting in resignation. "Fine, you win!"

Eve's anger brings him back to the present. "it's not my fault! These cords are broken!" she takes the latters in her firsts. "I told you we should've gone with the resurrection spell." She grumbles, giving him a pout.

Kol replies with an arched eyebrow, not falling for the cute scowl like he did for the puppy eyes. "And I told you I'm not teaching you any of that stuff until you're at least sixteen." he replies while taking the cords from her hands. "Besides, how do you think you will succeed doing a spell as complicated as the resurrection one, when you're having troubles with the basics?" He says to provoke her.

Usually, Eve is the type of person to always pick up a dare. Just like her mother, whenever someone tells her she can't do something, she will do everything in her power to prove them wrong. Most of them use this little trait of her for their own advantage — such as daring her to eat all the vegetables in less than fifteen minutes, for instance.

This time, though... Kol expected to receive a glare from Eve, followed by a performance of her rolling up her sleeves and getting ready to try again the spell; instead, she stares at him for a few seconds before looking down at the cords, her eyes brimes with tears.

Kol has been walking on this earth for longer than a millennium, but he never felt as much guilt as right now. "Sweetheart, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to sound harsh..." He coos as he covers her tiny face with his hands.

Eve sniffs while trying to take down a sob. "It's not fair! I'm trying so hard, Unc' Kol, I swear," she wispers the last words, and Kol is sure he heard his heart breaking. "But it doesn't matter how hard I try, I can't get it right! Is something wrong with me?" she asks with such a sadness in her tone that hits him worse than a white oak dagger.

"Spawn, there is nothing wrong you." He coos as he washes off a stained tear on her cheek. "Despite your uniqueness, you are still a young witch. I have met witches from all over the world, during different stages of their life, and trust me when I say that most of those of your age have troubles lighting up a candle. A linking spell is already hard for a seventeen years old witch, let alone for one who's seven."

Eve gently pulls away from him, rubbing her hands on her face to wash away the remaining of her breakdown. "Seven and a half." She mumbles, and Kol can't help but let out a low chuckle.

"Listen... let's take a break, mhm?" Kol says as he stands up. "We will get you a piece of cake, and then we will come back to chords. Deal?" He asks, giving her a little grin.

Eve is about to say yes, but she suddenly has a change of heart, narrowing her adorable eyes at him. "I want half a cake."

"You'll get diabetes, darling."

"Aunt Freya can cure me."

"It doesn't work like that."

"Fine. Then we'll call Aunt Bonnie, too."

"Won't make any difference."

"You just made me cry!" she protests, giving him a daring look. come on, she's saying, try to say no again.

Kol lets out an exhausted sigh. "Three pieces of cake. Take it or leave it."

His exasperation must be showing on his face, because Eve gives him a sympathetic little smile before nodding. "Deal."

He picks her up with the same ease he would use to lift up a feather, before walking in the kitchen while thinking about a way to blame on Freya — or Elijah, but that's plan B — the missing third of the cake.

──────

Kol felt something tugging down at his jacket just as he hunged up with Caroline. As soon as he turns around, he's welcomed by a very proud smile on Eve's face, accompanied by her little hands holding up a knot. "I did it! " she almost screams with excitement as she goes on her tiptoes to show him better her achievement. "I made the linking spell!"

Looking down at the jumpy young girl in front of him, so proud of herself and eager to see his reaction... it does some little tricks to his wicked heart. It's something completely new, Kol doesn't even know how to call it, or if there's even a name to such emotion. This thing inside his chest... it feels quite like pride, but it's not it. Kol knows that feeling all too well, maybe for the wrong reasons, but nonetheless, he's very familiar with it. This is something more. A mix of emotions that he has never felt since he turned into the beast he is today, more than a millennium ago.

He crunches down to Eve's eye level, giving her a knowing grin. "See? I told you, Spawn, you just needed to let it go. Feel the magic running through your veins, surrounding your body every single day." he tells her with a tone that is supposed to be comforting and soft, but judging from Eve's change of expression, he can tell she felt the bit of melancholy that accidentally slipped in.

"Unc' Kol..." She begins while looking down at the strong, knotted cords on her hands, as if she can't bear to look him directly in the eyes. "Do you think I'll lose it? The magic, the connection we have." She wispers the last sentence, almost like she's scared to jinx it.

"Of course not, Eve. Why would you?" Kol asks as he gently takes the tie from her grasp, an attempt to regain her attention back to his face.

"Mom lost it when she became a vampire. You did, too." she says as she switches her look back to him. "Will I lose it too, when I'll turn?"

That unknown, but not unwelcome, feeling he had before is suddenly replaced by something uglier, a storm of emotions he knows to heart, even though he has never shown it on the outside. Confusion, concern, panic, sadness. All of them are roaming free through all his body like it's a damn highway. Eve was talking about a deadly disease like it's just a band-aid a few seconds ago, giving it for granted. How did they come to this? how did she?

For the first time in his life, Kol finds himself at loss for words. Eve is seven, for God's sake. She's not supposed to think about this stuff. Hell, she's not even supposed to know. Despite his childish nature, Kol is not familiar with kids, but he's sure they're supposed to play with crayons and beg for candies before bedtime instead of worrying about the day they will die.

Eve, a child after her mother's heart, can't handle the silence very well, so she decides to take word after watching Kol's failed attempts to say something — anything. "I know what I am, Unc' Kol. I'm a tribid, which means I'm part witch, part werewolf, and part vampire. Now I'm just a witch, but eventually, I'll turn into the other two, too. I am fine with that — it's not like i can change what i am — I just... I don't want to lose this," she says as she lights up a candle near them with a flick of her fingers. "In the process." She concludes, looking at him like she's expecting something. Comfort, reassurance. A bunch of pretty, soft words that will put at rest her big heart.

It's not like Kol doesn't want to send away these demons that are roaming inside her thoughts, on the contrary. He just... refuse to lie to his niece.

Eve is the very definition of loophole. A child born from an original hybrid and a former witch who managed to cure herself and her mother while she was still in the womb. It's thanks to her if Caroline is still here with them, if those furries in flannels have the powers of a hybrid without the need to put an end to their pathetic life. You would expect that, with this background, she can survive everything. Always victorious, with zero defeats in her path. But the wicked truth is... nobody knows.

Eve has always been full of surprises, and Kol doubts she'll ever stop to leave them impressed, but that also means that they don't know how to protect her. Does she have a weak spot? All of the power she has, will it destroy her? do they have to keep living like this, in the shadows, to keep her safe?

