#about having the high priority cases and he never does after this (the only one after this he cares about working is It Was A Very Good Yea

[honeypiehotchner]

The Gambit (Hotch x Fem!Reader) -- part one

I'm backkk 👀 Reminder that y'all do NOT like each other (for now 🤭)

I did a lot of math to make sure I had my timeline in order but I won't bore y'all with all the numbers. Some basics, tho: we're somewhere in s5/6, Foyet doesn't exist here but Haley and Hotch are divorced and Jack lives with Haley, Reader is in her mid 30s and Hotch is in his mid 40s. That's all for now, happy reading! xxx

Chapter warnings: these two are at each other's throats! and a new case begins ofc

Your day started out perfectly.

You sorted more of your belongings into boxes for the movers. Everything will be shipped ahead so it arrives shortly after you do at your apartment in Virginia. You’re running ahead of schedule, so you even have time to stop for a good breakfast before heading into the office.

The day felt…too good to be true. And you quickly find out why. 

“The BAU?”

Your superior, Agent Reynolds, sits across from you and raises an eyebrow, assuming incorrectly that you haven’t heard of the branch. “The Behavioral Analy—”

“Yes, I know what the BAU is,” you cut him off, something he’s used to, waving your hand sharply. “Why the BAU?”

“You were requested,” he replies simply with a slight shrug.

“By who?”

“Agent Hotchner, as I’m told.”

That is the last name you ever expected him to say. 

“Hotch?” you echo incredulously. “You’re kidding.”

Reynolds sighs. “I’m really not.” You know deep down Reynolds will miss you, but he’ll also thank god every day that he doesn’t have to put up with your attitude anymore. 

“Huh.” You could laugh. You almost do. “Interesting.”

Your now ex-boss gives you a look, and a sigh. “What now?”

“Oh, nothing,” you shake your head. “Agent Hotchner and I have met before, that’s all.”

+++

Ten and a half years prior to the present day, you worked on a case with Aaron Hotchner. 

Key word: case. One singular case.

You were joined by agents Gideon, Morgan, and, of course, Hotchner. You were the only woman with them at the time, and that already threatened to drive you up a wall. To make matters worse, you and Hotch could not get along to save anyone’s lives. 

The two of you butted heads for two weeks straight, but even that is sugar coating it. He raised his voice at you and you raised your voice right back. Of course, only in private. In the field, you were as professional as can be. But in the tiny conference room that you had to set up for them coming in unannounced? All bets were off.

You’ve never been a particularly angry person, but something about Hotch brought all your anger to the surface.

He was the most arrogant man you had ever come across. He explained things to you that you already knew, and even when you told him you were aware of the topic, he’d continue explaining like he hadn’t heard you, just out of spite.

He underestimated you in ways that had your blood boiling. He wouldn’t send you to interview anyone, despite that being your area of expertise. He had you doing busy work, like a goddamn intern. 

You were your office’s own little BAU. You had read Gideon’s papers, been to profiling lectures. You became a profiler because you knew your city needed one, and by your fifth year in the office, you were one. You knew what you were doing, and Hotch treated you like a newbie. 

He always walked around in a damn suit and tie. Does he not own a t-shirt? Does he know what that is? Would it kill him to breathe once in a while?

Why does he have to look like he constantly has a stick up his ass?

Of course, you aren’t totally innocent. You found his buttons and pushed them since day one. He hated being talked over or shouted at, so those became your favorite things. Especially after he began doing them to you.

Don’t disobey direct orders, he said. You did. And you got the results needed, so he had no choice but to move on.

Don’t come into the interrogation room unless asked for, he said. You did anyway. The unsub needed to feel important, a high priority, and he wasn’t. So, you walked in and told Hotch that the Attorney General of the United States was on the phone. It worked. While Hotch “spoke with the Attorney General,” you got a confession. Hotch had to thank you through gritted teeth.

When the case was solved and the BAU left town, you popped a bottle of fucking champagne. Good riddance you screamed and drank straight from the foaming top.

+++

You mutter under your breath the entire drive to the BAU. Your boxes arrived this morning, but you haven’t had a chance to unpack them, so your apartment is currently a shitshow. 

And now you’re driving to deal with another shitshow. 

You haven’t received any emails or texts from Hotch, which is odd, but you’re sure as hell not questioning it. The less you have to deal with him, the better. He probably shares the same sentiment, which is why he hasn’t contacted you.

From far away, Quantico looks more like a prison than it does a headquarters. You hope it doesn’t feel the same way it looks.

The BAU office is just a short elevator ride up from the parking garage, and you dread every second of it. When the doors open on the BAU floor, you want to scream.

But you’re a professional, not a toddler, so you walk your ass through the glass doors and into the bullpen, your head held high like an adult.

“No. Fucking. Way.”

“Hi Morgan,” you mirror his grin, accepting his hug. “Miss me?”

He’s in the same black t-shirt and black jeans he always wears, his haircut just the same but shorter. And he finally got rid of the “shaving my face every morning” routine. Stubble looks much better on him.

“For ten years,” Morgan reminds you. “What brings you here?”

You shrug cheekily, feigning innocence. “I heard there was an opening.”

His grin, somehow, grows wider and brighter. “Come here!” He tackles you in another hug, this time lifting you up and spinning you. “God is on my side to-day. Where’s Reid?”

“Putting a disastrous amount of sugar in his coffee,” a blonde woman says as she passes, then stops. “Oh, hi. I’m JJ, you must be Agent L/N. I heard you were coming in today.”

You escape from Morgan’s grip to shake JJ’s hand. “That’s me. JJ, you said?”

She nods, shifting her feet to a more comfortable position in her heels. “I’m the BAU liaison, so you’ll see a lot of me. And very little of me. It’s complicated.”

“I hear that,” you chuckle, just glad to see another woman has joined the team.

And to your surprise, another joins the circle, this one with black hair parted down the middle. “Emily Prentiss,” she says, sticking out her hand. “Are we finally getting another woman around here?”

You nod, glad to hear she agrees with your unspoken comment. “Looks like it.”

“Did someone call my name?”

You turn and see the infamous Dr. Reid stirring a mug of sugar with a splash of coffee. He’s wearing a cardigan, per usual, and what looks like the same pair converse from when you first met him five years ago at a lecture the BAU put on. He was brand new back then. His eyebrows furrow when he sees you, and then they go wide.

“Y/N? Hi!” he says excitedly, nearly spilling his drink. “It’s been so long! Wha— What are you doing here?”

You give JJ and Emily a look that only you three truly understand. “Why do none of the men assume I’ll be joining the team?”

Emily laughs. “Believe me, I wish I knew.”

“Wait, seriously?” Reid blurts. “Are you really joining us?”

“Sure am,” you grin. “And once I get out of this meeting with Hotch, you’re telling me when the hell you joined a boyband.”

“Oh, ouch,” Morgan taps Reid’s arm lightly with a grin.

“Uh, you too, Derek,” you punch him, letting him know he isn’t off the hook either. “What’s up with the shirt? Do you not own another color?”

“Damn, momma,” Morgan groans. “You haven’t changed.”

“Neither have you,” you pat his cheek.

“I like you already,” Emily grins.

“Agent L/N,” an unmistakable voice comes from the top of the stairs, effectively ruining the moment. 

He definitely hasn’t changed, you think to yourself as you slowly turn around. 

“Agent Hotchner,” you mimic his tone. “Nice to see you again.”

He grips the railing a little too tightly. And he’s still wearing a damn suit, with a damn tie knotted so tight you wonder if it’s choking him. If it’s not, you want it to be. Maybe he’ll shut up then. 

“I believe our meeting was scheduled for 9am,” he says, earning a sideways glance from the other man standing on the balcony. 

“It still is,” you reply, looking beside his head at the clock on the wall and shit. “I’m late. That’s my fault, sir. I apologize.”

“Yes, it is,” he says. “We need to make this short. Hurry up.” 

He turns and disappears into his office like some imitation of Dracula. You give Derek a helpless look.

“Welcome back,” Reid says, grimacing.

“Thanks, bud,” you reply, knowing he means well. “If any of you hear any screaming, pay no mind, that’s just how we greet each oth—”

“Agent L/N!” Hotch shouts from his doorway.

“Coming!” you shout back, just as loud and just as annoyed. “For fuck’s sake,” you mutter to yourself.

You hop up the stairs two at a time, reaching Hotch’s office in seconds. 

The man that was beside Hotch offers you a smile. “I’m Agent Rossi,” he extends his hand. 

“Agent L/N,” you return the friendly expression, shaking his hand, just glad that he at least seems happy to meet you. “I’ll see you soon, I’m sure.”

Rossi nods slowly, mouthing, “Good luck.”

You like him already. You smirk.

Hotch is standing behind his desk when you walk into his office, anger written all over his face. His arms are crossed over his chest, fingers picking at his nails ever so slightly.

“Close the door.”

“Promise not to shoot me?” you joke, but it doesn’t land. You shut the door and take a seat in front of his desk while he remains standing. “Well?”

Finally, he speaks. “What the hell are you doing here?”

You let out a laugh. “Oh, great.” You sit up because this is just stupid. “Are you kidding me? This is the last division I wanted to work in, but I was transferred here. At your behest, might I add—”

“I can assure you, Agent L/N, I did not request that you join my team,” he says as he sits down, rolling toward his desk and placing his arms over the files littered before him.

“Well then Agent Reynolds is a fucking liar, I guess,” you deadpan. “He’s the one who told me I was assigned to the BAU — because of you.”

“Well it wasn’t me.”

“Glad we got that settled,” you shoot back, wanting instead to add, like I fucking care if it was you or not. “Listen, whether either of us likes it or not, I was assigned here, so I’m here. If you want me to leave, take it up with Agent Reynolds or whoever the fuck really requested me. But I can’t do shit about this, and this is now my job, so I’m not leaving just because you want to have some pissing contest.”

He looks like he’s chewing on fire. “Your job security is not my problem—”

“For God’s sake, call your fucking boss, it won’t make you any less of a man to ask a goddamn question about why you have a new agent in your office.”

Hotch glares at you, but does as you say, picking up his desk phone and pressing a few buttons.

You sit back in your chair, waiting in silence. You turn your head to look through the blinds because Hotch didn’t close them all the way, and you nearly start to laugh. Huddled around one desk, Morgan, JJ, Emily, Reid, and another blonde woman dressed in bright colors and shapes are listening intently to Reid who is no doubt lip reading and translating this entire conversation.

Finally, the line connects and Hotch starts speaking. Almost as quick as the phone call begins, it ends.

