#although there are observations to be made about who gets watched by whom here

[trillscienceofficer]

???

[xshadowdelta]

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Natty x Male Reader x Soyeon (3.8K Length)

Tags: Rough sex, anal, titfucking, blowjob, facial, choking, nipple play, creampie, dirty talk

You were lying on the sofa of your apartment, overwhelmed, jaded, and abhorred due to the suffocating heat. According to the weather girl on the news, you were experiencing one of the worst heat waves in history, and she wasn’t wrong. The fan wasn’t nearly enough to combat this sunny attack on your person.

You zapped through the different TV channels searching for something to distract your mind, if you didn’t think about the heat it would disappear for sure, delusional.

You found out that on one of the channels they were playing the Olympic Games, which was definitely a good distraction. You kept watching the sports for a while, at that precise moment of the day, the swimming competition was taking place.

Within a couple of hours, the day’s competition had ended with Katie Ledecky winning, what? her 20th gold medal? That woman is the goat of swimming, was your thought.

However, that made a bulb light appear above your head, giving you an interesting idea. Maybe going out and spending some time in the public pool, soaking to cover yourself from the heat, could make you enjoy this day. You didn’t think twice and in just minutes, you had everything ready with your pool bag, towel and swimsuit.

You took your car and drove to the pool area, and as you first guessed, there were a lot of other people affected by this infernal heat.

You managed to visualize a free spot in the grassy zone, and although there wasn’t much shade, it was the best you had found, so you placed your pool bag and towel on it, smeared some sunscreen on your arms and shoulders, and walked towards the pool.

The freshness sensation when your body came in contact with the water was simply unbeatable, you were sure you could stay here until you were forced to leave to close. You approached one of the corners of the pool, resting your arms on either side of the edge as you looked around.

There was a little bit of everything at that hour of the day, children fluttering around playing with balls and water guns, their parents running after them trying to scold them, people like you enjoying a refreshing break, others taking the opportunity to do some exercise and swim, and a bunch of crazy people lying on the hammocks sunbathing, masochists.

Your eyes focused on an extravagant orange hair in the distance, which captured your attention immediately. It was a girl who was wearing a fairly short jeans and a small white tank top that left her belly visible, where you could read “Lifeguard”.

She was small, but, being honest, she commanded respect. You knew it by the way she was scolding grumpily at everyone who tried to exceed her pool’s rules, but on the other hand, with the kids, she always offered a beautiful smile.

That girl had a nice body proportions, maybe not too voluptuous on her chest, but her butt shined incredibly, especially with those tight jeans, it was hard to look away. She was certainly sexy, and…

“Looks like Soyeon caught your attention.”

A voice brought you out of your thoughts, and you noticed a feminine figure standing just to your right. How did she get so close to you without you realizing it?

“Excuse me?”

Smiling, she pointed with her head at the girl whom, until recently you were devouring with your gaze.

“Soyeon, the lifeguard, everyone will think you are a stalker or something if you keep looking at her like that.” She pointed, laughing loudly. Your face turned all red, and your body again felt so hot, not because of the heat now but because of shame.

Then you focused for the first time on that strange girl with black hair and tanned skin. She was wearing sunglasses on her forehead and a white one-piece swimsuit with different color details. She seemed like a very smiling girl, her smile seemed to never disappear, and her laugh could be heard in every corner of the pool.

“Oh no, I was just observing distractedly, I have no weird intentions, was looking to deal with this damn heat.” You explained with a little smile.

“Really? Too bad.” She pouted. “I’m sure she would give you a blowjob in the locker room if you ask her.”

“W-W-What?” Your confusion and nervousness ripped another laugh out of her.

“Yeah, she looks so rude now, but she is a slut who loves cocks.”

That little conversation was making you so hot that it seemed like the surrounding water was boiling. Then the girl moved closer to you, standing in front of you, blocking any other view you might have but hers. Her hand moved underwater to touch your penis, which had acquired a considerable size.

“And me too.” Your body tensed at her touch, and you looked nervously to each side without stopping. You never experienced something like this before in view of everyone, afraid that anyone or even worse, that lifeguard would find out what was going on.

“What are you doing? Anyone could catch us.” With her other hand she placed her index finger over your lips to shut you up.

"Shhh, trust in me." She put her whole hand into your swimsuit to grab your cock, masturbating you with slow movements.

"My name is Natty by the way. Nice to meet you." Her smile was cute, but at the same time, you can see in her that she was enjoying so much watching how you react to every step she took.

"Same here." You replied slowly and haltingly to avoid letting out a moan due to her fantastic touch.

She got even closer and caught your lips in a soft kiss, which you really enjoyed until you noticed how she used her thumb to play with your tip. She gave you a smirk and another kiss, masturbating you again, this time increasing the speed. You bit your lip, refusing to emit a moan as you grabbed her hips to help her use her body as a shield so that no one would notice that situation.

The palm of her hand was playing again with your tip, rubbing with fast movements, making you grab her hips harder. She playfully smiled at you for that. But she suddenly stopped, took his hand out of your swimsuit, and stepped away from you a little, still smiling. You looked at her with a clearly disappointed face.

“If you cum here in the water, we will have some problems, you should cum in another appropriate place, my face, for example.” She couldn’t say that kind of thing with a big smile and laughing, she was crazy.

“I will wait for you in the locker room, don’t make me wait, yes?” She came back to you to whisper in your ear. “I’m so fucking horny…” You hard swallowed saliva.

You saw her get out of the pool and head toward the changing rooms, she was totally fucking crazy, and the worst part is that you were following that crazy girl.

You waited until your erection subsided and became less noticeable for the rest of the people there before you could leave as well. You followed Natty way to the locker room, looking one last time at the lifeguard girl now sitting on her chair. She was looking directly at you too, and it gave you goosebumps.

As soon as you entered the locker room, Natty cornered you against one of the walls, looking at you with lust. She smiled playfully, going back into your swimsuit to make your cock hard again.

Now you didn't control yourself, and you let out a couple of moans that were quickly silenced by Natty's lips, who desperately searched for your tongue. Your hands traveled to her cheeks, fighting fiercely in that kiss but keeping enjoying her masturbation.

You placed your hands on her shoulders, and with a quick twisting motion, she was now the one pinned against the wall.

She left your penis for a moment to take her huge boobs out of her swimsuit. You salivated when you saw them free, and you threw yourself on them to put them in your mouth.

Natty moaned non-stop, enjoying how you licked and sucked her tits, imprisoning her even more against the wall, making her rise a little so that she could surround your waist with her legs.

"It seems I have unleashed the tiger." She smiled, burying your head further into her breasts, rubbing them over your face, and in response, licking and playing with her nipples.

You stopped then, taking some air, breathing heavily, taking her hands and taking her to the other end of the locker room, telling her with a nod to sit on the bench. She did so, and before she could blink, you guided your cock towards her boobs. She understood your intentions instantly and laughed at this.

She put her hands on either side of her tits, trapping your cock in the middle of them, moving them at a frenetic pace, making you moan non-stop.

"You like my titfuck right? I'm an expert."

"I fucking love it, so good." You said, slapping one of her tits, drawing a moan from her.

In response, her tongue began to lick your tip as her tits continued to be dragged along your entire length. Your cock sank between her tits and reappeared again and again, making everything start to get wet.

"More." She moaned, but you didn't know what she meant. "Spank my fucking tits harder, fuck." She asked desperately, and you wouldn’t say no to that.

You slapped her tits again, this time continuously, the sound of your palms hitting her meat echoing through the place, now joined by her screams.

"FUCK, FUCK, FUCK, YEEEEEES." She screamed without holding back in the slightest.

She stopped her titfuck and then grabbed your cock, using it to slap her own tits and even rub your tip against her now hard nipples.

She stood up and, still holding your penis in her hand she dragged you to one of the bathrooms, closing the door.

"Sit down." She ordered, pointing to the toilet, and you obeyed immediately.

She pushed aside the part of her swimsuit that connected to her pussy, giving you a perfect view of it, dripping intensely. You started to masturbate yourself admiring her.

"Look what you've done, I hope you're proud." She said, stroking herself a little bit.

"I am." You responded in a mocking tone.

You kept your cock erect as you watched her approach you, straddling you, connecting your cock with her pussy and slowly starting to lower yourself, taking it all in.

"So big." She whispered, caressing your chest.

"So tight." You responded in kind, moving your hands to her butt.

And so Natty began to ride you, raising her hips until she left only the tip of your cock inside her pussy and then lowering herself abruptly, obtaining it whole.

Your cock hit Natty's depths again and again, and your moans were drowned in insatiable kisses that were continually cut by the pleasure you felt.

On one of those times when your lips separated, you took the opportunity to catch one of her boobs that was bouncing non-stop, with your mouth, sucking hard and biting her nipple.

Feeling uninhibited by the pleasure, she increased the pace with which she rode you, while with your hands now on her hips, you helped the movements become more ferocious.

"I'm fucking cumming! I'm cumming!" Natty moaned without stopping her pace until she finally stood over on top of you, cumming.

With hardly any time to waste, she got off of you, kneeling on the floor in front of you, masturbating your cock quickly, and sticking out her tongue.

A few threads of semen were shot straight from your cock towards her face, staining it completely.

"Fuck." You gasped, tiredly watching her try to collect most of the cum from her face with her hands, bringing her fingers to her mouth and licking them.

At that moment, the bathroom door opened with a loud slam. You both turned around startled, looking at the little orange-haired lifeguard who was looking at you very angry.

Your pulse stopped for a moment, you could see how she looked at you, at the pitiful appearance you had at that moment lying naked and exhausted on the bathroom.

"Really Natty? That's the third time this week." She commented, looking at the girl on the floor, who was smiling nervously.

"Sorry, Soyeon, I couldn't resist."

"I've told you, I have no problem with you doing these things, but not on days like this, with so many people, what happens if they catch you?"

"I know, I know, I'm so sorry." She apologized continuously, putting all his clothes back on properly.

"I'll make it up to you, okay? I will invite you to dinner tonight, okay? Okay, bye!" She said, running out of there, fearing her friend's anger.

You took advantage of that moment to stand up and try to leave the bathroom in search of your clothes, but Soyeon's arm prevented you.

"Where do you think you're going? I'm not done with you."

With a little push from her, you backed away and fell back onto the toilet. You noticed how she was still glaring at you.

She switched her gaze to your cock, you tried to cover yourself with your hands, but a slap from her made you move them away again in pain.

"Ouch!"

"Shut up," she said, closing the bathroom door behind her. She kneeled where Natty had been minutes before and grabbed your limp cock, still covered in cum.

"What a waste." She whispered, starting to lick your entire cock from top to bottom, cleaning it.

It wasn't something you had expected, and that made you horny again, fattening your cock until it regained its full state again.

Soyeon lifted your cock and captured one of your testicles with her mouth, holding it there for a few seconds and repeating the action with the other one.

"You better have saved something more." She threatened, still angry.

"I can get an extra special load for you." You said, making her look at you.

Without saying anything, she opened her mouth wide and inserted the entirety of your penis into it. You gasped and by reflex you brought your hands to the back of her head, burying it on your cock.

Soyeon didn’t protest about it, on the contrary, she began to move her head uncontrollably, making a lot of erotic sounds during the blowjob.

"Shouldn't you be alert for someone drowning?” You asked curiously.

She let your cock escape from her mouth, completely covered in saliva, and spit on it.

"It's Yuqi's turn, now the only one who's going to choke is me on this damn cock, so shut up and show me why Natty was screaming like a whore."

She resumed the blowjob, using her hands to play with your balls at the same time.

You brought your hands to her head, grabbing a fistful of orange pigtail hair in your fist to help her swallow your cock.

She continued sucking you with just her mouth, taking off her lifeguard top with her hands, and you took the opportunity to touch her small tits.

“They aren’t as big as Natty, but I will treat them the same.” You squeezed her nipples with your fingers, surprising her and making her gag on your cock.

You took advantage of that sign of weakness, and using your fingers, you started to stretch her nipples a little bit. She closed her eyes while she kept taking your cock. As she didn’t stop you, you kept stretching her nipples more and more, they were turning really hard and red under your fingers.

Soyeon reached her pain limit and caught your wrists with her hands, stopping the process going. She lifted her head to look at you with her mouth filled with your cock. After a few seconds, she lowered her head back to the base of your cock and released your hands that were still gripping her nipples, giving you permission to continue, and you did, applying a new wave of pressure to her nipples.

She tried to resist the pain combining with the pleasure she was having sucking your cock, making your dick reach deeper in her throat, in an attempt to silence her screams.

Her nipples were released from the pressure, telling her to stand up, and when she did, you pulled her towards you, sitting her on your lap. Her lips were swollen from the treatment she had given to your cock, and a trail of saliva came out of her mouth.

You touched her tits again, caressing her sensitive nipples that reacted under your palms. Soyeon made a small moan, they were so red and itchy that even the slightest touch bothered her.

Once again, her nipples were your objective, this time licking with your tongue one of them while the other one was being pinched by your fingers. Your mouth started to suck her nipple. You looked at her, but her face didn’t change at all during this time. She was still looking angry at you, so you decided to bite her nipple, making her scream.

Your hands grabbed her nipples in a quick move, but she reacted fast and stopped you again. Both of you were looking at each other, the challenge was being sent, and she had to make a decision.

“Motherfucker.”

She removed her hands, accepting the challenge, and you smiled, raising your hands with her nipples held. Her arms surrounded your neck, and at the same time, she began to rub herself on your cock, masturbating you.

The higher you raised her nipples, the faster she moved, and you could notice how her pants couldn't retain the liquid that was beginning to drip from her pussy.

You gave her nipples one last thrust, digging your thumbs into them as if they were a button. Her movement stopped instantly. She opened her mouth, but there was no sound. You got as close to her as possible without letting go.

“Slut.” You were smiling, she was furious.

Soyeon got off your lap and turned around, you thought she was going to leave the bathroom, but no, she bent over to show you her impressive ass and gave herself a spank on the cheek before taking off her jeans.

"Really?" You asked excitedly. She looked at you over her shoulder, supporting her hands on the bathroom door and raising her butt for you.

You stood up from the toilet holding your cock to bring it closer to her ass, when Soyeon felt the touch of your cock she began to move her hips, twerking with her ass.

You massaged her ass, giving her a couple of kisses followed by a hard spank on her butt cheek, making her grunt, a grunt that gave way to moans as your tongue began to delve into her rear hole.

You savored every corner of Soyeon's ass while she continued to move it on your face. You separated her ass cheeks with your hands, being able to see perfectly how her small hole contracted uncontrollably.

You slowly approached your cock towards her ass, first rubbing it and then playing with it until finally you slowly entered his hole. Soyeon let out a little scream when she felt the entirety of your penis delve into her small hole, feeling a little dizzy as it continued to grow inside her, stretching her ass.

You grabbed her wide hips to start thrusting into her, Soyeon clung harder to the door, moaning uncontrollably, and with each thrust, your hand collided with her cheeks, making her clench her teeth.

She grabbed your hands from her hips and brought them to her breasts, in a clear sign that she wanted more. Without hesitation, you squeezed her nipples again.

“Destroy these little nipples.” She moaned, provoking you to give her a harder treatment.

Your cock went in and out of Soyeon's ass without rest, everything felt so good that it was even difficult to maintain composure and balance. You leaned on her back, completely cornering her against the bathroom door with your body, placing your hands on either side of her head.

Without warning, you took a few steps away and put one of your arms around her stomach and the other one around her neck, pulling her towards you, something that made your cock move even further into her ass, causing true fear in Soyeon.

"What the hell are you doing!?" She protested annoyingly, holding on with both hands to the arm around her neck.

You noticed how she tried to free herself from your grip, however she was clearly smaller than you, so you had her completely dominated under your arms. Your hips continued to move, and ramming her without stopping, you lowered your head to whisper in her ear.

"Be a good slut for me." You said, applying a little force to your grip, and in reaction to that, she couldn't help but scream a loud moan, curling her body under your arms, cumming intensely.

"Fuck, what was that?" You asked, surprised by the puddle that had formed at your feet, loosening your grip on her as she couldn't stay upright and fell to her knees on the floor.

"I didn't think you were that weak, I guess it was all a facade." You fell silent when you saw her, still on the floor, she placed her own hands on her ass, opening it for you, inviting you to enter again.

You didn't hesitate for a second to crouch down next to her and reinsert your cock inside her, making her scream again.

"FUCK, YES, PLEASE, FUCK MY ASS HARDER." Soyeon begged, totally vulnerable.

"That's right, Soyeon, you're being a good slut." You said, ramming her from behind with all your strength, that she automatically bounced her ass against your cock again.

"Yes! I'm a slut, please use me!" She screamed as a result of your thrusts and spanks on his completely reddened asscheeks.

You continued pounding herself that hard for a few minutes until you unloaded a new shot of cum directly into her ass, driving her completely crazy.

You kissed her shoulder without her being able to stop panting with her tongue hanging out, you took your cock out of her ass that was now dripping with your cum.

You left the bathroom to get dressed in your swimsuit again and looked back one last time to see a new stream of fluids coming out of Soyeon's ass uncontrollably, unable to get up from the floor.

"I have to visit more times this pool.”

[milliesfishes]

Hii! Do u think u could write something about maybe how in the second episode in season 1 billy and reader r together and she accidentally gets herself in the middle of him and antrims feuds and billy becomes very protective?

౨ৎ꣑ৎprotective billy antrim౨ৎ꣑ৎ fem reader x billy the kid

Billy Antrim came to you like a rainstorm soaking a flower field.

His family had moved into town less than a year ago, a lovely mother, adorable little brother, a tired looking man and Billy. Your attention was piqued immediately by them. Plenty of new families moved to Silver City all the time, but there was something about this one...well, something about their oldest son...that kept your eye on them.

You merely watched from afar at first, eyeing them from the marketplace or the general store. It wasn't that you set out to see them, but they happened to be in town often at the same times you were.