He wants to cradle her between his arms, kissing her forhead, and telling her that she doesn't have to worry about anything. that nothing will ever be able to hurt her. that her magic will always be a constant. But he can't. Because he knows, deep down, that turning into a tribid — killing to be a werewolf, dying to be a vampire — is a matter of when, not of if. and the worst part is... a side of him is relived at the thought that she will turn into something eternal, immortal. And Kol is disgusted by himself.

What kind of person finds comfort into thinking that the sweetest girl to ever exist will turn into a walking corpse?

Kol's head is pounding. This is too much. it's not his place to talk about it, not before Nik and Caroline.

"Don't tell your mother, but I know where she hides the Froot loops," Kol says, a pathetic way to slip out of this conversation. It's lame, he knows, but his mind was still too occupied to put at ease those dark thoughts. "And if you ask nicely, I might give you more than one bowl." he offers as a little and playful grin, which doesn't quite reach his eyes, appears on his face.

Eve is silent for a few minutes with an expression he can't decipher,  no matter how hard he tries, before offering him an understanding smile. "Let's go, Unc' Kol." She says while taking his hand in hers.

He stands up and follows her to the kitchen, but his eyes are fixed on their jointed grip. Eve is actually holding three of his fingers, her little hands disappearing into his own. Kol wishes he could do the same with those worries that are festering Eve's mind. Just put them into his hand and make them... disappear.

[greer2301]

I’m sorry momma

Rhaenyra’s Daughter Reader

•Sad• •mentions of death• •suicidal ideation• •scuicid• •familial alienation• •manipulation• •MDNI!•

Draped in red she leant against the rail over looking the ground below as people walked around and kids played. Her blonde white hair loose and flowing with the breeze her eyes red and tear streaks stained her pale cheeks.

“The first born child of Rhaenyra Targaryen. Rightful heir to the Iron Throne, heir of Dragonstone, Princess of the Realm. Y/N Targaryen.” She whispered eyes closed tight as tears run down her face. “I am the sister of Jacerys, Lucerys and Joffrey Valeryon, Aegon the Third and Viserys the Second Targaryen. I am the Daughter of Daemon Targaryen, my blood is the blood of the Dragon” she whimpers as she hears the cries of the Dragons from the Pit as the vicious peasants attack them.

Aemond locked her in the keep, barring her door and ensuring nothing in there would kill her. “You’ll be the last black, I’ll be the last green and I will publicly behead you the day I become King” Aemond told her as he ordered the guards to Barr the door from the outside, that was a month ago. He killed her Dragon first, he fed her to Vhagar. He fed her mother the Queen to Sunfyre saying it was justice for Aegon but he had been the one to kill him. He sent assassins for Jace, killing him and his intended. Joffrey died trying to save the Dragons in the pit.

Still she held out hope, for as long as Daemon breathes they had a chance to save what is left of their family. With each death she felt a part of herself disappear, her heart aching as she remembered her mother’s embrace, Jace’s smile, Luke’s laugh, Joffery’s hugs before bed, Aegon’s scent as she held him close and Viserys’s baby kisses. “Dear Niece I bring news” Aemond said from beyond the door. “Look out your window” He had told her. Obeying she walked to the door and looked outside, mounted on a pike just below the balcony was her Fathers head. The scream the Princess released that day burned into the memories of every person that could hear it, the heart wrenching pain that she felt made their hearts weep.

And that’s how she remained on the balcony, in the position she has been in for hours wishing she could give her father the send off he deserved. She couldn’t do it anymore, she had no one left, her parents died, her brothers were slain, she knew nothing of Aegon or Viserys. “I am Y/N Targaryen, the blood of old Valyria. I ask that you accept this sacrifice, a pure body a pure mind, pure blood, I ask that you use my sacrifice to protect what is left of my blood. Aegon the younger, Viserys the second. Take my life for theirs and grant them protection, guide them to safety and give them the strength to defeat this kinslayer.” She finished as she drew symbols in her spilt blood on the cement of the balcony finishing with one over her heart.

With a clear mind, hearing the impending storm and the thunder booming like a pack of Dragons Roars lighting begins to flash as she feels specks of rain hit her skin. The blood dries black and she knows the sacrifice is sufficient, with one last breath she releases the railing and lets herself fall. “Fire and Blood” she whispers, her back hitting the ground and her neck snaps to the side as she releases what was left of her breath.

Mushroom would go on to write later that the Princesses sacrifice was the only thing that saved her line. Viserys and Aegon the younger were saved by some of the cities people as they rebelled against the Greens killing Aemond, due to the love the people had for their sister their good princess. The boys were raised by the new council that the people formed, until Viserys was of age to wed and begin his reign. “It is for my sisters sacrifice that we are here today, so I would like to introduce my child and heir Princess Y/N Targaryen second of her name” Viserys announced as he held the babe in front of the crowd who cheered.

After life

“I cannot believe you used blood magic!” Rhaenyra scolded as she watched the center of the table watching Viserys introduce his child. “It’s been 13 years mother, get over it” Y/N shot back as she sipped some wine.

“I still can’t believe that one-eyed cunt killed me” Daemon said as he sat across from them. “He killed me first” Luke chimed as he fiddled with his blade. “Can we stop? It’s been years, Viserys is King Aegon his Hand Dragons are not extinct and our bloodline lives on, let it go.” Y/N said as she switched what was shown on the table. “You killed yourself and used blood magic, I will not let that go” Rhaenyra chided.

[creativepawsworld]

Silence - Chapter 55

Pairing = Thomas Shelby x OC

Summary = Tommy and Ana's baby is born with the help of Polly and Esme. Will Tommy return to witness the birth?

Warnings = Language...Grammar...Child Birth... Breast Feeding...Bad words...Blood mentioned...FLUFF...Cuteness

Word Count = 1,671

Note = I was supposed to update over the weekend but any in the UK or Ireland will know we were hit with a storm and for me a pretty scary one. I never saw one like that before. Even were put on a tornado watch like what? In northern Ireland didn't even know we got them. Anyway, fluffy and light chapter for you all. I hope you enjoy💙

Holding my baby girl for the first time was surreal. Words couldn’t describe it. Polly had placed this tiny, little person on my chest. A person I was now responsible for. She has a perfect head of black hair and the brightest blue eyes I have ever seen. The same eyes as Tommy’s if not brighter.

