#and both of them have lost so many others and are clinging on tight to what's left
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blackjackkent · 7 hours ago
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As I mentioned in my post last night, I love this cutscene between Minsc and Jaheira very much - and I also love the devnotes on it when looking through the parsed dialogue files, since they further emphasize all the things I love about these characters and their relationship.
So I have compiled all of it here because I need you all to experience the Emotions with me. XD
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MINSC: Jaheira... Boo is trying his best to explain, but I still do not understand your anger. (Devnote: Hesitant, a little apologetic - wants to get it but doesn't.) JAHEIRA: Do not hide behind your hamster, ranger. You do not understand, because you do not listen. We were the first to discover the cult. And if you had only waited, we might have marshalled our numbers and - MINSC: Good does not wait for evil to button up its britches - when it offers buttocks for the smacking, Minsc and Boo greet cheek with hand! (Devnote: Quietly scandalised at the notion that he should have stopped and waited for reinforcements, rather than wading into incredible odds alone.) PLAYER: That sounds like a fun evening. MINSC: It is well that Boo's innocent ears still ring from all this shouting. (Devnote: A little offended - the player is being inappropriate in front of his hamster.)
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JAHEIRA: You meant well, Minsc. But you exposed the city to harm. You helped the cult spread. And worse, perhaps, than any of this: You forced me to leave you behind. MINSC: But... this is where Minsc falls short of the understanding, Jaheira. (Devnote: Puzzled - a little wary to contradict Jaheira but working it out.) What else is a berserker for, if not to charge into danger ahead of his Wychlaran? (Devnote: Genuinely bemused. He would happily throw away his life to protect Jaheira, and takes it for granted that she knows this.)
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MINSC: Boo agrees, you are a queer kind of witch. But this city is a queer place. And Minsc, you may have noticed, is sometimes strange himself. (Devnote: Tone is "I know it's strange, I agree, but hear me out.") The titles matter not. Only this - when Minsc does as Minsc does, and charges in to make a mess: (Devnote: Brushing aside Jaheira's discomfort with the title of 'wychlaran', getting to the point of what he means.) Jaheira does as Jaheira does, and finds a way to save us all anyway. (Devnote: Absolute unshakeable faith that Jaheira can and will solve any problem.) PLAYER: Aw. That's actually kind of sweet. JAHEIRA: ...I fight alongside fools. MINSC: You hear that, Boo? We fight alongside a Wychlaran again. (Devnote: Utterly unconcerned by the "fool" part, quietly excited by the "Jaheira fights alongside us again" part.)
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PLAYER: Speaking of feelings - does Minsc know you were ready to kill the Emperor for him? [INTIMIDATION DC10] [CHECK PASS] JAHEIRA: ...My own foolishness does not absolve Minsc of his. [CHECK FAIL] JAHEIRA: A sad and desperate bluff. I need to be sure that Minsc understands I cannot make such a threat twice. MINSC: I have already pledged my sword and hamster both. What more does Minsc have to give? (Devnote: At a loss.) JAHEIRA: Your word, ranger - that next time, you will stop and think. I will not always be here to tell you what to do. MINSC: If not here, then where? Wherever there is, Minsc and Boo will go too! My hamster... he would not be parted from you again, Jaheira. (Devnote: Heavy emphasis on 'there' in second phrase. Jaheira has suggested she won't be around forever - Minsc won't hear of it. The last is the closest he gets to sincerely telling her how much he missed her.) JAHEIRA: ...I missed him, too. And try as you might, I know you have not missed my point as neatly as you pretend.
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joocomics · 7 months ago
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Dinna, I'm here presenting to you preppy!jiseok, who's very cocky and has a corruption kink🤭 He absolutely loves it when you wear a short tennis skirt and a tight top, he looks at your ass when you walk by him after practice or something. You give him a look, and he knows what you want. All his friends want you, and they all want to take your virginity; they even made bets with each other. Jiseok took part in the bet too, but no one knew you were already dating him and you told him to take the bet so you both can rob his rich, posh friends from their money🤭 I say you'll fuck at his family beach house or something like that😌
money on my mind
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pairing: preppy!jiseok x preppy fem!reader
genre: smut wc: 3.3k
contains: sub!reader, established (secret) relationship, enemies to lovers trope, forbidden romance trope? (nothing serious), light corruption kink, mentions of virginity, semi? public sex, pet names, (+ slut used once), fingering, oral sex (m!rec), multiple orgasms, overstimulation (f!rec), creampie, squirting, dirty talk, filming, jungsu cameo
a/n: you didn’t ask for this many words ok i’m sorry >< but no matter what i tried it just kept getting longer, because your idea IS SO GOOD. there’s no way i could just answer it with three sentences… no way. it’s jiseok, and the idea is genius. hope you enjoy it and sorry for the wait <3
[ xdinary heroes masterlist | general masterlist ]
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Jiseok was your secret for a while.
He didn’t care about you being the daughter of the people his parents are rivals with, but you were hesitant about showing up in public as his girlfriend until wanting to be with him everywhere, all the time, clinging onto his arm, was the only thing you could think about.
And you found the perfect way to make it official in front of your friend group. None of them would’ve ever thought they’ll see the two of you together as something more than the two brats who always make faces of disgust when they are forced to sit next to each other.
“You should participate in the bet.”