But it wasn't until you met Mrs. Antrim that you started to get closer to them.

You were looking at a bolt of fabric, running your fingers along the material and debating making a new dress out of it when she appeared beside you. She was looking at another fabric, pinching it between her fingers. Noticing you, she smiled. "That's a lovely color." A lilted Irish accent made her words all the more charming to you. "It'll look fetching with your hair."

"Thank you," you smiled, looking over at the blue color she was examining. "Is that for you?"

"My son, Billy," she explained, holding up a bit of it and considering. "He needs a new shirt. He's had the old one for a long while."

"I see," you nodded, measuring out a stretch and handing the shopkeeper the money for it. "Do you live in town?"

"Yes," she smiled sweetly. "Just moved here a few weeks ago."

"Do you like it so far?" you questioned, folding up your cut.

"It's a far sight from some of the towns we've lived in," she laughed. "In the best way."

"I'm glad to hear it," you said, watching as she paid for her own fabric. "It'll be wonderful to have you here."

"Kathleen," she introduced herself, holding out her hand. You shook it nicely, telling her your name. She eyed you with a smile. "You're a sweetheart. I'll be happy to come across you again."

Indeed, every time you did after that she was. Kathleen always had a kind word for you, and you looked forward to seeing her. She was the first of the Antrims you met.

The second was Joe, whom you quickly grew fond of. He was with his mother one day in the market, and after that you'd slip him a sweet in passing every time you saw him. He was a sweet little boy who clearly loved his mother dearly.

Mr. Antrim was next, although you didn't exactly meet him. He came often to the bar you worked at, and you served him whiskey after whiskey almost every time you had a shift.

And then there was Billy. You'd heard Kathleen speak of him several times, but never come across him.

Until one day when you were out walking on a cloudy day as you often did, in a meadow close to town. Musing to yourself as you wandered, you were surprised by a raindrop hitting your nose. Looking up, you noted the dark grey color of the sky. Hopefully it wouldn't be too bad during the walk back.

But quickly your hopes were put to death when it began to pour, the rain soaking your skin and dress. You laughed, spinning once and holding your hands up to the sky.

A voice startled you out of your bliss, and you spun to see a man standing behind you with a concerned expression on his face. "You alright miss?"

Nodding in a bit of a daze from the shock, you realized who it was. The only member of the Antrim family you hadn't met.

You couldn't help but study him up close. So many times he'd been observed from far away, and your curiosity had gotten ahold of you this time. Billy was tall, on the leaner side but with broad shoulders. There was a gun belt slung around his hips, and a hat on his head, with dark brown curls peeking out. His shirt, you noticed with a modicum of satisfaction, matched the fabric Kathleen had been looking at awhile back.

"I'm okay," you assured him, pushing some of your wet hair out of your face. "I was just taking a walk and now..." you looked up at the sky then back at him. "I don't mind the rain."

This brought a little smile to his face, but he still moved closer to you. Now you could see the color of his eyes. Pure, deep blue, like the sky on a cloudless day. He was less than a foot away from you. "Still, it's gonna be a rough storm, looks like. Would ya-?"

Thunder rumbled nearby, and you jumped, automatically moving toward Billy. His hand came to your back in a protective way that nearly made you swoon.

"Ain't safe to walk back now," Billy commented, looking down at you. "Here, we can go into the clearing 'n wait out the worst of it."

"Okay," you nodded, and he took your hand, leading you through the meadow and into the trees, hiding where it was dry. The both of you were soaking wet.

"I know a little spot nearby," Billy explained, still guiding you through the clearing. "Lightning hits trees, don't want ya to get struck."

"That wouldn't be great," you agreed, and he gave you a nod.

"It's just-ah!" Billy led you to a slot in the nearby mountain akin to a gaping mouth. "Here. We'll be safe in here."

"You've been here before?" you asked, shivering a bit as you stepped in. It was dark and cold and you folded your arms around yourself to try and maintain a little body heat.

"Come here sometimes," he explained, nodding at a little circle of stones near you. "I'll start a fire. Could be awhile." You noticed a stack of cut wood to the side. It was clear he was a frequent visitor.

"Sit," he nodded, stacking wood in the circle and pulling out matches. "Can't have ya freezin' to death."

You did so hesitantly, putting out your hands when the flames started to catch on the wood. Looking up at him, you tilted your head. "Do you often rescue strange girls from thunderstorms?"

A smile quirked his lips. "I know who you are. My momma's rather fond of ya. M' brother too."

That made you smile, and you looked down. "I see."

He was sitting with one leg propped up, an elbow resting on his knee. "My momma reckons you're a sweetheart."

"That's nice of her," you blushed, looking down. "She's lovely as well."

"She is," he agreed, studying you. There was a moment of silence as the fire crackled, and with the way he was looking at you, you shivered in a way that didn't have anything to do with the cold.

He held out his arm. "C'mere."

"Hm?" you furrowed your brow in confusion.

"You're still soakin' wet," he said, his arm still extended. "I've got plenty've heat to go around."

"You're wet too," you pointed out and Billy laughed.

"Yeah but I'm bigger than you. C'mere," he flexed his fingers. "Lemme warm you up."

Carefully you moved over, into the safe looking space of his arm. He pulled you against him, settling his hand on your midsection as he held you close. "This alright?" You nodded, letting yourself lean into him. His clothes were still damp, but he was warm. You liked his hand there, big and warm with fingers sprawled across you.

"I've seen you around town before," you said quietly, your cheek smushed against his shoulder.

"Have ya?" he sounded amused, his fingers twitching on your side. "'nd ya never said anything?"

"No," you said simply, and he chuckled.

"Think I woulda noticed such a pretty girl," he commented, and you saw him set his hat by the fire to dry off.

That made you blush more, and you couldn't help your smile. "I keep to myself."

"Ah," he nodded in an understanding way. Billy rubbed your side in a respectful way, trying to warm you up more. "Has your family lived here long?"

"Not too much longer than yours," you said, staring into the fire and watching it dance.

"What's the story?" he questioned, looking down at you. "If ya don't mind me asking?"

"My father married someone new," you explained, looking up at him with a soft smile. There was something about him that made you want to tell him everything in your mind. "He wanted a fresh start."

He was looking at you in a way you couldn't place, but it felt warm. Cautiously, he lifted a bent thumb to brush a strand of wet hair from your cheek. "D'ya like it here?"

"More and more," you said, looking up at him. Something changed in his eyes and you looked up at him with doe ones. "Why did your family move here?"

Billy chuckled lightly, brushing your cheek with his thumb. "Y'know, it was pretty much the same reason as you. 'cept it was my mother who got married a lotta years back."

You nodded in understanding, looking up at him. "It must've been hard."

"Was," he nodded. "I'm gettin' used to it though. The town, not my mother's husband."

"Don't like him much?" It slipped out before you could filter it. "Oh- I'm sorry-"

"It's okay," he assured you, giving you a fond look. "It's okay. No, I don't. He's...well, he's done things no man should be proud of."

You nodded sympathetically. "I'm sorry. It can't be easy living with him." Your hand moved to his on your stomach, interlacing the fingers and squeezing. It felt so natural that you barely remembered you'd only met him today.

Billy smiled softly. "Yeah. But it's okay." He squeezed back. "He ain't my whole life."

The storm turned out to be far more perilous and long than the two of you had originally thought, and when he suggested you spend the night in the cavern, you agreed straightaway. You were happy with your choice when he laid down by the fire and snuggled up to you from behind to keep you warm.

After the night in the cave, you found yourself drawn to him. He would come up to you in town and chat, leaning against a market stall or the railing of the porch to meet your eyes. You enjoyed spending time with him and found yourself missing him when he wasn't near you.

When he kissed you for the first time it was raining again, but this time you were in town, ducking under a roof in an alleyway. You were both laughing, and you'd accidentally fallen into him, holding onto his arms to steady yourself. He held onto you tight, looking into your eyes and the next thing you knew his lips were on yours, cool from the rainwater. You kissed him back, wrapping your arms around his neck and standing on your tiptoes to reach him.

From that point on, the two of you were inseparable. You fell hard and fast for him, jumping into his arms like he was a lake on a hot day. He adored you, was with you at every possible moment.

It was such a whirlwind, and you loved every second. You quickly learned what it meant to be Billy's girl, and it was a smooth river of flowing love and attention and time. He took you for walks in the clearing where you'd met and let you sit in his lap while you braided daisies together. He'd sneak you onto the rooftop of his house and show you his favorite stars, telling you all their names. Especially concerned with your safety, he escorted you everywhere, keeping an arm around you so everyone knew whose you were.

Billy would come wait for you at the bar in the tail ends of your shifts, drinking a whiskey and watching for wandering eyes. His stepfather was still a frequent visitor, and Billy didn't like you around him at all.

It was true that Antrim's eyes had a tendency to linger, as did his hands, but he seemed to keep to himself when Billy was around.

You didn't know much of what had happened between them, only that Antrim had done some horrible things in the city from which they'd come. You knew it was a sensitive topic, so you didn't ask many questions.

One night, when you were finishing cleaning up at the bar, you noticed Antrim still at the table he'd occupied all evening. Everyone else had cleared out, but he nursed a glass of whiskey, staring at the wood of the table.

You approached him, drying off another glass as you did. "We're just about closed, Mr. Antrim. Can I pour you one more?"

He looked up at you, eyes catching on parts of you that you'd rather they didn't. "That's alright darlin'. I'd best be headin' out." There was a look in his eyes that you didn't like, and you took one step back.

"Okay, I'll-"

Suddenly he stood up, grabbing your arm. You could smell the alcohol on his breath as you tried to wriggle away. He chuckled lowly. "You're real pretty, y'know that?"

"Mr. Antrim-" you tried, but he held firmer, and the glass slipped from your hand and shattered at your feet.

"Oh ya look even sweeter up close," he whispered, and your breathing quickened, your eyes wide with fear. One of his hands came to your waist, trailing upward to your chest. "Bet if I could touch-"

"Antrim."

Both of you looked up and saw Billy at the door, arms folded. Antrim didn't let go of you. "Kid."

Coming closer, Billy gave him a warning look. "Let go of 'er."

"Aw you're not gonna kick my ass over this little thing," Antrim scoffed. Billy got close to him, grabbing hold of his arm that was holding yours.

"I said let go." His words were glaringly threatening. When Antrim still didn't loosen his grip, Billy shoved his arm off you, sending the drunk man stumbling a few paces backward.

Billy's boots crunched over the broken glass on the floor as he brought you close to him, putting his hand on the back of your head and bringing your face to his shoulder. "Out."

You heard the sound of footsteps scurrying out, and Billy heaved a sigh of relief. He rubbed your back, his big hand on your head making you feel safe. "M' baby," he murmured, hugging you tight to him. "You okay? He didn't hurt ya?"

Shaking your head, you drew back to look at him. He rested his palms on your cheeks and you held his wrists. "I'm sorry, 'm so sorry this happened to you. He's rotten, ain't ever leavin' ya alone here 'gain."

"Billy," you were a little shaky from the experience and he recognized that, drawing you back into his arms and kissing your head, whispering sweet things into your hair.

He led you to his bed for the first time that night, not for anything sexual, but for protection, assuring you Antrim wouldn't come home. And even if he did, he'd have Billy to deal with. You snuck past Joe, reaching into your pocket for a piece of candy to leave on his pillow by his head.

Billy smiled at the gesture and reached out his hands for you, holding you like a teddy bear between his arms. You settled your head on his chest since he only had one pillow, and besides, you liked better here anyways.

It became a bit of a habit after that- coming to his bed after work for that feeling of safety that you had only ever found in his arms. You loved him for wanting you to feel that way. Kathleen never said a word about it when she saw you leave in the morning, only smiling at you in her sweet way.

Rarely did you come across Antrim in their home, and when you did you were always under Billy's arm, feeling like he was a shield. The nights you spent with him were always peaceful, and you treasured them dearly.

One night, after collapsing into him after a longer shift, you woke up in the still, eerie hours of the morning and Billy wasn't there. Looking up, you realized it was raining, the steady sound making you smile.

You waited a few minutes, but Billy didn't come back. Standing up and stretching, you smoothed your dress and made your way out to see if he was in the kitchen. No Billy.

Once you were there though, you could hear a distinct, violent sound coming from outside, easier to hear over the rain now that you were closer to it. Hesitantly curious, you opened the door, and immediately, you were frozen.

Billy was throwing a punch at Antrim, sending the man tumbling to the muddy ground. He shouted something and Billy did too, their words impossible to make out through the rain.

But before you could go back inside, Billy turned around and saw you, his face falling. He just stood there, in the pouring rain for a moment, staring at you and gaging your reaction.

Finally you willed yourself to move, and you came forward to him, not caring that your clothes were getting soaked. Reminded of the first time you met, you let the memory make this scene a little softer.

You reached for his knuckles and saw how bloody they were, the rainwater washing some of it off. Without saying a word, you led him by the hand back inside, and he followed.

Grabbing a rag from the sink, you pressed it to his hands, one at a time. The blood stained your hands, but you didn't care, your eyes never leaving him. He seemed ashamed, and he avoided your gaze the entire time you were cleaning him up.

Putting the rag down, you took both his hands in yours, squeezing them. "Billy," you started softly. "What happened?"

He exhaled softly, still not looking at you. "'S not for you to know, baby."

"Billy," you repeated, leaning in closer. Your words were unmoving, intentional in their purpose.

Squeezing your hands back, he closed his eyes as he spoke. "He was tryna come back in. Said some things I won't repeat."

"About what?" you pressed.

Billy met your eyes. "'bout you, sweetheart. He hit me where he knew it'd get me."

You inhaled sharply, searching his eyes. "You..."

"Hey," Billy squeezed your hands again, sensing your distress. "I get into it with Antrim all the time. Ain't no big deal."

Shaking your head, you found yourself on the verge of tears. "Your hands were bleeding..."

"Alright, alright," Billy removed his hands from yours and brought them to your waist instead, pulling you into his lap, your back against his chest. One of your legs was situated between his knees, and the tiny gesture comforted you. He rested his chin on your shoulder, his arms around your middle. The both of you were still wet from the rain but neither of you cared.

"Needed ya to be nice 'n close when I told ya this," he murmured, kissing your shoulder and lightly rocking you back and forth. "Angel...there ain't nothin' I wouldn't do to keep ya safe. You're my girl. That means you've got me no matter what. Understand?"

You nodded, leaning sideways so you could rest your head on his shoulder. Instantly you knew the gravity of what his love for you meant. Here was a man who loved you enough to protect you.

The realization only made you love him more, and you told him so when the two of you were cuddled back up in bed that morning, the sunrise starting to peek through the window.

"I love you," you breathed against his chest, your affection swelling from your heart and pouring out your mouth like sunshine.

He held your head to him and kissed your hair. "I love you, sweetheart. You're safe with me. I promise."

And as dawn stretched its rosy fingers into the sky, the way you loved him was smooth and soft like the rain that had brought you two together, only leaving joy in its wake. The steady flow of his love was something you could hold onto, something safe and solid, always found when you were nestled in his arms.

come talk about billy here!

[sotwk]

The Baker from Lórien (Haldir gen ficlet)

Summary: A visitor from Lórien brings some excitement to the kitchens of the Elvenking's palace.

Word count: 1.1k

Content: Pure fluffy randomness, mother-son relationship, toddler Legolas

Rating: General (no warnings apply)

To Read on AO3: Link

A/N: I wrote this ficlet purely on a whim; I had no plans or strategy for it going in. It could be nonsense, or I could be onto something. XD It's most likely going to stay a random SotWK AU one-shot, but who knows. I pretty much just wanted to finally write any story featuring Haldir, whom I love dearly and firmly believe was one of the most desired bachelors east of the Mountains. Special thanks to my friend @creativity-of-death who inspired the concept of a Baker Haldir long ago!

Headcanons about Haldir in the SotWK AU: Any questions you might have about the background history in this fic would be answered HERE.

The Baker from Lórien

Third Age 246 Spring

Bar Lasgalen, the Palace of the Elvenking

“Down and forward, turn, and fold over. Repeat. Remember to use the heel of your hand--this part, right here.”

The lump of dough felt pleasantly squishy in Legolas’s hands, and only with great self-restraint did the four-year-old elfling manage to resist playing with it like modeling clay, instead of following his instructor’s example. With eyes narrowed in determined concentration, he watched the steadily working hands of the elf across the table from him. After just a minute or so of observation, he began to mimic the brisk kneading motion.

“Yes, good! That is very good.” The visitor from Lórien seemed pleased, albeit surprised, by how quickly the child caught on.  

Legolas beamed at the ellon’s praise, and held the smooth ball of dough up high over his head in triumph. “Is it ready for the oven now?”

“Not quite.” The silver-haired ellon took the dough from Legolas and checked it with a few expert prods of his fingers. “It needs time to rest and rise. An hour at least, although up to three is much better, and then we can reshape it into loaves. Then it must rest again, before it can be baked.” 

“Three hours?!” Legolas exclaimed, already dismissive of whatever other steps came after. “Does bread really take that long to make every time?”

“The loaves should be fresh and hot out of the oven just in time for your Highness’s breakfast.” Legolas watched as his dough ball was placed into a large pan next to five others and covered with a dish cloth.  

“And a delicious breakfast is best preceded by a sound night’s sleep, is it not?” The voice that came from the kitchen doorway made Legolas scramble off his stool. He smiled sheepishly at his nursemaid, Ninniel, as she entered with a knowing smile and firm shake of her head for him.

The older ellon spoke up. “My apologies, Emmë. I should have realized the hour was too late.”

“It’s all right. It appears some valuable learning has been accomplished here, at least.” Ninniel took in the rather comical sight of her grown son towering next to her not-at-all-grown charge, both of them dusted in flour, and felt all her exasperation melt away. She dipped a tea towel into the washing basin and set to work wiping the sticky residue off Legolas’s fingers. 

“Will you come and get me when my loaf is finished baking, Halidr?”