I felt a tear sliding down my cheek as I held her, the pain I once felt – was gone. Replaced with nothing but hope and overwhelming love for this little life in my arms. I didn’t think it was possible to fall in love so quickly. But here I was.

“Hi my baby” I whispered stroking my daughter's little cheek. Her tiny mouth was opening and closing as if she was searching for something. Her little pink tongue darted out as if she had no control over it. It was the cutest thing I had ever seen.

“She wants some food Mama” Esme peered over my legs as she and Polly did whatever they could until the doctor arrived. The two of them cleaned me up as best they could with warm water and towels.

“What do I do?” I asked them cluelessly. I had seen Esme do it with her son when he was born but I didn’t know if there was some kind of technique or special way of doing it.

“Here let me show you” Esme came over moving my daughter slightly so she could lower my dress to expose my breasts. “Now we move her down here, putting her mouth near your nipple and if she is a good girl, she will latch” Esme smiled peering down at her niece, her smile growing at the sight.

“And if she doesn’t?” I asked nervously.

“Then we keep trying dear, don’t worry she will latch if she is hungry enough” Polly grinned stepping up and walking towards me to see her great niece. “She is beautiful..” She muttered as she watched her little mouth trying to find a food source.

“She’s not latching” I look up at the two more experienced women with an uncertain glance. Was I doing something wrong? Why wasn’t she latching? I couldn’t understand. Was I missing a trick to this?

“She can sense your worry, relax…breathe” Esme inhaled deeply with me before letting it out. “God she is Tommy’s double look at those eyes”

“She certainly is. Where is he?” Polly asked looking around at Esme. Pieces started to fall around her and into place when she realised he wasn’t there when she walked past the Shelby brothers on her way in.

“I have no idea. I left the races with you. Waited for him at the betting shop as we arranged, but only Arthur and John returned with a few men.” I explained looking up at Polly concerned. “They sent Scudboat and a few others out to find him, haven’t they returned?”

“Esme go check” Polly ordered, forcing a smile on her face. I knew it was so she didn’t worry me but I couldn’t help it. I felt my heart rate quicken while giving birth I was so focused on delivering my baby I didn’t factor in Tommy. As much as I loved him he was the furthest thing from my mind.

Until now.

“Why didn’t he return? Do you think something went wrong? You don’t think he’s dead do you?” I asked in a panic. I could feel my heart beating wildly in my chest, I wanted to try and move but was only too aware of the small life in my hands. He should be here. He had to be here. He should meet his daughter.

“Ana, Ana, breathe. It’s Tommy we are talking about” Polly tried to soothe, swiping away some loose hair from my face. “Focus on this little girl in your arms, he will be home soon. You wait and see. Now look, look” She smiled pointing down to my daughter.

During my worry and concern for Tommy, she had latched herself to my breast, guzzling down the milk as fast as her little mouth could take it. It was a truly mesmerising sight to behold.

“Where is she?” I heard a voice, a male voice. His voice. I didn’t have to wait long when I heard the heavy, thundering footsteps of his boots storming up the stairs towards his former bedroom, busting through the door.

The smile dropped from my face as I noticed his dishevelled look. The muddy stains all over his clothes. He was bleeding from the forehead, dirt covered his face as he approached the bed slowly.

“They're here?” He asked so quietly. It was like he believed they would disappear and spook them away if he spoke too loud.

“She is” I nodded with a small smile, my eyes still fixed on the blood on his head. “What happened to you?”

“Not important right now” Tommy shook his head, Polly had slipped from the room leaving the three of us alone together. “Look at that hair, did you say she?”

“Yes, it's a girl Tommy and she’s so small” I gushed dropping the conversation about his whereabouts almost instantly. Our daughter was here. We now had our family. We were parents. That's all that mattered.

"A girl…"Tommy whispered looking down at the baby in my arms, she was truly, tiny in comparison to us. “And she’s eating alright?” He asked sitting down next to me on the bed. Looking down at his daughter with a smile.

“Just latched before you came in” I nodded looking down at her once more. “It feels so weird, I…I can’t describe it” I tried to explain but words failed me. I didn’t know how to say what I wanted or how I felt as I wasn’t sure what it was, not completely.

“Has the doctor been yet?” Tommy asked, his index finger slowly coming over to touch her hand.

“Ah you wash those hands first Mr Shelby” I warned, with a hint of amusement but I was deadly serious. Thankfully Tommy just chuckled, leaving the room for a brief second to clean up.

Tommy returned to the bedroom moments later, he had gotten rid of his coat and jacket, and his shirt sleeves were now pushed up to his elbows. The dirt and blood that was around his face was gone, he had certainly cleaned himself up.

Retaking his position next to me on the bed, our daughter had stopped eating. Her blue eyes looked around her new surroundings as milk dripped down her chin and into her neck.

I lifted her slowly, careful of her fragile neck. She was still naked, apart from a small blanket. I hoped Polly or Esme would return with an outfit for her soon. I placed her carefully on my shoulder rubbing her back in case she had any wind.

Tommy reached out slowly caressing her back, an almost angelic look upon his face. It was the only way I could describe it. Once I felt she had brought up enough wind I smiled at Tommy.

“Do you want to hold her?” I asked softly taking her gently from my shoulder. Tommy at first seemed to be taken by surprise, his eyes widened and he looked unsure. Almost frightened.

Once he collected his thoughts and emotions, he held out his hands taking our little girl into his hands. She looked so tiny compared to his bulkier but muscular frame. In comparison to his hands, I felt like he could hold her with one. But if I ever saw him even attempt such a thing, I’d kill him.

Just as I handed her off to her father, the doctor knocked on the door quickly entering the room.

“Miss Alder, I’m Doctor Figure. You just had a baby yes?” Doctor Figure asked with a small as he looked at the newborn in Tommy’s hands. “May I, may I check the baby, Mr Shelby?”

Tommy instantly nodded handing her off to the doctor, standing next to him as he checked over his daughter. Doctor Figure rested her back on the bed as he went through all his checks. Checking her heartbeat, her movements, her vision, everything. Tommy watched him like a hawk, making sure he didn’t hurt her in any way. He was already so protective.

“Is she eating?” Doctor Figure asked trying to ignore the looming presence that was Thomas Shelby but I could tell he was struggling. A bead of sweat lingered on his right temple, next to his eyebrow.

“Yes, she has. I believe a good amount as well” I nodded covering my breasts that I had forgotten to cover after she finished eating.

“I’m happy with her, I’ll just check over yourself Miss Alder and allow you to get back to this celebration” Doctor Figure smiled giving the baby back to Tommy.

