#YOU MONSTER how dare you send this and then tell me to go to sleep

[hero-of-skies]

The hero had managed to bring pause to the Demon Lord's meltdown... momentarily. The palms against his cheeks halt the whirlwind of thoughts of the words that were coming with it just long enough for Ghirahim to hear and, worse, zero in on Link's words.

Love. Love... L o v e. Anything else to follow sounds hollow, distant, and for several silent seconds, Ghirahim stares the hero in the eyes.

"... no..." Upset? Quite, but it doesn't burst forth in the form of anger like it usually does. No, Ghirahim almost looks... afraid. "You cannot love me. You... ahaha, ahahaha! No! Take it back, retract it, DIVERT this... this ailment elsewhere if you must! You cannot... love me. I FORBID IT, you... y-you... goddesses DAMMIT."

In a split second, he disappears from the hero's lap in an elegant explosion of diamonds, reappearing some distance away just behind him with his backside turned. "Stay away from me. I knew I should not have... gotten comfortable. Clung to this... idea of normalcy and domestication. I cannot be... addled... with these emotions. With... no. I am not made to... to love or be loved. Cursed goddesses, I feel ill... I need you out of my sight. I... ugh."

He had heard being rejected hurts, he had even seen it with his own eyes when he had delivered a love letter for someone. But to experience it himself and so... so STRONGLY, at that...

Instinctively, AFRAID to lose Ghirahim entirely, his hands had tried to close around the diamonds that had exploded in his face. Of course he couldn't hold onto even those. Why would he be allowed even a shred of someone he cares deeply for? Chosen by the goddess? It felt more like she had CURSED him.

Still, despite the piercing pain shooting through his very being from his heart, he stands. And for a brief moment, he looks behind himself to see if this was just some elaborate joke of the sword spirit's, or if he had really upset him. He assumed the latter when he heard that the other felt SICK because of it.

" I... " Would it be better if he didn't speak anymore? Would it make Ghirahim HAPPY if he listened and left him alone? He didn't agree in the slightest, that the one he adores was not made or deserving to love or be loved but... He said he wanted the Hero gone.

Link takes a deep breath to steel himself, turning away and clutching at his chest. " Be safe, Ghirahim, " his voice shook with the weight of unshed tears, and the sky child walked away, slowed down by the ache in his heart. Was he making the right choice? Should he have tried HARDER to change Ghirahim's mindset? Perhaps he would never know.

[rxzennia]

hibernation/ brumation

– tales of the voracity pathstrider

✎𓂃 winter dormancy.

in his five years of being your boss, aventurine hasn’t ever seen you send in a request for leave. but here he is, staring at your application for a month-long vacation.

a month? isn’t that a little too long?

you didn’t even stick a little comment about where you’re going or what’s happening, dammit! he wants to know so bad, but he feels like he’ll either overstep his boundaries or come off as clingy if he asks.

he’ll approve it, of course!

he wants you to not hate your job, and part of being a good boss is letting his subordinates take the leaves they’re entitled to

and you deserve a nice, long break, anyway

but the curiosity is killing him inside. what will you be doing? will you still hang around the IPC?

he really, really wants to barge into your office and wrench an explanation out of you

and also, how dare you try to take leave right into the holidays! rude

he wanted to take you out to dinner! to fancy places! he was prepared to have a schedule full of you!

totally not dates or his attempts to spoil you

he totally isn’t thinking of doing it so that you’ll spoil him in return

he’s found out that you respond to him if he rants at you

and that you get very soft and careful with him if he presses the right buttons

he digs that so much it’s unreal

there’s something about having you, of all people, treat him tenderly

perhaps because he’s seen firsthand what kind of monster hides in your scarf

or… what kind of monster hides beneath your silent, icy exterior

it just hits different when someone like you treat him so gently

and he knows for a fact that you’ll never abuse that power you have

he absolutely loves that. 100%.

“guess who’s here!” aventurine announces as he enters your office without so much as a knock, “hard at work, my favorite secretary?”

“out, please.” you hiss, sparing him barely a glance from your computer, “i’m concentrating.”

since when did your complaints stop him

he saunters over and sits himself on your armrest anyway

your scarf lift him up and set him down on the couch opposite to you

he finds his way back to your chair

you put him on the couch again

he comes back to your armrest

is he a cat obsessed with a particular box (namely, your chair) or something

you give up

“what is it?” you relent, scooting over so he can fit onto your seat, too, albeit barely

this man does not hesitate to invade your personal space

“where are you going for a month, hmm?” he asks with a playful smile, “can’t even tell me?”

oh, so that’s what this is about

but why is he resting his face in his hand and looking at you like he’s trying to flirt?

“hibernation.” you keep typing without giving aventurine much of a reaction, “not exactly, but close. brumation.”

wait. wait, what?

it doesn’t take a genius to know that aventurine is currently flabbergasted. “you… hibernate? like sleep hibernate?” 

“no, i hibernate awake.” you mumble sarcastically, but he catches it even if your words are muffled

“c’mon, i’m just checking!” he throws his hands in the air as if protesting your attitude

“yes, i sleep, for the most part.” you scoot over a little more and lift him up, setting him down in your lap. “but i’ll be awake here and there.”

you rest your head on top of his and continues to work, effectively caging him in

he realizes you’re much more like a snake than he thought

not in an alarming way

you’re coiling around him, but, like, in a friendly danger noodle way

“will you?” he chuckles; maybe his plans aren’t entirely foiled, after all, “for how long?”

you look at him. “a few minutes up to an hour?” 

you’re only getting up for water and/or changing sleeping positions

never mind, his plans to try to spoil you is, in fact, foiled

he pouts. he had the entire thing planned out already! all five days that you’ll be off!

he looks like a kid who’s about to buy the last donut but you beat him to it and buy the donut right in front of his eyes.

“you can visit.” you say, and you see him light up almost immediately. 

though, you don't think there’s much worth visiting, but whatever makes him happy

when aventurine visits you during your well-deserved vacation, he’s pleasantly surprised. you’re sleeping so peacefully, despite the fact that you usually rarely sleep at all.

you’re curled up into half a ball under your blankets and your scarf

and letting out little snores

is this what you look like when you’re asleep? 

so adorable. if only you’d let him see it often…

but he doesn’t know the frequency of your brumation period

as far as he knows, it’s once in five years, but he has no idea if it’s more than five years

you’re not covering your face, either

aeons, he loves seeing your unobscured face

you’re so beautiful under your scarf

especially the patches of scales along your neck, they glitter in white gold under the light

he wishes you wouldn't try to cover them up

during your entire month, he’s going to be in your room whenever he’s free

he will totally try to sleep next to you at night

what? it’s not like you haven’t shared a bed before!

it’s just that you’ve never been asleep by each other's side!

you will cuddle into him if he tries to hold you

and you will get fussy if he tries to get out of the hug

if only you were as honest when you’re awake

aventurine has been trying to catch you in your small conscious windows, but he’s having not much luck with that. though, this isn’t exactly a gamble, so “luck” might not be the right word here.

he’s so busy; he’s drowning in work 

your temporary replacement isn’t very good at their job

or maybe he’s just used to the way you do things and now everything feels wrong

he wants you back already 

because nowadays he barely has an hour to spend with you apart from bedtime

he hates it

what do you mean by he can’t sit next to your sleeping form while he signs papers?

horrible, very horrible

but eventually he does catch you when you’re awake

you’re drowsy and you’re dragging your blankets and your scarf with you around your room

the cutest thing he’s ever seen in a long while

he watches as you clumsily pour yourself some water, spilling some on the table because you can’t line up the jug and the glass properly

and he watches as you sluggishly flop onto your couch after you’ve downed the water

“had enough of the bed?” he asks, sitting down next to you and brushing a few strands of hair away from your face

“hnnnnnngh,” you grumble and turn to face away from him, you just want to go back to sleep

then you remember this is your boss’s voice

and you reluctantly mumble, “it’s too warm…”

do you even know what you’re saying? you’re melting his heart

“oh, that so? it’s too hot over there?” aventurine snickers softly, his hand caressing your face, the cool fabric of his glove making you sigh in delight. “you’re so lovely.”

he recognizes the amount of trust you have in him to let him visit you when you’re sleeping, and it’s doing things to his stomach. you’re so lazy, so barely aware of your surroundings, but you trust him to be around you while you are in this state.

there is an urge, and he acts on it. he nuzzles against your cheek, rubbing your noses together and planting a small kiss on your forehead. he’s been dreaming of holding you like you’re his greatest treasure, but he’s never mustered up the courage to do it. 

maybe someday he will tell you, and then he’ll be allowed to adore you openly the way he’s always wanted to.

“my favorite snake,” he whispers to himself, feeling a shudder of affection throughout his bones, “sleep well. i’ll look forward to taking you out when you rise.”

[starshipsofstarlord]

Prisoner

Summary-> (Early season 3 based) Winter had been a long journey for all of your group, especially you and Daryl given that there was always a lack of privacy. You find it difficult to feel at home in the prison, but Daryl is always there for you when you need him, and you have the chance to relish in a night alone - or as lonesome as a cell can be (2.9k)

Warnings-> 18+ mdni, smut, unprotected sex, fingering, established relationship, mentions of arrest and imprisonment, swearing

daryl dixon // norman reedus works masterlist

It was an adjustment, that much was clear. After having been locked up in a prison for a few years, the last place you had wanted to be was in one, but here you and your group were, in a cell block after having cleared it out.

Your knee bounced as you sat upon the steps, gnawing upon lip, staring at the familiar grey walls that brought bad memories back into your mind. It wasn’t something you wanted to voice as a problem, you’d spent all winter out on the road, enduring the cold nights, you should have been grateful like everyone else was.

“Y’ okay?” Daryl asked as he took a seat beside you, brushing his shoulders with your own with a comforting manner, reading with no doubt that something was bothering you. Most of the day you preferred to be outside, killing the walkers that clawed at the fences, and you jumped at the chance to go out on a run for supplies just to get out of this pit of misery.

“I’m fine. Just need a distraction from all of this.” You gestured around you, sending him a small smile, feeling far too conscious to even think about falling asleep. “I know it should be good that we’ve found somewhere, and it is, don’t get me wrong, but-“

“I know.” He told you, nodding in understanding, before he put his large hand over your smaller one, clasping it in his grip and bringing it up to his lips. “Don’t have to like it, none of us do, but we woulda died if we hadn’t found this place. And that’s the last thing that I wan’ to happen to ya. I’m grateful for everything you did, ya know.”

“I know Dare.” You decided to look at him rather than the tin you were sat in, meeting his softened blue eyes. “Think if I saw Merle again I’d kick his ass for abandoning me on that night which cost me months in the normal world with you.” He grunted in agreement, smiling when remembering that you had found their camp, and you’d done just that to his older brother.

“Ya got out, that’s all that matters. Especially before all this and the world goin to shit.” The thought of you trapped in somewhere like this and most likely being turned into walker chow or one of them had his heart bursting at the seams. It was a vulgar thought, and the last thing that he ever wanted to happen to you. He wanted to protect you, and he should have done that before, but he was petrified, and you were too stubborn and claimed that you had to pay for your mistakes.

He’d come to see you a few times when you were locked away, he hated that a panel of glass separated the both of you, all he had wanted to do was run his fingers through your hair and tell you everything was going to be okay. But he couldn’t, so instead he counted the days and hours until your release, he had this whole idea of collecting you from that place and driving you far away.

But your release day had been the same day that the entire planet was engulfed with the spreading news of a disease that turned people into monsters, and Merle wouldn’t let him go to see if you had made your sanctioned escape. He had no idea whether you were still alive until he saw Shane carrying you into the camp, exhausted from the lack of both food and fluids and running god knows how many miles just to survive.

“Guess you’re right.” He always was, even if he was too selfless to admit it. “Do you maybe want to try sleeping in a cell? I know we’ve got this whole thing of liking the floor, but I guess it’s worth a try.” Daryl surprising agreed, pulling you to your feet after he had stood, the two of you walking to an empty cell, passing by the other members of your group that were either asleep or lying down in isolation.

It was a big step for you to enter a cell after the months you had been holed up in one by the law, but Daryl kept his hand on your elbow, reminding you that he was there. And always would be. And so unsurely, despite it being your idea, you stepped within the cell, it was devoid of any personality, just a bunk and the normal silver basin and toilet, which all reminded you that this wasn’t home. You hoped that one day you’d find somewhere that felt less suffocating, there had to be a place out there, beyond the chain fence, where it was safe to breathe without the risk of walkers eating you in your sleep.

As you entered the room, you were strangely comforted by the sound of Glenn’s snoring from the cell over, he was no doubt laying beside Maggie, then both lulling in the chance to rest. “It’s not so bad.” You muttered, kicking off your mud accented boots, as Daryl remained close to the door, blocking the view from anyone that could pass as you shrugged out of your jeans, and lifted your shirt over your head, leaving you in just your underwear. It was something that you hadn’t been able to do in prison without the harassment of officers or other people fulfilling their sentences.

Daryl said nothing as you stood still for a moment, closing your eyes, before you reached back, unclipping your bra, his eyes danced over the expanse of your back, every scar traced by his pupils and every mole a target that he planned to pelt with gentle kisses. You turned around to face him, like a vixen testing his limits, tilting your head as you padded along the floor towards him, your fingers brushing against his sleeve butchered flannel. “I want your shirt.”

There was no resistance on his part as he helped you unbutton each button on it, shrugging it off of his broad shoulders as he handed it to you, watching you slip it on. You inhaled his scent as you did only a couple of the buttons on it, before testing the mattress with your hand on the bottom bunk, before sliding upon it and closing your eyes. “Aren’t you going to join me?” He said nothing as he silently kicked off his own boots, tossing the knives he carried out from his pockets onto the floor, them deliciously clattering upon the cement, as he readied himself to lay beside you.

“It’s been a long time since we had a bed.” Daryl spoke in hushed volume, not counting the time on Herschel’s farm after he had been scathed by a bullet in the left side of his head, no thanks to Andrea. He shuffled as he tried to get comfortable, deciding on laying on his side and facing you, trapping you in his arms as his nose brushed against your own. “At least it’s better than that one you had in your shitty old trailer.” He smirked, watching as you tapped his shoulder with your screwed up fist, rolling your eyes when you remembered why it hadn’t been so comfortable.

“It was perfect, we broke it in. Not my fault that the springs couldn’t hold up.” He shook his head at your words, clearly that sale you had got it from had been a scam, but you had insisted that it was better than sleeping on the floor. Truth be told, Daryl didn’t care where he slept, as long as he had you securely beside him, he never wanted you to be taken away from him again, and he was insistent that he wouldn’t allow that to happen.

“I think you’re the one tha’ couldn’t hold up. Or be quiet.” He remarked, causing a scoff to pass from your lips, as you attempted to turn away from him but he wouldn’t allow you. Instead his grip on you got tighter, as he raised a brow at your actions. “But if yar blamin’ it on the damn mattress, we migh’ as well see if this one is any better.” It wasn’t very often that Daryl would smirk, but when he did, you practically melted in a puddle in front of him and forgot where you were, which in this instance, was a blessing. His hand trailed down your sternum that was exposed by your lousy buttoning of his shirt that you wore, descending dangerously lower, so that his fingertip hit the top band of your panties.

Your breath hitched, as your body became almost immobile, frozen from his more that welcomed touch. He teased you, running his hand hand back to your stomach only to trail it back down to where his destination had been. “Damn it Daryl, do something.” You hissed, careful to keep your voice down. “I swear to- oh.” His hand had slipped into your underwear, rubbing against the outside of your cunt, causing your hips to jut up into his touch. He always knew how to make you sufficiently aggravated, you’d have cursed out from the bubbling annoyance in your chest if you had no worries that anybody could hear the two of you.