“Well…” Haldir of Lórien glanced hesitantly at his mother. He was still unsure what to make of Thranduil’s sons, who all behaved without any regard or perhaps even awareness of their social rank. Legolas, in particular, had been unabashed in his fascination with Haldir ever since his arrival at Bar Lasgalen. Today was merely the first day of a month-long, overdue visit to his parents, and most of it had passed with the little prince turning up wherever Haldir happened to be, armed with a constant stream of questions. “It really is not my place to--”

“When your bread comes out of the oven, I will wake you to come and have it for  breakfast, with me and Haldir,” Ninniel interjected smoothly. “But the sooner you get to bed, the sooner you can rise refreshed for a new day, yes?”

“That sounds excellent!” Legolas threw his hands up, and wriggled his hips in a little sort of dance. “I shall be back in a few hours, Haldir! Please take care of my bread!” he called out to the bemused elf before bounding out the door. 

“Are you still finding everything all right, dearest?” Ninniel swept a light hand over her son’s broad back. In one touch she could tell Haldir was fairly relaxed, as she had hoped he would gradually become. Her eldest had always been the most serious of her children, and his nature only grew graver as the ages passed and the memories of hard years weighed on him. It had been far too long since his last visit to Eryn Galen, so rarely could he be persuaded to leave his post at the March, and Ninniel hoped the brief holiday away would be restful for his spirit. 

“Yes, everyone here at the palace has been… quite attentive.” Haldir smiled and planted a swift kiss over his mother’s hair. “The prince’s arrival sent them scurrying off, I fear, but I do not think he seemed to mind or notice.”

Ninniel shook her head. “The only thing they were running from was their own embarrassment,” she said. “I will let you return to your work, my love. Legolas and I will be back soon.”

And indeed, as soon as she exited the kitchen, she encountered the gaggle of young kitchen maids waiting in the hall, preparing to re-enter now that the royal Highness had left and gone to bed. 

“Lady Ninniel,” they curtsied to her, appearing only mildly abashed by her witness to their obvious intentions. But this was a small phenomenon Ninniel had grown accustomed to over the years, for it became clear early on that her handsome son elicited rather strong reactions from elleths, often without any encouragement. 

“My lady, if we may…” one of the girls blurted out. “We were wondering… that is, we wanted to make certain… do you know whether or not Lord Haldir…”

“He is not a lord, and he would not appreciate being addressed as one,” Ninniel corrected gently. “And as far as I know, he is not engaged, involved, or taken with anyone at present.” She gazed at the line of hopeful faces and pressed her lips to smother a chuckle. “Any of you are welcome to try and draw his interest, if that is your wish.”

But best of luck, indeed. Ninniel sighed as she departed, leaving the sounds of pitchy giggling behind her as the pack descended on her oblivious son. Whether there was any chance of a maiden in all of the Woodland Realm catching Haldir of Lórien’s eye, much less his elusive heart, she did not know. That hope had certainly not borne any fruit in over a thousand years of matchmaking attempts. But any diversion, any added source of joy outside of his work, his books, or his baking, could only be a good thing. 

Anything beyond that--dare say a betrothal, a marriage, or even a new precious grandchild--was something Ninniel was prepared to be completely surprised with. But a mother will always hope.

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[lyon-amore]

From the Ashes Prologue

*Jake POV*

     "MC, I know we have been back for a year and that we are making up for lost time, but we know that we are incapable of being away from each other, that we never stop loving each other" I take a calm breath, taking the hands ". I love waking up with you next to me every morning, listening to your jokes with the movie references or that you are there in difficult moments when I feel like the whole world is watching me, but you are there to calm me down when it happens to me and it is those moments when I think I am lucky to have you. MC… Will you marry me? "      "No, I don't want to marry you, I don't love you."

     I look at Dan after making his voice high pitched. I knew this was a mistake. I should not trust him.      "I am leaving." I say offended.      "Come on Jake! It’s a joke!" I hear Dan and Thomas laugh.       I continued walking, leaving the living room of Thomas's house.

     We had gone to Duskwood for a weekend, like every weekend. It was customary to do it, although everyone already knew who I was ‘Hey! He is the son of Nathan Donfort!’ ‘He cuckolded his wife? And he's not ashamed to come here?’ ‘Surely he wants something, you do not return after 37 years of life looking for a father for no reason. He must want money.’      Clearly not all comments are not like that and when throughout your life you have heard comments towards you and your mother, you are used to it.      "Jake, whatever you tell her, she's going to say yes." Thomas laughs, patting me on the back "Why do you doubt that?"      "Because she might not want to after…"       I did not know if MC wanted to prepare another wedding or want to get married. Maybe I think about it too much.      I had the dream of sharing my life with her completely, when I thought that I could have lost her forever, I was afraid. I do not want to miss this opportunity in life.      "She came after you as soon as she left Duskwood" says Dan ", it's more than clear that this girl wants a guy who doesn't take his eyes off the computer instead of getting some fresh air and doing couple things."       I roll my eyes and sigh. Yes, I am thinking a lot about it.      I take the box and put it in my pants pocket.      "I am going to look for her." I answered decidedly.      "That's right! Go for it, tiger!" Dan exclaims excitedly, raising his glass of whiskey.      I am a little nervous, I have never gotten this far with someone. MC is the first woman with whom I have lasted many years and they are the best years of my life.

     Recovering a lost life was a little complicated. After the vacation I decided to take with MC, I wanted to put my past life in order with my friends. When I found out that one of them was desperately looking for me, I knew I was wrong to have mistrusted him. He even got mad at me for thinking of him that way. Like MC, it helps me not to have the thought that I am being persecuted.      I really want to think that no one is chasing me to stop me, but it is complicated. Sometimes I even get nervous thinking that they can attack MC again. That case had made me a little more protective. I am lucky that she understood and calmed me down to think about something else.

     I see MC talking to the girls in the garden. Hannah is holding Luca in her arms and the girls are fondling him.      I see how my sister passes the child to MC and she carefully picks him up, then taking his little hand as she smiles at him. She comes out very naturally, it shows that she is used to taking care of children even though she denies that she likes them.      I chuckled, still watching. I want to observe the scene a little more.

*MC POV*

     It was unbelievable that a year had passed after everything that had happened with Charlotte and Schneider, it almost seems like something that happened a long time ago.

     Jake and I have a dream life, great jobs, good friends, a cat we love like our son, and the most wonderful times we could ever imagine.      Once a month we used to go to a Chinese restaurant, making it a tradition. Our tradition.      Now I could say that I was very happy, knowing that Jake had been free for a year, my worries about knowing if he was alright every day without hearing from him had gone. Now I was trying to help him have a normal life. Since that case, he used to be nervous all the time. All I could do was be there supporting him and helping him calm down.

     About Phil, I hadn't talked to him since I left him. Perhaps a greeting when we pass when we come to Duskwood. The last thing Mrs. Sully told me was that she had seen him and a girl leave his house.      Well, I guess the old ways don't change. If he's happier that way, then I won't stop him. I already have someone much better.

     Being with the group was like being with a family. Sometimes I miss one, but with them I forget and the emptiness is complete. And I'm sure it happens to Jake too, he has people around him who care about him. I wish I could do more for him, I mean, he's met his father but… what about his mother's family? He never knew anything about them? I don't even want to think about how difficult it must have been for a child to be alone without grandparents or uncles who didn't love you.      I only hope that we are enough for him as his family.      "Have you told Jake yet?" I look over at Lilly, who takes her drink with an accusatory look at me.      "No, it's still early." I answered, playing with Luca to make funny faces.     “You should tell him.” Jessy sighs, shaking her head.     "Tell me what?" We hear Jake behind us and I freak out.     "That I'm going to put a bell on you to know when you're coming." I joked and he laughed. I love his laugh.     He leans in and kisses me. I runs my hand through his hair and the girls start jokingly complaining.     “Okay, this isn't something for under eighteen” Hannah says, picking up Luca “, come on, it's time to eat.”      We laugh, and Jake kisses me on the top of the head.     “Do you have a moment?” he asks me with a nervous tone of voice. he has tried to hide it, but I have noticed.     "Sure" He offers his hand to lift me up and I accept it ”. I'll be right back.”     “Or not” Cleo teases, raising an eyebrow “, because it wouldn't be the first time you've left us hanging.”      “I promise to give her back to you” Jake runs a hand around my waist, giving Cleo a sincere look ”. I give you my word.”      The girls laugh and we walk away, nearing the tree house Thomas had built for his son when he grew up. A fortress for Luca. One lucky baby.      “Have you ever been in a tree house?” he asks me, looking up.      "No, we never had one." I answered, then looked at Jake "Have you been on one?"      "Yes, but it was not that big of a deal, it was just a casino."      I laugh when I hear the Simpsons reference.      Something we shared was a love for series and movies. I don't think there was a night that we tried to disconnect from the world lying on the sofa with Gizmo and bet if the movie or the series that we are going to see is good or bad. If it is good, we see it whole. If it's bad, we leave it in the background, busy with something else, much better.      "So it's going to be our first time in a tree house?" I ask, excited as a child.      "I think so" He smiles at me and points to the stairs ". Ladies first” I point to my dress and he blushes ". Sorry, I had forgotten."       He starts going up muttering things. I can't help but think how adorable he is. I really like it when he gets chivalrous or shy even though they've been together for years. I don't want him to ever change.

     He holds out his hand for me to enter and I settle into a small chair. It's full of Hannah and Thomas' toys in boxes, for when Luca grows up.      "Incredible..." I murmured, looking at the place "Thomas must have had a hard time doing it."      "A father would do anything for a son." he says a little wistfully.       I took his hand, entwining our fingers. I smile fondly at him and with his free hand he brushes a strand of hair from my face.      "I'm sure Nathan would have made you a tree house."      "Um...is it too late to ask him?"       We both laugh and I can really imagine Nathan making a house just to make up for lost time with Jake.      "And what do you have to tell me?" He asks me, with a curious tone.      "Why don't you start telling me what you want from me?" I smiled, wanting to hear what he had to say "I would like to add a little emotion to my news."      "Okay, me first."       He takes a breath looking at the ground. He seems to be thinking about his words.

     He ends up looking me in the eye, determined.

*Jake POV*

     I can see how her eyes sparkle, waiting for my words. With my hands, I try to calm myself by lovingly holding hers, delicately. I feel like when we first met, so nervous I can hardly think straight. Only the good times with her appear in my head, not the words I had rehearsed.

     Actually, I did not need to rehearse any words, I know what I have to say.      "MC" I pronounce her name as clearly as possible and I can see how a slight blush appears on her cheeks. Sometimes I am surprised how easily I can make her blush just by saying her name. What could be said, that it became my favorite word ", in my life I have been wrong in many things, but I have to say, that meeting you was the only thing I was right about, even if it was not in the most common way to meet someone" she drops a little laugh and I can't help but smile ". You have always been the reason why I am still here, hoping to continue with the little family we have created" as I am talking, I feel like I am relaxing. Selfconfident ". And it is what I want to do the rest of my life with you. "      “Jake…you're going to make me cry.” she says, quickly bringing a hand up to her face to wipe away a few tears and shake my hand again.      "Well, that is not my intention" I let out a laugh and she accompanies me ". MC, I do not think we need more years to think about it, because at least I have it very clear" I put my hand in my pocket, ready to take out the box ". MC, would you do me the honor of-"     "MC!" We hear Lilly from downstairs, interrupting me. "They're calling on your phone! It says 'police station'!"      MC frowns, with a scared look. I know that she saved the phone number because she would get nervous when they called to talk about the 712 case and everything we investigated. Seeing the name calmed her before answering.      "I thought we had already told everything." I look at her strangely. It is assumed that the issue was settled.      "I don't know why they call me either." MC gets up and heads for the stairs.       Great, interrupted by the police. I think the law enforcement officers must be watching me every time I want to be happy with her.

     I climb down from the tree and approach the two of them quickly.     "What's going on?" Lilly asks me "Haven't you finished already?"      "I wonder the same thing." I whispered, crossing my arms.      "Yes, it's me…" we see MC frowning, she seems nervous "What has he done?!"       I am surprised to hear her talk like that. She starts walking in circles.      "Of course yes! …. No, no, of course, now I'll go... Yes, thank you very much" she hangs up and she looks at us apologetically ". I'm so sorry, I have to go right now."      "But what happened?" I am starting to get nervous with her concern. At least she does not look terrified.      "I have to go to the police station, if I go out now we may get home" it does not seem like ‘we may’ is telling me. It is like she was referring to someone else.       I watch as she hurries to the table where she was before her and Lilly and I follow.     "Girls, I'm sorry, but I have to go, it's urgent." she says as quickly as possible.      "But is everything okay?" Jessy asks, as if she's catching her nerves.      "I don't know-"      "I will accompany you with her." I take her hand and caress it, trying to calm her down.      "No Jake, you can stay here-"     "I am serious, I am not going to leave you alone in this matter, whatever it is."       She sighs beginning to relax. She nods with a half smile.      "Please excuse us to Thomas, Hannah and Dan." MC looks at them apologetically.      "Of course, go, before the police get impatient" Cleo also catches her nerves “. We are concerned about the mysterious reason you have called.”      "Call us later to let us know." Lilly looks at us, speaking quickly.      "Yes, of course, I'll try to give you the details." MC and I quickly returned inside the house to the entrance, taking our things.

     When I get to the car, I see her struggling with the keys to try to open the door. I move closer to her, taking her hand.      “Let me drive.” I offer, taking the keys.      “Yes please…”       She walks around the car and I unlock the car.

     During the journey, I see her bite her nails. I slowly lowered her hand from hers, instantly getting back behind the wheel.      "You are going to hurt yourself." I warned her, trying to stay calm.      "I just can't explain it to myself!" She exclaims exalted "How is it that they have arrested him?"      "But who have they arrested?"       I glance over at her, watching her rub her temples.      She lets out a sigh.     “There's…Something I haven't told anyone.” she says very slowly.      "When you mean nobody, who are you referring to?"      "Jake, I… Mylittlebrother'sbeenarrested!" She blurts out the words very quickly.      "You will see how in the end it is not- Wait a minute. Did you say little brother?"

Chapter 1 soon

[truly-morgan]

[a|b|o, candidate for future mate,  Ω!LQR α!WRH (w.i.p)] [Part 3 + 4]

RuoRen | Mo Dao Zu Shi Omegaverse + Modern AU 04-04-2022

[#ruoren, modern, a/b/o, age gap]

[𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟯: 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀]

a week and a half had passed already and this was enough for lqr to get used to the rather large residence, but also have a rough idea of how things would be with most of the other omegas.

Tang Xing stayed with the one with whom he had the best relationship. Truly the young man seemed to really enjoy learning from him and working with him.

Su Zhu was the troublesome one, always ready to be snarky with him and pass unnecessary comments when wrh wasn't here.

thankfully no event like the tea one happened again (although he was still a bit on his guard about it).

Everyone else, for now, seemed in between, although no one seemed as hostile towards him as Su Zhu was. Some were friendlier than others, but it was near expected that some wouldn't get too close to others. they weren't here to make friends.

lqr himself didn't mind much, after all, he too didn't come in the idea of making new friends.

but all the constant interaction leads him to need some time off away from people. Sometimes one simply needed silence and it was hard when there were people around all the time.

He had finished his task for the day and had decided to go to the study to read.

wrh had seemed more than happy to allow him to settle down and read in the tranquillity of the room. He had simply prepared some tea and was reading near the window, enjoying the silence of the room.

He was able to have tranquillity for probably two hours until he noticed he was being watched. He decided after a couple of minutes of feeling observed that he should see what it was all about.

so he put down his book, looking to the side.

he was a little surprised to find two little boys looking at him from behind one of the bookshelves, looking startled to be found out.

"Hello there" he smiled warmly, trying not to scare them away, "I am Lan Qiren, who might this young master be?".

The older boy was the first one to come out, the other one (he assumed was his little brother) hiding behind him a little as they approached him.

"I am Wen Xu, and this is my brother Wen Caho".

So these two young masters were wrh children. They did look similar to him after all.

"Are you one of the people grandma wants Baba to marry?" wx asked, clearly curious to see who he might be.

"You could say that" he admitted. this made the two young boys frown a little.

"Then are you trying to replace Mama?" asked wx, voice sounding a little tight.

lqr's couldn't help but soften at the sight of those shiny eyes, feeling sad for them. It was probably still too recent in their memories to lose their mother, yet there were all these people to get their father and replace their mother.

"I do not believe I would ever be able to replace your mother" he assured him. Anyone here would be a fool to believe they could replace her. From what he had heard, wrh had truly loved his wife. he could love a second time but it didn't mean one of them could fully replace her.

His words seemed to reassure the young boy who looked immediately more at ease, smiling at him.

"Are you back from school?" lqr asked once he noticed his school bag, trying to change the subject.

"Yes, I started grade 2" wx replied proudly, a large grin on his face.

"Then do you need help with homework?" lqr asked, only for the boy to shake his head. "I have already finished all my work at school".

lqr hummed at this, watching the two boys going to the table near him.

He decided to join them to look over them, a habit he got from watching his nephews who were the same age as them. He sat down with his tea and book in front of wx, ready to resume his reading, when he felt a little tug at his side, finding wc grabbing at the hem of his shirt.

The boy did his best to lift up his own little bag, probably a way to imitate his big brother, to which lqr took it to put it on the table.

He was then surprised when he lifted his arms, looking like he wanted to be lifted up. "Do you want to sit with me?" he asked.

"Chao'er is still too small to sit at the table, he would be too low to draw" pointed out wx, to which wc started to nod.

This made lqr chuckle a little, helping the young boy up so he could sit in his lap, watching as he got his crayon & drawing book out to do like his brother.

the omega had thought of starting to read again, but he instead kept drinking his tea as he watched over the boys and listened to them talking about how much fun they had at their aunt's house playing with their cousin. it was pretty entertaining listening to wc exaggerated tale of his playtime, his mind clearly going too fast for his mouth to say everything, sometimes sounding incoherent.

