#and aaaaaaaaa I'm about to tear up

[sublimecatgalaxy]

AAAAAAAAA PEETA ENEMIES TO OOVERS AND THE “I really don’t like you” DIALOUGE OH MY LORDT IM FOAMING AT THE MOUTH IM SO EXCITED AKRJSKFNMFH

I LOVE THIS!!

"Did Effie give you the speech too?" Peeta asks as he enters the back of the train, his presence tugging an eyeroll from me and I mentally hit myself for not hiding in the bathroom instead- somewhere where he can't he can't be obnoxiously nice to me.

"About behaving?" I ask him, scooting over so he can sit next to me on the couch, folding my legs up into my chest as I hug them. "Yes."

"She told me I'm supposed to try to convince you to like me." Peeta says with a small smile and blushed cheeks and it almost makes me smile but I remember that I promised myself to choose to be annoyed by him so I would not inevitably fall in love with him.

But it's so damn hard.

"That's easier said than done." I scoff, looking out the window at all of the colored trees, trying to not make eye contact with him, knowing better than that and knowing that a blush would immediately rise up my neck and my cheeks would heat up.

"C'mon." He nudges me, electricity sparking under his touch and it sends goosebumps up my arm and down my spine. "I bet, deep down, you tolerate me more than you think." I give him a deadpanned look and a scoff, lying through my teeth with a shake of my head.

"I really don't like you." I mutter, glaring at him through my lashes as he laughs, shaking his head at my blatant lie.

"And I really don't believe you." He sighs, stretching his arm out on the couch behind me, leaning towards me a bit with a simple pat on my shoulder. "This whole tour will go ten times smoother if you just let go a bit."

"I just really don't want to be here." I breathe sincerely, finally meeting my gaze and I allow myself to slip into him for a moment, leaning into the way that his hand rests on my shoulder, soothingly rubbing circles into my skin.

"And it's not my fault that you are." His voice is stern and an example of his frustration towards my faux dislike towards him and I give him a soft smile, nodding my head in acknowledgment. Maybe I'll go easy on him this time. "I don't want to be here either."

"I know." I reach up to pat his hand that's sitting on my shoulder. "I'm sorry."

"You don't have to be sorry, I get it." He shrugs and I laugh, feeling frustrated but also comforted tears rise to my eyes but I'm quick to blink them away.

"You're too nice." I scoff, watching him make his way to his feet, prepared to walk out of the room but he turns to me at the last second and he sends me a wink.

"Eh, it balances out your attitude."

"Peeta!"

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o- Taglist: @bubblebuttwade @rafelover2405 @leslienjazzy @sorceresss @grxnde-dwt @alex–awesome–22 @bunnietoof @niyamar1e @serialghost @plantlungs @geniusohn @akaliltimmytim @lilaalouuxx @xshariex @elliotsbeigeguitar @elle4404 @lelieja @srhxpci @joselyn001 @taysirene @spinkspanther @thedivineuphoria @peter-maximoffs @tsukishimawhore @poohkie90 @szlaco @distantsighs @nstyles4299 @wolflover384 @givemefoodandlovesstuff @vane28282 @yeswhatever33 @amirrahfranson @vvaalleennttiinna @f-mu @yaspillz @jeyramarie @skylievin@abbybarnes17 @jointherebellion215 @visiondaddy @steezysimfinds @its-ya-gay-boi-luigi @crunchytoenailsyum@glizzymcguirex @beth123lg @melovesmut @rafecameronswhore @ariianelle @write-from-the heart @vampviolets@haylee-e @honee-chai-tea @lokiandbuckywife

@officiallyunofficialperson@heyaitsklaudia@rosepetalsparks @bluetreecloud20 @scenesofobx @double-shot-of-tequila @1dluver13xx @colbysbrocks @iamasimpingh0e @loveshineslikethesky @id-3-kbro @diorsitgirl @errorfound101-allideasburnedout @neverwillknowme18 @ellyskey @taylors-folk @loversjoy @myaloveee @thyris-is @lagataprrr @aaaaslaaaan @witxhy-lexx @minjix @luvroseee @tee-swizzle @savageneversaw @admiringlove @hysteriahall @piceous21 @starlightandfairies @igotmajordaddyissues @drewstarkey-wife1 @manyfandomsfanvergent @revesephemeres

[cupidbedsy]

AAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAA

okay i'm done screaming (for now)

what about connor's reaction to vi in the wag jacket?!?! since you just mentioned that !

it's okay, vibe o'clock is back, we live for screaming.

i'm thinking vi has been in chicago for a majority of her break especially since michigan is playing at Wrigley on Friday so she'd be seeing her parents and luca anyway.

but she's hanging around connor's apartment and he's coming back from practice with a box in his hands causing her to raise an eyebrow, they giving you more clothes to wear?"

his laugh rung out through the space, shaking his head as he made his way over to her, "no, actually. this one, is for you, pretty girl."

her eyebrows furrowed, taking the box from his hands and placing it on the couch before slowly taking the top off and pealing back the layers of the tissue paper. at first, the white winter coat that was nestled in the box made her raise an eyebrow in confusion and suspicion, but as she pulled it out, letting it hang down from her hands, she turned it around and gasped softly at the 98 branded to the back of the coat followed by the 'bedard' in red curvisive just below it.

her eyes flicked to her boyfriend and then back at the jacket, tears almost welling in her eyes, "i got a wag jacket?"

he couldn't help the small chuckle that came from his throat, eyes scanning over the pure joy that was written all over her face, "yeah, baby. you are my girlfriend and if i remember correctly that is what the 'g' in wag stands for."

"shut up," her eyes made work of memorizing every detail on the jacket, the 'chicago' written on the left sleeve in the same red cursive lettering his name was in.

connor was beaming with pride as he watched her, only slightly confused as to why something with his name and number made her tear up when she had so many other things that did. but if it was special to her, it was special to him so it didn't matter much what he thought.

[merakiui]

(sending again because I think it got eaten the first time)

Mera,,, you hit my weak spot with the tags on the dacryphilia ask w/ Azul,,, Not only was Azul being a crybaby just *chef's kiss* but,,, Bottom tweels in the tags!!! orz

I'm so weak for tall, strong men being submissive, it's unfair,,, Jade especially!! Always so put together and perfect, it just make you wanna mess him up even more!!! I imagine at first he'd try to save face, insisting he doesn't feel a thing... but after wringing a few orgasms out of him, he's a sobbing, drooling mess 💕💕🫣

Of course, Floyd would act like a brat throughout the whole thing,, you'd have to tie him up to get him to behave (if you can manage that). He's squirming and kicking the whole time, complaining about how it's too much and it doesn't feel good anymore and he can't even cum more than this-- He secretly loves having all your attention, but he won't admit it 👉👈

Or or or!! Eating them out/fingering them in their merforms!!! Just thinking about them wrapping their tails around you because they're so overwhelmed, but it feels so good,, 🤤💕 OTL

Bottom eels are cutest eels and I will never be immune to their charms 💕💕 (bonus point if reader is smaller than them because size kink hehehe)

- 🦈

Azul being a crybaby is just so !!!!!!! OTL I love love love the idea of him falling for his bully even though they treat him so terribly. It's some sort of Stockholm syndrome he develops in which he comes to associate you with comfort even if your words are mean and you look at him like he's filth. :( no one has ever paid this much attention to him before, whether positive or negative, so any type of attention makes him feel so special. AAAAAA so many thoughts, but I will spare you the ramble!! >_<

Bottom tweels... >:) yes yes yes!!!! Picturing Jade as a sobbing, drooling mess is so good. I just think he deserves to be reduced to a loser virgin who has never known the touch of another until you and he just folds the minute he puts the tip in or the moment your lips wrap around his dick. Jade being so overly sensitive that even your fingertips waltzing across his heated skin is enough to bring tears to his eyes. Tie him up and ride him until he can't cum anymore, or fuck him into the mattress and his brain shuts off. He goes from cold, calculating eel to sobbing, gasping, mess of eel by his third orgasm.

And Floyd... omg he's such a brat!!! You're so right! He fights you with everything he's got because it makes things more exhilarating and he also just doesn't like the idea of being pinned down so easily, but wring a few orgasms from him and he's reduced to a whiny mess. He's practically putty in your hands at that point. <3 he still tries to struggle if only because he's so restless and overstimulated and he's cumming dry, but he can't stop moving his hips. orz no thoughts in his brain, just sex sex sex sex.

EATING THEM OUT/FINGERING THEM IN THEIR MER FORMS AAAAAAAAA OTL OTL and they're wrapping their tails around you to hold you in place so you won't stop. It feels soooo good and they're soooo sensitive and !!!!!!!! Floyd has to actively restrain himself from squeezing you to breaking, but he can't help tightening his grip. Neither can Jade, but he's a little bit better at keeping his strength in check. Most of the time. ;;;; but they're both so easy when they're like this, sprawled on the sea floor and begging you for more. >:)

I love bottom eels. <3 they're so cute. If you're smaller than them, it's even better because no one will believe that you're capable of reducing these eels (who are so much bigger and stronger than you) into the most desperate bottoms ever!!!! And maybe they let you collar them and tug them around with a leash hehe. It's such a yummy dynamic when size difference is involved. Jade and Floyd adore you; they'd kill for you. orz you're just so perfect and the twins are so whipped.

[not-someone-who-matters]

HEARD THE WISDOM SAGA SPOILERS FOR THAT GONNA SYA EVERYTHING I NOTICED XCUSE THE TYPOS ITS 11 AM ILL EDIT TMOORROW

1, light used as a motif for kindness, warmth, mercy... "So I could bring the world some light" "his light went dark" etc etc

2 "where is he? Where is the man who'll have you to wife? Where is he? Where is the man with whom you'll spend you life cuz in my darkest days Penelope's my drive"

Vs

"where is he? Where is the man who'll have you to wife? Where is he? Where is the man with whom you'll spend you life cuz it's been twenty years, and we still have no king."