“Well?” you ask.

“There was some miscommunication,” Hotch admits, though he does not look happy about it. “Welcome to the Behavioral Analysis Unit.”

You smile sarcastically. “Thank you, Agent Hotchner.”

“You’re dismissed,” he says. “We’ll meet in the conference room in five minutes to discuss the rest of today. Don’t be late.”

“Yes, sir,” you mutter as you escape his office, just glad he didn’t torture you with a handshake.

Emerging from Hotch’s office, you stand against the railing and ask the team where the conference room is.

Morgan points to your left. “Why?”

“He told me we’re meeting there to discuss—”

“That’s on hold now,” JJ says, whirling around the BAU with an armful of files. “We’ve got a case. Missing girl, thirteen years old.” She passes out files in the bullpen, handing one to you as she ascends the stairs.

“Shit,” you mutter. “How long has she been missing?”

“Starting without me?” Hotch asks as he walks out of his office. He takes a file from JJ and says a quiet, “Thanks.”

“Yep, we are,” you say right back, scanning your file. You think you hear Rossi let out a chuckle at your response. “Gone since this morning. Are they certain it wasn’t overnight?”

“The mother dropped Lila off at school this morning at seven, and by nine, she was absent,” JJ explains as everyone fills into the conference room. “They paged her at school over the intercom, but she’s not in any of the classrooms.”

“How are we hearing about this so quickly?” Morgan asks. “I mean, I’m glad, but it’s been…just over an hour. We don’t normally have this much time.”

“Because,” JJ pauses, pointing the remote toward the TV. “This is Lila’s father.”

On the screen, the FBI’s Most Wanted are staring back at you. JJ clicks again, and one face comes forward.

“Who?” Emily says.

“Richard Monroe,” Reid says aloud. “He’s been on the run for almost two years. He’s said to have killed a dozen people, all females, but they suspect there might be more. Every time we’ve come close to catching him, he gets away.”

“And now his daughter is missing,” Rossi adds. “I’m guessing this guy is our unsub.”

“I don’t know,” you stare into Richard’s eyes on the screen. “When was he last seen?”

“You can investigate that when we get there,” Hotch says curtly. “They’re waiting for us and we’ll lose time by flying. Wheels up in ten.”

Everyone files out of the room and Hotch stays back, waiting for you to be the last one in the room.

“Agent L/N,” Hotch gets your attention. “Since you’ve never tackled a case like this before, try your best to follow orders, and watch what the team does. Don’t make any rash decisions and don’t go off on your own.”

None of his comments anger you as much as the first one. “You don’t know that I’ve never encountered something like this.”

“Don’t argue with me when we have a missing girl,” Hotch snaps. “Do I make myself clear?”

“Crystal,” you reply, pushing past him.

“I hope you have a go bag,” he calls after you. “There will be no time for shopping when we’re on the ground.”

“Then I’ll just wear your clothes!” you yell back, knowing it’ll get a rise out of him. You hear Morgan snicker down in the bullpen. 

“Agent L/N,” Hotch says, and when you turn around, you see he’s giving you his famous stare.

You sigh. “My bag is in my car. It’ll take me two minutes to grab it. That’s clearly less than ten. Unless you have anything else to say that might delay me further?”

“Go,” he says, waving you away as he heads into his office to grab his bag. “Now.”

+++

While you’re on the jet, you do some research on Richard Monroe. He’s a grade A piece of shit if you’ve ever seen one.

But he’s not the type to go after his daughter.

“Garcia, can you check and see if Richard tried at all to contact Lila on her cell?” you ask.

“I would, sweets, but I can’t find Lila’s phone. Their house phone, however, has no calls.”

“He wouldn’t call the house phone, not with Lila’s mom watching over her like a hawk,” you murmur. 

Hotch lifts his head. “How do you know that?”

“Know what?”

“That her mother would be overbearing.”

“Her father’s a serial killer on the run, Hotch,” you reply. “Any mother would keep tabs on her daughter’s every breath if she had a father like that. It’s logic.”

“She makes a fair point,” Rossi says.

“It’s unfounded,” Hotch ignores him, still dead set on irritating you. “Until you talk to her mother, don’t jump to any conclusions about her behavior.”

You raise your eyebrows. “Until I do?”

“Yes, you will be talking to her mother when we get on the ground. Morgan will go with you.” He nods to Derek. “Reid, you and JJ get set up at the precinct. Prentiss, Rossi, and I will go to the middle school. We’ll meet back at the precinct to discuss our next steps.”

You share a look with Morgan before sinking back in your chair, glaring at the file instead of Hotch.

It's going to be a long fucking day.

[lilcathsmith]

Greg in every episode of CSI (197/328) • Family Affair •

[2-dsimp]

What if... Harumu's darling was faceblind and had low-social tolerance, basically recognizing people by voice and habits?

Her husband IS a plain, boring, square in comparison to the homewrecker, and she adores him for it because he does it intentionally for her comfort. She finds him a comforting rock and bastion of consistency. She holds 0 attraction for Harumu because he's loud, very in your face, a Diva, and never wears the same outfit twice in the darling's presence. She gets very stressed about it, having gotten into trouble her last job when she failed to recognize her Boss when came in out of his usual outfit once.

Darling can't understand Homewrecker's overtures, she's too busy trying to figure out where they lost their boss and praying to god that no one noticed because the last time they failed to recognize him off the bat (he changed into a sexier outfit because she looks at his clothes more and he thought he could seduce her with a hot body) Harumu threw The World's Biggest Diva Fit.

This scenario is intriguing! But To be frank, if darling had face blindness and a low social tolerance.

Their application wouldn’t even have made it through the preliminaries against their competitors. Harumu is the face of an international beauty brand after all. So qualifications to handle all the attention. Which comes with being his caretaker will have to be met without exception.

To even catch Harumu’s attention you’d have to be exceptional in your own right. Since he believes that they deserve only the best of the best. So it’s not like he’d settle for just any manager. It’s why the beauty influencer initially was against having one in the first place. Since Harumu knows how high maintenance he is and is very critical about every single need being taken cared of.

The Shapeshifter isn’t loud and in your face. They’re a diva but a classy one at that.

Harumu never had the need to raise his tone (except for a few times throughout his spoiled life). Especially when he’s so used to people rushing to his beck and call. With just a simple expression of displeasure and a wave of their manicured fingers which means ‘come hither’.

Though on another note Harumu doesn’t wear anything twice unless they really love the design.

But if for whatever reason darling didn’t show any reaction to his outfit.

At first the yandere shapeshifter! Would be smug thinking that his beauty had finally stolen the breath from their lungs. And would even go as far as to prepare and call for the paramedics. just in case you fainted from the sheer exposure to his flawless features.

But slowly after getting out of his delusional headspace. And sees that you just didn’t have any opinion whatsoever. The yandere shapeshifter! would literally freak out from the notion that his handsome/pretty features didn’t have an affect.

Harumu would be so in shock that he’d feel faint and have a mental freak out. Questioning if he’s having a nightmare or if he’s just hallucinating. While also being heavily concerned about if you were even human to begin with. And was just an android in disguise. (Maybe you lied on your resume how else are you so capable in managing him?).

After having to call the medical staff for your model who fainted from pure distress. You’d later have Harumu wearing a tight lipped smile in their female form. (So that they don’t accidentally break your phone with their male counterparts strength) grabbing your phone to manually type in yet another requirement into your packed schedule.

The task was “practice every morning, noon, and night on giving words of affirmation to me, Darling~♥︎" Into your daily regime. Making it the top priority for you to fulfill as his manager.

After making countless desperate rationalizations. Harumu finally returned to her usual confident self and would simply chalk it up to you just being shy (for her own sanity) Becoming determined to get you outta that meek shell of yours so you can work on (adoring her like you’re supposed to)

[ruiniel]

What You Choose

Fandom: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba

Pairing: Rengoku Kyojuro x f!reader

Count: 2K

Rating: T (M later)

Part I

Summary: Rengoku survives the fight with Akaza, but some battles are not so straightforward.

Tags & Warnings: Rengoku lives AU, blood, injury, death, pining, angst, second person POV, demon slayer!reader, tsuguko!reader, Rengoku POV, eventual smut

Author Note: I am not OK and will never be OK about *waves hands* all that, so this is now a multichapter story.

II.

“Once again, you’re a guest in my healing ward.”

Kocho Shinobu speaks softly, as is her manner. She's seated by his bed with the afternoon sun shining gently on her features, highlighting the amethyst in her hair and eyes.

“I seem to be the only one,” Rengoku replies, looking at the empty infirmary. He’s still bedbound and can barely move his limbs. It hurts to breathe more often than not, and there’s a dull ache where his left eye used to be.

Her kind smile never falters as Kocho looks at the liquid in the syringe she’s preparing. Rengoku always admired her decision to honor her late sister this way, by holding on to that smile Kanae loved so much. After all, everyone has a keepsake of their loved ones in their heart, driving them forward. Memories, moments, words that hone one’s spirit and meld with determination, acting as a guiding light in the darkest places. He knows this all too well. 

“At least you won’t be lonely during your convalescence, those three have been coming here every day, even before you’d awoken.” She giggles, seeking a vein in his arm. 

Oh, of course… young Kamado… the boar lad, the yellow-haired boy. All of them gifted, resilient, and unwavering. He’d promised to train them, but…

That was… before. 

Another image appears before his mind’s eye, drenched in fog—you, running towards him. He, ordering you not to interfere. “Kocho. Tell me, please. How long before I can leave this bed? What is lost, what can I regain?” 

She sets the used syringe aside on a tray, then places her hands on her knees. “My, my, impatient already?” 

Rengoku tries a smile of his own, though it hurts the muscles in his face. If not for the strong sedatives and painkillers administered to him since he regained consciousness, he imagines he’d be squirming in pain. “I want to self-assess myself. Besides…I have promises to keep.” 

She understands. He knows she does. The Insect Hashira gazes out the window, and a small sigh leaves her chest. “Your fatal injuries have been healed by the peculiar blood demon art of young Kamado’s sister.”

He nods. Remarkable. He thought that would be his last battle, and he’d have passed without regret into the land of Yomi. Nevertheless, his gratitude is boundless.

“... your muscle and organ tissue has regenerated and there was no internal bleeding. However, there is still some damage to several vertebrae in your spine, severe trauma to your head I’ve not fully assessed yet, and you have eight fractured ribs.”

“Hah, I can feel them, too! I miscalculated by one, I thought there were seven.”