“Take her down to meet her uncles, I bet they can’t wait to meet her” I smiled at Tommy as I got comfortable on the bed. It was only now that my worry and fear for his safety and the unexpected birth of my daughter had started to settle, did I realise, I was exhausted.

“Are you sure?” Tommy asked eyeing the doctor once more.

“I’m sure Tommy, go introduce her and when I’m done here we can discuss some names for her. Maybe. If you wanted…” I trail off, biting my lip slightly waiting for his response.

“Absolutely” Tommy nodded, taking our daughter from the room to go and meet the rest of the family.

This was going to be a new start for us. Campbell was dead. We no longer had his threat looming over us. Yes, we still had the Italians to contend with but nothing more had come from it for months. I was starting to fall into a false sense of security but I couldn’t help it.

I had my own family now. I wanted to believe this was it. My happiness was finally starting.

Taglist

@shelbyteller @seleneshelby @forgottenpeakywriter @babayaga67 @sweetmilkshakeluminary @slutforcoffein @sydneyyyya @happysparklingshadows @margew76   @midnightmagpiemama  @pierre-gasssllyy  @duckybird101 @muhahaha303 @thenattitude  @dolllol2405

Anyone wanting on or off the tag list please just let me know💙

[bangtanhoneys]

Bangtan Baby: And the name is?

There were three months to go. 

That’s what the calendar kept saying as the days were ticked off by the boys each time they happened to appear near it. 

Three months to go until the Bangtan Baby would arrive. And said Bangtan Baby had no name yet, which is why it was constantly referred to as ‘bb’ or ‘she.’ A niece with six eagerly awaiting uncles, grandparents, extended family and millions of fans across the world who were counting down the time with them. 

Grace was currently stretched out, feet in Jin’s lap as he kneaded away the aches and pains while trying to keep the swelling down. They had just finished rehearsals, though there had been no dancing on Grace’s part or much singing but she had been there every day as if she was participating. 

No rehearsal had gone unmissed even with her being so pregnant. 

“British or Korean?” Jin suddenly asked, glancing over to where the boys were going over a few things then towards his partner. 

“Hmm?” she asked, eyes focusing from where they had just about to doze off. 

“Do you want her to be called a British or Korean name?” Jin clarified, grinning slightly as he dug his fingers in harder. 

“I don’t know. I kind of want to see what she looks like when she comes but at the same time, I’m getting fed up with calling her bb every minute,” Grace sighed then sighed even more when tattooed hands started massaging her shoulders. “You know, this I could get used to when I’m back.”

There was a typical Kookie giggle and another little giggle, a bit sweeter as a plate of fruit was balanced carefully on her pregnant stomach. 

“Thanks Jimin.”

“No problem noona. What discussion are we having?” he asked, sitting down next to his Seokjin-hyung and wrapping an arm loosely around broad shoulders.

“Whether we’re naming bb with a Korean or British name,” the father explained. 

“Have you got anything in particular in mind?” Namjoon asked, straddling one of the chairs he had brought over with phone in hand, pregnancy app at the ready. He had been tracking each day, each week, each month as it arrived. 

“I mean, my parents gave me my British name first then had it translated to Korean,” Grace threw in around a mouthful of grapes. “Grace then Hea. You all have Korean names, with no English equivalent. Seagull doesn’t count,” she added with a pointed finger to Taehyung as he joined the conversation. 

“Well she could be sunshine as she’ll bring a lot of light to our lives,” Hobi suggested then yelped when Yoongi gave him a slight shove. “You want her to be named after you.”

“Well she hasn’t got many choices,” Hobi threw back. “Hope would be a lovely name.”

“Borahae.”

“We purple you too,” came the reaction of seven others. 

“No,” Jungkook paused and then laughed. “No, Bora. Borahae. Like ARMY tells us and like we tell ARMY. She’s become ARMY’s number one fan without even being here. So why not Bora?”

Seokjin paused and glanced over to Grace. There was a single thought passed between them:

Perfect.

[zablife]

Lily

Tommy x Lily Shelby (OC)

Summary: Tommy attempts to deal with the aftermath of his wife and daughter's kidnapping.

Author's Note: Written for @runnning-outof-time 3K celebration Tales from the Flower Garden with the prompt "Promise you'll come back to me." Congratulations again, K!!

Warnings: heavy angst, mention of blood, child death, mention of murder, trauma, anxiety, catatonia, fighting, drinking

“Kill…kill…kill,” the words fell from her lips in haunting whispers. The only words she spoke since returning from the clutches of the Changretta family, covered in blood. There was so much it caked in her hair and under fingernails. She’d done terrible things, but exactly what transpired was locked inside her mind forever, the price she’d paid to return to Tommy far too great to be revealed. 

“You’re the only one who was there. What happened, Arthur?” Tommy begged to know. It was the question he’d asked day after day, but Arthur had been high on snow that night in the warehouse and the painful memory was erased in the white abyss. 

“Told ya, Tom, it was over when I got to her,” Arthur explained, reaching for the whiskey on the sideboard to stop the aching in his head. Tommy grabbed Arthur’s arm, stopping him with a dangerous glare.

“Have you lost your fucking mind, eh? My daughter’s dead and my wife’s a fucking ghost,” Tommy spat, shoving Arthur into the wall with all the force he could muster. “I won’t ask again. What do you remember?” he shouted, trembling with emotion.

Arthur struggled under Tommy’s iron like grip as he repeated Tommy’s words from the night his sister-in-law and niece were kidnapped. “Do it…do it or else they kill your daughter. Lily knew it was the only way.” 

“My fucking orders…” Tommy muttered as he released his brother from his grasp, stumbling backward as the guilt crushing his chest made it difficult to draw breath. 

“May God forgive ya,” Arthur said, looking at the ground. He wanted peace for his brother, but knew that was impossible. The vendetta Tommy and Luca had started was to blame for all the turmoil and nothing would change that now. 

Tommy rubbed a hand over his eyes as he exhaled a shaky breath. “You think anyone would forgive me now? Would you?” 

“Forgiveness is out of my hands,” Arthur said numbly, looking out toward the garden where Lily sat still as a statue. “It’s not for us to decide.”

Polly walked into the study at that moment, determined to pull Tommy from his work and back to his duties as a husband. “Tommy, you should go to her,” she urged, but he only stared out the window at his wife’s motionless profile. 

“And say what Pol?” he asked, shoulders slumped forward in defeat. 

