#Rose is up more so than any of my other muses right now...

[heartzfromel]

hey! i’ve got a request for youuu. totally optional :)

Lilia x reader with a transfiguration witch gf who pulls her out of her “visions” when they become too much through touch. they’re traveling the road with the coven, but the coven doesn’t know they’re dating and thinks they’re just friends. cut to surprise and shock when reader pulls Lilia out of a particular rough “vision” with a kiss.

i’ve been thinking of writing this for a while, and honestly might still do it, but for now it’s just an idea and i would love to see your take on it!!

-kenzie 💛

omg thank u sm for this request this is such a cute idea 💕💕

a/n; i feel like i haven’t written her right but bare w me its my first lilia fic

taglist; @multixfan @yourbasicqueerie @angeliccss @walkethisway @audreylise @confuseuniverse @babythere @kenzie-floops @delusionaforolderwomen @ex-t3rr3strial

tags; established relationship, i tried to write lilia’s visions like in the show but more dramatic but idk if i like it, kissing, flirting, agatha is a menace to society, alice wu gulliver third wheeling

snap out of it || lillia calderu x fem!witch!reader

they had started coming back again a few days before you and lilia had joined agatha harkness’ coven. lilia’s visions hadn’t been this erratic for a long, long time, and it was starting to worry you.

you’d been dating lilia only a few months, but you’d known each other for centuries. you met her as she was fleeing sicily and ever since then your lives had become entangled with one another’s, sometimes seeing each other every day for five years at a time, and then not seeing each other again for a decade. your attraction to lilia had always been known to you, but you’d never made a move, for 4 centuries you had longed for her, and maybe she’d done the same with you. the two of you had this sort of unspoken regret, for not being brave enough sooner, but you’d decided that you were just glad that you finally had her now.

the last time lilia had had visions that distressed her as much as this was almost a hundred years ago. luckily, you’d been there both times, and so you knew how to jolt her out of it. for most visions, it just had to be a simple brush of your fingertips against her skin, but it changed depending on the vision. funnily enough, you were the only one who could could get her to snap out of it, but she didn’t seem to mind.

right now, you were sat on her kitchen counter, messing with a rose quartz pendulum, belonging to your girlfriend. lilia was out the front of the shop, and you stayed away. lilia did most of the work at the front, (doing readings, talking to customers, things like that), whilst you preferred to unpack orders to be taken into the store and stink up your girlfriend’s kitchen with cinnamon insence, which drove her up the wall constantly as she hated the smell, she was always getting on at you for it, but you loved it when she was all annoyed at you because she couldn’t stay serious for more than five minutes.

you’d just lit a new stick when lilia barged into the room, frustration painting her features. you jumped to blow it out, tossing it to the side as if nothing happened.

“hey, lils what’s wro-“ you began, but your words were interrupted when your eyes trailed over to the doorframe, spotting one agatha harkness leaning against it, a permanent smirk etched on her mouth, followed by an awkward looking boy, couldn’t even have been seventeen, smiling and waving. you rolled your eyes.

“oh gods” you mumbled.

turns out, agatha wanted the two of you to join her and her coven on the witches road.

“we are in desperate need of a divination witch, you know. and transfiguration always comes in handy.” she mused, trying to persuade you.

“no witch in her right mind is going to join agatha harkness’ coven.” lilia argued, clearly not having any of this.

“not looking for right-minded witches, as it just so happens…” agatha smirked, turning to face the boy behind her who mirrored her expression.

“no.” you answered, taking your eyes off of the pendulum in your hand and turning to face her.

“why not?” she asked.

“because you’re the reason why there are so many misconceptions about us.” you answered, getting frustrated now.

“moi?” she clutched her chest, feigning innocence.

“you’re the reason people thing we poison apples, and steal children, and eat babies!” lilia listed, the disgust evident in her voice.

“babies are delicious.” agatha grinned, she knew she was getting lilia riled up.

now you, for one, didn’t believe in the road, and you didn’t think that lilia really did either, but agatha was really convincing, so you ended up on the sofa in her sitting room, the awkward boy from before smiling at you again, and lilia passing you some sort of food item on a skewer. soon enough you were all singing the ballad in agatha’s admittedly creepy basement.

after you’d done, the teenage boy from before came running down the stairs, yelling for agatha. you wondered how they knew each other, but there wasnt too much time left to think as you’d been informed that the salem seven, whoever they were, were after the lot of you.

her visions got worse once you’d reached the first trial. you and agatha had been sent off to find ingredients for an antidote for a poison, but lilia had insisted she joined you because she didn’t trust agatha. it happened upstairs, whilst you and agatha rummaged through the potions witch, jen’s, skincare, she seemed to freeze, before simply yelling “try to save agatha!”

you grabbed her arm and rubbed it soothingly to break her out of it quickly, but it didn’t stop agatha from taking notice, but she didn’t say too much on the matter.

there were a few more as you walked the road to your next trial, but lilia was quieter than the first one, she hadn’t yelled outwith a trial. you understood that the road was likely messing with her, so you linked your arm with hers to help keep the visions at bay as the coven ventured further down the road.

with the unfortunate passing of mrs davis in the last trial, the coven were now in desperate need of a green witch, and so the coven had decided to summon a new one, a terrifyingly beautiful witch crawling out from underground. she seemed to have a history with agatha, but the coven left it alone.

it was during the second trial that lilia had that vision. the coven explored the 70s inspired room that you had been transported to as agatha admired herself in the mirror as per usual. you were looking at various paintings with alice and your girlfriend, when she started to spout nonsense, which scared you a little bit.

“which is it, am i wispy or am i kooky?” she babbled.

“uh… both?” alice answered, glancing at you in confusion. lilia just looked confused.

“what?” she asked, tone suddenly dripping with her usual sass.

you just looked at her, a slight smile on your face as your hand rubbed her arm. alice had seemed to clock the endearment in your eyes as she looked away, clearly trying not to giggle whilst simultaneously attempting to get jen’s attention, and fsiling miserably.

“you look good, by the way doll.” she smirked, one hand snaking around your bare waist. you looked up at her, leaning your head on her shoulder.

“you don’t look too bad yourself.” you giggled, taking her in properly. she really suited that lipstick.

your moment was interrupted by alice clearing her throat awkwardly.

you looked at her, mortified, “oh i’m so sorry-“

she stopped you, giggling. “don’t. i think it’s cute.” she grinned, before sauntering off to find the rest of the coven.

your eyes followed her as she made her way over to jen, and you smirked knowingly to yourself as alice messed with her hair before going to talk to her.

you were pulled from your thoughts as you heard lilia mumbling to herself again, quickly turning to face her, grabbing her arms, rubbing them both soothingly.

“lilia, sweetheart, you okay?” you asked, having to raise your voice as she began to yell, becoming more distressed by the second.

you reached your hands up, so that they now cupped her face.

“lils.” you yelled. still no answer. you didn’t know what to do, she wouldn’t stop screaming. normally, you’d just do this and she’d be right back from wherever she was, but this time you tried with no avail. the pair of you were now gathering concerned stares from the rest of the coven.

you kept your hands on her face as she seemed to quieten down, but you could tell that she was still in a vision.

if only you could get her to snap out of it.

and that’s when it hit you. pulling her face close, you closed the gap between you, pressing your lips to hers. within seconds her hands were on your waist, lips moving in sync with yours as she pulled you closer.

you broke the gap between you and lilia placed her forehead against yours. she let out a giggly breath and then mumbled into your ear, “i hated that the last time” referring back to a few weeks ago when she’d had another vision similar to that, but had been broken out of it more easily.

“thank you baby.” she grinned, placing her hands on your face and pulling you forward for one more quick peck on the lips.

it was then that jennifer kale cleared her throat, causing you to turn around to face the coven, who all failed miserably at holding in their laughter at the sight of you after your little pda session with your girlfriend. lilia was literally glowing whereas you looked slightly disheveled and yoir face was covered in smudged red lipstick that you didn’t even have on. you couldn’t understand how lilia’s makeup had managed to stay pristine when her lipstick covered half of your face, but she had seemed to find it hilarious.

“so how long’s this been going on?” agatha asked, and for some reason you didn’t really know what to answer. you had only been official with lilia for a short while, but she’s been your soulmate since the day you first met, you knew that, and so did she.

“i’d say 400 years, give or take” lilia answered for you, causing you to grin, you were so glad that she was finally your girlfriend, but you only wished you’d been brave enough sooner.

[momolady]

Luzas the Orc Lich: Part Two

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4.7k words - Female Reader x Male Monster -Treasure Hunt - Bold Lead - Pirates - Give me your heart-

“He’s a lich, Captain, I want to know if you understand what that means.” Tog spoke slowly and purposefully, enunciating each word with a crisp, loud clarity

“He’s dead or something.” You waved off one of the crew unloading things from the ship.

Tog stared at you with a bleak, almost distraught expression. “Not just dead, Captain, he is undead. By his own hand. He is so powerful in his magic that he is able to live on without life! He is more powerful than any storm, any force of nature we have ever come across or will ever come across in our entire lives.”

You shrugged, watching the crew haul your things into the courtyard. “Good for him.”

“Not good for him!” Tog shouted. She threw her hand out over the side of the boat. “He transported our entire ship into his moat!”

“He said he'd put it back.” You hopped off the boat and onto the drawbridge. “Now everyone! I know this may seem strange for a while but we are on the threshold of the greatest treasure we’ve ever found! Behave and we all come out of this richer than any Rakshasa royal in the capital!”

Weak cheers rang out, but you knew they’d see the light once they saw what Luzas had promised all of you.

You went back inside the palace, following the way the tiles on the floor moved until you came into Luzas’ study. “Everything is going according to plan, sir. Once everyone is settled in their quarters you can give them all their roles within the household.”

Luzas looked you up and down, moving aside the books floating around him in a circle. “You seem all too excited for this.”

“Let’s just say I saw the light.”

“And by light, you mean the treasure I promised?” Luzas chuckled. “You’re an easy woman to please.”

You shook your head. “Not really. But your offer for the crew was too good to pass up.” You walked past him to the window, looking out to see Tog instructing the crew.

Luzas came up beside you looking out over the scene as well. He turned slightly and his hand reached out, touching your hair. You glanced up at him, touching the same lock he caressed. 

“What is it?” You asked.

Luzas took his hand back. “You have it down.”

“Oh right.” You ran your fingers through your hair as best you could. “I usually keep it braided up.” You leaned back out the window as a breeze picked up. Yellow flower blossoms danced upon the breeze.

“It’s been a while since this place had life in it,” Luzas changed his musings. 

That reminded you of Tog’s warning. “Aren’t you alive?” You rose back up to face him.

Luzas let out a low chuckle. “Yes and no. I am neither but I am also both at the same time.”

You furrowed your brow at him.

“Confusing, I know.” He sighed and held out his hands, both sinewy and bone at the same glance. “I traded both my life and death for this form.”

“How?” You leaned in from curiosity. “Was it a power trip thing?”

Lowering his head, Luzas averted his eyes from you. “You see-”

There were shouts from the hallway and the sound of something breaking. You scoffed, turning yourself away from the conversation. “I’ll go see what they’re up to,” you grunted.

You didn’t get much of a chance to return to that conversation. As the day went on, the crew was moved into the palace, and later on, they were all given jobs within the palace. Some worked as maids or butlers, others were in charge of the kitchen, others laundry duties.

“I didn’t become a pirate to clean,” a crewmate snarled as you walked by.

“It’s only for a short while,” you hushed them. “Enjoy it, because this means more than you will ever know.”

“But what does that mean, Captain?” 

“It’ll take too long for me to explain,” you replied. “I have to go get ready for supper.” You continued walking on. You knew the crew wasn’t going to enjoy this new lot in life very much, but hey, at least it would only be long enough until Luzas performed the spell to take your heart. Surely it wouldn’t be that long. You knew each day they would become more and more settled, probably even to the point they would complain when you all had to leave.

It was a few days into your stay when you had a bit of ease around the place. The crew seemed to be doing just as you expected, settling, and you were going along with Luzas’ requests. Anything to help get yourself closer to that amazing promise of his.

“Okay, so you have been holding out on me,” you told him.

Luzas gave you a look. “How so?”

You smiled, stepping in closer to his side. “Are you really the first orc king?” Leaning in, you were almost flush against his side. “Go ahead, you can tell me.”

Luzas didn’t really move away. “Not exactly,” he replied. “I am not the first orc king, there were many before me. I was simply the first orc king over men.”

“So you are!” You gasped with excitement.

Luzas sighed and moved away. “You’re not getting the distinction, are you?” He walked forward, going towards the door.

“Does it matter?” You followed along beside him.

Outside it was a walled off garden, or it must have once been. It was all earth and stone. But as you and Luzas walked forward, it began to bloom full of yellow flowers, those creeping vines formed around dead tree stumps to grow.

“I was the first orc to rule over men, it feels like a rather large distinction to me.” Luzas murmured quietly as he walked forward. “I fought hard and won the role fairly. Yet people want to make this distinction as if I were not a genuine ruler.”

“Well, what sort of ruler were you?” You walked on ahead, inspecting the flowers to see if they were real.

“That is not something I can answer,” he sighed. “My memory is clouded and rose colored. Much like you to your crew, only they can truly make claims to what sort of leader you are.”

You plucked a flower, noting it felt real in your hand. “Well, that sounds like a proper king thing to say. Bad kings do not think if they are good or not, only that they are the king.” You offered the flower to Luzas. 

He smiles at the offer and takes it. “Maybe. But as I said, I see my past in a rose colored light.” He took the flower, adorning his cloak with it. “But that world is long gone. Those people have long since passed into another realm. They fill the beneath.”

Your eyes widened. “The beneath? What’s that?”

Luzas’s eyes widened and he looked at you as though you had grown a second head. “You’ve not heard of the beneath?”

You shook your head.

He scoffed. “So many things have been forgotten since my time.”

You tilted your head side to side. “It is how time works.”

Luzas scoffed and sat down in the garden. “I suppose.”

You sat down beside him, stretching out your legs and letting out a heavy, relaxed sigh. You leaned back, tilting your neck so you could see up into the sky and through the yellow petals of the vines. “My mother liked things that were rare. Jewels. Clothes. Stories. It was her whole thing to have a collection that no one else had. This included these big old books. Lots of which she took from monks and scholars who kept to themselves, kept their libraries safe. That’s how she found stories about you.”

“I see,” he murmured.

“Do you wanna know what they said?” You asked.

He shook his head slowly. “Not particularly.”

“Well, things were good, until they weren’t.” You stood up from your seat and looked back at Luzas. Even sitting, he was taller than you. “I’m going to catch up with Tog. If you should need me-”

“No, go,” Luzas sighed. “Take care of your own.”

You purse your lips. “Well, that includes you now, too.” You turned and walked back inside, wondering if that would mean anything to him at all.

Sometime later, the colors around the island were beginning to change, and night came on much sooner than expected. It didn’t feel like it should be a changing of seasons, but apparently it was. The once lush green around the island was turning golden and red. Everything matched the citrine and yellow pearls that Luzas kept in his home.

“It’ll be getting cold,” Tog yawned over tea. 

“Suppose we should start chopping lumber?” You asked, glancing idly over a book.

Tog shrugged. “He probably makes his own fire.” She then glared, turning to you with such a sharp look. “We are going complacent here! When is this going to end?”

You looked at her with surprise. “Oh-” You thought for a moment. “It’s a pretty important spell I think.”

“You spend your days with him! What is he doing?” Tog looked at her tea then pushed it back. “We’re becoming fat and lazy on the comforts here! Do you not realize that?”

You scanned her quickly. “You look adorable as always, Tog.”

The little blue kobold slammed her palms down upon the table. “That’s not what I meant! The crew is growing used to this life! We are becoming domesticated!”

You thought for another long moment. “I’m sure Luzas will be over with this spell soon,” you offered.

“Well, ask him!” Tog snapped. “I didn’t join you because you were good at being patient, Captain. I joined you because you were frightening! You were a powerful woman, and I wanted that! But that is not what I see in this castle.”

You furrowed your brow at her. “Hold your tongue, Tog. You will not speak to me in such a way.”

“Exactly!” Tog bounced. “Talk to him like how you talk to me! Not some simpering lady.”

It was your turn to stand up dramatically. “Simpering?”

Tog returned your harsh stare with equal ferocity. “We all see it, Captain! The way you followed him around, acting like some puppy dog. That is not our captain! Our captain leaves men and women behind her in a lush wreck! She leaves them weak! She-”

You grabbed hold of the edge of the table and shook it to make her stop. “You want me to talk to him! Then I’ll talk to him!” You stood up from the table, pushing it into Tog with your anger. You stormed out of the room, stomping down the hallway to where you knew Luzas would be.

You then hesitated outside his door, your hands slightly shaking. Puppy dog? You? No, you highly doubt it. They don’t know what they are talking about. You pushed open the doors of Luzas’ private chambers and stormed in like the pirate queen you were.

Are!