Both wanting Penelope as a wife but one sees her as something wonderful to think of as motivation and the other sees her as an object and a prize!!!!

3. "When you (....) of a mother gonna choose a new husband" has a similar melody to "keep your head low he's aiming for the torches"

4. Also that OOH! After antinous speaks sounds exactly like my classmates when they start picking on my friends like XD these suitors are so inmature!

5. Wow antinous does not play around. The SA themes already started.

6. "If I fight this monster... Is it you I'll find?" LIKE IF HE FIGHTS ANTINOUS IS HE SOMEHOW GONNA GET CLOSER TO ODYSSEUS?? also fight those monsters, and Odysseus who is a monster- but a different kind of monster, who protects his own.... You can't choose whether or not you are a monster but you can choose the kind of monster you are...

7. Athena comparing the suitors to dogs and Telemachus to a wolf!!! One more noble and dignified than the others!!!

Also Athena. Don't insult Argos by comparing him with the suitors :(

8. "If she doesnt choose a man to adorn her we:lol being blood and tears..."

Odysseus... Hurry

9. Those who remember your light may notice that the "what keeps you up so late at night my friend" sounds similar to "tell me Athena why you came to my aid."

10. HIS LIGHT WENT DARK AS IN. HE TURNED FEOM THE BRIGHT AND HOPEFUL KID HE WA STO SOMEONE A LOT DARKER AND HOPELESS. AAAAAAA

11. "I could sleep at night" vs "what's a title that a goddess could lend if I'll never sleep at night" AAAAAAAAA

12. WHEN HE TRIES TO LEAN HIS HEAD ON HER SHOULDER AND FALLS.... AAAAAAAAAA

13. "Odysseus where did you go" where did his happiness and joy go.... AAAAAAA I'm crying now.

14. Calypsos .O. face!!! Calypso they could never make me hate u.

15. THE WAY CALYPSO MOVES SO MUCHA ND IDK SOMETHING ABOUT HER IS SO CHILDISH which makes sense bc how many years alone.... But she's so movey!! They could never make me hate Calypso fite me. The moment this animatic is out I'm !!! She acts innocent (but isn't) and reminds me a lot of Rapunzel in the movie when she just got out of her tower.

16. "I'll stay inside your heart" "I'll always love you, I'll stay in your heart" AAAAAAAA

17. Stay in my open arms. :). I am. so Normal.

18. ATHENAAAAA

[h0nkch0c0late]

hiii, bestie<33 i'm sure you didn't expect me here at all. it's not like i said a moment ago that i’d do it 🙄

i would like to ask for another angst, because my soul feeds on my suffering. i was thinking of dean x reader, where our dear sweetest reader, who is also a hunter, has feelings for dean who is a role model and such a hero to her and she finally decides to tell him everything and he is like "🧍‍♀️" because he only sees her as a younger sister 🫣

thank you!!<3 byeeee

AAAAAAAAA YESSSS

Like a Sister

Dean Winchester x Reader

Summary: As a hunter, you learned from a very young age that you shouldn't get into relationships. Meeting the oldest Winchester brother changed this idea for you, but unfortunately, he doesn't feel the same.

WARNING(S): Unrequited love, rejection, mild swearing, angst

Dean Winchester was your biggest role model, and practically a hero.

You were only four years younger than him, being Sam's age.

And, just like the brothers, you had been in the hunting life ever since you could walk.

You had met the brothers during the first time they had been up against Lucifer, and since then, had always been a phone call away.

To your luck, they always needed your help. At least, that's what Dean always told you.

And this time it was no different. Well, not so different other than you had developed feelings for Dean over the past couple of months and had been working up the courage to tell him.

You were sure that he felt the same about you. The way he hugged you was different than how he hugged other people, and, in cases where you had almost died, well...let's just say there were tears and lots of yelling involved on his part.

...well, that's what you thought at least.

So, here you were, hunting down a nest of vamps. Sam and Dean were in the middle of a very petty fight, and had separated from doing hunts together, so it was only you and Dean this time.

And you were determined to tell him your feelings.

-----------

The hunt was going fairly well, you and Dean had killed (what you thought was) all of the vamps.

As you both breathed heavily, covered in blood that was definitely not your own, you began to build up your courage to tell him everything.

"Hey Dean?" You began, your voice uncharacteristically quiet.

He turned to you, "What's up?" He asked, his eyebrows quirked in curiosity.

"I...have something important to tell you." You say as you begin to walk closer to him.

He chuckled, "What could be more important than celebrating our win?" He questioned, clueless as ever.

You gulped, noticing how close to the two of you were as you looked at him, "I...I've looked up to you for a while. You're practically my hero! In fact...as of recently, you've kinda...become more than a hero to me? And I...just wanted to tell you..."

His eyes tore away from you as he noticed movement. An extra vamp you two hadn't accounted for was beginning to sneak up behind you, no doubt trying to catch you by surprise and failing. "Move!" He yelled at you before you could finish what you were saying, slightly pushing you out of the way and making you stumble as he he lifted his machete and took off the vamp's head.

Having your heart racing once more from the scare of the vamp, and now being covered in even more blood, you shook off your nerves, wiping away the imaginary dirt that littered your knees.

"Sorry." Dean apologized, turning to you once again, "what were you gonna say? Other than the whole "you're my hero" thing?"

You tensed, blinking furiously at him a couple times as you tried to regroup your thoughts and gather your courage once more, "I...I-uh, I like you. I have very very strong feelings for you. And I really hope you feel the same because then I'll just feel like an idiot, but I am really really into you." You ranted, making sure that nothing could cut you off again.

Your confidence in his feelings began to run thin as you watched him freeze, dropping the blood covered machete to the ground as he stared at you wide eyed.

The air around you fell thick with silence as Dean gathered his thoughts, clearly shaken by the confession that had just taken place.

You saw his chest rise as he took in a deep breath, his eyes going from wide to now guilty as his lips formed a frown, "Look, kid, I..." He began.

You felt your heart begin to crack as you knew where he was getting at. He wouldn't have called you "kid" otherwise.

"You're cool and all, I'm I'm glad you think of me as some sort of role model, but...listen, I don't feel the same. I think of you as a younger sister, you know?" He told you, trying to let you down as gentle as possible.

You felt your eyes beginning to get glazed with tears as the man before you broke your heart even more.

"I don't want this to change anything between us, okay? You'll always be a little sister to me. Can we just...pretend like this never happened?" He asked. He felt horrible, hurting you like that. But what choice did he have? He didn't want to lie to you, and it was impossible for him to see you in any other light than as a sister.

You quickly wiped away the tears that had managed to fall as you attempted to gather the broken pieces, clearing your throat as you nodded, "Yeah...can we-uh-can we just go? I wanna get cleaned up." You dismissed, your voice cracking.

Dean nodded, turning and making his way towards the impala.

You followed behind, staring at the ground as you plopped yourself into the backseat, not even daring to look at the man before you.

The ride to the bunker was silent, and as the both of you separated (you getting into your own car, and Dean making his way to the entrance of the bunker), not a word was spoken. No goodbye, no "thank you", you just left.

You wanted to believe that nothing would change between the two of you, but the thought of seeing him after he broke your heart...it was an impossible task.

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

:))))))) @pinchofhoney <33

[bunnyreaper]

im the prev ex bfs dad price anon 😁 had more thoughts about him 😁 u begging him to pick u up in his lovely car just to take u away somewhere... him going absolutely livid after finding out his son cheated thats why u guys broke up, u crossing the console to sit in his lap and sobbing into his chest him stroking up and down ur back AAAAAAAAA i know its not sexual but its soooooooo 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰. maybe you look up at him through tear stained lashes and then blink up and see the reverent look in his eyes and realise how much price really likes you, you weren't looking hard enough because you were too focused on your shitty ex to even look properly at price but now he has u in his arms and its better than anything your ex made you feel so you lean in, feel your shaky breaths mingle with his steady ones and kiss 😁😁😁 AAAAAAAAAAAA

screaming crying and screaming some more yes yes yes I'm so glad everyone understands and vibes with this???

[hotchs-big-hands]

Omg hi I've been stalking your blog like a horny lil guy, I don't know what happened in the past few days but I'm LIVING for the explosion of new Hotch x reader content

I might come off anon after a minute but would you mind if I 🦴 for now?

Also, I've been thinking a lot recently about giving Aaron aftercare.... we know this man is not used to receiving it. Even if his sex life was a little bland with Hailey and Beth, he's always been a giver and more dominant. And he's used to being the one checking in on his partner and making sure they're doing okay before, during, and after. So when the "what do you like for aftercare?" conversation comes up, and reader's like, oh! Would you like me to wash your hair or give you massage after sex? Do you need extra reassurance and praise after a rougher scene? And Aaron's is just so confused at first, like "honey I'm the one taking care of you" and reader's gotta be like, "your needs after sex should be met too" and he's just like🥺🥺, in a state of shock??

Like man's gotta THINK about his response, he doesn't even know what to ask for (~cue the trying different kinds of aftercare montage~)

Idk as someone active in the BDSM community... the number of dom(me)s I've had who have been absolutely shocked when I asked what they wanted for aftercare is just so sad to me. Seems like a very Hotch-coded response tbh

Omg HIIIIII 🦴 anon!!!!! Thank you for enjoying the content so far 🥹🥹🥹💖💖💖 I honestly couldn't tell you what happened either but I'm also living for it too!!!