This reminded him of his time spent with his nephews, bringing a warm feeling in him.

"there you are!" came a voice from the doorway, cutting wx mid-sentence. the two boys looked back to see their father entering, looking relieved. "Why did you two disappear without telling anyone?" he asked them, catching an excited wc that had gotten off of lqr to run to him.

"You scared the poor maid that was supposed to look over you" wrh sighed.

"wen zhuliu said Baba wouldn't be back from work in a while and there were too many strangers in the living room" wx explained. after all, the residence was indeed filled with people they didn't know.

mdm wen had a meeting for one of her books, leaving the boys alone with only servants that might know them.

"We found Lan-gege here once we sneaked out of the living room," wx said, as if to show at least they had someone looking over them.

wrh finally looked directly at him, his worry clearly gone enough to notice someone else was indeed here. "Thank you for watching over the boys" he smiled.

"It was nothing, it was pretty entertaining listening to them talking about their stay at their aunt's place" he assured.

"Lan-gege drew with me!" wc said excitedly, giggling in his arms, "mountains and clouds!".

wrh hummed at his son's rather short description, approaching the table to have a look. lqr had indeed drawn a scenery with clouds, something rather traditional.

it was a bit rough around the edge, but crayons weren't exactly the best medium to make something good.

"Indeed a very good drawing" he grinned, "I didn't know Renren was also well versed in drawing as he is in music".

"I took some class when I was younger, but it is nothing impressive, I decided to put my attention on music instead" admitted lqr.

"Then would I one day be lucky enough to hear you play for me?" asked wrh, looking genuine in his interest.

"if young master wishes to hear me play, then I would be honoured to play for you" he replied with a small smile, "although it has been a while since I played for anyone". This somehow seems to please wrh even more.

"Then I would be happy to be your first audience in a while".

after that, it was announced that the young masters would also be staying with them with their father. They had been over at their aunt's for a little while only.

lqr could only assume it was to let everyone time to settle down first before bringing wrh previous children into the house. he was a bit worried things could get stressful for the boys.

When their grandma and father weren't there they would usually stick to the maid that was supposed to look over them. When lqr was free he found himself looking over them quite often too.

They seemed a bit unsure about the other omega around the house. They could stay in the same room without a problem, but tang xing told him he noticed they weren't as cheerful as when their father and grandma were there. even wzl seemed to make them more at ease.

and it was understandable. everyone here was meant to be their father's new partner. Or in their little-minded, "the one trying to replace mama".

It probably didn't help that some didn't seem to want a relationship with the children of a previous marriage.

which was a true shame in lqr's eye. children should be loved and taken care of, not be despised because they are from someone else.

clearly, the boy could sense some of them didn't like them.

the one for which it was the hardest seemed to be wc. after all, his brother had school on weekdays, leaving him here alone when the other people in his family were working.

it had become quite the norm after a couple of days to hear quick and short footsteps coming to him with a young voice calling out "Renren!".

"look at him, trying to gain points with master wen by getting through his kid first" he had once heard su zhu scoff from the other side of the room.

"I am sorry to hear young master Su cannot take care of children that aren't his," lqr replied, lifting wc up when he noticed him reach out for it. he didn't notice how his expression softened when wc hug him closely, nuzzling in the crook of his neck.

"I hope you do not believe young master Wen will ever put his own sons aside just because you give+

birth to new ones" he added.

he was a bit surprised when he felt wc nuzzle harder, whispering "Renren don't be angry". this calmed him down, instead of turning around, not believing it was worth it to waste his breath on someone like Su Zhu.

"Do you want to go take a walk on the path in the wood?" he asked the boy who seemed excited at the idea.

"I want to come too!" Tang Xing replied excitedly, tagging along.

lqr hummed at this, before saying they will need to warn the maid before taking the young boy out.

"You will also need to change for clothing more appropriate for a walk in the wood" he added, letting the boy down as he was too excited, already running to his room while dragging lqr with him.

The trio missed the glare thrown at them by Su Zhu.

¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯

[#𝗿𝘂𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗮/𝗯/𝗼 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟰: 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴]

"Renren wait".

lqr stopped as he was exiting the dining room after eating, turning around at the now familiar nickname. he offered a small smile to wrh, waiting to see what he was being called out like this.

"Would you like to join me for a little evening date" the alpha grinned, looking rather expectant.

"Would it really be alright?" lqr asked with a small raise of his eyebrow.

"Of course, I am encouraged to get to know all the candidates more with little dates," wrh replied, "I was really able to have these little dates with about everyone, but not you" he explained, "Young master Lan busies himself quite a lot and when he's free I have work to do" he added with a playful pout.

lqr wanted to chuckle a little at the honorific he hadn't heard in a while. No one really considered him a young master anymore, unless they are from an older generation.

"I see no reason to refuse, does young master Wen have an idea in mind?".

"Yes," wrh smirked, "And since this is a date, please call me Wen Ruohan" he added, "no need to be so formal".

After that, he guided him through the residence, guiding him somewhere they don't usually go to.

wrh made sure to open the door for him, letting him go in first.

lqr was a bit surprised once he got inside, finding himself in a music room. His gaze was attracted to the corner where a guqin was sitting on a low table, some tea and treats waiting near it too.

"Renren said he would play for me if I were to ask him," wrh said near his ear, a grin on his lips when he saw lqr startle a little out of surprise.

"Then it would be my pleasure to play for you, although I do need to say it has been a while since I was last able to practice, I may be a little rusty" lqr admitted. He had been rather busy working in the Lan company and helping his brother and sister-in-law take care of their two boys.

He went to take a seat behind the instrument, first making sure it was well-adjusted.

soon he picked one of his favourite songs to play, slowly easing back into the action of playing. it was pretty nice finally being able to play after so long. focusing on the music and letting his mind go.

It went on like this for a while, lqr playing the guqin as wrh silently watched him play, drinking his tea without ever trying to interrupt him.

When lqr had a fill of playing he took a break, accepting easily the cup of tea offered to him.

"For someone who claims to be rusty you play beautifully" wrh commented with a soft smile, "You look very serene when you play, I felt like you were lost in the music at some point" he chuckled.

"thank you," lqr said, accepting the compliment, "music is a way to relax for me, letting everything else go and only focusing on it... I like it".

There was a little silence afterwards as they drank tea, lqr looking more closely around the room now. aside from the guqin, there was a piano in the corner of the small room.

"Do you play any instrument?" lqr ended up asking, wondering if wrh knew something about music.

"I don't" wrh replied with a laugh, "they did try to get me interested, but music was never my interest, I don't have the talent for it" he explained, "I was more into sports, especially martial art, even better some double into self-defence too" he added.

"I did hear you were quite good in competition" admitted the omega, remembering some people in their circle talking about how strong the alpha heir of the Wen was.

"Do you still participate in any of the sports you did before?" lqr asked rather curious to see if these sports were something the man did in his free time.

"I don't really have the time anymore, I have a lot of work and needs to take care of my boys" wrh admitted, "I do try training to stay healthy, but sometimes when I miss martial art too much I'll fight with wen zhuliu, it's also a good way to make sure he also stays in shape" he laughed.

seeing how wrh acted with wzl, he wouldn't be surprised if he was also his training partner.

clearly, he seemed to trust the other alpha quite a lot.

after a while he decided to play some more, taking requests from wrh, even trying some he never really played before but did know the melody to it.

when he stopped again his eyes drifted back to the piano again, making him curious.

"if you do not play any piano, why do you own one?" he ask, "if it's not too intrusive, of course" he added.

"Renren is never too intrusive" wrh grinned, before the smile dropped a little to something more melancholic. he looks at his tea for a moment, before drinking the last of it. "My... wife liked to play it for us, it was one of her favourite past times to play it" the alpha admitted, a warm smile on his lips as he seems to remember her playing it.

"I am sure she must have been a good pianist" lqr commented, expression softening at how wrh truly seemed to miss his wife. They must have been quite the pair together.

"She was, she never wanted to turn it into a career, only keep it a hobby, but anyone who Listening to her music would agree she was a great pianist" wrh commented.

a silence fell into the room again, wrh suddenly lost in his thoughts, probably reminiscing about his late wife. at some point, sadness seems to bleed in too much.

"you never learned even a little?"

"Hm?" wrh asked, suddenly out of his thoughts

"I was asking if you ever learned even a little bit," lqr asked again.

"I do know one song, but you're going to laugh at me" wrh replied, some of his cheerfulness coming back.

"I won't laugh I promise," the omega said with a smile, getting up.

he walked around the table, extending a hand for wrh to take. the alpha looked at it for a moment, before accepting it and letting him help him up.

Then went to sit on the bench, wrh's hand hovering above the keys.

"Renren is lucky, xu'er asked me to play for him not too long ago, so I shouldn't be too bad," wrh said, before he started to play.

Immediately lqr was able to recognise it, making him smile, keeping his chuckle inside as he watch wrh's fingers dancing on the keys.

when he was done, wrh look back at him, "Renren promised he wouldn't laugh at me" he said, even adding a pout to his remark.

"I am not laughing, you did very well, I was simply... not expecting twinkle twinkle little star" he admitted.

"Like I said, I tried for a while but was never really good, this is the only song I really managed to remember".

lqr hummed at his word. he understood very well. it was pretty good that he actually learn even one without making a mistake.

some would stop learning without remembering the little they learned.

they sat there for a moment without a word, before wrh suddenly said "Sorry, for earlier".

lqr couldn't help lifting a brow at this, wondering why he was apologising.

it took a little moment until he realised it was probably about bringing up his wife. it was the only topic that wasn't necessarily the best for a date.

"you do not need to apologise".

"This is supposed to be a little date and I brought up something sad and..."

wrh never finished his sentence, but lqr could guess it. and bringing up his wife to someone who was a candidate to be his next partner wasn't considered the best.

"I heard it all happened barely more than half a year ago, it is expected to still grieve her" lqr affirmed, nowhere near upset or unsatisfied that he brought up his wife. "You loved dearly I am sure" he continued, "I would be rather surprised if you had already processed everything" he added, "The surprising part is... all this happening".

he heard the alpha sigh next to him as if he was agreeing. "To be totally honest with you, I wasn't ready for something like this, but I was barely given a choice,".

"But I did get to meet you, Lan Qiren, and that is a rather positive part of this situation" he smiled, sounding genuine. "I wasn't sure what to expect from this "training", I thought it was stupid to throw omegas at me and expect to just pick one, it would be even worst if none of you were to want to be here."

lqr was taken aback by his confession, not expecting for him to be so honest like this. Even less to hear that wrh was actually happy by his side. He was truly unsure what to say. He couldn't bring himself to believe he was the only one that was worth it here.

"Well, I am happy to hear I am at least of good company" lqr replied.

"Lovely company, anyone would love sitting down with you and talking for hours I am certain" wrh said, his teasing tone coming back, although he did sound genuine.

"I will have to disagree, I know plenty of people who would rather not see me," lqr said. funnily enough, most of these people were alpha.

"their loss then" wrh stated, "I will take that time they won't take" he grinned.

this made the omega smile, feeling like this was not something he had ever really heard being said to him.

"It's getting late" wrh ended up commenting after taking a look at the time, "You must be getting tired after staying up so late with me and with the chore you did today".

lqr wouldn't lie, he was indeed getting a little bit tired. he had helped around the house quite a lot today.

wrh insisted on accompanying him back to his room, ("I am a gentleman, after all, I should make sure you make it safely home" he teased).

before opening his door lqr ended up turning back to wrh. "tonight was pleasant, it had been a while since I could take the time to play music and relax like this" he affirmed, wanting to make it clear to wrh he had enjoyed it.

wrh seemed surprised, not expecting the sudden affirmation. Still, he looked really happy at his words. "It was my pleasure, next time let's try earlier in the day, like this with can talk for longer" he suggested, "On this, I will wish you a good night" he winked before making his way back to his room.

lqr managed to wish him a good night too before he disappear into a corner, finally going back to his room afterwards.

He was greeted by a grinning Tang Xing. "Did you finally have a date with master wen?" he asked, clearly wanting to hear everything about it.

lqr couldn't help the smile on his lips at the young man's curiosity.

"We went to the music room to talk, I was also able to play the guqin".

tang xing looked like he wanted to know more, but stopped himself when he notice how tired lqr seemed to be.

"I think the young master really likes you" tang xing ended up saying.

lqr was surprising himself when he internally agreed with him. he would never have expected that.

it was probably not so bad after all.

[Part 5 + 6 in next post]

Original

[lifegetslifeyasfuck]

Christmas: Religion vs. Tradition

Christmas. A time for gift giving, decorating your home, baking cookies, watching elf for the 500th time, an excuse to wear pajamas with cats in stockings on them, snow that is so beautiful.....until you go outside. The time of year where you can walk into most stores and it looks like Santa Claus took a shit in there. I personally, ADORE Christmas. This year, it is hard for me. I had a really rough 2021 and this year I am pretty much grieving someone no longer in my life whom shares this love of Christmas with me. I don't love this holiday because I am religious but because of the traditions. It includes everything I do whenever it's not the holidays. And yes, I watch Elf year round. But, me being me, I started thinking. Thinking about the meaning of Christmas. Not what it means for me but what it means for others. So, I hopped on what all Americans LOVE, google.

I started simple and typed in "What is Christmas about?" it stated, "Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world." I mean yes, that is where it all started. But, what about those of us who are not religious and still celebrate? I personally do not participate in organized religion. No hate. I have my own beliefs. According to a website I found, gallop, 85% of America celebrates Christmas. So a majority of us do but how many of that percentage celebrates for religious reasons? Sorry in advance for all the numbers but, I found a graph from pewrese called "Do you celebrate Christmas?" 92% of people they asked do celebrate, 7% said no and 1% sometimes. 51% celebrate it as a religious holiday and 32% said it is a cultural holiday.

So, it was time to interview my friends and family.....and random people at walmart. Summing up answers, when I asked what their favorite part of Christmas was they answered, seeing others faces when they open gifts, cooking and eating xmas dinner, spending time with family, giving, xmas movies, xmas music and baking. The general consensus of the question, what does christmas mean to you was giving to others and spending time with family.

A woman I talked with at Walmart, whom asked to remain anonymous, told me she did not celebrate Christmas as a kid because of the religion part of it. It was disheartening for her because when she would be at school all the other kids would be talking about how they were decorating their trees at home, listening to xmas music, participating in the Christmas spirit week. Going back to school after break just to hear about all the presents they got and reminder to her that she didn't get any. Although her parents robbed that from her as a child, she now celebrates with her family and has made traditions of her own with her children.

Now I only spoke with two women who celebrates Christmas as a religious holiday. One did not want to speak to much on it and the other woman, Kate, who identifies with Christianity, was very open and honest. This was a thorough conversation and one I really enjoyed having. I knew a majority of my conversations were going to be on the side of not celebrating Christmas for religious reasons. So, I want to give her the spotlight here and share our full conversation.

I first asked her "What does Christmas mean to you?" Kate - "It is about family and taking in those special moments. It is not about getting a bunch of presents. For me personally, it's a spiritual holiday. It is a time of reflection. This year my family went through a lot of trials and god carried us through everything. That time of reflection is really what Christmas is for me"

Although I do know Kate on a personal level I was pleasantly surprised by her next answer and I was a little nervous to ask, "In your opinion can Christmas only be celebrated as a religious holiday and why?" She told me "No. Many people have their own traditions for celebrating Christmas. I used to think you shouldn't celebrate if you didn't know the real meaning behind it. But as i grew up and had children I realized you get to celebrate whatever and however you want. I mean we all convince our children that there is this holly, jolly man who comes down the chimney to leave our children presents. I don't think people shouldn't be able to celebrate Christmas because they don't believe in God. I am not allowed to sit back and make that judgement on others for celebrating even if they aren't religious. It is a holiday where some people may not be religious but may look at it as a time to spend with family. However, I do disagree with the fact that people don't believe in God and don't think this holiday is to celebrate him."

If I am going to be honest, I re-read and re-read this to see where I was going with this. I don't think Christmas is really a question of being religious or not. I think it is made out to be that way by many people. I realize though, I was insecure about the fact that I love Christmas so much but I am not religious. But clearly it is not just me. I interviewed eight people and out of those two were religious and even they said they don't think you shouldn't celebrate Christmas if you're not religious. There's something to be said about having a day dedicated to traditions and family time. My bond is not with God. My bond is with my loved ones and I cherish these times and that's why I love Christmas. Also, I do love a good excuse to have a festive martini. With that being said, stay warm and have a Merry Christmas!

Drink every time you read Christmas.

(late post sorry)

[ambertrulife]

Familly - A multichapter fanfic - Chapter 3

Here we are ! Another chapter of this little fanfiction ! I really don't how to write Niffty, I just hope she's not to OOC in this chapter ...

Anyway, like always, I hope you'll like it ! And just in case, I read all your comments, so don't hesitate to give your opinion ! ;)

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Since their little bet, Vaggie had been less distant with him. This had surprised Alastor, but he'd come to appreciate this new closeness. Not only it was good news for Charlie's manipulation (what could be closer to the person you wanted to manipulate than her current partner!), he'd found in Vaggie a much more mischievous character than he'd first thought.

Although she had a military, authoritarian character and an unwavering determination for Charlie's project, he had noticed that she used her obvious intelligence with malice to manipulate residents considered "stubborn". When sternness didn't work, she would use words that, in Alastor's opinion, bordered on lies. Sometimes, when she found that one of their customers was not receptive, she would argue to get him to do what she wanted. Far, far from the suave manner Alastor used, and always with a firm tone, but she used more than dubious logic to fool her victim.

When she saw that Alastor was watching her in action, she'd just blush, frown and give him the finger before walking away. Needless to say, the Radio Demon was becoming increasingly fond of the ex-Exorcist, to his own surprise.