She looks his way, with that odd expression people sometimes have when he sounds unreasonably high-spirited. He supposes not everyone shares the same outlook, and that’s all well. But what use is there to bow down in dismay and accept the worst life throws my way? 

“Your left eye was smashed, and irrecoverable,” Kocho goes on. “We removed it with surgery and placed an implant inside to fill the empty eye socket. The recovery period in these cases is typically a year, as now you must adapt to your monocular status. But this also depends on the individual, and… this might mean alterations to your fighting style, of course.” She rises and picks up the tray. “I’m convinced that with time, you can return to a state allowing you to perform your duties. For now, please rest, that is a foremost priority.”

My friend, you know all too well that time is never on a demon slayer’s side. “Thank you, Kocho.”  She is right, though: he does feel exhausted, as though he’d climbed a mountain without rest or ever reaching the summit. Expected, though bothersome.

“We’ll do our best to help your recovery. Aoi will return later to change your bandages,” Kocho adds.

Rengoku turns his head as Kocho greets someone on her way out, and sees you, standing in the doorway. “Hello.”

“Hello.”

“You heard?”

You nod, nearing the bed. “Ms. Kocho told me of it all while you were asleep.”

“I’m sorry.”

You tilt your head in bemusement. “What ever for?”

“Because, I won’t be able to help with your training for a while.”

You’ve been at his side often. While in a coma, even if he couldn’t react, even if his body wouldn’t listen, he knew you were there. The thought is a warm one, a foreign sensation: different from the heat bursting in his body during a fight. He’d be lying if he said he didn’t look forward to your visits even now, to see how you’re faring, to hear the latest news on the Corps.

“No,” your voice brings him out of his thoughts, “but that does mean I can help you. When you’re ready, that is,” you add quickly. “With rehabilitation training.” 

“Of course!” The fatigue in his body is stubborn, clinging to him like heavy wet wool. “And… I don’t believe I’ve told you this yet: I’m happy you returned safely.”

You look away, appearing utterly miserable. It confuses him. Rengoku’s seen that shadow in his father’s eyes countless times, so often he can’t stand it: self-loathing.

“Forgive me, Master. I should have been able to do more, after all you strived to teach me. I… I could barely be of any use.”

But you were there, you helped protect all those people. You did your part. “You were unflinching, fast, and aided those who needed it precisely like I taught you. You are rank Kinoe, and what's your demon kill count?”

“Thirty-two.”

“There… now that I think about it, even without further guidance from me or anyone else, you’ll make Hashira soon! Our numbers are dwindling while demon activity increases. You’ve seen it. This is a struggle that needs all of us.” Rengoku pauses. The word ‘need’ felt odd coming from his mouth. But the statement is true. Why does it feel incomplete when he says it to your face?

You look down at your hands. “How can you do it?”

He blinks, frowning. “Do what?”

“Be so supportive and encouraging even when you’re lying broken in an infirmary bed. Sometimes… sometimes you are so very strange, Master.”

You do say that to him often, though less so than before. A smile trembles on your lips—it took you a long time to smile again, he recalls. 

“I merely speak the truth…” He can barely stay awake. The slow drip of liquid in the IV infusion is magnified, drowning out all other sounds, and your face becomes hazy as he drifts away.

Three years prior

The path of blood leads straight into the farmhouse, looking as though someone had been dragged inside by force.

His eyes narrow, and he centers his breaths as he walks forward with his blade drawn. The silence of the glade is eerie, the reek of decay nauseating in the heat of this humid summer.

Soon, he stands on the threshold. Two, there might be two of them. Near the farmhouse is a toolshed, he’ll look there next. Rengoku covers his mouth with his sleeve, eyes closing in pain.

The bodies lie there, some with scattered limbs. This was a family, no doubt about it. The brutality of the mutilation makes his stomach turn, but Rengoku steels his resolve, extending his senses for any hint of the entity’s presence: there is none. He sheathes his katana and enters the space proper. Three hours until dawn.

He descends to one knee, finding the fireplace in the middle is out, but the ashes are still warm. The tatami mats are sticky and stained dark. This all transpired recently. He reaches out a hand, touches an inert arm: not yet cold. Too late, I am too late. But I’ll find you, wherever you are, you damn beasts. 

It’s only due to his reflexes, honed with endless hours of training, that he turns around fast enough, leaping backward before the descending attack.

At first, he thinks it’s the demon, his katana at the ready.

“Don’t you dare touch them!” 

He pauses, nearly too late in avoiding the second strike. A girl’s voice, a human’s heartbeat. His arm shoots out, catching the wooden staff in a strong grip. 

You’re panting, eyes wild and glimmering in the moonlit night. “Let—go!”

“Wait, I’m not an enemy!” he says, taking a better look at you, still holding your makeshift weapon even as you try to wrest it from his hand. 

“How do I know that! Demon!” Your voice is hoarse. Half your face is caked in drying blood, and there must be multiple injuries on your body judging by the torn clothing and the widening dark stains. 

“I’m not a demon,” he speaks calmly but urgently. “I hunt them. Please, they may still be close.”

You jerk your chin towards a corner of the room. “I had him… I don’t need you. Get out of my home!” you yell, more desperate with each word. “Get out, get out, get out!”

Another body lies there in the dark, slitted pupils dark against its milky eyes. The head had been nearly completely crushed. Rengoku freezes in disbelief. You did this? Alone? “Wait, you don’t understand, there’s another—”

A loud crash severs his words as the ceiling collapses, and he barely has time to leap forward, catch you in his arms, and throw himself outside. He rolls onto the ground, pain erupting in his left shoulder with the impact. When he opens his eyes you’re there, safely held against him, face tearstained and body rigid with shock.

But there’s no time to explain further—he feels it. The gurgle of inhuman hunger as a figure emerges from the wreckage of the farmhouse, eyes fixed on them. It does not speak, but growls in hunger; it must be of the feral kind, no reasoning left as the transformation rotted its memories. 

Rengoku rises, changing his stance. “Stand back,” he urges, looking over his shoulder at you as you struggle with your own body. He looks back ahead, grinds his teeth, his breathing attuned to his thought. 

First Form: Unknowing Fire.

It doesn’t last long. He’s been running from mission to mission, dispensing with different kinds of fiends, and this was yet another run in a long chain that will only end with his own life. 

Once the head is removed, the battle is over. Sometimes there is someone left to check on after the fact; often, there isn’t. But now, Rengoku hurries towards you, descending and slipping a hand under your back, aiding you to sit. “Where are you hurt?”

“Thank you,” you say instead, eyes glazing over. He hopes the Kakushi will get here soon. You point towards your ruined home. “Set it ablaze… please.” 

“Hey, hey, stay awake!” Rengoku urges even as your body turns heavier and your eyes roll back. 

He expected this to come. Kneeling and with his forehead pressed to the ground he sits still, prostrated before the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps. 

A voice like the lull of spring reaches him, setting his worries aside. In his heart, he thinks he’s done what is right.

“Rank Kinoe Rengoku Kyojuro, you are summoned to explain why you have brought a non-combatant to headquarters, instead of having the Kakushi transport them to a civilian hospital.”

“Master, the girl shows extraordinary potential. Her family has been murdered by demons, and yet she managed to fell one before I arrived, alone, despite grievous wounds and bloodloss. Forgive me if I overstepped, but I believe…” 

“Go on.”

“I believe once her body heals and her focus returns, she will join the fight. I believe she will want to. If I'm wrong, I accept all consequences.”

“You sound fairly convinced of this, young Rengoku,” says Ubuyashiki Kagaya. “Though there is no reason to know for certain one way or the other.”

He stays quiet, his heart raging in his chest. It will all depend on you, of course. You may want to have nothing to do with this. 

“But… you’ve not failed us thus far. I will allow it.”

“Gratitude, Master.” And then, almost in the same breath, “If she chooses this, I will guide her myself.”

TBC

[scalpho]

the fact that pib's story and character doesn't lean into the horror/tragedy side of things as the other neverafter PCs do is part of why i find him so interesting

the motives and stakes that pib faces as an individual are never really as pressing/high as those that the others in the group face. marienne is already destroyed and tomas is already dead, which pib cannot and does not seek to undo (he wants revenge on the giants later on, but he only seeks it when going to snowhold & the land of giants becomes something they have to do anyways. and his starting priority isn't revenge - he's more or less just trying to get by after the fall of marienne), unlike the others, who are either in the throes of their tragedies, or actively attempting to undo what has already come to pass, or, mostly, a mix of both.

there's also the fact that pib isn't a "character" in the way the others are, but rather the archetype of the trickster cat. as both a trickster spirit and an archetype, he already holds a little more agency than the others because he's not bound to being "pib". he does grow an attachment to the identity of pib in a way that doesn't seem typical of the tricksters (the fox says that he's "gotten too caught up in it" when he returns to the trickster forest with no memories of who they are), but, ultimately, if something happens to the story of puss in boots, he's still the cat. he knows there's more for him than just pib, that, although he's still subject to the whims of the authors, he's not bound to one destiny in the same way his friends are.

in any case, whether we're talking about pib or the cat, he doesn't need to fight in the way his friends do. he doesn't need to care the way he does, or maybe even shouldn't care in the way that he does (the fox overall seems to suggest that pib is softer compared to the other tricksters; "it was a mistake to send him", "you're more the hero than you think", etc, and almost seems to look down on him for it) but he does anyways. he fights and tricks for the sake of his friends, for the sake of tomas, for the sake of the neverafter. and he does it because he chooses to. he's a trickster, who we might expect to act in a self-serving way, but he chooses to be, for the most part, selfless. he has a little more agency than the others and, instead of taking it and running, he uses it to help, to choose to be good, because he cares about the people around him. he's a little asshole with a heart goddamnit

[amarizuu]

Hello! I saw your post that the ask box is open for asking your great 7 au,so lemme just jump right in with the questions

Question: if/when yuu has panic or anxiety attacks,what do the great seven do to comfort them?

Question #2: what does maleficent think of silver,sebek and Lilia?

Hi guys! I have finally come alive in this account and here to continue writing. Though I am not sure when will be the next post in this account since I am at my relative's house right now and is staying with my cousins right now, let's start.

NOTE: Not Proofread(Terrible Grammar apologies), The characters are part of my AU, and Yuu uses They/Them. I did some bits of research on what to do when someone has a panic attack. If I did something wrong, please tell me ^^/

Q.1: If Yuu has a panic attack whether be it the past or present the Great Seven will try their best to help them as they have high respects towards them or they are currently in their kingdom as it is their responsibility.