And AAAAAAAAA YES!!!! Aftercare FOR Aaron just 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺 I think he would be emotional that you want him to have an aftercare plan too. Like he would probably need a moment to just. Process what you just said and then he has to blink a few tears away cuz this is an unheard of concept to him. The thought of having a cute exploration of aftercare methods for him is just sooooo 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰 I think it's really good you brought this up!! Aftercare for doms is very important!!

[dumbhirano]

I just saw your post about how you like positive attention. So I wanted to pop in and say I love your art! Your babygirl-ifying of Avery has made him all the more dear to me, and I adore you for that. Thank you for existing!

THANK YOU SO SO MUCH AAAAA 😭😭

I woke up to this im so so happy fjrbhdhd

Thank you so much for liking my art!! (⁠´⁠；⁠ω⁠；⁠｀⁠) I myself am not confident about it even just a bit, so to receive you guys' love and support, I'm overjoyed everytime!!

I'm not sure what I did to Avery's design, but I'm glad you like him!! aaaaaaaaa sorry I'm seriously happy I'm really really grateful _(:3 」∠)_

Thank you so so much, I can't describe how happy I am with words. Your last line made me tear up and now I want to flood the entire room with my tears thank you so so much, I mean it, I am really, really grateful, thank you, in all seriousness

[gilly-moon]

Your art is so beautiful I just wish I could eat it. By the way, the fanfic is absolutely heartbreaking right now, the last chapter literally had me sobbing in tears??? How long have you been drawing and writing?

I've been doing both for 7 years and I still feel like I suck...

thank you so much!!! And I'm so glad you're enjoying my fic, I truly never expected my writing would make anyone cry so that's,,,a huge compliment actually aaaaaaaaa

and hey!!! hey you!!! take that 'i suck' right out of your vocab friend!!! drawing and writing are about having fun and making what you want. there are plenty of online courses and video tutorials if you want to build up those skills (and practice really does make perfect) but my biggest tip for ANY creative out there is to find the niche that you enjoy creating for and just lean into it. HARD. art school killed my passion for creating and the only thing that brought it back was just drawing whatever the hell I wanted to draw, for the fun of it. (that being said, I'm not the person to give advice if you're leaning into this as a profession)

anyways, ramble aside, I've been drawing my whole life, but I remember consciously deciding to have art as my thing around....good lord, almost 20 years ago? and I started writing original stories about 16 years ago. (god I feel old now)

so keep at it!!

[dagmartoons]

Lupin Zero Last Episode Thoughts:

LUPIN IN THE GREEN JACKET MADE ME SO HAPPY

WHY IS JIGEN'S NEW JACKET LEATHER WHERE DID HE GET THAT I MEAN I'M NOT COMPLAINING BUT IT'S STILL REALLY FUNNY TO ME

I LOVED YOKO!! I DIDN'T WANT HER TO DIE

Her last scene there was really sad (was totally expecting Lupin to tear up there)

SHE WORE THE NECKLACE HE GAVE HER AAAAAAAAAAA

Also *flashbacks to that post that was going around yesterday about Lupin being put in the Clarisse role in this series because I DEFINITELY got that vibe from Yoko kissing his forehead*

ALBERT WAS AWESOME (have they officially confirmed that that is the same Albert? I don't think they have but by this point I think it's fairly obvious)

SHINOBU'S OUTFIT AT THE END?! I TOTALLY THOUGHT THAT WAS GONNA BE FUJIKO FOR A HOT SECOND

Speaking of which, no Fujiko/Zenigata/Goemon cameos! I totally thought we were going to get those (or at least one of Zeni)

Also no flash-forward either! Huh

Lupin enjoys cigarettes now aaaaahhhhhhh

Lupin II was great! I'm still probably gonna prefer versions where he's an asshole cause I think that makes for better drama (also they're a lot more common in terms of fanworks) but I'm not gonna pretend this interpretation wasn't incredibly enjoyable. AND HE GAVE LUPIN THE WALTHER! That chase scene was SO fun!

(AND JIGEN'S GOT THE MAGNUM NOW AAAAAAAAA)

Also Lupin II once again disguising as a woman omg

you still can't tell me shinobu isn't lupin's aunt. you can pry that headcanon from my cold dead hands

all in all 10/10 great episode great series my only complaint is that now it's done and there's nothing left to watch. eh at least there's lupin vs cat's eye in a couple weeks amirite?

[landscaping-your-mind]

It's time, y'all!! The penultimate episode of season 4!! Jmart!!!

Uh, didn't draw anything again, but whatever. I mean. I dunno. Shrug.

it's time, now. episode 159. this is going to make me feel emotions.

this is mostly rambling.

@a-mag-a-day

CW for unreality; discussion of free will; second person POV (i keep doing it); potentially anxiety inducing rambling (don't know how this happened, related to the "you don't know the people you love" thing);

The title "The Last" could either a nod to Peter's line "You're the last one standing" or it could be... well... the last mark.

Hated it when I figured that out. Absolutely despised it.

ARCHIVIST (Calling) Martin! (Calling) Martin!

I'm sorry we're like five second in and it's just like hhh, he's in love, he's looking for Martin, love is real and Jon has it! It just makes me so abnormal when it's like, he's not even saying anything it's just! Aaa!! *points frantically*

PETER It’s odd, really. You each think you’re so focused on the other. But how much do you really know each other? How much time have you spent together when not working, or bickering, or fleeing from that latest thing that wants to kill you? So what are you seeking? The image you’ve each created of the other? The people you think you love don’t exist, not really. And that’s a very lonely place to be. ARCHIVIST (Vicious) Shut up. (calling) Martin!

Firstly, yeah, I feel that. I mean like, don't want to overshare or anything, but yeah.

You know how your head's always like "but they wouldn't like me if they knew the real me!" Mate, there is no real you. Like Sasha said, right, it's all just people playing characters. And sometimes those characters feel like you, but they're all made up of things in your head and memories you've had and at the end of the day, are we all not puppets pulled along by circumstance, fooling ourselves into thinking we have choices and identities. I think I need to put a CW on this-

I mean, that's attempted optimistic nihilism. What about... if you do a good job keeping up the charade, they'll never find out it's not the real you, but you will never be truly loved.

Wow, that helps less. Do not come here for advice.

ARCHIVIST (Mean) Make me. (considering) Unless you can’t. The Lonely and the Eye aren’t too far apart, are they? Not really. What good’s being alone if you don’t know how alone you truly are. Which means… Well, I think you’re worried. You know I’ll find him eventually and you know I can find you. (Beat) Hm. Thought so.

Damn, judgmental. Just the note "mean". I- rude??

Also, secondly, I'm saying this as someone with social anxiety and consequent... isolationist tendencies (read: I didn't talk to anyone for a whole summer) but the Ceaseless Watcher and The One Alone have always felt really... connected to me.

I mean, what better way to feel alone than to be convinced everyone's judging you. You convince yourself everyone wants you gone, you just barely hear them say your name as you leave the room.

Everyone's looking at you, you can't go in now, so better to remain unnoticed. Better to not go at all. Better to hide yourself away and never be seen under gazes that make want to tear your skin off.

Social Anxiety: the fear entity

I mean like, just like take MAG 188 and make it a little more also about how achingly lonely you feel but opening yourself up is hard and evil and people will look at you and perceive you and judge you and you've got both The Eye and The Lonely combined and my personal hell. Maybe throw in a bit of Corruption there, for the whole "woe upon woe, if they could see my rotten inner core full of being mean to people then they would hate me even more."

The Corruption is so cool, you guys, but you wouldn't get it, you wouldn't get how cool it is (I mean, you might, please talk to me about the corruption /genuine)

ARCHIVIST Martin. MARTIN (Flat) Jon? ARCHIVIST I-I’m here. I-I came for you. MARTIN Why? ARCHIVIST …I thought you might be lost.

AAAAAAAAA

The way Jon says "Martin," he sounds so relieved, hnhnrhnhrnhrr <3

HHHHHh!!!!

THE WAY JON SAYS THE LAST LINE IS SO SOFT IT SHOULD BE ILLEGAL TO BE THIS SOFT ISTG <33333

MARTIN Are you real?

He sounds so bitter when he says that, like he's mocking the idea that Jon could be real. Oh my god.

MARTIN This is where I should be. It feels right. ARCHIVIST Martin don’t say that. MARTIN Nothing hurts here. It’s just quiet. Even the fear is gentle here.

MARTIN NO

I get it though, you know, when being alone is the lesser of two evils. Like, what is it out there? Just more pain and fear and loss when it's so much easier to just stay there and fade away and never move and never get out of your room, and never talk to anyone and it's just so much easier, right. When it feels like it's a physical effort to drag yourself everywhere? When it's oh, so comfortable, out there in the cold.

You know, to me loneliness isn't fog or anything. To me it's around noon. The sky is mostly clear, the grass is slightly itchy, you're squinting against the glare of the sun. It's silent, bar the wind and the birds and your breathing. And then you suddenly realise you're alone. And there's no one there. And the warmth is making you tired. And sometimes you can say it's nice, lying on the ground under the sun like a lizard. And sometimes it just feels sad.

I like that the lonely is at the sea. The ocean just makes me feel strange emotions that I can't explain. Nice aesthetic too, fog and sea, lighter colours, blues and greys.

But I like my lonely quite a bit. It just feels... it feels like the lonely to me. Idk.

MARTIN It is, though. I really loved you, you know?

LOVE WINS????

PETER I tried to tell you. He’s gone. He made his choice. And it wasn’t you. ARCHIVIST It was for me, though. I’m the reason he— I did this to him as much as you.

Nononononono jon mr. jarchivist sims. NO! Alright, you know what, bringing in my brain here. No! Nooo! Alright, sure, you dying may have made him lonely, but you can't seriously blame yourself for dying - I know he blames himself for dying - and like coming back to life and stuff? He may have done it for Jon, but that doesn't put the blame on Jon. It puts the blame on... I don't know! Death! The world! Peter Lukas, but I'm loathe to blame him for anything because I really like his voice.