“Luzas!” You shouted out. Looking around the room you didn’t see him lurking like usual. Instead the lights in his chamber were dim, barely aglow. You licked your lips, wandering further into the room as the doors closed behind you. 

The room was unusually warm, and breathing in there was a hint of thick, wild musk in the air. You huffed, turning this way and that to find Luzas. You then saw his bed and the curtains were drawn around it. You frowned, walking towards it.

“Luzas?” Your voice wouldn’t come out louder than a harsh whisper. You pulled back the curtain forcefully, seeing Luzas lying in bed. 

Didn’t he once say he didn’t need sleep? He didn’t need food either but he often ate meals with you and drank libations despite the fact it wouldn’t get him drunk. Maybe he partook in sleep the same way he did those things.

His golden form was laid out against the bed, his long hair splayed out across the pillows, his arms, down his chest. 

“Luzas I-” You stopped, short of breath and all power within your body. Your eyes had trailed down his side enough to see that the sleeping giant had a giant awoken upon his body. Your jaw dropped slightly.

“By the goddess,” you whispered.

This thick, golden phallus hung in the air, barely suspended by its own stiffness. The head gleamed like polished citrine, shining in the light and reflecting shades of yellow, green and orange.

“No wonder he slouches so much,” you murmured to yourself. You went to pull back, no longer wanting to confront the sleeping beast. But as you pulled back, his hand caught you.

“What are you doing here?” His voice was a low, angry growl.

You were stunned, afraid to speak before anger returned. “Unhand me!”

Luzas chuckled. “I caught you spying on me and you think you have the upper hand here? Captain?” he said so mockingly.

“You will unhand me or I swear-”

“What did you come in here yelling about?” He growled again.

So he was awake! He was aware that you had been staring at him, ogling him even. You held your breath, still keeping your wrist held high. “I came to demand an answer,” you snarled back. “I want to know when this deal is sealed.”

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[fan-goddess]

Hi, for a Kinktober request I’m thinking face sitting and osferth maybe reader and I’m on the road neither can sleep so what else would they do with their time lol- got to be quiet though 😭

Thanks

Authors Note: Changed it up a little so the couple had their own space. Still, hope you like it. I found it strangely resistant to write this so I hope i did it good

Warnings: F oral, kind of pining, religious talk, face riding, talk of m oral at the end (if I miss any let me know)

Taglist: @sofiyathecunt, @marvelgirl123, @sylasthegrim, @mochi-rose, @valeskafics, @humanpurposes, @watercolorskyy, @blue-serendipity, @omgbcat

Your exact relationship with the sweet monk you accompanied had always been unknown. The two of you were close as friends could be yes, but there was always this almost dance between you two. A dance that tipped over the lines between what was the normal for friends and what was for lovers.

It was even being danced now.

For that night, a sudden onslaught of bad weather had hit you all. The paths had become much too windy and slippery for the horses to manage the journey back to Mercia, meaning you all needed to stay another night in the village you were currently staying in.

The tavern you had all been saying at much to your annoyance, had become much busier than you’d wished. For now there was only two rooms left for the five of you to divide. Yet much to your annoyance, Finan and Sihtric seemed to take this new information with stride.

Finan most of all. As he all but pushed you and Osferth together into one of the two rooms with a booming cackle of a laugh.

“Ya might want to be careful tonight lass! He may be a wee monk, but that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t know his way around a ladies knickers!” Finan called out as he closed the rooms door behind him. The sound of his and Sihtric shared laughter softening as they walk the way to their own shared room with Uhtred.

Silence made itself known, as neither you nor Osferth could seem move from the sudden involvement. But from the corner of your eye, you could see Osferths face steadily turning a deep shade of red from what you guessed to be shame and embarrassment.

Usually you would not partake in the type of belittlement usually directed towards Osferth, but when he was as bashful as he was now, who were you to resist such temptation?

“Oh my? Is the little monk no longer a little virgin?” You smiled. Much to your amusement, osferths face seemed to only darken with blush, and his hands seem to have begun to fiddle with themselves as well out of pure bashfulness. “Hmm. Interesting…” You muse with a widening smile.

The noise only seems to set him off even more. As he begins to make noises on what you can only think are beginnings to sentences of which he cannot seem to continue.

“It is okay Osferth, really!” You say, walking to him and putting a comforting hand on his shoulder. “You need not to explain yourself to me-“

“But I must explain myself to you my lady!” He exclaims, stepping away from you as his right hand grasps at the little cross that dangles around his neck.

It was wrong to think about at that time, but the sight of his thumb caressing the item so sensually makes your mind adrift to other unholy things…

“But why me?”

“Because…! Because… because I care about you deeply! That is why I care!” The silence that makes itself known is horrifying. Although it isn’t silent at all. The sound of your own rapidly beating heart is the only thing you can hear.

“What if… what if I care deeply about you too…” You mutter looking to the floor. When you look back up to see Osferths face in fear of seeing his disgust, you find yourself standing almost face to face with the monk. His eyes look different to how they were not even five minutes ago. They looked dark, and hungry.

If you were to look back and try and decide on who kissed who, neither of you could be sure. As one minute the two of you were staring intently at each other, and the next the two of you were kissing each other like your lives had depended on it.

“Get on the bed my lady for me please?” Osferths begs as he detaches himself from your lips.

It’s strange to hear Osferth requesting such things of you. But you cannot deny that the ache in your lower region makes you certainly not mind it, as you follow his plea and lay on the bed for him, and look at him with wanton eyes.

“Now, take off your clothes.” There is no plea this time. It’s a demand. And by the way his eyes have somehow darkened to something unrecognisable, there is no room for discussing it.

After you strip and lay yourself on the bed, for the first time in a long while you feel the nerves begin to take over, and your arms move to cover yourself in an attempt of modesty.

“Don’t move my lady…” Osferth murmurs, leaving forward to take your arms delicately in his hands and stop them from covering you any more. “For I have one of gods miracles in front of me and I wish to savour it as long as I can…” For being a supposed chastity abiding monk, Osferth certainly knows what he’s doing. Much to your slight annoyance and thrill.

Yet the confidence doesn’t seem to last for long.

“My lady, do you trust me?” He says, leaning forward so he’s face to face to you.

“Of course Osferth. Why do you ask?”

“I-I… well…” He pauses for a moment, his hands fiddling with each other as if in an attempt to delay his nerves. “I will not dishonour you. I cannot lay with you unless we were wed. So I, I wish to have you on my face so I can give you pleasure.”

“Oh…” A breathless noise escapes you which you yourself don’t even recognise. Something you do recognise however, is the ever increasing warmth spreading by your legs.

“Will you let me do this to you darling? Will you ride my face for your pleasure?”

With an eager nod of your head, Osferth took your actions as an eager ues with a chuckle, before laying himself flat on his back and beckoning you to come to him with a motion of his head. His hands latch onto your naked thighs when you get close enough, and despite Osferths best efforts to pull you onto him you still try and persist.

“Osferth if I sit fully on you you’ll suffocate!” You insist.

“Then what a glorious way to die!” He laughs, before softly rubbing at your flushed skin with a single thumb. “You will not crush me my darling. If I need air though, I will tap on your leg three times. How about that?”

“Better…” You smile, trying to resist the urge to go insane at the way he holds you with such precision and softness at the same time.

Yet when you feel his rough hands bringing you down to his eager awaiting tongue, that is when you knew you must’ve died and gone to heaven.

His tongue dips inside of you, the wet and warm muscle feeling like nothing you’ve ever felt before. And the way his nose perfectly nudges against your clit as he slightly shakes his head, makes your fingers clench into his hair so hard that he groans and whines into the depth of your warmth with great vigour.

Osferth pushes you to feel an pleasure through your whole body that you’ve never felt before, and his rough hands that roughly forbid you from moving strikes a chord of something deep inside of you that brings you to grip Osferths hair in your own right grip.

As you begin to rut your cunt on his face like some sort of animal in heat, a deep sounding groan comes from straight from his chest, as if Osferth was receiving pleasure just from the act of you using him to get off.

He does this again and again as you use him. Until eventually your find yourself tightening and clenching on his warm tongue as you peak, juices dripping into his mouth as Osferth swallows it all greedily and willingly.

His tongue begins to lick up any remaining juices from inside of you, unrelenting even as you try and lift yourself away from him with overstimulation.

“Osferth please! It’s too much!” You cry, your legs aching and beginning to cramp with the position you were in.

Eventually though, Osferths grip calms, and when you allow yourself to collapse on the bed and look at your newfound lover, a whole new wave of arousal pulses through you at the sight of your juices covering his chin. You can even feel your mouth widening slightly at the sight of his tongue darting out to lick at the juices he can get, before using his fingers to scoop up any he couldn’t reach.

Any words you were about to say melt from the heat of your cheeks before you can dare to say them. So it’s with great satisfaction when Osferth speaks first.

“Did, Was that good for you, my lady?” He asks meekly. You already know the look of disbelief is evident on your face. How could a man who gave you pleasure so easily and so willingly be so suddenly withdrawn and shy?

“It was nothing like I had ever felt before my sweet Osferth,” You sigh with a warm smile, positioning yourself next to him to your arm could freely trace the sharp edges of his face. “Which is why I feel so eager to give you that same pleasure. So please my love, get on your back and undress so I can pleasure you like you did for me.”

And with a sharp intake of breath, you give Osferth a quick kiss on his lips before he undoes his shirt and begins to undress.

“If you insist my darling…”

[witch-hazels-musings]

Hi Hazel! Could I get a Protection Ritual for Albedo with frankincense, angelite, sandalwood and jasmine, please?

Frankincense (confidence), Angelite (gentleness, healing), Sandalwood (ceremony), Jasmin (love, sensuality) Albdeo x gn reader | Protection Ritual warning: fluff fluff fluff

The two of you walked across the stone bridge, beneath the stars that twinkled brightly above. The voices of Mond rose up behind you as you took each other's hands and let this moment melt into the fabric of the world.

"I told you people would show up," you hummed, head resting on his shoulder as you gazed at the people rushing by beyond the stone archway. Laughter and joy spilled through like rushing water.

"It would seem that I severely underestimated," Albedo said, his thumb running across the back of your hand.

"People love you."

"As they do you."

"Okay, they love us both. I'll admit to that." You turned your head and rested your chin on his shoulder, gazed into the face of the man who held so much of your heart.

It was impossible to think that almost two years ago you were being introduced to him. That the quiet, Chief Alchemist who spent most of his time in seclusion or providing a watchful, kind observation of his students would have found any interest in you.

You could remember that day like it was yesterday. Your bumbling introduction as a new member of the investigation team, your arms filled with every possible book, reference, or notebook you thought might be relevant on your first day. The awkward handshake with the composed alchemist, and the fixation of your gaze when he walked away.

If it weren't for you, you weren't sure the two of you'd be standing here right now.

Albedo cared for you, deeply, you knew this, but he seemed to struggle to show it. At first, you weren't even sure if his attentive support was any more than a good mentor guiding a rising pupil but in those quiet nights when the two of you worked alone, you began to read the gaze of his eyes, began to sense the feelings in the way he guided you through the research.

To others, it looked like work. Diligent, focused work, but to the two of you it was like a dance. Intricate, delicate, sensual. So you took the chance, the risk, and all the hypotheses you held in your heart proved perfectly true.

Albedo turned to you and shared in your smile. "Hi," you hummed.

"Hello," he said, his fingers running over your brow.

Anticipation, energy, and nerves bubbled in your stomach. The words you had been waiting to say tickled your tongue, formed in your mind but found difficulties on your lips.

It shouldn't.

This night was yours.

It was his.

You pressed your lips to his shoulder and hoped the action would force what lay beyond through. When you looked at him again, the words fell from your tongue like drops of sweet honey.

"Hello, Husband."

Albdeo's smile grew with unfettered joy as he cupped your face and whispered his love against your cheeks, your nose, softly in the corner of your eyes, and finally, delicately, against your beaming lips.

"Hello, my darling, my love, my life," he confessed while the church bells chimed in the final hours of your wedding day.

Thaumaturgy Anthology (October 11-13, 2024)

This event is based on spells and rituals. Inspiration does not equal understanding; liberties have been taken. All content is owned by Witch Hazels Musings, theft of these images and stories will result in immediate action.

[folkloresthings]

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE — send a muse + a song and i’ll write a little drabble for it.

hey love, daniel ricciardo x older isabel larosa? thank you <3

SOMEONE OLDER. ❨ daniel ricciardo x reader ❩

✩⡱ warnings: age gap!

the sun that rose over miami was heavenly, bathing the entire paddock in a warm hue. there was barely a soul about, giving you the opportunity to soak up the florida heat and let your thoughts give way to the morning. working for mclaren meant constantly being on the go, especially as the youngster, meaning any moment to just stop was taken gladly.

“morning,” comes from the bottom of the ramp, the australian twang pulling you from your thoughts and right into the pounding of your chest.

“you’re early,” you note, opening the door to the mclaren motorhome for both you and daniel. his cologne hits you hard as he passes, the scent dizzying, and you’re glad for one last breath of fresh air. “the other drivers aren’t due until ten.”

daniel shrugs, shrugging off his orange jacket. the motorhome is empty, bar one or two technicians drifting past, and it allows a quiet to settle between you that you hate. since joining mclaren, there wasn’t a weekend that daniel ricciardo didn’t make your heart seize up. you never knew what to say to him, letting his jokes and sarcastic quips fill the conversations.

but now he doesn’t jest at the sleep in your eyes or how you’ve obviously scraped your hair back in the car ride here. he just smiles and looks at you.

“could say the same for you. what’re you doing here this early?”

you busy yourself at the self—serve coffee machine, giving you a reason not to stare at him, fidgeting with buttons you’d pressed a hundred times before. “there’s paperwork and stuff. zak’s made a whole list of things to do before the race starts later on.”

you hear daniel huff out a laugh behind you, and he’s closer now than before. when you look to the side, he’s near enough for you to pass him a cup of coffee, offering a small smile. he mumbles out a thanks, reaching past you to grab a sachet of sugar, the muscles in his arm rippling so close to your face.

“he works you too hard,” daniel points out and you resist the urge to agree. you were, for want of a better word, the rookie in the garage. an easy target for the experienced employees, dumping any extra work on the young and eager new assistant.

“yeah, but he pays well.” you take a sip of your coffee, lashes fluttering past the rim of the cup to take a glance at daniel. “you did good in free practice yesterday.”

“you saw?” daniel lights up, so much that it winds any breath from you. he always looked happy, it was his thing, but it was much more enticing when you were the one making him smile.

“just about,” you chuckles, head turning to see another engineer arrive for the morning. you smile and wave, polite, but keep your attention on danny. “managed to catch a glimpse between meetings. does miami always suit you so well?”

daniel smirks, dragging his eyes over your face. “it’s my favourite place to race. the atmosphere always excels, and the parties are wild.”

“ah, right. the infamous miami after—party,” your eyes widen, his sarcastic streak rubbing off on you. somehow, flirting with daniel always came easy to you; much easier than with any other boy.

“this your first one?” he asks, you nod. “you’ll love it. if you… can you even drink here?”

you fake a glare, lightly shoving his arm. the shit—eating grin that pulls onto his lips knocks through the annoyance you feigned, a laugh escaping your tongue. “i’m twenty—two, dickhead.”

daniel laughs, ruffling your hair teasingly. you try to duck away, but the pull in your chest doesn’t ever let you stray too far from the man.

“alright, kid. make sure lando buys you a drink or two, yeah?”

you watch as he brushes past you, headed for his drivers room to prep for the race, brows furrowing. his smirk still lingers on his face as he crosses the empty motorhome, only glancing back once more before he disappears around the corner.

his hand, the one holding your heart so delicately, squeezes until the organ almost bursts in your chest. lando, lando, lando. the other mclaren driver was only a few months older than you, the appropriate choice for your affections, but no one could control the way that their heart swayed.

hours later, the race over and trophies given out, night had fallen on miami but was only just coming alive. despite mclaren not doing quite so well in the race, it didn’t stop the celebrations. almost all of the team were headed for the club that was reserved, practically shaking with the heavy bass that played inside. you had been hovering by the door for ten minutes now, glad for the florida humidity in your much—too—short dress.

the twisting in your stomach screamed out at you for not having some alcohol before getting here, something to ease the nerves of bumping into a certain brunette australian again. hence, once the courage had built up, you made a beeline for the bar. the club was busy, but not suffocating, since the place had been rented out for the teams and their friends.

a few familiar faces passed by but you were set on finishing your cocktail in only a few mouthfuls, quickly ordering the next before you could even face the tables full of drivers and engineers. most of mclaren’s guests were in the corner, lando and daniel at the centre of it all.

“y/n, hey!” lando greeted brightly, wrapping one arm around your shoulder and squeezing you into a hug. you hug him back gladly, meeting daniel’s eyes over his shoulder. he’s staring at you both, mainly at you, unreadable in every way. you shoot him a small smile when you pull away from lando’s chest, not daring to breach the space between you both.

lando leans into your ear. “can i get you a drink?”

you see daniel’s smile grow in the corner of your eye, memory of you earlier conversation flashing in both of your minds at the same time. “too late,” you quip, lifting your glass to lando’s eyeline.

