#The way for a future together is open now

[sevilemar]

Olaf Scholz, German Chancellor:

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I have just asked the Bundespräsident to release the Minister of Finance. I have presented the coalition partner from the FDP with another comprehensive offer to close the financial gap in our budget without tumbling our country into chaos. An offer to strengthen Germany in difficult times, an offer that also encompasses suggestions from the FDP.

I have to state again that the Minister is not willing to put the good of the country first. I do not want our country to have to suffer from this kind of behaviour any longer. My dear citizens, I would have liked to spare you this difficult decision, eespecially in times like these, when insecurities are growing.

Someone who denies a solution, a compromis in times like these is irresponsible. Too often necessary compromises were shouted down by staged arguments in public, and loud, ideological demands. Too often has Minister of Finances Lindner blocked laws with irrelevant arguments. Too often has he pettily beaten time for his political party. Too often has he broken my trust.

He even denied the budget at the last minute, after we had already reached an accord through long negotiations. There is no trust between us for working together in the future; actual governing is impossible.

Someone who is part of an active government has to work reliably and responsibly. He cannot just turn tail and run when it gets difficult. He has to be open to compromises in the interest of every citizen in Germany.

But that's exactly what Christian Lindner's agenda is not. He is concerned about his own political backers, the short-term survival of his own party. Especially on a day like this, on the day after an event as important as the election in the US, this kind of selfishness is absolutely incomprehensible. Never, never, should we pit innerpolitical, foreign political, and social political safety against each other. It risks our community, and in the end, it even risks our democracy.

Why am I saying this?

Minister of Finance Lindner has publicly demanded a fundamentally different policy. Millions of euros worth of tax deductions for the wealthy, and at the same time cuts to the retirement benefits of every citizen. This is not decent, it is not fair. Vast tax gifts for the wealthiest, financed by our towns and municipalities. Christian Lindner also wants to cut programs to renew our infostructure in a climate friendly way. It fuels insecurities in our economy, and it cuts us off from being on the front lines of technological advances. The US, China, and others are not sleeping on this.

Christian Lindner talks about 'raising the efficiency control in our social security sytems'; what he actually means are hard cuts to health care and nursing care, and less safety when someone needs help. That is disrespectful to everyone who worked hard for these benefits, for everyone who pays their taxes.

What will happen now? Minister of Finance Lindner will be released by the Bundespräsident.

[And he goes on to talk about posing the Vertrauensfrage in January, which might mean that we will have our federal elections earlier than anticipated. This part is not in the clip op posted.]

inject it into my bloodstream

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

Death Wish 8

Warnings: non/dubcon, mentions of crime, violence/abuse and other dark elements. My username actually says you never asked for any of this.

My warnings are not exhaustive but be aware this is a dark fic and may include potentially triggering topics. Please use your common sense when consuming content. I am not responsible for your decisions.

Character: mob!Bucky Barnes

Part of the mob drabbles au

Summary: you’re desperate for a way out of your life and you ask a powerful man for help (plus!reader)

As usual, I would appreciate any and all feedback. I’m happy to once more go on this adventure with all of you! Thank you in advance for your comments and for reblogging ❤️

Photo Inspo

Kitty huffs, a rare moment of agitation, and blows it out sharply. She thrusts her hands forward and hurls the string of pearls onto the couch. She curls her fingers in frustration and stares at them, like a puzzle. 

“My goddamn hands won’t stop shaking,” she utters. 

You cross the room to her, wordlessly, and take the necklace. You move behind her to clasp it in place over her collar. She wears a straight cut black dress with no ornament. The pearls are a delicate touch to the otherwise plain outfit. 

“What do you think he wants?” Adrienne finally asks the question none of you dared. 

You look at her helplessly. They can never know you did this. They can’t ever know that the reason they are so scared in that moment is your fault. They might have longed to pull the trigger themselves but actually doing it is different. It’s... irredeemable. 

“He said we’re under his protection,” you say flatly. 

“Oh, come on, you’re the most skeptical of all of us,” Kitty accuses, “you believe that. Daddy was just another soldier.” 

“Maybe but what else are we going to do but obey?” You counter. 

Kitty winces and Adrienne’s eyes bat. Your older sister shakes her head, “you’re not the one to give up.” 

“I am.” You insist. “If it keeps you two safe then I will do whatever needs to be done.” 

They’re silent for a moment as they look from you to each other. They nod. “Us too,” Kitty says. “We have to take care of each other.” 

“Like always,” Adrienne agrees. 

Silence floods the room again. There’s a car waiting outside a few minutes later. You march out in another sombre parade. It’s a different kind of funeral that day. You’re not mourning the past, you’re mourning the future and what could have been and will never be. 

You sit together in the back seat. You hold hands. You never went to many of these ‘business’ gatherings. Outside of a wedding, you weren’t invited. Your father was only invited by the few people who knew him in the outfit. He was only ever the big dog when he barked at his three daughters. 

The car stops, you get out. You squeeze your sisters’ hands before you detach. The man who drove leads you to the immaculate white facade of the grand hall. You’re somewhat confused by the venue but this is not a day for questions. You had your curiosity beat out of you long ago. 

Inside, you’re led to a set of open doors. You enter and another man stands to beckon you further inside. There are bodies all around, all in dark suits, muttering under their breath, coughing, tapping fingers. 

Your eyes skim around cautiously. Barnes sits at the head table. He’s calm and unbothered by the new arrival. He’s indifferent to his men as the one next to him whispers in his ear. Rogers stands behind the boss’ chair as he speaks to him, gripping the elaborate orb that tops the post of the straight-backed seat. 

Barnes’ gaze meets yours only as you and your sisters are put at a table of your own. It feels like some hearing. A court case. Are they hearing the crimes of your father? But he said... 

No questions. There’s nothing the answers can change for you. Adrienne fidgets, wringing her hands restlessly, and Kitty sit so straight it looks like it hurts. None of you look past the table. Your daddy would smack your mouth for your wandering eyes. 

“Alright, now that we’re all here, let’s gut through the bullshit,” Barnes’ voice brings the voice to deathly lull. The men shift their bodies and their focus. The doors close subtly behind the boss’ timbre. “Now, don’t think I brought you here because of a single soldier. You know better. All of you.” 

His voice is stringent but restrained. Still, it’s enough to instill fear. You gulp and dare to look up at him. He stands and puts his hands on the table. 

“First, a crooked accountant. Bald clown messing around. Then I got men going out, coming back short. Then dead.” He snarls. “I don’t care about the small men. With due respect,” he pauses and glances in your direction, “but I know they don’t think for themselves, too. I know it was one of you. This isn’t just chance. 

“One of you popped Warren ‘cause he found you out,” Barnes continues.  

You sense movement like a soft breeze. Rogers edges along the wall, unnoticed. You stare in slow motion as he moves quickly towards another table. 

“And I found you out too,” Barnes hits the table with his fist. “I went through the numbers and I found the fucking thief.” 

You frown. It’s... lies. He told you that day. At the funeral. Your daddy was the thief. Now he’s telling them something different. He used you. It makes a good story. A mysteriously dead soldier, missing money... makes it easy to trim the fat. 

“Milo,” Barnes points and a chair scrapes and teeters.  

Rogers grabs the capo from behind, closing his hands around his neck. He drags him easily, like a rag doll. They aren’t so different in size and yet the blond moves the other easily as he bulls around the table and brings the man to the center of the room. 

“You been pocketing my money.” Barnes stands straight and gestures casually. 

Rogers tosses the other man, Milo, to the floor and kicks him so he sprawls. His assault is methodical. He doesn’t let up. He stomps and batters the man into the polished wood. The noise of cracking bones and breaking cartilage itch in your ears. The accused hacks and chokes on spit and blood. 

Your sisters smother gasps and startled sobs. You’re only mortified by your own indifference. Are you so callous to feel nothing for a man chosen to pay for father’s death? For your actions? You just can’t. You know every man in this room is just like your father was. Cruel. Mean. They deserve it just as much as he did. 

“Enough,” Barnes orders and Rogers steps back, combing his long hair away from his face as he puffs. The man on the floor is a puddle of wheezes. 

“Your houses, your cars, your accounts, all of it, will be turned over to Warren’s daughters. For his good service to me. He died finding you out. He died for the good of the outfit. He smoked out the mole,” Barnes says. “And you orphaned his daughters, just like you meant to do to every man in this room.” 

Silence. Stillness. No one moves. 

“You are all dismissed. On your way out, you make sure to pay your disrespects to that scum,” Barnes growls. “And look at him, hard and long, because the next fucker I catch with his hands in my pockets will be right there with him.” 

There’s a moment before anyone moves. The first man to rise is greying around his temples. He comes out from behind the table and nears the shaking form on the floor. He spits on Milo then sends his pointed leather shoe into the man’s stomach. He marches out without looking back. 

The next man follows suit. Spit, kick, go. One after another the men disburse in the same manner. The noises, ptuah, crack, tap, tap, tap, form a sickly rhythm. You can only sit and watch. 

You reach to your sisters and take their hands again. You glance between them. They look on in horror. They aren’t made for this. Your eyes flit back to the head table and find the king looking over his court. No, he’s looking at you. 

Barnes dips his chin and his eyes gleam. He is the master. No one dares to challenge the narrative he’s written. Whatever he says is all the truth they need to worry about. Same goes for you. 

[bitchesgetriches]

A Message from Piggy & Kitty

Well, everyone… today is a dark day.

Soon, I know we’ll find ways to rally together and do what good people have always done in the face of tragedy. But today, it feels dishonest to pretend we’re not feeling despair.

Despair is the worst, ugliest feeling. It’s so painful, and so resistant to normal forms of comfort. Can’t say “I’m so sorry” because we’re not sorry—we’re furious, and so are you. Can’t say “it’ll be alright” because it won’t be—not for everyone. It feels like the earth opened beneath our feet, and we’ve fallen into a deep, dark pit together. More than anything, we wish we could make a ladder or a rope or even just a light appear. But we don’t have those things. All we have are words, and the only words that feel honest or helpful right now are “I love you, and I’m here beside you in this horrible place.”

So in that spirit…

Friends, we love you. We're here with you. And we're scared too.

We will bend all of our research and creativity toward generating ideas to help our readers prepare themselves for what's to come, and fight for a better future. But it’ll take a bit for those topics to develop.

I confess that today’s events stopped my writing in its tracks. It feels so fucking silly to write our little money tips while we are all down here, in the pit. But we will push through that feeling, because our mission hasn’t changed. In this dirty world, money is power. When people are desperate, they’re easy to exploit. Acquiring wealth and stability, without exploiting others, can make you righteously, radically powerful. And we’ll need as much power as we can muster to climb back out into the light of day.

If you need a space to vent your feelings, this comment section and our DMs are wide open. Check in with the people you love, and be kind to yourselves as you process this latest development in our shared destiny.