“You don’t have to say anything. She just needs to know that you’re there,” she advised. It was the only thing anyone could do until Lily decided to return to them. However, she needed the support of her family.

The servants were doing most of the work caring for Lily because Tommy was too afraid to go near, worried he might inflict more damage on her tortured soul. As it was his wife screamed through the night and unless someone took her outdoors in the fresh air, she'd claw the walls until her fingers bled.

Tommy turned with a nod, acknowledging he’d heard his aunt’s words and shuffled toward the doorway to the gardens. Inhaling a deep breath at the threshold, he took a step onto the lush green grass and began a path toward his wife, squinting in the bright afternoon sunshine. He couldn’t deny the lovely warmth he felt on his face, but the aching dread in the pit of his stomach held off any pleasure he felt at the sensation. 

As he approached the bench where Lily sat, he hesitated momentarily. Although she hadn’t attempted it, she looked beautiful. Frances had dressed her like a china doll in a gown he'd chosen for her because she lacked the capacity to decide for herself. Her hair was fastened in a loose braid to keep her locks from her face and Tommy longed to stroke it, smelling the lavender bath salts she used.

God how he missed pressing her against his body, feeling her skin on his when he awoke, and wondered if she might feel the same. Since her return, she slept in a separate room. Tommy reminded himself it was best for her recovery. Her screams the first night she was home were proof she wanted nothing to do with him and why he had retreated instantly, so as not to make the pain worse. She was so fragile now, he worried one touch from him might break her.

Her back was ridged as he drew close, shoulders pulled backward tightly as though someone had forced her into position and her distant stare made him ill at the sight of her. She looked more like a waxwork than a human being. Tommy carefully took a seat next to her, leaving a small distance between them as he swallowed harshly. Did she even know he was there? he wondered. 

Then she stirred ever so slightly, hands raising from her sides to rest in her lap daintily and her head moved to glance over her shoulder. Her eyes didn’t fix on him, but Tommy knew she spied him from the corner of her eye and he cleared his throat to speak. The words would not come to him as his heart thundered in his chest. How could he apologize for what had happened? All that she had suffered because of him? 

A gentle breeze blew through the garden, lifting a few wisps of hair from her neck momentarily and Tommy caught the scent of her perfume mixed with the flowers from the garden. It was an intoxicating mix that reminded him of their days as newlyweds, caught up in the passion of early romance. They’d stroll the gardens after dinner and when the mood struck, he'd pull her into the flowerbeds, crushing the delicate petals as they made love. Lily chided Tommy for ruining her efforts at growing a proper garden, but secretly loved his affections. He smiled at the memory, but it was soon carried away as the breeze died down and he noticed his wife’s eyes staring back at him. 

“Lily? Darling, can you hear me?” he asked hopefully, slipping one large hand under both of hers. “I want to tell you something," he began hesitantly, tucking the loose strands of hair behind her ear. When she didn't flinch, he continued earnestly, "I know you weren’t meant to be with a man like me. This isn’t the life you deserved and there are things I regret, but nothing more than leaving you to defend our daughter by yourself. Whatever happened with the Changrettas, I hope you’ll be able to forgive me one day." He searched her eyes for understanding, a lump forming in his throat as he choked, "It’s all my fault and I’d do anything to have you back.” Tommy’s eyes welled with tears as he spoke the words he hadn’t said out of fear or pride, but thought a thousand times before.

Lily’s chin raised slightly, lower lip twitching as though she would begin speaking at any moment and Tommy held his breath, anxiously waiting for her reply. Squeezing her hands gently, he noticed a slight change in the brightness of her eyes and he ran his thumb across the back of her hand to encourage her. However, after several minutes, no sound came from her parted lips and he sighed in agonizing defeat. Making one last desperate plea, he begged, “I can’t live without you, Lily. Promise you’ll come back to me.”

Continue reading their story here- Windflowers.

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

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[theroyalbard]

**October 15th, 2016 - Spokane Washington**

I was staring at the sunlit streaked oak door with my ear buds in my ears and a double barrel shot gun in my hands. My sister was gonna be pissed if she came back from her camping trip to find silver buckshot imbedded into her daughters wall..I had Molly go out to the backyard with her brother to play while I mulled over how much I might be losing my mind.

Not over the idea that there was some horrible thing huddled next to my niece American girl dolls. I could hear the thing now, even as the song “Pocket full of sunshine” was blasting in my nock off AirPods. No I was loosing it over how stupid i was being going at this alone. If it was a vamp..I could probably get by, especially if it was young, weak, and stupid. But if I was staring down a kappa or even a blood fiend I might have some issues.

I had quit professional monster hunting 2 years ago and hadn’t planned on going back. But the universe loved throwing me curve balls so I guessed it was on me for trying.

I turned up the music in my headphones and kicked the door open with my Birkenstock sandals. Before me sat an older looking man..somewhere in his 70s dressed in a baseball cap and a Hawaiian shirt, he was missing a an arm and his skin was falling off in chunks. My shot gun barrel came up right as the undead launched itself at me, a Polly pocket car still grasped in its hands as the buckshot ripped through its head. It dropped as i backed up, my knees buckled as I hit mollys bed, sitting down to watch the creature struggling to get up, the silver making it hard for it to pull itself back together.

I dropped the shotgun and flipped my phone open to change the song. Sunlight wasn’t really going to work on this thing. I ended up settling on the song “Let it go” from the Frozen movie Molly liked so much. I personally liked the actress that sang this song in wicked the musical but the song did serve my needs. As the song played I tried to visualize myself shooting snow at the now wriggling corpse. Slowly the monsters body started to freeze and crack as it tried to move, casing the creature to remain still.

I thought about calling this in to local authorities but realized how much paperwork that was going to require..I sighed and flipped the phone contacts to the number that wouldn’t question how the zombie was frozen solid in a 76 degree room. And wouldn’t try and get on my case about leaving former profession when my “Musical talents” started to become a liability for my team.

“Hello? MHI? I have a report of a possible undead outbreak.”

[cosmiclove-heavenstruck]

My Not So Short Ramble About The Bear Season 3

(Spoilers: Ehhh, I did not really like it... I do like this frame though:)

I did kinda not so feel this season of The Bear, but let‘s start with what I liked: The Tina-centric episode was one of the best in my opinion (and directed by Ayo? Let's go, queen). She‘s a lovely character and to see her journey and how she got to The Beef and Mikey was very heartfelt and warming. It was also very nice to see Ebra happy again after he felt so out of place last season. And it‘s always good to have Olivia Coleman on my screen.