“the next one, then,” lando tuts, sending you a wink. you feel your heart flutter a little. he was cute, and charming, but the feeling in your chest was nothing near the explosion that occurred when daniel was around. you nod, pulling on another smile, and let him be pulled away by carlos.

“you look good,” daniel sneaks up behind you, hot breath fanning across your neck. you turn on your heel (high heels that were making your ankles ache), stepping back as you do so. if not, you’d have been chest—to—chest, and you couldn’t have trusted yourself in such a capacity. “really good.”

“thank you,” you murmur, but you’re sure he can’t hear you over the loud music. he smiles anyway, sweet and heart melting, lifting his beer to his lips. his lips glisten with the liquid, tongue darting out to clean it off. you blame the strawberry mojitos on the sudden dizzy feeling that drowns you, heat rising to your cheeks, but you know it’s all him. daniel, your constant ailment.

“team picture!” someone shouts, and everyone suddenly crowds around the small table, mclaren’s entire payroll squished together. you feel a hand slide easily around your waist, pulling you flush into his side, and when you look up at daniel he’s just smiling at the camera, as though this was perfectly normal. someone counts down from three and you force yourself to look away from the man, towards the lens.

his hand lingers there even when the photo is taken, a searing hot touch that burns through the thin material of your dress. he laughs at something another engineer says, and you can’t move, forced to stand there like a couple who do this on the regular. but your heart is in your throat and your knees are wobbling underneath you.

“you okay?” daniel eventually asks, looking down at you. you’re convinced he’s having some kind of stroke and has no feeling from the neck down, forgetting all about the way his hand is resting mere inches away from your ass.

“yeah, i’m fine,” you choke out, nodding forcefully. his brows furrow for a moment, but he soon turns at the sound of his name being called. you take the opportunity of distraction to slip out of his arm, hurrying quickly through the crowd to anywhere but there. when you find the small smoking garden, you inhale heavily, forcing air back into your lungs as best you can.

there’s no one else out there, no one else stupid enough to leave such a great party, but you’re grateful. leaning against the cold brick wall, the heels of your hands rub desperately at your brows, careful not to mess up your makeup. you willed and willed yourself to pull together, to forget this stupid little crush you had on daniel and move on with your life. but you heart never did listen to your head, and you were left a little tipsy and cold in the miami night air.

“what’re you doing out here?” daniel sticks his head around the door, flashing his teeth in a smile. you sigh, shrugging, and he steps closer. “i thought you’d ran off to dance with lando.”

“he’s not really my type,” you tell him, determined to get this notion out of his head. you wished you could like lando, so badly, and not have to deal with the fact that he was eleven years older than you. but here you were, in just that pickle.

“no?” danny queries, standing right in front of you now. you try to ignore how you can smell his cologne again, the heat radiating off of him, the sweet undertone of his beer lingering. “he’s a good kid. so are you.”

“stop that,” you whisper, shaking your head. “i’m not a kid.”

daniel swallows, a thick silence falling between you. his hand slips from his pocket, tucking a stray strand of hair behind your ear, fingers brushing your cheek in the process. it’s complicated, all too tangled up: you being over ten years his younger, and his colleague. the star driver and the impressionable assistant. you could already see the headlines.

but, somehow, when he grazed the warm flush of your cheeks bone, it all became terribly simple.

“daniel…” you mumble, warning in your tone. he keeps moving closer, big brown eyes flickering to your lips at every chance he gets. one hand on your cheek, the other finding it’s old place on your waist. “we shouldn’t.”

“i know,” he breathes out, breath grazing your lips as they hover over your own. he looks at you, you look at him, and there’s nothing either of you can do to stop it now. daniel’s neck cranes to capture your lips in one swift move, pulling you onto your tiptoes, pressing his body heavy against yours.

you moan softly against his lips, his tongue licking into your mouth at the opening. as much as he wants to be soft with you, hold you in hands like porcelain, but there’s a need inside of him that’s been building for months suddenly getting just what it needs. he’d been hung up on you since your first day in the paddock, all wide eyed and people pleasing, and now he had you in his arms.

he kissed you and kissed you until you were panting against him, his forehead falling to rest on yours, catching your breath. you glance up, waiting for the ball to drop and the dream to end. but it doesn’t, daniel just opens his eyes and smiles down at you. his lips are swollen and pupils blown wide, hands still gripping at your waist.

“lando doesn’t know what he’s missing,” he chuckles, falling into the urge to press another soft kiss to your lips. another, another, another. it only takes a taste, and he’s desperate for more.

“what can i say? i need someone older,” you quip back, nose nudging against his. he grins, catching your bottom lip between his teeth.

“as much as i’d love to be a gentleman right now,” daniel inhales sharply, squeezing the flesh of your hips. “i really want to take you back to the hotel.”

[hoshinoyozora]

Roses in the Thorns

🖤 Pairing: Yandere! Malleus Draconia x Female! Fae! Reader

💛 Word Count: 2,3k+

❤ Warnings: -

[Edited]

Do not re-upload my writing to another website or use it without my permission. Also, don’t ask for a sequel unless I like the story enough to write one. Please reblog so other people can see my stories!

***

I haven’t seen ch 7 yet, but I heard Mal causes snow too when he’s upset? Idk let’s just say he does that here XD Also the meaning of the title is that rose often denotes romance, but is it really romance in their relationship? @married-to-google-translater

Malleus didn’t really like going home.

Of course, he missed his grandmother that worked hard in his stead. His little rose garden waiting to be tended and admired. And his palace that held the comforting yet no less fascinating gargoyles and grotesques. But he didn’t miss the loneliness of his status and species, the fear from people, and you.

The fiancée that his grandmother set up from some Duke a few centuries ago.

It wasn’t as if he hated you, per se. You did your job as a princess and a fiancée very well, perhaps a bit too well, strengthening Queen Maleficia’s fondness for you. She, out of all people, knew just how lonely he was, regardless of his attempts to hide it, and you were more than ready to spend the next centuries with him. Malleus knew he should be delighted, grateful even, that his fiancée wasn’t a shy or fearful thing. But if he had to pinpoint why he disliked you, he might not be able to answer it quickly.

“Welcome back. I miss you.”

You hugged him tighter and closer than any royal couple had done, than any royal couple was supposed to be doing. You hummed contentedly against his shoulder, trying to sway him side by side. You weren’t fazed by his rigid body, however, and merely smiled up at him.

“The castle feels so lonely without you, you know.”

Malleus squinted slightly. He never really knew if you were jabbing at his little insecurity or if you genuinely felt that way. Maybe he was reading too much into your actions, maybe he wasn’t. Who would’ve known?

“I see. That’s unfortunate.”

A neutral answer; neither sympathizing nor mocking. He pushed you away, gently as to avoid any suspicion from the unseen eyes and ears that your relationship wasn’t as harmonious as it should be.

“Avoidant, as usual.” you mused, trailing after him with your hands clasped behind you. “But allow me to accompany you a bit more, Malleus. Fortunately, I have a loose schedule for today.”

Your smile widened just as your eyes glowed in the dimly-lit hallway.

“Because I knew you’d come back to me.”

Ah, that’s right. He disliked you because of your confidence. While it didn’t exactly tiptoe the line of arrogance, it was still annoying how you thought he favored you any more than he favored other women desperate for his hand in marriage. Then again, he couldn’t really fault you for trying. A cold, formal marriage might be the standard for many royal couples, but a harmonious one – both in public and private – would greatly benefit your relationship and image.

And yet…

“I’m tired. I’d like to rest for now.”

Your confidence wasn’t the main reason behind his antipathy.

“Are you sulking, Malleus?”

It was your perceptiveness. Your ability to make him feel naked, vulnerable, tamed. Lilia had that power too, but he was his caretaker and retainer. He cared about him. While you? You were an enigma. A wildcard. A stranger that his grandmother was forced to marry soon.

“What makes you think so?”

Calmly, you closed the doors of his bedroom.

“Why, your face says it all, of course.”

Instinctively, Malleus touched his face. Was he really that expressive? Lilia could read him, but once again, he was his caretaker and retainer.

You chuckled, “Are you thinking about whether you’re being very expressive right now?”

His eyes widened slightly.

“Well, you’re not. But I’ve spent centuries observing you, so I can pick up all your emotions now.” You peeked through your lashes coyly. “So, did you finally find some joy in that school?”

Malleus resisted the urge to shift uncomfortably. He shouldn’t be surprised considering that you were his fiancée, but he knew that had you were more blatant with your ‘observation’, he’d think of you as another Rook Hunt instead.

“I didn’t go there to search for amusement.”

“Oh, really? Not even a new friend?”

“The people there are mostly pleasant.”

You simpered, eyes softening slightly.

“You know I’m not talking about schoolmates.”

“Quit talking in riddles. If you don’t have any business left to discuss, you may leave my chamber at once.”

“Always so cold to me, and yet, you’re strangely warm to that magicless human.”

Stiffening, Malleus whipped around and gripped your arms.

“How did you know about Yuu?”

“Are you really asking me that? I’m your fiancée. I ought to know about your matters, too. How else can I help you if you encounter problems?”

“I already have Lilia with me. I don’t need your intervention.”

You cocked your head in mock questioning.

“Really? Just like how you’re barely invited to any event, including the ceremony? Or how your own retainers forget about you sometimes?”

Malleus ground his teeth.

“I suggest you to watch your tongue if you don’t want to lose it.”

“Oh, but what would people think if they found out that you punished me due to a simple couple spat? And we don’t need to imagine how Her Majesty would react to this. She loves me, you see, and you know it too.”

“Don’t think you’re invincible, [Name].”

“Maybe.” You shrugged carelessly. “But I’m the reason why people started to look at you in a better light now. If I were to, say, complain that you’re being hurtful towards me, they’d sooner believe me over a big, scary dragon.”

His grip tightened. As much as he hated to admit it, you were right. Ever since you got engaged to him, you often invited him to events and used the power of social pressure by displaying affections to him. Of course, Malleus had no choice but to comply and requite the unwanted gestures. And those nobles, foolish little creatures despite the intelligence they touted, immediately believed the act and spread the news all over the country. Now, everyone knew you both as an unconventionally loving couple; surprising but no less heartwarming.

But he could care about his image later.

“Whatever you do, do not harm Yuu in any way.”

You huffed a laugh.

“You wound me, Malleus. When have I ever treat humans so unjustly? They’re a part of our people, too.”

Malleus squinted and opened his mouth to retort, only to close it back. What was he going to say again? That he thought you’d hurt Yuu out of ‘jealousy’ of his friendship? Thinking about it was silly enough; saying it aloud would make him a bigger fool. You probably couldn’t feel jealous, not when you seemed so complacent even in the face of threat. What would you respond later? Another jab? Another sneer?

***

“Lilia, are you the one who told Princess [Name] about me being excluded to school events?”

The cup hovered as Lilia paused to process the question. Peeking up through his lashes, he discerned Malleus’ agitated expression.

“Why, even if I don’t tell her, she can still find out somewhere else.”

“You know I don’t like it when she meddles in my affairs,” Malleus grumbled. “and now she knows about Yuu’s existence too. What if she hurts them?”

“I’ve been observing her, and never once did she mistreat humans. She might seem like a know-it-all, but she’s only trying to do her duty. Let’s not be too paranoid.”

Despite Lilia’s attempt to reassure him, Malleus couldn’t subdue the agitation in his chest. You were too unpredictable, in a way that might just be worse than Lilia. Even if the said fae wasn’t his retainer, Malleus would still trust him to be around Yuu due to his wish for a peaceful life.

Unfortunately, his anxiety was proven true when he spotted you talking with Yuu in the Ramshackle yard at one night.

“Oh, hi, Tsunotarou!”

You glanced at them in bemusement yet devoid of surprise, as if you knew the nickname was harmless. On one hand, Malleus was relieved to know that you wouldn’t scold or punish them for discourtesy like Sebek would’ve done. But on the other hand, he was still angry at your insolence.

“Pardon us, Yuu, but I’d like to speak to her first.”

“Oh, yes. You guys are, uh, dating, right? Go ahead.”

Squinting, Malleus grabbed your wrist and dragged you to a secluded spot.

“Why did you tell them that we’re ‘dating’?! And what are you doing here?! Why didn’t you tell me that you’d come?!”

“I just want to know what compelled you to them. It’s rather baffling, but I think I understand now. That child doesn’t see you for your species, right? They don’t even know about your true name.”

Malleus remained silent.

You simpered, “And it appears that you didn’t tell them about your status too. Why? Are you afraid that they’d change their mind about you?”

“That is none of your business.”

“You know, they’re the one who thinks we’re dating. And they’re not wrong. We are dating, aren’t we?”

“That’s because you’re being nosy!” Malleus hissed. “Can’t you just stop bothering me and let me have some peace for once?!”

Suddenly, your face hardened just as your body went rigid under his grip. It was rather eerie to see you without your calm smile or the way your eyes stared at him without their usual gentleness of complacency. Had he finally displeased you?

“Your grandmother once told me that you liked to read fairy tales and dreamed of happily ever after. I can give you that, and Queen Maleficia knows I’ve been trying for the past centuries, but it seems that my efforts are actually futile all this time.”

You snatched your wrist from his grip and stopped beside him.

“One day, you shall see that I’m the constant part of your life. Not even your fragile and temporary friendship with that magicless human can replace me.” you declared quietly. “And one day, you shall come back to me once the loneliness becomes too overwhelming for you. Because I am the only one you need in your life.”

The wind blew past him, and with it, you were gone. Malleus looked at your empty spot, wondering since when the silence rang too loud in his ears. Then, he scoffed.

How silly. You were useful as a princess and fiancée, yes, but as a companion? No. He didn’t need you platonically or romantically, and he was sure he could live for the next centuries treating you as a business partner or a distant roommate. Just like many others before him.

He could bear with that cold, formal marriage. He was sure of it.

Seasons changed, the calendars turned their pages, and Night Raven College became a distant yet bittersweet memory. Crowley officially failed to bring Yuu home, so Malleus decided to give them a new one in Queendom of Roses so they’d feel close to their friends. It didn’t lessen their eternal anguish and longing, but at least they were able to hide it in the letters and smile at him on the rare times they met. On the other hand, ever since that incident, you’d become distant despite your new status as his wife. Although you were still successful at fooling the nobles with your loving façade, the people close to you managed to sense the wall between you. It was concerning enough until Queen Maleficia decided to confront you both, and with a masterfully calm smile, you replied.

“We simply have a disagreement, but I assure you, it won’t affect our duties or images in any way.”

Malleus could tell she didn’t really believe it, but she sighed in a way weary parents usually did, including Lilia. And you both weren’t exempted from Lilia’s admonishment itself.

For years, the invisible wall remained sturdy, neither heightening or lowering

Until, one day, Yuu died.

Nobody needed to guess who the culprit was when blizzards and thunderstorm kept falling interchangeably around the country. Lilia had implored him to calm down to prevent more deluges in the small villages, and at one point even proposed to visit you for comfort, but Malleus merely lashed out at the latter. How dare he suggest such a ludicrous thing?! All Malleus wanted was to meet his one and only friend again, not you. Never you.

But, alas, Yuu’s fate was already set in stone, and for all his power, there was nothing Malleus could do. The storms had lessened, but dark clouds still lingered in the already gloomy sky. The cloud was heavier around him who refused to leave his room, leaving the court to handle the brunt of his duty. Including you.

“[Name].”

Calmly, you sipped the warm tea and put the cup back to its saucer. You didn’t turn to look at him, but Malleus knew you were listening. You were always listening for him, about him, and the thought strangely flattered him now.

Malleus crossed the drawing room and stood beside you. He stared down at you for a moment before he kneeled.

“You’re correct.”

It was an abrupt apology yet no less sincere. He took your hand from your lap and clasped it within his cold and desperate hands, looking at you pleadingly despite your silent refusal.

“You are… the true constant part of my life. My queen, my wife, and my companion. I was mistaken to believe that my friendship with Yuu could be anything but…” He swallowed the grief and pride. “fragile and temporary, not when they were a mere mortal in my impossibly long life. Forgive me for being so blind and foolish to the truth.”

Malleus rested his forehead against your lap, already resigned to the silence that might stretch on forever. It wasn’t until he felt a hand prod him to raise his head did he obey.

Finally, you looked at him.

“I told you.” you whispered, caressing his cheeks with your thumbs. “You’ll come back to me. Because you just can’t live without me, can you?”

“Yes, yes, of course. You are the only I need in my life.”

Slowly, you smile widened just as your eyes glowed in the dimly-lit room.

The same confident and complacent smile that he once hated but now loved.

The same confident and complacent smile that told him you won this centuries-long game of cat and mouse.

“Good boy.”