<3 Kitty & Piggy

[supportsoulforgaza]

🔴 A Call for Compassion: Help Hassan and His Family in Gaza

In the heart of Algeria, I, Lina, found an unexpected connection that transcended borders and conflict. Through Instagram, I met Hassan, a resilient soul from the Nuseirat area in the Gaza Strip. Our conversations, often carried out over FaceTime, revealed a story of survival, hope, and the relentless pursuit of peace amidst the chaos of war. This is Hassan's story, a tale of a family striving to live with dignity despite the dire circumstances that surround them.

Hassan's life in Gaza is a daily struggle against unimaginable odds. The ongoing conflict has stripped his family of the basic necessities of life. For over a year, they have not had access to normal food, and the scarcity of medicine and clothing has made survival a constant battle. The conditions are terrifying, with the constant threat of bombings adding to their fear and uncertainty. their house was attacked by Isr*eli bombings, leaving them in a state of shock and despair. They also lost their supermarket in the war, a vital source of income and sustenance for the family. Forced to escape from one area to another, they find no place is truly safe, as all areas are occupied and fraught with danger.

Hassan's family consists of six members, each with their own dreams and challenges:

- Israa Fattah Dukha, Hassan's mother, is a 45-year-old woman who has borne the brunt of the hardships with unwavering strength. She is the pillar of the family, holding them together through the darkest times.

- mohammed al-Naqleh, Hassan's brother, is 28 years old and suffers from a severe mental illness. Without his prescribed medication, risperidone, which the family cannot afford, he is incapable of being unsupervised. His condition adds an extra layer of difficulty to their already precarious situation.

- Hanin al-Naqleh, at 25, works as a nurse at Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah. Despite the overwhelming challenges, she dedicates herself to helping others, embodying the spirit of resilience and compassion.

- Afaf Al-Naqleh is a university student whose dreams were shattered when her institution was destroyed. She was studying sports and its fields, and now she yearns to complete her education and rebuild her future.

- Tareq Al-Naqleh,Hassan's younger brother, is in high school. He dreams of completing his studies abroad, away from the constant threat of violence, to secure a better future for himself and his family.

- And then there is Hassan Al-Naqleh himself, a student of fine arts and graphic design at Al-Aqsa University. His passion for art is a beacon of hope, a way to express the pain and dreams of his people. The destruction of his university has not dimmed his spirit; instead, it has fueled his determination to continue his studies and use his talents to advocate for peace and justice.

My connection with Hassan has opened my eyes to the harsh realities faced by those in Gaza. I believe that everyone deserves to live in peace and that even the smallest act of kindness can make a significant impact. Through this post, I hope to reach out to compassionate individuals who can help Hassan and his family. Donations, no matter how small, can provide food, medicine, and other essentials that are desperately needed.

• Here is the link ⤵️

Hassan's story is not just a tale of suffering; it is a testament to the human spirit's resilience and the power of hope. By sharing his story, I aim to bring attention to the plight of those in Gaza and inspire others to contribute to their cause. Together, we can make a difference and help Hassan and his family find the peace and stability they so desperately seek.

Please, spread Hassan's story far and wide. Share this post, talk about it with your friends and family, and help us reach as many people as possible. Your support can bring hope to a family in desperate need.

@annoyingloudmicrowavecultist @feluka-blog-blog @tortiefrancis @flower-tea-fairies @tsaricides

@nabuo @heritageposts @sar-soor @stuckinapril @brutaliakent @appsa @frankocean @ibtstuff

[therandompagesblog]

SKZ Mate Chapter 20

Trigger Warnings: None

"How are you feeling?" Minho asked as he brushed a loose strand from her face. "I'm worried that is all," Y/N admitted as she cuddled into Minho's chest, wanting to fall asleep again. Y/N had a bit of a stressful night and struggled with being alone late at night. She didn't want to be alone with her thoughts so she found herself knocking on the beta's door who sat up with her and listened to her thoughts. It brought them closer than they were before. Minho even apologised for his awkward behaviour with her, but she brushed it off as there was too much tension going around the house and it was starting to nerve her. "Give Chan some time. He doesn't mean to push you away, it's a lot for him and he isn't someone who likes to express his emotions." Minho explained as he kissed her forehead, trying to soothe her worries even though he was concerned himself. He was worried about Chan. They had gotten over and dealt with the emotions of his uncle before, but now that it had all come to light again, Minho wasn't sure how to make it right. "How about me and you spend the day together?" Minho suggested, "we can cook together, and watch some films. I do have to make a shopping list." "What about the plan with Hongjoong? Minho I'm worried, I've been here six weeks." Y/N stated. "Shh. Me and Jeongin are on it. We have been working on a plan since you have arrived. We have been doing some digging around Hongjoong and your pack to try and prove Hongjoong kidnapped you out of spite." Minho explained. "I don't understand." "The werewolf council far north doesn't particularly like Hongjoong either and is more in favour of cooperating with us, but we need a strong amount of proof to appeal to them. If not then it's a war. Chan doesn't know me and Jeongin have been going out to find stuff." Minho stated as he got up to grab his clothes ready to have a shower, leaving Y/N to her thoughts. Y/N hadn't expected Jeongin and Minho to look into options as soon as she arrived. She wondered what they had found out and if she could help them in the future or the next time they went out.

While Minho was showering, Y/N rummaged through his clothes and put on his hoodie along with his jogging bottoms before heading into the kitchen to make a start. She gathered some ingredients and laid them out. "If you're going to poison them I would take Seungmin out, he is a little shit," Minho stated as he affectionately wrapped his arms around her waist, placing his nose into her hair, breathing in her scent. "I can cook Min," Y/N whispered, feeling slightly shy at his actions. He had never willingly embraced her before it was normally the other way around. She didn't want to ruin it by mentioning it, instead, she allowed him to hold her, watching her chop up somethings. "How is Seungmin a little shit?" Y/N asked, causing the older wolf to scoff. "When is he not? Don't be fooled by him. Seungmin has a sharp tongue and can be very sly." Minho warned playfully as he squeezed her tightly, before letting her go when the door opened to reveal a naked Jisung. Jisung jumped and covered himself with a dead bunny when he saw his little wolf was up and helping the beta. "Uh, me and Innie got some rabbits and deer meat for you," Jisung said nervously as he shuffled towards the counter to drop the bunnies off before scurrying up the stairs. Y/N watched him in amusement as she eyed his naked self, he was incredibly beautiful and he had a cute little ass. "You'll burn it," Minho whispered as he touched Y/N's hand with a knowing look.

The two of them continued to cook while occasionally nudging one another playfully. Once they finished Y/N sent Jisung to wake the others up so they could start eating. The wolves seemed much more eager to eat when they heard their omega helped to cook. Jisung was the first wolf to shove a mouthful of food in, which caused Changbin to smack him around the head. Even Hyunjin appreciated her food despite his unusually quiet behaviour. He was quiet normally but there was always a remark that followed through. Hyunjin could see her concerns so he gave a quick smile and a wave of calm energy. What concerned her was Chan wasn't present at breakfast. "He's gone to work early," Seungmin stated as he noticed her look for him. "What are everyone's plans today?" Y/N asked. "I'm going to the gym with Jisung, Jeongin and Hyunjin today. I would offer but nuna said no gym for you." Changbin gave Y/N a smirk knowing he would eventually get her in the gym at least once. He only wanted her to go so he could be extra close and fulfill his little gym instructor fantasies. "Jeongin and Hyunjin. Yah. I don't need to be bullied today." Jisung's voice was stressed as he thought about the pressure of the two alphas. "If you worked out more you would be fine Hyung!" Jeongin teased causing the older beta to shake his head. "The audacity of this alpha. He's not a little kid anymore." Jisung shook his head at Jeongin's attitude. "I'm still your alpha." Jeongin teased as he stole a piece of Jisung's meat. Y/N watched the two playfully tease each other. It felt normal as if everything was fine. She wanted this forever with them. "Felix, what will you do today?" Y/N asked as she looked at the blonde wolf whose eyes couldn't reach hers. He felt he did not deserve to look at her after what he had done. "Uh. I'm going to go for a run this morning." Felix answered awkwardly. "I'm gonna stay with you and Minho hyung." Seungmin interrupted as he gave Minho a playful look, causing the elder to glare. He did not want his date ruined by the younger beta. He was in trouble when he wanted to be. "Can't you go somewhere else?" Minho asked, a glare forming on his face as he watched the younger wolf playfully kiss the omega's neck and give the beta a sly look. "Why? Is there no room to love your favourite beta too?" Seungmin slurred. "Heathen!" Minho flared flashing his amber eyes at the wolf. "It's okay Min. Seungmin can clean the kitchen today." Y/N demanded as she flashed the wolf a look as she passed him the towel. Seungmin looked at the towel as if it was a foreign object. "Uh. What is this? I don't clean." Seungmin argued. "Uh. You will. Hyunjin can alpha order you." Y/N sassed, causing the wolves to either choke or grin. "No. No. Let me try." Jeongin said excitedly, "Seungmin go and clean up. Did it work?" "No I am not. I'm not a housewife." Seungmin argued. "Seungmin do as Y/N says all day." Hyunjin commanded his eyes glowing their usual dark shade of red causing Seungmin to huff into the kitchen. "You've got to put meaning into it and force," Hyunjin explained to the younger alpha who was scratching his head awkwardly. "We can practice on Jisung." "Uh, huh. No." Jisung laughed nervously at the thought of being the guinea pig today. Y/N gave him a sympathetic smile before getting up to hand a grumpy wolf the dirty plates.

Minho had to admit it was funny to watch the wolf doing chores at least once in his life, but the only concerning thing was the wolf was putting some of them in the wrong places. He had even seen Seungmin toss the bowl into the wrong cupboard. Y/N pushed Minho into the living room so they could watch a film together. "Don't be mean, Minho." Y/N chided as she wrapped her arms around the beta's waist. "What? He looks like an angry puppy." Minho laughed even louder when he heard Seungmin's growls come from the kitchen. Y/N shook her head and dragged the wolf into the living room so they could watch a film together. It worked out successfully until the young beta interrupted them every fifteen minutes to question where something went. Minho knew he was doing it on purpose because every time Minho snuggled closer Seungmin popped up. Every time Minho went to kiss her, the obnoxious wolf would present himself with a confused innocent look about not knowing where it goes. Minho was incredibly frustrated. He wanted to spend time with his omega but it was becoming impossible. All Minho wanted was to show his love for the female wolf. As much as Y/N found it amusing she could feel the frustration radiating off of the beta so as soon as Seungmin left the room to place the random object back to its rightful place, the female wolf threw herself at the beta, smashing their lips together. Minho didn't expect it but allowed her to assault his lips as he quickly tried to match her pace. His hand reached to her back as he slid his leg over her waist drawing her closer. His tongue finally entered the cavern of her mouth. Minho didn't want to be too invasive but he also wanted to show his love for her. "Wow! Did Minho Hyung have his first kiss? Who would have thought." Seungmin taunted causing the wolves to jump and a snarl erupting from the beta's throat. Minho stood there with a shit-eating grin as he held a vase. "Didn't you know? Minho has never kissed anyone before." Seungmin snickered as he watched Minho's ears start to turn red in embarrassment. "I mean you stole his first kiss a few weeks ago, but Minho is a virgin at everything. You know-" "Outside. Now. Off you go." Y/N ordered as she waved the annoying wolf outside, before shutting the door on him. Seungmin rolled his eyes and walked back through the door when she stopped him. "I wasn't joking, you can stay outside all day," Y/N stated. "Don't be so mean little puppy, it doesn't suit you." Seungmin chided. "No. Then don't be a little shit. You're staying outside." Y/N ordered knowing he couldn't do anything about it since Hyunjin ordered him to follow her instructions today.