There were some fun moments. The Fak brothers are funny (to an extent), Richie and his daughter are super sweet, so there’s that. I like when all these characters clash, when things go wrong, when they scream at each other, when tensions get high and they need to achieve something. A show like this needs this energy.

Unfortunately, there is barely any engery this season.

This season was very slow. Look, I don‘t mind focusing on specific characters and getting to know them, but a whole episode dedicated to Sugar and her mom in the hospital because the baby‘s coming just for it to… not really go anywhere? Yes, some dialogue was really good but we don't leave the hospital room for 90% of the episode and they're just not strong enough to carry that. There wasn't even a big reunion, not even Carmy calling Sugar back, you know since she left pregnant and just didn‘t come back?? She could be in labor in Home Depot isle three, for all you know! Yeah, he‘s stressed and ill and all but that‘s his sister! Did he ever call her? Did he go see his niece? Why the fuck is it Sydney that cooks them food and brings it over and he isn‘t even shown talking to his sister once? (I mean, I know, Sdyney‘s great and she and Natalie are tight so that was sweet of her, but you get my point.) It just makes me so mad. There should have been a breakdown at the restaurant when they noticed! Hello, everybody loves Sugar! You'd be fucked without her. And y'all send her to get paper towels and don't give a flying fuck that she doesn't come back? This could have been a moment of peace between Richie and Carmy. The whole family should've been at the hospital. Instead it's... two Fak brothers. And even if they missed it, why couldn't Carmy go along with Syd to make up for his mistake? His love language is cooking and he and Sugar seemed so close the last two seasons so why never mention their relationship again?

While I mentioned I liked seeing Ebra happy again, I wish we'd gotten more of his character. In the beginning, it felt like they'd just sidelined him because he doesn't fit the high cuisine or whatever. Then he gets some support by some other guys but and yeah, he is happy and I love that, but it feels like the creators just wanted to get him out of the way even though the window business makes the only money in this hell house? He's fucking important to this success so treat him like it!

Montages and aesthetic shots of food cannot fill all the season (well, apparently, they can) because that‘s not storytelling. Yes, I want to see the food, but I don‘t need ten flashbacks and montages and slowmotion shots per episode. Speaking of flashbacks — what is it with Claire? Why are we doing this? Why would Carmy pine after her for months? She is so… bland, watered down — almost like a canvas for people who fancy JAW/Carmy to imagine themselves as Claire. It feels fanfiction-y, right? "You‘re a nurse and went to high school with Carmy but loose track of one another…" The Bear is capable of interesting, real-feeling characters so it‘s sad to see the screentime get wasted for her when all I want to see is what's happening in the restaurant.

What I mean is, this season was slow. Way too slow. There was so much time wasted on nothing that could‘ve been cut. Like the Natalie-goes-into-labor-episode and most of the first one as well, to be honest. The points that were supposed to come across to the viewer — how Carmy becomes this stressed out, shouting, cold chef high on perfectionism fighting with past desicions and getting a star for the restaurant, how that affected the whole staff, how it fucks up Sydney because he becomes so much like his former chef — they could have been better wrapped, a bit quicker paced. Have the funeral of the Ever more mid-season, have the surprise review consequences NOW and not just as flashes so I have to pause the episode to read anything/leave it hanging on a cliffhanger, have Syd fucking explode for once and tell Carmy how it is, how he is turning into the asshole he hates. Make it extra bad by having a conversation between the two earlier in the season on how bad it was for Carmy and not her "learning" about his past at the funeral dinner. Make her leave. Make him regret what he's done, make him feel what he's missing.

Really, I was yelling at Syd to leave through the last few episodes. Leave, get out, work at a different restaurant, find a new environment. Carmy doesn‘t need to have wallow in his feelings for minute on end on how he should apologize to Claire, he should apologize to Sydney and Richie and everyone he‘s stressing out so much. If Sydney only leaves by the end of season 4 I‘ll riot.

I don't even want to say I'm not hoping for anything to happen between Syd and Carmy, like I actively need them to get away from each other as of right now. But! I liked the call-back to the "best meal Sydney's ever had" and that that was the one time Carmy decided to go his own way and not follow the instructions of his chef. Which is why the theme of being haunted could've fit so well with them! It's just a joke in the beginning by the Faks, but then Sydney leaves The Bear and Carmy feels actually haunted by her. Doesn't even have to be romantic. The potential was there.

Some other smaller things: 1. The timing was so hard to tell. They should've worked with different lightnings or make it less confusing, but as it is now, I was constantly questioning myself when this took place. 2. I can't really complain about the casting of so many actual chefs because I just don't recognize them (oops, sorry) but while I liked to see the different dynamics between them and Carmy at least, it feels so rude to all the POC characters in the kitchen working their asses off and not getting any plot lines. 3. Again, again nothing really happens. I said it up there somewhere, if you'd cut the montages and flashbacks and filler stuff, how much plot are you really left with? When I think of all the important points that happened, they should not take ten episodes to show.

This could've been beautiful. But now it's just the bad kind of messy.

[byllsbytch]

Baking Baddies PT 1

BTW I'm an artist - commissions are open for cartoon cake drawings hit me up😜

Today was Nikki’s, my niece, 4th birthday. My little bub was growing way too fast.

I woke up and went to go make me and Tom a coffee. He was still asleep but by the time he woke up the coffee wouldn’t be too hot. I laid back in bed next to Tom. Staring at the way his chest rose and fell. Looking so peaceful.

Finally, I grabbed my phone to ring my sister. After a bit of ringing she finally picked up and my little sweetheart was on the otherside of the phone enjoying her pancakes.

“Happy Birthday Bub!” I exclaimed.

She looked at me tilting her head and flashing me her cheeky grin.

“Good morning Arty!”

“and pancakes for breakfast, what a very lucky girl!”

“Yuh huh! Look! Strawberry!” She pointed her minnie mouse fork at me.

“Yummy!” I replied, trying not to wake up Tom next to me. Which failed.

“Are you going to say thank you for your birthday wishes?” Asked my sister.

“Tank yew!” She yelled, causing tom to shift besides me.

He rustled in the sheets then shuffled behind me, spooning me.

Tom’s head appeared over my shoulder as he looked into the camera.

“Happy Happy Birthday Nikki!” Tom chirped.

Nikki’s attention was fixated on the TV show playing in the background.

“Hey, Bum Bum!” Tom called, turning Nikki’s head to the phone as she cackled.

“I said Happy Birthday Gorgeous!”