[cilil]

𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦 | 𝐀 𝐇𝐮𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐬

AN: My last one for @feast-of-horns - for now. The Turgon x Caranthir sequel I promised will be coming, just at a later date. Thanks for reading and being patient!

𓄌 Characters/pairings: Námo x Vairë 𓄌 Synopsis: Námo and Vairë try out their own version of predator/prey play. 𓄌 Warnings: Smut, shapeshifting (Námo with female parts) 𓄌 Oneshot (~1k words) | AO3

"You know," Vairë said, spinning silver threads with four of her six hands while a fifth caressed the back of her husband's cool hand. "I have always been fascinated by this feast Oromë is so fond of." 

"Have you now?" Despite his usual neutral tone and posture, there was a faint hint of humour colouring Námo's voice. 

"Indeed." She hummed to herself, watching the motions of her hands as she dwelt on the thought. "We may not be hunters like he and his people are, but I would be lying if I said I couldn't comprehend the satisfaction of..." 

Skillfully, Vairë looped the thread around four index fingers and pulled it taut. 

"...catching something pretty just right." 

Námo observed her with the calm amusement of one who already knew the outcome of the conversation and was merely waiting for it to unfold. 

"I suppose you do, though your prey is both less corporeal and less flighty than Oromë's," he mused. "Yet thus far you speak in riddles. If there is anything you would have of me, you must ask."

"You would make me spell it out and show you, you who knows all and forgets nothing?" Vairë scolded playfully. "But I don't mind." 

Her sixth hand replaced the fifth, clasping Námo's, while the thus freed hand rose to his face. Gently, she turned his head and pulled away his veil. 

"I think I would like to capture you, my beautiful husband." 

Indeed, he was breathtaking underneath his veil, as Vairë thought whenever she removed it. Features too beautiful and ethereal to ever seem as stern and unforgiving as he was often seen, a face frightening only in its irresistible allure and divine grace. 

Námo smiled at her. "You already have. I shall be all yours." 

It was all the encouragement Vairë needed. Her four hands holding the thread spun around hastily, faster than the eye could see, yet with the precision of a true master of her craft. She then threw it at her husband like a net and crooked two index fingers as if to direct it as it wrapped around his wrists like a silvery snare. 

Reminiscent of a spider web, it floated in the air, thrumming with the power of her will and her music, and Námo kept smiling even as his arms were secured in place and his feet lifted off the ground. 

"Wonderful work as always, beloved."

"Thank you." 

Vairë willed the nails on one of her hands to turn into claws and raised it, ready to strike and devour her food like a spider discovering prey in its web. 

"Tell me, what will I find underneath those robes of yours?" she purred. 

"Whatever it is that you wish to find," Námo answered. 

"You already knew that as well, didn't you?" Vairë let out a chuckle, then cut his robes open with vicious efficiency. 

She was going to fix the damage later if she felt like it; there were prettier things she could find for her husband to wear than those plain black robes. 

Námo's fána was, as it had always been, less corporeal than those of other Ainur, almost ephemeral in the way he willed it in and out of existence within the blink of an eye. Some of its features remained ever the same, most importantly his tall, slender figure, his long, almost spindly legs and the ghostly pallor of his smooth, cool skin. Yet other features were ever fluid, changing and shifting at will. 

His hips were narrow as usual, but between his legs Vairë was greeted with the gentle slope of a vulva. Her eyes lit up in excitement — she had desired to bed her husband in such a manner for a while. For even though Námo aligned more with male temper and often presented accordingly, he was just as, if not more beautiful than any lady she had seen. 

"You saw my thoughts," was all Vairë said as she knelt down in front of him to examine. 

"Such is my nature." Námo spread his legs without needing to be prompted. "My flesh exists only for your pleasure, I need it for nought else." 

"At this point you are asking to be devoured."

"Perhaps I am, yes." 

"In that case, I shall." 

Vairë moved closer until she was kneeling between Námo's legs, caressing his thighs as she rested them on her shoulders. When she kissed his folds, she was reminded of a water lily with its petals closed, delicate and hiding its true beauty, and determined to coax it into opening up to her. 

Námo sighed. He was a quiet lover and not prone to outbursts of passion, but Vairë could tell he was sensitive. Almost as if he had never been touched before. Which he had been, though not in this form. The sense of novelty fanned the flames of her desire.

She took hold of his thighs and began to enjoy his new fána. First quick, teasing licks across his folds to explore. Then bolder, dipping her tongue in-between, pushing inside, searching for the sensitive little pearl that would ensure his pleasure. A gasp, a tentative moan. She could feel it now, right against the tip of her tongue. 

Entranced by the wonderful timbre of her husband's voice, Vairë continued. Námo was panting now, trying to adjust to the new sensations he was experiencing. 

Unfortunately for him, his wife wasn't merciful. She could feel his muscles twitching and traces of his arousal leaking out of him, wettening her lips and chin like morning dew. 

Oh how she loved him. Vairë could do this all day. 

Circling her tongue around his pearl, she carefully pushed one finger inside Námo, then two. He was tight but not entirely unused to penetration, he had taken her before in a different shape. 

"Please..." she heard his voice in her mind. 

"You are begging already?" Vairë neither slowed down nor withdrew, instead taking it as encouragement to thrust her fingers in and out of Námo. 

Whatever he had meant to say in response never came as his fána was overwhelmed by pleasure and driven to an early climax, leaving him speechless. 

It was only then that Vairë granted Námo a break. 

"Coming so fast?" she teased. "You do realise I haven't even started yet?" 

He exhaled slowly and closed his eyes. 

"Take me as many times as you see fit, beloved, as is your right after a successful hunt."

Thanks for reading! ♡

taglist: @asianbutnotjapanese @a-world-of-whimsy-5 @blauerregen @bluezenzennie @edensrose @elanna-elrondiel @eunoiaastralwings @i-did-not-mean-to @just-little-human @saintstars @singleteapot @urwendii @wandererindreams

[mulledcherrywine]

pleaseee more Rosie’s world! maybe something about her first words :,)

Talk to Me, Please?

Ahhh yes!! Sorry the ending is a bit cliché but I hope this is what u had in mind!! I rlly liked writing this so I hope u like <3

summary: You try to teach your daughter to say her first words, but she just doesn’t seem to hear you

You were near giving up. You’d been over-pronouncing every word you said to Rosie for the past hour just to try to get her to say her first words.

You wanted to surprise Harry when he was finally back from tour tonight, since he’d been asking repeatedly for the past two weeks if your daughter had even said so much as half a word. Still, nothing.

“What’s this, Rose, hm?” You said, holding up a ball to the little girl. She mumbled a few sounds and grasped for the little toy. Even though you were frustrated, you couldn’t help but melt at her fascination with the world around her.

“What’s your name, baby? Can you say your name?” You mused, then speaking her name out slowly a few times hoping to get something. It was getting late and just as she had been that morning, Rosie was still limited to babbles and little squeaks.

Teary eyed, you retired to just brushing her little curls and making no more effort to make her talk any longer.

Then, the sound of the door echoed through the house.

“Hello!” Harry announced comically, the sound of his footsteps getting closer to you and Rosie in the kitchen.

“You’re back!” you exclaimed, taking him in for a close hug.

“How are m’girls?” he said, kissing the top of your head as he pulled away to face his daughter.

Rosie beamed at him silently for a few moments, reaching to grab the sides of his face.

Then, a few sounds came out of her mouth.

You hopefully grabbed at Harry’s shoulder, looking right at the little girl in front of the two of you.

“Missed you, Rose” he said softly.

“Me!” Rosie shrieked.

“Oh my god!” you cheered, your hand reaching out and grabbing at his shirt, your eyes not breaking from your now verbal daughter, “Oh my god, she just said ‘me’, H, she just said her first words!”

Harry’s expression was almost 10x wider than yours, gently sweeping Rosie into his arms and holding her at his side.

“My clever girl, y’so smart just like y’mum, aren’t yeh?” he said happily, earning a blush from you at his compliments, “Can y’say it again?”

Rosie was cheery from her fathers praise, but just like she had been only minutes ago, she was silent once again.

“Say her name again” you said, your words coming out a little more bossy than they sounded in your head.

“Alright, easy!” Harry joked, faking an offended expression, “Hey Rose, can y-”

“Rose!” She shrieked out, covering her mouth excitedly at the new words, “Rose, me!”

You and Harry shot each other proud looks, Rosie seemingly unaware of the tears she just ignited in both of you.

“Can you believe she saves this up just for when you get home?” You said, kissing the top of her head.

“M’so happy” Harry said, a little waterline forming under his eyes.

“You’re crying, aren’t you?” you said as your own tears were already coming down.

“Like you’re not” he laughed through a few tears, poking at the little drops now on your cheeks. You leaned lovingly into his hand, kissing the inside before turning back to take your daughter into your arms proudly. Harry put his gaze to Rosie, shuffling the hair - which was alarmingly identical to his own - on her head.

“I love you m’little flower girl, so clever, you are” he said softly to her, “My little Rosie”

“Me!” Rosie chanted again, her arms raising up in enthusiasm.

You and Harry both laughed again, and you held Rosie tightly to your frame.

All the stress of teaching her washed away. The weight was lifted and you knew she was going to be okay, and was going to do everything at her own pace. And of course, he would be there to watch it all happen with you.

[whimsicallyenchantedrose]

Season 4 Rewatch Drabbles: 4x4 The Apprentice

Summary:  A series of 100-1000 word drabbles to accompany my    rewatch of season 4 of Once Upon a Time.  There will be a drabble–either a deleted scene, a “fix it” fic or a character musing for each episode of the season.  Focus will be on Emma, Henry, the Charmings and Killian–with an emphasis on Captain Swan’s epic love story.

Word Count: 594

Other Chapters: (1) (2) (3) (5) (6) (7) (8)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Mary Margaret plopped down on the sofa next to David, a wide smile on her face, her excitement barely contained.

“I bet she’ll be home soon,” she said.

“We can only hope,” David said, crossing his arms.  “Seems like they’re taking a long time just to have dinner.”

Mary Margaret rolled her eyes.  “Oh come on, David.  You remember what it was like to be in love!”

He raised a brow.  “I’d like to think we’re still in love.”

She giggled–actually giggled.  “You know what I mean, the start of a relationship–that falling in love feeling.  The excitement, the butterflies, the–” having run out of adjectives to fully express the sentiment, she simply sighed, long and loud and contentedly.

“I just hope he’s being a gentleman,” David muttered.  “I didn’t like that look he gave me as he ushered her out the door.”

Mary Margaret rolled her eyes. “David, he loves her.  Anyone with eyes can see that.  He even went to Gold to get his hand back for her.”

“Yeah, that’s something else that’s been bothering me,” David said, overprotective dad mode morphing into genuine concern.  “What did he have to do to get it back?  We both know Gold doesn’t do anyone any favors out of the kindness of his heart.”

“Maybe he did this time!” Mary Margaret said.  “Maybe he’s turned over a new leaf.  Anyway, that’s a problem for another day.  What do you think they’re doing right now?”

David groaned.  “That is something I do not want to think about.”

They lapsed into silence for another moment before Snow smiled again, overwhelming joy bubbling up.

“What?” David asked, smiling back at her; her joy was contagious.

“I was just thinking about how wonderful this is–all of it?”

He gave her a quizzical look.

“You know, helping Emma pick out a dress for her big date,” Mary Margaret said, “helping her get ready.  Seeing the way she blushed and smiled talking about him (even if she tried to hide how excited she is).  Waiting up for her.”

She lapsed into silence for another moment, and David waited patiently.  

“We missed so much in her life, David,” she said finally, her smile slipping as the wistfulness took over. “All her firsts, all the big moments of her life.  Finally we got to be here for one–her first real date with her True Love.”

David’s eyes widened and his brows rose.  “True Love?  I seem to recall a time you weren’t so keen on the pirate.”

“Well yeah,” she said, waving dismissively.  “Back when I thought he was nothing more than a shameless flirt only out for himself and his revenge, but now I know better.  Now I see he’s something more.”

“What’s that?”

She smiled as they heard footsteps outside their door and then silence for long moments.  She was enough of a romantic to guess what was happening out there.  “He’s a good man, and just as important, one who loves our daughter.  The way he looks at her and the way she looks back–well, it’s the kind of love that breaks curses.”

“If he makes her happy, I suppose that’s good enough for me,” David conceded, once more crossing his arms and looking stern, “but that doesn’t mean I let him off easy.  I may have missed out on being the overprotective dad while she was in high school, but I’m milking it for all it’s worth now.”

Mary Margaret just grinned at him and then looked expectantly toward the door as the knob turned and Emma walked in.

NEXT CHAPTER-->

[platonicyanderereverie]

ok so reader who is obbsesed with cooking is in an argument with pierro and pierro says something in khanreas language to calm down, then reader speaks FLUENTLY khanreian and says «you do know I know what you said» with a bitch face

Then pierro asks in khanrean «you kan speak this language how!?!»

And reader just says STILL SPEAKING khanreian «cuz I wanted to read the ancient recipies»

and then we have the other harbingers except dottore and maybe columbina just looking confused meanwhile columbina is trying not to laugh and dottore is currently super interested in what the reader knows.

sorry if this was a little long and you choose what this will end up being.

Thank you for your request🫵 this turned a tad short loll

Platonic yandere harbingers reacting to chef reader being able to speak khaenri’ahn

[warnings!: none]

You probably got into an argument with Pierro due to your little obsession getting out of hand. That being said, Pierro would try to shoot any rebellion down as soon as it rose, especially if it was during a Harbinger meeting. However, your stubbornness had proven to be quite difficult.

A sigh that sank into a slightly annoyed growl escaped the man. His hand firmly gripped the edge of the smooth table as he reached up and rested it on the bridge of his nose in exasperation.

"What a pain…" he muttered, the syllables clearly not flowing out in common speech, but rather in Kaehnrian.

"I can still understand you, you know, old man?" The voice from his right huffed in the same language, drawling out in an annoyed and deadpan tone, clearly similarly exasperated.

Pierro paused, blinking in surprise as he lowered his hand. The one gripping the table slipped off the smooth surface as he straightened his posture once more and picked his more proper demeanor back up, ignoring the eyes on them. "…and care to tell me how you know the Fallen tongue?" Kaehnrian was far from the most common and easy tongue to master.

By now, the damselette had stopped humming and was pressing a hand over her small grin to suppress the quiet snicker bubbling up.

The doctor seated on the left was listening in, rather intrigued, with a small fascinated smile. "Ah yes, do care to enlighten us on how you acquired your… skills?"

Reader simply shrugged, the lavish coat on their shoulders swaying slightly as they spoke. "There were a few ancient recipes that required the language, and I’m not one to pass up on some cultural cuisine simply because of a language barrier."

The jester’s hand had gone back to gripping the bridge of his nose by now as he sighed deeply again while Columbina’s snickers had grown louder.

"My, oh my, an impressive feat! And to think you dabbled purely for a few measly recipes, do tell me how far can you go while remaining fluent?" the doctor mused, his gloved fingers tapping against the table.

A quiet grunt of acknowledgment left the Captain after a small pause of silence, contemplating the new information.

"I must say, truly a rather interesting use of your time," Pantalone hummed, his finger resting on his chin thoughtfully.

"I, for one, believe that it’s a feat that deserves the praise it’s due," the Knave said simply as she crossed her arms after recovering from her initial surprise.

"Haha! You really are always full of surprises, huh?" Childe laughed from the other end of the table, placing both of his hands on it.

"Well, it is certainly something you wouldn’t hear every day," the rooster nodded, finger tapping against his cane.

"Don’t encourage their bluntness! I, for one, think that time could have been better spent helping me finish the puppet I was making rather than running off to learn a language barely spoken nowadays…" Sandrone piped up in her usual clinical tone, which now held an edge.

You revelation had caused a stir, but considering the things that usually come out of your mouth, it’s not all too surprising…

[nerdieforpedro]

Weekend Update 03/03/2024

Hello! This update will be a bit shorter than others. Due to school and other things I haven't written or read as much as I normally do. In fact, I'll need to push back one of my series because the outline for it doesn't look right at all. 🥸 I'm feeling more moody and my smut fairy is back. Not that I can't write fluff, it's just in shorter bursts. To sum up:

Two Hearts by the Ocean will be delayed by a week or two (hopefully I can get the outline to cooperate with ideas).

Roc & Doc is updated less regularly so it's not affected.

March Spring Prompts are ongoing. I've been keeping them under 1k so shouldn't be any issues there. I did several of them ahead of time so I'm working on the last 2/3's of the month. I think. There's 10 or 11 done currently. Ugh math.

Florida Heat and Foul Play are both smut so they're safe.

Weddings 101 with Dieter should be fine as well considering what I planned for the next chapter. Not sure when it will be out.

The Lake between us is still on schedule. (Out later today I believe and then bi-monthly.)

Diddle Disco Dieter is being beta read, so maybe this week.

Follow up to a Din Djarin one shot I did still pending. It doesn't have the right feel yet.