Maleficent, Ursula, Jafar, Queen Grimhilde & Hades: Has yet to experienced

Maleficent: I have yet to experience the sight of it, but if they do experience it. I remember learning from books, humans needs a sense of peace and comfort.

(Maleficent will try to sing/hum to them and send everyone out, leaving the two alone in the room)

Ursula: Yes, I've read and seen different folks experiencing them, however, not with the case of Yuu. Just like the Thorn Fairy mention comfort and peace will be required. There's nothing I need in return, just hope little guppie will never experience it.

(Ursula will try to bring Yuu their grounding, using one of her tentacles and sticking onto Yuu, trying to get their sense and won't leave them alone. The two eels will make sure nobody will disturb them. Yuu gets lots of hugs from the three of them, though Ursula always shoos them away, thinking they might feel crowded.)

Jafar: ...

Hades: ...

Ursula: If I'm gonna expect from you two, you guys never seen or experienced it?

Hades: Look, I don't think those things can kill anyone--

Maleficent: They don't.

Jafar: It just hasn't come to my mind about it since the Sultan hasn't experienced it.

Ursula: Teaching you a few things after this talk

Jafar: Anything from you will make it sound like a deal.

Hades: Gotta agree with the snake here.

(Hades and Jafar will slowly learn about it, though Hades will definitely will try to comfort Yuu in his own way and Jafar will do the same since he has a hard time expressing his thoughts during the process of it, his priority is to calm down Yuu.)

Queen Grimhilde[Aka Evil Queen]: Yuu is a strong warrior that experienced such things and may handle it alone. Now, we are here, we hope that we could be there for Yuu just like how Yuu was there for us in our troubles.

Maleficent: I do agree. We just hope now Yuu will stop thinking they are just a vessel for us to exist.

(Queen Grimhilde will act in a similar way from Maleficent, comforting Yuu in a motherly way and hold them tightly in their arms. Since she had an experience with Snow White [Their story played out different in my AU] she has some knowledge of taking care of Yuu herself.)

Queen of Hearts & Scar: Experienced

Queen of Hearts: Unlike the others, during a tea party in my caslte, I have witnessed Yuu having a panic attack. But it is not in my place to share such events.

"Hedgehog is something the matter?" The Queen ask as she suddenly noticed Yuu's behavior. They suddenly stopped talking and stared at the cup for a long time. They started to breathe heavily as their body start to shake. The servants around them look at each other in worry but their eyes were mostly on Yuu and it made Yuu drop the cup in their hand.

The Queen stood up and the servant tried to move an inch but the Queen was only mad, mad that they couldn't read the room at this very moment.

"Everyone, I demand everyone to leave the garden. Nobody. Not even the gardeners should be here"

"But your majesty, the broken--"

"OFF. With. your. head. It's an order!"

The guards around them carried that person as they were frozen in fear. The rest of the servants had no choice but to follow, they all leave in a hurry leaving nothing but the two individuals alone.

The Queen sighed in relief as she slowly walked up to Yuu, bending to their level and carefully avoiding the cups. She finally noticed how pale Yuu had suddenly become and saw their body shaking up close. The Queen frowned and took Yuu's hands into her own. Her anger subsided upon seeing the person she trusted the most so vulnerable—the person who once held the sword against her enemies now reduced to this state. Her anger subsidded seeing the person whom she trusted the most be this vulnerable, the person who hold the sword against her enemies suddenly turned out like this.

"Hedgehog it's me, can you hear me dear?"

Queen of Hearts: So now we only have tea alone. Just the two of us, though there are guards around but not close ,so Yuu can be at peace.

Scar: I have a similar experience , though it was during training. And we had an audience, which was my fault. I think my pride got the better of me and didn't think about the situation on the little Cub's part.

Queen Hearts: Dear sake...Scar?!

Scar: They've been in many battles, didn't think it had an affect like it.

As Scar was about to start fighting, he noticed the stance Yuu was doing didn't look like their normal fighting stance. Scar's tail flicked, and his ear twitched. Something didn't sit right.

Cheers from afar echoed throughout the arena which made Scar smile, his people are looking at him but his eyes trailed back to Yuu. Just when the battle starts, Scar stopped himself as he finally noticed something strange. Yuu's grip has loosen and his complection looks terrible under the sun.

"Everyone! It seems that something may occur. This battle will be postpone."

The hyenas frowned and accepted it as they left. Scar ran over to Yuu--

"Hey, little cub, you don't look too good-"

He stopped and caught Yuu from falling, hitting their body against his. His eyes widened as he slowly brought them down to the ground. Their body shaking and they don't look focus at all, they probably don't even realize they have fallen yet.

"Calm down. Nobody is here now. It's just us..."

Scar: I didn't wanna be a dick and use that as an advantage to fight them.

Queen of Hearts: Good. If you were, I might need to wage war against your kingdom.

Scar: Tsk..

Q.2: Maleficent's thoughts about Silver, Sebek, and Lilia?

SILVER:

"Regarding to that student. my first impression of him was of a knight, he has that aura he gives off and loyalty, it's quite nice to see a student like him in such a school like this. However, I do wonder how we always find him sleeping, does the kid have yet to get sleep? I'm quite concerned for his health."

SEBEK:

"Loud boy aint he. Sometimes, whenever I hear a loud voice it makes me think I am back in the forest when humans get lost, they shout so loud for help knowing they are alone..lost. His loyalty still stands strong which I like, there's a lot of knightly students in that dorm, hm? I do quite like it."

LILIA:

"His second appearance was quite a startle but it made me chuckle as he was hanging upside down. He does care about his dormleader who is unfortunately not approachable, I could say I could feel the same sentiments as him. He does have quite a charm doesn't he? Though his performance during that Savanaclaw's battle... was something."

Thank you for reading! Hope you guys enjoyed it. See you all in my next post :D

[azucar-skull]

How Many Sorrys Does It Take To Fix This?

(written for @tmnt-write-fight for @dorky-pals)

Fandom: Rise Of The TMNT (post movie)

Prompt: I don’t know how to apologize., any turtle angst

Word Count: 963

Posted on AO3 too!

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

Leo was never one to say sorry. In most cases, his pride had always been first and foremost priority in any argument or fight.

Yet there he was, his neck clutched around Raph’s kraang arm. Lowering his hands to his side.

“If this is it, I want you to know I finally understand… A-and I’m sorry…”

And now…here he is, hours after saving the world and getting his ass whooped by the Kraang. Sitting at the dinner table with Raph on the other end. And…eugh boy…did Raph want to have a talk with him.

There’s a lot of awkward silence for a long moment, only the ticking of the kitchen clock making any sound. Leo would do anything to get out of this.

“So…how’s your eye?”, Leo draws out.

“It’s healing.”, Raph nods. His eye is still covered in gauze and there’s high debate about how it’ll affect his sight.

Leo nods slowly. “...Cool.”

More silence. More awkwardness. Leo drums his digits against the table.

“Soooo-”

“I’m sorry.”, Raph speaks up.

Leo blinks. Twice. Processing what Raph just said. “...What?”

Raph takes a heavy sigh. “I don’t know how to put this. I don’t know where to even begin with this so I might as well just come out and say it.” His eyes meet Leo’s. “I’m sorry.”

Leo pauses for a moment, brows furrowing as the gears are turning very slowly in his head. Did I get a concussion back in the prison dimension or something?? And the way Raph isn’t speaking in the third person let’s Leo know he’s been super serious.

“What could you possibly be sorry for?”, Leo asks, more confused.

“I don’t know! Beatin’ you up? Tryin’ to actively kill you?”, Raph throws his hands out more agitated. “I mean, c’mon, Leo!”

“But that wasn’t you.”, Leo argues. “You were under Kraang’s control. The last thing I remember you doing was…” Leo glances down at the table, clasping his hands together. “Was you saving me when I went to get the key. If anything I should be sorry. You had to use your escape pod on me when I abandoned mine. I should’ve listened to you.”

“No. No.”, Raph argues back. “You were just doin’ what Casey Jr asked you to do and warned us ‘bout the Kraang. I’m the one who should be sorry, I couldn’t protect you-”

“You wouldn't have had to protect me if I actually listened to you when you said “I got it”. I was so focused on being cocky and trying not to bruise my pride that I messed up the entire mission and caused the apocalypse-”

“That shouldn’t be on you! That should’ve never been on you, Leo, ever! It was my fault, okay? I should’ve taught ya to be a better leader instead of arguin’ with you over a pizza stack competition-”

“But that was on me! I made Donnie and Mikey ditch out on training to do some stupid activity because I didn’t want to listen to you, I was being petty-”

“Ya weren’t listenin’ because I didn’t help you prepare enough. We got into another fight and you took it upon yourself to help cheer up our brothers-”

“Our brothers who should’ve never been involved in the first place. But they had to because I was too stubborn to let you knock me down a peg and get me to listen-”

“But I shouldn’t have fought with you! I let my anger take over and couldn’t control myself. I should’ve never had use my strength against you or any of our brothers-”

“ENOUGH!”

Leo’s anger spills over in a shout. The bickering stops. Raph stares wide eyed at Leo, noticing how he’s leaning over the table with clenched fists. The slider sighs and flops back in his chair.

“Just…enough.”, Leo laments. “I’m tired of fighting with you, Raph.”

Raph's expression softens, recognizing that tired look in his little brother’s eyes.

“You want to keep coming at me? Go ahead. I’m done fighting you.”

“I don’t want to fight anymore.”

Raph sits back in his chair, unclenching his fists. He heaves a heavy sigh, shutting his eyes to hold back tears of the memory.

Leo’s brows upturn more, frowning sympathetically.

“Can we just admit we’re both in the wrong here?”, the slider asks the snapper. “I’m sorry for not listening and you’re sorry for pushing me so hard or not pushing me enough or however to get me to listen.”

Raph sighs. “I don’t want to fight you anymore either, Leo. I just… I just care ‘bout you so much. It would kill me to see ya get hurt.” His eyes scan his brother up and down at all his bandaged wounds, scars, and cracks on his shell. “But I guess it didn’ even matter.”

“It doesn’t. Our injuries are the result of both our failures.”, Leo nods. “But we fail together.”

Raph can’t help but smile at that. “We fail together.”

Raph gets up, walking across the table to Leo’s side. He holds out a hand with a sad but warm smile on his face.

“Brothers?”

Leo’s eyes widen for a moment before smiling back, standing up and taking Raph’s hand. He nods. “Brothers.”