I have other things to say about this but tbh, I just think I have problems, and I've already shared so much absolutely terrible advice earlier, so I'm not going to perpetuate my probably harmful (in like a... this is a thought your brain could have! think about it! wow, doesn't it suck! this will stay here tho! way) thoughts, sooo.

PETER Where are your friends, Archivist? ARCHIVIST Tim and Sasha are dead. PETER Yes? ARCHIVIST Daisy and Basira are, probably dead. PETER Because. Of. You. ARCHIVIST Georgie and Melanie have left me. PETER And? ARCHIVIST Martin’s gone. PETER You’re alone, Archivist. The last one standing.

Got distracted playing piano, uh, :( this just makes me really sad. guy's literally living out my worst nightmare (all your friends either dying or leaving you, some telling you they'd literally rather you be dead, like god that hurts).

I just want him to get a hug :(

PETER After all, you can’t hurt anyone in here. ARCHIVIST …Yes… PETER Yes.

That would've probably worked had he not... yk, been there for Martin? And like, sort of... as he was trying to get into Jon's head sort of... revealing what he was?

Hmm

ARCHIVIST I wouldn’t try to leave if I were you. I can see you now. I can find you wherever you go.

Kinda... uh... hmm... hhnnmmm

Hot jon rights

My crew is out there waiting for a call I think I am now unlikely ever to give them.

Oh, right, because of the imminent eyepocolypse. I thought it was because he thought he'd die to jon

My instinct was much like the others, I thought that if I could complete my ritual first, then the potential birth of the dreadful change would be meaningless.

reminds me of

Smirke was still so obsessed with his ideas on balance, even as our fellows began to experiment and fall to the service of their patrons. I began to worry that if one of them successfully attempted their ritual, then I would be as much a victim as any, trapped in the nightmare landscape of a twisted world. At first, I attempted prevention, but the cause seemed hopeless. The only way to ensure I did not suffer the tribulations of what I believed to be an inevitable transformation was to bring it about myself.

(MAG 160)

So, it's like a rerun of all those rituals, but 1900s and 2000s edition, instead of 1800s.

On Peter's ritual... it's not all Lonely, right? Could be Vast. Buried, maybe? What with the whole "you can never escape your work."

Also, it sounds... terrifying.

If I could convince one of his staff to willingly pledge themselves to the Lonely, it was all mine. He even let me pick the victim. He was so sure the prize of the Institute, the Panopticon, and a willing vessel to use it would be just too much for me to resist. And he was right. Just didn't go quite as I'd hoped.

What is it with these evil old men and using people as poker chips! Like, why!

ARCHIVIST And what was his prize? What did he get if you lost? PETER Oh, he got you.

Like, if making a bet where you win this freshly traumatised by the lonely guy isn't the worst thing that elias has done - and somehow it fucking isn't - then you know that like, very evil. and awful. like. kinda dehuminising don't you think? kinda fucked. what the fuck.

ARCHIVIST Tell me.

The way he says it is interesting. Just... flatly, not even a demand, just... "tell me."

I like it. I think it's neat.

PETER (Fighting) I’m… not saying… another… word. ARCHIVIST Tell me or I will rip it out of you! [Both statics keep increasing in volume] PETER No! ARCHIVIST (With all his power) ANSWER MY QUESTION! PETER NO!! LEAVE! ME! (Echoing) ALONE! ARCHIVIST TELL ME! [The statics crescendo; there is the sound of electric tearing and Peter screams as he is conceptually ripped apart]

HOT JON RIGHTS!!! YEAH!!!! WOOOH!!! KILL HIM!!!!

I THINK THAT PART IS VERY COOL! FUCK YEAH DUDE, RIP SOMEONE APART WITH YOUR EVIL POWERS!!

ARCHIVIST Listen, I know you think you want to be here. I know you think it’s safer, and… well maybe it is. But we need you. I need you.

MARTIN We – I need you.

(MAG 120.2)

HHHHH THEY KEEP REPEATING EACH OTEHRS WORDS AND MAKING ME WANT TO CRY!!!

ARCHIVIST Martin. Martin look at me. (compelling) Look at me and tell me what you see. [Hissing static starts] MARTIN I see… I see you, Jon. (Small disbelieving laugh from Martin) (Martin’s voice stops shifting side to side, and no longer echoes) MARTIN (CONT’D) I see you.

THIS- THIS IS IT! THIS IS THE MOMENT

chills, literal chills. fuckin' love it so much, you don't even know

im just gonna. im just gonna be here crying it such a good

[ID: Drawing of a person sitting at a computer, crying. /End ID]

ARCHIVIST Not anymore. Come on. Let’s go home. MARTIN How? ARCHIVIST Don’t worry. I know the way.

ITS SO SOFT ITS SO SOFT ITS SO FUCKING SOFT I LOVE THIS EPISODE I LOVE THE MAGNUS ARCHIVES "Don't worry. I know the way." ITS SO SOFT THE WAY HE SAYS IT IM GOING TO CRY IM GOING TO CURL UP INTO A LITTLE BALL AND CRY YOUR HONOUR THEYRE IN LOVE YOUR HONOUR THEIR LOVE GOT THEM OUT OF THE LONELY LOVE WINS YAY IM GONNA GO CRY NOW SLASH POS

this is over. im not crying but dear god is it close. look forward to tomorrow where i'll do more than ramble. i love jmart so much you guys i love them so much they love each other so much <3

[embossross]

JUST KNOW that i screamed in high pitch just like a yellow frog as soon as i saw the notification of chapter 5!! SO MANY EMOTIONS AND I ABSOLUTELY LOVED EVERY SINGLE PART OF IT 😩😩😩 learning that rindou fcked other women got me in tears, hearing that reader went on a fancy restaurant with naoto got me 👀👀👀 because i love your naoto so much and he smells like important. AND THEN THEN THEN WHEN RINDOU WITNESSED THE SCENE WITH YUZUHA AND FELT JEALOUS I WENT AAAAAAAAA because it kinda answered my old question (that one about how would rin feel if it was the other way around etc). The end made me feel so sad, but also so proud of reader for standing for herself instead of just swallowing her discomfort!! I loved every second of it, your writing is majestic and it always makes me feel so happy no matter what, I'm utterly addicted, thank you so much for your art <33

you are so very welcome and also so very kind 😁

i'm glad you got your answer now and i didn't spoil it for you! rindou's so proud and set in his ways (which is a pain to write tbh) and so he's jealous but not enough to be like 'don't see other people pls' but a win's a win and we're taking it!

yes naoto's come up a lot. kind of feels like he's going to have a role eventually huh 🥸

and i'm so proud of reader too! thank you for sharing all your thoughts with me and being so utterly kind! after posting a chapter, i'm always waiting with baited breath for the asks to come in. just such a worthwhile part of it!

[doors-worstenemy]

I'm just thinkin abt slinkborg rn... I m just thinking like Brink would be so sick of Kyborg's nagging every time Slique is in the room.. And sick of Kyborg constantly picking fights with them both over nothing... And Brink just kissing Slique,, then kyborg... To get the fighting over with.. Totally just so they both are angry at him.. Yea totally... Then they sloppy make out bcz my daydreams don't need reasons I just need these three to go out... I need brink Tussler in knee high boots but his pants have that like lace all up the side.. And... His big goofy cape.. And when kyborg and Slique are cold they all cuddle in his cape. Eee kydron AAAAAAAAA brink meeting Kydron and Kydron just frozen, not knowing what to do as Brink brushes his hand over the metal that hides where his mouth once was and places a gentle, loving, kiss on the smallest bit of flesh that still makes up his face... And brink taking Kydron's hand... And evil thoughts.. So evil.. Romeo and Juliet style "I can't live without you"... I never read Romeo and Juliet.. But Brink placing Kydron's right hand over his heart and brushing a strand of hair behind kydron's ear.. And Kydron shoots him... And he dies,,, then Kydron dies,,, and they live happily ever after in the afterlife... And thinkin about Slique staying up late, playing his lute as quietly as possible while frustratingly tuning it but never being satisfied. And brink coming down stairs to see Slique fighting with his lute, trying to make it perfect, trying to get the right sound from it, but it's never right. It's never his lute, no matter how tight he pulls the strings. They snap and he can't take it anymore, he brakes down sobbing.. And gets scared by Brink quickly pulling him into a hug, trying to calm him down but failing until Slique passes out from just being so frustrated and exhausted... And in the morning he wakes up to see Brink had restringed his lute,, and was trying to tune it, but it sounded horrible as Brink didn't know how to play... So Slique quickly takes his lute back, not sparing even a second to wipe the dried tears from his cheeks.. He tunes his lute, almost immediately satisfied with the sound, and teaches Brink how to play simple notes and how to hold it and tune it and,,,, they're so in love,,, and thinkin about kyborg waking up first and making coffee for the other 2,,but after smelling coffee Brink would immediately wake up to help Kyborg bcz he never broke the habit of how they used to make coffee while traveling (he still puts dirt in it bcz hes used to making it for mudd and the other infinights who I think would have gotten used to muddy coffee),,, gn chat,,,

[tribow]

So I watched The Silver Guardian

A.K.A. Gin No Guardian. Both seasons.

This is one of the worst shounen's I've seen. Wow! Seriously that's impressive.

So you got a story where the main character is supposed to be an elite gamer. Yet, he's lame as hell. This guy shows off absolutely 0 skill in every battle he takes place in. He wins his fights not because of himself, but because of an item someone gives had given him. Every single time. He never wins on his own merit.