I'm also tinkering with a Javier Pena series and a Frankie Morales series as well.

Nerdie, you think maybe, you might have too many projects?

I'm not understanding what you're saying. 😙 Or maybe I do. I have been thinking about cutting back but then my brain says, 'No. Why? It's fine. Motivation comes and goes but your need to write is forever. Also, we can't just leave these ideas in here. They'll turn into cobwebs."

We...nevermind. Carry on.

Now for what you really came for, fic recommendations! 🥰 Make sure to check warnings before you read. 😎

Hot in the Hotel by @musings-of-a-rose Dieter Bravo with himself. (The mind is a wonderful thing. Also pro tip: accents). 😍

It's Leading me on every time we Touch by @ramblers-lets-get-ramblin (Poe Dameron x f. reader)

Aquarius by @magpiepills (Javier Pena x f. reader)

Private Chef Joel by @bluemusickid (Joel Miller x plus size f reader)

Hunger by @morallyinept (Pero Tovar x f. reader)

Hush by @dincrypt (Din Djarin x reader)

En El Mar by @magpiepills (Javier Gutierrez x f reader)

En El Mar by @magpiepills (Joel Miller x f. reader)

Lie to Me by @morallyinept (Javier Pena x reader)

Night Walks by @toxicanonymity (Joel Miller x f reader)

Feel Good by @charethcutestrory02 (Frankie Morales x Benny Miller)

Keep It by @jksprincess10 (Marcus Pike x reader)

Second Chances part 1 by @pedroscurls (Marcus Pike x f reader)

To the Flame chapter 6, chapter 7 and chapter 8 by @pedroshotwifey (dark Javier Pena x f reader)

Sorry by @secretelephanttattoo (Frankie Morales x f reader)

Bat & Al’s Hidden Treasure Fic Rec List by @magpiepills and @schnarfer

Stay safe and happy reading everyone! 🤗

Love Nerdie ❤️

[princess-of-the-corner]

Sorry, was just musing on something & skimming a season 1 episode list and like, OK now I get why you have Princess Perfuma so late in the game XD But two main things:

1: While many Akuma are laid at Chloe's feet (& some were like Reflekta, Perfuma and Kung Food) some really feel more like a group effort, circumstances or her being targeted unfairly, IE:

Ivan/Stoneheart was initially just straight up Kim and then nearly everyone in class being on his back about Stoneheart. Mylene was the situation, most of the class was getting irritated and Chloe just seemed to be the last straw. (Also Nino inviting someone he described as a brat to be in his movie. Again, Chloe may not have been beloved but she wasn't reviled at first) Then there's Nathanial where it really feels like he should have gone after the teacher unless he was trying to nice guy Marinette by murdering Chloe which... Well either way its off putting XD

2: I do think the season 1 sequence of events struggles to make some sense, given you'd think Rose would know Chloe's not liable to be particularly nice after what happened with Juleka.

Unless Chloe hands out apology gifts/baskets in-between some episodes XD

"Sorry for locking you in the bathroom so I could be next to Adrien in the picture. Dad always said anything to win & well, you becoming an Akuma certainly gave you a win, so even? No... OK, how about if I give you this obsidian dagger ne- OK we're cool then!"

"Sorry for ripping up your letter to Prince Ali, I mean I'm not sure why you were so upset, Mama throws away, destroys or rejects all my gifts, but I guess if you got AKumatized over it that it was serious or whatever. So, here's like, a pile of plushies?"

Yeah like.

Okay first off I love the name 'Princess Perfuma' better than 'Princess Fragrance' like damn the English dub was robbed there.

But also yeah its.

I go over this a chunk in LL but there's a lot that either Chloé's actions were only exacerbating a situation that was already happening, or she was entirely in the right.

Stoneheart? She actually didn't cause that one! Yes she did upset Ivan at one point which. Yeah given they don't know what's happening/why he went monster I can understand her skepticism. But Mari calms him down. The first Stoneheart was Kim's bullshit, and the second Stoneheart was the confession going wrong.

Lady Wifi? Alya was 100% in the wrong here. She was breaking into, rifling through, and taking pictures of Chloé's locker. All Chloé did was demand that she be given the proper consequences for doing so. If the tables were turned and it had been Chloé who was caught going through Alya's locker but the principal had said 'eh no harm done go back to class' you can bet everyone would be pissed about it.

Timebreaker? None of these idiots figured out how to put a pocket watch in a pocket. Yes Chloé yoinked the watch to look at it, but breaking it was a genuine accident.

Rogercop? Chloé reported a crime to a cop, the cop was like 'the fuck do you want me to do about it?' and got fired for not doing his job.

Horrificator? Mylene was scared and getting overwhelmed and everyone on the production was getting frustrated at her. Chloé might've been the first to snap, but someone would've eventually and with the same result.

Dark Cupid? While her rejection was harsh, any kind of rejection could have set Kim off in that moment. She is not obligated to return his feelings nor is she responsible for his emotions.

Vanisher? That one kinda is her fault but also friends fight! Sabrina did something that upset her, no matter how small it was, and she had a right to be upset. Just as Sabrina had a right to be upset in turn when Chloé started ignoring her. While technically in the wrong on this particular argument, the kids shouldn't have to walk on eggshells around each other and pretend things don't hurt them just because some butterfly bastard might give them magic powers.

Evillustrator? The teacher was far harsher than Chloé had been. Hell Chloé's comments were actually /complimentary/ and just outing an obvious crush. While the teacher had screamed at Nath in front of the class, told him his art was worthless and ugly, and that he was failing his classes.

And yeah Reflekta, Kung Food, and Princess Fragrance are more her purposely being a dick. And I'm not pretending that Chloé is 'nice' at any of these points. But things aren't black and white.

[gyupremacy]

In Good Hands | wjh.

↳ Pairing: wen junhui x fem!reader

↳ Genre: fluff, established relationship

↳ Au(s): slice of life

↳ Rating: PG-15

↳ Word Count: 1k

↳ Warning(s): none

↳ Summary: Work has been taking a toll on you as of late. Good thing that your caring boyfriend is there to help ease your stress.

↳ a/n: This made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside while writing ☺️. Thanks @rkivian for this great banner and @rose-likesto-write for taking the time to look over it! Hope you all enjoy it!

╔══ஓ๑♡๑ஓ══╗

"Baby, I'm home," you called out tiredly, wanting nothing more than to be greeted by your loving boyfriend.

You were too exhausted from a long day of office work and plopped down on the couch.

"Junhui! Where are you?" You yelled, taking your shoes off.

Untucking your button-up from the skirt, getting up to get something to drink when you saw him coming through the doorway.

"Y/N! How was work?" He asked, pecking your lips.

"Long," you said, huffing out.

Junhui had just gotten out of the shower by the looks of damp hair and the towel around his neck as he came behind you, wrapping his arms around your waist.

"I'm sorry to hear that, baobei," he said, planting a kiss on your shoulder.

"Is there anything I can do for you?"

"Well, you could stop getting water on me," you giggled as he unwrapped his arms around you.

He grabbed your hands, turning you around to face him, and brought both of your hands up, kissing them softly.

"How about a massage? You've been working hard lately and deserve some relaxation," Junhui mused.

"You're right, Jun. I've been pretty stressed lately, so I think a massage might help," you responded.

"Perfect! I'll bring the massage table out of the closet and get everything ready," he smiled, leaving the kitchen.

You went back to the living room and turned the TV on.

"Let's see what's out now," and clicked the Netflix icon.

Scrolling through the new releases, you settled on a limited series about which you heard from a friend talk about and began to unwind.

Junhui, on the other hand, wasn’t kidding about you needing some relaxation. He was really attentive and understanding when it came to you.

Sometimes, you did feel a bit guilty of burdening him with your troubles, especially when you saw how tired he looked from dance practice and he'd reassure you every single time that he didn't mind taking care of you, but you couldn't help but notice the faint dark circles around his eyes.

"Y/N, everything's set up! You can come back now!"

Speaking of Junhui, you soon followed his voice to the bedroom, where the lights were turned off as He lit the vanilla scented candles and smiled at how in awe you were.

"Wow! This looks amazing," you beamed and further spoke,

"You really pulled out all the stops, huh?"

"Of course! Anything for my favorite girl," Junhui quipped, bringing you over to the massage table.

"I'll grab the massage oil from the bathroom so you can get undressed in the meantime."

He left the bedroom and you changed out of your clothes. You wrapped the towel that was left on the bed around your body and laid flat on the stomach on the table.

The atmosphere was so soothing you could've fallen asleep right then and there if you hadn't known better.

He brought you back to the task at hand once he reappeared with the bottle of oil.

"I picked out lavender since it's your favorite," he quipped.

"So thoughtful," you praised.

You had brought up the idea several months ago to buy a massage table for both of you whenever either of you felt stressed. The oils were an added bonus for Valentine's, as

Junhui picked out three scents: one you liked, one he liked, and one that neither of you tried before.

"Anything for you, Y/N," Junhui smiled, putting the oil on the dresser.

Your heart fluttered at his words, watching him prepare the final touches.

"Is there any area that's been bothering you lately?" Junhui asked.

"My neck for sure and my shoulders," you explained.

He readjusted your towel, pulled it down to the dip of your back, and grabbed the bottle of massage oil from the dresser as he squeezed out somw on his hands, rubbing them together.

Once he brought his hands towards your shoulder blades, all the stress from the week began to slowly melt away.

"Mmm…" you murmured.

"You're rather tense right here. Are you feeling any pain?" Junhui asked.

"No, it feels nice," You turned your head towards him and smiled.

He nodded his head, continuing to knead the sore muscles on your shoulders, reaching closer to your neck.

You moved your arms slightly, folding them so you could lay your head down for support. That's when you cast a glance towards your boyfriend.

You just took in his appearance, the tousled hair, the way he pursed his lips in concentration, and how the mole above his lip moved up with the movements of his mouth.

Junhui had noticed you were staring and giggled.

"What's that look for?" He questioned.

"Just thinking," you contemplated.

Junhui had turned his attention towards your upper back, grabbing the massage oil to apply on the area. Your thoughts from earlier about him putting your needs before his own started plaguing your mind again.

"You know you didn't have to do this," you said.

"How come?" He asked.

"You always do things for me, but I feel like I don't do as much in return," you responded.

"Having to sit and listen to me go on and on about work when you spend hours on end memorizing choreography and singing."

"Y/N, you know how much I care about you. I'm here to listen no matter what," Junhui reassured.

"You're a hardworking and amazing woman and deserve all the love and care in the world."

Your heart started to melt at the praise you were receiving as he removed his hands from your lower back. You moved to sit up on the massage table and yawned.

"I didn't think getting a massage would make me this tired," you laughed.

"Well, as long as you enjoyed it, then I count that as a mission accomplished," Junhui joked.

You went to the dresser and pulled out some pajamas to put on. Your eyes started to blink as a sign that you were begging to doze off.

You hopped into the bed and got underneath the covers. Junhui came beside you and kissed your cheek.

"Goodnight, baby. I love you," Junhui whispered.

"I love you too," you smiled back.

╚══ஓ๑♡๑ஓ══╝

© gyupremacy, 2023. All rights reserved. 

[savage-rhi]

Lady d: I’ll have you bound and whipped!

Wesker, salivating: is that a promise?

@bumsonsblog Coming up!

Alcina took a deep drag from her cigarette, glaring at Wesker with scrutiny. Mother Miranda's commands and Heisenberg's snide remarks faded into the background. All she could focus on was the blond standing near the podium, and how the blood running under his flesh tickled her nose. The scent was repugnant. The blood of men always smelled like manure compared to women’s, but his had an extra layer. Something…dangerous.

By all accounts, Alcina knew she should have outed Wesker right then and there. He had introduced himself to the village as a mere man in search of a vision, with no ulterior motive. The cadou pulsing in her body suggested otherwise, as did the rest of her senses. Wesker was no ordinary man, nor was he quite a beast like herself and the other lords. There was something sinister about him, enough to where Alcina—despite years of confidence in killing just about anything—couldn't justify putting her entire family in danger for the sake of stroking her ego. She couldn't even bring herself to risk Heisenberg's life, despite her loathing for him and counting the days until Mother Miranda ordered his dispatch.

Once ground had been broken on the truce, the meeting adjourned. Mother Miranda was the first to leave, followed by Heisenberg, Moreau, and Donna. They didn't want to be there any longer than necessary. Alcina couldn’t blame them as she took a long drag from her cigarette and blew the smoke toward Wesker's face as she walked past him. The brief grimace he made brought a wicked smile to her lips.

"I know you've been trying to get my attention during the meeting," Wesker commented, adjusting his shades.

"Oh really?" Alcina chuckled sultrily before inquiring further. "Pray tell, what gave me away?"

He smirked. "I'm good at sensing when a predator is staring daggers into my skull."

"How perceptive," Alcina mused, looking down at him. "And what do you have to say to my actions?"

"For starters, you certainly have my attention now," Wesker said, adjusting his posture and craning his neck to meet her gaze. "So speak."

Alcina's left eye twitched. She didn't like how confident he was, how calm and collected he remained in her presence despite rightly calling out her predatory actions. The stupid man-thing should have been trembling in his pants like all the others who dared to look her in the eye. Yet he stood there, not even a speck of sweat on his brow.

"You wear many faces, Wesker. Even your blood plays the game," Alcina stated, taking another drag and letting the smoke fester out of her nostrils. "I don't know exactly what it is you're plotting, but a word to the wise while you stay in this village: do kindly watch your back. It would be an utter shame to lose such an important benefactor of Mother Miranda's because of an overstep."

"Are you threatening me, Lady Dimitrescu?"

"I prefer the term giving you a hint," Alcina bluntly remarked. "If you cross my daughters especially, I'll have you bound and whipped."

"Is that a promise?"

Alcina wanted nothing more than to slap the smug look off his face. The thought of impaling him with her claws and draining him dry crossed her mind. She would have succumbed to temptation had it not been for her loyalty to Mother Miranda. Unfortunately, if she trusted Wesker, the other lords had to follow suit. However, that didn't mean Alcina couldn't start sowing seeds of doubt in him and his so-called abilities.

Alcina crouched down to meet his eyes, delighting in how he took a step back. There it was—that split second of fear in his body she was looking for, reassuring her that she still had an edge against this threat.

"It's going to be a pleasure working with you, Mr. Wesker," Alcina said, eyeing him up and down like a cat debating whether to pounce on a trapped mouse. She then rose back up and sighed. "Do call on the castle if you need anything."

"How hospitable of you," Wesker muttered, watching Alcina depart from the old church.

He didn't know what to make of the lords in full, but he knew in his gut this one would be his biggest obstacle.

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[crimsonrae]

Vexation

I have missed you all! It has been a minute since I've posted here, but I feel like Tumblr is the place to put this piece - for now. I haven't had much time recently to do as much writing as I would like, but I was perusing old outlines and ideas and stumbled upon one from ages ago for Pirates of the Caribbean. Suddenly, my muse woke up and I wrote close to twenty pages in three days.

Premise: Basically, this is a what-if for Captain Jack Sparrow. What if during the first three movies he had someone that vexed him. His version of a wife because he can't do anything normal.

The scene written below is set during Dead Man's Chest, after the Brethren Court convened. Be advised it's long.

I would like to know what you all think. I have four other scenes for this all waiting to be flushed out and would welcome any thoughts or critiques.

Mildly horrified and entirely exasperated, Jack wasn’t even sure grief could sink into his measly guts as he watched Teague tuck the shrunken head of his mother away. Mostly because he wasn’t even sure that was his mother and that his father hadn’t completely lost his marbles. He wouldn’t put it past his mother to have such a thing delivered to Teague if the two were on the outs again.  

And people wondered why he was so mad, look at what he sprang from...Christ’s Blood. 

It was almost like another Tuesday; this is what being back on the Cove did to him... No, that wasn’t quite right, this is what being near any of his family did to him. 

Dull amusement began to seep in as the lingering implications of Teague carrying that head around began to settle. 

 Jack smiled as he gestured awkwardly to his father’s coat, “Not a bad way to startle the grandkids.”  

Teague smirked as he quietly admitted, “Already have. Your woman only let me do it once to little Rosie. Done it a few to the boy - I think Rosie handled it better.” 

Jack snorted unsurprised by his family antics. Rose more than likely took the shrunken head to be a new strange doll. Jonah was old enough to know better. He did wonder when Teague had made the time to stop in on them. 

“They’re here. Up in the Alley.” Teague murmured lightly as if sensing his son’s thoughts, fingers strumming gently at his guitar. 

“What!” A sharp flash of surprise lit Jack’s dark eyes before he masked it behind something that Teague couldn’t quite read. Worry if he had to guess and confirmed as Jack quietly growled, “You brought ‘em here?” 

Teague bit back a sigh as he gave his son a pointed look, “Wasn’t intending on it... Honestly, still puzzlin’ out how Quinn talked me into their passage aboard. I had told her no.” 