Raph chuckles as he pulls Leo in for a hug, rubbing his knuckles against his brother’s head which gets a laugh out of him. But Leo’s laugh is cut short when Raph hugs him just a bit too tightly.

“Ow! Raph, Raph, be careful. My shell!”, Leo winces.

Raph immediately pulls back from the hug. “Omigosh I’m so sorry!”

“No, no you’re good. I should be sorry, I wasn’t being careful-”

“No, I’m sorry because-”

“Oh my GOOOOOOD we’re never gonna stop saying sorry to each other, are we?”

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

I have that one Justion Bieber song stuck in my head now

[brosser-les-dents]

currently very slowly recovering from my schedule being thrown off, any tips on pushing brushing my teeth up to the front of my priorities?

Mmm, so the very simple answer to that is fear. Lol.

If you don't prioritize caring for your teeth, there's a good chance you will begin to lose them. If not lose them, they will cause you pain. (they also cause pain during the process of losing them) And if you decide to try and fix the pain, money. Also, even if you're rich or live in a country with universal dental care and money is not an issue, not everything can be fixed back to a no more pain state.

As someone who has closely watched the pain and suffering my parents have experience bc of a lifetime of poor oral care, it motivates me to care for my teeth. And to be honest, it motivates me to motivate you to care for your teeth.

My mom only has 3 teeth left in total. My dad only has 3 spots left in his molars where the top and bottom contact for eating. Mom has dentures, dad does not. They both struggle to eat. Imagine the most basic task of being a human being causing you pain and frustration every single day. There are so many things they miss out on bc they can't eat properly. My dad's teeth have also been slowly rotting out of his head. He just lost a tooth (literally was so infected it fell out) so I'm hoping now that I've managed to convince him to do a regular cleaning and have him on high fluoride toothpaste that no more will get infected. But he's had one infected tooth after another fall out for the last 5 or so years. That's years of pain. Like every single day. And antibiotics, which also mess with your body systems.

Also, being able to comfortably eat enough every single day fuels everything your body does. My mom doesn't eat enough to fuel her normal body systems. So she doesn't heal very fast and she is very weak.

Having healthy teeth also impacts life enjoyment overall. Added pain to your daily life can diminish how much you enjoy your life overall. I know that seems simple and obvious, but I have watched that pain wear down on my parents.

Lastly, brushing and flossing really only takes about 5 minutes. Like if you do a really good job doing both, it might take 10 total minutes from getting to the sink to wiping off your face. (I realize the assumption here is that you're able bodied, so I do acknowledge it could be so much more work involved here, but if that's the case, then I'd love to see if we could all work together to find solutions to try and make it easier for you) Think about how little time that is in your day, compared to a possible future of not being able to eat properly and long term, never ending pain. I realize brushing and flossing isn't just the time it takes, but the sensations, the boredom, the fact you could be doing anything else. But it is worth the work and you are worth the effort. You deserve to live life with healthy teeth. They add so much to a healthy life. And you deserve all the good things.

Again: brushing and flossing is worth the work and you are worth the effort.

[king-midas-fortnite]

Hello. I assume there is little need for introduction, but I am Midas. I've recently returned from a brief..."sabbatical", shall we call it, in the Underworld.

My daughter, Jules thought it would be a good idea to keep a blog. Not sure why. Something about venting feelings, connecting with other people not in my crew, etc. Not exactly things I find very high priority, but I suppose it can't kill me. I'd know better than anyone what can, after all. And perhaps it'll make keeping tabs on people of interest easier...

Feel free to reach out, if you wish. Message me, tag me, whatever the case may be. I'll do my best to be active here. Whatever it takes to make my daughter happy. However, I am a busy man. Apologies if I miss anything.

((Keep reading for rules and notes!))

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

Rules and guidelines for interacting!

1. This blog is run by an adult. I am 26, my main is @snippydippy. Please keep this in mind when interacting with me. I ask that minors please consider a different Midas.

I will use (()) to indicate when I'm speaking out of character in any posts!

2. I don't mind NSFW content myself, but may not answer questions or reblog content pertaining to sexually explicit topics to keep things relatively appropriate.

3. This blog may contain ship content, it may not. I have ships I like, they may not be the ones you do. While my version of Midas is cis, he's not straight (bi king). If this bothers you, I don't know what to tell you.

4. My DMs and asks will always be open! Please don't be shy, Midas won't bite. I'm down to RP in the reblogs with anyone! However, DM roleplays for other adults only, please.

5. This blog will always be skewed towards a more serious vibe. I take my characterization of Midas very seriously (more so than I probably should for a FN character lol). You won't find much in the way of him being a silly guy. Even if I find it funny, if I don't think a situation would be in character for my version of him, it won't happen.

That's it as far as my rules go aside from the obvious "don't be a dick" sentiments that I feel I shouldn't have to say. Thank you for reading them! Next are just a couple notes on my headcanons for Midas.

-Midas has some control over his Golden Touch. I think of the curse in a way that is similar to chronic pains. Some days, it is manageable, and he can touch whatever he'd like without issue. Some days, it is bad. He has to avoid people, can't eat, and struggles getting through mundane tasks without frustration.

I believe his curse may also be in part tied to his emotions. Any intense anger, sadness, or other strong feelings will make it harder to control the Touch, and it does cause him some amount of pain when it's out of control. (Doing mental gymnastics to explain why Fortnite itself isn't consistent with his power.)

-Jules means everything to Midas. He will do absolutely anything in his power to keep his daughter safe and to keep his relationship with her in good standing. He's wronged her in the past, and is doing all he can to make up for those actions and lost time.

-His time in the underworld changed him a bit. He's less cold to the people close to him. He allows more feeling than pure calculation into his thought processes, but a stranger may not be able to tell. Midas is a relatively closed off man. He does not wear his emotions on his sleeve, and doesn't often make friends without some kind of benefit to be had from the relationship. Be it power or connections. However, the friendships he does have mean a great deal to him. He is quick to provide aid in any way he can to those he cares about.

Another thing about his imprisonment in Hell: Time in the underworld was experienced differently. While we may have waited four years for Midas to return, for him it was much, much longer. Now that he is back, he is determined to never be put in chains ever again.

-My version of him obviously has not left the island after returning from the underworld, instead opting to stay as his curiosity for how things have changed has gotten the better of him. He wants to keep up with the power struggles, and find a way to insert himself back into them.

This blog is semi-independent! Some lore is shared with @perseus-ihatemydad-fortnite in that he helped Midas escape from the Underworld. As well as most often being seen interacting with @kado-fortnite and @valeria-fortnite

Tags I'll use!

#Midas Answers -For asks answered in character

#Midas Posts -For interactions in character

#Gold Reserves -In-character reblogs of art, aesthetic posts, etc.

#Gold Encounter -For interactions between other characters that are meant to be read as happening in-person/privately

#Journal Entries - For uh. For Journal Entries lol. These are, in a meta sense, private to him. They are for interactions that happen on the Discord server rather than Tumblr for reader convenience.

- 👑 for anon messages

#Shut your trap snippy -For posts like these that include me talking OOC (I know, long tag. It's just what I've been using on my main blog for years to tag my own garbage lol)

Screenshot in this post and my header are from @corvidazed 💛

Thank you for getting all the way down here! I hope our interactions are fun!

[journen]

Okay!! Because I'm not a huge fan of the format of long twitter threads, and this whole thing got kinda long 😅 I figured it could be best to post these story idea ramblings to Tumblr! So lol, prepare for some ramblings sabout my Ghost and Soap AU that's post MW2 campaign where Simon leaves the army to raise his nephew after his fam are killed.

This is all based off the au from this fic I wrote 🙈 if you want more context, you can find some here!

I just have a lot of ideas for this au and wanted to share some that I'll probably never be able to write, but yeah. Lmk if you guys have any thoughts! 😊

I guess TW too for: mentioned child injury, mentioned murder, references to Ghost's past from the comics. There's nothing graphic tho!

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

Price swears to Simon, in that hospital room a few days after the attack on Simon's fam, where Jo is lying injured and unconscious, but stable, that he will track down Roba and his men to get justice. He makes it a vow.

Theres not much development on the case for years tho. Maybe, after it initially happened, there was a brief investigation into it, but they ran into a lot of issues getting jurisdiction to operate in Mexico so the case went dry.

So, Simon has to learn to live with the fact that the people who did this to his family, and who tortured him, are still alive out there somewhere. But his nephew is his first priority, and he's accepted that too. He's not going to carelessly risk his life so he can't be there to raise his orphaned nephew in the name of revenge.

I don't think Simon, at this stage of his life, would be a violent revenge seeker? Perhaps if he is pushed too far, but let's not go there yet hahhaha.

Also, he's with Soap too, who helps ground him and keep him level headed.

Anyways, years later, Price calls Simon up, telling him of their update on the case. Maybe Roba has been located, and they only have a few day window to act. 

Price shows him the layout of the compound. Simon recognizes it. It's where he was kept captive for months all those years ago. Price offers that, if he wants, there's a spot on the squad for him. His Intel could be valuable. And he's cleared it with a lot of the other high ups to bring Simon along, or just didn't give them a choice, lol. (I have no idea if this would actually be possible irl, to have an SAS soldier who left the ranks, rejoin for a covert mission, but bare with me. Price can make it happen in this AU 🤣)

Simon has been out of active service for 5/6 years at this point though. And Price is asking him if he wants back in for one final op. Joseph is now around 10 years old maybe. He and Soap have been in a steady relationship for 5, Soap still serving in the military.

Anyways, cue big moment of Ghost picking up his old skull mask again. One he hasn't worn in 6 years. Holding the fabric brings back a lot of old memories for him. It feels heavy in his hands. He had changed so much since when he was the man who wore this mask...

but he still had it in him. He knew he did, deep down.

But did he want to *go* there, was he ready? Was it appropriate?

Would he be letting down Joseph though, if he agreed to this op?

What would Soap's feelings on the matter be?

But ultimately, Ghost agrees to it. I think he would need to take some time to consider it though. Maybe talk it through with the bf, Soap. But I think Simon would come to the conclusion that the team would be safest with him on the squad because of his existing knowledge of the compound. And he'd maybe feel safer being there himself, there to try to help the others if they run into trouble fighting his demons.

He does tell Price he has one condition about the op though, is that nobody dies. And he doesn't plan on dying either. He has to live for Joseph, and for Soap, too.