Y/N headed back to the living room to see an embarrassed Minho flitting around the kitchen as he looked for things to add to his shopping list. Y/N felt bad for him. Not because of him being a virgin but the fact that Seungmin blurted it out was horrible. It was kind of attractive to Y/N that Minho and Jisung were virgins but she also didn't want it to set an expectation because she wasn't a virgin. "Minho," Y/N called out as she looked at his shopping list and added some things to it. "Minho. Look at me." Y/N called out, making the wolf slowly turn around. His face held no expression and his eyes didn't reach hers. "It doesn't matter. None of it does." Y/N promised. The beta nodded his head and turned back around causing Y/N to pull at him. "Don't hide." "I need to go shopping, little wolf," Minho stated before grabbing her face to kiss her forehead. Y/N stared at the spot he once was and sighed. Why do they all go funny when there are problems? Why don't they talk to me?

Taglist for the iconic readers:

@galaxy4489 @mbioooo0000 @jisungs-iced-americano @maybeimmia @hwangrfrnd@wolfo2027 @kayleefriedchicken @leamueller920 @borahae-reads @jennibahng @cookiesandcreammy @leezanetheofficial @jutdwae-flower @danceonmyheyday @jc003 @hpnsfwaddict @linocz @itzreetal987 @skzdreamer13 @reallychaoticwoo @liv1sworld @upsidedownchaire @jutdwae-flower @danceonmyheyday @jc003 @hpnsfwaddict @skzdreamer13 @reallychaoticwoo @ihttinniee @kingdomofpentagon @pixie0627 @tsunderelino @notevenheretbh1 @catlove83 @h0rnyp0t @hash2013 @hyunmikim

[guhamun]

THE WAY THAT WAS said… Well…they weren’t wrong. He probably would be holed up avoiding civilization. And if he wasn’t, then he was probably out in the wild; camping, fighting TD, eating rations… It was eerie how well Jiyan knew him in this regard. You’d almost think that he was a regular at the Ghost Hound Headquarters speaking like this. ❝Bingo night? Ahaha, that sounds like something some old, retired soldier might say.❞ He could not help but laugh softly at that thought. The elders would certainly welcome Jiyan’s visits with open arms if he decided to become some bingo master. The whole thought was absolutely ridiculous. However, there was some fondness at the thought. Even if the world did become more ‘peaceful’ at the defeat of the Lament, humans would still human. In other words, he would still be paid to do the jobs that others would not. At least, he supposed, one would no longer need to worry about TD Outbreaks. Those would be a distant memory of the past to be spoken about to younger mercenaries who would look upon you as if you were speaking gibberish talking about what would eventually become fantastical.

     ❝You laugh now, but you’d be surprised what people come up with. In the New Federation, in the Lawless Zone, a gang could frighten people into playing along with a ruse. It was one of the ways some recruited. Of course…Jinzhou is different. The people didn’t seem uneasy, or afraid to meet my gaze for too long. Their actions seemed…genuine…which in turn threw me off.❞ He felt their curiosity more than anything else considering foreigners were not an everyday sight to many. ❝But you are right. I could have asked for more, and I knew you would have no choice but to give it. It was clear by the rumors I heard, that your homeland was in dire straits. Any other mercenary group would have tried to milk you all for all you were worth.❞ But that was not how Calcharo did things. He believed that one could work better together if there was a sense of fairness in place. Asking for more than he needed would only create issues in the future with the Midnight Rangers. The best way to deal with that situation was…

     He paused in his train of thoughts.

     ‘Mesmerizing and beautiful man.’

     Sometimes he wanted to reach out and cover the other’s mouth so they would simply stop talking. He had acknowledged Jiyan’s good looks back then as well (a little), but he primarily took in the fact that he was so young. A general who looked like they hadn’t seen battles to the extent of any of the older, hardened soldiers… He might as well have been akin to a fresh-faced babe. Surely it would have been better for Jiyan to focus more on how to strategically work with the Ghost Hounds and make the most of them rather than gawking at their leader…

     ❝There are times you say just a little too much.❞ He huffed, slipping his things into a small bag and zipping it loudly before slinging over his shoulder and following after the other as they left. Falling quiet as he awaited the ‘punishment’ that would befall him, he was taken aback by the other wrapping their arms around his own. It was such an unexpected gesture that it took a moment for his brain to catch up to what had just transpired, the other’s words ringing in his head: ‘you told me about reaching out for what I want.’

     This was what he wanted?

     But why?

     Despite being…thoroughly confused by all of this, he gave no complaints. After all, he had told Jiyan to reach out for what he wanted, and though he couldn’t quite understand why he’d want this in particular, it was a good thing for him. ❝I can’t figure out why you’d…desire this of all things. Still…very well. You can borrow my shoulder. See? Taking what you want isn’t as difficult as you thought.❞ On this cold night, Jiyan felt quite warm against him like this. His presence blocked out cold in that particular direction, what small breeze kept at bay.

It indeed was difficult to imagine that there would be a day in which he would have so much time in his hands that he wouldn't know what to do with it. It was a near impossible, but... very pleasant dream. One he looked forward to but, at the same time, tried to not think of too much. "...Special visiting privileges?" Thin eyebrows lifted then, amusement clear in his tone. "That wording makes it sound like you'll be holed up in your headquarters or avoiding civilization. Hm, it appears that you will keep me busy after I retire. You leave me no option but to drag you to bingo night. But, it's fine, I'm certain the future additions to the group will thank me for taking care of their stubborn boss." Heh, they might even call him to convince the 'old wolf' to take some sun and enjoy other activities that aren't related to their work. He... really looked forward to those peaceful days.

Jiyan couldn't help it but laugh at the rather unbelievable theory. "A never seen before large-scale collaborative effort to deceive the leader of an international mercenary group." Now, that seemed like something one would find in psychological horror movies. Terrifying, but quite impressive too. But he could see why the mercenary leader would think that after seeing everyone acting 'strange'. "But I believe you're the one who has it backwards. Most people in your position would've asked for far more, as we weren't in a good position for fair negotiation." They could ask for the most senseless things and, if it didn't bring harm to the citizens of Jinzhou, the young general would've had no option but to accept the terms. "I'll admit that I was fairly nervous during our first meeting. I knew that the Ghost Hounds didn't take more than what was fair, but plenty of captains told me to be prepared for the worst. It also caught me off guard how handsome you were. The rumors forgot to mention that the leader of the organization was a mesmerizing and beautiful man." Perhaps it would've been better if he didn't say that last part out loud, but it already was a little too late for that.

His smile only widened when he was asked about the 'punishment' he had in mind. "I'll admit that, at first, I was thinking of something that would make me laugh, like watching make your best imitation of Aalto and Encore. But after what you told me about reaching out for what I want..." It was then that he scooted closer to the other man and wrapped his arms around one of theirs, and soon his head rested on their shoulder as they walked. It wasn't a particularly comfortable position, but it made Jiyan feel giddy and warm. "You'll have to let me stay like this until we reach the inn. I'll consider returning this shoulder to its original owner then." Plenty of people had already confused them for a couple, and they weren't even wearing their respective uniforms anymore. They really would look no different from any other couple at Mt. Firmament if they continued like this, but Jiyan didn't mind, and Calcharo said he didn't mind as much either. So... it should be fine, right?

[painted-flag]

OF FLOWERS AND DEATH - aemond targaryen

Chapter 14: The Saphire

☾⋆⁺₊✧ dark elf!Aemond Targaryen x f!human!reader series. ✧₊⁺⋆☾ series masterlist. ☾⋆⁺₊✧ word count: 3.4k ✧₊⁺⋆☾ series warnings: 18+ depictions of violence/gore, eventual smut, warfare, sickness/disease, some moments of misogyny, and mentions of alcohol consumption. ☾⋆⁺₊✧ Under a canopy of stars, you forge a bridge of companionship with the elf king.

The soft light of the rising sun illuminated the tops of the rocky snow-capped mountains. The sun had not risen enough to shine on the meadow you were camped in, but the subtle light of the sky brushed the ground. Dew settled on the grass that moved with the breeze. The guards had woken up and made food. You broke your fast with them and enjoyed the calm small talk they provided. During that time, your eyes would occasionally glance over to Aemond’s tent, but he had yet to emerge. 

After eating, you had begun a general sweep of the area. You had no idea what you were looking for, as your father’s notes were vague. All he mentioned was that the properties of Lake Rosemagne were rumoured for its healing capabilities. Whether or not those rumours were true, that had yet to be discovered. When you passed by a fallen and hollow log, you noticed some ground beetles scurrying about. 

You had thought back to the promise you made with Helaena and crouched down. You pulled a small wooden box with holes from your bag and opened the lid. Your hands delicately picked two up and put them in the box. You closed the lid and slid the metal lock to secure it. 

“I did not know beetles were used in healing,” Aemond’s voice, abrupt as it was, startled you. The box almost dropped from your hands. You placed it in your bag and stood up while brushing the skirt of your dress. 

“No, your grace, they are not used in anything.” You clarified, “I promised Princess Helaena that I would catch anything that she may like. She mentioned these beetles many days ago during one of our lunches together.” You crossed your arms. Aemond looked at you, his eye filled with something soft and indecipherable. 

“I was told we would be leaving on the morrow because you have duties to get back to. Forgive me, your grace, but why would you come along when you are so busy?” You questioned. 

Aemond tilted his head slightly, “Well since you so easily snuck out of my castle, I thought it best that I come to make sure you don’t do it again. If you’ve slipped past my guard once, you could do it again.” You took in his words for a moment. The idea of sneaking into the woods was ridiculous, but it did leave a bit of satisfaction that it had managed to get under Aemond’s skin. 

“Oh, so you do care if I stay?” You teased. You could have sworn you saw his eye roll, but you had begun to look down at your fidgeting hands. The conversation you had with Aemond the evening prior had played in your head countless times as you had tried to go to sleep. It was another instance of a conversation with him turning sour. That seemed to be a common habit, whatever words the two of you exchanged had an equal chance of becoming venomous or ending well. 

“Only for you to fulfill your end of the deal. A year of looking for a cure and then you can go.” Aemond said. You nodded and then moved to watch the water. 

“Do not worry, you won’t have to tolerate me for much longer with how well things are going. I’ll be out of your way soon.” You reassured him. It was true. If things went as swiftly as they were going, with your access to the elf’s resources and their wisdom and help, a cure seemed tangible in the near future. You may even be looking at a window of time shorter than the year you were granted. When you had originally taken the offer, you thought a year was not nearly enough time, but now that had changed. 