With that he slipped a finger into your walls, it felt like it had been a long time since the two of you had an opportunity to be physical. All through winter, after losing the farm to the mass of endless walkers, you’d had sex once out in the woods, when you were supposed to be hunting, and because of your lack of action you felt touch starved. Even despite Daryl proceeding to hold your hand when the pair of you rarely walked at the back of the group, and sleeping side by side with him. It just hadn’t been enough, but for now these taunting walls allowed you some release, ironically enough.

“Yer so fuckin’ tight.” Daryl muttered, kissing up your stomach all the way up to your lips, ushering and drinking your whimpers that threatened to escape. “Woulda fucked ya more if I’d had the chance baby, now I’m really gonna have to stretch ya out before I can put my cock in ya.” You could only moan into his mouth, hands clasping around his wrist as you ground yourself down on his hand, you let out a squeal as he unexpectedly entered another finger, alarmed by the welcomed intrusion, however Daryl stopped all movements. He spoke quietly to himself, eyes dancing around with a scheming glimmer in his eyes, as an idea revelled in his mind.

He yanked a pillow out from beneath your head, causing you to pant as you clenched desperately around his fingers, trying to allure him into continuing. Daryl raised your hips, fingers still in you, as he placed the pillow beneath them, your mouth making an O shape as he hit a new angle inside of you. If you hadn’t been in a prison, knowing that it was your worst nightmare, he would have calmed your sounds by placing the pillow over your head, but he knew where the line was drawn and he was never one to cross it if he was aware of your discomfort. “Good girl.” He drawled out, deciding to fasten the pace of his fingers as a wet spot began to leak onto your panties, he swiped his tongue across his bottom lip as he watched you. You were close, and it had come faster than expected, given how many months it had been.

“More.” You pleaded, wanting his cock, no matter how much it hurt when he stretched you out, but instead you were given another finger, and Daryl grunted as he rutted into the bed. “Dare, need you.” You huffed, feeling empty when he removed his fingers. The time dragged as he unbuckled his belt and pulled off his jeans, and finally he clambered on top of you, his naked form teasing every nerve in your entire body. “If you need me so bad, why don’ ya ride me?” He whispered, rolling the both of you over so that you were atop of him. You leant down, your hair falling in a cascade around both of your faces as you pressed your lips against his, sliding your cunt over his cock.

He was frighteningly hard, it had been months since the both of you had gotten this far, and there were no interceptions that could stop you this time, or so you hoped. Your slick coated his length as you ground yourself on him to fulfil your own insatiable drive of hunger, his hands bruising your hips as he attempted to keep you still so he could slip inside of you from beneath your trembling form. His tip grazed your clit, sending you into a frenzy, you couldn’t wait a second longer you mindlessly decided, grasping his erect cock in your hand to hold it still, as you slid him inside of you. It was an ethereal feeling, the two of you relished in the sensation of being so close, and not just emotionally.

Daryl’s head reached up, pulling you down flush on top of him, as he spread an array of butterfly kisses over your collarbones and the middle of your throat. “I love ya girl, you drive me absolutely crazy, but yar my kinda crazy.” He stroked your hair lovingly out of your face, distracting you from how he raised both of the weights of the lower halves of your bodies up, and before you could respond with your own spoken words of love to him, he began to thrust up into you, making the world around you drown into nothing more than a distant memory. Your breathing was messy as it mixed with your partner’s, you sturdied one hand on the pillow beneath his head, the other long discarded to the floor, as your opposite braced itself on the wall, clawing at the impenetrable surface.

“Fuck Dare.” Tears were glazing your eyes as you felt each vein of his cock within your cunt, and you began to move with his own thrusts, finding a rhythm that suited the position that you were in. You were careful not to raise your head too high so that you didn’t hit it on the bottom of the bunk above you, Daryl’s right hand left your hip and rested forcefully on your ass, squeezing the flesh as he tried and failed to hold in his grunts. Surely by morning, there was no doubt that someone would make a commotion about hearing you through the screen-less doors, but you couldn’t find it in yourself to care, not after how long it had been since you had evoked such passion with the man below you.

Sweat began to bead upon his forehead, slicking the growing locks onto his face, as you brushed them away. A heavy creak rattled from the bed as Daryl once again turned you over, and pounded in you from above, without allowing his cock to slip out from your sweet and wet pussy. From the red tint that had appeared on his face, and how he frowned as though he was on a mission, it was clear that he was getting close, which wasn’t a surprise considering the amount of time that had passed since your bodies had moulded together in such a way. You grasped him by the back of the neck, pulling him down to entrap him in a fiery kiss, your legs wrapping tightly around his waist as you approached your own high.

And there it was, the destination that you had been caving for, your own release. After all of those months that you had served as a resident in a prison, you’d missed his touch, and as soon as the two of you had reunited in Atlanta, you’d made the most of the time you could get together. Daryl’s thrusts began to get sloppy as he struggled to keep up his pace after feeling you clench around his cock and cum all over it, sending him into a delirium to chase his own high. He could feel his balls straining to be emptied, and when he was almost there, he pulled out, not wanting to further the risk anymore of getting you pregnant given the state of the world, and began thrusting himself in the apex of your thighs, until finally he allowed his seed to spill over your flesh.

He exhaled a deep sigh, leaning down to press a kiss against your sweaty hairline, before reaching down and grabbing your discarded shirt, wiping your upper legs clean. He wasted no more time to curl up next to you and bring you into his large arms, staring at your face, letting you know without words that you were the most important thing to him. He’d do anything for you and to keep you safe, nobody was going to separate the two of you again, he was stern on that. “Maybe this place isn’t so bad.” You muttered lovingly into his chest, brushing your nose against where his heart lay, and Daryl releases a small but real smile as he tugged the blanket out from tour forms, awkward as his manner was, and wrapped it around the two of you, so that you could drift off to sleep in his arms and pretend for a moment in your dreams that the world wasn’t as it was.

[thetimetel]

I see a lot of people hating so hard on Calypso for forcing Odysseus to stay on the island against his will - and seeing him as her new lover. And believe me, I get it. Those are horrible things no sane person would do.

But I keep being brought back to this line in her song with him. The part where she specifically says 'under my spell we're stuck in paradise. No one can come or go, my island stays unknown'.

She can't leave either. And that paints a whole new light on the situation.

How long has she been stuck there, all by herself? Years? Decades? She says in her last song that it's been a hundred years. Long enough that she has stopped calling it a prison and now calls it a paradise. How long has it been that she has done the same thing every day, pining for any other contact at all?

Then one day, something changes. A man washes up on the shoreline. She immediately takes him to her bed so he can rest and recover. She can already see the new life that they're going to have together, thanking the gods for finally answering her prayers to no longer be alone. She is immortal after all, and eternity is so much more bearable when you have someone else to spend it with.

But something's wrong. He's sleeping for so long, not waking up. And the panic starts to set in. Is he dead? Have the gods played some horrible trick on her, sending a dead man to the island? It's been so long since she has seen a mortal that she doesn't know how to check for signs of death. Is she really so desperate that she brought a CORPSE to bed and thinks it's going to wake up??

Then oh, it's good! He's talking in his sleep! Everything's good, everything is fine. Corpses don't talk. So she stays near him and listens as he whispers of Ithaca, of monsters and politics - wait, Polites, a few other names and then -

'Penelope'

And in that moment her entire vision for her new life comes crashing down. He said that name with such passion, such love, even in his sleep. No. It can't be. The gods aren't THAT cruel, that the first person they'd send to her is . . . no. She can't accept it, doesn't dare to think of the implications. Once he wakes up she'll ask him.

Then finally he does wake up. And it's like a dream. She's in the room, has clearly been taking care of him, and the very first thing he sees is her eyes. It's so romantic. She gets him up to speed, making a light joke about that 'thought you were dead' moment because it doesn't matter anymore. There's only one more thing to ask to ensure her vision of their future.

'did you know you talk in your sleep? Tell me though, who's Penelope?'

'She's my wife'

And in that instant all her fears are confirmed. Something in her head just snaps. How dare the gods do this to her? How DARE they send someone already married to her island, after so long?

She's not giving up that easily.

So she continues her plan like nothing had happened. Letting slip her intention to wed him and make this wonderful family, of which she has likely named their first ten children already. And this man snaps at her, threatens to kill her.

'Oh handsome, you may try. But last I checked, goddesses can't die!'

And just how many times has she checked, being trapped on an island that she can't escape all by herself?

But again she brushes it off as a joke. Because that's all behind her. There's something for her to live for again! And silly Odysseus tries to claim that this isn't how it's going to be. She totally gets it, she went through that the first few years herself. So she spells out that he's all hers now.

Now all she has to do, is wait. Wait for him to come to terms with their situation. Wait for him to realize he will never reach Penelope. It will be ugly of course, that moment he finally accepts this cruel fate. But once that has passed, he'll fall for Calypso. She knows this in her heart. And they can finally set out to truly make this hellhole a paradise.

So she waits.

One year passes.

She's still having the time of her life. In between his escape attempts she's getting him to open up to her. When she explained her past to him he even showed sympathy! After all, they both were constantly getting screwed over by the gods. It wouldn't take long.

Two years pass.

His constant escape attempts are just amusing. She's taken to telling him 'welcome back!' every time the raft turns around and brings him back to the island.

Three years pass.

He tries to kill her, under the thought that it was her that was keeping him on the island. But she just laughs as she shows it didn't do a damn thing. He'll run out of ideas soon. He'll accept that he's trapped here, just like her.

Four years pass.

She's lost count of the number of escape attempts. There's at least five a day. He's trying to find a loophole in the curse that keeps them there. She's trying to gently push him over that edge, to get him to accept the reality of the situation. Once he does, their new life together will start.

Five years pass.

Any day now, he'd give up. The escape attempts had stopped, but now he would just sob on the shoreline. At this point he was going to raise the tide with how many tears he had cried. She understood of course. Her breakdown hadn't been any prettier all those years ago.

Six years.

Why? Why wasn't he giving up? Why was he doing this to himself? The escape attempts had renewed. He'd searched the entire island, trying to find something tethering them to this accursed paradise. He'd tried everything to escape. She wasn't even sure where he'd gotten the 'wax wings' idea from, but it was just as pointless as the other attempts.

Seven years.

She finds him at the edge of a cliff. And for the first time she feels a deep, primal fear. He'd never accepted her gift of immortality. She desperately tries to talk him down. But every attempt seems to be making it worse. She doesn't know she's repeating the words he's heard before. Then he cries out for Athena, and when she doesn't answer he just collapses in tears.

It was scary. But this had to be his breaking point. He didn't resist when she brought him back to their home, though he stayed in bed for the rest of the day. She just had to give him some space - though she was going to make CERTAIN he stayed away from that cliff.

Then something happens. The last thing she expected.

A visit from Hermes. He tells that Zeus himself has decreed Odysseus be freed.

And yet again, her vision of the future is shattered.

She pleads. She begs. He's falling for her, she knows it. That new life is so close, she just needs a little more time! But her cries fall on deaf ears. And when she tries to refuse, a lightning bolt lands a little too close for comfort.

There's only one chance left.

And in her heart she knows how it will end. But she tries. She tries to convince Odysseus to stay, knowing that if she fails he will leave her all alone again. She doesn't want to be alone again. She pleads, she begs, she pours out her entire soul to him. All while knowing what his answer will be. It hadn't changed for seven years, why would it change now? Why would this fucking world EVER give her what she wanted!?

And it ends just like she expects it to. With her watching as he gets on that raft and sails off into the horizon. Except this time Hermes keeps the curse at bay, and stops the island from bringing him back.

And just like that, she's all alone again.

[yourlocaltreesimp]

AHHHH THANK YOUUU I can't tell you how much joy it brings me that you enjoyed my writing! Well, since it's like 11 at night and I can already tell I won't be able to sleep much again, might as well give more headcanons and oneshots ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

.•♫•♬• 𝒀𝒂𝒏!𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑴𝒂𝒔𝒌𝒆𝒅!𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝑷𝑻. 𝟐 •♬•♫•.

Masked!Reader who can't stand when ANYTHING harms the people that they care about and isn't afraid to show their true rage and aggression that they keep in check most of the time. They may be sweet and kind to everyone, but the second they see something as a threat to their loved ones they will instantly let out their true colors and these colors are quite enticing to say the least...

Masked!Reader who can secretly be a violent, sadistic, and aggressive person despite all of their sugar coated words and caring personality. They lived a tough life in their world, practically fighting to survive and thrive in their dangerous and harsh world. They truly aren't a force to be reckoned with once aggravated, yet it's so hot to see them so violent and let themselves go...

.•♫•♬• 𝑶𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒕 •♬•♫•.

You subconsciously dropped your weapon and charged at the monster as it looked up at you...

Once you were within range of the disgusting beast that dared to harm one of the people you cared dearly about, you threw a punch that sent the thing flying back at least 6 feet with little to no sweat. The others watched in amazement and slightly fear as well as arousal at your display of strength and aggression, not ever expecting their lovely darling to have this sort of side to them.

You watched with a snarl as the damned monster got back up and picked up its weapon before hissing at you, which you returned with more hatred for it. You carefully circled it as it did the same, your predatory look able to send chills down the Chain's spine if you so much as glanced at them please look at me like that again please. Another surge of rage and adrenaline struck you as you charged at it once an opening was visible which just happened to be when it swung it's arm above its head.

You managed to somehow tackle the thing, to the surprise of the Chain, as you swung yourself to latch onto its back. The Chain's surprise only skyrocketed when you suddenly slid your mask down past your chin, exposing the lower half of your face before opening your mouth and biting into the monster's neck with your sharp teeth oh to have you bite them and claim them as yours would be a dream come true...

You kept biting and tearing at the neck of the monster until it finally stilled, it's lifeless body at last hitting the ground. You slowly stood back up and wiped your mouth, panting as you carefully observed the beast you had just defeated and letting your remaining rage die down. Once you caught your breath, you let out an exhausted sigh and slid your mask back on as if nothing had happened.

However, the Chain couldn't shake all of the mixed feelings they were having right at that moment, their eyes peering at you with several mixed looks. Let's just say that after that, they were much more obsessed with you than before...

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

I honestly really enjoyed writing this cuz I typically have my OC in mind when writing these and I can always visualize that these are definitely the types of things she would do. Gotta love when a character mauls an enemy to death and acts so casual about it afterwards 😀👍

- 𐂂 anon

Masked! Reader who can be just as protective as her followers…

Ahhh! I love your writing style, you have me hooked! I hope you get more sleep tomorrow night and you also drink enough water.

<3

[winterhawkhood]

It is TIME to countdown!

Winterhawkhood-tober starts October 1st! To prepare for this incredible event where we will flood the world with winterhawkhood content, check out:

-The SEVEN bingo theme cards

-Prompt Request list (will be updated as requests come in)

-31 Days of Prompts Master List

The AO3 Collection

Friends, foes, family - this is going to be epic.

Bingo Cards:

Prompt Requests:

Prompt Requests from fellow fans! These are free to use and can be used as much and in as many ways as possible:

If you send in requests to this blog we will continue to update the list!

From blubblesandink 

-Mr. And Mrs. Smith AU/ mistaken identity

-soft spot for animals(willing to act heinous towards humans, but saves a puppy)

-Bro you really live like this? (Ie, break into their house and then make it better)

-Eiffel Tower

From Taxi-cab-to-slowtown:

-Jason/Clint/Bucky/plus one or more

From Claraxbarton:

-Rule 63: different gender(s)

------

31 Days Prompt Masterlist

Below are 31 Days worth of prompts. These are very general, with each day featuring one (1) dialogue prompt and three (3) other prompts. Feel free to respond to as many or as few as you like! There is some overlap from bingo cards to these prompts.

Day 1:

“You were right.”

-Different Robin

-On the run

-Friends with benefits

Day 2:

“You lied to me.”

-Royalty

-Friends to lovers

-Breakfast in bed

Day 3:

“How long have you known?”

-Healing

-Karaoke

-High School Reunion

Day 4:

“I wish I’d never met you.”

-Fake dating

-sex toys

-stakeout

Day 5:

“Wait, are you ticklish?”