The little angel's polite hellos and friendly altercations didn't fly under Charlie's radar. The Princess made no remark, but those long looks and beaming smiles said more than any words he knew. He was winning points, and it was to his advantage. What surprised him, however, was that this wasn't something he'd planned. Up until now, he'd always had control over the relationships he established, so that they were as lucrative as possible for him. Befriending an aimless human made no sense, no matter what Angel told him during their rare drinking spree. However, he didn't trust too much of what the Spider Sinner told him. He was too sentimental, and although his emotional intelligence was high, it was clearly skewed by his constant need for attention.

For Alastor, in all his life and death, a human connection had a purpose. No one started a conversation without an idea in mind, whether benevolent, as in asking for help, or malicious, as in abusing another's kindness.

The Stag Demon was a thoughtful man. He understood that if he wanted to live in this shark-filled world, then every action had to be calculated, every gesture measured, every word precise. He'd always had a very Cartesian mind, and that suited him just fine.

______________________________________________________________

The only person who didn't fit into his usual manipulative framework was Niffty, but for a frighteningly simple reason: she was purely and incredibly unpredictable. She wasn't sane, and that was the only thing he could really and concretely say about her that wasn't wrong. She had an obsession with insects too, but her relationship with them was the strangest. She would decimate them whenever she saw them, but sometimes, for no apparent reason, she would freeze and watch them live as if they were one of the wonders of the world. Then, she would resume their extermination with a fervor that obscured the madness.

He was very fond of Niffty. Not like he loved Rosie, who was a friend who understood him and with whom he had sensible discussions! But more like a pet who'd forgotten to be trained and was managing as best he could. She was erratic, insensitive, manic, obsessed, and all this amused him fervently. It was fascinating to observe and a major asset in his cards. Small, weak-looking, but with the danger of a piranha. It was perfect. What's more, the contract had been simple: she obeyed his every word, and he gave her free rein to carry out the task he asked of her. She hadn't even had the presence of mind to realize that this contract was in no way to her advantage, but he didn't care. It wasn't his problem after all.

The little creature was a little invasive, however, and although he allowed her a few close calls, he didn't appreciate being touched. She had a tendency to climb on him, position herself on his shoulder, jump on his head and spread those ears. It made him shudder every time, and a static sound came from his mouth as he gently removed the intruder from his person. His relationship with touch had always been... conflicted. He liked it when he was the one who could control it, not the one who was subjected to it. It reminded him all too often of the slaps and strokes of his spawner, when, as a child, he had done nothing to deserve such punishment. The joy of sticking the pitchfork down this man's throat, however, had been a delight.

______________________________________________________________

It was a red night in Hell and Alastor was strolling through the hotel corridors. Charlie, in the wake of increasingly frequent and dangerous arguments, had demanded a curfew for these residents. No one was to be outside their rooms after 11pm. Angel had kindly pointed out that there weren't enough clocks in the hotel, but her horrible father, always ready to please his daughter, had created a multitude of clocks, each more abject than the last, all personified according to the resident who owned it. His own looked like a deer poop. He got rid of it the first chance he got.

Still, at night, hotel staff took it in turns to make the rounds to see if there was any disrespect for the established rules. More often than not, if not all the time, Vaggie, Husk and Alastor were on patrol. Vaggie, because she was in charge of the hotel and knew how to fight, Husk, because he spent his evenings drinking anyway, and Alastor, who didn't need much sleep. What's more, to his delight, the threat of being caught by the Radio Demon was enough to make the residents freezing deep in their silky beds.

It was located on the second floor, dedicated to Charlie's redemption group activities. As well as having classrooms for the illiterate, there was a music room, a small amphitheater, a workshop for crafts, a library for learning, and various rooms whose function he couldn't remember.

While the Stag Demon loathed his demonic animal form, it nevertheless had the accommodating ability to possess good hearing. And that night, in the mute silence of the floor, a faint sob echoed from a classroom. His smile grew more carnivorous and those eyes were already turning into a dial. He would soon make the resident's sadness at the horror of his presence disappear. Via those shadows, he teleported into the room, which he filled with darkness. He emerged, like a biblical pest, ready to unleash his wrath on his poor victim. He lost all consistency when he realized the tiny creature crying before him. Niffty's single eye was streaming, flooding the bottom of her tiny face, which was taut with distress. In her tiny hands, she held yet another cockroach that seemed to be dead in every way, though not criminally so. On the contrary, it appeared that the insect had simply died of old age. He looked incredulously at the little servant who continued to whimper. He didn't really understand the reason for such a state and, quite frankly, he didn't want to know. He had neither the patience nor the compassion to be an emotional support. The very term would have made him howl with laughter if the situation hadn't been so disconcerting. Niffty was certainly unpredictable, but it was nevertheless clear that she didn't hold arthropods close to her heart. Yet her devastated face meant that the disappearance of this particular vermin seemed to affect her. He didn't move when she leapt on him and began to cry on his shoulder. Stupefaction quickly gave way to disgust, which flashed across his features, and he wanted to free himself from the imposed embrace as quickly as possible. There were many ways in which he could remove the wretched creature from his person. He was perfectly capable of tearing it away with those arms, those black tentacles, of teleporting through its shadow to extract himself from those tiny arms that encircled him. However, he did nothing when, in a broken, miserable breath, she murmured:

"He's not coming back."

And then, Alastor's icy heart froze with a pain he hadn't known for a long time. A scar he thought he'd long since healed and had disappeared in the meanders of time. At that precise moment, he remembered. He remembered the tiny red-winged blackbird he had rescued after his nest had been destroyed. His mother had immediately taught him how to care for the animal, how to make a nest for it, how to feed it, before two days later, his progenitor deliberately crushed it under his boot before beating them for doing something without his authorization. Alastor mourned the loss of his little Armstrong in his mother's arms, and said these exact words to her. In response, with her bright smile despite the bruise and yellowing teeth, she hummed a song of her own, a little jazz tune that spoke of the ascent to Heaven for all living beings, be they animal, Black or White.

Without realizing it, he sang the melody whispered in his ear, as if his own mother had descended from Heaven to remind him. He rocked the little woman slowly, carried away by his own nostalgia. As she began to calm down, her erratic breathing resuming a slower, more controlled rhythm, he stealthily heard footsteps receding down the corridor. He wanted to send out one of his invocations to check who it was, but his attention was quickly drawn back to the little being in his arms.

"It's pretty song." she sobbed a little more, as she wiped her face against her jacket.

"It's a creation of someone who was very dear to me," he replied, simply, as he pulled it away and, with a gesture, wiped all traces of snot and tears from his suit.

For once, Niffty seemed shy, as if she wanted to ask who it was but knew she wasn't allowed to, which was much smarter of her than he'd imagined.

"Thank you." she finally whispered, looking at the cockroach's corpse, stiff on its back. Though he didn't care, he glanced at her servant.

"My dear." he began, in his softest, most suave voice "Why such a reaction to the death of..." he didn't really know how to continue. In view of the young woman's condition, calling this insect a vermin seemed inappropriate, just as it would have been for Armstrong.

"Sinatra." she named him. "I've known him since the day he hatched from his egg. I've tried to eliminate him countless times. I've done everything, really everything. But in 1 year, I've never managed to even touch him."

A tear fell from her eye.

"I wish I'd killed him when he was alive."

Dubious logic, but from a sick mind. Strangely enough, it made sense to Alastor, which said a lot about him. He preferred to ignore the question. With an almost friendly gesture, he took the little woman in his arms.

"I'll take you back to your room." he assured her, as she gave him a slightly surprised look. "Take as much time as you need to grieve, I'll take care of the household chores until you get better."

She didn't answer, her cyclical eye resting on him as she laid her head on his shoulder, too exhausted by her distress to make another move.

He simply made his way to his room in silence.

______________________________________________________________

Niffty had been locked in her quarters for several days, and whenever anyone wanted to see her, even just to check up on her, Alastor discouraged them, claiming that she was in a murderous phase and that he had, for the good of the residents, taken the decision to lock her in her room.

In view of the many misgivings of his adoptive family, he had finally put a one-way shield around the little servant's room. This had caused quite a stir one day in the kitchen, when Charlie was indignant about her treatment.

"You simply can't stop us from seeing her!" she assured him, in an authoritative but benevolent tone.

"Of course I can!" he replied, sipping his cup of tea with his usual elegance. "Charlie, dear, although she's your friend, she's still my property. And for the safety of everyone, including our new residents, it's best to wait until she gets these urges under control again."

"But she must feel so alone!" the Princess finally says, revealing at last the real reason for her stubbornness.

"Baby." intervenes Vaggie, taking her hand. "If Alastor thinks it's best to isolate her for now, then maybe we should listen to him."

"She's not wrong," intervenes Angel. "She tends to want to kill bugs and I'm a spider. I trust Smiley."

"You're probably right," Charlie finally conceded, his face expressing genuine sorrow.

"Is it true?" suddenly intervened an angelic voice that made Alastor tense in his chair. He didn't even turn his gaze to the King, his very presence confirming that those eyes were not focused on him. The Fallen Angel's attention was on Husk, who hadn't said a word of the discussion, enjoying what appeared to be a mixture of cereal and jam. This was a real problem. Much to his chagrin, Lucifer had ample opportunity to destroy his handiwork and thus reveal to the others that Alastor had shamefully lied to them. The Manager and the Barman didn't even exchange a glance, no indirect threat was made before the Cat Demon replied in a natural tone:

"Yeah, it happens to her pretty rarely, but when it does, it's a massacre. You might want to let the boss handle this one, Your Majesty."

The lie flowed from Husk's lips with such fluidity and transparency that no one in the room saw the murky stream water. The Radio Demon set his eyes on the Cat Demon, his face still impassive but Husk's more mysterious. When he set his yellow irises on him, a ball of rage formed in his abdomen and it took all his control not to eliminate this pest. The message he'd just given him was crystal-clear: he knew.

[adventuresinclientservice]

What's wrong with advertising?

Roberta and I really enjoyed our time last Fall visiting Bucharest so I could speak at the International Advertising Association’s annual conference.  After we returned home, in a moment that combined hubris with wishful thinking, I decided that the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity should be my next stop.

I figured I’d be one of the few Account weenies speaking at a Creative conference, perhaps arming me with novelty as an advantage (how many Creative Directors can one listen to?).  Plus, I was drawn to my topic, “Genius Needs Collaborators” – an idea that had its genesis as a blog post -- where I claim collaboration is:

“the jet fuel that sparks moments of true genius.  We witness it in songwriting, watch it on the athletic pitch, see it in the science lab, observe it in the writer’s room.” 

I thought it sufficiently provocative to warrant attention, so in a “Why not?” moment, I applied.

When the Cannes evaluators kept me waiting, there was cause for hope.  Even so, I prepared for the likely “No;” in that, the evaluators did not disappoint.  So much for hubris.

There’s no shame in trying and perhaps next year I’ll try again, although I imagine an anonymous Account person with little agency doesn’t have much of a chance of acceptance against the John Legends, John Hegartys, and David Drogas of the world.

I wasn’t at the conference, but read about it; what got my attention was an ADWEEK story headline, “Where Are All the Women?  Men Overwhelmingly Took the Cannes Stage to Accept Awards.” 

Where indeed.

I wrote about this very matter more than eight years ago, in a post celebrating my pioneering Creative Director step-mother-in-law, Francine Wilvers, along with those who preceded her, not to speak of the women with whom I partnered during my agency years.  My intent was to counter a photo of Advertising Age’s “A-List” that included exactly one (token) woman in it. 

As my former colleagues Sandy Sabean and Kristi Faulkner point out, “85 percent of buying decisions are made by women, yet 85 percent of creative departments are populated by men, most of whom don’t have a clue how women think, feel, decide, and buy.”

Perhaps those numbers are different now – maybe there are more women creative directors -- but the Cannes photo suggests otherwise.  

If you’re wondering about that speech I wasn’t able to give at Cannes -- “Who are ultimate collaborators?” -- I have an answer for you: 

Women.

Are there men who are as effective as women?  Of course; I’ve worked with several. 

But it’s the women who are the true performers here.  For me it began with my first boss in advertising, the patient and wise Kristen Wainwright; continued with my near-genius colleagues Cami Edlund and Jane Gardner; included my idea-a-minute and mesmerizing presenter Creative partner Christine Bastoni.  

I haven’t even mentioned Shelley Lanman and Carole Weitz, the co-Creative directors who not only rescued my creative department from near-irrelevance, but also elevated it to where its prowess was worthy of Ammirati & Puris’ well-deserved reputation.

All of the women with whom I’ve had the privilege of working rank among the best innovators, idea creators, problem solvers, and, from what I’ve witnessed, leaders.  What I’ve experienced is not the exception; it’s the rule.

Will advertising ever recognize this?  Will it change?  Will women, at long last, get their due?

I used to be an optimist, telling you, “Yes, it will change and here are the steps to make it happen.”  If, however, I choose to be truthful, a realist, I know it won’t, and they won’t. 

And that, sadly, is what’s so terribly wrong with advertising.

[fizzingwizard]

I am sick!! Surprising no one.

Happy thing today - I discovered a new brand of iced milk tea in the vending machine outside my apartment. It costs only 100 yen (a lot of drinks that used to be 100 yen have shot up to 110, 120, 130 this year) and it's a normal amount of drink inside. With milk tea it's often too sweet for me, but this one is really nice! Just lightly sweet and very fragrant. I bet it will taste great when it's heated up in fall too. Cheap, tasty, and nearby... yess I can be happy as long as it continues to be stocked, lol x'D coincidentally i watched a vid today where a person was on a business class JAL flight and ordered royal milk tea, the same kind that comes in a can in vending machines for 150 yen, only it cost 300 of course because you're drinking it on an airplane!! lmao

now work stuff!

It's been a pretty uggghhh September. I had a lot on my plate, and then I got bad news that my work partner, the only person on staff with me at the school over the past four years who didn't quit last spring, is going to quit in October. Not only is she going to quit, but the company doesn't have a replacement for her... I'm really upset, not with her for quitting, because if anything she's smarter than me for taking the plunge lol, but because I'm going to be left with just my 19-year-old newbie coworker and a random rotation of subs who aren't always even teachers themselves for some indefinite amount of time, with a class of 20 two and three year olds. And the company has been pretending the understaffing is a problem caused by so many people quitting at once - as if we hadn't been understaffed for years, and as if the reasons those employees chose to quit were nothing to do with how the company treated them... -.-'

So, to be honest, although I've said it in the past I've reached a point where it's more true when I say I really am job hunting again. It's a struggle, because no matter how bad things get here, I do genuinely enjoy working with very young children. I don't mind changing diapers and I don't mind tantrums and I've learned so much, I feel, about people in general from observing how different and how thoughtful my students are. I think it's a pretty sweet deal to work somewhere you can get constant hugs, play pretend, and celebrate holidays as part of your work. There are a lot of stressors as well, but they all go away when I see my kids.

But I'm so frustrated with the company. An entire staff quits (technically two requested transfers, a third was just transferred because reasons, and two stayed on as subs with the intention of quitting, one of whom has already done so - but everyone else besides me and my co-teacher genuinely quit) and their reaction is "they're a clique who did this on purpose to harm the company." Instead of "what did we do which drove away these hard-working, kind, experienced teachers who daily went above and beyond both for their students and for their coworkers?" Like. I'm not saying no mistakes were made by anyone. I just think it's ridiculous that the small mistakes that were made were treated so harshly, while little to no recognition, let alone help, was given for the very real issues we were handling. Everyone was a hard worker who I relied on and enjoyed working with. I'm not a slacker. But many of my coworkers worked even harder than me. And the company just did nothing to try to keep them. Also, that one teacher I mentioned who was transferred for mysterious "reasons" - I'm really bitter about that now because obviously we needed her here! If she wasn't against leaving, why did they make her?? She was transferred nearby (to a school that did also have some staffing issues but nowhere near as bad as ours) and is often at our school anyway filling in because there are no subs :) So dumb.

I'm especially concerned about my co-teacher quitting because as I said, my other co-teacher is only 19. She's great, but she can't help that she's young and new. And not only do I have a large class of 20 mostly still two-year-olds, but I have several emotionally challenging ones who need a lot of one-on-one attention. It's not just about how tiring it is, it's also about safety. If I'm the only experienced teacher, and I have to rely on my newbie co-teacher and some random third person who doesn't know the routine or the kids, that opens the door to so many problems. I'm the one who knows how to handle those emotionally-challenging kids. (Side note: at the start of the year I was told that my class was getting most of the challenging kids because my co-teacher has some kind of specific child development certification that made her the best choice of teacher for them. But... she is quitting... so... lol) But then I can't lead the rest of the class when they're having meltdowns. My co-teacher will have to do that. While she is doing very well, she hasn't found her teacher voice yet. She also doesn't know how to anticipate what kids will do unexpectedly. And she'll be supported by some random person... I don't like it at all. And I feel anything that happens, I will be blamed for. Like, even if I'm not blamed directly, there's a difference between not being directly blamed and getting glowing feedback in your file. The other two-threes class has also been through ups and downs and has as many kids as we do. But at least two of three teachers are experienced and the one new one has been with us almost since the beginning of he school year and isn't fresh out of high school. I just feel afraid my class will fall short and despite the challenges we faced we'll still be compared.

Anyway. Like I said, I'm pretty decided to quit, even though I'm not happy about it. The question is what to do next. Of course I'd love to stay in pre-K. But if I'm quitting anyway, it would be nice to work somewhere I can make more money. I don't know where that would be. It probably won't be education. I feel really at sea right now. I never wanted an office job, I never wanted to work for money, and I'm afraid I'll just hate it. But on the other hand, I do need money. I have savings but not a lot. And my job here is physically demanding to the point that I'm so exhausted every day. I don't get to sit down. For eight hours I'm chasing kids, squatting, lifting, running up and down stairs, carrying baskets, scrubbing floors, setting up and breaking down tables... It gets to be a lot doing it every day, although it's put me in better shape than I was even in college, lol. But I wouldn't mind a break :P and maybe just go to the gym like a normal person, lol.