“She likely just ignored you.” It's what she did when they had been children. Jack rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath about devious strumpets. He felt sick. They weren’t to be here; he never would have made that deal with Beckett otherwise.  

He needed to see to preparations for his ship before Barbossa got too far in his ego thinking he was captain of the Pearl again, but he would make time to see his children and he had a bone to pick with his woman. His hearted lifted a bit...she was here. 

It was only as he lurched away from his father that Teague called out to him, “Go easy on her, Jackie. She’s been through the gamut.” 

Jack nearly scoffed.  

He hadn’t? 

He had been swallowed by a bloody gigantic cephalopod and trapped in Davy’s Locker with stony crabs and far – far too much time with his thoughts. Besides he didn’t bloody remember her being present to save him.  

Admittedly, Jack knew that last uncharitable thought was unfair – he would not have been happy to see her in the Locker. Not when they had their two little treasures to protect, and he was well aware that the onus of that responsibility fell to her.  

Which was why he wasn’t terribly happy on her being here now.  

Despite being a fortress, Shipwreck Cove, the city, and its inhabitants would be raided should the Pirate Lords fail in their endeavor to stop Beckett and Jones. It was the last place he wanted Quinn and the children to be.  

It was with clear intent and purpose that Jack made his way back to the Pearl. Gibbs and Marty would have a head for what was already on board, and they would have to make do with what supplies they could get in the city. Jack could only hope that word had spread already of what was afoot and that the shopkeepers would keep any wily haggling to a minimum – of course, a few would see the coming battle as a golden opportunity to gouge their prices.  

Barbossa was already issuing orders when Jack stepped aboard, but he paid his former first mate and current rival little mind. The brunt of the crew was paying him more attention anyway as he asked a few carefully plotted questions before heading to his cabin for parchment and quill. Barbossa hadn’t spent near as much time on the Cove as Jack had... none of his crew had really, but there were a couple that were familiar with the city’s workings. It would have to be enough. 

Jack tagged a few more orders onto Barbossa’s before snagging a handful of the crew to head into the city. A list of merchants and an inventory of necessities in hand, he passed instructions onto his little group and watched as they dispersed to follow orders. They would be back on ship by the time he was done with his own errands.  

-----

He was stepping out of Doc Nessa’s shop when he felt the familiar glance of a small body skimming his hip. He didn’t even think as his fingers grasped the back of a well-loved shirt and tugged the body inside around. A pair of familiar dark eyes far too intelligent to belong to a child, but in fact did, regarded him.  

A wild thrill of amusement coursed through his gut, though Jack was careful not to show it as he returned his son’s indifferent regard, “Need to be quicker than that, lad. Hand it over.” 

Jonah scowled as he held out his father’s compass. Well, a compass. One that Jack had pilfered from Barbossa. 

Jack took it with gentle care before he arched a brow, “The rest?” 

Jonah slumped and pulled a coin purse and a ring from his pockets.  

Jack blinked in surprise at the ring before casting a glance to his right hand where indeed one of his rings was missing. He hadn’t even noticed that one, that was impressive.  

In return Jack held up a French silver medallion and grinned as Jonah blanched and checked his pockets. 

Jonah reached out to snag it, but Jack yanked it back, “Da!” 

“Pay attention to your possessions next time, eh?” Jack said as he tucked the medallion in his pocket, “Want it back? Best figure out a way to get it. Savvy?” 

A churlish pout curled his boy’s mouth, but he nodded before mumbling a quiet, “Savvy.” 

“Good lad.” Jack murmured before he crouched down, “Now come ‘ere and give your old man a proper greetin’.” 

Jonah hesitated much to Jack’s consternation. He had never known his boy to be leery with him and he didn’t care for it starting now. He refused to have the same relationship with his son that he had with Teague. As if summoned from the depths, Teague’s words about Quinn having a difficult time came floating back to him... What had gone on in his absence? 

He didn’t have time to ask before he had his arms filled with a seven-year-old. He relaxed and wrapped a tight arm around his boy as he felt Jonah turn into a limpet. That was more like it. 

Grinning, he pressed a kiss to Jonah’s ear as he murmured, “Missed ya, lil’ scallywag. You causin’ trouble for your mother?” 

“Aye.” Jonah answered against Jack’s chest. 

“You watchin’ out for your sister?” 

“Aye.” 

“Rosie tormentin’ you?” 

“Aye.” 

“You been getting revenge on her?” 

There was a pause before Jonah uttered, “No.” 

Jack nearly snorted in disbelief, but quite seriously asked, “And why not?” 

“Mum would tan me hide.”  Jonah stated as if it were obvious. He wasn’t dumb enough to admit to any wrongdoing he hadn't been caught at – especially not to his parents.  

Jack chuckled and gently pushed his son to stand back, “Depends on what you did and if you get caught. ‘Sides you probably deserve a good tanning every once in a while.” 

“Daaaa.” Jonah whined, making Jack snicker further before he was attacked by another small body. 

He leaned sideways and he grunted under the sudden impact, but the lilting giggle gave away his accoster long before he caught sight of her face. This was another one that could use a tanning or two.  

“Oi! Careful, darlin’. You gonna break this old man.” Jack cried as he lifted Rose to perch on his hip. He couldn’t stay crouched any longer, “Miss me?” 

“Aye.” Rose chirped as she grinned widely at her father.  

Jack’s heart melted under that smile and damn if his little girl didn’t know the power that she had over him. Just like her mother. He pressed a kiss to her cheek before she snuggled further into his hold. 

Seven bells rang in the distance, and he suddenly realized the hour. It was a bit late for his two wildings to be running amuck. Yet as he peered down the alley Rosie had flown from he saw the familiar shape of Quinn’s guard lingering.  

Poor blighter must have been put on watch. 

“Why are you two not with your mother?” 

“Mummy said youse be here and um- we wanted to find you, but we – uh – we made new friends and we’s got to playin’.” Rosie explained excitedly, “And then Morris came to get us and then Jony disappeared, and we’ve been lookin’ for ‘im.”  

“Is that so?” Jack murmured as he sent a speculative glanced to his son. 

Jonah stared unperturbed back at him, and Jack was reminded that this was very much his son. Stubborn and underhanded. 

As if to reinforce Rose’s words a faint cry from the opposite street caught the children’s attention. A few of the wharf rats were lingering and Jack took them to be the new friends. Jonah had a longing glint in his eye, and he sighed reluctantly, “Back to the quarters by first bell or I’ll put you over me knee meself, savvy?” 

Jonah didn’t wait and went skittering off before Jack had a chance to change his mind, “Savvy!” 

“I wanna go too!” Rosie cried, wriggling to get out of father’s hold.  

Jack held tight, “Ah, ah, no. I don’t think so, luv. You are gonna keep your old man safe as he goes and finds your mum.” 

“Nooo!” Rosie howled. 

“No?” Jack cried back, nodding to Morris as he passed him in the alley, “No? So, you want your dear dad to be savagely attacked? How cruel you be, little Rose. However, will I be able to find your fair mother all be me onesies, I wonder. Be a good lass and help your da out, eh?” 

His attempt at guilt did little to persuade the five-year-old as she stared at him mutinously. She was developing a fine glare to stop a man cold. It was obvious that Rosie had been spending far too much time with her mother. He barely dodged her little hands as she reached to pull his chin braids. Jack had almost forgotten that she needed no instruction to fight dirty.  

And it was a fight...all the way back to the quarters which only ended as he began to regale her with stories from the past. He pitied any man who dared to woo his daughter once she was older.  

It was a thought that vanished as he swept into the old family quarters only to find Quinn nowhere in sight. It was odd to suddenly be standing in a place that he had done everything he could to run away from – an all too familiar unease began to twist in his gut, and he had to bite his tongue to not become lost to ghosts that still haunted him. He tilted his head down the hall and saw a barely perceptible glow emanating from the slap shod parceling of lumber that was to act as a staircase.  

Jack nearly groaned. She was in Grandmama’s old quarters... Quinn was trying to punish him. 

Lovely. 

“Daddy?” Rosie cried softly as she watched her father’s countenance turn sour. Childish worry peered at him through eyes that were so like his. 

Jack forced a small smile to his lips before he tapped her nose, “Let’s get you to bed, eh? You’ll need your energy to go torment your brother come mornin.” 

Surprisingly, Rosie merely pouted a little at the bid for bed. Either she was more tired than she wanted to admit, or she still sensed the poor mood possessing her father. Jack didn’t want to explore either option, but he would take the opportunity her current submissiveness was giving him.  

----

He dawdled. 

He would never admit it, but he loitered in his old bedroom watching his daughter curl around a pillow as she fell into an easy slumber. He itched with the desire to haul her out and bring her to his cabin on the Pearl. Too many memories haunted this decrepit place and only a handful were counted as anything happy or good. He wanted none of it to touch his children.  

Jack couldn’t understand why he was here – Why Quinn had chosen to come back here. Even if it was to check in on him.  She held as little love for this place as he did... less in some regards. But he wouldn’t get any answers by hiding away. 

He came out just as Jonah crept through the front door. Jack arched a brow as he heard first bell in the distance, “Cuttin’ it close, lad.” 

Jonah fidgeted under his father’s stare before uttering, “Still ‘afore the bell.” 

“Aye, so you were.” Jack hummed and nodded to him to get to the bed with his sister, “Go on. To bed wit ya. Don’t let me catch you out of it.” 

“Da?” 

Jonah called as Jack ambled towards the stairs. He turned to find a churlish frown pinching his boy’s features.  

Jonah swallowed tightly as he stuttered out, “Ar- are you leavin’ us again?” 

Again. 

The quiet resignation in his son’s voice fair broke Jack’s heart, but he was unsurprised by it. In a perfect world he would keep his family aboard the Pearl with him. In a perfect world he wouldn’t miss months of his children’s lives. But a pirate ship was no place for a child and Jack had been a pirate for too long to stop now.... The world wasn’t perfect, and reality was a far more painful place as his son was beginning to learn. Jack just wished he wasn’t the one teaching that lesson already. 

He crouched down before Jonah again, this time tilting his boy’s chin up as he answered honestly – because his son deserved honesty, “Aye. I am, but I hope to be with you again soon.” 

“I don’t want you to go.” A suspicious sheen had come to decorate Jonah’s dark eyes. A wobble to his lips.  

It dawned on Jack then that Jonah must have just heard about the coming battle. Word had been slower than he had anticipated reaching the shops, but it would have spread through the city fully by now and his boy wasn’t stupid enough not to listen. 

Jack winced as he murmured soothingly, “Now none of that, lad.” 

“Please.” Jonah choked out, unable to hold back his tears. He was suddenly folded into his father’s embrace as he broke into a sob. Rum, sea salt, and gunpowder invaded the little boy’s senses – it was a unique combination of scents that he would forever associate with his father. It was home and it was safe, and he lost it every time his father disappeared to the sea.  

Jonah burrowed into him in a way that made Jack think he was trying to hide in his pocket. Jack closed his eyes sadly and tightened his hold as he let his boy cry it out, “Wants and needs, Jony. Very rarely do those two ever line up. I would love nothing more than to keep you and your sister and your mother with me always, but it's just not possible. So, we must steal what time we can with each other and not give any of it back.” 

Jonah sniffled, “Be a pirate.” 

“Aye.” Jack murmured, “Be a pirate.” 

They sat together soaking in what comfort they could before Jonah pushed back and wiped at his nose. His eyes were swollen still with his tears, and it hurt something deep in Jack to watch his son try and be brave. He was too young for that skill yet. 

A glint of silver caught his eye, and Jonah gave a watery smile as he held up his medallion, freshly stolen back into his care. 

Jack huffed a faint laugh, “Well done, lad. I’ll make a pirate out of you yet. Or at the very least, a very competent thief.” 

Ruddy cheeks still damp were softly soothed by Jack’s rough hands before he prodded Jonah to the bedroom his sister was in, “Go on. Give your face a wash and get to bed.” 

Jack stood in the doorway as he watched Jonah reluctantly follow his orders. The dry sink holding the washing bowl made his boy seem incredibly small and too grown all at once. He made a mess of washing his face, but it was more of a cover to hide fresh tears and soft hitched breaths.  

Jack pretended not to notice, no sense in embarrassing the boy.  Finally, he shucked his clothes and grabbed a large shirt Quinn had left out. Jack recognized it as an old one of his and that brought on an entire new swell of bittersweet emotion to drown his heart. 

It was only as Jonah began to settle next to his sister that Jack meander back to tuck him in. He smiled faintly under his son’s doleful gaze before giving into the temptation to press a kiss to his temple, “Sleep, lad. Tomorrow’s a new day with new adventures.” 

“Take what you can.” Jonah whispered. 

“And give nothin’ back.” Jack whispered back solemnly. He gave a light squeeze to his boy’s shoulder in silent good night. 

-----

 A heavenly sight greeted Jack when he finally made his way upstairs. The bare expanse of Quinn’s back was on display as her shift hung loosely around her waist. His gaze drifted up from her shapely legs to the delicious curve of her bottom over the dark lines that inked her spine to the thin wispy curls that had found freedom from the mishappened updo she had imprisoned the rest of her mane in.  Steam rose from the tub residing beside her and for a moment Jack quite forgot his irritation with her. 

For a moment, anyway. The tense set of her shoulders was his first clue that he wasn’t the only one out of sorts. 

“Now, there’s a sight for sore eyes.” Jack murmured as he leaned against the doorframe. Her lukewarm welcome was his second clue. 

Green eyes peeked over a slim shoulder at him as Quinn place a bottle of some concoction down, “Wondered if you’d actually come up here.” 

Jack wasn’t sure if here was the quarters or Grandmama’s room in specific and he didn’t care to ask. He ignored the subtle prompting in her comment with a gesture that said, ‘well, here he stood’. It didn’t surprise him when Quinn rolled her eyes and turned back to her ablutions. 

“Are the children sorted?” 

“Aye.” Jack answered with a frown. He hated talking to her back – even if it was a glorious view. It made it a mite difficult to ascertain what was going on in her head, “As you well know. Surprised you didn’t step in while Jony was cryin’.” 

“He needed you, not me.” She said with a slight shrug, but he felt the truth in her words. Jonah had wanted his papa. There be no denying that. 

“Shall I wash your back, luv? Get those hard-to-reach places.” Jack offered as he sauntered closer, “Nice and squeaky clean, eh?” 

Quinn snorted, “Your dirty hands are not to touch me, Jack. When was the last time you had a washin’, you filthy pirate?” 

Jack paused, slightly offended and unwillingly amused as he pondered that query. He didn’t think that he as that dirty – he had definitely been worse, “I took a dip not too long ago, I’ll have you know.” 

Surely hanging upside down in the ocean counted. 

“You can take another now. Waters for you. I’ve already bathed.” Quinn said, her hands moving to pull up her shift when his came to stop her. 

“Now don’t do that, luv.” Jack whispered against her ear as he pressed against her. He bit back a smile as he felt a faint shudder wrack her body, “I’m quite enjoyin’ you half dressed. Course it’d be even better if you were completely undressed.” 

“Jack...” 

His lips brushed over the curve of her neck as his hands slid over her hips to hold her more firmly...except, there was more of her than he expected. Jack paused as his grip flexed over the small swell of her belly. Only just slightly bigger than a bump. His heart leapt into his throat in realization before his dark gaze snapped up to find her watching him warily. 

“Thought I told you not to touch me with those dirty hands.” Quinn rasped, trying for a light – indifferent tone and failing. 

“I’ll touch you however much I want, woman.” Jack said thickly, “Is that why you came here? To tell me?”   

 “Thought you should know... You’ll have one more to be comin’ back to.” She mumbled, “You need to stop gettin’ me with child.” 

Jack grinned, fierce joy and pride batting back his outright terror for the moment, “Whatever for? I quite enjoy gettin’ you fat with my child.” 

He grunted a moment later as her elbow collided with his side and she growled calmly, “Fat? I’ll show you fat, Jack Sparrow.” 

Despite the playful glint in her eye, Jack chuckling, quickly grasped both her wrists before she could do something decidedly unpleasant to his person. Now, he understood why Teague had let her come. A pregnant Quinn was an impossible Quinn to reason with, “Come ‘ere.”  

He tugged her around and stole the kiss he had been angling for since he had stepped inside. It felt good to have her with him again. It was downright beautiful actually. There had been a few dark moments when he wondered if he’d make it back to her and the kids. And he had – they were here. 

At least for the moment and he’d take it. 

He’d steal this time like he had told Jonah to do. 

Jack broke the kiss, reveling in her mewl of protest as he leant his head against hers, “Another one, eh?” 

“Aye.” Quinn murmured back, “You upset?” 

“Have I ever been upset over being made a father?” He asked blithely, “Or given you cause to think I’d be?” 

“Jack...” She sighed, “It’s different this time and you know it.” 

Tendrils of the terror he had been pushing back were starting to grasp, but he refuse to let it hold. The memory of her last pregnancy was clearer than air for him. The babe they had lost - How he had nearly lost her as well... Damn her for alluding to it. His hold on her tightened almost imperceptibly.  