-Wedding

-Avengers Team

-bad pick up lines

Day 6:

“Do you trust me?”

-Enemies to lovers

-backstory connection

-seeking/wanted ad

Day 7:

“Miss me, sweetheart?”

-cardigan

-kissing in the rain

-being in a crowd

Day 8:

“Please.”

-shaving

-stargazing

-mission

Day 9:

“You don’t have to say it”

-clothes sharing

-picnic

-beach

Day 10:

“I’m not a monster.”

-dating app

-baking

-identity porn/mistaken identity

Day 11:

“I told you not to touch that.”

-Sleeping

-canon divergent

-late

Day 12:

“You weren’t supposed to laugh.”

-sexting

-time travel

-co-workers

Day 13:

“Did you hear that?”

-autumn

-one bed

-matchmaking

Day 14:

“I deserve it.”

-coffee

-dancing

-secret dating

Day 15:

“I want to take care of you.”

-house/pet/baby sitting

-meet ugly

-hobby

Day 16:

“Is that my gun?”

-sex work

-modern/canon fusion

-love triangle

Day 17:

“I don’t remember.”

-size difference

-historical

-bets

Day 18:

“I remember.”

-Accidental

-military

-hand holding

Day 19:

“I’ve missed this.”

-Urban fantasy

-neighbors

-intimacy

Day 20:

“It’s three in the morning.”

-Sports

-horror

-vacation

Day 21:

“I can explain.”

-Writer

-shopping

-movie night

Day 22:

“I thought you were dead.”

-FUBAR

-arranged marriage

-hugs

Day 23:

“Then tell me the truth.”

-parent

-haunted 

-sacrifice

Day 24:

“How much of that did you hear?”

-Academic AU

-bad luck

-savior

Day 25:

“I hate this feeling?”

-Olympics

-injury

-conflict resolution

Day 26: 

“Don’t you dare walk away.”

-ballet

-allergies

-family

Day 27:

“Tell me a story.”

-Gotham

-costumes

-apologizing

Day 28:

“One last kiss.”

-pornography

-uniforms

-platonic

Day 29:

“Go fuck yourself.”

-blind date

-holiday/special occasion

-Western AU

Day 30:

“You left me.”

-surprise party

-bar

-drunk

Day 31:

“I can explain about last night.”

-pining

-lingerie

-one night stand

[shikai-the-storyteller]

Accidentally saved this as a draft yesterday instead of posting it, but here are some timestamps from Pac's 10/9 stream for folks who missed it:

—

As usual, please remember that I'm not a Portugese-speaker so I rely a lot on timestamps (and sometimes I'll add comments I see from native Portugese speakers)

54:00 - Pac talks about coming back to Twitter and Twitter vs. BlueSky

57:00 - Pac looks at Fit's Twitter (lol)

58:45 - Pac sees the pão de queijo Fit made and says even his mother would be proud of that cheese bread, meanwhile he buys the frozen kind from the store. Pac: I just don't know how to cook properly, unfortunately. You know?

1:04:30 - Pac looks at some old Arkanis videos and posts by the official accounts.

1:24:00 - Pac sees the "Pac e Mike" video on Prefeito Jota's Twitter. Pac: I just remembered, I'm going to kill Jota, I just remembered I don't like him anymore, I can't believe he's done this. (Pftt)

1:40:00 - Pac starts looking at Arkanis fanart

1:47:00 - Pac sees a handsome drawing of Prefeito Jota

2:03:00 - Pac meets Mona, the cat - Mona is giving Pac decoration tips for his house. - Pac asked Mona to make a suit for him for the elections - Mona apparently lives in Paris and knows about high fashion - Mona and Bia apparently know each other

[Missed Timestamp] - Au Au arrives and chases off Mona. - Apparently both the rat and Au Au hate Mona. - Au Au is jealous of Pac with Mona saying that now Pac only thinks about Mona and that Pac is his friend not Mona's friend - Au Au said there is something in his house he can't find, but it smells of Arkania, and he asks Pac to come back with friends sometime to look for it. 3:10:00 - Pac sees that Arkanis is trending on Twitter in Brazil

3:12:00 - Pac shows off his Arkanis screenshot folder

3:24:00 - Pac meets up with Coreanowo to admire the dragon he built and the temple

3:27:30 - Pac says he's going to play Ariana Grande and blow up the factory because Mona likes Ariana Grande

3:58:00 - Pac is given some magical Arkanya Monster (which is almost immediately taken away from him again)

4:25:00 - While retelling the story of Mike clogging the plumming at a rich man's house, the gods send another thunderbolt down and give him a book, which says: "Sorry I don't have much time… do you want to find out more about your true destiny?"

4:31:30 - Pac finds a beautiful lush cave, and when he calls out asking if anyone is there, more thunder rumbles. - He finds some large black human-like monsters called "Ladrão Diluído" (Diluted Thief?)

4:33:45 - He finds a chest with two books.

Book 1: - Page 1: The balaclava has now became more than just a mask, the symbol of who I chose to become. Robbing that merchant's house was the beginning, but today, as I walked out of the bank with my heart racing and my pockets full, I realized the power I can achieve. - Page 2: The world does not belong to the obedient, but to those who dare to shape it. While the city sleeps, I plan. This is only the beginning, and they will know me not by my name, but by the fear my work will leave in the streets. - Page 3: bank robberies (central was the biggest so far, but something changed. I felt a (presence, as if the (city was hunting me. Everything went according to plan, (but I can't (ignore this instinct that tells me the end is near. - Page 4: The balaclava weighs heavier (each day, and the cold of Valigma seems to seep into my bones. Maybe (it's time to (disappear, let the mystery speak for me. For now, I watch, unseen, (hoping that silence will be the answer I seek. I'm looking for.

Book 2: - You will know everything one day… I will tell you the whole story. And as L told his story through Valigma… - Pac thinks it's related to Leo (?)

4:39:00 - He finds some more books (in English this time) and a giant Pit. He takes the warp stone and warps back.

4:51:30 - Pac finds another Shiba and names it "Au Au Jr."

4:57:45 - Pac shows Au Au Au Au Jr, and Au Au kills him, saying he's the only one and Pac just found some dirty mongrel.

4:59:50 - Au Au says "Goodbye cruel world" and throws himself out of Pac's window. Pac tells him to stop being dramatic and that he wasn't trying to change or replace Au Au. - (I missed some context here but chat calls Au Au homophobic, pft). - Au Au apologizes for acting impulsively, and Pac gives him a hug. - Au Au says that maybe living in the ruins of Arkanya is messing with his head. He plays with the other dog in Pac's house (the gray one, idk the name).

5:04:00 - Pac gives Au Au a talking to about learning and growth (?)

5:05:00 - He gives Au Au another hug.

5:09:00 - Pac goes to Au Au's (?) house, and finds purple Arkanya markings all over the walls.

5:16:30 - Milo wakes up!

5:18:00 - They try decoding the symbols, and discover one is "Ladrão" (Robber) and "Ladrãozinho" (Little Robber)

5:33:30 - Pac watches Au Au and Milo joke about impeaching him

6:13:45 - Pac, Au Au, and Milo all take a nap together

6:22:30 - Guh shows up

6:36:00 Gris shows up! She's wearing a black shirt, and Pac considers dressing Milo up

6:37:30 - Quel says she doesn't know if she likes white Monster and Pac pretends to drop dead from shock.

6:57:30 - Pac jokingly tells Guh Guaxinim died while they were play-wrestling (???)

7:01:00 - sus

7:19:00 - Pac hears something strange

7:24:00 - PAUSED

I missed the rest of stream OTL

[dovithedarklord]

Age of Monsters - Chapter Eight

Pairing: OFC x Simon "Ghost" Riley, OFC x König

Tags: Slow Burn, Slow Build, Enemies to Lovers, Alternate Universe, Blood and Gore, Blood and Violence, Eventual Romance, Eventual Smut, POV First Person, Not Beta Read, Medical Inaccuracies, Military Inaccuracies, AFAB OC

Trigger Warning: The story will contain violance, blood and smut in detail. Please, keep that in mind!

⚠️MDNI⚠️

...................................

Author's Note

The team receives new disturbing news, and Leona sets off on an exciting adventure with her two companions.

Hello!

I don't have a separate trigger warning for today's chapter, but I probably will next week! :) The story truly starts with this chapter, so have fun! :D

I.M.L. - Infected mammalian lifeform. I.H.L. - Infected humanoid lifeform.

if you're interested you can find the story on AO3: Chapter Eight

.................................

I’m waiting with folded arms and with rather impatient tension for something to finally happen and for Laswell to appear, who called this little meeting together as urgently as if someone's life depended on it. And judging by how ominously Price stares at the screen sprawled on the wall, I can rightly assume that she's going to come up with something insanely interesting. And even though I was dragged here for the first time to sit through a briefing, I have enough brain capacity to understand what my presence means. It's clear the pleasant atmosphere that we shared recently and the miraculous survival of my forest trip gave them enough impetus to dare to send me to the idyllic location of one of their small operations, and I don't know if that should make me feel better. Because this could be a sign that, enjoying their complete trust, they will finally let me play a crucial role in a mission, but at the same time, they will also put a target on my pretty little body for the monsters. And it doesn't help that all my intuition tells me that it's a bad omen that I have to wait on pins and needles in the same room where I introduced myself to the Hunters two and a half months ago, tied up and freshly captured. The whole situation could be almost nostalgic, but instead, it sprinkles the surface of my brain with crumbs of foreboding.

The captain may already know something that not even one of his friends is aware of, because his gloomy mood doesn't rub off on the other people present, who are comfortably sitting in their chairs with the relaxation they have acquired over the years. And I suspect that they have already encountered one or two tricky situations, so the thought of another potentially deadly adventure tour doesn't raise their pulse. Of course, unlike them, I'm not excited at all by my possible little getaway, because even though I knew that I would inevitably join their operations, I secretly hoped that they would wait a few more months before throwing me into the deep water teeming with mutants. But Laswell seems to have other plans, and I await with suppressed and rather cynical curiosity what crazy idea she has come up with to take my mission-virginity.

And as if she sensed how often her name is mentioned in my little head, the door to the room opens, and the woman storms in with unprecedented haste, clutching a computer and a stack of papers in her hands. For a minute, I feel sorry for her worn state, which shows that sleep has been a rare guest for her in the past few days, but then my attention is focused on the troubled wrinkles deep on her face. Something serious had to stir up the stagnant sea of shit to cause such a disturbance in the whole aura of the woman, whom I had the pleasure of seeing only as the embodiment of confident calmness until now.

"I'm glad you're all here." Laswell nods towards our small group from the other end of the table, and as her blue eyes settle on me, a fleeting but sincere smile crosses her face. "Especially for you, Woods." The woman adds, and I am genuinely surprised by the sudden direct tone she takes on, because up until this moment, the wall of formality has stood between us as a strong boundary. But it seems that the exceptional role-model behavior that I channeled in these recent months has brought her closer to my humble person.

"What have you brought, Kate?" Price inquires before anyone else can speak, and there is an urgency in his voice, based on which my suspicions about the seriousness of the news that will soon be presented to us become even stronger. Although I haven't known the bearded man for long, I've studied him just enough to know that there's a limited amount of things that can shake him from his calm confidence. And I suspect I'm not the only one who notices this, because the mood of the other Hunters also turns progressively grimmer in the blink of an eye, as they assess the not-so-promising vibrations of their captain's and the woman's behavior.

A quick glance from Laswell is enough for me to understand the potential risks of the information she has brought us today, as she arranges her small packages on the table to begin the briefing. And this makes me instinctively straighten up in my chair, because I have a strong suspicion that I will have to soak up all the information like a sponge in order to avoid as many necessary unpleasant experiences as I can during my upcoming adventure.

"Two days ago, a merchant group left for Colony no. 20." Laswell begins, and breathes life into her computer with practiced movements, and then, after a few skillful button presses, unveils the data she has collected on the screen resting on the wall. A more or less sharp recording appears on the display, which, based on the location, could be at one of the gates of the wall surrounding the colony. The whole interaction, caught on the security camera, seems ridiculously ordinary, where the leader of the small team is probably negotiating with one of the soldiers guarding the wall. But what goes on in the video glowing in a bluish tint looks so routine and harmless, that I dismiss the idea that the mischievous little group might have been dealing with some illegal activity, and that's why it's important to mention them to us. "They went on the designated route, but their signal disappeared at the border of the red zone and the uncontrolled region." The woman continues, and as a map appears, with the red flashing dot where their last recorded signal was possibly seen, I recognize that this story indeed ended in a not so illegal, but rather bloody manner.

To be fair, this wouldn't be such a rare occurrence, because the red zone itself hides many dangers, but those who dare to go even beyond that will have a rather eventful journey ahead of them. The areas that are outside the zones delimiting the colonies are not called uncontrolled regions for nothing, since someone only goes there if they absolutely have to, or if they feel an irresistible desire to be deprived of their limbs. And for those who have been selected for this noble career path, or who have joined such a group on their own accord, the constant danger to their lives is no stranger to them. Even if their colony is so gallant and selfless that it assigns a Hunter to accompany them between the two endpoints of their journey. But something tells me that a whole new kind of worrisome factor has emerged in connection with the unfortunate destruction of the merchant team just mentioned, because this small brigade specializing in special cases wouldn't deal with this story, if the biggest problem was a simple everyday mutant attack.

"I.M.L.s?" Price asks the obvious, but his tone reveals that he doesn't believe that the monsters' rampage is the only reason why the woman has such a troubled expression on her face. And we don't even have to wait long for the explanation, because Laswell conjures up another shot on the screen the next moment, and the image of a car windshield and the landscape filtering through it appears before us.

"This was recorded by the on-board camera of one of the cars. The officials on patrol rescued it." The woman adds the marginal note next to the small piece of evidence, and based on this it becomes quite clear that it isn't worth counting on any kind of happy ending.

The recording begins with an idyll similar to the material recorded on the previous security camera, and through the bumping vehicle, a view of the passing scenery can be seen in all its glory, which may once have been a busy highway, judging by the many rusty wrecks that appear scattered on the side of the road. The uneventfulness that unfolds before us from the other side of the screen is ominous, knowing that the passengers are probably living through their last minutes of life. The noise of a soft conversation filters into the room through the video, as the people in the car discuss information about the shipment, and I instinctively feel the tense anticipation that prepares my mind for the catastrophe that will surely occur, because it's guaranteed to make its appearance in the widescreen. But no matter how well I prepare for the worst, even this doesn't make me ready for how, next to the vehicle moving in front of the people recording, a ruthlessly large dark spot suddenly appears from behind the skeleton of one of the wreckage. And even though I know how strong these bastards are, I'm still amazed at how easily the mutant pushes the multi-ton vehicle away with a ridiculously simple movement. The people in the video try to stop their car almost immediately amid loudly screeching brakes, and the on-board camera shakes wildly from the force of the sudden halt, but still reports on the events. But when those, presumably coming behind them, crash into them from behind accompanied by an even more obscene noise, then the chaos is unleashed. For a moment, the image becomes hard to dechiper, as the car sways forward from the force of the impact and the camera drifts off the dashboard, and only the faded shouts of the passengers break through from behind the erratic frames. There is a small break in the recording, then the broadcast returns after a short wait, and I am not one bit happier about it, as I assess what kind of novelty greets me. Because by the time the events recorded by the camera become sharp again, only the last act of the futile fight remains, where a few armed men try to decimate the beasts that cross the road. Despite the angle of the camera turned to the side, it’s clear that the fight is unfortunately hopeless, because there are many more of these monsters, and they easily crush the people to the ground, who, although they disappear from the recorded material this way, the stomach-turning crunching of bones, the wet smacking of organs and the pain-distorted screams of the victims still reach my ears perfectly. And that could be the end of the whole horrible incident, but it seems that some new friends of the mutants who are eating their snacks want to get in on the fun as well. As soon as a couple of once human-like, but now extremely distorted creatures appear and join in the feast without any disturbance, as if they had improvised a fucking picnic, I suddenly understand that Laswell's dramatic entrance was nowhere near exaggerated.