So I'm looking around but I honestly don't really know what I'm gonna find, if anything, that will suit me and I'll suit it. And I'm not unrealistic about salary either - I'm not expecting to make a ton more than I do now. Just idk, more. We'll see I guess. I really don't want to leave Japan. My options here are limited as a foreigner (if I knew IT or something I'd be a little better off) but my fingers are crossed I'll somehow find a job that pays at least a little higher than what I get now.

Since I'm feeling pretty firm about quitting at the end of my contract, I'm seizing the last of my PTO to take my first trip home since before covid. Haven't bought the tickets yet though. That's gonna hurt ;___; not just the money but last time I looked I couldn't find flights that would get me home in less than 30+ hours... sigh. Fingers crossed there too buhahahha

[otomes-world]

King is sleeping

Anon said: Howdy do~! I would like to request prompt. 8 with Leona Kingscholar x fem! reader, please? Fluff/angst combo, please? Thanks!

I tried. I really do. Completely flaff just not my stage. I hope I still make something you will like, nonny!

Probably, many asked a very ironic question: what happens during an overblot. To be more precise with who it happened to. With those who let themselves out and broke down. Leona, being a winner in life, found the answers to this and other questions on his own experience. Although, the true winner and king of the situation was the discoverer Rosehearts. However, the head of Heartslabyul, in the current light of the circumstances of the second prince, was the last thing to worry about, if at all.

However, everything was not so bad. If fate wanted to finally and irrevocably get rid of him, he would not have been lying on the undeniably comfortable bed in the infirmary. If it weren't for Ruggie moaning next to him, he could close eyes and for a moment pretend that he made his way here of his own free will. Although Bucchi was clearly not the only one here. Most of the places were occupied by students of his dorm. Who but them, as they say. Even on ordinary days, they were regulars at the holy monastery of the infirmary.

Well, this day, or to be more precise, the evening, was definitely not an ordinary one. Still, not every time the head of the dorm goes into berserk mode, and a pair of first years, led by a student without magic and a fire-breathing raccoon-cat, beats sanity into him. No matter how you look at it, a brief retelling sounds like a joke. However, Kingscholar could call his whole life nothing more than a protracted, long-playing joke.

"Don't worry, I'm here. I won't leave you."

At this phrase, the lion opened one eye, and then narrowed it and closed again. He did not expect that one of his relatives would decide to bless him with their presence. He did not expect to see at least some living soul near. Maybe Ruggie, but he clearly wasn't up to it or anything else.

A frail figure seated on a chair next to him looked down at clasped hands. Through narrowed eyelids, the young man could perfectly observe the intruder, who seemed to be immersed in her own thoughts. This pricked the pride of the second prince a little, but it was foolish to complain about something that he did not expect to receive in principle.

A tattered uniform, probably the only set left by the kind director. Carelessly tied hair in a ponytail. Combing the bird's nest afterward will be problematic, Leona knew this firsthand. There were traces of weariness on her face, mixed with something else. Something Kingscholar had watched from afar before. Something that others had always received before, even the same Bucchi who grew up in not the best conditions.

Worry?

For whom? The lion, already disgraced throughout the college, would become the ultimate fool if he took wishful thinking. Snorting his thoughts in displeasure, he tried to change his position to a more comfortable one, which with bruises was difficult, if not impossible, to do. A sigh was heard from the side, and an accelerated quiet muttering, to which the still head of Savannaclaw pretended to be asleep. Whether it worked or not, the stirring soon stopped. An ear twitched at the creak of a chair.

She was going to leave.

Kingscholar did not expect her to spend the whole day with him. Anyone, really. Others always had things to do that needed more attention. Leona was about to finally went to the land of dreams, only the steps did not subside, but rather became louder. With a heavy sigh, the figure straightened his blanket as if he were a kitten tossing and turning in his sleep. He must have looked that way in her eyes. Convinced that he was now wrapped in, like a caterpillar in a cocoon, the prefect turned around and sat down again on a chair. Like she didn't get up anywhere. Like she didn't want to leave.

The sensation was strange, but he couldn`t called it an unpleasant one. Rather unusual, but the young man caught himself thinking that he could get used to this. A tail with a tassel stuck out of the blanket, rustling was again heard from the side. However, a hand soon touched his tail, barely with fingertips, hesitating.

The girl raised her head and met the half-open Kingscholar's eye. The next second the prince snorted and turn his head, falling into a dream already completely.

[aoitrinity]

Why Do I Have to Feel Like a Fucking Conspiracy Theorist -- OR -- How I Find a Semblance of Peace on Sunday Night

I’m also going to start this out with a GIANT DISCLAIMER.

I am about to theorize about what may have happened to the SPN finale. I have absolutely no insider knowledge. I am merely speculating here based on the panels and a bunch of Twitter and Tumblr posts that I have been reading over the last few days. If you are not in a good place to read such things, TURN BACK PLEASE. Go take care of yourself and your mental health. You and your feelings are valid and deserve to be handled gently right now.

Additionally, if you are here to give me shit for being unhappy with the ending, please walk away as well. I am here to reach out and share my feelings with people who might be struggling to make sense of something that upset some of us in very deep-seated ways. I am not here to bother you or critique you or tell you that you’re lesser because you liked the ending. If you felt it was good, then go enjoy it.

Long-ass post beneath the cut, everyone.

Alrighty folks...I debated whether or not to do this because I have been spiraling down the hell that is the SPN finale since Thursday. The travesty of what happened to our show--to this beloved show that seemed to have been so perfectly and precisely written for at least four years that it had basically already paved its own tarmac on which to land its plane and we all thought we knew exactly what we were going to get. And then we didn’t. We had a nigh Cas-less and entirely Eileen-less ending. We had no goodbye between Cas and Jack. We had Dean dying young after finally finding his freedom, only to ascend to heaven with no one but Bobby. We had the weird, weird, weird incest-y death scene. We had the bridge crane shot thing because...sure. You do you, Robert Singer.

It was so terrible, so truly awful, and I couldn’t seem to square any of it with anything we had known going in. I tossed and turned and cried and didn’t eat or sleep all weekend. I spent hours just reloading tumblr and twitter, going to the Misha panel, reading and reading and listening and trying to figure out what the fucking hell is going on because I needed to know exactly where to direct my anger. And after a fuckton of talking with @winchester-reload, I think we have at least a very plausible theory about what happened here--I’m laying it out below as much for my own peace of mind as anything else, because otherwise all of these thoughts are going to continue to spin around in my head for weeks and I won’t be able to do jack shit.

Now to start off, unfortunately I do think Dean was slated to die from the beginning of this season. I don’t know WHY they thought that was the best way to go, and I wish they had listened to Jensen on this one. Part of me wonders if it was an order from on high based on the discussion between Becky and Chuck earlier this season--the writers knew it wasn’t a great choice, but they were trying to signal to us that we should feel free to write our own endings to the story because they’d be better (I can wax poetic on the signs of why many of the writers probably wanted Dean to live, but that’s another post). I’m not defending that choice by any means, just laying it out there that I think they didn’t necessarily all want to kill Dean like they did.

However, what I THINK I can explain now is what happened with Misha and why we got so jerked around with Cas’s story. Consider what we know (I can’t immediately source all of it, but I did my best):

At the end of episode 15x19, Lucifer has been returned to the Empty after being killed AGAIN. He talks with Cas. Maybe harasses him a bit about Dean, idk. But then...Jack shows up. New God Jack. And he picks up Cas and pulls him out of the Empty, leaving Lucifer behind, because seriously. Fuck that guy (also leaving behind his abusive father is character growth for Jack, so yay for that).

-Misha was contracted to film 15 episodes this season. He was only in 14.

-Misha told Michael Sheen he had to go back to film 1.5 episodes after the shutdown in March. (Starts at 6:13)

-Misha was in Vancouver during filming of the finale.

-Mark P said at Darklight Con that the last scene he filmed was with Alex and Misha (and Mark P was only in episode 19).

-Misha implied that he was present for various filming moments, including Dean’s death (start at 35:15), and said that it felt like a “mini-reunion.”

-Various sources have mentioned that Jimmy Novak was supposed to be in the finale.

-After episode 18, Stands tweeted a fan who was angered and hurt by Cas's death that they could talk about the “bury the gays” issue after the finale aired.

-In episode 19 we know there were takes of the parking lot scene where the only thing fans observing could hear was Dean yelling “CAS” at Chuck (fuck I can’t find this one right now, but it’s definitely out there)

-Also in episode 19, we had a very strange, awkward montage at the end of the episode.

-In episode 20, we know there were a FUCKTON of missing scenes

-We also had no opening montage, but three other separate montages.

-Carry on My Wayward Son was played TWICE, back-to-back at the end of the episode.

-Episode 20 was shorter than normal and had surprisingly little dialogue. The pacing was VERY strange.

-The cast and crew has been almost completely silent about the finale since it came out. When they have spoken, it has been with an awkward excuse of “Uh...COVID?”

-Samantha Ferris has specifically noted that, despite the Harvelle’s being back in play and a big heaven reunion having been planned pre-COVID, neither she nor Chad Lindberg received any such invitation to return.

-Cas and Dean POP Funko figures were pictured together in a replica of Harvelle’s in 15x04.

NOW with all of this in mind (and I’m probably missing some stuff too because there is so much--feel free to add on to that list), please bear with me because here is what I think we were SUPPOSED to get POST-COVID (after it was determined that the reunion couldn’t happen because of the virus):

In episode 20, we start with our NORMAL OPENING MONTAGE, like always. It traces everything that happened during the season. We are reminded of Cas. The confession. Rowena. Eileen. Jack. Billie, God, the Empty, all of it. 

Things then follow along in the episode where they did up until Dean dies and wakes up in heaven. After his conversation with Bobby, he drives off to find Cas (who, in the script, was listed as “Jimmy Novak” in order to protect against script leaks--who wouldn’t want to do their best to avoid spoilers about the finale with the wrapping of a fifteen-year show?). He does indeed find Cas. We get Dean’s end of the confession. Hell, maybe we even get a kiss. And then Dean sets up his new heaven home in the recreated Harvelle’s. Maybe Cas even fucking moves in. 

Years pass. We get Sam having his life on Earth (still can’t explain why they cut Eileen and couldn’t even have Sam signing vaguely to the blurry brunette in the background; if anyone wants to take that on, go for it). Eventually, Cas tells Dean that it’s almost Sam’s time. Dean takes Baby and goes to meet Sam at the bridge. The cover of Carry on My Wayward Son plays during this much shorter sequence. End of episode.

But that’s not what we got. Instead, much of what I just wrote about was excised from the episode. The remnants were stitched together after shooting had been wrapped. Filler was added in the form of montages and long, unnecessary extra shots to get the episode to something approaching a reasonable length. 

But why? Why would they spend all that time and money and quarantining on Misha, only to almost completely cut him out of the finale? I struggled with why the fuck the CW would want this mammoth show to go down as the greatest queerbait in TV history when they had the chance to do something truly beautiful and monumental with it? It couldn’t just be sheer homophobia, right? Well, I think that factored into it, my friends, but here is where my head is at right now.

It was about cold, hard cash.

Now I could be wrong, but this is what I’m thinking at the moment: Supernatural is going off of the air. Supernatural, the CW’s cash cow for fifteen years. Sure there is still money to be made on blu-rays and merchandise and cons...but they need people watching their shows. They need that sweet advertising revenue. And you know what show they have about to premiere? A show that could, potentially, bring with it a chunk of that SPN revenue?

Walker.

And if any of you know anything about the original Walker Texas Ranger, you know that the show was predominantly a show about a very heterosexual white man being very excessively heterosexual. And for SOME REASON over the years, many of the execs at the CW still seem to think that this show, Supernatural, is really attractive to a lot of middle-American white men...whom they desperately want to watch this new show with this guy from Supernatural that they already know.

Now here’s where COVID fucked us. I think Destiel was greenlit by TPTB, at least in SOME form, before COVID. But then the pandemic happened, and they panicked. They got the cut of the last two episodes and watched them in their original, probably queer form. And then, the execs at CW looked at the economy. They looked at their cash cow, about to make its journey to the great beyond. And they looked at this new little calf Walker that they were so desperately worried about. And they made a choice.

They decided that it would be too risky to take the step with Destiel. They were worried about frightening off their ever-so-valuable hetero male demographic with the possibility that a traditionally masculine man in his 40s could be in love with another man in an overt way. It was homophobia mixed with greed, spun up by fear for their revenues because of COVID.

So they called in Singer, possibly Dabb, although I wouldn’t be surprised if they went straight to Singer. They told them that Destiel had to go: executive orders. And the only way to make it go in a way that removed any trace of what had been there was to rewrite what happened to Cas and cut him out from the last two episodes entirely. It was too late to reshoot anything. They had to just cut and stitch and fill with bullshit montages. 

They removed the scene at the end of 19, probably because Cas and Lucifer discussed Dean. All that was left of Misha there was his voice on that fake phone call. They may have cut other things too, but I would bet my life that they cut a scene from the end of the episode and replaced it with that very strange montage. Then they moved onto 20. They cut out every scene with Cas. And left in only two platonic mentions of him, neither made by Dean. They tried to imply that Cas might show up in Dean’s heaven at some point, but that was as far as the editors could go in the time they had. They filled in with montages, awkwardly long shots, anything they could do to fill all of those missing scenes.

And they even had to take the opening montage, because literally everything in it pointed to Cas being there at the end of it all. They wouldn’t be able to leave out his scenes, they were too critical to the season. They couldn’t cut his confession without raising eyebrows. So they cut the whole thing and moved “Carry On My Wayward Son” to one of the newly-added driving montages at the end. Which is why we awkwardly had both songs play back-to-back--again, such a strange choice unless they were out of options and couldn’t exactly buy rights to a new track or compose anything else.

And so we were left with the shadow of the finale that we deserved, that Cas and Dean deserved. We were left without resolution or happiness or words. Bobo told us the most important thing about happiness is just “saying it” and our characters were silenced without anyone ever knowing the truth.

I think the writers might have known and been given the new party line that “Misha never filmed, he couldn’t, sorry, it was COVID, no one’s fault!” But I don’t think most of the cast even knew it had happened until they watched the finale on Thursday with us (though they might have been confused why the bit from 15x19 was sliced, they could reasonably have assumed it was a time thing and also BL episodes don’t make sense anyway). Why do I say that?

Well, first of all, Misha started sending out a bunch of excited texts to fans with some old BTS pictures about an hour before the show started airing on EST. He also wanted his children to see the episode, his YOUNG children. Why would he show them such a traumatic episode if their Dad wasn’t in it? What if it was because he wanted them to witness what was going to be a monumental moment in queer television history that their DAD got to be a part of? And then that was all dashed.

Which is why I think the cast and crew went almost completely radio silent the next day. I don’t think they knew. And based on how they have been acting on social media since then, I think many of them are absolutely furious, but they have been silenced because of NDAs, because they want to find work again in a cutthroat industry, because they don’t want to bring down the hellfire of Warner Brothers Entertainment upon themselves. So the most we have gotten is a little acknowledgement from the MERCHANDISING COMPANY trying to validate our pain (god bless Shirts, she is a LIFESAVER) and a response to my salty tweet about keeping good stuff in the closet from Adam Williams (the VFX coordinator) that seemed to acknowledge the validity of my complaint.

Then there was a scramble behind the scenes, I would bet my life. Talking points were fed to the boys who had panels today, to CE, to all the cast and crew:

Toe the party line. Misha never filmed. This was always about COVID. Do not mention Destiel. Do not mention Dean’s feelings for Cas. Do not promote the Castiel Project or anything that validates the idea that this was anything less than a superb ending.

And that is why we have heard so little from the cast on this front, and what we have heard has been muddled and contradictory. That is why the writers are saying nothing. That is why we have been left adrift.

Now before I close this out, I do want to say that I really, genuinely do not think this was on the writers at all. I feel like they tried to give us the best ending that they could, in a writers room that we know is notorious for splitting along party lines about the overall story (BL and Singer, who have always been about the brothers and their man-pain vs. Dabb and the rest who always seemed to want more for them and for Cas). I think they did everything in their power to at least end with Dean and Cas happy together. If they could give us nothing else, they wanted to give us that. And then the network took it from them. From us. From everyone.

For the sake of fucking money. 

And the WORST PART OF IT ALL, for me, is that in the wake of this disaster, the fans have been left to try and figure out what happened. We have had to wade through a mire of conflicting information in the midst of all of our collective anger and grief over this garbage ending of a show many of us have loved and even relied on for YEARS, all the while wondering if we’re just fucking crazy, if we have all fallen collectively into the hole of conspiracy theories. That hurts ESPECIALLY badly because we have taken so many hits over the years from other groups on social media saying we were crazy for seeing things that weren’t there (especially Destiel), for writing meta and analyzing tropes and believing the evidence of our eyes and ears. The network has made us relive that entire nightmare WHILE processing our grief for a show we wanted so badly to celebrate and which instead we now have to mourn.

So again guys, I cannot prove that this is exactly what happened at all; this is simply my idea of what may have happened. But right now, it’s the most sense I can make from this mess, and to be honest, the act of typing it out has helped me enormously in my processing of it all. I feel like I can see more clearly, like I know where to target my outrage and where to direct empathy. I feel like just fucking maybe, I might be able to do my job tomorrow without bursting into tears at random moments. 

I really hope that this post has helped some of you to, in some small way, process this too. We get through this the way that Misha told us at his panel this morning, the way the writers have told us to do all season long...we throw out the story God gave us and we make it better. We write our characters the happy endings they deserve. 

We save them.

One last thing--if you have not already, please consider channeling your rage into a donation to one of the five causes our fandom has put together to pay tribute to our beloved show and to mourn the ending it should have had:

-The Castiel Project

-Dean Winchester is Love

-Sam Winchester Project

-The National Association of the Deaf

-The Jack Kline Project

[the-witches-you-couldnt-burn]

Like I did with you

So I’ve been procrastinating hard during my study break for my exams, but here have a song fic!