Jack shrugged, pressing his lips to her crown, “So, we’re a little older – a little more damaged, a little more weary. Still wouldn’t change a thing.” He pushed back and nudged her to do the same as he did a quick calculation in his head, “Let’s have a look at ya. Be about five months, that right?” 

Quinn hesitated, making Jack frown. She had never been shy with him before and he didn’t understand her reluctance now. Jonah had done the same. It was on the tip of his tongue to say something until his appraising gaze found the crest of her bosom or more specifically the top of her left breast and what should have resided there. 

His mark... 

“What’s this?” He breathed. 

The dark lines of the sparrow over the horizon that normally decorated her skin had faded. It wasn’t the type of blanching that would come from the sun, but it was as if the ink had eroded to a thin sketch. His fingers traced the mark bewildered before he yanked the sleeve of his shirt up to view his matching bird.  

It had burned something fierce while he had been in the Locker. A hallucination. Or at least... Had that pain been real? He had thought - taken it to mean really that his soul saying he was too far from his other half... but now?  

It had changed.  

The dull bluish black lines had become more a sickly grey. He hadn’t noticed...it’d had stop hurting once he had left the Locker and he had all but put the odd experience from his mind. 

It was then Jack truly took stock of his woman. Faint circles lined her usually lively emerald eyes, her cheeks a little hollower than he would like... She was pale. Sallow really. Despite that he knew for a fact, that she tended to spend a fair bit of time out in the sun. 

“It may not have been just the babe that brought me here. I guess that bonding ceremony we did wasn’t as much of a lark as we thought.” Quinn uttered quietly. She bit her lip and stepped away as she pulled her shift into place, “Get your bath. I wanna check on the little ones.”  

Jack watched her go with gaping worry. 

Go easy on her, Jackie. She’s been through the gamut. 

What the blood hell had happened in his absence? 

-----

Quinn was mildly astonished to see that Jack had followed her decree to bathe when she returned to the room. Of course, he was already reaching for a towel...  

She hadn’t been gone more than a few minutes, “You’ve only made the dirt on you muddy, at least scrape it off.” 

“You want me clean, luv, you best get over here and give me a hand.” Jack grumbled as he sent her a sly glance, “Get those hard-to-reach places.” 

Quinn scoffed at him, “For someone who loves bein’ on the water, you have a peculiar resistance to gettin’ in it.” 

“It’s not the same though is it.” Jack replied as he washed his arms a bit better. He wanted to see the full extent of the change to his mark, “Of course, there be a list of interestin’ questions you’d be good to answer if you want me to sit in this water longer.”  

“I have a feelin’ I’ll be answerin’ those questions regardless.” She muttered, but she snagged a washrag and poked him to sit forward so she could sit on the lip of the tub behind him, her dainty feet brushed his hips. It wouldn’t be too much longer before her belly would make such a feat impossible. 

Jack fairly purred as she worked the rag across his back, lightly massaging as she went, “Aye, you would...What’s happened, Quinn?” 

“Let’s see... You left.” She supplied unhelpfully, but she sensed his unimpressed glare long before he opened his mouth, “I had business in New Orleans – its changed since we’ve last been. Kids caught the measles. That was a miserable few weeks. I missed two of my courses before realizin’ I was increasin’. Oh, and then suddenly, I was struck by the most debilitatin’ pain – bit like takin’ a hot poker to the chest I reckon. Scared poor Jonah half to death with the way I screamed, ended up passin’ out thankfully, but I was sure I had lost the babe. Bloody miracle, I hadn’t. That was when I received word of your demise and then Teague stopped by on his way to here and I figure it best to hear what was goin’ on.” 

Jack hummed as he was once again dropped into a pool of horrified and exasperated. Only Quinn could utter all of that like was the most casual thing in the world. Just afternoon tea, really. It should have clued him in really. That sort of passivity from her only meant that she was brimming with fire beneath the surface.  

It didn’t for his ire with her was definitely rearing its head once more. He didn’t even know where to begin with all of that, so he waspishly muttered, “Oh is that all? Just another bloody Tuesday, is it?” 

“It’s Wednesday actually.” 

“Quinn.” Jack rebuked, losing his patience.  

He needed to see her.  

He twisted, grabbing her wrist, and yanked her around so suddenly that water sloshed out of the tub. She fell haphazardly into his lap. Her shift was soaked within seconds. 

“Oh!” She growled, livid.  

She became even more so when she caught his agitation with her. As far as she was concerned, he didn’t have the bloody right. It was as if a bubble had burst within her. Everything that she had kept bottled up for last half year came flowing out at him.  

The tub wasn’t big enough to accommodate two people, but she somehow maneuvered herself to straddle him before she began raining blows, “You are –Such -A – Bastard!” 

“Ow! Woman!” Jack wouldn’t admit it aloud, but he would rather endure this rage from her than the barbed flippancy she had been spewing behind his head. Though the way she was wriggling in his lap wasn’t helping matters on another end. A particularly hard blow to his stomach had him restraining her wrists again as they both labored for breath. 

Quinn glared at him, hot tears stinging her eyes as she wrathfully muttered, “You died! You died! You -” 

And there was the heart of the matter... at least for her. The anguish in her emerald eyes startled Jack. It had been a long time since he had seen her this upset. A rush of guilt tore through him like a riptide and she saw it too.  

She tried to yank her hands free to strike him again, but Jack held firm, “I know, luv, I know. But I’m here now. I’m back.” 

“Oh, codswallop!” Quinn swore a blue streak, “You’re here? For how long? Or are you not chargin’ out into that bloody massacre that’s set for tomorrow? Shall I plan the eulogy now?” 

Jack’s face darkened and it took some not inconsiderable control for him not lash out the way he wanted to – they had both been through hell. He could recognize that, even with the bare bones accounting that Quinn had given him. Like the sun rose in the east, he knew that she hadn’t told him everything. He also knew he had scared her and if the tables had been turned, he would be just as furious. 

Lord, he didn’t want to fight with her. He really didn’t, but a thought had occurred that he wanted answered, “Quinn - Quinn, stop wrigglin’!” 

She didn’t and he muttered a quick oath before he shifted his grasp on both her wrists to one hand before he delved his other between their bodies. 

Quinn jerked in shock as his fingers grazed over her slit, searching for evidence of arousal as much as desiring a way of stilling her. She didn’t even notice when he let her go, only that she was suddenly bracing herself on his shoulders as he caught her startled gaze and a sank a finger into her. 

She emitted a strangled, “Jack!” 

“Told you to stop wrigglin’.” Jack murmured smugly as he tried not to lose the thread of thought he had been chasing before he decided it’d be a good idea to reexplore tempting territory to get her attention. Throwing her down and ravishing her was fast becoming an overwhelming desire – especially as she made no attempt to stand up and leave. Maybe they needed to fuck this one out, “Now, before you resume abusin’ my person, luv, do us a favor and tell me... when you made the fundamentally stupid decision to come back to the Cove -” 

Her nails dug into his shoulder, and he hissed before adding another finger to his play, “That’s not nice, luv... When you made the decision, did you know I was alive?” 

Quinn frowned at him, wondering why this was so important. Of all the things that she had said to him this was the last line of inquiry she had expected... and really wasn’t that just like him.  

Impatience seemed to get the best of him again at her prolonged silence as he very purposefully curled his fingers inside of her. Quinn suppressed a moan as he grazed that spot that brought such exquisite pleasure. A mordant liquid began to seep to her loins, “...Yes.” 

“Sorry, was that yes to my question or are you beggin’ me for more, darlin’?” Jack asked grinning wickedly. She swore at him which only made him giddy, “Pirate.” 

“Jack, I can’t focus when you’re doin’ that.” She said, trying to tug his arm up, but he didn’t budge. 

“Good, I don’t want you focusin’ too hard.” He murmured back, quite forgetting what he was about as he leaned in and nipped at the skin exposed by her collar. The faded lines of his mark glared up at him. That would be fixed... Had to be. 

“Yes.” Quinn said, “Yes, to your question.”    

“How did you know?” 

“Your bloody mark.” Quinn murmured, “It stopped feeling like it was going to burn me from the inside out.” 

Jack went silent. A deep frown marring his features and she could only wait for him to verbalize his thoughts. He fell back, allowing her the freedom to get up if she so chose. She didn’t. 

“Not as much of a lark, eh?” Jack finally said, but there was no hiding the anguish behind his words.  

Just a bunch of words that ceremony. Neither of them had been keen on a proper marriage but their own promises? A blood pact that was meant to twine their souls?  That added a touch of mystery, and romance, and fun – well that had been right up their alley, now hadn’t it. 

What bloody fools they had been... 

Quinn found that she unwillingly softened in the face of his horror, and she sighed, “I think the babe is what kept me from joinin’ you... wherever you were.” 

Jack peered at her quizzically, not following her line of thought. 

 “A bit of you is in me, isn’t it? It’s how we’re creatin’ this little life.” Quinn whispered, not willing to tell him that she also suspected that was why she had been in such horrible pain. The bond didn’t know where to pull her too – so it tore at her, “An entwining of essences to be forever one.” 

Jack swallowed as she recited the words from the ceremony, “Doesn’t sound quite as sensual anymore, does it?” 

“No...” Quinn agreed, it sounded downright terrifying now. She drew a fortifying breath, “How long? How long before you have to go?” 

“We’re to leave at daybreak.”  

“Right.” Jack froze as she leveled a cold glare on him that made his heart cringe in anticipation of her wrath, “Don’t you dare die on me again, Jack Sparrow.” 

She swiftly removed herself from the tub before he could respond. Her back to him once more as she hid a rush of tears. She shed her wet shift with little care as he murmured, “I wouldn’t dream of it, Quinnie.”     

 Though she was better at hiding her tears than their son, Jack still noticed, and he wasn’t about to pretend he hadn’t otherwise.  

The sloshing of water was her only warning before he was on her. His fingers grasped her elbow and spun her around before she could think. Her mouth found his first. Harsh, angry, biting as she unleased her distress upon him and... claimed him. Jack took it all, silently relishing in the rare show of possessiveness from her. Anything to make her tears stop. He couldn’t stand her crying for him, never could. 

His arms became bands around her waist as he pulled her tight. For the first time in months the world seemed to still and feel right. A strange peace fell over them both. Their kiss broke when the need for air became too great, but that didn’t stop her from nuzzling into him, trailing biting kisses along his jaw as he walked them back to the bed.  

Jack hummed as her attentions fell to his neck and he realized she was truly laying claim to him with a mark of her own, “You’re not normally one for love bites, what’s brought this on?” 

“Just a reminder.” Quinn murmured as she let him push her onto the mattress. Her hands traced the panes of his body as if she was trying to commit it to memory. 

Jack crawled over her, nipping her lip, but he couldn’t help but ask, “Reminder? It’s unlikely I’ll be attractin’ a strumpet to me tomorrow for you to chase off with a reminder.” 

“Reminder’s for you.” Quinn said drolly even as she spread her legs for him. She wanted him close – needed it really and he was moving too slow when they had only a few hours before he’d leave again... 

“Woman, you’re not makin’ a lick of sense.” Jack stated stoutly, firmly ignoring her overtures for a quick fuck.  

This wasn’t Tortuga and he wasn’t taking her against an alley wall. Though... A faint smile tugged at his lips at the few good memories they had against said walls. He wanted to see her. He took in the fullness of her breasts and smoothed his palms lovingly over her growing belly. He had always been fascinated by the change pregnancy wrought on her body. 

Quinn tugged on the end of one of his dreads as he leaned down to place a kiss to her stomach, “It’s just to make you think twice before you do something incredibly stupid – Like become so distracted by a kiss as to get yourself shackled to a ship and then killed.” 

Jack reared up to find Quinn staring at him with an indifference that scared him more than her anger, “I haven’t the foggiest of what you’re on about.” 

“Mmhmm.” 

He couldn't stop himself from playing with fire though, “But if I did... How much groveling would one have to do to be forgiven for such an infraction? Pray tell.” 

Quinn was silently amused as she watched him try to puzzle out how much trouble he was in exactly – Never mind that he had her completely naked and willing at the moment, “Alot, more if I have to throw myself at you to get any kind of satisfaction tonight. You’re doin’ a very poor job of making me feel desirous right now.” 

Jack had the gall to look affronted at her critique, “I’ve been harder than a bloody hammer since I’ve stepped into this room, luv. Let’s not pretend you don’t know the effect your utterly delectable and sinful body has on my person or that you intentionally kept yourself half-dressed to lull me into forgetting’ where exactly we are right now. Which well-played by the way.” 

“I haven’t the foggiest of what you’re on about.” Quinn uttered back at him, shrieking with laughter a moment later as he pounced on her. Her laughter was dissolved by a rather thorough kiss that left her with no doubts of Jack’s desire for her. 

A slow heat swept through her as she fell into his touch. The familiarity of him was a comfort that she had been lacking for too long. His scent, his strength, his warmth surrounded her, and she basked in it, just as Jack basked in her. He was almost... reverential. As if he was not entirely sure that she was real as he took his time rediscovering her body.  

Calloused fingers hooked under her knee and pulled her wider as he entered her...slowly... so slowly. As if he were afraid of her hurting her. To be fair, her muscles strained a bit from being split, but it was a welcome discomfort that disappeared with the relief of being fulfilled. 

Quinn emitted a pleased sigh as he bottomed out and Jack moaned, enjoying the way her lurid cavern suckled him so sweetly.  

His lips danced over hers in a gossamer caress as he watched her, “Alright?” 

“Hmmm.” Quinn hummed contently. She drew a finger across his cheek, marveling at his gentleness for not the first time, “I missed you.” 

Jack smiled warmly at her, as his arms came to rest on either side of her head. He stole a true kiss then, “And I, you, luv.” 

“Then you should ravish me, Pirate.” She teased, arching against him in silent demand. 

“Aye. I should.” Jack chuckled as he began to thrust languidly.  

He was intent on drawing their union out for a multitude of reasons. A petty one being that he knew it would drive her mad and he was still stinging over where their fortuitous reunion was occurring. More significantly, Quinn had successfully lit the fuse on every one of his concern canons with her wan appearance and he didn’t trust her to tell him if she was feeling unwell. Stubborn bint that she was.   

Amusedly, he could practically feel Quinn’s frustration build as she shifted, matching his movement, but also trying to get enough purchase to change the pace to something faster. 

“Jack!” 

He shook with laughter but stilled – knowing she had reached the limit of his teasing, “I should have gotten you off before playin’, luv. I’m sorry. I’d forgotten how insatiable this state makes you.” 

“Insufferable.” She grumbled, pinching his side as he reached for a pillow to put under her hips. He jumped, swatting lightly at her as he resituated them, “You’re treating me like I’m made of glass.” 

Jack realized then that Quinn didn’t know how fragile she looked to him, like a good gust of wind would knock her down. He sighed and rubbed a soothing trail up her thigh as he murmured, “I haven’t been around to take care of you, Quinnie. Your body’s no longer used to it. Don’t think I didn’t notice the way you winced when I breeched you or the way you tensed when I was touchin’ that fair chest of yours. You’re tender, ain’t ya?” 

“Only a little.” Quinn sulked, “I can handle more, luv.” 

Jack arched a brow at her. 

“I’m not gonna break. Promise. Please” She wheedled, reaching for him, “You know I don’t say please often.” 

There was a long moment of silence as he studied her before suddenly, he bucked. It was heavenly, just the right amount of friction they both needed. Jack stifled a groan, but Quinn hadn’t been prepared and failed to hide another wince as a twang of discomfort rippled with the pleasure he brought to her body.  

“You gonna follow my lead now?” Jack demanded. 

“Is your lead gonna go any faster?”  

“Woman...” Jack swore, shaking his head, “You are -” 

“Yours?” Quinn smiled cheekily and Jack couldn’t help but laugh. 

“Aye, that you are.” Despite being charmed, he didn’t give into her whims. If they had time for another round he would, but for now she’d have to deal with slow and gentle. He sure as hell was... not that it was much of a trial.  

Her faint moans and whispered mewls were music to his ears after coming uncomfortably close to not being able to hear this ever again. No, he had no problem taking his time to swim her depths. 

-----

Jack fell next to her sweaty and sated as Quinn labor for breath next to him. She lazily squeezed his arm as she murmured, “Alright... I’ll be more willin’ to follow your lead next time.” 

Jack grinned smugly, pulling her against his chest as he recovered from their crush of bliss, “Feel like I’ve heard that ‘afore, luv.” 

Quinn suppressed a smile and entangled their legs as he drew circles over her belly with curious fingers. A wistful grimace painted his vintage that Quinn understood all too clearly... It was different his time around, whether Jack wanted to admit it aloud or not. She placed her hand over his, catching his weary regard. 

“I’m glad you’re here.” He murmured after a moment, gaze drifting to her mark. It may have been a trick of the light, but the lines seemed to have thickened – at least a tad. It pained him to think he may have almost caused her demise. 