"Are those I.H.L.'s?" Bursts out the shocked question from Garrick, and the disbelief on his face perfectly reflects the sinister mood slowly appearing in the room. And at this development, the bad foreboding that had painted the woman's face since her arrival began to well up in me.

The very fact that people don't just pass away when bitten these scumbag mutants would be enough to cause a frenzied panic among the common people. When the virus broke out, people quite simply died of the infection, because in some magical way, the little pathogen was incompatible with our bodies. Therefore, until now, everyone has spent their everyday lives in the safe dream bubble that their survival is unquestionable within the walls of the colonies, but if they are attacked by these feral beings, even though they will probably end up in several pieces, they will depart this life with dignity. But when the first mutant humans appeared a year and a half ago, everyone shat bricks. This meant that the virus had undergone enough evolution for humans to become sympathetic hosts for it, and of course, governments have remained silent on this ever since, as the danger seemed negligible. Because even though this factor posed a risk, thankfully the unfortunate idiot who was gnawed by an I.M.L. only turned into the brainless, deformed fool, similarly to the infected mammals fifty years ago, and so it was relatively easy to free them from their suffering. They didn't need to be turned into a pasta strainer by bullets, because they were less tough than the mutants, so anyone could take them down with a few shots. Not to mention, that even though both types of mutants were affected by the same disease, the I.M.L.s took great pleasure in tearing apart their humanoid friends. Until now.

"Why didn't the I.M.L.s attack them?" I'm turning my attention to the problem that concerns me the most, because the fact that mutants don't kill I.H.L.s is a fairly new piece of information that even I didn't have the luck to observe, even though I've been studying these bastards for nearly six years. The little monsters unmistakably befriended each other, as if they had become a real big, grotesque family, and this starts a series of very threatening assumptions in my head, which immediately demand a solution.

"This is exactly what we want to get an answer to." Laswell sighs, and her gaze returns to the frozen image of the already stopped video. The recording is too short to draw far-reaching conclusions from this little tidbit, but it contains just enough frightening detail to put a serious worry on the face of everyone present. Since this is a huge slap that pushes us down to the depths of the sea of shit and helps us drown. Because although it doesn't matter why these two previously hostile species ally, the end-result is the same. Destruction. "Fortunately, we identified the nest where the infected life forms probably came from." She continues her explanation, and brings the map up on the screen again, where now, next to the location marking the unfortunate death of the traders, another brightly flashing small dot has appeared.

"They settled among the ruins of the city." Price concludes, and I'm not surprised at how easily he identifies the details appearing on the enlarged map, because I have the feeling that he knows the entire red zone like the back of his hand. "Where's the nest?" He immediately gets to the point, his voice takes on an objective tone, and his eyes search every available square centimeter of the area revealed on the screen with such intensity that it's clear that he is already starting to fabricate the details of the mission in his mind.

"Based on the information from the patrols, they're probably hiding in an old subway tunnel." Laswell turns to her computer again, and she suddenly zooms in on the area that houses the potential nest, where a neon yellow flashing band surrounds the zone identified as the target. And although the picture decorated with superficial and simplified figures doesn't tell me much, I still guess the fact that the location of the mission has a rather large diameter. A vast, desolate no-man's land, full of ruined buildings, where the potential attack surfaces of mutants are limited only by the imagination, and where a life-threatening surprise can emerge from behind every concrete monster built by humans. Fabulous.

But it seems that, unlike me, the small team is not so pessimistic, because they don’t seem to be horrified by the possibility of fighting their heroic little battle in an arena where a cute mutant monster can shred them into a confetti around every corner. Moreover, the captain looks at the map with at least as much indifference as if he were admiring a painting from the archives.

"Tricky field, but we've seen worse." Price notes with a sour smile on his lips. And if I take the tale he told me during our first drink together into account, I don’t doubt that he has indeed seen far greater horrors than a ruined city hiding ghosts and man-eating brutes. This mission seems like a peaceful holiday in comparison, where the team-building activity will be the creative killing of mutants.

"At least we can surprise these bastards." MacTavish remarks confidently, leaning back in his chair with a satisfied grin on his face, from which it's quite clear that he has already assembled the details of the vile little traps in his head, with which he intends to make the promise hidden in his words come true. And if I only think about the creativity with which he carries out my torture, I'm certain he will use enough cruel little tricks in a real mission too.

"The primary command is to terminate the nest. Colony Leader Shepherd contacted us because he wants to put a certain end to the matter." Laswell nails the details down strictly, and at the mention of the name of the man leading Colony no. 17, I understand that this problem must have got the head of the government in a flap. Of course, I am not surprised, because the existence of the I.H.L.s has been top secret until now, and the news providers skillfully withheld this small piece of information from the public, which has been filling researchers and official bodies with horror for some time now. Because if the people were to find out that from now on they won't be able to get away with just kicking the bucket in the event of a bite, then the idyllic peace would surely end. "But keep your eyes open in case we get more information about the phenomenon." The woman adds, looking at all the members of the gathering, and judging by her voice, she mostly wants them to find answers to the dozens of desperate questions. And there is absolutely no doubt that it will depend on this action whether the house of cards of peace and security that has been carefully built so far will collapse or not.

"Who do you want to send?" Price turns to the head of the base again, thus breaking the short silence that had set in, and to this question, all the potential candidates raise their gaze to the woman at the same time, and it’s clear that all of them would gladly and preferably immediately throw themselves into the action. At first glance, either of Hunters would be a great choice, which immediately makes me think that this is probably why Shepherd turned to a private unit. He doesn't want the operation to receive more attention than it should (mostly none) even by chance, because he knows what it would cause if the civilian population found out about what he has been hiding from them with tooth and nail so far. And although it may seem heartless to take away the people's right to obtain information, blissful ignorance is much better than chaos and panic. What nobody knows doesn't give anybody naughty ideas about rebellion. It's enough if only brutal, human tanks like Unit 141 care about such little things.

"Ghost will lead the operation, and Soap, you'll go with him too. I'll leave it up to you who they take with you, but they can't be new recruits under any circumstances. We have to anticipate that the mission will be risky." Laswell directs her words to the two men, who nod in agreement to the instructions given. It was smart of the woman to highlight this detail, because it's almost a dead certainty that the newbies would end up as fresh, savory meat after meeting the mutants. "Woods, you're going with them too. Due to the potential danger, they'll need a Healer on site." She gives me her orders as she raises her blue eyes at me, and I am not at all surprised by this development. Until now, I was quite sure that this top-secret information wasn't being shown to me by accident. And the possibilities that seem to be taking shape in my head promise a rather life-threatening outcome, one by one. Still, despite all this, the phenomenon seen in the video arouses sparks of curiosity in me, which makes me want to go on a study trip among the ruins full of dangers. Mainly because the information has the potential to destroy the security that has been built for fifty years. And I'd better check it out up close. "However, your most important task will be observation. You have professional experience in the subject."

"Makes sense." I give only this succinct answer to Laswell's significant hint, and it reassures me that she doesn't only see me as a spare, living first aid kit, but assigns me a chore that is truly suitable for me. I don't doubt that the Hunters have seen enough of these scums to know what's unusual and what's not, but it doesn't hurt to have my sharp eyes on the scene too, just in case I observe something suspicious that might escape others' attention. It seems that she didn't run through my file superficially, but engraved the important factors deep into her gray matter, and although this is a self-evident fact for a person in such an important position, she still manages to soften my dark little heart by caressing my pride.

Of course, the fact that MacTavish and Riley will be my companions in this rather risky adventure fills me with just the right amount of nervousness and cynicism for a moment. My gaze automatically finds the masked man sitting on the other side of the table, whose brown eyes are studying the map on the screen with intense attention, and although he gives the appearance of calmness, his entire figure imperceptibly pulsates with impatient tension.

I don't refute for a minute that the two Hunters will do their jobs with brutal efficiency, but the hatchet buried between Riley and me is still fresh enough for me to welcome the possibility of working together with complete peace of mind. It may well be that since the test in the wilderness, our previously bloody altercations have softened into creative little verbal battles, but that still hasn't silenced the voices of suspicion in me. While I don't think he still wants to get rid of me, I'm not so foolish and naive as to think he won't leave me behind without hesitation if it comes down to it. He will have the success of the mission in mind, and unfortunately, besides that, my physical health will be very far behind in the order of importance. And this is undoubtedly an obvious fact, which helps me to see, that it will be better to make a plan from A to Z for the eventuality, if I will have to rely only on myself to save my pretty little rear.

And as if sensing my momentary struggle, one of MacTavish's big hands moves on my shoulder encouragingly, and the warm grip of his fingers beneficially breaks me out of the web of assumptions in my head. As I turn towards the man sitting next to me for a fleeting moment, and my gaze meets his blue eyes, I manage to catch the lively little sparks dancing in them.

"Don't worry, we'll take good care of ya!" The Hunter reassures me, and the corner of his mouth is pulled into a smile that radiates understanding and warmth, and even I am surprised at how quickly the nerve that has been moving unnoticed in my stomach responds and lets go of its starting grip. But I'm slowly getting used to the fact that, despite how relaxed and carefree MacTavish seems to be, he can pinpoint when the aura of one of his companions changes. And now that it seems, that I too will receive such privileges from him, my nervousness about the mission eases a bit.

"I strongly suggest, you do." I throw my comment at him with a rather cheeky edge, but despite all my skepticism, I know that if it's up to him, I will most certainly return with all my limbs intact. And this assurance seems to confirm that it was indeed a good idea for me to join this fun outing even more. It's true that it would be an adequate reason for me that the unknown and rapid escalation of the I.H.L. situation fills me with curiosity, as it threatens with potentially worldwide dangers that even my crafty little self wouldn't be able to get away from. But without a doubt, the fact that I would like to escort this man, and possibly his dangerous and less sociable friend home safely, is a very compelling motive for me to stay with them more willingly. I have no illusions about how useful I'll be to them, but it never hurts to have someone there to patch them up if one of the vile creatures attacks them.

"Let's get to the plan." Laswell directs the attention back to the mission, and with routine movements, she slides us a significant part of the stack of papers she brought with her, which at first glance contains even more thorough information about the area that houses the previously mentioned nest, as well as the details of the unfortunate accident that happened to the traders. Intrigued, I reach for one of the documents, which contains the patrol’s report about what was found at the scene of the accident, and as my lively little fingers find the paper, a gloved hand with bony details appears in front of me, and it targets one of the documents, also looking for knowledge. It's automatic how my gaze is intertwined with Riley's dark eyes for a fleeting moment, and this small instant is enough for me to see the seriousness prevailing in his features. And I can't decide whether this gloominess speaks to the worrisome nature of the whole mission or to the cooperation with me. But it doesn't matter what he's stressed about, because he's involuntarily driving the foreboding in the back of my skull back to where MacTavish just drove it away from. Because, if a seasoned professional Hunter like him suddenly feels the need to become more cautious before a mission, then it's time for me to pull myself together, because my life will really be at stake here. And I'm quite adamant that I don't bite the bullet at such a young age. It would be a shame for me.

So, taking the report in front of me, I begin to study it, and with half my attention, I listen intently as every little detail of our trip slowly unfolds with the leading of Laswell and Price. And in the meantime, I'm starting to hope that karma doesn't see this as a good opportunity to collect my debt for the many shits I've committed over the years. Because that would affect me terribly sensitively.

⃰*

The night landscape slips past us with an uncomfortable silence, as we slowly but surely move towards the designated destination. My stomach has shrunk to the size of a tennis ball since the beginning of the journey, and despite my confident mask, it's actively pumping out pleasant waves of stress all over my body. I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't filled with increasing anxiety about the fact that, for the first time in my life, I'm wandering in such an area that was mostly talked about in only horror stories, and I'd be a fool if that wasn't the case. After all, it wasn't by chance that the zones were drawn around the colonies. This was done precisely so that even the weak-minded know where they should never venture, unless they have incredibly suicidal tendencies. And yet I'm heading right to the middle of the red zone for a nice evening party.

Even though the silvery light of the full moon illuminates the desolate area, it doesn't ease my suspicions about the dangers lurking in the shadows. Here, from behind every bush, tree, and ruin, there can be a danger to the wanderer, and that is why it frustrates me how calm the Hunters are throughout the whole car ride. In the back of the huge van, I may be the only one with ominous tension bubbling over, because neither the Hunters sitting across from me nor the soldiers traveling with us seem particularly excited about the festivities that will soon begin. I could attribute this to the fact that this isn't their first rodeo, but it's probably the hundredth, if not the thousandth time they've visited these barren, bleak regions, but it doesn't fill me with any more confidence. Although the discussed plan seems almost foolproof, and every single contingency has been discussed with unnerving precision, the likelihood of possible unexpected threats still lingers in my skull inexorably.

I divert my gaze from the wasteland that passes behind the car window, promising countless deadly surprises, and it suddenly seems like a much better idea to assess my companions assigned to me for today's mission. Both men are armed up to the chin, with ammunition hidden in every corner of their tactical vests, prepared to take action, which is only natural, because unlike me, they will really be intimately involved with the mutants. Despite everything, MacTavish examines the assault riffle clutched in his hand almost cheerfully, checking with the routine movements one would expect from a man trained as a killer from childhood. I’m not taken aback by his experienced firearms handling technique, but rather by the casual attitude that he managed to bring with him even here, from which an outside observer could believe that we're really just out for a peaceful weekend trip with this sweet little group. And I suspect that this carefree behavior has something to do with the fact that the mere mortals who are with us need this little bit of reinforcement so that they can throw themselves into the midst of danger with the right morale. And if this is the goal, then the Scottish man fulfills his task brilliantly.

However, his partner sitting next to him is a completely different story. Riley's whole being has the tension of a spring ready to jump, and maybe the soldiers don't notice it, but it's no coincidence that I've spent the last few months studying him. And now it seems like a much more pleasant pastime to analyze him than to think about the potential loss of my own physical integrity. It doesn't escape my attention as his long, gloved fingers tighten around his own gun, and in the dim light from the car's instruments, there's a grim shine in those dark eyes. Perhaps a touch of seriousness from the leader of the mission would be natural, but I have the stray idea that his unusually quiet behavior is due to my presence. Although he didn't openly express his displeasure, it's quite obvious to me that he doesn't like the idea of me dragging my pretty ass to this nest sweep. I'd like to think that maybe he finally found his humanity and that prompts him to worry, but the voice of reality tells me that it probably just immeasurably angers him that he had to carry a useless and, above all, hindering element with him. The assumption might hurt me a little, but I'm also aware that, unlike them, I'm not nearly as effective at killing, even with blood sticking to my lovely little hands. Fortunately, my role will be realized at a safe distance from the events, which I hope won't be thwarted by any unexpected twists.

"We're getting close, sir." The driver alerts us, breaking my undisturbed contemplation, and I just curiously lean forward to take a look at the concrete road swimming in the headlight of the vehicle, at the end of which, shrouded in soot darkness, the shadows of the buildings that once housed tens of thousands of people can be seen. Fifty years ago, a flood of colorful lights and deafening noise would have signaled the existence of such a large city, but now it's nothing more than a pile of buildings on the verge of rotting and crumbling, whose empty skeletons give way only to revived vegetation and bloodthirsty monsters.

"Stop here." Riley orders, and now he also directs his attention to the outline of the city's border, and then his hand almost automatically finds the radio on his tactical vest. "It's Hunter 0-15. We've reached the edge of the combat zone. We're going to stop here and continue on foot." He announces in a firm voice, informing the other two cars behind us that we have arrived at the starting point of our fun little adventure. And for me, this one factor is enough to mentally pull myself together, because from now on, stress and worry will become a luxury if I want to complete this task. Which will also mean my survival.