“Tank yew Uncle Tommy”

“Whoa! You must be a big girl now, you’re using your fork!” He joked.

“Show me what you got Hun.” I said to her and she immediatey got up, her little footsteps echoing out the speaker.

Tom planted kisses on my cheek and neck while we waited for Nikki to come back. His hand on my lower back.

After sometime she finally came back wearing fairy wings and clomping in princess heels a pile of toys in her arms.

Me and Tom chuckled to ourselves.

“Look! You give them outfits!” Nikki said.

She showed us a metal tray with princesses on it and they had different magnetic clothes to stick on them.

“Woah! Thats so cool!”

“Yeah! I also got puzzles, teddies, colour books and a tea pot!"

I sat with a surprised expression. While Toms mouth was open.

“Wow! I think we gotta have a tea party Nik with you new tea set." Tom said.

“Show them your favourite toy Nik.” My sister whispered.

She ran off again and was back instantly with a pink pram and little baby doll in it.

“Look my baby!” She yelled, “Her name Minnie!”

“Nawe like Minnie Mouse.”

“Yeah, you know!”

We all lost her attention again as she sat shoving the dolls dummy into her mouth then back in to the dolls mouth.

My sister turned the phone to herself.

“So, since you guys are the best Arty and Uncle Tommy, could you guys please buy a cake mix and make it for Nik’s party?”

“Shit, yeah of course. What happened to the baker?”

“He got his dates wrong and hasn’t even started making the cake. But I’d appreciate it if you could just get one thing off my mind while I finish trying to set up for the party soon.”

“Yeah sounds good, what a dick though, how much was he charging?”

“Like $120”

“Yeah nah, I’d be getting my deposit back and telling him to kiss it.”

“Well, that’s the least of my problems at the moment Y/N.”

“Oh, your right. Me and Tom will get this cake ready then we’ll still head over as early as we can to see the princess and give her her presents.”

“Awesome, well I just need to put up the decorations and obviously do the balloons when you guys get here. Start cooking food…” She started mumbling to herself her checklist.

“SHIT!” She yelled.

“What’s up?”

“I HAVEN’T EVEN STARTED ON THE PARTY BAGS!”

“It’s fine! I’ll go get some lollies and toys to put in the bags and me and Y/N will make them too.” Tom stood in.

“Oh my gosh! Life savers, I have no clue where my head’s gone. I think I’m just loosing it because my baby isn’t a baby anymore. Well I’ll let you guys go, got heaps to do.”

She quickly hung up before we could speak and I put my phone back on charge. Turning to face Tom.

“Good morning babe.” I smiled, kissing him on his forehead, nose, lips then chin - a daily ritual.

“Good Morning Schönheit (beauty)” He hummed.

We laid in an embrace before I broke it and handed his coffee.

“Mmm, perfect.” He chimed.

I walked to the kitchen and began to get all the ingredients

[autumn-foxfire]

The Spider Mansion Case! Probably one of the more sadder cases around due to why it happened T-T

Heiji, do you like Kazuha? Why are you angry she wants to spend time with you?

Shinichi is so going to be used to sitting on people's laps when he's got his original body back. He's going to climb into a car and try and sit on people's laps and won't even realise it's wrong. Kaito would enjoy it though XD Also being held around the waist by people.

I know they're whispering and people won't actually hear them but due to the fact that they keep the volume at the same level as normal speaking, it's quite funny to imagine everyone hearing the head of the house say that they might be the ones who murdered the brother.

Having no social skills is a detective thing, it seems XD

"The kid is jealous," Or maybe, Kazuha, you are in a new place and there have been mutliple deaths that you've been sent to investigate so giving her a phone would actually be a smart idea. Gosho, do you not know how humans work? I'm genuinely asking? Shinichi doesn't have to get jealous over everything. I'd say have you not heard a thing about trust but we know Shinichi doesn't trust Ran <.<

Let's have the teenager use the axe to open the door!

Hey, better assistant than a hindrance Shinichi!

A murderer is loose in the mansion! What better thing to do than look for something you've lost! Ran and Kazuha aren't stupid, Gosho, so why are you making them stupid. Oh, because Shinichi bought it her <.< Of course.

PLEASE DO TAKE HER AWAY FROM SHINICHI, KAZUHA. SHE REALLY NEEDS TO BE AND GIVEN A NICE RELATIONSHIP WITH A PERSON WHO ACTUALLY TRUSTS HER. PREFERABLY WITH A WOMEN BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THAT'S WHAT SHE ACTUALLY LIKES.

Also stupid shit like this wouldn't happen <.<

A murder is loose and we don't know who it is! Lets just leave my friend alone in the rain! Nothing bad can happen!

Shinichi has such sharp hearing, it's so weird they also want him to be tone deaf too. They are so inconsistent with this. He knows music until he doesn't! He's tone deaf but he's also got the sharpest hearing out of he cast! Just say he can't sing Gosho (A gag we know was born because Conan is voiced by a singer).

Also, Ran, why didn't you INFORM ANYONE, instead of crying in the goddamn garage. I usually avoid insulting Ran but she was so stupid it genuinely pisses me off. She did get into this horrible situation but it wasn't just your fault Ran, Kazuha was just as fucking stupid and I am angry about it. Let's dumb down the girls so the boys can be affected by there terrible decisions for drama! The misogyny is so goddamn blatant it makes me furious.

Boys, this is called sexual assault. I don't care if it's for evidence, you don't just try and strip a person like that. It's not funny either Gosho (sorry I'm already in a mood due to the previous writing in this case).

To amuse myself, I love it when they cut to Conan talking in Kogoro's voice and this grizzled voice comes out of a seven year old. Yes, he's been smoking since he was born. His father taught him in Hawaii.

"Unusually upset," no, Shinichi, people can be close to their nieces and nephews and will burst into tears at funerals. That's kind of normal.

Well, that mother has egg on her face, doesn't she.

Shinichi not wanting Heiji to tell Robert the truth due to the man's own fragile sense of mind... Knowing that it could lead to a situation that would end in his death, but Heiji being too mad at his lack of care towards others making him say it... While they are similar, they are different too.

[eponastory]

Checkmate

A Vergil short story.

Picture credit goes to : Drusoona

because I love this mod.

Takes place in the Pieces of Me universe, two years post DMC5.

I had the idea while watching a movie.

Evan beats Vergil at a game of chess, and he reflects on how things have changed.

It was a stalemate.

Both opponents were evenly matched.