“No, you’re not.” She arched a knowing brow at him. 

“No, I am not.” Jack agreed dryly, aware she thought he was speaking about being back in the Cove. And aye, that he was not pleased with, “You’re incredibly lucky to be with child right now or else I’d have you over my knee for comin’ back to this hell hole– especially now, luv.” 

Quinn’s emerald eyes glimmered dangerously at the threat as she murmured, “Liked to see you try.” 

“I’ve done it before, haven’t I? Don’t tempt me.” 

It was how unusually serious he was as he uttered those words that let Quinn know how upset she had made him. Coming back to the Cove had never been on her agenda and she wouldn’t have if every bone in her body hadn’t been screaming at her to return. She had learned to trust her instincts ages ago. 

She forced a bland retort, “Hardly think it counts when it's just a lead up to more pleasurable pursuits.” 

Jack sent her a warning look but took the opportunity their turn in mood presented to address the elephant neither wanted to acknowledge, “Should the worst happen tomorrow, I want you to find Teague. Grab the children and go with him. Shipwreck Island won’t be safe. As Keeper of the Code, he’ll be the last to depart which will make him the quickest to get back here.” 

A spark of undo terror tightened Quinn’s throat and she withdrew her hand from his as she protested, “Don’t. Don’t talk like this -” 

“I want you to go with him to Madagascar. You'll be safe there.” Jack pressed, otherwise he’d never get the words out. 

Dropping an explosive would have been a kinder shock. Her eyes widened in quiet outrage, “Mada - you want me to go to your family? Jack, there’s a reason you don’t visit them.” 

“Aye! They’re barmy and insufferable, but harmless for the most part. - Well, now that Grandmama is dead, they’re mostly harmless. You're more than capable of handlin’ Quick Draw and her ilk. The house in Madagascar is nye impossible to get to unless you’ve been before. Beckett has a grudge against me, and you know it. Should he discover I have a family...” Jack shuddered, refusing to travel down that rabbit hole. He was one of the few who knew just what a cruel and cold bastard Beckett to be, “Promise me, you’ll go.” 

“...” Quinn bit her tongue, feeling positively sick from what he was demanding of her. 

“Promise me, Quinn.” 

She glowered at him, scowling faintly as she said, “I will always do what needs to be done to keep our children safe, you know this.” 

He did, he did know that “I’m not just worried about our children now, am I? Promise me.” 

A strangled note of desperation burst free on that last command and Quinn felt her ire quite blown out to sea at the sound of it. Jack wasn’t playing fair.  

She swallowed tightly before she whispered, “...I promise to find Teague.” 

Jack didn’t miss the way she had worded that oath. She’d find him, didn’t necessarily mean she’d go with him. He cursed quietly but acknowledge it was probably the best he would get from her, “Thank you.” 

“...Jack?” Quinn breathed, letting her worry come to the surface as she made her own demand, “Come back to me. Just come back.” 

She didn’t care when he did it or how’ just as long as he came back. 

Jack softened in the face of her concern. Cupping her cheek, he placed as much flippant bravado in his words as possible, “I’ve defied death once and come back to you – think I won’t do it again?” 

His cockiness did the trick of making her relax and roll her eyes at him, “I swear by all that’s holy, if you say that you’re Captain Jack Sparrow and that’s why it won’t happen again, you can go sleep on your bloody ship.”  

“Well, I am...” Jack murmured.  

He knew she didn’t buy it when he acted like this, she was one of the few people in the world that could remind him that he wasn’t as indestructible as he liked to pretend. 

“I think you wouldn’t have had to do it once if you hadn’t been so stupid...” Quinn intoned, leaning into his touch before lightly continuing, “And then you followed up that stupid by making it the Pirate King with your vote and now you’re goin’ to battle.” 

Jack’s mouth moved soundlessly for a moment before he uttered, “You are...annoyingly well informed.” 

Quinn shrugged, “I was in the room when the vote happened. Not my fault you didn’t notice.” 

His dark eyes narrowed at her, “And the kiss?” 

“Oh, so you do know what I was speaking of then.” She murmured a little caustically. 

“Aye, well, it seems that Karma’s fine tone sense of retribution for my brief moment of disloyalty was to have me eaten and spat out in a fish captain’s purgatory. Surely even you must agree that I’ve been sufficiently punished for my crime, eh?” Jack smiled as charmingly as he could, making her snort. 

“It wasn’t the kiss that bothered me, Jack. It was you dying...Miss. Swann may have mentioned it to me in a moment of unburdening.” She answered vaguely, misinterpreting his dubious glare as disbelief when merely he was trying to puzzle out when the two women had met, “She didn’t know who she was confessin’ to.” 

“And you left her unharmed?” Jack asked genuinely surprised.  

While jealousy made a rare appearance in his Quinn, protective did not. There were a few pirates – and maybe one or two of his relatives - residing at the bottom of the ocean for far lesser offenses than killing him.  

Hell, he wasn’t entirely sure Grandmama had died of natural causes as Teague had claimed. He remembered that Quinn had been in their part of the world at the time, and she hated the old bitch almost more than he did.   

“If I had been in her place, I would have done the same.” Quinn said with a shrug. For a moment Jack thought her possessed before she continued, “Sides, I knew Tia had talked her into helping get you back from the Locker, if she happened to get maimed or died in the process I wouldn’t have shed a tear.” 

There it was - that was his Quinn. He relaxed back into his pillow as he sent her another suspicious look, “And how were you privy to what Tia Dalma’s plans were?” 

“...Didn’t I mention?” 

 “No, no, you did not mention, luv.” Jack said pointedly, irritation flashed in his dark eyes at her, “It seems you’ve left quite a bit out of your recounting of our time apart.” 

Quinn smiled sweetly, “And you can get the rest of it when you come back. You should have your own version of events well thought out by then.” 

Jack pursed his lips, debating if he wanted to press the issue. At this point, the only thing he would have edited out of his account, she already knew...  

Deciding it wasn’t worth the headache, he changed the gambit, “Sri Sumbhajee, you heard him speak tonight then, do you know -” 

“He’s a eunuch.” 

“...Is he not married?” Jack asked, perplexed and he faintly pitied the woman if it true. 

“He is.” Quinn said quietly, resting her head over his heart, “On his second wife, if I heard correctly.” 

“I wonder how that works then.” Jack grimaced curiously. 

“For him or her?” 

“Both?” 

-----

The utterly disconcerting feeling of being watched woke Jack sometime later – at least that’s what he would tell Quinn. Confusion briefly descended when he didn’t feel the soft shifting of waves. Then it all came screaming back – he barely muffled a curse. Drowsily, his head tilted toward the doorway to see Teague pulling his fist back from the door. 

Must have knocked. 

Christ, but that was off putting. For a moment, he thought he was thirteen again. 

“It’s time, boy.” Teague growled lowly once he saw Jack was conscious before disappearing from sight like a ghost. 

Very off putting.  

Jack could only grunt before he moved to get up, only to find a weight pressing against his stomach. He thought it Quinn’s leg as he slipped his arm from beneath her head, but a quick peek, showed him a messy curly mane belonging to his daughter. He wasn’t sure how he slept through her clambering into bed with them, but not his father’s knock. 

Sense of self-preservation perhaps. He didn’t need to defend himself against his little girl. 

Gently, he eased her over before he reached for his trousers. He moved with more grace than he typically displayed in public, donning his clothes and wresting his boots into place before he moved back to sort his girls.  

Luckily, Rose’s propensity for sleeping like the dead hadn’t changed in his time away as he slid her up the bed to lay within her mother’s protective reach.  

He was pulling the sheets around their little one when he heard Quinn whisper, “Don’t do anything stupid.” 

Glittering emerald worry peered at him, but Jack met her stare unflinchingly, “As long as you swear to do the same.” 

“When am I ever stupid?” 

“I’ll not answer that.” He said wisely, smiling when she glared at him, “I’ll be back before you know it, luv.” 

“Better be.” Quinn said tightly, fighting back tears as she watched him kiss Rose in farewell, “I love you.” 

Jack stilled as those three words escaped her lips. Rarely did they ever acknowledge it – they never needed to because it was just a fact. He loved Quinn and she loved him and that was it. To hear her say it now felt incredibly wrong – too much like a permanent farewell. His heart thundered loudly in his ears. 

“I thought only heedless fools ever said those words.” Jack said quietly, reminding her of the first time he had ever said it to her. 

“Aye, and you’re the biggest heedless fool I know and maybe I am too. So, I'm saying it.” Quinn stated softly. 

He nodded, suddenly understanding just how frightened she was for him before leaning over and catching her lips in his. His kiss was bruising, almost angry as he took his fill. A wetness splashed his cheeks as Quinn lost the battle with her tears.  

He pulled back and found himself soothing her in much the same way he had Jonah earlier, “None of that now, Quinnie. Don’t you dare cry.” 

Wants and needs, he had told their son. He wanted to stay. Quinn needed him to stay even if she wouldn’t say it, but he also needed to go. His hand had been deep in the pot that caused the current climate with Beckett and Jones, so it would be his hand that helped clear it and kept his family safe. 

He stole one last kiss before he whispered, “I love you too, Little Sprite.” 

Jack turned from her then, knowing he wouldn’t be able to leave if he didn’t. He didn’t dare look back at her, her distress would simply break him. Instead, he snagged his sword and gun from the chair by the door and strode from the room and down the stairs to where Teague waited.  

His father didn’t comment on his grim expression, merely watched as Jack pointedly ignored him in favor of finding his coat, “Is she alright?” 

“No.” Jack said stoutly, but raised his chin as he met Teague’s stare, “But she will be if I have anything to say about it.” 

[blankweiss-sb]

Birthday drabble

Okay, so this might play in the same verse as the gift drabble I did for @hiding-in-the-vault

CW: blind Dream, blood and torture mention, Pandora's Vault time, un-beta'd

People were blind, they'd always been. Not literally blind, in most cases, but ...metaphorically, metaphysically, definitely emotionally. How could everyone be so wary of him, Bad mused, yet be so totally dismissive?

" Looking forward to curling up underneath a warm blanket." Antfrost yawned, the leather of his gloves stretched and worn but still steady and sturdy. Etched spells lined the seams.

When Antfrost had won a parkour challenge, Dream had gifted him these gloves with a grin and the boious claim of having bought them of one of the villagers in the village the parkour challenge had been held.

However, the gloves consisted of well-treated warhog hide - not pig hide. How the others had ever swallowed that lie Bad would never understand since villagers wouldn't have been able to access the Nether - or treat the warhog hide with diamond dusted sponges. Or enchant it with Admin-specific spells.

"You sure you're ok with taking my shift?"

Bad forced his lips to move, stretch and part, smile but not too brightly. "Yeah, go get some good rest. Only come back when you're properly rested, you silly muffin." When sharp eyes didn't waver away from Bad's face, he let his smile fall, not quite shatter, just shrink a little. "I don't have anyone waiting for me, after all."

Antfrost winced, cringing away, any suspicion hopefully wiped away and redirected. He kept his silence until they stepped in front of the hissing portal.

"Bad...you good with taking half my shift? I could stay here, you know, keep you company. You...don't actually have to be all alone." Antfrost shifted as his ears folded back and his tail wrapped around his armor covered shin.

Well, Bad didn't want that. Now, how to discourage Antfrost...ah.

"Aww, thank you but all's good." He chuckled and mimicked ruffling the top of Antfrost's head, right between his ears. Antfrost ducked away long before Bad's hand would have made contact.

"See if I care about your feelings again." Despite his parting shot, Antfrost waved and skipped through the portal.

Less than a minute later, the portal screeched and shattered at the press of a button. Now the only two inhabitants of the prison were Bad ...and Dream. Just like Bad had planned.

(Sam was ...out. He hadn't told them were he was going and Bad didn't really want to know. It was a good thing. If he didn't see Sam, it was easier to dismiss the mounting urge to rifle through another forgotten but barred with three locks vault. Nobody would benefit from Bad taking up his Scythe and wielding her to her full extent again.)

Turning on his heel, Bad marched towards the center of the prison, past check-ins, levers and iron bars until the sulfur stench of the lava burned his nostrils. His hand paused on the lever to the bridge and Bad prepared himself mentally. His other hand slipped into his pockets, curving around the rind of the Gapple he smuggled in. Its enchantments zing across Bad's palm.

With a firm breath, he pressed down the lever and the bridge groaned inching forward. Bad hurried to the front, hissing as lava droplets sizzled onto his armour when the lava curtain spluttered and stopped.

His breath hitched.

Had Bad been complaining about the sulfur stench? It was roses and daisies compared to the iron tang in Dream's cell air. Not to mention brown and dark red splattered against void black and crying purple was much more nauseating than the ever-shifting red-orange-yellow.

Dream himself had pressed into the corner opposite to his water hole. Or rather, he'd wrenched himself into the gap between the wall and lectern, somehow, muscles tense and shaking. (Not enough food - or not the right one as molding potatoes languished underneath the droppers. Admins needed way more than potatoes, especially molding one. Keeping up a server took energy, being connected to One took even more. Bad didn't believe the latter was in effect at the moment, or Dream wouldn't be here anymore.)

This was painfully familiar - only with less torture and Dream having been much, much younger.

Dropping to the floor, Bad crossed his legs and hummed. At the first note, Dream froze before a small noise vibrated through his mouth. Bad didn't know the words to the songs he was humming. He was merely humming the song back to its creator.

After humming another of Dream's humming songs back to him and a couple of lullabies, Bad smiled as Dream slipped from his hiding spot and settled against the wall. His smile widened into a grin when Dream tilted his head and Bad opened his mouth-

The mask slipped to the side, revealing just a sliver of Dream's face. It was enough. One milky eye, blood-crusted, stared at Bad's collarbones.

Dream's small smile dealt a fatal blow to Bad's heart.

Bad rearranged things in head - he needed a plan, he couldn't, couldn't, how dare they - took a second and a breath. Gulping down any negativity, he almost cooed. "Heya Dream."

"Hullo Bad, how nice of you to visit me."

Hadn't Bad seen the smile or his eyes or heard the almost crumbling of his voice, those words could have been sharp and cutting with their sardonic edge - or at least be taken as such.

"Is today my birthday or what?"

"In fact, it is."

"O-oh." No matter how humorous Dream's little falter was, laughing was the last thing on Bad's mind. Especially when the tension in Dream's body returned. "Going to give me a birthday present?"

It was so painfully clear that Dream was expecting violence. Bad hated it.

"Indeed, I will." Dream flinched when Bad flipped his dagger open and pulled out the Gapple, carefully cutting the enchanted fruit into pieces. The sound of the weapon slicing through its flesh must be scary or traumatic enough for Dream to begin trembling.

If Bad knew the words to whisper to reassure Dream, he would - but he didn't. He didn't and it was his own fault. No matter what Dream had done - and really, thinking about it, had it been any worse than what other members of the Server had done? Or at least, the punishments here didn't fit the severity of the crime, not when every other member of these lands got off scot-free - he didn't deserve this.

"Hey Dream." Bad shifted until his knee was touching Dream's. Dream almost choked on his own tongue as he tried retreating but only hit a wall. (Don't react.) "Open your mouth, dear one, the sun's coming."

For one second only the lava and the crying obsidian talked, in hisses and screeching - then a long-missed sound echoed through the cell.

Dream's wheezing laugh was lovely to hear, without any malice or taunting staining it.

"Bad, what the fuck, I'm not a little, sick kid anymore! You used that then! Like, seriously?!"

"First off, language, secondly..." Bad reached out and squeezed Dream's four spindly fingers before wrapping them around a slice of the Gapple. "Here's your gift. You've got the rest, too, but I kind of need to feed it to you now. I'm gonna look at the lava now, just tap my hand when you want more."

Settling his hand to Dream's knee, Bad turned away. For quite a while, nothing happened. Dream did absolutely nothing, Until muscles contracted underneath Bad's fingers and he listened to the scraping of Dream's mask against obsidians, small bites as teeth crunched down on an apple, the shuddering sobs and sniffles through Dream's nose while he was choking down a thin Gapple slice.

A finger feathered against Bad's knuckles, and Bad pressed another Gapple slice against it, only for it to be snatched away.

He didn't know how long it took - the cell didn't have a clock - but Bad estimated that Dream used an entire hour to eat one Gapple. Bad's resolve solidified when he turned around and carmine skin edged Dream's eyes. Dream's cheeks were still wet with tears.

"Happy Birthday, Dream."

Dream answered with choked laughter and pressed his knee against Bad's. He even patted the spot next to him and Bad didn't hesitate to slide into it. (Despite the dried blood on the wall, floor and Dream himself.) As soon as Bad settled down, Dream turned and buried his head into Bad's collarbones.

Slowly, slowly Dream dozed off. "Thanks, Dad," he whispered, like it was a secret, like no one else was ever supposed to know.

Bad had plans to make.

And a vault with three locks to unlock and rummage through.