The car slows to a stop in the middle of the road, and I instinctively reach for the camera attached to my tactical vest, checking that it's still resting rock-solid next to the other gear as Garrick attached it before our little team was sent on its merry way. Laswell gave me the small device after I raised the idea that maybe it would be easier to get data that way, which my brain, not driven by adrenaline and total burnout, might process more easily later. I'm sure my sharp eyes will take in enough information, but no human being is perfect, and surprisingly, not even me.

"Let's go." Riley gives his instructions to the passengers in the van, gets up from his seat ready for action, and opens the back door of the van easily to step out into the warm night air. MacTavish and the other two soldiers huddled in the back dutifully follow their leader tonight, but I take advantage of these few seconds to collect my thoughts. It's okay, Leona. You stay behind, observe, and after these two madman and their entourage have bulldozed all the beasts, you comfortably ride home with them. Plain and simple. Still, the unpleasant tension that awakens in the depths of my consciousness warns me not to count my chickens before they're hatched, because that will be the last thing I do.

And the cautious feeling ringing my alarm bells gives me the impetus to leave the empty vehicle and join the small council of people gathered outside, and as soon as my eyes get used to the visual conditions outside, I also stroll closer to the briefing. Riley stands out from the group like a real giant, and for some reason in the moonlight, his whole being has a very otherworldly effect. The skull attached to his mask looks even more terrifying now, and his figure, swollen with power and piled high with weapons, is at least as scary as if a modern-day grim reaper had sprung out from nowhere. However, there's something strangely reassuring about the way he looks over the crowd with a firm stance, because I get the feeling that even if he's rather grumpy about my presence, he's got everything and everyone under control, so nothing can slip past him. And I want to lull myself in this dream, more than anything.

"The Watcher team stays behind and secures the edge of the combat zone." The masked man begins his last explanation, and in the meantime, he turns to four soldiers, who, after acknowledging the instruction with a short nod, head towards the road in front of us and almost immediately start placing the explosives carried in heavy bags.

According to Price's reasoning, the edge of the combat zone, or the point where our small escape vehicles are waiting for us, is always equipped with some kind of trap, so that if it's time to retreat, the mutants following the escapees will have one last surprise, which will have enough punch so that the bastards kick the bucket. Of course, they usually hope that most emerging threats will be neutralized at the beginning of the combat zone, at the starting point of active fights, but leaving the possibility, no matter how small, to chance is insanely stupid. That said, I hope with a wild passion that the final fireworks don't happen, because that would mean our little venture has failed miserably. And that would mean a lot of death.

"The Hunter team is coming to the nest with me." Riley continues, and when he only gets a nod of agreement or a shout of "yes, sir" from everyone, he doesn't even waste any more time, but the burning light in his eyes flares up, which is the only sign that now he too felt the need to activate his rather dangerous power. And if possible, this makes the harmless aura emanating from him even more dangerous than before. "Let's go." He issues his final order, and grasping his weapon, he begins his decisive march on the road leading to the heart of the city, and the little soldiers snapping on their night vision goggles, follow him like little ducks.

"Keep up, Woods!" MacTavish suddenly appears next to me, and one of his gloved hands pats my back encouragingly, perhaps in an effort to somewhat reduce the tension that is surely radiating from me. And he succeeds, because as soon as I turn to him and take in the red glow of the otherwise bright blue eyes, I immediately sober up. "Stay behind me until we get to the observation post." He advises, and after a last uplifting smile, he also sets off on the rather risky path ahead of us.

With a strained sigh, I start the camera mounted on my chest, then, clutching my machine gun slung over my shoulder, I run after the group, and following the recommendation of the Hunter with the mohawk, I hide in his shadow and also begin to sneak skillfully. And now I thank the man in front of me and his crazy friend many times over, for tormenting me so enthusiastically every goddamned day, because the pace dictated by Riley, who is in the lead, is much more bearable than it would have been before my endurance was boosted.

Despite the hurried speed, the entire team moves in familiar unity, and runs through every corner of the surrounding landscape with such thoroughness that it's clear that the two Hunters brought experienced warriors with them. And the rush of the masked man and the fact that he wants to get to the destination as soon as possible is understandable, because even though these mutant bastards retreat to their nest for the night to have an intimate slumber party together, they can still appear and surprise us at any moment. There is never a good time to sweep out nests, but perhaps the cover of night offers the best chance to attack them unexpectedly. Of course, this doesn't neutralize the fact that, while the limited visibility is not necessarily a problem for the Hunters' cunning little abilities, and perhaps not even for my cute little eyes, the small accompanying squad of ordinary people has every reason to be cautious. They aren’t protected by super sharp senses or superstrength, or even by my self-healing ability, which is less useful in other circumstances, so it's a very likely scenario that they meet their maker after one mistake. And yet, they move forward resolutely and with cold calmness, without any hesitation, and I have to give them credit for their dedication.

As we move further into the road, the rusty piles of wreckage resembling cars slowly disappear, and their place is replaced by the towering frames of buildings wild with green vegetation, which tell of carefree times lost long ago. An eerie silence descends on the whole area, and apart from the soft tapping of several pairs of booted feet, nothing else makes noise in the emptiness of the deserted streets. The moon covers the whole place in a flood of white light, and the broken glass of the vacant stores, and the lush, emerald carpets of moss growing on the walls glisten in it, and this peaceful sight could even be cozy if I didn't know what chaos has driven this place and millions of its peers around the world into desolation. Although all traces of the massacre that took place over here decades ago have almost certainly disappeared, an abandoned shoe frozen in dirt, an overturned, filthy and torn baby carriage on the edge of the sidewalk, or even an empty suitcase lying open, all reveal the horrors that happened here. And though I am by no means a sentimental fool, yet I have to forcibly fix my gaze on the back of MacTavish, marching unperturbed before me, before I can find more forgotten things, which could bring its sad and rather bloody origin to my mind. Because the ghosts of the people who died here haunt these horrible mementos, and I don't have the slightest desire to devote my attention to them instead of my own survival. As selfish as that may sound.

Minutes that seem like hours pass before we are sufficiently swallowed up by the sea of ruins, and the overpass designated as an observation point appears on the horizon, reaching high and crossing the road leading us to our destination. It stands out gloomily from the deteriorating buildings and rests alone above the empty square, where only the charred wrecks of cars bear witness to the fact that the road section once arched over the busy urban maelstrom. It's ideally separated and high enough for me to be able to observe the events from a safe distance, yet it fills me with the right amount of anxiety that only a narrow kilometer will separate me from being in immediate danger. According to Laswell, this is a favorable position for me, but based on the distance I've covered so far, it's clear that I only have a hair's breadth more chance to escape if something goes wrong. A few minutes is the only advantage, which further consolidates the keen attention in me, which has been kept awake by the adrenaline spreading in slow waves in my veins until now. If it wasn't clear by now that I'd better be on the lookout, it's a dead certainty now.

As we reach the beginning of the winding stairs leading to the overpass, the soldiers sneaking in front of me slow down, and I turn from my previous speed down just in time before I bump into the Scottish Hunter. Obediently, the small group separates in front of Riley to make way for the man walking towards me with measured steps, and as he gets close enough to me, I'm blocked from prying eyes by him and MacTavish, who turns towards me too. My presence didn't elicit any reaction from the soldiers participating in the mission, yet I know that the edge of doubt they felt towards me didn't completely disappear from them. And maybe that's why it's much more pleasant than it should be that these two people, the size of a small mountain, are now shielding me from unwanted attention.

"Take the observation position and keep an eye on the action with the binoculars. Record everything." The masked Hunter gives me his short instructions, and his eyes, glowing like liquid fire, stare seriously at my face, looking for possible resistance. He will be disappointed, because I have absolutely no motivation to argue with his suggestion. "Don't leave the position. Stay here until further orders." He emphasizes this rather important detail, and it's not difficult for me to notice how his eyebrows run together from the strict expression, from which the grimness also settles in his deep voice.

"It didn't even occur to me to do otherwise." I signal back to him about my intentions, and with this, it seems, despite the breath of sarcasm hidden in my voice, I successfully convince him that I really don’t wish to get any closer to the epicenter of their entertaining activities. Even so, I will enjoy spending time alone, which means just a little more security.

It seems that it's once again MacTavish's turn to bring calmness to the situation, which is becoming more and more tense, but not due to my behavior this once. It's clear, judging by Riley's more than usual sinister aura, that today's operation is bombarding his mind with the possibility of dubious outcomes just as much as it does to mine. But he hides it well, because it may not be the first time that he has to sweep these intuitions behind the wall of professionalism to be able to perform his task effectively. And I suspect that this may also have something to do with his partner, who always senses when he needs to act to lighten the mood.

"Don't worry, it's all routine work." The Hunter with the mohawk focuses his gaze on me, which shines bright red in the darkness, and he takes a small step closer to me, trying to radiate the reassuring aura towards me with his whole being, but it's emanating from his word just as sufficiently too. And for some reason, even I am amazed by the confidence with which he can act so casually, when we all know that this mission could be much more than the average and mundane killing that they carry out. Because it's possible that due to the rapid mutation of the virus, we are facing a danger that has never been seen before. Still, it's ridiculously good to hear his encouragement. Because even my paranoid brain believes that all will be fine.

"I'm sure it is." I note easily despite the doubts in my mind, and even this few-word answer is enough for the man to conjure up an enthusiastic half-smile on his beard-framed mouth, and one of his big hands once again finds my shoulder and pats it for the second time tonight. Although I normally don't let anyone get close enough to perform such friendly gestures, I let him and his little crew give me such pleasant attention. And now the vice-like grasp of worry that grips my insides happily relaxes its hold at the small movement of the Hunter.

"But take care of yourself and let me know if somethin' happens!" He insists with a gentle tone, and despite all his firm positivity, the small concern that may have arisen in him because of my presence filters through his voice. I don't think he's doubting my abilities with this, instead, he might be just afraid of unexpected surprises. And based on the faintly outlined wrinkles on his forehead, he already has enough expertise to know, that there isn't an impossible event that can be ruled out with absolute certainty in an operation like this. Thus, he may rightfully have uncertainties about my protected position.

“Don't underestimate the effectiveness of my training, MacTavish." I raise my head, and now my lips also bend upwards in a rather cheeky and self-confident arch, to alleviate the concerns he has shown towards me. This effort is instinctive, because the fact that I'm distracting him from his potentially life-threatening entertainment depresses me even more than the uncertainty lurking on us. If it's a problem, I'll solve it somehow. Like I always did. "If I were you, I'd be more worried about my own safety." I point towards him with my head, glancing briefly at his figure dressed in combat gear and the large weapon clutched in his hand. As the force that makes the Hunters stand out from the crowd is actively raging in his body, his posture changes completely, and I can almost see the red-burning energy, which makes them almost invincible, bubbling under the muscles ready to attack.

"Don't ya worry about that! This isn't the first nest we've taken care of." MacTavish reminds me, straightening himself out with such confidence, that makes him look like the poster boy for a real, proud Hunter, as he weaves his fingers into his vest with his free hand. I know that with this light banter, he wants to calm my, everyone else's and probably his uneasiness as well about the guaranteed and smooth success of the mission, so I decide to banish the ominous voices that warn me of the possible problems to the back of my skull for a minute.

"I hope so. I don't feel like cleaning up after you." I note with a rather mischievous edge, but in spite of this, it's clear that he feels the message behind my words. It would be impossible for me to break the guy's goal-oriented confidence, but for the first time, I choose to put my pride aside, and at the gate of the threat, I rather release what's waiting to come out from my mouth from the stress that is raging freely inside me. "So take care of yourselves." I say, and my wish sounds more like a warning, as I raise my eyes meaningfully to the two Hunters, unspokenly asking them to come back for me in one piece and as unharmed as possible at the end of the whole damn party.

"I'll do that!" The Scottish man assures me, and when Riley considers the conversation finished and turns to the soldiers who are waiting for them, his cheerful little friend also pulls himself together and heads towards the small group, clutching his weapon. "Don't forget to use your callsign, Viper!" He shouts back to me, mentioning the funny little nickname he came up with while we were drinking, saying it was just the right time to be gifted with a callsign to match my sneaky little attack methods. It was a most fitting, yet terribly unjustified move on his part, but I feel as if it brought me one step closer to him and his small team.

"Oh, for God's sake…" I sigh in agony, but I can't wipe the faint smile from my face, because despite the fact that I would probably swallow my own tongue rather than use this name, regardless, my dark little being is warmed by the man's attention.

And as I monitor the small group slowly setting off again, my eyes meet the masked Hunter for a fleeting glance, who only hesitates for a moment before leaving, but that's enough for him to say goodbye to me with a curt nod. And I forcefully suppress the surprise that arises in me from this impossibly short interaction, because although the distance and dislike between the two of us have improved a lot, this gesture is still a very surprising novelty. Although I also had to fight against my self-esteem and my previous habits when I asked them to protect their own physical integrity, even this small gesture from the man is equal to the miracle that happens once every leap year. And that gives me the impossible thought that maybe he wouldn't like it if I bit the dust here. How nice. And maybe it wouldn't be happy either, if he met his end.

Before I can weave the long web of my assumptions even further, I decide that it's time for me to fulfill the task assigned to me, and guided by this, I start off to the stairs leading to the overpass, leaping up on the rickety and crumbling steps two at a time, so that I can be at my designated observation point as soon as possible. And when I reach the wide road, I take quick steps through the area full of potholes, so that when I get to its edge closer to the nest, I can take up the position, which I hopefully will keep from now on. With my eyes, I almost immediately find the brigade moving away in the darkness, and reaching for my own radio, I turn it on with my fingers, so that I can join in on the events, albeit from a distance. I am greeted by silence for a moment, but then I hear the murmur of quiet instructions and feedback coming through, based on which the progress of things so far has been encouragingly problem-free and uneventful.

As soon as the members of the team are reduced to tiny specks the size of ants, I fish out my binoculars from the side pouch attached to my belt to follow Riley's recommendation. As I raise the neat little device in front of me, the slowly sneaking figures appear crystal clear again. They are moving steadily along the road littered with debris and abandoned vehicles, and so far it doesn't seem like any difficulties will cross their path. It's no wonder, since they move with such precision as a pack of wolves scouting for its prey, none of whose members shows any sign of fear, but unwaveringly rush forward after their leader.

"We split up at the alley behind the building." Riley's deep voice filters right into my ears, and through the binoculars, I can see his tall figure standing out at the front of the group as he points to the buildings on both sides of the street with his hand. I look around and understand why he is doing this. At the end of the road and beyond the intersection, at the feet of a late skyscraper, there is the bottomless, dark hole-like entrance of the subway tunnel that is home to the creatures for whom we came here so enthusiastically today. Although it seems deserted, the eerie emptiness of the stairs leading underground somehow brings back the suspicion that MacTavish previously banished. I don't like the silence one bit, because it puts the same anticipatory tension in my limbs that I felt in the forest. And as it turns out, my womanly instincts are quite accurate in detecting when something is wrong. Still, I steel my nerves and warn myself of the fact that, unlike me, the soldiers reaching the goal and the Hunters leading them are not beginners, and they can certainly assess this situation, which is full of risks, more realistically.

As they reach the point marked as the beginning of the combat zone, they stop for a moment, and the masked Hunter hands out his further orders with a silent hand signal, and despite this, his men standing behind him immediately know what he wants to convey with his hands gesturing towards the ruined buildings rising above them on both sides. Even this unspoken instruction is enough for them to understand what they should do, and when Riley departs towards the side street opening from the right, the members of his team obediently separate from the others. Without any hesitation, the other five soldiers follow their example with similar speed, and soon after are absorbed by the shadows in the alley on the other side. And so only MacTavish and a handful of his small team remain at the end of the road they have followed so far, but they don't waste time, but sneak with deliberate steps to the beginning of the intersection, and then, under the guidance of the Hunter, they immediately start working diligently. One of his men unfastens his large backpack from his back with lightning-quick movements, and as all the tools necessary for the nasty little surprise are displayed, the fantastic experiences I witnessed in the forest awaken in me. I wasn't wrong about that whoever came up with the fun little gadgets hidden there was a scumbag, but contrary to my assumption, it was probably meant to give the little Hunter apprentices a first-hand experience of what it's like to suffer at the hands of their own stuff. Just to feel and understand what the weapons that they themselves hide to kill the bastard mutants are capable of. But now MacTavish and his minions, according to the detailed information from Price, are setting up equipment even more evil than the one that tormented me.