What makes it worse is how he is set up. He was a famous player who could take down end-game bosses with the weakest gear. His whole shtick is that he was too poor in real life afford paying for the best items, so he manages with the weak gear. (The game seems to be an MMO...think of it like Maplestory if you know that game).

So in this new MMO game, money is literally power. Maximum pay to win energy coming from this game. If you're rich, you're OP. In-game currency is literally your power level (which you can buy with real money). How is the poor main character so good in this new game?

Ah, he was given billions of money right at the start he doesn't even have to actually try c'moooon. What's the point of the setup? Was it all just a waste of time?

Yes.

That's what The Silver Guardian is. A bigass waste of time. What I just complained about wasn't even the premise of the story, just an aspect of the main character. There's no point in discussing the story or the characters. There's nothing to it.

Characters? What about them? They're nothing but a stack of cliches. There's no character writing to speak of here, just cogs in the plot machine.....a machine that explains nothing by the way. The characters may allude you to something deeper within the story, but there's nothing there! There will never be anything there for you!

I'm repeating myself at this point, so how about something actually interesting? The production:

The Silver Guardian is an adaptation of a manhua. It's Chinese....well sorta. The original manhua is certainly Chinese, but the production of this anime is fairly japanese. A lot of the staff are Japanese staff, but the studio is a Chinese one.

Haoliners Huimeng Animation is the studio. It's the first time I've seen their work and it seems aight. Although they got help from BLADE too and there was contracted japanese animators involved as well. It's hard to judge how much of the animation came from Haoliners without looking into it. (Even the opening is a japanese one!)

I'm not debating whether to call this "anime" or anything. I just find it interesting. Silver Guardian is apparently a pretty popular manhua. Surely this adaptation isn't faithful to the original. I can see proper setups to story beats that the anime just doesn't execute on.

Was this trying to pander to a japanese audience or something? I definitely got the vibe of an unfaithful production Could this be some kind of cash grab?

I could be a little too suspicious, but when I saw that Tencent is the publisher of the manhua I couldn't help being skeptical. Maybe the original work is actually that bad, but then how is it so successful? Aaaaaaaaa, I'm so curious!

Well anyway, the show sucks ass. I wouldn't recommend watching it unless you're there for the sole purpose to tear it to shreds. All those youtubers who farmed Sword Art Online's bad writing for views have no idea what some actually terrible writing can be like. THIS is some bottom of the barrel shit that would actually need more than an hour to dissect everything wrong with it. It's truly fascinating how bad this is.

[cl4rke]

LUH MY BELOVED! I just want you to know I’m thinking about you and I adore you and I am sending you hugs and loves and everything that makes you happy! I hope you had a nice weekend! 😘💕💜💖💗🤗💕💖💜💗💕

JEN!! I'm so sorry for the *very* late to reply!

Aaaaaaaaa shucks you are so sweet! I just teared up a little bit 🥹🥹🥹 don't mind me

Im also thinking about you 💕and I adore you more!!! Sending many many many many hugs back at ya \o/ \o/ \o/ \o/ \o/ (x ♾️)

hope you're okay, and that this message might at least have brighten up your day 😊😊😊😊

[muddyorbsblr]

I gotta whip out the bouncy kitty gif again because omg omg omg the way this ended has me incredibly excited about whatever's coming next

I love the development of Elena's story in this and how you're making such a complex character that you can feel is slowly coming to her own simply because there's someone by her side that will listen to her and support her throughout trying to break free from Roper's hold on her via her family. And the way that you can really tell because we know what happens in the series that not only is she in on the mission because she's now Burr's asset, but that both assets (her and Pine) are aware of one another, which gives her another sort of lifeline in this tangled web that Roper's kind of weaved everyone into.

She really smacked Pine with that "No feelings" rule that just had me so sad for the precious protective meow meow 🥺 Like it's a little too late for that I'm pretty sure he's been fighting back his own feelings as soon as you walked into his room 😤 And I could really feel her struggle to remind herself of that exact rule when she got the hornies just watching her fake boyfriend run across the beach barefoot and barechested like bestie I just know a tear ran down her leg at that moment because…same 👀

And once again I despise Roper he's the absolute worst but if he dedicates a modicum of his dastardly tendencies to pressure our fake boyfriend into giving us a lil kith I'll allow it. 🥴

But Reader OMG…she was such a badass in that last scene standing up for Caro and doing what she could to put Sandy in his place for being a horny lil scumbag, like I would've done the same 😤 I really felt for Caro in that scene where it's like the color just completely drained from her face. She deserved someone to hold her through it or at least make it known that not everyone would just turn a blind eye to the shameless infidelity and it's such a breath of fresh air seeing YN do exactly that 🥺

I love how the instincts took over and both Pine and Jed decided to stand on YN's side. Like it wasn't just a show of "Okay fine we'll hold her back" but rather a show of "Whatever consequences are coming her way we're going to try defending her from it", and Pine really just led the way there taking over and trying to play the field all in the name of protecting her 🥹

Now…that ending!! omg omg omg that ending had me thrashing around in my seat going "AAAAA HE TOLD HER HIS NAME HE TRUSTS HER!!!" And I can't wait for her to be brought up to speed on what he's doing there and hopefully these two can enter their "fake dating with real feelings and also partners in spying" era because I just know they're gonna be absolutely adorable fumbling their way through a pretend relationship especially when you know they can just play the horny card when they get caught too close to places that they shouldn't be in because they were trying to get Roper's intel *hint hint wink wink* 😈😈

I can't wait to see what's next for these two. You have such an amazing series going with this, bestie AAAAAAAAA 💖💛

How To Fake Date A Spy Part Two

Jonathan Pine x fem! Reader Miniseries

Word Count: 6K

Series Summary: You have to deal with numerous men of Roper's business having a gross interest in you for more than small talk. Going to Roper for help, he offers an idea- pretending to be the date of his newest friend. A handsome sous-chef known as Thomas Quince. Little do you know yet, the man's real name is Jonathan Pine and he is on a mission to take Roper down...

Part One

Chapter Warnings: Reader being thirsty, but no smut (yet). Discussions of depression and suicidal intentions with the character of Elena with a note of hope and good mental health and comforting fluffy fix-it goodness. But if you or a loved one have legit intentions, please get help and tell someone, 988 is the American hotline number in addition to 911. Some angst at the end. Discussions of domestic abuse.

A/N: Shout out to @muddyorbsblr for hyping me up as I was writing this draft!!! It always motivates me !!! Thanks, Bestie!!! I hope you guys like it!

Taglist: @evelyn-kingsley @jennyggggrrr @five-miles-over ) @fictive-sl0th @ladycamillewrites @villainousshakespeare @holdmytesseract @eleniblue @twhxhck @lokisgoodgirl @lovelysizzlingbluebird @raqnarokr @holymultiplefandomsbatman @michelleleewise @wolfsmom1 @cheekyscamp @mochie85 @muddyorbsblr

A03//My Ko-Fi//My Etsy Shop//Masterlist//Wattpad

Why the hell was this happening? Why the hell did you even agree to do this?

Just a few minutes before the cocktail party hosted by Roper. The first time you and Thomas would be seen as a couple in public. That is, a pretend couple. You have taken at least twelve anxiety trips to the restroom in the last two hours. You still felt like any minute you would shit yourself. You kept redoing bits of your makeup because your hand kept shaking. If there was a wrong step, a wrong move, you wondered if something would explode. If someone would either laugh at you or Roper would frown. Then again, this was The Worst Man In The World we were talking about. A frown would be the least of your worries if he wasn’t happy. And Thomas, what was going through his head? It was too long since you dated-really dated. And your heart was racing out of your chest.

You took another look in the mirror to make sure your cocktail dress was right. What would he even think? You wondered. He was probably repulsed by you- he was forced into this too! Now that Elena was your roommate, she was applying mascara next to you. But you could only stare blankly at your reflection. Overthinking and psyching yourself out as you scanned your appearance again.

“Hey Y/N, what's up?” she asked.

“I’m…I’m just…uh…nervous,” you replied. Nothing fake about that statement.

“Nervous? How come?” She began.

She looked around and then whispered. “Are you…are you in danger….did…”

“No, Roper didn’t threaten anything!“It’s just uh…I hope…I hope tonight just…goes okay,”

“Alright. Whatever you say. It’s just a cocktail party. Another party full of boring guests doing boring fancy things.”

“Well, Elena…today, uh, I gotta tell you something- uh-”

Then there it was. The fateful knock against the door. You jumped and let out a small shout of surprise. Elena looked at you with wide, scared eyes. You saw her hand shake with the mascara tube. But you held her other hand.

Then a soft, British voice was behind. You felt the teenage girl relax. You, however, did not.

“Y/N, I’m here. Ready when you are.”

Taking in a breath, you went to the door and opened up. Though you were delighted to see Thomas. The black eye and nose healed nicely. The bruises didn’t seem too obvious with his tanned skin. The sight of him was dazzling- a crisp blue suit that brought out how his eyes were like the spring sky. He looked down and smiled at you. You couldn’t speak at the sight of him. Excitement mixed with nervousness.

“Are you ready, Y/N?” he asked with a warm smile.

You looked back and saw that Elena tilted her head and squinted at him.

“Are you escorting us?” asked.

“Y/N is my date, but I’ll be glad to walk you over too,” he replied with a shrug.

You might have grown feathers and laid eggs before Elena's eyes. Her jaw fell to the floor. Then she looked at the two of you.

“Your date?!” she cried.

“Yeah….Thomas and I are dating!” you announced matter-of-factly. At least, you hoped it sounded matter-of-fact.

You put on a smile that you hoped wasn't too false looking- small and happy. You leaned in a little closer to him.

"Why....uh....congrats!" Elena replied.