“I suppose you will.” Aemond’s tone had dropped and he took on a contemplative face. He then straightened his back and spoke, “I’ll leave you to it then.” 

Aemond had gone back to his tent. You had waited for a moment, wondering if he was going to stay there for the day. His explanation as to why he came with you did not add up. If he was worried you would sneak away, why was he avoiding you so much? 

There was no point in trying to understand him. Even if you somehow lived as long as elves, you doubted you could ever come to understand him in that time. No amount of conversation could unwrap the enigma, so you decided to go about your day. 

It had been hours spent, collecting an array of samples. Everything from blades of grass to the twigs of branches from trees that lined the meadow were collected. Since you were only there for a day, you knew you had to get as much as you could. 

Just as the sun had begun to wane, you kneeled in front of the water with some empty vials. You filled six of them and corked the tops. You held one up to the light and watched the swirling of a bunch of minerals in the water. They shimmered in the light. You then put them securely in a bag and got up. You made the walk back to camp which was only a short while from the lake. Some of the guards were sitting around the fire and eating. 

You stopped by the cart and placed your samples in one of the bigger chests. Once that was all done, you approached one of the logs by the fire. Four logs formed a square-like formation. Elias scooted over to let you sit and you joined him. He handed you a bowl of stew that you took gratefully. 

The sun went down over a few hours. The elves swapped stories as you watched on with rapt attention. There was always underlying wisdom within their tales, no matter how ridiculous or even downright raunchy they became. 

One by one the guards each retreated into their shared tent to rest. Once it was down to you and Elias, he shuffled to the side to give you more space. 

You had been watching the fire when he spoke up, “Do you think a cure can be made?” His question caught you off guard and you looked to him. The stars had come out and the fire and moon provided the only light. You could see the reflection of the flames dancing across his face. 

“Of course I do.” You answered. 

“I��� my wife is expecting. I don’t want my kids to be born into a world that is dying.” Elias admitted. He fidgeted with his hands, pulling on his fingers. 

You adjusted in your seat, “That won’t happen.” You were firm in your words. There was a way out, there had to be a way out. For multiple millennia, there had been things thrown at the world. Terrible events that none thought would be overcome. Yet, here the world remained. Continuing on and on, with no end in sight. Those previous perils were defeated, why should this be any different?

“I hope so.” Elias patted his thighs and sighed. He stood up and faced you, “That does it for the day. Don’t stay up too late.” He nodded to you and then approached the guard's tent. 

You continued to sit on the log and watch the fire. Crickets chirped and it was mixed with the sound of croaking frogs. You listened to the noise, taking in the sight around you. Everything was calm and you again pulled out Lyra’s doll. You were stuck looking at it and processing her passing. Those days you had spent locked in your room were not healing, nor did it aid in your grief. It had been nothing but nonexistence – trailing from one hour to the next.

Here, away from the kingdom and other obligations, you could finally breathe. 

The abrupt passing of Lyra had you reflecting on your own life. Back to your humble life with your father in the capital. That when he disappeared, you had to learn to take care of yourself. He had left you enough money to cover food and other needs, but only for a short period. You had come to know what hunger was really like. It was by some miracle you had managed to make it to a village on the outskirts and settle. Even then, you were not as stable as one would like. 

While you were looking at the doll, Aemond emerged from his tent and sat down on the log adjacent to yours. You could see his blue eye observe the depths of the flames. For a moment, it was silent. 

“When you found my sister, injured on the borders, you helped her despite the great possibility of death,” Aemond spoke softly, “Why?” There was quiet contemplation across his face. He seemed to be going through some moment of clarity. The foundations of whatever he previously thought of you were shaking, yet you could not understand why. 

You wanted to tell him everything, you wanted him to tell you everything. Damn the distance, damn all preconceived notions you had of one another. You wanted nothing but a complete reset, a possibility to connect. 

“My whole life, I have struggled to find a purpose. If there is anything I can do right, that is healing. She needed help… and I could give it to her. Why should I not?” You spoke. Aemond moved his gaze from the fire to you, but you had already looked back down at the doll in your hands. You could not look at him, you were scared of what you would say if you did. 

He did not speak, so you continued, “I did not think it would lead to me coming to your kingdom. It was scary, at first. But your people have given me something I have not had for a while. A home. I just did not expect to lose someone…” 

Out of the corner of your field of vision, Aemond was looking at you. It was obvious, from your hold on the doll, that you were still in that uncomfortable state of mourning where all a person was filled with was regret. In the distance, an owl called out as the crickets rose in volume. 

“I promised to take her on an adventure. I don’t know why… as a healer I should know not to do that. But she was so innocent and broken.” Perhaps, in her fragile state, you had seen yourself reflected in the glassy orbs of her eyes. Lyra was a reflection of you, or more accurately, a reflection of you before the disappearance of your father. A time when all you had was your innocence. 

“You care.” Aemond seemed to have had an epiphany at that moment, his mouth slightly agape, “You care about my kind…” Anger flared in you at his comment. Had he not seen, the whole time you had been there, that caring was all you did? Your work with the cure, with the patients, connecting with other elves including his family. It was all because you did care, more than you have ever in your life.

“I care?” Your grip on the doll tightened as you finally looked at him. You met his soft gaze with hostility, “Do you still think so little of me after all this time? Have I not proven myself?” 

Silence settled between you two. That seemed to be a habit lately, though the silence was not uncomfortable. There was a connection there that you two shared. Isolation of sound gave way to a deeper understanding. You had observed him in that moment. Your eyes traced the curve of his jaw, and the pursing of his lips, and moved along the scar to settle on the thick leather patch that covered whatever was underneath. 

You quickly turned away, suddenly ashamed at staring so unabashedly at it. You had managed not to do that your entire stay there, largely out of fear that he may lash out at you for it. You gazed back into the fire. 

“It’s a sapphire.” Aemond suddenly spoke. 

You put your attention back on him, “What?” 

“The eye that I lost. I replaced it with a sapphire,” The roles had reversed and Aemond had a difficult time looking at you, so he turned his gaze back onto to fire, “You were looking.” 

You tilted your head slightly but made no move to comment. How many people had been privy to this knowledge? From your time in the kingdom, he had never taken it off. When you had first met Aegon, the topic of Aemond’s eye had come up, but he had brushed it away with underlying hostility. If it was such a sensitive topic, why had Aemond revealed it to you? 

“You want to know how it happened.” It was not a question, but a flat sentence that seemed hesitant to come out from his lips. You continued to watch him, scanning his lithe form as it sat on a log. He was not dressed up in his finery but simply wore boots, pants, and a thin white shirt. The top half of his hair was not collected into a tie at the back, but fell loosely over his shoulders and down his back. The strands looked soft and caught the orange haze of the fire.

You swallowed some saliva that had gathered in your mouth, “I would be a liar if I said I was not curious and I will not lie to you.” 

Aemond looked up for a moment, “It was before the Great War.” He lowered his head again as if it would shelter him from the memories that likely pushed to the forefront of his mind.

“You need not tell me this.” His growing discomfort had begun to rub off on you. You did not know if he had been drinking, that this instance might be a lapse of judgement in his muddled perception of reality as the alcohol took hold. However, there was no indication that he had. 

“You want to know,” Aemond said plainly.

“Not at your expense.” You whispered. It was barely heard above the sound of the environment and the fire, but Aemond whipped his head in your direction as if you had yelled it. Your words were a quiet revelation to him that you indeed did not carry complete hate towards him like you had led him to believe. 

“It was a human that did it.” His words felt like a bucket of ice water had been poured over you. It was like those moments between sleep and awake when the world was hazy and made no sense until the final wave of energy hit you and everything sharpened into focus. The coming of the dawn, the rising of the birds, it all made sense to you.

His perception of you made sense; the one that he had voiced to you the morning after your first party in the library. 

All humans are a threat.

For him, you were just another version of the person who dealt him irreparable damage and unquestionable violence. 

“He was a prince from your kingdom,” The way he had said it was almost accusatory, “Our people had been allies. I thought of the Prince Lucerys as a friend, perhaps a brother…” The way he spoke the man’s name sent a shiver down your spine. It was an intense portrayal of animosity, a loathing monster lurking in a forest of broken trust. 

“I had just become king, but still so young. My people were still weakened from my father’s death and it was treated as an opportunity by your kind.” His grip on his thighs tightened and you could almost see the memories themselves through the glossy film of his eye. “I had woken up that night to him above me, dagger in hand. I… I tried to fight him but,” His words fell short. You watched him ball his hands into fists, shaking ever so slightly. Either from fear or anger, that much was unclear. 

“Why are you telling me this?” You whispered. You had leaned over in your seat during his recounting of events, attention rapt with both horror and curiosity. Aemond then faced you for the first time since his confession and you could not help but look at the scar on his face. A symbol of betrayal and violence, what should be a mark of a monster, was truly just a blow dealt to a scared child. 

It was not elf King Aemond Targaryen who sat by you, but a scared little boy broken in countless ways.

“If you think to betray me or my people, get it over with so we can avoid the pain.” You understood that what he truly meant was that he could avoid the pain. What you did not account for was the possibility that, perhaps, he is still just as prone to unwavering naive trust as he was as a child. It was clear that he had some form of a degree of trust and even camaraderie with you. That the thought of you committing such an act against him would be another scar upon himself.

He had been waiting for you to hover above him, dagger in hand, and prepared to even the score. 

“You are not what people say you are.” Your voice acted like a balm for him and you could see Aemond visibly relax. “You are not a monster.” You knew he could sense the double meaning of your words. That his actions were not monstrous, but most importantly, that he did not look like one. You did not doubt that the scar had led him to feel deficient in many parts of his life. Which, in your whole honesty, was a complete lie. To think that someone could glance at that face and shrink away was nearly insane.

Aemond’s shoulders sagged and you could have melted under the intensity of his gaze. The softness, the sheer dedication of reverence. There was a thick gloss that reflected in his eye and even now you could see that he was holding back. It was all too much. 

“And you are not like the other humans… you care.” 

You wanted to move over and get closer to him. To feel if he was warmer than the fire; if the swirling ocean in his eye was worth it to sail. You cursed the distance between you two. Now, when you were speaking and had gotten closer than ever before, he still felt far. With each time you two connected it was always the opposite. When you were arguing, you were always physically close and could feel his heat, but when you two were getting along, he seemed so impossibly far. 

It was an odd form of cruelty that you each imposed upon one another. 

“Do you think,” You began but hesitated, “Do you think we can be friends?” Your heart thumped against your ribcage. That you had even asked such a question had your mind racing. Would this attempt be successful? Or, if anything, will he see this as a threat for getting too close?

Aemond appeared almost shocked and his back straightened. His eye squinted, full of uncertainty. “You want to be friends… with me?” 

“Yes.” You decided to take the risk and moved to sit by him. Everything felt slow like your senses were pushing to delay this moment; to lock it in your memory and keep it forever. You raised your hand, which elicited an almost imperceptible flinch from him. You slowed your movement and rested your hand on one of his that had been balled up tightly on his thigh. 