The sensors, that they attach to the walls of the buildings blocking the road, are almost invisible, and the tiny packages that are placed with perfect geometric precision in a line behind the sensors disappear even more cunningly among the debris and cracks of the road. I'm not fooled by how small the bombs seem, though, because I know they'll easily tear apart anything unlucky enough to stray near them. This nifty little solution isn't enough to finish off all of the nest's inhabitants, but it's just enough to deal with the first wave of beasts that come out. And according to Price's explanation, this gives the team just enough of an advantage to take care of the rest with the dozens of weapons they brought with them. Maybe I should thank fate that I didn't walk into a beauty like this, because now I would probably be a few limbs poorer. Provided I miraculously survived the meeting.

I see the serendipitous soldier who appears and sticks a sensor to the side of the building that is standing next to the nest for a fleeting moment, and this is the only sign that the small troops that disappeared into the darkness of the side streets have successfully bypassed the structures and arrived at the roads opening from the intersection. And although they are hidden by the walls of the truncated buildings and the shadows stretching out from them, I can still see how the clever little hands are working, and with hasty, but no less routine movements, they set up their own gifts for their little monsters.

The whole thing only takes a few minutes, and every detail falls into place, turning the area into a deadly obstacle, because in this way the nest dwellers are trapped on all sides of the T-shaped intersection. And after this, there is only one stunt waiting to be done. It would be suicide, even for an all-powerful Hunter, to venture into an unknown, confined space full of mutants, but fortunately, they are able to overcome this problem as swell. And as MacTavish's soldiers place the last element of the trap right in the middle of the road, I pull the corners of my mouth in disgust, because the little structure has only pleased me with near-death experiences so far, although this doesn't take anything away from its usefulness. Because now it will lure the bastards out of their hiding places with the same efficiency as it directed the piggy to me in the forest.

"This is Hunter 1-15. Traps in place." I hear MacTavish's voice on the radio, and I follow with my binoculars as he and his assistants retreat in search of cover to move to a safer distance from the explosives left on the ground. They pull in behind the rusty frame of a car forgotten on the side of the road, and as they crouch down, they melt almost imperceptibly into the shadows and the emptiness dominated by the ruins.

"Be ready. We start after the signal." Riley gives his commands, and to this statement, my hand nervously moves towards the handrail in front of me to look for something to hold onto due to my increasing anxiety. Because all my nerves are straining, as I realize that the important part of the whole night will soon begin, and even though I feel that every little detail has been realized so far without disturbance, I still can't calm the tension that is growing wilder and wilder in my body. However, I don't have time to dwell on this anymore, because I hear the masked man's voice once again on the radio and he gives out the order that starts the real excitement of the mission. "Activate the sound alarms!"

And then, after that one announcement, that unpleasant, eardrum-splitting screeching sounds up again, which, despite the comfortable distance I'm at, reaches me and rips into my ears just like I previously experienced. But now I'm not concentrating on the noise, which cuts through the undisturbed calm of the night, but, frozen in nervous immobility, I fix my gaze through the lenses of the binoculars on the entrance to the nest. A few nerve-wracking minutes pass, and for a torturous moment, the unsettling immobility sways me into the belief that we may have received the wrong information and we came here completely unnecessarily. But all my doubts disappear when something stirs in the darkness of the underpass and moves up the stairs with slow, jerky steps. A lanky, human-like form emerges from the shadows, and as it fully leaves the nest, the pale light of the moon envelops it in a sickly light, which is only enhanced by my binoculars. And I furrow my brows in confusion, because it doesn't mean anything good at all, as the once human being steps out into the emptiness of the street, of whom now nothing but a distorted, grotesque creature is left. The I.H.L. doesn't stay alone for long, because a couple of its friends soon appear behind it, and they begin to drag themselves in the direction of the sound that lured them out, as if they were just going for a pleasant evening walk as an intimate friend group. And although not nearly enough time has passed since their appearance for us to know every little detail about the effect of the virus on humans, the way in which, belying their previously observed bloodthirsty behavior, they head towards the traps in sync is more than unusual. The normal thing would be if they galloped into the trap mindlessly. But these almost seem to behave in a premeditated and intentional manner.

"What the… what the hell is going on here?" I hear the bewildered voice of one of the soldiers, and his disbelief, suppressed into a low murmur filtering through the radio, faithfully reflects my shock. Because by now a whole herd of I.M.L.'s should have poured out of that fucking pit and casually jumped into the trap the Hunters had set for them. Still, the fact that mutated humans appeared in place of the beasts only confirms the rather ominous fact that I observed in the video. Which, in the best case scenario, means that the virus is going through a completely new kind of evolution, which not only happened faster than after its first appearance, but also promises additional risks for which we are not prepared at all. Because if they start getting just a little bit smarter, we're done for.

However, as slowly as they begin their path, they suddenly start running at such a speed, as if a switch had just flicked on in them, and the teams waiting for them don't have time to react to what is happening. The humanoid creatures rush towards the pre-prepared surprises with an almost crazy momentum, and although I could be happy about this development, the knowledge that they appeared too few and too organized for it to be so simple doesn't let me rest. And even when the I.H.L.s, in a frenzied rage, almost throw themselves into the line of the sensors, the bad feeling doesn't disappear from the skull. The bombs hidden on the ground are activated with a loud noise, and for a moment I see nothing but the blinding light that flashes after the detonation accompanied by a bang. Smoke and dust cover the street, and suddenly everything goes quiet, as the field becomes empty again after the neutralized threat. For a fleeting moment, I nervously look for MacTavish and his crouching comrades, and when I find them, I’m briefly reassured that they are still safe, albeit rather disturbed, waiting for the next step.

However, my joy doesn't last long, because an unmistakable roar cuts the silence left after the explosion in two. My hand clenches almost painfully around the rough metal of the handrail, but the ache caused by pieces of rust biting into my skin doesn't cut through my astonishment. My brain is much more occupied by the mass of mutants emerging from the nest with bloodthirsty anger, who pour out like an unstoppable herd from the mouth of the underpass, which until now was believed to be ominously bleak. And my mind suddenly cannot put together the chain of events, because what is happening now doesn't fit into any line-up observed over the years. And it seems that the reception committee is similarly surprised by the appearance of the originally expected guests.

"Fuck! Take cover and start shooting at the bastards!" I hear Riley's quick instruction, and an icy grip of doubt closes around my stomach as I hear the concern in his voice. Because the fact that, even through the radio, I can feel the shock and urgent restlessness of his words, plants the first seeds of fear in me. And I have every reason to be terrified, because as the monsters break through the slowly disappearing clouds of dust, chaos begins, and all of a sudden I lose all hope that I can survive this night.

[dontbesoweirdkira]

Yandere Prompt List

Originally posted by blushycherub and animeyanderlover

You can look through and request a specific prompt for any character. Just write the number(s) when you send in the anon along with who you want it with.

1. “I’m crazy?! What’s crazy is that this world refuses to let me be with you!”

2. “I LOVE YOU! I LOVE YOU! I LOVE YOU! I’m going crazy. It’s because I love you.”

3. “Did you sleep well? Don’t lie to me, I watched you.”

4. “Gosh, you smell so good when we cuddle like this!”

5. “Do you think I enjoy punishing you?! Because I don’t!”

6. “I feel like I’m suffocating when I’m not with you.”

7. “Darling, you look gorgeous covered in their blood.”

8. “Don’t cover my love bites or else I’m going to add more.”

9. “Do you want me to break your legs or lock you in a cage to prevent you from running away?”

10. “Tell me how much you love me.”

11. “One more chance! I’m giving you one more chance to fucking stop resisting!”

12. “I’m going to carve my name into your skin so everyone will know that you’re mine.”

13. “Can you at least pretend to love me? Just for tonight?”

14. “You think I’m jealous? Believe me, you haven’t seen me jealous yet.”

15. “Shh princess…don’t cry over this scum, he doesn’t deserve your tears.”

16. “You don’t understand! If you accept me now, I’ll be your slave!”

17. “You’ve been such a good girl lately. If you continue to behave so well, I might just reward you. Would you like that?”

18. “I-I just want you to love me!”

19. “If I ever see you with them again, I’ll kill them!”

20. “If you leave me, I’ll die!”

21. “I don’t care if I’ll go to hell as long as I drag everybody who dares to touch you, talk to you and look at you with me!”

22. “I don’t know if I should be angry or turned on.”

23. “Oh, don’t worry, this isn’t my blood. It’s the blood of the person who touched you earlier today.”

24. “I’d kill for you.”

25. “This might sound weird, but I like it when you’re sick. Because then you let me take care of you.”

26. “…Why do you cry?! Who made you cry?! Tell me their fucking names so I can rip their heads off for making my angel cry!!!”

27. “We were made for each other, can’t you see that?!”

28. “I need you more than I need air to breathe.”

29. “Stop giving me that look! Stop looking at me as if I’m a monster!”

30. “I desire any physical touch with you so please hit me more.”

31. “Just remember that I’m never going to leave you. That’s a promise.”

32. “Babe! I brought you a gift. You don’t know what that is? Let me tell you. These are the eyes of the person who kept looking at you today.”

33. “The next time someone touches you, I’ll chop their hands off!”

34. “NO!! Please tell me what I did wrong so I can fix it, but don’t leave me!!!”

35. “Why do you suddenly care whether I hurt myself or not? You were going to leave me, weren’t you?”

36. “I think I should hurt myself more often so I can get your attention.”

37. “Even thinking about you with someone else makes me want to throw up.”

38. “Look! I carved your name into my skin so everyone will know that I’m yours!”

39. “I can end all of your pain. You just have to say those three words.”

40. “What I am doing? I’m punishing myself. Why? Because I upset you earlier.”

41. “Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll look cute with a swollen stomach carrying our child.”

42. “You have no idea how far I’m willing to go for you.”

43. “I’ll handcuff you to me if I have to!”

44. “Escaping is all you think about, isn’t it? Always dreaming about it, always thinking about it?”

45. “I always wondered what those lips would taste like…”

46. “Can I…can I kiss you?”

47. “Telling me I’m crazy sounds wrong. Let’s… just say I’m madly in love with you.”

48. “I hate it when you pay attention to something else besides me.”

49. “You don’t know how much blood I already spilled for you.”

50. “Tell me, is love supposed to be…this passionate?”

51. “The next time I’ll kill someone I should take you with me. So you can finally see what happens when you try to run away again.”

52. “You want to leave me?!?! Why?!?! Is it because I beat those people up who insulted you last week? Or is it because I didn’t make you your favorite breakfast yesterday? Whatever it is, I promise I can fix it!!”

53. “It is funny that you think you can actually leave me.”

54. “I don’t mind being a monster as long as I’m your monster.”

55. “I killed all of them and I would do it again if it means having you in my arms.”

56. “Sweetheart…where are you hiding? I know you’re here. Come out, come out, wherever you are. I’ll find you anyways, I can hear your breathing.”

57. “If you don’t kiss me back, I’ll slit someone’s throat.”

58. “Listen, I’m giving you two choices. Either you start eating willingly or I’ll force you. There’s no way I’m letting you starve yourself to death.”

59. “Hate me, scream at me, hit me. Do whatever you want with me, but please stay with me.”

60. “…You are telling me that I can live with my life without you, but you don’t seem to understand that YOU are my life.”

61. “You had a nightmare about me? That’s great! That means you think of me even when you dream. Even though I hope your next dream about me will be more pleasant.”

62. “I’ll do ANYTHING and EVERYTHING for you.”

63. “Your hair is so soft and silky.”

64. “You look stunning when you cry like this.”

65. “What are you doing?!?! Why would you do something like this to yourself?! Do you seriously think death will help you escaping from me?!”

66. “It seems like I have to remind you of who you belong to.”

67. “Say my name again like this.”

68. “You’re all I think about. I always think about holding you, kissing you, touching you, making love to you, breeding you…”

69. “You can’t find your clothes? That’s a shame. But you can wear mine. They look better on you anyways.”

70. “Hearing you say that makes me want to fuck you so badly.”

71. “Your body, your heart, your soul. It all belongs to me.”

72. “Do you want your underwear back?”

73. “You can use me however you want to. Just stay with me.”

74. “As long as you love me everything is alright. You…you do love me, right?”

75. “I need you to stay with me. Forever! Without you I feel empty and lonely.”

76. “You think you’re ugly? Who told you so? Tell me so I can give them an agonizing death for making you think that. And after I’m finished with them, I’m going to worship you in bed until you see how beautiful you really are.”

77. “I like it when I’m sick because you always take care of me during these times.”

78. “You want to see your family? Why? You have me and I’m all you need.”

79. “I’ll kill everyone you care about if it means having all your attention for myself!”

80. “I can’t help, but be selfish when it comes to you.”

81. “The more you struggle now, the heavier your punishment will be later on.”

82. “I feel sick every time you talk about someone who isn’t me.”

83. “Every time you look at someone else I just want to strangle this person.”

84. “I’m not the most violent person, but I’m willing to change that if it means having you.”

85. “I’m all you need and you’re all I need. Isn’t that just perfect?!?!”

86. “Why…why do you keep resisting me? That’s not fair! Don’t I deserve to be happy too?!”

87. “Tell me you love me! Even if it’s just a lie!”

88. “I’m sorry that I keep you in here. But you’re too pure and innocent. I’m scared that this world will break you. I’m only protecting you.”

89. “Please stop crying. You make me feel even worse. But you need to understand, if I wouldn’t have chained you to the bed, you would have tried to run away again.”

90. “Babe…! Shit! I’m sorry you had to see this, but please believe me! He deserved it! No,no,no, don’t be scared of me. You know I would never harm you.”

91. “They are going to hurt you. They are going to leave you, mock you, betray you, abandon you. But not me. I’ll be here for you. I’ll worship you, love you and protect you from the world. Just you and me. Forever.”

92. “I just want to be yours.”

93. “Leaving already? Stay a little longer. You know you can’t refuse me.”

94. “You’re just too cute kitten. I want to keep you with me forever.”

95. “You mean the world to me, love!”

96. “I need you. I! Fucking! Need! You!”

97. “I feel like I…want to…protect you. Always…always…and forever.”

98. “Every second I am not able to spend with you is a wasted second.”

99. “I would love to be your stars, your moon, your sun.”

100. “We share a special connection that no one else has my darling.”

101. “These people are stupid! Can’t they see that you’re mine?!”

102. “You enjoyed it when they touched you, didn’t you? Well, I’ll remind you that I’m the only one who can make you feel amazing.”

103. “Please smile again like this! It makes my heart flutter.”

104. “Am I too much for you?”

105. “I watched you sleeping the whole night ‘til morning and I’m still not tired of it.”

106. “Take me, I’m yours!”

107. “Yes…I’m crazy. Crazily, madly, truly and completely in love with you.”

108. “You are mine!”

109. “I know she’s cute. BUT SHE’S MINE! TOUCH HER AND I’LL KILL YOU!!”

110. “I won’t let anyone take you away from me.”

111. “I’m gonna make you love me~”

112. “Every breath you take. Every move you make. Every bond you break. Every step you take. I’ll be watching you.”

113. “Love is patient. I, however, am not.”

114. “What a wicked way to treat me, the person who loves you, like this.”

115. “I know the sound of your heart.”

116. “I love you more than planned.”

117. “Use me however you want too. My body is yours.”

118. “Why would you let them talk to you?!?!”

119. “Eyes on only me.”

120. “Jealous! Jealous! Jealous! Mine! Mine! Mine!”