"Yes...I wanted to tell you Elena, but..." you began

You felt your hands twitch and you hoped she wouldn’t notice. Then Thomas stepped forward.

"No, it's alright....come join us, Elena. You’re always welcome with us.”

As Elena walked out beside you two. Both of your clicking heels echoed in the hallway. Her dark hair contrasted with the white of her dress. As she got closer, you could hear the guests chatting. Her mother stepped up and opened an arm. She went up and got her mother’s hand and then walked to the party.

You walked beside Thomas, only giving the odd glance at him. You felt your heart pick up as you got closer. You felt fluttery inside. When Elena and her mother vanished into the party, Thomas leaned in towards you.

“Nervous?” he asked.

“Is water wet?” you replied dryly.

"Take my hand," he instructed.

He splayed out his hand before you- large and smooth. You reached yours, then hesitated before touching him.

“Your hand?" you repeated.

"Take my hand, Y/N. It will make it more believable,” he said.

With a deep breath, you took his hand. It still felt warm, warm from the sun that shone on his skin. His own large hand was soft on you again. With his free hand, he touched your chin, his thumb going to the corners of your mouth. It felt as intimate as a kiss on your thigh. You felt yourself take a breath so deep, you got a little dizzy. Then you went up to him. Suddenly, though there was a whole party of people, it felt like you two were the only ones on earth. Though you had more presentation of calm, his voice was doing nothing for your racing heart.

“Now…we have to smile. Just relax. It’ll be easier than you think,” he advised.

You unclenched your jaw at him. Under the graze of his thumb, you felt the corners of your lips twitch up.

“There…there it is,” he said, with a smile that matched yours.

Then use that…like method acting. Y/N you thought.

So then you both walked on and entered holding hands. It was another large group with cocktails in wide glasses and thin stems. Full of light laughter like wind chimes on a summer day. It was thick with every cologne and perfume you could name. There were bright flowers and green, leafy plants everywhere. Waiters in suits walked around serving drinks and hors devours. You felt Thomas squeeze your hand and you walked with a smile.

Just stay by him and hold his hand and smile. It had been too long- why didn't you notice what it was couples did? Your sister draped her arm around Roper's all the time. Caro would give kisses on Sandy's cheek and then his lips.

Yet when you entered, eyes went forward in greedy curiosity. You were recognized. And so was the new man-Danny’s savior. You saw their acknowledgment. The big eyes. The frozen smiles. Some noticed you and then immediately turned to their circle. Then those people turned heads. You couldn't hear a word but you knew they were talking about you.

But best of all were the men’s reactions. When your gross potential suitors turned to you, they saw your hand firmly in Thomas’s. And there were frowns on all of their faces. Then a nod when their eyes met Thomas's. He would nod back. The man who bested them. The man who beat them. Now, for once, you could be at a party of Roper’s and relax.

Well, not entirely. Elena was still with her family. And you made sure that you at least stayed by her side. You wouldn't leave her alone. The thought of what almost happened at her birthday party... made you want to be sick and disturbed you so much that it chilled your body and made you tense. So you kept an eye on her at the bare minimum. Though it seemed by now, she was sitting by Danny as he showed her his books.

"Wouldn't you like something to drink, darling?" Thomas asked, his voice putting a bit more weight on darling.

"I would love a drink" You nodded.

Both of you walked up to the bar. There was already a guy right by you. The guy from the last party who asked about your book- you could feel his green eyes on you and already smell the hair gel on his platinum blonde comb-over. You could see him get ready with a way to hit on you as he sat. But then his eyes turned up to see the intimidating Six Foot Two barricade to get to your panties. The guy shrunk into himself and then turned away promptly. You had to smirk. You knew he wanted to date you. But now it looked like the only date That Asshole would get tonight would be with his right hand.

"Could the lady have a martini, please?" Thomas asked the bartender. The old man nodded and handed you one. Thomas leaned there to watch the bartender make the drink.

Right as you turned, another familiar man from the other day swung by. Mr. Jacobson. He had been pretty persistent and determined last time. Though your body flinched as if ready for a fight, you made yourself still. Part of you didn’t shoo him away because you knew it was going to be entertaining to watch him try tonight.

You saw Thomas turning to watch you two.

"Hey there, Y/N, you look gorgeous again," Mr. Jacobson said, picking at a toothpick between his teeth with the sensual appeal of a patient at the dentist.

You opened your mouth to speak. To say something. A fruitless refusal. It was in your habit to. Then your fake boyfriend arrived. You felt Thomas’s arm reach across your shoulders. A protective half-hug. You could feel the muscles from how well fitted his suit was and you felt your breath flutter in your lungs. Looking up, Thomas gave the man an icy glare.

"I know she does."

The pure threat of it. If you had to be honest, the low growl in his voice…did something to you. You felt yourself clench your legs. Your breath was shallow and sharp You...liked it. Yes, it wasn't the most progressive thing to be a damsel in distress. But with this fine specimen in blue rescuing you, you were not going to complain.

Mr. Jacobson jumped and his face turned pale. He put his arms up.

"Oh, my bad! My bad! I thought she was...single, you know."

"No, she's not," Thomas said flatly. His glare continued right into the eyes of Mr. Jacobson.

“I am so sorry, man. So sorry, I swear…won’t happen! Won’t happen again!” he begged.

"It won't," Thomas replied firmly.

The guy fluttered away to the other end of the room. You looked up and smiled.

"Thank you, Thomas,"

“Y/N!” you heard Jed from across the room. Already in her light blue summery dress. The flowing skirt made her seem like a mermaid as she walked up. Then she widened her eyes at you.

You turned around and went over to give her a hug.

“You look lovely!” she said.

“Oh Jed, stop! You look gorgeous too!” you shook.

“Oh, don’t say that and…is that…is that Thomas!?” she asked.

You turned over. Thomas went up to her and shook her hand.

“Yes…” You turned to her. Trying to ignore how dry your mouth was with the phrase.

“Jed, Thomas, and I are dating now!” you announced. You followed it by sipping your martini.

Her jaw dropped, but she let a smile on her dazzling face and hugged you.

“Oh my god…that’s wonderful! Y/N! Oh, you should have told me the second it happened!”

"We wanted to be private...until we were certain we were on the same page," you lied through your teeth mid-hug.

Then she dropped to a frown and her eyes hardened. She let go of the hug and crossed her long arms.

“My sister is a sweetheart. And you will treat her well. You got it?”

You were surprised, but you took it.

“Yes, miss," Thomas replied.

“I will fight you if you do anything to hurt you,” she added.

“I understand…and I won’t do anything, Jed. I'll treat her well. Promise," he swore.

“Thank you…”

You sighed. Jed was right- he was decent. As dinner arrived, you both sat next to Elena and her parents. You were glad for her being a third wheel. She spoke to you and smiled. You even made jokes with each other. Both you and Thomas were aware of holding each other's hands whenever possible. But it didn't feel too different from just eating next to him anytime. He did flash you a smile and you found yourself smiling back. On instinct.

But…you couldn’t get this too complicated quickly. No, you read enough Romance novels to know where this kind of shit led up to. It wasn't right. You didn't like this...romance was in stories and fiction. Not in the real world. In the real world, where too many men, men like Roper, were just there to assert power and squash the women beneath them to prove a point. You couldn't risk that. Couldn't risk anything. Just enjoy a fleeting fantasy. A pretense. Like being an actor on the stage.

After dinner, he led you out to the balcony. There were a couple of other people out there smoking cigarettes and admiring the view of the city and the ocean at night. Then they began to walk off. You both were left alone. So you squared your voice.

"Thomas, promise me this thing. Don't get any emotions. Because I won't. Let's not get too attached to each other during this. The last thing I need is to actually believe our little game with Roper.”

He leaned over the balcony. A light breeze from the night drifted onto you both.

“What emotions should be involved?” he asked.

You felt yourself cross your arms. Your jaw hung open, but no words formed immediately.

“Um...Just....friendship I guess, nothing more," you answered.

He nodded with a small smile.

"If that is what makes you safe, then I won't mind," he assured you.

You put your forearms on the balcony. You looked out at the moonlight as its reflection still shimmered over the gentle rustling of the sea.

"You’re quite the gentleman," you acknowledged.

“I tried. I saw how uncomfortable they made you, Y/N. I feel sorry you have to go through that… You don’t deserve to feel unsafe," he said.

"Thank you....Thomas, Maybe I should return the favor…Is there anything I can help you with, Thomas?" you asked, turning to him.

He looked at you. Then he licked his lips and took in a breath, ready to say his boon.

"Not really, just this one thing..." he began.

“What is it?”

"If they're going to believe we're a couple...we have to know things about each other. That’s what couples do. They might test us. Especially when we’re alone. That's what couples do.”

You tilted your head.

"Have you been in relationships before?" you asked curiously.

He nodded.

"Married briefly, then we divorced. We were both young-too young to understand what marriage meant. And...there was a woman once but...it didn't work out," he answered.

You heard the wind whistle in your ear.

"Even with those- you learn things about each other. I could tell you my ex-wife liked to paint. Jed could tell you what Roper's favorite color is if you asked her," he pointed out. "You know...hobbies. Foods. Favorite colors. What are yours, Y/N?"

You blinked. Then opening your mouth, you began your answers. “Well, for one, I like to read. I bring books in my purses in case events get dull. Jed would tease me about it. I have her and our mom…but things are complicated right now...”

It felt like some icebreaker activity on the first day of school. But he smiled warmly, nodding. You described what you liked to do. Your favorite foods you couldn't resist. And the colors that you liked the most. Thomas relaxed to a smile and nodded.

"I'll keep that in mind," he replied.

You drummed your fingers on the balcony.

"Do you have hobbies, Thomas?" you asked.

He nodded.