It was like a damn broke and his hand opened up to receive yours. You could feel the heat of his skin and the callouses that littered the pads from endless training. There were a few scars that littered it, each line spread out like randomized patches of flowers in a field. They were beautiful to you. He was beautiful to you. 

You did not care that you were in too deep anymore. If you could know him, really know him, if just for under a year – you could carry that with you for life. Your fingers slotted between his and he squeezed your hand.

Aemond had looked back to the fire, now slowly dying out, and spoke just barely, “Friends.”

It was there, fingers intertwined, that both your souls rested together as you bathed in the light of once-unspoken words.

Chapter 15: Know Your Enemies Preview

A hand waved in front of your vision. You had not even acknowledged how your vision had gotten blurry in your moment of thinking. Aegon was crouched down, a crinkle prominent between his eyebrows as his face was morphed with worry. 

“Come back down to the ground here. Shit, did I break you?” Aegon shook your shoulders gently and his voice dropped to a near incomprehensible whisper, “Gods, Aemond will kill me.”

☾⋆⁺₊✧ If you want to be added to the taglist, click here!

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[netscapenavigator-official]

I'm sorry if I alarmed or worried any of you last night. I've had some time to sleep... what few hours I got. Now that the dust is starting to settle, I find myself asking, "what now?" The reality is donning, and no amount of fantasy, wishing, or hoping is going to change it. So what now?

I think this election demonstrated something I've been worried was true for a long time: The only allies we truly have are ourselves. Women, queer folk, people of color? At the end of the day, the only people we can truly trust to be there for us are those in the same shoes we are. The Democrat party, our once only major ally in American politics, is in pieces. I don't know if it'll ever be able to meaningfully repair itself. If it can't, I don't know if a new party will replace it in time for future elections. If there will be any. We are alone, now, and this election marks a new truth: The allies we once had aren't there anymore, and if they are, they don't care enough about us to show up for us. So what now?

Well... maybe we disappear from the public view for a while. Maybe we go underground for a while. Maybe we have to hide who we are and live in secrecy... but what else is new?

When has it ever been easy to be us? When have we ever faced a day where hate and dehumanization, on a systematic level, weren't on the table. To be who we are means to be at the receiving end of what happened last night. So what now?

We will survive. We will fly under the radar. Some of us will die. It's an unfortunate truth, but we can't do anything about it now. The best we can do is do what those before us did: Keep on going. Queer people, women, people of color? We'll band together. Maybe not all together. Maybe in each of the three communities. I don't know. We don't have politicians and we don't have allies anymore. All we have is each other. But we are the Tardigrades of the social political world. We will endure.

Whether with public support or without, we will find ways to exist and thrive. The people of color, the women, the queer folk before us... they all went through the ringer too... and they survived. Not only that, but many of them thrived.

Things may be fucked on a systematic level, but we're far smaller than the prying eyes of the government can see. They don't see people. They see groups. And so, as an individual, you can thrive in personal ways. Maybe the world of politics is hell. That doesn't meant you have to give up on your hobbies. That doesn't mean you have stop loving those you do. That doesn't mean you have to stop petting your cat. That doesn't mean you have to stop reading books. That doesn't mean you have to stop looking out your window and going, "what a beautiful day!" That doesn't mean that you have to stop enjoying anything.

Life is complex. It's multi-faceted. Some doors may close on the joys we once had, but new ones will open. Excitement will come from places you never saw yourself in. Joy will still come from the small, mundane things you already love.

It's impossible to understand what we're in for. And so, the best thing we can do is stop catastrophizing. Let the horrors find you and spend the meantime making the best of it. Don't anticipate stuff and spend the rest of your time being miserable. Maybe the time you have left is short. Maybe it's long. Maybe it's somewhere in between... That doesn't mean you have to give up on making the best of it. Thrive, if not for yourself, then out of spite for those who pray on your downfall.

Be happy. Be kind. Like the minorities before us... we will survive. A bad government doesn't mean we have to live a bad life. I wish you all the best. Stay safe. <3

[talesfromawannabejournalist]

@kittenfangirl20

Two months had gone by, and a lot had happened during this time. First and most importantly Angel had taken the steps into gaining a restraining order against his now ex-boyfriend. He went into action when he found out that he was once again pregnant. He was actually as far along as his new friend was. Though he couldn't take back the trauma Val put Serafina put under.

He could protect his future son or daughter. Speaking of Serafina, she got along greatly with Charlie and eventually even Vaggie. Once the one-eyed girl came around of course. One could say all three were drawn together because of their past trauma with a bad parent. In any event those girls had each other.

Currently the three girls were being babysat by Lute and Verosika as Adam, Lucifer, and Angel were on their way to Lamaze. The two pregnant men wanted to be prepared for this time around. Even if they were going to still take drugs, it was still nice to be somewhat come during a painful time. When they got there their teacher instructed them to their own spaces that provided soft blankets and pillows. Winnidred, their teacher, saw Angel didn't have a partner.

Winny: tells you what, my cousin said he would help today, and I can just have him be your partner today.

Just then the door to the back opened and in walked a very handsome man, in Angel's opinion

The Morningstar’s House

(sorry if you think it’s a bad title, it was all I come up with)

written by: @kittenfangirl20 and @talesfromawannabejournalist

Adam gave a shaky breath as he stared down at the two pink lines on the white stick. Pregnant, he was pregnant

Adam: Shit!

Adam cursed as he placed the test on the counter beside him and pulled his underwear and pants back up. He didn't know how this could have happened, well he knew of the process, but he didn't understand why. He was on the pill and his husband always wore condoms when they were...well you know. This was bad, not for the future baby, but for the timing. He and Lucifer talked about having children together, besides Lucifer's firstborn and Adam's stepdaughter Charlotte.

However, they talked about sometime in the future, not only two months after the wedding! It wasn't as if they weren't financially stable. Lucifer had more than enough money to support all three of them plus an added member or two. It was just that Adam was just starting to get his band name off the ground. After so long of wanting this dream and trying to find the right people he finally found them. And what's more, they've been getting more gigs lately! They were finally being noticed then Adam had to fuck it all up by getting knocked up!

A soft yet urgent knock came from the other side of the bathroom door. His husband's voice spoke to him

Lucifer: Honey? Are you alright in there?

Adam threw the pregnancy test in an open drawer closing it quickly before responding

Adam: Yeah, don't worry about me, just a...bat stuck in the belfry if you know what I mean, heh. I'll be out in a minute

Lucifer: Ok, just wanted to remind you we have to leave in about fifteen minutes if we want to pick up Charlie on time from...her mothers.

Adam sighed at the mention of having to see Lilith once again but getting Charlie for the rest of the week and taking her to Lucifer's amusement park will be worth it. So, with that, he got up, washed his hands then went to his husband.

(Alright @kittenfangirl20 your up)

[sequinsmile-x]

Instincts

Five times Emily doesn't yell at her mother-in-law, and one time she does.

Part 1/6

-x-

Hi besties,

Hope you are all doing as okay as possible <3

Usually, I do these 5+1 fics as a one shot but I'm doing it a little differently this time and this will be a multi chapter.

The final chapter, the one time Emily does yell, will be based on a prompt I received!

As always, let me know what you think!

-x-

Warnings: none for this chapter, pregnancy in later chapters

Words: 2.9k

Read over on Ao3, or below the cut

The first time it happens, she doesn’t even get to meet Caroline Hotchner. 

It starts a few days before, when she can tell Aaron is nervous the moment he lets her into his apartment. She smiles curiously at her boyfriend as she steps past him, her lips catching his cheek as his hand skims her waist before he takes her bag from her, hooking it over his shoulder, “Waiting for me in the doorway kind of makes me having a key pointless.” 

He chuckles, but it’s not the laugh she loves. It doesn’t come from his chest, doesn’t light up the space between them like it usually does, and it makes concern spark low in her gut. She furrows her brow as he closes the door, his focus on locking it behind them and setting the alarm. 

“Sorry, sweetheart,” he says, smiling when he turns to look at her, “I was just excited to see you.”

Emily hums, narrowing her eyes at him as she crosses her arms over her chest, desperately trying to read him - to see what had changed since she’d left him in his office at work just a few hours ago. She’d only gone back to her place to get more clothes. Her apartment was just a place where she kept her things these days because home was wherever Aaron and Jack were. 

She’d considered breaking her lease and just moving in with Aaron. All of their friends made fun of them for it, playful smiles on their faces when they teased her for the fact she still had an exit strategy. It would upset her if she knew Aaron thought that way too, but she knew he didn’t, his defence of her always fierce even in the face of joking from their friends. The truth was, something that they were keeping between the two of them for now, that they recently started to look at a place to buy together. She loved sitting in bed with Aaron, her back against his chest, his legs bracketing hers and his chin on her shoulder whilst they looked through listings together. Their favourites either bookmarked on her laptop or circled in the paper. She hated moving, it reminded her too much of her childhood, so she didn’t want to do it twice in quick succession. So for now, she’d continue to occasionally go to her place to pick up some things, content to live in this in-between stage before she finally had everything she’d ever wanted. A home made of brick and mortar. A home made of the man she loves and the boy she loves as her own. 

It was a future she was looking forward to. One with him and Jack and whoever else might come along too - the idea of having more children with him enough to make her giddy. 

“I only went home to get some clothes, honey,” she says, trying to pull a smile out of him, the smile that belonged to her. His smile doesn’t reach his eyes, his energy still nervous, and she sighs, “What’s going on?” 

He clears his throat and puts her bag on his couch, “My mother called.” 

She raises her eyebrows, her arms falling to her side, “Oh.” 

His relationship with his mother was tense at best. They only spoke now and again, they exchanged phone calls on birthdays and holidays and occasionally sent each other gifts. Emily had never met her, but she’d overheard them talking on the phone, her name thrown around like confetti by her boyfriend, his smile always soft just at the mention of her. 

“Yeah,” he says, walking towards her, his hands on her hips, “She’s in town.” 

Emily nods, her eyebrows raising even further, already knowing where this was going, “Oh.” 

“And she wants to meet you,” he says, squeezing her waist when she opens her mouth again, a third oh dying on her tongue, “Look, if you don’t want to meet her, I understand. I know my relationship with her is hard, and that you probably don’t have a lot of good feelings about her because of that-”

“Honey-” she says, finally breaking out of the slight stupor she’d fallen into. She smiles and cups his cheek, “You’re rambling. You don’t ramble,” she runs her thumb back and forth over his jaw, “It’s cute,” she smiles when he turns his head to kiss her palm,  “Of course, I’ll meet her.”

The relief in his eyes is palpable, and she sees the tension in his shoulders loosen, “Really?” 

She nods and leans forward to kiss him, her lips stamped against his, “Really,” she says, her nerves dampened a little by the relieved look on his face, the look in his eyes that makes him look like the little boy who never quite stopped looking for his mother’s approval, “She’ll be my mother-in-law one day,” she says, her arms snaking around his neck as he pulls her closer, “It would be awkward if the first time I met her is the wedding.” 