This was way more than Vergil bargained for when he challenged his niece to a game of chess. Evan was a far better opponent than Dante ever was, which Vergil contributed to her stellar performance in education. The young woman often bragged about how she was an A plus student. That and college was teaching her how to be adept at playing fools. Needless to say, he was actually quite proud of how far the apple fell from the tree on this one.

He watched as she slowly smirked when she moved her white king right up to his black one.

"Checkmate." She said slowly.

To be fair, it was a very bloody match.

"Alright, fine." He knocked his king over with his finger. "You win this time." Even though he was playing the sore looser, he was incredibly proud. Not many people had the smarts to beat him at his own game. All of them were in the same room. "But next time..."

"I know." Evan smiled. "You won't loose to me." To be fair, he said that every match.

"You don't go easy on me at all." Not that he expected her to. He only went easy on her the first time they ever played a year ago. Ever since then, she had won against him quite a few times, but he was ahead of her by a considerable margin. "I appreciate that."

"What can I say? I'm just that honest." She began to put the pieces back on the board. "Besides, we both know that you'd kick my ass in actual combat every time."

"Of course, but I don't have the heart to hurt you." How could he when she had battled her way through hell to find Dante. She was much braver than she let on. "Besides, one always has to know when to give in." Vergil placed his pieces back on the board before standing up.

"Hey, what are you two blabbering on about now?" Dante walked over to them with a yawn. It was obvious that he had been sleeping through the entire match. "Who won?"

"Your daughter." Vergil stood up from the couch while Evan stayed seated on the floor with her legs crossed. "Proof once again that she is smarter than you."

"I never said she wasn't." Dante shrugged. Arguing had no point anymore. "Anyway, I'm about to head out for some grub. Want to go?"

"You paying, Dad?" Evan looked up at him.

"No, I was planning to dine and dash." Dante put on a serious face. "Of course I'm paying." He rolled his eyes as he held a hand out to her.

"That's good, because I'm a broke college student." She said grabbing his hand and letting him help her up.

"If you need money, all you have to do is ask, Evan." Vergil spoke up. He would absolutely give her money if she needed it. She worked hard to get her education, which was important to her.

"I'll keep that in mind." She gave him a happy smile. Obviously her life was happier now that things had changed so much. For the better. "Besides, Dad is pretty good at sending money when he gets a good job."

Well, at least between he and Dante, Evan would not go without. Nero tended to do things on his own, so he often rejected any help offered. Of course, that could also be because there was still some hurdles to leap over in their relationship. It was clear to Vergil that he would never have the relationship with Nero that Dante and his daughter shared. That closeness only came with acceptance and Nero was still not there yet.

With Evan around, she had softened that steel heart of his. Even if it meant sacrificing a knight or a queen for a chance to win against her.

He smiled as she and Dante resumed their normal father-daughter banter. It did feel good knowing both of them were happy, even if he was not quite there yet.

Maybe a game of chess with Nero could clear the air.

That was a thought.

[talentforlying]

@asteritm: i was always going to come home again. — GARDEN OF EARTHLY BODIES STARTERS

the left side of his platitudinal smile feels strange, crumpling around the creased edges of scar tissue instead of gliding up smooth and effortless like it always had before. he traces it there with his thumb, pretending to scratch an itch, just to feel the crack in the mask for what it is.

' i know. left you a light on, didn't i? '

and stared into its baleful yellow bulb some nights until all of the spots seared into his photoreceptors only disappeared if he slept; even then, not entirely. funny, that — like all the things she'd left behind had managed to absorb enough of her wildfire ways to scorch him on her behalf. ( all the things but him. ) god knows he'd been grateful for the burn; for some way to feel her, still. to pretend like he was still capable of hoping, stupidly, when the reality was that, after the first appreciable eternity spent cursing at a voicemail, he only ever kept clicking on the blasted lights out of habit.

i'm glad you left when you did. that would be cruelly honest enough to say without getting specifically cutting, wouldn't it? fuck knows she already feels GUILTY about it, the way she looks at him sometimes; and the hell of it is that she shouldn't. they both knew each other's natures long before her truer one started bubbling to the surface. someone was always going to leave. someone was always getting left.

i'm glad you weren't caught up in the crossfire, or at my side to share the blame.

i'm glad i didn't have to choose between you and chas, you and my niece, you and my sister, 'cos i don't know what the fuck i would've done.

i'm glad you went and did what you had to, even though it fucking hurt, hurts, is hurting.

i'm gladder than i am mad, and fuck if that don't feel like weakness.

( i'd be even fucking gladder if i believed you right now. )

' . . . 'ey, budge up. c'mere. ' they're hip-to-hip on her couch, her head on his shoulder and his head on hers, but it doesn't feel nearly close enough for comfort, suddenly; not with her admission driving a cold, anticipatory spike of pre-fight adrenaline through the center of his rabbit-thumping heart. he pries his hands loose from their rigid, spindly tangle in his lap to wind both arms around her and pull her in tight, turning to press a kiss into her hair. pretending not to flinch when he locks eyes with his reflection in the kitchen beyond: a hollow-eyed scarecrow staring blankly back from the glossy surface of the microwave, a face that looks so much less like his father's now that it's hard to reconcile it as his.

( the whole microwave's gone when he blinks, because this bloody house . . . because maybe this bloody house is alright, after all. )

' don't think about it. ' he means it to be light and airy, careless and thrown away — instead, it's a heavy murmur, a confidential whisper in her ear. secret magic words, to a spell only the two of them can cast. ' it's over, yeah? you're back. we're good. we can leave it. '

leave it. focus on the tremoring glide of a calloused thumb stroking up and down her arm: the simplest, easiest touch he's had in months, because the warmth of her is slowly bringing feeling back to fingertips that have been numb ever since the infecting sense-memory of nergal's tiny claws, laid flat over his sister's un-beating heart, had bled into his reality like the mind-numbing poison it was meant to be.

don't think about it. focus on the errant cloud of curls tickling his nose. don't look down, because the shirt that she's wearing looks and feels a lot like the one he'd balled up absently in his hands to make a pillow, late at night in the tunnels of the underground: certain that it meant protection, without a single fucking clue as to why. knowing, rationally, that it wouldn't make a difference; knowing that whoever wore it, once, isn't any less gone for all his wishing they WEREN'T.

you were gone.

don't think about it. it brushes up against the back of his mind, feather-soft — settling in, not slipping out. like her body curled into his. like a whisper in the walls. just hold her close.

and he does. because she's here, now. because he can.