Jo is maybe 9 or 10 at this point. When Simon and Soap go away, I don't think Simon would tell Jo the real nature of his mission. He wouldn't lie to him, but the truth is a lot for a 10 year old to take in right? Maybe he says the mission is going to be scary, but that he's going to do his best to make sure they all make it back okay.

Maybe Joseph stays with one of Soap's sisters.

Ghost feels terrible to do this to Jo but he has to stop Roba from doing this again.

And blabkabla stuff happens and Simon makes it back okay tho yayyyyy 🤣

[tabitha42]

The Wizard's Apprentice - Chapter 9

Saffron is just a lowly apprentice with barely a successful firebolt to her name. So what chance does she have with the arch mage she's slowly falling in love with?

Gale x Tav, slow burn, eventual smut

Chapter 1 Previous chapter Next chapter

Saff stared intently at the tattered sleeve of Gale’s robe as she sewed it up as best she could. They’d managed to get all the blood out of it and now she was patching it up. The bracer was completely beyond repair though, for her at least. Perhaps a proper leatherworker could fix it or make a replacement. 

Unfortunately not only was it quite difficult to repair, but she was also getting very distracted by the thought of Gale bathing in the river behind her. She tried to tell herself not to think about him. How would she like it if the tables were turned and he was thinking of her while she bathed, imagining the water running over her slick, naked body?

She’d quite like that, actually.

Again she shook her head, for the 10th time. She forced herself to focus on the sewing once more, yet as she did she found herself wondering how far down his body that tattoo on his chest extended…

“How’re they looking?” 

She almost yelped in surprise as his voice snapped her out of her thoughts and she desperately hoped it hadn’t been obvious she’d been daydreaming about him. 

“Wha- how, um, how’s what looking?” she stuttered, looking up at him. 

“The robes,” he answered, stifling a chuckle at her flustered response. 

“Oh! Um, yeah, mostly done,” she answered, holding the sleeve up for him to see. He sat down opposite her and took the robes to inspect the damage. He was wearing his camp clothes now, and though she couldn’t see much of the tattoo anymore, she could still see the lines reaching up his neck. Sometimes she swore it looked like it somehow continued under his skin up to his eye, though she wondered if that was just some oddly prominent veins. She should really ask him about that tattoo at some point and if it meant something. 

“That gnoll really really did a number on this, didn’t it?” he mused as he handed it back to her. “Thank you for offering to fix it.” 

“You’re welcome, though I’m not sure I’m going to be able to do much more than this. It’s always going to be pretty bad, unless you get someone to remake the whole sleeve.”

“Well, what’s an adventurer without a bit of battle damage?” he chuckled. 

“Not looking forward to getting my battle damage,” she replied, half-jokingly. 

“With any luck you won’t have to, and I won’t have to get any more. We should be far at the back, out of the range of fire. They call wizards glass canons for a reason, after all.” 

“Mmm… easier said than done, when goblins are swarming round the whole group,” she murmured, remembering the one that nearly got her before Gale took care of it. 

“Do you know Misty Step?” he asked, frowning a bit as she looked at her.

“I know of it, but I’ve never tried to cast it.” 

“Let’s put that at the top of our priority for the next lesson, then. An extremely useful spell every wizard should know. As soon as combat starts you want to find a safe spot, preferably on the high ground, where you can pick off enemies but they can’t reach you. Misty Step will take you right there. It’ll also get you out of trouble in a pinch.” 

“It’s quite a bit more difficult than just standard cantrips though, isn’t it?” 

“It is, yes. But I think you’re up to the challenge.” She couldn’t help the smile that came to her lips, and Gale mirrored it as he continued. “I know you said you were out of magic for the day, but want to give it a quick try, just in case?” 

Well how could she say no to him?

After showing her the movements and the incantation, the two returned to the river bank and stood a few metres apart. 

“Now focus on the spot in front of me,” Gale called to her. “Have this spot in your head as you cast the spell, think of nothing but moving here. And remember, use the momentum of your movements to imagine yourself moving too,” he called to her. She nodded and took a deep breath to prepare herself. Finally, she lifted her arms. 

“Inveniam viam!” 

As usual, nothing happened the first time. But she didn’t let that deter her. She tried again, and again. Gale called the odd suggestion to her, a slight change in her position or change of pronunciation. Soon she started feeling a brush of magic with each attempt, growing stronger and stronger… til suddenly she felt a lurch and a flash as she said the words. In an instant the ground fell away, her body was pulled in one direction and her mind another, then suddenly she was back on the beach, stumbling forward disorientated, completely losing her balance. 

Before she fell suddenly she was caught and she found herself in Gale’s arms, her hands on his chest as she leaned against him. 

“Woah…” she whispered, looking up at him as the world spun around her. 

“That’s it, you’re ok,” he said softly. “It can be a bit disorienting at first, but you did it!” 

“A bit…” she laughed, feeling like Gale was wildly understating the extreme dizziness she was feeling right now. 

“It’ll pass, don’t worry,” he assured her. She rest her head against his chest, feeling like she couldn’t stop her head swimming right now and needed to force it to stay still. After a few moments, as promised, the dizziness began to die down, and only then did she realise what position they were stood in. 

She lifted her head and looked up at him, her hands still on his chest, his hands still on her waist where he’d caught her. Feeling his hands there, holding her so tenderly… it almost made her feel light-headed again, and this time not from the magic. As their eyes met her breath caught in her throat and her heart skipped a beat.

“Feeling better?” he asked softly, the tenderness in his voice sending excited shivers down her spine. All she could manage was a small nod. Then she could swear, just for a split second, his eyes flicked down to her lips. Her heart raced in her chest as slowly, almost subconsciously, they drew closer together

There was a noise to the side and they both turned in surprise to see Astarion sitting on a large rock nearby, watching them. 

“Oh, please continue, don’t let me stop you,” he said innocently. He then let out a yelp as two mage hands suddenly pushed him off the rock. 

They returned to the tents to find the others just arriving - it seemed Astarion had walked on ahead a bit. But before Saff could think about her annoyance towards him any more, her attention was taken by the tiefling walking along with them. 

She was incredibly tall, well-built, wearing black leather and carrying a greataxe, one horn broken off while the other curled around her dark hair.

Suddenly Saff recognised her. 

“Wait, isn’t that-?!” she gasped, the words coming out before she thought about what she was saying. 

“Yes, it is,” Wyll said with a sigh, knowing what she was getting at. “Turns out I was misled. Karlach is no devil, she is a tiefling, and infected the same as us.” 

“You guys must be Saff and Gale!” Karlach said happily with a big grin. In the visions she’d looked terrifying, but now she had the warmest, most welcoming smile.

“A pleasure to meet you,” Gale said, walking towards her, lifting his hand for a handshake. “Woah now, wouldn’t do that soldier. Not unless you wanna burn your hand off,” she warned, taking a step back before he got too close. Saff frowned as she followed Gale towards her. 

“What do you mea-” 

The pain, again. She saw Avernus, devils and imps, the Blood War… and felt Karlach’s fear as she cut through them all, desperate for escape. 

“Arg, forgot that was gonna happen again,” Karlach said as the vision ended. 

“We did try to warn you,” Wyll laughed.

“Yeah yeah, well I guess I can’t complain too much,” she said, turning back to Gale and Saff. “Without this little worm, that one would never have believed my story,” she explained, pointing to Wyll. 

“I like to think I’m a good judge of character, but I fear you may be correct,” Wyll admitted, clearly not proud of it, but not going to hide it. “And what a mistake I’d have made. Heh, who’d have thought the tadpoles would prove useful?” 

“Suppose I’ve got two things to thank the mind flayers for then,” Karlach joked. “Seeing people’s memories when I meet them is definitely a new one for me!” 

The others chuckled and agreed, though Saff’s smile faded as a realisation suddenly dawned on her. 

With a gasp she turned to Gale and found him looking back at her with a slightly nervous look on his face. He knew what she’d just realised… 

With wide eyes she stepped back instinctively, and by this point the others had clearly noticed, and soon Gale felt all eyes on him, wondering what Saff was reacting to. 

“Ah, yes, I wondered if you might ask about this…” he started, before Lae’zel interrupted. 

“Ask about what??” she demanded, not wanting to be left in the dark. Meanwhile, Astarion looked quite excited.

“Ohh, we’ve only just got back and already there’s drama,” he whispered to Karlach, who happened to be standing next to him, and who looked significantly more concerned about all this.

“I didn’t see anything when I met Gale…” Saff whispered, the fear in her voice evidence of her fears about the reason behind that. “There was no connection, not like with everyone else…” 

“Did everyone else not see Gale’s memories?” Wyll asked, trying to remember what he’d seen when they’d met. “I saw books and a wizard’s tower.” 

“Those were my memories,” Saff said, knowing exactly which memories they’d seen as she’d seen them as well when their minds connected. 

“If you’d just let me explain-”

“Kaincha!” Lae’zel spat, drawing her sword. “He’s lying! He’s not infected at all!” 

“I assure you I am not lying!” Gale said quickly, holding his arms up in front of him defensively. 

“What, then? Speak!” 

“I just blocked it out! It’s not so different to Detect Thoughts and other such similar spells. I blocked out the tadpole the same way I would block out those spells.” “Ch’k, you expect us to believe you can just block out the tadpoles with such ease?” Lae’zel sneered, not believing him. Shadowheart clearly thought similarly. 

“The tadpoles are powerful magic,” she said, implying he wouldn’t be able to overpower them. 

“And I’m a powerful wizard,” he replied, the hint of a threat at the edge of his tone. “To control one’s mind and defend it against such threats is basic training at any good wizardry academy. I won’t claim blocking out the tadpoles is easy, but it is possible.” 

There was a moment of uneasy silence as they each weighed up whether or not to believe him. 

“Bah, enough! I will settle this!” Lae’zel declared, then strode towards Gale. For a moment the group thought she was going to kill him there and then, til she stopped in front of him and the pain ripped through their heads once more. 

They all felt it - Lae’zel trying to enter his mind. They felt her slashing the walls of his consciousness, trying to force her way in, as if trying to bash down a door… then suddenly they were all ejected as Gale’s defenses dropped like a portcullis. 

“Out!” Gale shouted, holding his head. He glared at Lae’zel, and she at him. 

“Ch’k, it didn’t connect. You have no tadpole!” 

“I stopped you connecting!” 

“And why should I believe you?” she demanded, raising her sword again in a threat. 

“If you want me to prove it then just ask, don’t start trying to force your way in!”

“Very well. Prove it to us,” she demanded. Hardly the polite request Gale had meant, but better than having his mind forced open. At least this way he could control what they saw… he hoped. 