He chuckles, leaning in to kiss her, putting all of his love into it. He tightens his grip on her hips so he doesn’t run to the bedroom to grab the ring he’d hidden in his sock drawer, not wanting to ruin his very meticulously planned proposal, “I love you.” 

“I love you too,” she says, “So, when are we going to meet her? Are you going to invite her here?” 

“No,” he says, sounding more sure than he had since she’d walked through the door, and it makes her smile, “I learnt a long time ago a mutual ground is probably the right call. She likes Italian food. That new place opened up downtown but it’s almost impossible to get in.” 

She shakes her head, carding her fingers through his hair, “Impossible if you’re not the daughter of a well-respected US Ambassador,” she says, smiling at him, “If the Prentiss name is good for one thing in DC, it’s for getting reservations.” 

He sighs, shaking his head, knowing any favour she asked for from her mother never came for free, “Em, I know how difficult your mom can be, you don’t have to-”

“Hey, what good are my mommy issues if I can’t use them to help you with yours,” she says, leaning in to kiss him, “I’ll call my mom, she’ll get her assistant to get us a table and then she’ll passive-aggressively berate my life choices for 10 to 20 minutes. And you can pay me back in sexual favours.” 

He chuckles and kisses her before leaning his forehead against hers, “Deal.” 

___

She’s able to focus on his anxiety instead of her own. 

If she didn’t know him so well, it would concern her. Make her think that he was worried about her meeting his mother and not the other way around. There was no room for her to even consider that he was embarrassed by her, that he was anything less than proud to call her his. All the nervousness he was feeling, the way he was squeezing her knee like it was a stress ball, was all about his mother. The women he’d come from but couldn’t be more different than. 

If there was one thing Emily understood, it was that feeling. 

She places her hand over his on her knee as he parks up and she smiles, “I’d ask if you’re okay, but I think if you squeeze my knee any tighter the joint might pop,” she says, and he lets go. She grabs his hand before he can take it away, linking their fingers together and cutting him off so he doesn’t apologise, “It’s okay, honey. It’s dinner. We’ll eat, we’ll make conversation with your mother. And then we can go home and have sex.” 

He chuckles and tugs their joint hands towards him and kisses her knuckles, “Why does it feel like our roles have been reserved here?” 

She smiles, “Think about it this way,” she says, leaning across the centre console to kiss his cheek, “Your mom lives five states away. We don’t have to see her that often.” 

He laughs, “I’m sure I should be assuring you everything will be okay,” he shakes his head at himself, “You’re the one meeting her. I don’t want to paint a bad picture of her. She’s not a bad person. She had a bad set of circumstances. My father was…a bad person and a bad father. She’s not a bad person, but she…” 

“Wasn’t a very good mother,” she finishes for him, and he sighs and nods as she flashes a half smile at him, “I’m familiar with the concept,” she unhooks her seatbelt so she can turn to face him, her smile soft as she runs her fingers through his hair, “We can just go home you know. We can turn around. Jack is with Jess tonight so we could just get in the tub. Hang out. You could repay me for everything I went through for our cancelled reservation.”

He shakes his head and kisses her knuckles again, “No. I want her to meet you. To meet the woman I love,” he smiles, “You’re going to be my wife one day. The mother of my kids,” his smile gets wider when she blushes, “You should meet my mother.” 

She nods and kisses him, “In that case, we should get going. Otherwise, we’ll be late,” she turns to open her door but he stops her, and she turns to look at him, “You okay?” 

“I need you to promise me something.” 

“Anything, you know that.” 

“You know how you made me promise to not step in if I think your mom goes too far?” He asks, and she nods, her lips pressed together as she sighs, already knowing where he is going, “I need you to make me the same promise.” 

She clears her throat, “Is she going to make me wish I hadn’t made this promise?” 

“Probably.” 

She chuckles, “At least you’re honest,” she huffs out a breath, “Well, I’ve had over 40 years of experience dealing with my mother,” she winks at him, “I can handle one night with yours,” she’s grateful to get a smile out of him, “It will be okay, honey.” 

He holds her hand the moment they are out of the car, his palm warm against hers as they link their fingers together. She’d always loved holding his hand, found a comfort in it that she knew he found too. In the moments when she let herself be romantic about it, she tells herself they were made for each other. That the reason her hand fits so well in his, the reason their fingers link together perfectly, is because they were made with each other in mind. 

His phone rings and he pulls it from his pocket, frowning as he turns it to show her, the word Mom flashing across the screen. They come to a stop on the sidewalk, stepping out of the way of other people, and he answers. 

“Mom, hi, are you at the restaurant already, we’re just…” he drifts off, and Emily can hear the voice of the woman at the end of the phone, but not what she’s saying, “Oh, I see,” he says, looking at Emily, his lips pressed together and his eyes drifting shut, “I thought you wanted to meet Emily,” he adds, and she clenches her jaw as she runs her thumb back and forth over the heel of his hand, “Well, yeah you can do that next time you’re in town. Or maybe we’ll come and see you.” 

She can hear the disappointment in his voice, can see the irritation in his eyes, in the way he’s holding himself, and she gets as close as she can to him to provide the comfort he’d never ask for. She rests her head on his shoulder, and the extra height her heels give her means he can rest his cheek on top of her head as he finishes the call with his mom, exchanging goodbyes and see you soons in a way that’s so polite it makes her teeth ache. After he hangs up they stand in silence, still in their strange embrace with her head on his shoulder and both of her hands wrapped around one of his. 

“She’s not coming?” She asks, even though she knows the answer, and she looks up at him. He shakes his head and clears his throat. 

“No. She’s not.” 

“Did she say why?” 

“She bumped into an old friend. Went for dinner with her instead.” 

She scoffs, “Instead of meeting up with her son?” She clenches her jaw, “Want me to call her back? I can give her a…” she drifts off when he raises his eyebrow at her, a hint of amusement in his smile, “Right. My promise. Does it count even if I haven’t met her yet?” 

He chuckles wryly and kisses her forehead, “I’d say especially then,” he kisses her again, “I’m sorry, sweetheart.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for,” she assures him, “It’s not your fault,” she squeezes his hand and hates the look in his eyes when they meet hers. He looks like a lost little boy, entirely too much like Jack, and it makes her want to steal his phone when he’s not looking and break her promise only minutes after she made it. She knows she won’t though, bound by a promise they’d now made each other about their mothers respectively, and she knew how annoyed and hurt she’d be if their roles were reversed, “Want to go home?” 

He shakes his head, “No, Em. You went to a lot of effort to get this table-”

“Honey, I don’t care,” she says, cupping his cheek, “I can handle my mother if she says anything about us not using the reservation. I’m worried about you,” she strokes her thumb back and forth over his cheek, “If you want to go in we can, or we can grab a pizza on our way home and I’ll eat in my underwear to try and cheer you up.” 

He laughs, the sound more real this time, more hers, and he smiles at her, “I do like the sound of the second option.”

“I know my audience,” she hums and leans forward, stamping her lips against his before she rests her forehead against his, “Home?” 

He nods, blowing out a slow breath, “Home.” 

She kisses him one more time before she steps back enough for them to walk to the car, both of her hands still wrapped around one of his, “I’m sorry your mom did this, Aaron.” 

He sighs and unlocks the car, “Me too. I was looking forward to the two of you meeting.” 

She slips in between him and the side of the car before he can open the door for her, “I know,” she says, running her fingers through his hair, “And I was looking forward to meeting her too. Despite…everything, she still gave the world you. And that’s something I want to thank her for,” she says, worry sparking in her chest again when he tightens his hold on her, something she can’t name flashing in his eyes, “Baby, what is it?” 

Aaron shakes his head, “It’s nothing.” 

“You can tell me,” she says, reaching out for his hand, “You know that.”

He blows out a breath, “I guess I just wanted her to meet you before we start the next stage of everything. Not because I feel like I need her approval or anything. But she’s my mom,” he smiles sadly, “It would nice if she cared enough to meet the woman I’ve told her I’m going to marry one day soon.” 

It makes her angry again. The heat of it washing over her in a way she knows has her gripping his hand a little too tight, her knuckles briefly paper white before she lets go, swallowing the fury back down because it’s not what he needs from her. 

Not today. 

Despite everything, the mere mention of their still hypothetical wedding makes her smile and she squeezes his hand, “I understand that, but if she misses out on anything it’s on her. Not you. Okay?” 

He nods, “Okay.” 

She leans forward and kisses him, “Now,” she says, kissing him again, “Pizza. Then home.” 

“And you in your underwear,” he says, smiling as he steps away so he can open the car door for her, “I seem to remember that being part of the deal.” 

“A deal is a deal,” she says, winking at him as he closes her car door once she’s climbed in. She’s alone in the car for a matter of seconds before he joins her, the key in the ignition as soon as his door is shut. “I just thought of something.” 

He looks over and sees the vague look of horror on her face, the way she scrunches her nose up ever so slightly, “What, sweetheart?” 

“One day our mothers are going to have to meet.” 

[galaxy-fleur]

I hope more dad leon questions are ok?

something something that's been on my mind, what if remake leon (after reaching early 30s ) suggest his s/o that they have a baby but she is reluctant and unsure about it?

while leon is craving for normalcy and an escape and his emotion got the better of him but she's afraid of not being able to do it or whether she'd be a good mum and the like

Hmm, I don't think that would be a big issue, honestly? If we take that you two assumedly have been together for a while now, it's not like you feeling hesitant about it would make him feel upset or angry with you. Yes, Leon wants a simpler, cozier life (if we're talking about a scenario of him actually having the opportunity to do that). He wants that with you, though. You're a team, and your thoughts and desires are not any less valuable than his own. I'd even say that he tends to neglect his needs sometimes.

So I can see this going two ways.

He either backpedals on the whole idea once he sees you're a bit uncomfortable and doesn't bring it back up for a while because he doesn't want to make you feel pressured, or... you two have a more open conversation about the whole thing. Granted, the first option will probably lead to the second one eventually, but still.

Having kids is scary and a lot of work. No matter how you have children. He wouldn't want you to go through with something so life-changing if you're not completely sure and eager. And if you're not, that's fine, too. He's willing to wait. To talk about it more, lay out your options and take it one step at a time instead of just jumping into this idea.

And if you'll never feel ready? Well, you'll just have to adopt a puppy. Or so he jokes while pressing a kiss to your forehead. Or perhaps a parrot. A big one. He heard those are technically like toddlers that never grow up. A perfect option. Plus, Sherry would love that.

Point is, he wouldn't want you to feel nervous of disappointing him or holding him back just because you're not as on board with it as he is. He wants a family with you because he loves you. He wants a future with you, whatever that may look like. If you'll want kids one day? Just know he'll be ecstatic to hear that. And if you don't? That means you two will get more time to spend together, with no distractions getting in the way. He'd be a damn fool to complain about that.

Either way, he will remind you that you are not alone in this. If you are just worried about not being a great parent, he'll reassure you that he'll be right there with you, every step of the way. Though the joys and the hurdles, the wins and losses. He wants it all, not just the good stuff. So you have nothing to worry about.