"Yes. I like to read, too. I collect books," he answered. He stood up and put his hands in his pockets.

"Ooo, and your family?"

"Father died. Then my mum. Never had a real family. Just foster homes."

You looked down to the ground.

"Oh...I'm sorry..."

He then took out his hand. He touched your chin, lifting it gently to look at him. He only shrugged with a calm expression on his face.

"Don't be...I only got to have many families. I was with a family who spoke Arabic. Another spoke German. I learned their languages, too."

"Cool! Do you know a phrase you can teach me?" you asked.

He nodded. He looked around, then his eyes met yours again.

"Easily-here's a German one. Die Sterne sind heute Nacht hell."

"And that means..."

He removed a hand from his pocket and pointed at the sky.

"The stars are bright tonight..."

Both of you looked up-an expanse of stars glowed above you. They were so bright they glistened down. Their own light gave his skin a more silver glow to him. You saw he smiled and his shoulders relaxed. He looked beautiful, looking up, admiring the sky.

“Yes…they’re very pretty,” you said.

There was a knock on the glass door and you turned and saw Jed. She signaled to you that the guests were heading out and you had to say your goodbyes. You both flashed a "couple" smile and a brief, half "couple" hug. Especially with her eyes on the both of you. As you headed back inside, she turned to you.

“Well, first you had Danny, now you have Elena, and now Thomas! It’s like you hardly see me!” she teased.

“Oh, by all means- join us in our room, we could get a sleeping bag for you! And don’t pretend you don’t have your own man too.”

She smirked, then gave you a kiss on the side of her head. But as you looked back, Thomas was still admiring the sky.

The next morning, you woke up in your room to the sounds of birds. You listened to Elena snore in the bed next to you. She went on her stomach, and her dark hair splayed across the pillow. It was like the snore of a puppy and it was pretty cute, you had to admit.

She was resting. She was sleeping. She was alive-her inhales and exhales signaled by his body rising and falling softly.

When you went over to her counter, you took note of something you hadn't noticed- prescription bottles. Looking at them, you saw her counselor prescribed her anti-depressants yesterday. You smiled. It did look like she was going to have to take one in the morning. You'd have to remind her. Normally, you’d get water or coffee, but you made a promise not to leave her alone. You would honor it. Just in case she woke up. But as you sat by in the room, you turned your head to the window to look outside. Dear God, You were glad you looked.

Outside, you saw none other than your fake boyfriend, Thomas, running on the beach in dark shorts. No shoes. And no shirt.

You felt the corners of your lips tug up as if a smile was brewing. You felt your eyes glaze over his muscled abdominals- he was lean but you could count the six packs on his ripped stomach. His pectorals bounced with the force of his jogging. All of a sudden, you understood heterosexual men a lot more. He was delicious. His determined eyes shot forward like nothing on earth was going to stop him from getting to the other side of that beach. And that was alluring, to put it mildly. You could have squealed and pressed your face to the window like a fangirl, but stayed put. Savoring each inch of him. From his short hair to the trail of hair on his lower stomach leading you to the center of sin. His muscled arms with bulging biceps moved with each turn of his shoulder per step. You found yourself creeping to a corner. So he wouldn't see. So you could indulge yourself. Oogle him. Even lust after him. He was getting very sweaty and you could feel his breathing with how hard he ran. Then you would be blessed with imagining him taking a shower.

You were tempted for a second to wake up Elena so she could see him too and drool over him. But honestly, it went in a second because you could not take your eyes off of him.

“Holy shit” was the only phrase in your head as you watched him continue to run on. Even seeing how his sweat was hinted at by the glow of the rising sun. His trail grazed the ocean and the water splashed from his running. And his feet weren't the only thing starting to get damp.

You felt warm and tingly as he ran by. Your pussy was beginning to....feel things you hadn't felt in a long while. Then he was gone. You had a good look at his perfect, peachy behind and the back of his muscular thighs in the shorts and then he went on his way.

You swallowed. Pacing the floor, you shook your hands as if to shake the lust from your body. You were a lot more thrilled you had to be a pretend girlfriend to him. All the man on earth and it was him you got to hold hands and sit next to! Any other girl could have him. It was a miracle he didn't have a hundred lovers at this point- but he was yours! All yours!

No-NO! A more rational part of your brain yelled.

Yes, he's hot. But it's fake. Don't let your feelings get involved. He's a nice man. He’s got an amazing body. But he's still a man. Yes, he's hot, but it's fake, Y/N, you reminded yourself that morning.

It's fake, it's fake, it's fake.

That morning at breakfast, you could smell that Thomas had taken a shower. Elena stood by you when he greeted you. He used a soap scented with citrus. God, the fantasy of him taking a shower was screaming in your impulsive thoughts now. He went up to you and smiled. In Boyfriend ™ mode, he gave you a half-hug.

“How are you, darling?” he asked.

“I’m alright. Starving.”

“Then let’s get you something to eat then,” he said as the chef wheeled in omelets and toast for everybody.

You looked over around the table. Then a sight caught you that hit you like a brick.

Sandy and Caro had hired a nanny- a gorgeous young woman hired to look after Sady and Caro's two little boys. But Sandy sat next to the beautiful woman and smiled at her. Not in a way that felt appropriate.

“Why, don’t you look beautiful this morning!? Did you wake up like this?” he asked the lady.

“Oh…yes! Yes, I did,” she replied flirtatiously.

Wait a minute, you thought. How long has she been here? When you counted the weeks, you realized that there was a correlation between Sandy stopping his flirting with you when she first arrived. No coincidence. Your mind spiraled further.

The woman knew he was a married man. It was not stopping her.

Whipping your eyes to the side you saw Caro blink. Her face went pale. Then red. Then pale again. Their boys complained bout wanting pancakes and she would tell the chef to make some batter for them. But Caro didn't eat the rest of her food.

You felt suddenly sick. You gripped your fork in your hand.

“Is everything alright, Y/N?” Thomas asked, his jaw tight but his voice earnest.

“I…I, uh, we’ll talk later. Not right now,” you said.

Thomas was there, he slipped a hand to hold yours as you ate.

The next day, you took Elena to visit the church before getting some lunch somewhere. It was a blazing day and you were grateful for the coolness of the cathedral. A sanctuary in many ways. The heat. And for Elena. Both of you sat down. You saw her make the sign of the cross and half kneel before sitting at a pew. She was right- this was a safe place. And maybe if Roper was the devil, then he couldn't touch you here. Neither of you.

"How is therapy going?" you asked.

"It's...it's good. Very good. I never listened to someone...as kind as her...I never felt so...so safe. No guards. No Papi. Nothing. She told me all sorts of things. I cry almost the whole time. But she…she listens to me. She believes me. She tells me every feeling and part of life is only temporary and the bad feelings and bad parts eventually go away…"

"That's good. I'm glad. And the apartment search? Have you picked a city?"

"I'd like to live here. It's not too far but far enough. I'm looking at applications...And you- how are you and Thomas?"

"We're...we're good, thank you."

"Just good? How did you two meet?" she asked.

"Well...he rescued Danny. Roper brought him to recover. Got to talk to him a lot. Then he asked me out." So far, so good. You just prayed he would say the same if someone asked him.

"Does he kiss you?"

"Yes," you lied.

"I don't see it. I see your sister kiss Roper all the time."

"Thomas...it's the British in him. Stiff upper lip. He's not the PDA type outside of hands and hugging. That might be pushing it....he kissed me the other night under the stars at the party." you added with a smile. Your memory flashed to Thomas staring up at the sky.

"Huh...nice...but Y/N...I’ve been scared..."

She blinked.

"Will Roper...catch me? Will he...kill me? He's not beneath it. I know he is."

"Why would Roper want to kill the daughter of his lawyer? He'd turn his own ally against him?"

Her jaw tightened.

"He'll see...that I'm not happy...he knows I know the truth about him…"

“Then why hasn’t he done it yet?” you asked.

“I…I don’t know…but I want to get out now!"

"Then..." you turned around.

"Then that means, if you're not happy draining his wealth, then we'll get out of here. Just bear it-be patient, Elena. We have to find you an apartment first...and then we go through the application process."

Her eyes shined.

"Anywhere is better than at Roper''s."

"Okay...we'll take some time here. You can go to the confessional if you want. Whenever you're ready...let's find a place that's leasing. Ask them some questions. See what you might like.”

Elena nodded. After a bit, you saw her go off and have a chat with the other people around the cathedral. Old women kissing their cross necklaces. Tourists taking photos on their phones. Funny...that was the same pregnant tourist she talked to on the first day! Maybe a pregnant Catholic tourist. She went back to you and you gave her a smile as you both stood up and walked down the halls to the door.

You commented "One thing to remember about yourself Elena- you're a good person. You make friends with everyone- no wonder that lady keeps coming back to you! People like you!"

She sighed and her shoulders sagged.

“What is it?”

"Y/N…I feel sometimes I’m…I’m yelling for help to get out, but at my parents, at Roper’s…it’s like no one can hear me. I should be happy. But I’m not…I'm just...just a whining, weak little rich girl..."

Tears were in the ducts of her eyes.

"No, Elena. Don’t discredit yourself. You are going through a hard time. Something happened to you to make you think there was no getting better. And that poor girl may think she has no other escape...but there is...there always is…and you are not alone...”

You turned to her, gripping her shoulders.

“Deaths’ a permanent solution to a temporary problem. You have to remember that. Your problems are real…so are mine! But they are temporary!”

You swallowed, your voice broke with your words yet you spoke on. But you saw Eelena smile despite her sobs.

“You’re already seeking help. And getting therapy and talking. And we’re getting you a new place. Even if it takes a while, you’re going to get out of Roper’s grasp and never look back, and never have to live off of blood money again!! Neither of us will!"