“Fine…” he murmured, taking a moment to gather himself, before closing his eyes. 

The feeling returned, but this time it wasn’t painful. Not like their minds suddenly clashing together, but instead of his mind willingly opening up to them and sharing with them. He tried to focus on an unimportant recent memory, but quickly found the tadpoles seemed to gravitate towards rather more impactful memories. He could focus it somewhat, keeping it to recent memories, but couldn’t control exactly what they saw. 

The vision that came to them was that of a forest, though they felt his anxiety - then came the gnoll, jumping on him, throwing him to the ground. They saw its teeth, gnashing and tearing, sinking into his arm, blood and bile, searing pain, nothing but hunger behind the gnoll’s empty black eyes…

Then a blast of wind and thunder as the gnoll was thrown back. A blink and Saff was stood in front of him, protecting him as she hit the gnoll with everything she had, attack after attack. They felt his pain, his fear, his adrenaline… and maybe something else as he looked up at her…

The vision disappeared and they were back in the present. For a moment the group was quiet, some of them feeling a bit bad about turning on him so quickly when he’d been telling the truth, til Lae’zel spoke. 

“You were attacked by one of those creatures?” she asked, a hint of familiarity in her tone - they’d faced them out on the road, too. 

Gale lifted his sleeve and showed the bandages on his arm. 

“I was. And I wouldn’t be here right now if it wasn’t for Saff,” he said, turning to her. For a moment she blushed as the rest of the group looked at her. Astarion and Lae’zel in particular looked surprised, having seen how she’d reacted to the goblins the day before. Astarion’s look of surprise turned to a smile as he stepped forward. 

“Well then, a toast to your saviour is in order, is it not?” he said, taking his pack off and pulling out a bottle of wine. 

“Fuck yes!” Karlach agreed, happy both about the fact that the misunderstanding between her new friends had been settled, and that one of them had a surprise bottle of wine in his bag.

[insurged]

these are just headcanons of mine, random as they are, they’re important to why gojo says or acts the way he does now. gojo’s existence wasn’t as pampered as people initially think. no one from the 3 prestigious clans had it easy nor were they treated with respect or decency, it was earned with a strong emphasis on strength and power.

gojo tends to call a lot of people and curses weak. we hear it a lot from him, mocking and being entirely brazen about it, as if announcing it to the entire world. it’s only because he’s heard it a lot himself actually when he was a little kid. while six eyes grants gojo the ability of extrasensory perception, it’s an ability he can’t turn off and as a child, it’s tiring, it’s very much a curse. rest doesn’t exist for him. he cried a lot and no one he could cry too (all kids from other clans distanced themselves from him and adults? they would tell him to stop crying, it’s weak, he’s not supposed to be weak with the power he’s been granted with). he had to learn how to “sleep��� and rest with this ability and it was hard. no one could teach him any of this. so he heard the word “weak” a lot from adults and higher ups who had this extremely high expectation from him. gojo is constantly in a state where he’s stretched thin, that feeling we can all relate to when we’ve had an extremely hard day of work and traffic sucked ass and it took an hour or two just to get home and cooking dinner took just as long and it’s time to knock yourself out as soon as your head hits the pillow but only after taking a shower but then oh no, your dog is sick and you’ve lost a chunk of sleep before work the next day. does gojo ever say out loud to anyone about it, that this feeling is a 24/7 feeling? no, he doesn’t. no one can relate to it, therefore, really, it’s his own problem as it’s always been. but when he heard someone call him weak, he’d grit his teeth, clench his fist, raise his chin and used that anger to fuel his motivation. that’s why he calls others weak, it’s a challenge, it’s encouragement. he wants people to catch up to him. he wants this infinite space between him and everyone else to close. it’s his way of trying to raise others without showing any weakness on his part.

geto was gojo’s biggest wake up call and in all honesty, they let each other down in different ways. geto’s suffering and depression was not something gojo could detect. remember, gojo was quite isolated from social interactions until much later in his teens. all he’s known are individuals either berating him, having high expectations of him and being very cold about it in that regard, or those who are trying to assassinate him. he’s not developed in sensing someone else’s pain and while he did catch geto’s weight loss, he’s not experienced enough to detect that as linked with emotional pain. it was only after hearing that geto killed his own parents that gojo realized what those physical signs meant. even his hypersensitive senses couldn’t catch that emotional turmoil going on inside and the realization that being powerfully strong, being gifted with the greatest of powers, meant nothing when it came to people. his eyes should be able to see everything but it didn’t. killing geto, who he considered one of his best friends, wasn’t easy to do either and it’s not something gojo will ever talk about or bring up himself. the let down hurts, it’s guilt and anger at himself, and bittersweet memories he can’t get back. but what it did was change his priorities. killing everyone for a desire for change is not the way to go. geto lost empathy and compassion in his own suffering and while gojo can never reach that level, he wants to try, especially with the people he has left.

there are glimpses, moments when gojo becomes extremely feral or extremely cold whether he’s fighting or conversing. in one case, nanami compares gojo’s likeness to mahito in the “silliness while possessing deadly strength and power behind the smile.” really for gojo, it’s a defense mechanism. his goofiness in battle is really just his personality taking a front and to keep people lowering their guard but the feral cold side is akin to that of a calculating predator and this is really a traumatic side effect of assassins coming after him all the time when he was young. that twisted satisfaction of crushing opponents that dare to come after him just for existing, just because he has a power he never asked for and all the weight that comes with it. it’s a cathartic time for him, especially when he’s fighting and it shows through in a cruelty that surpasses his opponents.

[lolitastories]

GHOST

Javier Pena x Reader

Chapter 11

“Mija! Someone is here to see you” I get up in a hurry and move my hand to hold on to my gun. I don’t know anyone around and my grandmother isn’t expecting anyone. “This kind gentleman-” I came around to see a tall figure dressed in a suit standing there. “Do you know him?” She was questioning the whole thing too but I couldn’t get her worried.

“Yes. I will be right outside” With a nod she sends me off. “Who sent you?” I continued moving until I knew it was far away for my grandmother to see or hear anything.

“Noonan. You have been assigned a new case” He pulls out a folder and hands it to me. “She wants you on the earliest flight out” I nod.

“Tell her something for me?” The guy nods. “Tell Noonan the next time she sends someone to my grandmother's house, it will be the last time she hears of me” The guy nods again. “You know what?” I examine the file to see the location. “I will go and tell her myself” With a smile I motion for him to go ahead and leave. I make sure he does too.

“Is anything wrong?” I shake my head throwing the file in a drawer. I turn around to see my grandmother standing in the doorway with her arms crossed. I gave an annoyed sigh knowing she wasn’t going to let it go. “There are different ways to get in contact with me and she chose to send someone to your house” She doesn’t seem angry, she never was. It would be hard to read her at first but living with her from the age of 3 made her expressions obvious.

“He was cute” I shake my head with a smile.

“I can get you their number” I say jokenly which earned me a hit on my arm

“I mean’t for you, have to leave some for you right?” I roll my eyes laughing. “But you don’t want any of them do you?” She came closer grabbing onto my hands.

“I am not underestimating their true value but for now, men are useless” I didn’t need a pause on my life

“Honey” We both sit on the edge of the bed. “Building a big farm with a bunch of animals. The beautiful brick house with four pairs of feet running around will not happen with you moping.”

“Yeah, but I don’t need it right now. Plus the men I have met are just not it” I didn’t want to be descriptive but the only men I meet are on my travels and at work. They both have the same priority and that's hook up and disappear. Dine and Ditch. Seduce and then reduce.

“What about the guy from your last trip?”

“Ehh” I try to defer her question, which I have successfully done for a couple of days that I’ve been back. “What's for dinner?” But no good. She grabs my arm and pulls me back when I try to stand up.

“Mija” She says calmly at first but gets louder and annoyed with every word after that. “You are going to turn old and sour and no one will put up with you! You will be the crazy lady on the block and I will die before I get affiliated to that!” I wanted to mumble something along the lines of, You will be dead before that happens anyways, but it will be like passing down the crown. “You’re a good kid. Always so nice even when you have your father's temper and some other qualities that have to be genetics” She chuckles a bit. “Stubborn like your mother but I know I raised you to be better than all of that. I want you to find that someone who is right for you and I know you have to feel ready but you have to put some work into it too” I nod knowing she was right.

“I just haven’t felt the right thing. I want to be right” She nods slowly before getting up. I look up only to be hit on the side of the head. Not hard of course.

“Mija, get off your high horse. Nothing is going to be perfect, you just have to go for it. You don’t find the right person, it just happens and you can’t let fear of them not being the one kill that for you.If you allow it too, you will searching your whole life”

“Abuela?”

“Yes?” She says sweetly

“I think my problems are all caused by the hits you give me to my head” My grandma shake her head with a smile

“I should have sent you back a long time ago” I hold my laugh. “Let's go eat before it gets cold” The rest of the evening was spent enjoying the food and then it moved outside to see the sun go down behind the mountains. It felt safe staying here. I always thought in a couple of years I would move back for certain. I look over to my grandmother who has no one here most of the time and I think of doing it for her, it makes the decision feel better. But then I try to look past the mountains at what could be.

“You were always an overthinker” I turned to face her again as she was on her rocking chair. “But when things came to a decision point even if it was sudden, you always figure it out”

“Half of the time am praying it's not the wrong one”

“You are always doubting yourself too. You do for the people and you don’t seem to understand how grateful they are for you” I think helping is a normal thing, not something someone should be praised about. Its natural human decency. “You help families come together, have closure.” She stops rocking her chair to turn towards me. “Even if it's not publicized to the whole world, you continue to help the less known. People without a big voice. You just turn around and don’t truly take in what it means to them, you think of yourself as someone who just simply picked up something they dropped.” I look anywhere but her eyes. I didn’t feel like being lectured about another thing. “All I am saying is, you don’t have to change. You are already doing bigger things and becoming a better person. I just want you to be happy” I look over nodding my head.

“I am happy. It's just some rough patches I go through, but I am okay”

“Okay” She nods, leaning back in her chair to continue rocking. I can't help but roll my eyes. “If you continue to roll your eyes it will get stuck” Of course she would know. I swear she actually has eyes in the back of her head. I look back at the scenery and start praying for this time to last. But it didn’t, soon enough I was on my way back to Bogota, Colombia.