Adoption is always an option, too. If you are someone who headcanons his backstory as him losing his parents at a young age, that'll just makes the whole idea that much more heartwarming to think about.

[piinksdoll]

→ [808 | Spencer Reid/Emily Prentiss]

Pairing~ Spencer Reid x Fem!Bau!Reader, Emily Prentiss x Fem!Bau!Reader

Genre~ angst, fluff, kissing

Word Count~ 2.8k

Warnings~ heartbreak, wine thats rlly it

a/n~ k this is very angsty, sad spence, sad reader, cute emily tho so yeah! have fun lmk what yall think! also NOT PROOFREAD!!!!

Today is the day. October 17th. 808 days. 

Spencer and I have been together for 808 days. I've counted every day since the first time he said ‘I love you’. I remember that day like it was yesterday. It was after a particularly hard case, and I had gotten hurt. After coming back to Quantico he insisted on driving me home. He walked me to my door and stood in front of me. His hands were trembling, the rain soaked his hair and his clothes. He looked at me with pure adoration before the words left his lips. “I love you Y/n.” 

I have been up for 6 hours, pacing my apartment trying to prepare myself for what's to come. He's on his way here and I know why. It’s over.

I glance up at the clock, 7:58. He’ll be here any minute. Suddenly I'm snapped out of my thoughts with the knock on my door. I opened the door and there he stood.  “Come in.” I moved out the way to let him in. He enters my apartment, his eyes scanning the familiar surroundings as if he’s trying to memorise every detail. The warmth of my home feels so stark against the chill of the situation.

“Hey.” His voice barely above a whisper. “Hey.” I replied, my voice almost inaudible. “Do you want some coffee or-?” I start, desperate to break the silence, but he cuts me off. “No, I- ” He hesitates, glancing down at the floor before meeting my eyes. “I think we need to talk. I swallow hard, nodding slowly as the knot in my stomach tightens. “Yeah, I think we do.”

“Y/n, I don't know how to say this. I've been thinking about us, about everything.” He looked at me with those damn brown eyes. I could melt in them. “I think... I think we need to take a break. I need time to figure things out.” My brows furrowed in confusion. “Spencer. I don't know what to say to you.”

He nods slowly, tears pooling in his eyes. “I think it’s for the best. For both of us.” I shook my head, laughing bitterly at his words. “The best? For both of us? No Spencer, I think this is just for you.” His brow furrows, confusion mixed with hurt flashing across his face. “What do you mean?” I close my eyes trying to stop my tears from falling. “I mean, you’ve found something with JJ, haven’t you?” I cross my arms defensively, my heart racing. “You’re too scared to admit it, but you want her. You’re using ‘us’ as an excuse to justify leaving.”

“That’s not true!” he protests, his voice rising slightly. “I didn’t plan for any of this to happen. You know how much I care about you.” I shake my head at his words. 

“No Spencer, you don't because if you did, we wouldn't be here. Don't act like there's nothing going on between you too because there is. I've seen the stolen glances, the lingering touches. Do you think im stupid? I've seen the way you look at eachother so don't. Don't try to pretend you care about my feelings because you do not.” A sob escapes my lips. My hands are shaking and tears are streaming down my face as I continue “You don't get it do you? You are my whole world Spencer. I'd give my life for you and all I get is ‘I didn't plan for this to happen?’ You’re leaving me for one of, not only yours, but also my best friend. Like who does that to someone they love.” I shake my head, my tears blurring my vision, and for a moment, it feels like the world is collapsing around me. 

“I thought we had something special,” I say, my voice cracking. “Every day for 2 years, I believed we were building a future together. But now, here we are, and you’re throwing it all away.”

“Just go Spencer, I can't look at you without it ripping my heart out.” My voice trembles. He freezes for a moment, his hand still hovering over the doorknob, and I can see the hurt in his eyes “Y/N…” he starts, but I can’t bear to hear any more. “Please,” I choke out, forcing myself to meet his gaze one last time. “Just go.” His eyes search mine, a mixture of longing and despair etched across his face, and I want to scream at him to stay, to tell him I’ll forgive him, that we can work through this. But I can't do that to myself.  “I’m so sorry,” he whispers, his voice cracking as he leaves my apartment for the last time. 

My knees give in, I hit the floor unable to hold myself up. A gut wrenching scream leaves my lips, it feels as if the walls are closing in on me suffocating me with the weight of my heartbreak. I curl into myself, clutching my arms around my legs, the tears flowing freely now as sobs wrack my body. Each cry is a release, a desperate attempt to let go of the pain that clings to me like a second skin. It's over

—

Tonight is the first pasta and wine night at Rossi’s since Spencer left me for JJ. I smooth out my dress before heading out. Emily came to pick me up, “Hey, gorgeous! Ready to have some fun?” she asks, pulling me into a quick hug. I force a smile. “Yeah, let’s do this.” 

The drive to Rossi’s was quiet. I felt like Emily wanted to say something but chose not to pry. As we pulled into the driveway of Rossi’s gorgeous house, I saw Spencer’s car already parked. It made my stomach uneasy. I feel a pang in my chest, but I shake it off as we step inside.

“Y/N! Emily! You made it!” Penelope squeals, rushing over to pull me into a tight hug. Her excitement is contagious, and I can’t help but smile. “Of course! Wouldn’t miss Rossi’s cooking for the world,” I reply, attempting to sound cheerful. I felt Emily squeeze my hand, she gave me an encouraging smile as we walked further into the house. 

I catch glimpses of Spencer and JJ together as we walk past the kitchen into the living room. They’re sitting side by side on the couch, sharing quiet laughs and playful nudges. The way Spencer leans closer to her, the way JJ tucks her hair behind her ear, it all feels like a cruel reminder of what I’ve lost. I swallow hard, forcing myself to look away.

I walk back into the kitchen not wanting to witness them for another second taking a seat on the island with Emily standing next to me. “How are you doing bella?” Rossi asks concern etched on his face as he sets down a plate of freshly baked garlic bread.

I force a smile, trying to mask the hurt inside me. “I’m okay. Just… enjoying the night.” He gives me a knowing look, one that makes my heart sink a little. “You know I’m here for you, right? You don’t have to put on a brave face for me. And I know you’ll find someone, in fact they may be closer than you think.” I look at him confused. “Thanks, Rossi,” I reply, my voice soft. “I appreciate it.” I look back at Emily whose cheeks are now covered in a pink hue.

“What’s going on with you two?” I ask, raising an eyebrow playfully to mask my curiosity. She straightens up, her demeanour shifting. “Nothing! Just… a little wine, that’s all,” she stammers, glancing at the glass in her hand as if it holds all the answers. “Uh-huh, sure,” I tease.

After dinner we all begin to, wine is flowing a little more freely, and laughter filling the spaces between conversation. I catch JJ glancing at me more than once from across the living room, but I do my best to avoid her eyes, pretending to be focused on Emily’s story about some misadventure with Penelope. Eventually, JJ stands up “I’ll be right back,” she whispers to Spencer before making her way to the couch im seated on, and I feel the dread in my stomach grow as she walks towards me.

“Y/N?” JJ’s voice is gentle as she comes to stand by me. “Can we… talk for a second?” I hesitate, glancing at Emily, who gives me a subtle nod. I take a deep breath, then nod, standing up to follow JJ out of the living room and onto the back patio. The cool winds brushed me, I instinctively wrapped my arms around myself. 

“Y/N,” JJ begins softly, “I know I should’ve talked to you sooner. I just… I didn’t want to hurt you more than I already have.” I blink back the sting of tears in my eyes, She takes a breath, “I didn’t plan for any of this to happen. It just… did. And I’m sorry. I never wanted to cause you pain.” I nod slowly, taking a deep breath to steady myself. “I know, JJ,” I whisper, my voice softer than I expected. “But you did. You really hurt me.”

JJ’s face falls, and I can see the guilt in her eyes as she steps a little closer, her voice shaky. “I’m so sorry, Y/N. And you have every right to not forgive me or let me in your life. I care about you. You’re my family.”

I give her a small, sad smile. “That’s the thing, Jaje,” I say quietly. “You’re like my big sister. I’ve always looked up to you, trusted you. That’s why this hurts so much. I don’t know why you’d do this.”

She looks down, biting her lip as tears well up in her eyes. “I never wanted to hurt you,” she says again, her voice breaking. “It just… I don’t know how to explain it. Spencer and I, we just…”

I shake my head, cutting her off gently. “You don’t have to explain. I get it. These things happen, and I know you didn’t plan for it. But it still hurts, JJ.” Her shoulders sag, and I can see the weight of her guilt bearing down on her. “I know,” she whispers, tears spilling over. “And I wish I could take it back. I really do.” I reach out, placing my hands on her arms lightly, offering her an understanding look. “I can forgive you, JJ,” I tell her softly. “With time, I will. But right now… I just need space. I need time to heal.” JJ nods, wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand. “I understand. And I’m so sorry, Y/N. I wish I could make it right.”

“I know you are,” I reply. “And I appreciate that you’re here, apologising. But it’s going to take time.” She sniffs, trying to compose herself. “If you ever want to talk, I’ll be here. I just want you to know that.”

I give her a small nod. “Thanks, JJ. You’ll always be my sister. No matter what. I love you.” JJ’s breath hitches at my words, her eyes widening in surprise. But as I pull her into a tight hug, I feel her tense body soften against mine, and she wraps her arms around me in return. “I love you too, Y/N,” she whispers, her voice thick with emotion. “I always will.” I give her a warm smile before returning to the group. 

—

It’s been a month since everything with Spencer and JJ. A long, painful month, but slowly, things have been getting easier. I’ve been spending more time with Emily lately. She’s been there for me, a constant source of support when I needed it most. What started as a few friendly drinks after work or late-night phone calls turned into something more, a connection I hadn’t realised was forming. 

Tonight, the team is out for drinks, one of those rare evenings where the case is over, and for once, we don’t have to rush off to the next one. The bar is lively, the music loud, and the energy infectious. Emily and I have been dancing for the past hour, laughing and letting loose. I haven’t felt this carefree in a long time. I step away from the dance floor for a second, and go to the table where Derek, Penelope, Aaron, Rossi, and Spencer were sat. Emily and JJ went to grab drinks. 

“So, you and Prentiss looked pretty cozy out there. Do I sense a relationship perhaps?” Derek teases me, nudging my shoulder with a playful grin, I roll my eyes, trying to play it off, but I can feel a blush creeping up my face. “Derek, it’s not like that,” I protest, though my voice betrays me. 

Penelope leans in, her eyes have a look of mischief. “Uh-huh, sure. You’ve been glued to each other all night. Just saying.” Even Hotch cracks a small smile, sipping his drink. “It’s been nice to see you so relaxed lately,” he says, with genuine warmth in his voice. I can’t help but smile back “I’m just enjoying the night, guys. And even if I like her, who says she likes me?” They all look at me in shock, “Y/n be serious for a second, she cant get enough of you. You guys are attached at the hip every second you’re together.” Penelope exclaimed, trying to convince me. “I- I don't know you guys…” I shake my head reluctantly, as Morgan is about to reply Emily and JJ come back with drinks for everyone. “What’re we talking about?” Emily asked as she slid into the booth next to me. “They’re being ridiculous as always and I kinda wanna leave…” I whispered the last part leaning into her shoulder. “Alright we can leave, ok you guys I think we’re done for the night. We're gonna head out!” I let out a breath of relief as we made our way out of the bar. 