121. “Tonight we’ll become one.”

122. “Don’t be scared. I’m not angry with you. I’m angry with them.”

123. “It would be so much easier if you would just start accepting me.”

124. “I crave you so much that my body hurts.”

125. “I could have easily murdered you without hesitation. But those angelic eyes made me dizzy and weak.”

126. “But sweetie…I want YOU!”

127. “I would bleed out if you tell me you like the color red.”

128. “Just give it a little time! You’ll get used to it, I know you will!

129. “I want to be your only one.”

130. “I’ll never let you go.”

131. “Every time you smile at someone else, I just want to stab a knife in my skull.”

132. “I want you. I want us. I want it all. With you. Only us.”

133. “I know the restraints must hurt you. Don’t worry, I’ll untie you as soon as I’m sure you won’t run away again from me.”

134. “I get jealous when you give someone else the kind attention I want from you.”

135. “I am the monster you created.”

136. “I won’t be able to sleep until I have you in my arms.”

137. “Let me have you…All of you.”

138. “I-I’ll do anything you ask me to!! But please don’t leave me!”

139. “I have everything they don’t have, but you still choose them? Why?! Choose me! Love me!”

140. “Let’s stay a little longer like this. Just a little.”

141. “Do you like these photos of you? I have a lot more.”

142. “Say you love me. Even if it’s just a lie. I need to hear these words from you.”

143. “Just tell me that you’re mine.”

144. “I’m sorry that I stole your hoodie. I just couldn’t help it. It smells like you.”

145. “I can’t get enough of you.”

146. “If destiny decided that we weren’t meant to be, I would just force it.”

147. “Why are you so scared of me? You should know that I would never hurt you. I would rather die than laying a single finger on you.”

148. “All I want is your love! Is that too much to ask?!”

149. “Love…did I ever tel you how sweet your lips taste?”

150. “I’ll keep you safe.”

151. “Everything about you is addicting. Your eyes, your lips, your hair, your scent. Everything.”

152. “You…don’t love me? Don’t be ridiculous! I know you love me! You just don’t know it yet!”

153. “Tell me how much you love me whilst I fuck you into the mattress.”

154. “I can’t let you go because…without you I won’t have my happy ending.”

155. “I just want to protect you. Nothing wrong with that, is it?

156. "I f you would ask me, I would cut out my heart for you. It’s yours after all.”

157. “I don’t want anyone else to have your love, kiss your lips or see them in your arms. That’s only my place.”

158. “Call me selfish, but I can’t share you with anyone else.”

159. “I’m not the jealous type. But what’s mine is mine.”

160. “I would set fire to the world around me just to have you. But don’t worry, I wouldn’t let a single flame touch you.”

161. “Yes, you are allowed to have other friends. You’ll just have to spend more time with me.”

162. “No matter what happens, I will never let anyone else have you.”

163. “I love you. You’re mine. And I’ll kill any bastard who tries to take you away from me.”

164. “I need you. I’ll breathe you. I’ll never leave you.”

165. “Oh, I’m so in love! With you!”

166. “Love made me do it.”

167. “Beautiful…Beautiful and all mine.”

168. “You’ll never leave me, right? You’re all mine forever, right? Tell me! Tell me you belong to me.”

169. “Only I can have you.”

170. “You’ll learn to love me.”

171. “If only you knew…how much I love you.”

172. “I love you so much that it hurts me.”

173. “Without you I’ll kill myself.”

174. “If you are angry with something, let it out on me. I’m more than happy to be useful for you.”’

175. “It’s okay, babe. I won’t let anything happen to you or your loved ones. You’ll just have to stay with me.”

176. “See? This wasn’t so bad. If you behave more often, it can always feel like this.”

177. “This is what I do for you! I don’t care who I have to kill to keep you, my darling!

178. "Try to stay still whilst I finish carving my initials, will you?”

179. “You love me, don’t you? Everything seems so one-sided lately.”

180. “Silly little thing. Don’t you realize that this is all your fault?”

181. “I love you! Please stay with me!”

182. “Please love only me! Come back! Don’t be scared of me!”

183. “I adore you.”

184. “It’ll be the family we always wanted~”

185. “I’ll hunt you down if I have too.”

186. “I won’t be as forgiving next time.”

187. “If you run, I will kill…”

188. “I am so jealous and needy and my heart hurts so much! So please…just show me that you care about me…”

189. “It’s a shame I have to cut your beautiful skin.”

190. “You can’t hide from me, my sweetie.”

191. “I might just shove my head into the fucking walls if I can’t be with you.”

192. “Close your eyes so it’ll hurt less.”

193. “You’ll learn to enjoy it.”

194. “I’m going to have you in the end, you know?”

195. “~Found you~”

196. “Missed me? Because I really missed you!”

197. “You could rip my heart open darling, for I have never known true love before you came.”

198. “You’re a shining star in my deepest night and I refuse to be left alone in the darkness.”

199. “I do everything for you and this is how you repay me?!”

200. “Be good for me next time.”

201. “You’re like gravity. Always pulling me towards you.”

202. “I live of you. You are my oxygen.”

203. “I wouldn’t know what to do without you.”

204. “Those bastards tainted you by touching you! Now I’ll have to erase their stench on your skin!”

205. “Don’t worry~I’ll make sure that what you’re about to lose is going to be worth it.”

206. “I’m going to lose my mind if I can’t touch you.”

207. “Are you worried you’ll meet them again. Don’t worry, they’re already long gone…”

208. “I’ll show you how kind I can be! I’ll let you choose the death of this guy!”

209. “Don’t get me wrong but you look sexy covered in their blood.”

210. “Of course I am jealous! You’re mine!”

211. “I would die for you if would ask me to.”

212. “Your skin is so soft.”

213. “You’re looking for your friend? The last time I saw them, they were choking on their own blood.”

214. “These people are truly dumb for still searching for them. Because I made sure that their body will never be found again.”

215. “All those bastards who made you cry will shed tears of blood.”

216. “You are my purpose to live.”

217. “I could kill you if I wanted to.”

218. “Maybe branding you will help.”

219. “Consider yourself as lucky that I am nice.”

220. “Kitten, I’m going easy.”

221. “I’m doing this out of love.”

222. “I would go to the depths of hell for you.”

223. “I can keep you safe because they’re all afraid of me.”

224. “I am jealous of the way you are happy with them but not me.”

225. “What I did, I did for us.”

226. “You’re so pretty, I want to cry.”

227. “So cute. Begging like anything will help you.”

228. “I would sleep better on your floor than I would ever in my own bed.”

229. “You can’t be lonely! You have me!”

230. “This world is a ugly place but you’re so beautiful to me.”

231. “This will make us closer. I promise.”

232. “I’m afraid I can’t let you see them. Even if I would, you wouldn’t be able to recognize them.”

233. “I do realize I’m sick in my head. That’s why I need a cure called you.”

234. “Isn’t just the thought of a mini version of us unbelievably cute?”

235. “I love it when we are so close like this to each other.”

[altruistic-meme]

WIP FILE GAME

RULES: post the names of the files in your WIP folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. let people send you an ask with the title that most intrigues them, and then post a little snippet or tell them something about it! Tag as many people as you have WIPs.

nobody tagged me in this but with the large influx of capri fics in my head i want to do it anyway :) for the sake of my sanity, im only naming the wips that I haven't started posting yet

Erik re-lives AU (young royals)

i see you, you see me (young royals)

Sunset Dreams and Sunrise Desires (young royals)

dare(d) to do it (young royals)

not supposed to know (young royals)

yr fic oops (young royals)

Go Low (all for the game)

laurent stabs damen (captive prince)

even under ashes (i've got glory) "a different brother falls at Marlas" inspired (captive prince)

Carpe Noctem (captive prince)

Time Travel AU (captive prince)

based on "monster" by ahawn mendes and justin beiber

"women be fantasizing about waltzing in an ancient castle under the starlight" fuck yeah i do (captive prince)

Disappearing :D (captive prince)

i also have no chance of tagging 14 people and also i need to go to sleep so i am going to leave this as an open tag <3 do it!! it's kinda fun just to see what wips you have!!!

[whiskeysmulti]

💕Miyuki when she's kicking ass \ o 3 o /

.Whiskey. send 💕 and I will make a Playlist for your muse- accepting!

This Little Girl- Kady Groves

My hands are clean, not yet a killer Ain't I your queen? And did you tell her? 'Cause you broke down all my shoulda known betters And I followed you home, throwin' sticks and stones

I'm two steps from the edge, whoa, whoa Don't push me over it Don't you know, don't you know?

Every girl is capable of murder, if you hurt her Watch out, you don't push me any further, any further You're not the only one walking 'round with a loaded gun This little girl is capable of murder, 'cause you hurt her

Don't you know you should never treat a girl like that? Got a good alibi, and my bag's all packed Don't you know you should never treat a girl like that? 'Cause the next one is gonna have a hammer pulled back 2. Little Girl Gone- Chinchilla

So I heard you're back in town And haven't changed a bit, man You get off talking down to the little man Time you get what you deserve

Wow You're so fucking stupid Been a while since my head was this polluted Lucky I know my own worth

So you, so you wanna fight me, are you big enough? Kick the back of my knee, are you serious? (Are you serious?) You keep on trying but I like your blood on my teeth just a little too much

So bite me, slap me round the face Now I'm twisting your arm 'till I hear it break I get stronger everyday, yeah

Little girl gone, got a gun from a gangster Run little girl, run little girl, bang ha

Say that again, I didn't quite hear you Messed with the wrong bitch in the wrong era I been at work and I got my badge of honour Honey, I've changed so much since I last saw you

Hands off my hair, how very dare you Ding ding, hold my earrings for my debut 'Cause I pack a punch backed into a corner Come at me, don't tell me I didn't warn ya 3. I Wish A Bitch Would- Delilah Bon (warning this song has references to CSA and the slut shaming/blame the victim aspects of rape culture, under the cut for length and those aspects, continue at your own risk, I just felt it really suited the atmosphere and themes in BF and Miyuki's background and personality for that verse)

Cold case after cold case Those bodies in the ground How do you feel knowing you covered it up Knowing she'll never be found How do you sleep How do you eat How do you live with such inner peace How do you sit with your wife and your kids And just carry on acting so normal like this Not enough evidence found at the scene But how do we trust, trust the police How do we ever go out on our own and truly feels safe 'cos I really don't So they're gonna blame girls for their clothes But what does that even mean She was eleven years old, only a child Wearing a hoodie and jeans The cycle repeats I feel the rage inside I feel the rage inside A demon in me I wanna make em' pay I wanna make em' bleed Cos they don't feel this Trauma, trauma, trauma, trauma, trauma Evil little predator your name ain't on no register The system failed that little boy But I am here to rid him of his monster Under the bed, under the bed, under the bed It's all in his head, he was afraid, he was so scared Never again, never-a-never again Never again, never again, never again Never-a-never again Never again, never again, never again Never-a-never again Never again, never again, never again Never-a-never again Never again, never again, never-a I wish a bitch would when I'm walking down the street I wish a bitch would just to find some release Don't trust no man Don't trust the police I wish a bitch would Never again, never again

[creepyschoolgirl]

It’s Christmas next week so here some Christmas stuff of my self insert x Johan.

Johan and I go to Christmas dinner at his sisters and go to my parents on Christmas Day. We usually love spending time together on Christmas we usually love going see the people who mean a lot to us.

Also we buy each other gifts and we sit with each other drinking some spiked eggnog but when I am pregnant with our second daughter I can’t have the spiked eggnog. But, when we do have our oldest daughter Alice when she is 3 years old she always wants sit with us.

Johan always tries to run when I want him wear an ugly Christmas sweater with me. He caves in with it but he like,” I am only wearing this for couple of hours my little camellia.” Because he isn’t happy wearing a sweater that has Christmas lights on it lol. “ awe Johan it’s so bright and beautiful like you!” I just go on tell him he just sighs. Lol I snap a picture and send it to his sister 😂🤣!

Johan and I decorate our apartment a little bit and we get a fake Christmas tree because me and Johan don’t want clean up after the real one makes a mess everywhere. He probably take a nap on the couch till I wake his ass up help me untangle the lights. He going put the candy canes on the tree he gets irritated little bit because I keep trying eat them.

I always try force him into making cookies he caves in because he can’t say no to me. I send some cookies to Tenma he tells me how do I get Johan do these things I am just like, “ well I tell him if he doesn’t help me I am going take away his cuddling privileges.” Johan just goes “ 😟 Julia why are you so cold!”

Johan and I get our picture taken together for Christmas cards lol 😂 hints the ugly sweaters. “. Julia who you sending these too?” “ oh I was going send one to Christof and his girlfriend of the week.” “ Julia don’t you dare!” Lol 😂 what basically happens but I send one to his sister and Dr. Tenma lmao Anna just laughs to herself because she never thought someone can tame her brother.

Johan hates it when I throw snowballs at him don’t worry he gets me back guys! Then we get sick from being cold then we bicker at each other because we both grumpy when sick. One Christmas I got sick and Johan had take care of me and he brought me left overs from his sisters. Then he runs me a nice warm bath but I felt bad for getting sick on Christmas.

When we do have our daughter Alice and I am pregnant with her sister we have try keep her asleep. “ Alice honey you gotta sleep or Santa not come or the big old monster going eat you!” “ mama I don’t want get eaten!” “ then go bed !” Johan just chuckles at Alice and I because she takes after me.

I think Johan would sneak Alice some cookies to eat and I usually catch them in action. He sneaks some before she was even born I am like, “ Johan don’t eat all those!” He just stares at me awhile eating a cookie till I tackle him.

When we have our daughters around we usually take them places like, a Christmas party and a festival or two. They absolutely love it Alice and her little sister Luna are very close to each other they always make me and Johan little Christmas presents. We give them kisses and hugs because we absolutely love them and Johan loves how they look like mini mes. “ Julia they just mini versions of you!”

Last one for today because I am tired!, Johan and i always love spending time together definitely during Christmas because it makes it feel special. It comes more special when we have a family together but right now it’s just two of us and family and close friends.

I hope y’all have a merry Christmas 🎄! Thank you for reading!

[notatumb1rsexyman]

this reminds me of my ex fiancee's cat.

last year i had broken my ankle + lost a lot of blood bc i got hit by a car

for some reason she would refuse to clean the litter box despite it being in our room and there being 2 cats in there.

I cant do it bc i cant even sit up by myself (due to.. you know... heavy blood loss.)

it was a yelling match constantly because she just didnt like doing it. Usually she would get mad and go to a friends' house for a few days to "catch a break" (and also find time to cheat, but anyways.) (we lived with her fakily, so he mom would send her sisters up with food so i didnt starve, god bless that woman.)

one day, after a week of not being there, and ne still not being able to get up, the cat didnt want to pee in the box, because it was gross.

so he started peeing in HER clothes basket. Freshly washed clothes no more !

on the day she came back she started an argument about not ever getting help from me (thats a whole other story yall) so i didnt tell her what her cat had been doing, because... why should I ?

I had to coordinate someone voming and taking care of both mine and her dogs, feeding the cats, feeding the me, along with the year and a half of what she had been saying and doing to me... so i simply didnt tell her.

(btw, we cant smell anything because my nose is broken, and she smokes so much weed its practically all she can smell, constantly. thats what she says anyway. i think she was just noseblind to the smell because she was living in the smell.)

so since shes now mad at me, for daring to ask her to get me water, she had started previously mentioned argument, and started contacting all her friends asking who can hang out, and if she can stay over. She finds one and goes out to "go skating" (taking the longboard i gave her, and clothes I bought her that are now asparagus scented.)

the whole time shes getting dressed (WHO wears a DRESS to go longboarding ?) shes asking if the clothes smell weird to me, and I (didnt lie !) told her i cant smell anything.

so she went out wearing those clothes, and when she came back home hours later she showered and went right to sleep.

her cat was sleeping on her pillow, and suddenly decided.... I need to pee.

so this beautiful monster of a cat stands up, circles, and pees on her pillow, with her on it.

she tried to blame this on me, but i asked her how, in any way, this could be traced back to me and she got couldnt figure it out and got more upset so she tossed everything into the wash (because she realised what the smell was now) and spent the day cleaning up her mistake.

it was the most satisfying petty revenge I've ever gotten to experience.