Chapter 12

[ladyseidr]

And another headcanon dump! TW for vaguely discussed self-harm.

by the time he's, like, 20, he's got multiple ear piercings and a septum piercing

in that same vein, planned on getting tattoos before getting scooped

only interested in the above because it's genuinely his style, not to like. get back at his dad or whatever. (like at most my william would slightly resent the fact that mike does whatever the fuck he wants with his appearance VS william forcing himself to stay so in line, if that makes sense. he's not old-fashioned regarding piercing/tattoos/etc)

bi, but has an extremely strong preference for men and masc-aligned ppl

complicated relationship with gender. like, he's fairly openly queer and interacts with other queer ppl, so he does explore gender presentation to an extent in those spaces, but hurricane isn't exactly... a queer hotspot (unless they're my portrayals in which case nobody is straight ever). still, he doesn't really hear abt IDing as nonbinary until long after the scooping. at that point, his identity as a whole is, er, complex and it's not really his priority. but he does recognize that he's nb at that point. tends to still default to using he/him pronouns and masc terminology, but comfortable with and occasionally uses they/them.

this is a headcanon i'm Tentative to post because i think ppl can be nervous because of my personal experiences, but fuck it: he absolutely struggles with self-harm. it starts in high school and honestly he never fully recovers normally. the scooping kind of, uh, gets in the way of it. he was already trying to get clean prior, but y'know. this should be a given, but he covers the wounds/scars and doesn't tell people. by default, nobody in his family knows about it.

to be clear about the above: i am comfortable exploring this topic so long as you don't try to get me to write him (or any muse) actively self-harming. i'm a grown adult, i know my limits and i'm more than capable of messaging ppl if i need things toned down. i'm also many, many years clean at this point. please don't baby me if you're interested in exploring this topic (and, on that note, i will never even allude to his self-harm unless you have explicitly told me it's okay).

def works at fred.dy's off-and-on prior to william's disappearance. fucking hates it, but also struggles to keep jobs elsewhere. prefers working at locations william isn't active at, but just keeps ending up alongside him regardless. can't escape each other and all that shit lmao

actually pretty damn intelligent but absolutely doesn't believe this abt himself

hates his father but also still loves him. yes, ever after everything. nothing about their relationship is or will ever be simple. regretfully remembers the "good times." wishes he didn't. (glad he does, because what else does he have?)

speaking specifically on my elise: loves her. resents her deeply. when he's younger, fully pegs her as a shitty mother. when older, gets it but still just can't completely forgive her. absolutely feels abandoned by her and tells her at one point in the midst of an argument

headcanon tag is a reference to this song because uh? "this is who i am / nobody said you had to like it / this is who i am / a modern tragedy / bury your mistakes / clear those bones from your closet / with wisdom there’s pain" ?????

there's literally so much more i could write but let's just fkjsdsda leave it here for now

[bloodmoonborn]

FROM VILLAIN TO SINGLE MOTHER OR THE FAMILY WE MAKE

exclusive verse with @cruelprincae

The lost princess was born under a blood moon and a sky devoid of stars. A bad omen, they all said. A harbinger of death and carnage. Perhaps her disappearance will bring prosperity to the kingdom after all.

Princess Velara

From day one, she hadn’t been destined for grandeur. As a first born halfling child marked by the bleeding moon, there was no way she would ever ascend to the Seelie Throne of her mother’s kingdom and so she was raised at the palace (by servants) up until the tender age of 4. The Queen had only kept her around as backup heir in case she couldn’t conceive another one. Though as soon as the Queen found out she was pregnant with the legitimate heir, she ordered for her first child to be killed in a clandestine sacrifice to the Great Mother to bring prosperity to the kingdom. Fortunately for the little one, a servant snatched her just in time and fled to another faerie realm, killed the mortal child of a couple living there and put the little one in its place. The couple was then glamoured to believe she was their child.

Kaethryn

She's not Kaethryn. The love she receives all her childhood is meant for someone else and she knows it. None of it is actually real. If those people knew what she really was, and what happened to their real miracle child, she would be despised. The rare moments she actually felt connected to her semblance of family was when the woman taught her how to sew and the man taught her poetry. There was just something special about being taught a skill so gently and creating beauty all together. Ten years later, her caretakers were killed by a fae who kidnapped her. Her kidnapper/new caretaker was abusive, making her a test subject for all sorts of potions and poisons since her halfling nature made her a more enduring subject than her regular mortal servants. She fell in love with a mortal servant named Enora who was a witch and her caretaker didn’t take it kindly once she found out. She fled with her lover. They got married and managed to have a few decades of happiness before her past came back to take her wife. She was not there when it happened. They’d just had a fight and she was out to get some air. Enora wanted a family whilst she was too scared of ruining this potential child without meaning to.

As she was dying next to her fallen wife’s body, in in a burning cottage in the woods, she heard a voice. It called to her, promised her revenge and power. The price seemed simple enough: give up on life. And so she did. She rose from the embers, her connection to nature completely severed, with a new face, a new name and a goal: get her hands on that Blood Crown and make Faerie pay for what they took from her.

Nyx 

She finds herself supplying Prince Dain in poison without knowing what he’s using it for. It’s not until she becomes a seamstress in High King Eldred’s Court, and notices the symptoms of her very craft, that she understands her client has been feeding it to his father. An information she shares with Prince Balekin. To which he replies that it is bold of her to admit to treason against the High King to his own son. She holds his gaze and tells him that she does not fear death and that whatever suffering he wishes to subject her to will never be enough to truly break her because she’s felt it tenfold already. It is love at first sight for Balekin (or whatever equivalent of love exists in his wicked mind). He has no idea his beloved is half-fae nor that she plans to get rid of him once she takes the Blood Crown for herself. But her priorities shift once she’s made aware of what Balekin does to his little brother, of the abuses he subjects the little one to. She’s suddenly reminded of growing up unloved and abused, reminded of Enora’s words in response to her asking why she would make a good mother: you know what it’s like to be unloved and uncared for, my love, and i know you’ll never let a child suffer as you did. And so, that night she made love to the monster in her bed and, once the poison upon her lips and skin took him into a deep slumber filled with his worst nightmares, she left the room and ran to the dungeon, freed the boy and fled with him to the mortal world.

She had no intention of becoming a mother, no intention of ever nurturing life, and yet there she is, raising a 10 year-old prince of faerie in Portland, away from the crown and the land she wished to claim and tear apart for taking the one person who ever truly loved her.

[yaoi-life96]

Monsters Within

Summary: After complete radio silence from nosy Reporter and informant Freddie Lounds and a mysterious email, Detective Will Graham is sent off by his boss to investigate her disappearance. The investigation leads him to the Murkoff Corporation and their involvement in the Mount Massive Asylum, which has been shut down before being reopened to house the criminally insane. Will heads to the asylum in the hopes of finding the missing Reporter. If only he knew what monsters lie inside...

CHAPTER 1

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

A groan escapes a man with dark, curly hair as he walks down the sidewalk. It was far too early to be awake.

The man looks to his phone, 6:47 taunted him. He should still be sleeping, his shift doesn't start him nine!

But then again, his boss is an ass.

He makes it to a tall building, entering through a door with a sign on it.

'Detective Jack Crawford: Private Investigator'

The dark haired man enters a large room with a long table with chairs, as well as a small coffee station.

Where a woman with long dark hair was fixing a cup of coffee.

"You're up too, Bev?" asked the man.

The women, Beverly, just gives a tight smile before sipping her hot beverage.

"Morning Will, ya, Jack called us all in, something must have happened." said Beverly.

Will Graham, Detective Crawford's profiler and 'Prized Bloodhound'. Prized because of his empathy disorder.

Will's empathy allows him to walk through the crimes and as through the eyes of the criminals. It's also thanks to this gift Jack was able to get his detective business off the ground. Not to mention work murder cases.

"What's happened, thought we were working the Museum case." said Will.

Beverly just shrugs when the door opens, revealing a large dark skinned man. This man was the boss of this building, Jack Crawford.

"Good, you're both here, sit down." he ordered.

Will looks longingly at the coffee but sits down anyway. Beverly takes her own seat, sliding over a cup to him.

The dark haired smiles happily at her, picking it up to drink.

"So what's going on, was the there a breakthrough on the museum case?" she asked.

"No, we got an urgent email, and it's an emergency." said Jack.

Will puts the empty cup down, wiping his mouth to look at his boss.

"Who's the email from?" he asked.

"Freddie Lounds, she may be dead." said Jack.

The room goes deathly silent, Will looking at Beverly in shock.

He and Freddie never got along, him finding her news articles tasteless. Not to mention her love of invading people's privacy.

She also tried to write a article on him, but thankfully Jack put a stop to it before she published it.

Though she did become their mole during cases.

But to hear she as killed, that was quite the shock considering she was skilled at getting in and out of many situations.

"How do you know she's dead?" Beverly asked.

"Late last night, I received an email from her." said Jack.

He passes a copy to both his employees. The email wasn't long, just short and quick.

'Detective Crawford,

This may be the last you ever hear from me. I was investigating a new story and I got too deep.

It's bad, really bad!

The truth has to come out, this can never be allowed out. You're the only one I can trust, the only one who can finish what I started.

I don't have much time, they're almost in. This is my final good bye.

BEWARE THE RIPPER, AND WHATEVER YOU DO, DON'T LISTEN TO THE MONSTERS INSIDE!

Freddie Lounds'

"Ripper, what does she's mean by Ripper?" asked Will.

"And monsters, where the hell did she go?" wondered Beverly.

"I don't know, but we need to figure it out, whatever she was trying to uncover, it cost her life." said Jack.

"I get that, but what about the museum case, it's high priority." she said.

Jack looks over, his gaze resting on Will. The dark haired man looks around before shaking his head.

"No, why me, I'm not a Detective, I'm just a profiler." said Will.

"Well, this can be your chance to become one, Will, I need your imagination on this." said Jack.

Will just shakes his head. The last time Jack used him for a murder case, Will lost himself in the killer's mind, even bringing something back with him.

"Jack might have a point, while we're busy with the museum case, you can try to retrace her steps." said Beverly.

"Yes, we can join you after we finish the case." said Jack.

Will looks at them, but sees he won't be getting out of this. He sighs deeply, wishing he had stayed in bed.

"So where should I start?" he asked.

"Try her apartment, it's on fourth street, she gave me a copy in case anything happens." said Jack.

He moves to his desk and shows off a small key. He hands the key over, Will reluctantly accepts it.

"Bring a video camera with you, no offence Will, but your handwriting is bad." said Jack.

Will just nods, eying the key as he wonders what he got involved in.

'Hopefully it's nothing as bad as that murder case I worked.' thought Will.