Emily took my hand into hers shooting chills up my spine. I thought about Penelope and Derek’s words, could she really see me like that? Especially after seeing me and supporting my relationship with one of our mutual friends? As I was about to speak up Emily beat me to it. 

“You know, you're someone I look forward to seeing everyday Y/n.” The look in her eyes made my heart skip a beat. I felt a blush creep up my cheeks, I swallowed, nervousness and excitement swirling inside me. “Emily…” I look down to hide the grin forming on my face. 

“And I don't want to rush you. I know this isn't where you thought you'd be but Y/n I- I like you a lot. And I underst-” she continued, but before she could finish I reached up pressing my lips against hers. 

Emily froze for a split second before melting into the kiss, her hand coming up to gently cup my face. The world seemed to stop as we stood there, wrapped in each other, my heart pounding in a way I hadn’t felt in so long. It felt like all the tension and unspoken words from the past few months were pouring out between us in that single, tender moment.

When we finally broke apart, she kept her forehead pressed to mine, her voice barely a whisper. “I didn’t think I’d be this lucky tonight.” I let out a shaky laugh, feeling a surge of emotions that I’d tried to ignore for so long. “I didn’t think I’d ever feel this way again… but here you are.”

Emily smiled, her thumb brushing over my cheek as she pulled me close. “One step at a time, okay? We don’t have to figure it all out tonight.” I nodded, a wave of relief washing over me. “Yeah. I’d like that. One step at a time.”

(Spencer’s Pov)

I stepped out of the bar and caught sight of Y/N and Emily up ahead, walking together under the dim glow of the streetlights, her hand held in Emily’s. My heart clenched. Not being with her has been eating away at me, more than I wanted to admit. She was right about everything—how I took her for granted, how I’d let myself fall for JJ, that I lost sight of what really mattered.

Seeing her now, laughing softly with Emily, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d made the biggest mistake of my life. I’d tried to convince myself that walking away was for the best, that it would be easier on both of us, but watching her find happiness without me made it all feel final. She deserves someone who would make her feel seen, who wouldn’t let her slip through their fingers. And maybe Emily could be that person in a way I never could.

As they turned the corner, I hesitated, realising I didn’t have a reason to go after her anymore, and it ripped my heart out. 

“2 years, and 75 days…”

[highfantasy-soul]

Posting this because I need to hear it today:

Our memories are so short.

When my mom was born, women weren't allowed to open their own bank accounts. I wouldn't have been allowed to live with my best friend (probably would have never even met since we first crossed paths in college - being roomed together) because I'm white (for the purposes of the state) and she's black. Laws that made gay sex illegal weren't officially invalidated until 2003.

We've fought against worse odds before. We kept fighting for love, peace, and rights for everyone and it DID make a difference. At no point did we 'complete' that task and now is not the time to give up.

Slavery abolitionists were a massive minority but they still fought and coordinated and the political window DID shift - maybe not as much as it should have, but baby steps are better than no steps. We don't look back at that time and say 'sure, slavery was made illegal, but then Jim Crow and the prison state came into being, so nothing they did mattered'. Nor did they brush off their hands and say 'well, we tried fellas, but Jim Crow just got passed, so nothing we do matters.' They kept working - they didn't even have to roll up their sleeves because they'd never pushed them down.

Change doesn't happen by casting a single ballot in a single election. Change takes time. It takes continuous effort - it takes the ability to face failure after failure, terrible compromise after terrible compromise, to step forward. There will be no 'glorious' reckoning where a perfect candidate is put in office and suddenly all their beliefs are enshrined in law and the whole of the US changes it's ways.

Should we have to fight this hard for basic rights and dignity for everyone? No. But this fight isn't new. We're just new to it (unless you're thousands of years old). Honestly, in times like this, it helps me to look back at history to see how far we HAVE come (and get some ideas on how to resist from our forebears who fought in even worse conditions).

Doomerism only serves fascism and those who would oppress us. They'd love it if we just laid down and stopped fighting - we'd be doing them a favor. So don't help them out!

I 100% understand and support the right to grieve what's been going on right now, but while we feel all this - please please please don't forget to look up and look back to all the people who fought for a better world before you were born - then look forward to how those in the future will see your efforts today. They won't say 'well there were steps back, so that means nothing they did mattered' - they'll say 'look at how hard they fought for US even when so many pushed back against them'.

Your ancestors are behind you. Future generations before you. No matter how dark it feels (and is), our community is so much bigger today than it has ever been. We are all here, still fighting. You are not alone.

[kiyo-cant-write]

post grad floyd visited by jade/azul ✧･ﾟ

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This is not a request and is a drabble based on a conversation with @shrimplymoray (hi Moray!!) about JeiAzu and what post-graduation Floyd would be doing. This has no plot or larger fic, it's a drabble/scene.

To followers, remember that Akuma is a multishipper and everything is a multiverse. Just because I write one headcanon for a character or ship for canons doesn't mean it is true in ALL my works. Everything has a time and a place here in my inability to write full pieces.

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Summary: A little under two years after graduation, Jade and Azul pay a visit to the Queendom of Roses where Floyd has taken up residence (we assume it is to give a certain goldfish a hard time).

TW/CW: None

Notes: established relationship, canon/canon, Jade/Azul (JeiAzu), post-graduation, future au, this is not a reader insert, implied Trey/Riddle (TreyRid) & Floyd/Che'nya (FloNya)

Guest Stars: None

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✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ:

As they approached the address that Azul had on his phone, the octomer wasn't sure he had inputted it correctly. This couldn't be where Floyd lived. This house looked like a teapot. Would Floyd really live here of all places? It was absurd. Azul couldn't compute it.

Nothing in the Queendom had made any sense to him. It was like Heartslabyul but bigger and even more confusing than Riddle had been in school. Why was Floyd even here? Even when asked the other had not given a clear answer. Floyd had some business here it seemed and from what Jade told him this morning, it had something to do with Riddle (who he was still terrorizing even at his age), Riddle's partner, and a certain strange nekomi.

He turned to Jade who was smiling in a way that didn't bode well.

Was Jade aware of something?

"Jade," Azul tried in as firm a tone as he could muster.

"Do you want me to say something, Azul?" the eel asked him.

What did Azul want him to say? He didn't know.

"Would he really—"

Azul was cut off by the door to the strange house opening and there was Floyd, hair long and wearing something that neither Jade nor Azul wished to comment on. There he was, there was the answer. Azul was sure this visit would not be the ideal one now.

Did he even want to know what was going on?

Would it help or worsen his condition?

Sighing, he walked into the house, following Floyd with Jade close behind him. It almost reminded him of Night Raven when they worked at the lounge together, when they had met the strange human who, to Azul's knowledge, was still here in their world.

However, coming into the house? That was five minutes ago. This was now. In that time, they had received a tour of the place against their will (or Azul's anyway, Jade seemed to have fun), with Floyd narrating every object in his house and what its name was. There were rat magnets on the fridge that Floyd had called "ragnets."

That was the final straw.

Azul was not amused and he could tell Jade was withholding commentary just to see him gawk at the odd trinkets they witnessed (there was a life-size cardboard cut out of Vil Schoenheit in there, Jade! Explain that!). But Jade stayed silent no matter what raised brows and strange stares Azul gave him when Floyd wasn't looking.

Finally, there was a pause as Floyd needed to answer his phone. It was surprising but accepted by the octomer who was overwhelmed by the sheer oddity of the situation. It didn't matter who Floyd was calling, Azul would gladly thank them for pausing that.

As he watched Floyd walk into another room in the... teapot, he turned to Jade who looked like he was stifling a laugh. Careful not to draw attention from the phone and back to them, Azul hissed out a whisper to Jade.

"You think this is fun, don't you?"

The octopus was offended, just a tad.

"Oh, definitely," Jade told him, grin widening a tad to show his sharp teeth, "Most definitely, Azul."

Azul sighed.

"…Sadist."

"Masochist~" Jade whispered back.

Standing, they waited for Floyd to come back, with Jade smiling eagerly and Azul regretting taking off from work to visit a friend.

"Maa, Catfish, I don't need you to bring me back anything," Floyd's voice would be heard over the phone, "Eh? Just tell Goldfish work is dumb! That old turtle will help~"

Floyd talked on the phone for a few minutes as Azul and Jade watched, hearing muffled bits and pieces of the exchange as Floyd's voice shifted from calm to laughter to even a serious tone once or twice.

"Just ask that turtle, he knows him best," Floyd repeated to the caller.

"You don't think the person he's talking to is..." Azul half-asked Jade a moment later, trailing off at the end of his own idea.

"Let's find out~" Jade suggested, laughing a little too darkly for Azul's liking (in this context).

"...Today is not going to be a slow day," Azul mumbled.

"With me and Floyd? Never."

Jade wasn't lying, of course. This was completely true. There was never a dull day with the twins, together or separate. Azul knew this. He had known this since he was young. This was his life.

"You're a lot, you know," he told Jade after a moment, though he smiled at him, "You just never stop."

"Oya? Thank you~" Jade grinned for a moment, showing all his teeth before they were concealed once more.

The two exchanged a look and it was decided: today was the day that Floyd would tell them why he moved to the Queendom of Roses.

"Ready, Jade?"

"Of course," Jade replied, taking a step closer.

"Ehh?" Floyd managed as he came back into the room, "What are you two talking about anyway??"

Floyd put his phone back into his pants pocket. And what ridiculous pants they were. Who wears colors so bright? It was like looking at the sun! Or that's what Azul thought. Neon orange and pink. Highlighter colors, truly.

"Get him."

Jade nodded and within a moment, Floyd, who was not expecting this, was grabbed and restrained in the most effective way Jade could. Call it a a show of strength or an attack, Jade was good at it and where they were didn't matter. Jade would hold down his brother in his own home to get information, all in good fun.

The quieter twin thought that this was like that time when they were kids and Floyd took Jade's shell and a fight broke out and... Oops, that's a story for another time. Next time, maybe.

"Who was that on the phone, Floyd?" Azul asked, watching one eel writhe to try and get away from the other, "Someone we know?"

"JADE! AZUL! NO FAIR!"

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Imagine the rest yourself! :)

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✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ:

Thank you for reading! Likes and reblogs are appreciated! Do NOT repost my writing/headcanons as your own >:c Check the top of my blog for the inbox status and read the rules before requesting. This is not a twst-only blog! ^^

[owlsie-hoot]

Siegfried Farnon has always been a strong presence, and it’s complicated because he’s her employer, as well. It’s a lot she’s giving up. For a woman who’s in a position where she’s independent, but she’s entirely dependent on her income from that job, and that’s also where she lives, it was a big thing to offer to give all of that up and to go towards something quite unknown. (Anna Madeley)

[crownedwille]

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