Ghost of you by 5SOS

Genius comments: The song tells the tale of a heartbroken lover who has lost his significant other – due to a breakup or even suicide/death – and is refusing to accept the fact that she is never coming back.

I didn’t feel like writing angst and whenever I hear this song I feel like ballroom dancing (and I have).

Also thank you to the lovely people on the Maribat discord server!

Ao3

The sequel ‘It started with a whisper’ is up!

————————

Gotham Academy implemented a new ‘Study Abroad’ program due to recent funding from a local humanitarian. This program gave the students of Gotham Academy a chance to study abroad in Europe and vice versa. Countries like Sweden, Greece, Germany, Ireland and more participated in the program; offering a multitude of high schools with many different courses.

And because of that very wealthy benefactor, his son got first pick on where he would like to study. This was 100% not a forced decision at all to subtly keep track of the happenings of Paris. With that the Ice Prince of Gotham took the City of Love by storm.

He had been at Collège Françoise Dupont for the past few months, and it’s been hell. The class he had been placed into was ripping apart at the seams. There were two students that the class gravitated towards; he observed some of the others meeting in secret, without the knowledge of their respective ‘leaders’.

The first student that held the majority of the class’ focus was Lila Rossi. She was a black hole with beady green eyes, who dragged who ever was in her reach to an agonising fate. Damian saw through her deceptions and rejected her flirtations. The students that followed her, ate up whatever lie she spat out. Rossi soon learned that lies about the Wayne family and Gotham wouldn’t fly with him.

“Really? You worked with Monsieur Wayne?” The pink clad girl, Rose, squeaked.

Damian had just walked into class on his second day at the hell hole and already regretted it. He shot a glare towards the large group, “Who ever told you that is severely misinformed. My father has never worked with a minor from Europe, due to potential rumours and allegations it could cause. It is not a threat but a promise if a lie of similar caliber is spread there will be a lawsuit.” And with that he walked towards his seat in the back, the Ice Prince had cast his decree, the class’ atmosphere had frozen over.

The second student was Marinette Dupain-Cheng. Those that surrounded her were Alix Kubdel, Chloé Bourgeois, Max Kanté, Lê Chiến Kim and the occasional secret appearance from Juleka Couffaine. They didn’t view Dupain-Cheng through rose coloured lenses, they were always grounded and opinions were respected. Damian, who was a loner without Jon at his side, was satisfied by himself; Marinette respected that and didn’t force him to socialise like Lila tried to.

So that leads us to this. He stood against a sidewall of the giant banquet hall, staring out at the crowd before him. Jon was walking to wards him with a can of sprite in hand. Jon had moved to Paris with him but had been placed into a different class. The boy who was the epitome of sunshine stuck around the Ice Prince, their friendship is an enigma to the Françoise Dupont students.

Jon’s face was flushed. He had just gotten a drink after dancing for the past hour. Tonight was the night of the Collège’s formal dance for their graduating class. Skirts of all colours and fabrics swirled, as their partners (majority of whom had matching suits) twirled them to the music.

Jon, gesturing to the crowd, asked him whether he was going to stand there all night or dance. Taking a sip of his drink a smirk appears on his face, “unless the great Damian Wayne is to much of a coward to dance.”

Here I am waking up

Still can't sleep on your side

Damian’s head snapped towards the taller boy, “Are you seriously using my ego to get me to dance?”

Jon raising an eyebrow, “Well?”

If I can dream long enough

The temperamental teen stormed off, grumbling about “Jon being as bad as Todd”. Scanning the room he search for a suitable partner, there was no way he would embarrass himself by dancing alone.

You'd tell me I'd be just fine

I'll be just fine

He spotted Dupain-Cheng stood off to the side, alone. She was draped in a layered white dress with black hemming. As he neared, he realised that the asymmetrical skirt was actually a light blush with her signature apple blossom flowers embroidered. She looked up at him and he straightened his stance, slowing his pace. Her sapphire eyes locked on to his, her bangs curled off to the side along with the rest of her hair in beach waves.

So I drown it out like I always do

She gifted him a small smile, a usual occurrence within her interactions with him. He offered his left hand, bowing his head slightly. “Dupain-Che—“ he cleared his throat, “Marinette. Would you do me the honour of joining me in this dance?”

Dancing through our house

With the ghost of you

Her eyes widened, not expecting the Arabian God of a teen before her to ask her such a question. She saw his temper during class during his spats with Lila and how he kept to himself without the presence of Jon. But here he was in a fitted Armani suit that made his green eyes glow, and hair messily slicked to the side. Marinette looked at his hand, glad that her makeup mostly hid her blush.

And I chase it down

“I am...” She paused to find the right word, “I am a bad dancer. It is better for everyone that I don’t participate.”

“I can think of nothing less appealing than an evening of watching other people dance.” A small gasp escaped from her mouth before she could stop it. She watched as his mouth twitch’s downwards before his facade returned with full strength. “If you do not wish, to I won’t force you. But if you’ll allow me I’ll guide you through the dance to make sure it isn’t an utter disaster.”

With a shot of truth

Marinette’s lips quirked, giggling as she took his hand, “Your funeral Damian.”

What had he gotten himself into?

The two entered the dance floor, taking up the dance support hold. Their dance had the basic steps of the waltz, with a promenade and many spins; some as a couple and some were just Mari. Damian soon found he enjoy watching the sparkles in her dress light up as she spun. It became even more enjoyable when he discovered that the dress was her own creation.

Dancing through our house

The two made quiet conversations during their dance. Damian pulled her closer by the waist as they repeated the basic steps, their bodies perfectly in tune with each other. “You are a fine dancer despite your protests”

With the ghost of you

Marinette tilted her head up at him, blinding him with a dazzling smile. Damian’s heart fluttered, the two always had a mutual respect but it seems to have grown into a fond appreciation.

From the tables scattered around the dance floor there was a blond, with his fist clenched. Lila had dragged him off of the floor as soon as Damian and Marinette made their debuts; together. The brunette was now off angrily gossiping to Alya and any other who’d listen. It was a hot topic between Lila and Alya that Marinette loved him, although now, as he watched her dance with Damian, he was unsure as to whether that was ever true. He sat there, glued to his seat, watching the spectacle before him.

Cleaning up today

Found that old Zepplin shirt

The two dancers didn’t notice that everyone had cleared off the floor to watch them. They danced in sync, no movement was made without the other following it. Adrien had realised awhile ago that even though he didn’t have romantic feelings for Marinette, he cherished her friendship. That relationship was now tarnished due to the path he took when he first revealed his knowledge of the deceptions. His father had forced him to keep Lila happy, even if it made him miserable.

You wore when you ran away

And no one could feel your hurt

He had lost her, and he was unsure as to whether he could gain any semblance of their relationship back.

We're too young, too dumb

To know things like love

Damian lifted his partner’s right hand and twirled her three times, they both were content within their own world. The two swayed before turning together and walking around the now open space.

But I know better now (Better now)

Marinette flushed as she realised what was happening around her, leaning towards her partner she whispered, “I think we’ve become an impromptu entertainment.”

Too young, too dumb

To know things like love

Too young, too dumb

Damian subtly gazed behind her seeing their peers in a circle surrounding them. He was on the inside looking out, and he wouldn’t trade it for the world. He whispered reassurances in her ear, he wished to finish the song before he released her from his embrace. The two drowned out their audience, focusing on each other and the beat of the song.

So I drown it out like I always do

Dancing through our house

With the ghost of you

And I chase it down

With a shot of truth

That my feet don't dance

Like they did with you

The melody slowly faded off as the last lines were sung. The two finished on a basic waltz step before swaying in each other’s arms. The music ends and there is silence, blood rushed to their ears and their breaths mingled.

The two stayed in the other’s embrace, face-to-face, staring. They broke out of their trance by clapping. Looking around Marinette saw many of her peers and most of the supervising teachers applauding their performance.

Their friends broke through the crowd, Jon patted Damian’s shoulder (retracting before he got bit) while Chloe and Alix pulled Marinette back to their table to discuss what Disney magic had befallen the couple. The bluenette glanced back at her partner, mouthing a silent goodbye.

The crowd dispersed but were still buzzing from their display. Marinette was bombarded with questions, not only from her friends, but from other students about her dancing with the demon. Her stuttered replies did little to quench the crowd’s thirst. Her face must be comparable to that of a tomato.

Damian, having noticed the building crowd and Marinette’s uncomfortable stance, broke away from Jon. The crowd parted like the red sea, unwilling to be the one to anger the Ice Prince.

He offered her his arm (to which she took) and escorted her out to the patio outside. She stayed entwined with him, as she looked out at the stray Parisian night; leaning her head onto his should. Here the two could breathe. Here the two of them could be their present selves, no ghostly facades needed. It seems they could drown out anything in the presence of each other.

Unbeknownst to them, Jon had recorded their dance, along with their previous and present interactions of that night. He thought for a second to use it as blackmail material but decided to just send it off anyways. Oh the chaos it caused.

[clairecrive]

Billy idea that I have no time to write myself loool: reader and Billy are friends with benefits. Reader is happy with the arrangement and knows Billy is sleeping with other women but she doesn't care. It's not serious with them. Billy however hadn't really thought about Reader sleeping with other people and he finds out. Maybe from friends (Frank, Curtis and Karen because hello AU) or maybe all of them are out at a bar and he sees her go home with someone else? But he gets suuuuper jealous about it and realises he wants more. I'll leave it up to you if Reader wants more too. Angsty jealous Billy though, am I right? Lmaooo (this is faulty-coding btw, hello 🖤)

"Commitment"

A/N: omg hi! I love your work so much I feel incredibly honoured that you chose me for this request! I hope you like it x This is also for this anon, I've combined the two requests since they were similar.

Warnings: angst, jealousy, slut-shaming, hurt-comfort, smut at the end

Word count: 3K +

Tags:@blackst0nes7077, @thefictionalgemini, @tarkanelima-blog

@pansysgirlfriend, @acciorudolphx @supernaturalcat7, @crazyclownchick (I don't know why it won't let me tag you)

To add yourself to my taglist, fill in this form.

NAVIGATION PAGE

"Hey, stranger." A familiar voice and then his familiar touch on your back before he sat in front of you.

"Hi, Billy."

"it's been a while," he mentioned casually while his eyes took you in.

It had been more than a while, actually. Last time you saw Billy had been over a week ago. Well, you hadn't really seen him, that was the problem.

Ever since you had started your "agreement" you'd drop by his office from time to time to surprise him. He had told you that he deeply enjoyed office sex while you had never had it. Needless to say, it soon became one of your favourite things.

And that was why that day, you were at Anvil. You hadn't told Billy that you were coming. It wouldn't have been a surprise then, would it? However, when you stepped in front of his door, just one touch away from opening it, you heard it.

Well, heard her actually.

It was Billy that ended up surprising you that day. You usually loved surprises but that one you would have gladly skipped.

Although it had taken you most of a week to come to this realisation, you realized that it was actually a good thing to happen. The thing you had with Billy wasn't labelled. It was fun but it wasn't serious. Despite the fact that you were friends and hang out with the same group, you had never committed to each other.

And you were honestly fine with it. You enjoyed your time with Billy, outside and under the sheets.

It had been months though and you hadn't wanted to acknowledge it but it wasn't enough anymore. Billy's role in your life was ambiguous. He was your friend sure, but one you'd have sex with. He wasn't your boyfriend but he was the one you'd spend the most of your time with, the one with whom you were intimate.

You wanted more, you realized. Enough with these half measures.

Billy will understand, you told yourself. He inwardly made it clear where he stands. Time to broaden your horizons.

And, as matter of fact, you had. It was true that the ocean is full of fish but you hadn't had a lot of luck with them before. Sure, Jake was nice. He was polite and nice. An overall good guy.

He was just lacking a... je ne sais quoi that made you unsure about it. But you were willing to give him a chance and so you kept going on dates with him.

Needless to say, you hadn't spoken to Billy since that impromptu visit to his office.

"Been busy," you offered him taking a sip of your beer. It was a lame excuse but you couldn't care less. Karen offered you some appetizers. You stared at them for a bit before shaking your head refusing them. Ignoring Karen's questioning look, you took another sip.

"Yeah, she's been busy alright." Frank's low chuckle came from the other end of the table.

"Meaning?" Billy asked, now curious about the implication seeing how your cheeks had suddenly turned red.

"She met someone," Karen chirped in, winking in your direction.

Mentally facepalming you, you swore them off. It wasn't the way you wanted Billy to find out. Not that you cared what he thought since he couldn't be bothered to be as transparent with you, but still. You hated being put on the spot.

"Has she now?" Billy's eyebrow arched and he gave you an amused look. But his jaw clenched and that gave him away.

"Not that it's any of your business. But yes, I have. His name's Jake, he's a nice guy." You explained briefly, ignoring the intensity of his stare.

"So you're that kind of person then." Leaning over the table, his voice took an edge he had never directed at you. "Ditching her friends as soon as she meets a guy?"

"You know that's not true." Narrowing your eyes at him you were almost offended by his institution if it wasn't for the fact that you knew that it was his bruised ego speaking.

"Tell that to my many unanswered calls on your phone."

"That's not on Jake," you scoffed taking a sip. His eyebrow arched while his hands gestured to you as if to say "do tell".

"Let's just say that I saw firsthand just how busy you keep yourself when I'm not around." You tried to keep the bitterness out of your voice, you really did. But without success.

Billy's lips pursed in thought. You had no doubt that he had an inkling about what you meant but he couldn't figure out to what exactly you were referring to.

"So is this what it is? You being petty because I've been with someone else?"

"That's me wanting more for myself and taking it."

"If you were that insatiable, y/n, you should have just told me."

"Stop making me sound like a slut, Billy. That is not what this is about."

"Isn't it? Because that's exactly what this looks like to me."

Pursing your lips, you refused to show him just how much he had hurt you. Nodding your head you decided that you'd had enough. You did not have to sit here and take his bullshit.

"You know, Billy. Slut-shaming isn't a good look on you." Waving to your friends, you quickly told them that you had to go. An emergency you said. But they knew better, their eyes fixed on Billy as he watched you walk out of the bar. Hands tightening around the bottle of beer he had ordered, he stood up once you disappeared amongst the crowd.

Without bothering to explain himself to the group, he simply followed you outside.

"Y/n." He called your name once he saw that you were already a bit far from the bar. In a couple of quick strides, Billy had gotten to you since you had slowed down.

"Go away, Billy." you didn't bother to look at him.

"Wait, wait," he said gently taking hold of your arm to get you to stop. And you did but stared at his hand on you until he dropped it and took a step back. "Look I'm sorry, I was an asshole." he apologised.

You only nodded to show him that you understood him but didn't offer any words to assure him that you forgave him.

"And I'm sorry you had to find out about Madani that way." He added hoping to make things right between you.

"Don't worry, it was actually an awakening for me." You added briefly looking at him. Tone harsh and unapologetic. You were still too mad at him to care about being considerate of your voice.

"Really?"

"Yeah, it made me realize that this," you gestured between the two of you, "was not working out for me."

"Oh really?" now the word had lost every tint of disbelief it had before. It was more like he was challenging you. Like he didn't quite believe you.

"Yes." you stood your ground pushing your shoulders back, "I figured out that I want more. And I know that I'm not going to get that from you."

"It was good while it lasted though," you called over your shoulders as you turned, ready to get the hell away from him. But the words he said though, made you halt on your feet.

"Who said you're not going to get that with me?"

"That would require feeling something for me other than lust, Billy." you snicked not fully turning around to face him, just your head.

"Who says I don't?"

"Madani, maybe?"

"She doesn't mean anything, y/n." He scoffed rolling his eyes.

"Of course you'd say something like this, Billy. Doesn't help though." As if him admitting to having meaningless sex with other women could help his case. Men. Fully done with this conversation you gave him one last look before turning away again.

"I know why you didn't eat those appetizers before." Again, after a few steps, his voice made you stop. This time, the implication of what he meant, sat heavily on your shoulders making you tense. Still, you didn't turn around.

That didn't deter him though.

"I know that you love them but they remind you of your grandfather. He used to make sure there would always be some of those at home whenever you went to visit him. And I know you haven't eaten them since-"

He stopped when your head whipping to him, eyes glaring.

He was right. You knew it, he knew it. But him strumentalising your beloved grandfather's death to get through to you? That was low, even for Billy.

Not only it called for you to acknowledge out loud that your grandfather wasn't there anymore but it also surprised you because you didn't think anyone would notice something so small.

"What are you saying, Billy?" Eyes glossy, like everything someone mentioned him, you tried your best to not let your voice waver.

"What I'm saying is that I care about you, y/n. I care enough to notice things. The tiniest details that you don't even know are there. Like that every time you're reading and something bad happens, you press your hand on your chest over your heart, as if you wanted to stop the pain from coming or something. Or that you always cook whenever you miss your family even if you never say it out loud. Or-"

"I get it Billy." you raised a hand to stop him. "You're observant. I knew that. That's basically what you do for a living. Not counting that you're a fucking sniper."

"Maybe," he conceded slowly taking a step in your direction, "I notice things, that's true. That doesn't mean that I store them in my mind, though."

"I care about you, y/n. A great deal. Enough to notice all the little things that make you you and enough to memorize them."

"I don't know if I can believe you, Billy. If you cared you wouldn't be going around sleeping with other women. And I know-" you added when you saw his mouth open to protest- " I know that technically we weren't together but still Billy. A technicality is not going to earn you my trust." Shrugging your shoulders you opted for being honest with him. You had never lied to him and you certainly weren't going to start now. Billy had never lied to you either, not that you were aware. And even if this thought should have reassured you, you were still hesitant about believing him.

"Then give me a chance to do so. Let me prove to you just how much I care about you and how little I care about everything else." He insisted, taking another step and then another until he was in front of you. Hands on your jaw, he delicately craned your neck so that your eyes could meet.