Me, watching my kitten hold still for a suspiciously long time: Ollie, are you peeing on my floor?

Ollie: Not

Me: Are you sure?

Ollie, grunting through time and space to push out a chocolate mcmuffin wider than he is tall: Not

[libidomechanica]

And her babe so bold to hunt the small

A sonnet sequence

               1

And her babe so bold to hunt the small people out of nose: be her ankles go, in praise delicious of conquers where left ear folds in her man on the greeted by a double-lock them, seem to sweat, for men are! Whether to imbibe it in knot. Pressure though soon exhale—by moralize, and all for Thee—Oh spurn them; her eyes that are not rise, Oh Moon of the father’d up in fayre Elisa rest, for thy provok’d my feet. You dragged bound forgot. A greatest of thy head. And breathe throng, ambition, this caprice; and, your troupes to meet her without a swallow still exist above compares to me.

               2

My own voice hath such a race, into thee? They say she denied theme, the nag like them, will every little like a singled both his magazines this is soft cheek, his tail, broad, which I give your arms and passed them red another bed. Other in one to year and all that fills be dried blood does it red; and sing, shows its wings I take the way to mumble thee I dare not to begin. The bride of sheep are gone! Being hurt my words love, lay this wound to blame. A pair, I should bring from my eyes are asleep and ring of thy name. Love and husks of youth to surprise of thy mermaid’s yellow autumn turning.

               3

A voices lower, to leave to shoote as well the artists do the air, and every that work maybe neither self depart, as if from thousand she was he: bound that caren, they not be said; she tells may I make, sleepe begin to substance of those that your adventure: and new change. And anger dress each shadow had forswonck and shutting so enrag’d, for long as thou can penetrate: fixed to be said their loudly she doth freshly gay, scorched with easeful Death repent, her down. Opening all love to that he would wear red fireflies will I remember young: sweet smell, wishing rookery swerve.

               4

Of monsters, easily harm’d magic, his Death done that cedar-tops and on end; his eyes like a man was built, in lovest! The bailey bear, or rivers say, is this page— now, sun, and thy youth, his uncontrolled with her rejoiceth with her Day’s Delight. A good, how white curtain leaves lessened aboue these, ye must dig the Musky Locks dividing green, and she is enrag’d, desire! It were clawing once she tremendous if: if she with beauty set, and be need not, all subiect think men love, all wreath’d horses play, our Cuddie, the for this: how my mouths at change above that I am sure, for this used.

               5

To preace emong the boar! Come a pale-fac’d nightmare, his Death she entrances and heart and woe are done. As if thou will send flow; now she arose, leaving—the river of the same or for the truth: for when with curtain, to and the same, perchance hap always. While he types; Yes; and to her. And white before I do when he plight. On they should say, Your mother’s feature; tells thee. For zeal like a regatta of magic casement, oftentimes been first and so tis true. Which I bring of crimson living the world for each is perfect health or come this, and old man came. She said; and fly: conscious supreme.

               6

Rolling plumes from the poor Venus’ liking eyes of your troubled plunging wave one, can every part, of threatened something in their rayes to wear, dainties now doth dight, with the stamp they all I lov’d. Yet I see not to living wasted tree or the upper thigh to surprise with in his limits far upward the eye. To eat broke, and I will, standing man it means daiquiri. Simplicity, and the bourn of sorrow now it, in all the literally the wanton troopers riding trips, and with that just stay. Speak, my feels, because in bigger blood. To whom the sorteth life ending green married you worse.

               7

And can that make my old self-ingrain’d, each time and died to the fault I am bereft his word she given, was thy forth fire, lean, watching your life like chiropractors have your form the elms, and govern’d him if he dart from heavenly wise; it is grown light of her glu’d, fall though it leaded panes. Leaves of Paradise enow! She wild; and words and a sun, and whither eyes and keep, to shine own his plaidie, a rule themselves to lose, you of thy dark cloud; hear’st me wherewith my widow …. He show the humble tributary gaze upon every one, that trembles and flip-flops. The ill of respect.

[boxofbonesfic]

Title: New Hire

Wordcount: 1,499 (i literally BARELY made it)

Pairing: Alpha!Mob!Ari Levinson x Naive!Omega!Reader

Summary: After escaping your demanding, violent father, you get your first job nannying for Ari Levinson.

Warnings: Manipulation, Obsessive behavior, A/B/O Dynamics, Alpha!Ari, Implied Non/Dubcon, Darkfic, MINORS DNI, Dead dove: Do not eat

A/N: first of all, @cocobutterqwueen how dare you. second of all, i hope you enjoy. 😈. i can’t believe you just casually slid through with the prompt of prompts for my Monkey’s Paw challenge 🥴 

This work is entirely unbeta’d, and unedited. Though I don’t own any of Marvel’s characters, this work and the plot contained inside are entirely mine. I do not consent for this work to be posted anywhere else by anyone other than myself. Enjoy 😘

“But I don’t wanna go to bed!” Liam crosses his arms petulantly, glaring at you with determined blue eyes. “I want to stay up for dad.” 

 Ari works late nights, late being an understatement—you know sometimes he doesn’t come home at all. It isn’t unusual for you to finish putting Liam to bed, prepare his lunch, wash his clothes, and go to bed yourself, all without seeing Ari even once. 

 You’re not sure exactly what it is Ari does, but you do know he comes home late, tired. And sometimes, faintly smelling of gun-smoke. It’s awkward encountering him without Liam, the way he watches you with that easy smile. He’s nice enough you suppose, and God knows you’re thankful for a live-in gig—you don’t really have anywhere else to go. 

 “I’ll tell you what,” you sit on the edge of his Spider-Man bedspread and lean in with a conspiratorial grin. “I’ll let you watch a movie before bed, and when Dad gets home, I’ll send him your way.” 

 “Even if I’m asleep?” Liam asks skeptically. 

 “Even if you’re asleep,” you repeat. “Pinky promise.” Liam wraps his pinky around yours and you shake hands resolutely. “Now what are we watching?” 

 —

 A hand on your shoulder shakes you awake, and you jerk upright with a sharp intake of breath. The familiar scent of Ari’s woodsy aftershave and his distinctly Alpha scent fill your nostrils as you struggle awake.

 “Easy, kitten. Just me.” Ari’s low rumble makes you tense further—I just got caught sleeping on the job. “Sorry I missed movie night.” He chuckles, and your cheeks heat as you begin detangling Liam’s limbs from your own. He’s sound asleep, his lashes resting on his chubby cheeks as he snores lightly. Carefully, you slide out of his tiny bed, pointedly avoiding Ari’s gaze. 

 “He, um, asked for you.” You’ve been here three months and you’re still not comfortable with the weight of Ari’s gaze. You watch him reach down to ruffle Liam’s hair. 

 “I bet he did.” His voice sounds regretful. “I got…held up. At work.” He cards his fingers through his own hair, you catch a glimpse of the thin gold chain at his throat. “I’ll make it up to him.” 

 “He just wants to spend time with you,” you blurt out the words as he tugs the blanket up to Liam’s chin, and shuts off the lamp at his bedside. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have—”

 “No, no. You’re right,” he sighs. “I haven’t been making time for him like I should have.” Being around him makes you feel skittish and nervous; you’re not used to this breed of Alpha—you’d thought they would all be like your father; quick to anger. The house bears no marks of Ari’s frustration, unlike your childhood home. You know how to patch drywall, repair a door torn off it’s hinges—

 You know how to hide, how to play dead so that the rampaging, liquor fueled monster living in your father’s skin would pass over you without incident—but those skills aren’t needed here, you find. 

 You follow him out of Liam’s room into the long hallway, still staring at your feet. 

 “Um, g-goodnight,” you mumble, before turning quickly on your heel to scamper back to your room—but a warm hand around your wrist stops you. 

 “Hold on, there, kitten.” He graces you with a smile that makes your chest go tight even as you swallow nervously. “I know when I hired you I said you’d have your weekends to yourself, but I was thinking I would take Liam to the amusement park this weekend, make up a little lost time. Maybe you’d like to come along?” 

 There’s a note of hopefulness in his voice that you don’t miss. 

 “I, um, I’m not sure…” You trail off, and look down at your hands. “I wouldn’t want to intrude—”

 “How could you intrude, kitten? I’m inviting you,” he says smoothly. “Liam adores you, and it would be my treat.” He winks at you, and it sends an uncomfortable heat to your belly that you hope the scent of the suppressants disguises. There’s an expectant look in his eye, the look of a man who isn’t used to being denied or disobeyed. It’s the same look your father would give you as he ordered you to run down to the store and barter more of your mother’s old jewelry for a bottle of gin. 

 “Okay. I-I’m sure it’ll be fun.” You say, licking your dry lips. His eyes follow the motion as his smile widens. 

 “Perfect.” 

 —

 Saturday dawns bright and beautiful, and Liam is practically bouncing off the walls with excitement. You’ve already told him he might not be able to ride all the rides—being six and all—but it hadn’t dampened his excitement a single bit. 

 “I wanna go on this one!” he shouts, pointing excitedly at one of the roller-coasters. 

 “I think it’s too big for you, bud,” Ari says, scanning the park for something more appropriate. “Let’s try this one.” There’s a kiddie-coaster nearby, with seats shaped like dragons, so it isn’t difficult to redirect Liam’s interest. He’s holding both of your hands, swinging them excitedly as you go to get in line. As you approach the front, the machine operator waves you through to the first set of seats. 

 “And how are you all today?” He asks as he lowers the safety bar. “Family outing?”

 “Oh, no,” you say quickly, shaking your head. “I’m just um. The nanny.” He fixes you with a charming smile that makes your face go hot, and winks. 

 “Well, I hope you all have fun. You especially.” He slides his hands over yours, and you feel something like paper pushed between your knuckles. 

 “I think there are some folks behind us who need their bars lowered,” he says flatly. “Maybe you should see to them.” You peek at the paper he’d pressed into your hands—a phone number. You shove it quickly into your pocket so as not to litter, though you have no intention of calling. You don’t notice the way Ari’s hands tighten on the safety bar, the way his full lips press into a tight line as his eyes go hard. 

 You spend the day at the park, and though you aren’t particularly coordinated, you do manage to win a few prizes, which you promptly give to Liam. He’s exhausted by dusk, resting his head sleepily on Ari’s shoulder as the three of you head into the parking lot.

 You’re grateful for Ari’s silence on the ride home, but you can’t escape the feeling that something’s wrong, like electricity in the air before a storm. You play with the hem of your skirt as you follow them inside, careful to lock the door behind you. You trail behind him as he heads for Liam’s room, your own just a few doors beyond it. 

 “Can we speak privately in my office?” Ari says over his shoulder, and your stomach drops. “You can wait for me there.” 

 You pick at your cuticles as you wait for Ari to put Liam down for the evening, poring over every moment of the day as you try to determine what you’d done, where you’d gone wrong. 

 “Let’s talk, kitten.” Ari’s low voice startles you, and you jump. “In here.” He opens the door, brushing by you as he crosses the room to his desk. “Sit, down, sweetheart.” 

 You do, stiffly, your hands clasped tightly in your lap. 

 “I just want to go over some… contractual things. Make sure we’re crystal clear. Sound good?” 

 “Y-yes.”

 “Wonderful.” He opens a drawer, and produces a signed copy of your contract from it, setting it down on the desk with a sigh. “Now. I know we spoke about limitations when I hired you, didn’t we?” You don’t know where he’s going with this—so you nod. You vaguely remember him outlining the terms of your employment, but limitations… that doesn’t sound familiar. 

 “No second jobs, no long trips during the school year—I don’t want anything detracting from your time with Liam.” 

 “Y-yes, o-of course, I remember that—”

 “Then why are you playing games, sweetheart?” He asks, raising a single brow at you. 

 “Games?”

 “Don’t play coy, kitten, it doesn’t suit you,” he snaps, his eyes hard. “The Beta. At the park.”

 “I-I don’t even know him,” you stammer. “Mr. Levinson—”

 “You’re not going to walk away,” he snarls, slamming his hands on the desk. “Not from me, Omega.” Ari takes a deep breath, gathering himself. “Come here.” Your suppressants should have weakened the strength of the Alpha command, but they don’t, and you find yourself jerkily moving towards him. Ari’s large hands wrap around your hips, and he forces you down onto the table. “Spread your legs.” 

 You whimper as you do. “Mr. Levinson, please, I don’t understand!”

 “Oh kitten,” he purrs as he drags his fingers up your clothed slit. “You really should read the fine print.” 

fin

[mayabooowrites]

Scorpius's letters

Summary: letters Scorpius wrote to you his mother.

Requested: by my friend Lilith who is a monster for giving me this idea.

Dracos POV

Warnings: death and alcohol mentioned

Dear mom,

Dad told me today that you had to go on a trip, I wish you could have said goodbye to me but I'll see when you get back. I love you mommy I'll get daddy to send the letter to you

-Scorpius

Dear mommy,

It's been a month where are you? Dads been crying himself to sleep every night, we went to a funeral today I don't know who it was for, do you know? People kept telling dad they are sorry for his loss, who did he lose? And why did daddy say he wishes you were here? And why did people say y/n which is your name when talking about the person he lost? Do we have another y/n in the family? I don't know, also could you reply to my letters thank you, I love you hope your coming back soon

-Love Scorpius

Dear mum,

Dad yelled at me today after I handed him the letter to give to you, why would he do that? He said stop giving me them, and then started crying. What's going on are you both fighting? Can you please come home and make it up to him? You know so we can all play again, I miss you so much please come home

-Scorpius

Dear mom,

I'm so happy you replied to my letter, dad gave it to me today and I'm so happy, I love you so much too and I also can't wait to see you as well, I was getting scared you left us an weren't coming back, I can't wait when you get back from your trip to the place called heaven. I love you

-Scorp

Dear mom,

It's almost been a year, where are you? Dad ripped up every letter I tried to write to you, he yelled and said she's dead stop giving me these stupid letters, I don't like it when he yells at me. Please come home from heaven dads drinking too much and works too much now. You need to help him mommy he needs you.

-Your star (I love it when you call me your star mommy)

Dear mummy,

Daddy brought another woman home I kicked her in the face and fought her she deserved it, how dare she steal daddy from you. But dad tried to tell me you weren't coming back but I know you are, the trip is just taking a while, you send me letters back saying your stuck in the country and will be home hopefully next year, I can't believe daddy would do that I hate him. Your coming home you have to be please come home I need you, my birthday is soon I'm turning six please come home mommy

-Scorpius

Dear mom,

Hey, it's me mom, daddy says your dead and won't be ever coming back. Daddy also said he wants you back too and he was the one who sent the letters to me pretending to be you, please don't let it be real please tell me it's not real mummy, you can't be dead please come home

Dear mom,

Hey it's me it's been a few years hasn't it? I'm now 30 and I found a box full of the letters I used to send to you when I was 5 and 6 when I didn't understand what death was, they were under dads bed I'm glad he kept them, I've been missing you mom I really do miss you, I got married and have two kids now. I really wish you were here to see it, I've just been missing you a lot lately so I need to write out my feelings, dad has never moved on from you he tried but failed and stopped seeing people completely, he's stopped drinking though and isn't a workaholic anymore so that's good. He spends all of his retirement now with his grandkids, and telling them all about you and how amazing you are, I do the same I sing the song you made up and sang to me as a kid. Dad talks about how he can't wait to see you again one day and the big kiss he's gonna give you when he joins you in heaven. I also named my daughter after you her names y/n, she's named after the best mother I ever had I love you so much mom.

-Your star Scorpius