You were crying too.

"I promise you. We will get you to escape. We'll find something- I will do whatever it takes. That little rich girl isn't whiny or weak...she's a brave young woman who looked at death right in its eye and when she was going to cross….she chose life instead. She did the right thing. She's a hero who saved herself and she deserves to be happy."

Crying, she hugged you deeply.

“Oh, Y/N! Thank you! T-thank you-u-u,” she replied, her own voice breaking with tears. But it felt nice. Freeing. Crying released the tension between the two of you. “You’re a strong woman, Elena. I’m proud of you-just for living. Just for surviving.”

After lunch, both of you toured apartments around. Elena lit up and smiled with each bare corner and wall you both saw. As you returned, it was a lazy evening. You were enjoying your reading while lounging at the pool. You saw Thomas walk around and saw Elena chatting with him. Part of you was tempted to be jealous or concerned. But it was alright. There seemed nothing inappropriate between them. Let her make another friend. But Caro only sat by the edge dipping her bare feet in the water. Her face was despondent. Staring at nothing.

There was a dinner the next day. It was no party (Corky was grateful- guests were a lot to keep track of). But it was nice as always. Nice with lobsters for everyone and large glasses of wine for each person. You saw Corky was already on his third one as he dug into his crab cakes and spuds. You had to grin. At least he was off your back when he had a few.

But Jonathan was handsome as ever. In just a dark suit and white shirt, he still appeared like a Greek god in the flesh. Whenever he smiled at you, it was like you had swallowed a bird and it was flying around in your stomach.

"Is there any...dessert you'd like to split?" he'd ask.

"Yes, uhm...how about...uh- a slice of cake- sweetie," you said, adding emphasis on the last two words should anyone hear.

"Cake sounds marvelous, my dear," he said, feeling yourself tingle at the words. Enjoying the fakeness while it lasted.

Elena looked at you and gave a smile over her chicken as she continued to eat.

Yes- eat. Drink water. Sleep. Live, Elena, live, I'll get you out. You’re going to live. You’re going to be happy with your life, I promise...

"Oh, Thomas! One would think you were a nun and a eunuch!" Roper teased.

You shot up. You made a point by leaning closer and holding Thomas’s hand.

“Roper, really…” you said. But you were interrupted.

"Go on, Y/N is as sweet as that dessert, why don't you give her a little kiss on the cheek..."

You looked down, an embarrassed laugh coming out of you. Thomas opened his mouth to speak, but Roper pressed further. He was testing you both and he knew it. Like you were both his playthings.

"C'mon! Just a peck, Loverboy!” Roper pressed.

You glanced at him and he at you.

“Would you be okay if I kissed you, just on the cheek?” Thomas asked.

“Uh, yes. Sure.”

He leaned in close. You could smell the food on his breath and feel warm air from his nostrils, from his breathing. Then he brought his lips to your cheek. They were soft. Gentle. Like a drizzle in April. You felt your whole body get hot. The fact you were kissed in such a spot. It was as chaste as chaste could be. Yet you could have melted from how tender his lips felt against the skin of your cheek. Then he retreated.

Roper smiled and lifted his glass, taking a sip of his chardonnay.

It then struck you. Sandy and the babysitter had been gone. Too long. Suspiciously long. Then, from the hallway, you heard steps. And laughter- both deep masculine and bright feminine voices. The nanny returned first. The nanny was blushing, but smiling as she returned. Then a few minutes later, Sandy walked returned. You saw his shirt looked disshelved and there was a swagger to his steps.

The asshole wasn’t even subtle or secret about it.

Caro looked devastated. Her face was white. She was shaking. Everyone turned their faces away and kept talking as if nothing happened. Even if Caro looked like she was going to break in a hundred bits. You could tell it was everything in her not to cry in front of her boys.

“Well, I hope everyone has room for dessert. Hear the cake’s magnificent! A chef Ludesma signature!” Sandy announced with a flourish of his voice. That stupid asshole. Caro was devoted to him and she loved him. She did everything right- gorgeous socialite mom who gave Sandy two sons to take fishing and to sports games to be more copies of their father. She always got her hair and nails done and her clothes always looked in place. She was friendly and polite to everyone and you never heard of her capable of hurting a fly. Caro never stepped a toe out of line and looked away when men hit on her. And that bastard cheated on her anyway.

She did everything right and she was the one crying. He was having an affair, and he was smiling.

You had had enough. You got right out of your chair. Thomas looked up at you, but his face remained neutral.

You went up to Sandy before your self-control could get you. You took Sandy and looked him in the eye. He went up, wiping his mouth with his napkin- you didn’t see it closely but you knew the nanny wore pink lipstick. Sandy looked up at you with that stupid, shit-eating grin.

"Y/N, how are-"

You slapped him hard before he could finish his sentence. The crowd gasped and chairs squeaked as people got up. Sandy immediately got up, trying to let his tallness and his masculinity scare you away. But you did not back down.

“Y/N, what was the point of-”

Before he could finish that, you gave him a kick in the groin too. He groaned and leaned over in pain, then you grabbed his shirt.

"You stop fucking that babysitter, or I WILL use one of the wine glasses and break it and cut your balls off with it, do you understand?" you raged.

His eyes went wide and he gritted his teeth. You saw his fists curled as if ready to punch you. You took a step back but didn’t stop glaring his eyes.

“Caro loves you and this is how you repay her, you prick?! She doesn’t deserve you. You’re lucky she hasn’t stabbed you!” you continued.

“You little bitch!” Sandy cursed.

But the party already ran up to you. People held both Sandy and you back.

Roper stood up. He went over to Sandy and got him, restraining him from lunging. You felt Jed and Thomas get up and get you, pulling you back. Then you shot your eyes into the nanny to give her a death glare. You would have slapped her too if it wasn't for Jed holding you back.

“! You’re as bad as he is! You KNEW he was married, and it didn’t stop you, you little-”

Jed pulled you away. And you gritted your teeth as the nanny stared horrified, frozen in her seat.

Sandy meanwhile was pointing a meaty, sausage-like finger in your direction.

"Did you see what she did!? She attacked me!” he cried.

"Now, Sandy, don't panic...it's just a scuffle. I don't see a mark on your cheek. Not a large one, anyway." Roper began.

He glared at you. His voice steeled with more venom than you could imagine.

"We know the lowest brothels in Munich and we'll sell you straight to them this minute !" he threatened.

You felt your jaw clench. Terror gripped you and you couldn't move, couldn't think.

“No! Please! Please don’t!” Jed begged, leaning forward.

Then Thomas stepped forward. He replaced Jed's arm around you and then leaned out a hand in peace. Jed ran forward to beg Roper and Sandy not to sell you off as punishment. Could they...could they do that...oh no...what on earth had you done!?!

Thomas however, was still quiet. But he was strong. You found yourself wanting to nuzzle into his shirt. You could smell his cologne subtly applied. He was again...so warm and soft. And safe. He then began speaking with such authority, anyone had to listen.

"Please...everyone...let's not fret ourselves. Sandy has done wrong, and he should acknowledge how much this hurt his wife. Don’t be upset at Y/N, either. She’s fiercely devoted to her friends, especially the women here. She was trying to protect Caro," he reasoned.

He looked down at you. His gaze softened and you felt yourself relax a little near him. His arm enclasped you in an embrace. Youcould feel his pulse in his body. You hugged him back and swallowed hard.

Roper furrowed his brow. He then took a step forward and spoke to your pretend boyfriend giving you a very real defense.

"If she was my woman...she would be off to Germany by now. But she's not. Thomas, you have to learn to control your woman. I do so with Jed. Sandy does it with Caro. Now it’s your turn. Take her to your quarters. Give her a dressing down. Or we will have to do it for you,” threatened Roper.

You felt your heart race inside your ears. This was some real 19th-century bullshit Roper was pulling out of his ass. Would that be…be possible? Now even Jed looked scared. So very scared. And she stopped trying to beg him. Oh god, now it was going to happen to you. Elena and her parents were silent and you saw the teenage girl trembling. She took a step forward out of her seat, but then Roper put an arm up to stop her.

Thomas then put his hand around your arm.

“Here…I will take her to my room and I will dress her down, as we say. Just give us a moment…” he began.

Thomas was a nice man. A docile, polite, quiet, if not slightly mild man when you talked to him. He wouldn’t…beat you. He didn't seem the type. hen again, you remembered a phrase you heard once. It was always the ones you would never suspect. You bit back your bile. Your legs were shaking so badly, you wondered if you were standing.

“Here, Y/N…come with me…” he directed.

You had no choice but to follow as he led you by pulling you with him. His touch felt like a grip this time. You were shaking. Then he led you out. Out of that building. The guards nodded and let him. Out into the cool night air with the crickets and stars. You could still smell the sea too. It would usually be comforting. But this was not usual. You saw his muscles and big hands- he could overtake you in a fight. A blow from his fists would hurt. He could easily overpower you. You should have known. You should have known he was Roper's friend. And friends meant one's future-your sister's future. Yours.

He had a smaller cottage near the property. He took you right inside into the front foyer- a little hall with a kitchenette right there. Then he locked the door and looked at you. His jaw tight. Then he took a step forward. You squeezed your eyes shut and braced yourself.

“Just get it over with, quick!” you insisted.

“Y/N…you're safe here. They would have pressured me to hit you. But I'm not. Not here or anywhere. I’m not going to hurt you…” he said.

You opened your eyes. Your shoulders relaxed though your heart was still racing. He went up to you.

“Thomas, what are you talking about?” you hissed.

He leaned in close. His voice was just a whisper.

“You don’t have to call me Thomas here…you can call me Jonathan.”

“What…you have another name?” you asked, your mind reeling with every word he said.

“Yes-Jonathan Pine.”