The height difference had always been a reason for jokes among you. It was no secret that Billy had a slight size kink, at least not to you, and so more often than not he'd use that.

Thumb slowly caressing your jaw, his eyes flickered between yours. They were full of hope, of promises but there was also a lot of vulnerability. Billy was not the type to be so forthcoming about his feelings. The fact that he had been with you, on a side street nonetheless, was a demonstration on its own.

Sighing, you knew you needed to decide. Yes, hearing Billy having sex with another woman had hurt you but you were not together. While that didn't make it hurt any less, it made the situation slightly less grave. He hadn't cheated on you, not really. You hadn't told him you wanted more. Hell, before that you didn't even know that you wanted more.

And now that you knew, now that he knew as well, here he was promising it to you. He wanted to give you exactly what you wanted. So could you really say no to him?

Of course not.

"Alright."

"Yeah?" a big smile grew on his face, his eyes twinkling in joy.

"Yeah, I'm going to give you a chance. Only one, Billy. So you better not mess this up." Poking his chest with a finger you warned him that this time around, things were going to be different.

"You're not going to regret that, babe." His eyes held a solemn promise. Just briefly though because soon, they were back to their usual mischief. Billy leaned to you, his lips meeting yours in a small kiss.

At first.

He kissed you soundly, his mouth perfectly on yours, building his tempo slowly. Then, you felt his tongue on your lower lip and you knew that things were about to escalate quickly.

Not that you minded of course, but it was not appropriate to do what you had in mind in the middle of the street.

"Billy," you moaned slightly leaning back to warn him that you couldn't get too carried away.

"Call that Jim guy," his mouth peppered small kisses along your jaw, "tell him that it's over. That he never stood a chance," he moved down on your neck.

"Yes."

"Let's go home so that I can show you how much more I can give you."His mouth had trailed back up and stopped so that it was hovering over your ear. His voice was low and breathy and husky and fuck it sent a wave of pleasure right in between your legs.

------

No sooner had you stepped over your threshold than Billy's hands were on you. The door barely closed, he pushed you against it. His hands cradled your face, effectively keeping you holding you in place while his mouth ravished you.

You gladly let him do as he pleased. Mouth opening to welcome his tongue while your hands gripped his jacket to keep you steady.

"Billy," you whimpered his name as his lips left yours. You tried to follow them by getting on your tiptoes but he didn't let you. Chuckling, he gave you another small kiss.

"Yes. Remember that it's me that it's making you feel this good. Me. Not Jim or whatever his name is, not anyone else. Me." He growled on your lips while one of his hands gripped the hair at the nape of your neck making you gasp.

Staring at his glowing dark pits you couldn't do anything other than nodding feverishly. You were at his mercy. Completely. And Billy knew that and it did nothing but please him to no end.

You'd always enjoyed whenever Billy was rough with you but him being jealous and kinda possessive too? Game changer.

Smirking at your reaction, his hands moved lower on your body until they hatched behind your knees pulling you up. Biting your lower lip, he swallowed your whimper for the friction once you wrapped your legs around his waist.

Billy didn't waste any more time, in quick long strides he was in your bedroom and threw you on the bed. You'd almost giggled when you bounced on it if it wasn't for the savage look in Billy's eyes.

Fuck, he looked so sexy. A sin.

For a moment, he just stared at you laid there waiting for him. A hand quickly wiped his face before he unbuckled his pants. Now it was your turn to stare at him. More like ogle but you knew he didn't mind.

Shedding his pants, he crawled over you until his face levelled yours.

"I'm going to give you exactly what you want. And then some more." He promised, nipping your earlobe. "You're never going to feel the need to look for other guys."

"There's no one else I'd rather be with, Billy."

Your hands trailed over his still clothed back before tangling his always perfectly styled hair. "Only you." You whispered in his ear.

If it wasn't for your hand on his back, you would have missed him tensing. "Say it again," he demanded, his head still in the crook of your neck.

"You're the only one I want, Billy." You repeated knowing fully well how he struggled with accepting love and affection. This meant to him just as much as it did to you. He was giving you the promise of commitment but so were you. And despite the fact that you had already been loyal to him, you knew how important it was for him to hear the words.

"There's no one else for me either, y/n. Never was, never will be." He raised his head to say this. It was a confirmation, yes, but it also felt so much more coming from him.

He had been telling you how much he cared about you since you left the bar but somehow, him saying it again now held more meaning.

"You promise?"

You felt childish and it was probably pathetic of you to ask him again. But this was you being vulnerable, letting him know that you needed him. And you trusted Billy.

"You're mine." He said instead. One of his hands coming to cradle the back of your head while the other closed around your right breast.

"And I'm yours."

And here it was, the promise, the reassurance you needed. His lips met yours in a bruising kiss. It was wet and more teeth and tongue than anything but it was passionate. You were claiming each other.

Not separating your lips, he used his hands to get rid of your clothes. While he unbuckled your pants, you took his shirt off. Him doing the same with yours while you pushed his brief down on his legs.

Once you were completely naked, Billy crawled back over you. His hands resting at the sides of your head. He was everywhere. You could feel him between your legs, your arms wrapped around his back, your vision field occupied by his beautiful face.

He was everywhere, he was everything.

"And now, I'm going to leave no room for doubt in your mind anymore." He whispered on your lips, his cock rubbing over your slit teasing you about what was to come.

You had asked him for a commitment and fuck if he didn't commit to it. All night long.

[nxtsnw]

HEYYY I LOVED THE WAKASA X READER "kiss in the rain", if requests are open, will u pls make one for Inui 😭😭 (I'm new to Tumblr)

KISS IN THE RAIN (2)

here's the one with wakasa <3

n.a: hihii! AW thank you so much, i'm glad for that<33 !! rn my requests are closed, but i thought about this little scenario so i hope you like it (welcome to tumblr!!)

summary: brainrot for inui

character: inui seishu x gn!reader

genre: fluff <3

The prom, what many students from the first year looked at with dreamy eyes, hoping one day to go there accompanied by their lover, had never attracted that much to you.

Although you were also curious, you didn't have that light that you saw in all your friends, so you decided you wouldn't go there this year, and you invented justifications not to go there. You decide to spend the evening alone watching a movie, eating junk, and taking time for yourself and to relax.

During the whole evening, you couldn't stop thinking about what the others were doing at the prom, especially after discovering that Inui, your classmate, and great friend, would go there. He wasn't quite your crush, but there was definitely more than a friendship between the two of you, and you were probably the only ones who didn't realize it.

The more you tried to distract yourself, the more your thought went towards the prom, and towards that boy, who knows if in the end he was gone there, if so how he would have dressed? Was he dancing with someone at the time?

You tried to stop thinking about it, but when you were ready to go to bed a message arrives. It was him, Inui Seishu, that friend of yours to whom you had dedicated your thoughts all evening. It was a clear and concise message:

[Hey. Would you like to go out with me?]

[Inui? are you okay? what do you mean?]

[ all right, I'm Inui's friend, but he has been looking for you all evening, please give him a chance]

[ Me? What should I do?]

[Come here now]

That was the final blow. After losing a few beats, your heart started beating again to the rhythm of the rain beating on your window.

Would you go out for him in the rain at night? Well, you did.

You left the house and walked quickly to the prom venue. The place was a few steps away, and a thousand-second thoughts came. What if it was all a joke? In the meantime you had lowered the umbrella, the rain had slightly decreased but by now you were already soaked.

You lowered your eyes, still thinking about what to do. But when you looked up I saw two eyes watching you closely.

"Inui - you scared me," you said when you realized who owned those eyes.

"Oh I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to"

You have drifted away, so you had more time to observe the whole figure. He was breathtakingly beautiful.

Dressed in a white shirt, with wide sleeves, and a kind of a corset of the same color, accompanied by velvet trousers. The moonlight reflected off his blond hair and made it appear gold, and so his eyes sparkled too. Matching heels made him taller than you, and he was perfectly balanced as he watched you.

"You're all wet from the rain, are you okay?" He asked you

You nodded, without stopping staring at him with lost eyes. Before you could speak, he added:

"Um, I know you came for the messages I am sorry, koko took my phone and I-" he said, walking away slightly and lowering his head.

" It's true that you have been looking for me all evening?"

"Maybe.." at that moment your eyes met again. You saw him suddenly blush, approach you, and then he gently took your face in his hands.

"May I?" he asked you.

Once again, you nodded, so he gently placed his lips on yours. He tasted of a mixture of cherry and lemon.

You two were both soaked from the rain so he took the opportunity to get close to him and hug you.

When you are separated, the rain had stopped too. The moon was at the highest point of the sky; it seemed that nature itself had tenderly accompanied that kiss.

[lovelybarnes]

saudade- l. laufeyson

pairings: loki laufeyson x reader, mentions of other loki characters warnings: loki tv show spoilers, probably tva inaccuracies, mobius being trusted even though i don’t actually trust him lol, mentions of death, tears, a little sad angst but happy ending, ooc characters?? possible mistakes because i can't read this again skjfj about: requested, DF26 with TVA Loki running into the variant of his dead spouse a/n: thank you so much for requesting! i loved writing the last scene so much

loki has narrowly avoided the tva for years, opportunities much better than this and chaos a lot more chaotic than this have already been caused and passed. so the how and why he has been taken in at this very moment- while he’s eating at one of those fast food places you used to like- is very, very unknown to him. he should know, however; you’ve explained to him the tired concept of time traveling many times before, although the most important things were told to him when he thought you a mere mortal like the rest- something you were not- and could not possibly know something he didn’t- also something very untrue.

but the reasoning for his capturing is not at the front of his mind- although close- his main objective staying on how to get out of this unknown place and go back to looking for you- whether the fragile fabrics of reality and string of the timeline fray and break or don’t. he knows it possible, having seen the avengers do something similar, so why can a god like him not?

he’s ripped many holes, and he supposes the consequences for them are finally catching up to him, a lot sooner than he’d like. in another world, he’d already have you, and, with you by his side, you both would’ve been out long before, or never captured at all. although, he supposes, in a perfect world, you never would have been taken away from him in the first place.

he knows stopping for food he didn’t even necessarily need- or, really, like- was not a smart decision. he’s realizing exactly how not-smart of a decision it was with every passing second that the fools in armor drag him along the halls. the stop wasn’t needed, much less planned, but the memories the greasy food and dirty restaurant brought were too pleasant- a break full of you in the nonstop mission to find you. he could nearly feel your fingers touching his, hear your voice urging him to at least try and your bubbled laugh when he cringes. the fizz of the soda had made him grimace like the first time, except there was no you to giggle at it.

loki nearly thinks it was worth it. nearly.

when the guard shoves him into another room, loki takes a second to examine the exits, barely noticing the man at the desk. the person next to him pushes him further, dropping the tesseract and various stolen pym particles on the desk. loki takes note of where the man puts them so he can steal them back.

the guard stops with him in front of a small elevator, pulling a lever and waiting. loki looks at them, “where am i? get me back right now, i have things i must attend to.” the guard only looks at him, and loki scoffs, “i am loki of asgard, god of mischief and trickery, believe me when i say there will be deadly consequences if you do not do what i ask.”

the guard huffs a small laugh, “i’ve heard that before. we’ll see.”

the doors in front of him part, opening to a room he’s rammed into. he looks back the guard, one foot already out when he’s suddenly back where he was, watching as the entrance closes. he senses the machine before he can have a good look at it, a claw that he’s seen too many variations of beginning to poke at the fabric on his shoulders. he swats it away, standing tall as he glares at the smiling machine. “absolutely not! this is high tech armor, only few of this exists.”

the tech on the machine turns the grin into a frown, pulling back the talons and instead extending another apparatus that scans at his clothing, removing them with a yellow glow until he’s completely bare. he looks down at himself before looking back up at the face, pointing a finger, “now what-”

his words are cut off when he falls through the opening ground, falling onto the bottom room, now dressed in an uncomfortable tan jumpsuit, orange letters reading TVA on the left breast. a bored man in front of him pushes a pile of papers to him, “please sign to verify this is everything you’ve ever said.”

loki ignores his words, pushing it back, “i need to find someone, stop the absurdity.” the man only blinks as a machine whirrs, printing a piece of paper he reaches over to take and place on top of the pile. he hands loki a pen, “sign that too.” loki frowns, “did you not hear me? i have important things to do.” the machine does it again, and the man repeats his motions and shakes the pen in his hand. “that, too.” the god only sighs in frustration and signs, slamming the pen down before he’s dropped again.

another man greets him in a monotone, not even looking at him while he reads off the clipboard in his hands, “please confirm to your knowledge that you are not a fully robotic being, were born an organic creature, and do in fact possess what many cultures would call a soul.” loki’s eyebrows furrow, “i’m not a robot- how many people don’t know?”

“thank you for confirming, move through,” he requests. loki glances at the machine in front of him before stepping through it, a small picture printing after he’s on the other side. loki catches vibrant orange and red with hints of green that overcome any other color. “through the door, please.”

-

he encounters the same guard from before with a frustrated glare, leading him to what looks like a courtroom, a woman sitting in the middle, reading off a file. “variant L4293, aka loki laufeyson-l/n, is charged with sequence violation 7-20-89. how do you plead?” loki tilts his head at her, “madam, a god- i don’t plead.”

the woman sighs tiredly, “are you guilty or not guilty?” loki’s eyes thin as he observes her. “guilty of… trying to find my wife, yes. guilty of being extremely frustrated, yes. guilty of whatever it is you’re accusing me of, no. not guilty.” loki’s hand curls, trying to use his abilities inconspicuously but dismayed to not be able to. he tries again, only to come up empty as he realizes what is happening. “magic powers are no good in the tva, mister laufeyson,” the judge says absentmindedly. “i prefer l/n,” loki diverts simply, unknowingly catching the attention of one of the attendees. the judge barely acknowledges him, about to say something else before a man jumps up, hand raised, “wait, wait- uh, i have something to add to this. before the court makes a decision.”

the judge tilts her head at the man, pursing her lips before sighing and letting him approach the bench. loki leans in to try to understand the whispers that are exchanged, ending in the judge sending one last look his way before letting him go. “the court finds you innocent- and under agent mobius’ responsibility,” she clarifies, looking at the man and watching him nod quickly. she slams her gavel and motions for the man- mobius, he assumes, to take loki. he stands and awkwardly bows, before going over to loki and raising an eyebrow, “don’t betray me,” he says, words too true to be something playful. loki’s head tilts to the side in slight confusion, watching as the man begins to walk, pausing to urge loki to follow him.

loki ignores the activity through the windows of the hall, choosing to concentrate on mobius. “why did you do that?” he wonders aloud, suspicious eyes following him as his head peeks into halls. “let’s just say it’s a favor, although you’ll be on thin ice forever.”

“favor for whom?” mobius doesn’t answer, turning a corner. loki exhales sharply before following him, continuing to pry as he briefly heeds his surroundings. the sight of a woman in a suit much like mobius’ catches his eye, her back to him but he recognizes the shape of her shoulder and the color of her hair. he looks away, pretending to concentrate on the clock thing on the television but actually chasing the overfamiliar features to a face.

the sound of your voice- something he hasn’t heard in an obscenely long time- craved for so much longer it seems like a lifetime, snaps his attention to what surely must be a cruel joke. he can tell it’s you now. you’re standing there, head tilted at the same receptionist man and chuckling exasperatedly, “come on, casey, we’ve been over this. a fish and a lion are not the same thing-”

“but a lionfish-?” casey asks, and loki is pushing away the guards already, because you’re there, you’re solid and laughing like you used to and you can’t not be real. he can distantly hear mobius’ voice telling the guards to let him go as if loki hasn’t already taken care of that, walking over to you with quick and quiet footsteps. his fingers circle around your wrist first as an assurance, and when you turn, hand still in his, eyes widening when you notice who he is, he pulls you into him completely. your arms wrap around him barely seconds later, finally registering the person in front of you as you squeeze him. “loki?” you whisper, inhaling the same familiar scent of him that you haven’t had in what seems like forever.

“i missed you so much,” he says, hands wandering over your back, touching your arms and your shoulders and your hips just to touch you. “me too- i didn’t- i thought i would never see you again.” your tears are falling on the fabric of his jumpsuit, small tearful gasps escaping your lips while you tug him as close as you can, tangling your fingers in his hair and shutting your eyes at the familiar feeling. “oh god, you’re here-”

“i missed you so much,” he repeats, and you finally notice his words, realization like electricity, making you tremble and sigh softly. “what does that mean?” you question, already fearing the answer and already knowing the effects: the mess of his usually kept hair and the red tint of his eyes, like a sheen of sadness that stains the color of the eyes you have missed for so long. loki pulls away from you only to look at your face, trace the shape of the lips he’d spent hours of the morning pressing kisses to, memorize the curve of the nose you’d scrunch in a laugh when thor was a victim to one of his tricks.

“i have been looking for you, darling,” he murmurs, fingers running over your fallen tears while you notice the shine of his eyes, the tears that enhance the love he has for you. “because i’m…” you don’t want to finish your sentence, and you can tell loki doesn’t want you to either; he scans your features, small smile peeking through the shock and grief.

“i didn’t… mobius didn’t show me that, i thought-” your eyes flicker to the man before settling back on loki, the weight of the ring he’d given you feeling lighter now that it had found its pair. the various eyes on you don’t go unnoticed, and neither does the look mobius sends to the rest of the workers, indicating for them to go back to work. the cold of loki’s skin is comforting to the touch of your warmth, and you find yourself back in the summer afternoons where you would settle with your husband to read books, rubbing cool fingers on the hot of your skin when you felt suffocated by the heat of the sun.

another tear slips from your eyes when you realize you don’t have to imagine anymore, there’s no need to search for your memories and shut your eyes for them to run over you. your lips are on his when you can’t help it anymore, eyes squeezed close and salty tears dropping from your chin when it finally settles that he’s here and he’s yours and he’ll never be gone again.

he’ll make sure of that.