“What—“
“The bet,” you repeat as your voice shakes. A moan slips from your tongue before you try continuing your thought with a distracted glance at Jiseok’s face. “Take it and win the money.”
He looks directly into your hazed eyes as his hips move against you slowly. The gentle gliding through your walls barely keep them open, and he sees the pretty fluttering of your curled lashes. Being in each other’s arms with bodies connected into one always makes the two of you look high; like you’re slowly losing grip on reality.
“Faster,” you plead in one quick breath before pressing your head back against the pillow.
“You’re cruel.” He grins before burying his mouth into your neck. “I like it… so hot, baby.” His speech turns more tense as you pulse with stronger vibrations around him. He doesn’t speed up though; he enjoys having you melt down underneath him. “I’m so fuckin’ in love with you, you know that, right?”
Your right hand gets lost in his blond hair, looking to tug on his dark roots so you don’t completely lose control over yourself.
“Make it worth it.”
Jiseok peers at you with a mischievous smirk that makes it clear he’s already looking forward to seeing his friends’ expressions after he claims his reward.
“Let’s pick up the pace, pretty girl,” he says, grabbing your wrists and pinning them above your head.
“When did you get so big?” You lay eyes on the exposed bicep. “Are you working out, Jungsu?”You feel the firm muscles against your palm as you squeeze it gently.
His arms have earned a nice golden tan from the summer sun and the white fitted shirt looks really good on him; complimenting his broad figure even more.
“Yeah,” he smiles flustered so quickly that you almost missed the reaction. “I’ve been going to the gym more often these days.”
You notice the way his cheeks instantly earn a pinkish color from the unexpected attention, causing him to avoid your stare. He’s definitely going to bet double after this. That’s what you want after all, and you’re going to put in the work.
“I’ve been thinking of going too, but I can’t seem to motivate myself enough to do it.” You sigh with a fake pout, running your hand along his broad shoulders before positioning yourself in front of him with the goal to show off your legs. “Maybe we can go together? Some company will be nice, I don’t wanna be just by myself there.”
You can feel Jiseok lifting his gaze up from the ground. He’s behind you, sitting on the chair across from Jungsu with his tenis racket in hands, but the intensity of his stare is warm on your skin like the sun. His eyes skim your figure up and down, stopping right where your short pleated skirt ends as he concentrates on your conversation.
He’s determined to not miss a word.
“I’d like that.” Jungsu blinks up at you with a genuine curl of his lips and eyes partly closed from the bright sunlight.
“Cool.” You smile back, tilting your head in a flirtatious manner. “Gym buddies?”
“Gym buddies.” Jungsu gives you a high five, and you’re just about to add something when you hear the deep voice coming from behind your shoulder.
“I thought you shouldn’t put pressure on your ankle for at least a month or two more,” Jiseok calls out.
“Oh, it’s fine.” You lie nonchalantly after turning around. He fixates his gaze on your chest, dressed in a tight cropped top with no straps, and you know it’s because if he looks into your eyes the real emotions may slip out from his face. However, he seems just as tense while staring at your boobs. “The doctor said I can start working out again, I just need to be careful not to overdo it.”
Jiseok responds with a crooked smile watching you take a seat on the table. As you take out the novel you’re reading for your english class, Jungsu stands up, stretching his arms for the next round.
Jiseok grabs the tennis ball, and a sigh of relief calms his frustration, when he walks pass you and feels your fingers discreetly brushing his as he heads towards the tennis court of his parents house.
“Will this book ever get interesting?” Jiseok scoffs. “Jesus, I’m so bored…”
“Will you stop interrupting me only to complain?”
Not only are you doing him the favour of telling him all the important things he needs to know about the novel, and helping him out with the assignment, more than you should, but you also have to bare listening to him complain like he doesn’t have someone else doing his work for him.
“If you read to me naked, I will.”
You roll your eyes at the comment, but you don’t succeed at fighting back the urge to grin, as you bring back your attention on the open book in your hands. He’s blessed with the most enticing smile in the word, and it never fails to make your stomach swirl. It’s boyish, smug, but so attractive.
“If we weren’t dating…” Jiseok rests his head in his palm after turning on his side, “who else would have a real chance except me?”
“Jungsu is cute.” You reply calmly without looking away from the page.
“Cute?” Jiseok blinks confused. His face scrunches from your quick answer. “Since when do you like cute guys?”
“Why did you ask if you’re just gonna get jealous of my answer?”
“Is this why you’re gym buddies all of a sudden? Cause he’s cute?”
You close the book and put it aside with a deep sigh.
“It’s like you missed the whole point of this bet. I have to get their hopes up a little bit so they can bet more money, baby.”
“I know, I know…” Jiseok whines, turning on his back. His eyes gaze up at the tree which leaves move discreetly from the light breeze. “It’s just annoying having to listen to them talk about you… they really think they have a chance.”
You move closer to him, putting a hand over his chest.
“This means we’re winning.”
Jiseok takes your wrist and guides your hand to his lips, pressing them against your knuckles. A moment later, you sit on his lap and his palms go underneath your skirt; it’s like an automatic reaction and it makes you chuckle.
“I can be cute too.” He says.
“I don’t want that.” You reply quietly before leaning down. The minty scent of the gum he had in his mouth earlier invades your senses as you stare at his plump lips. “You didn’t win me over with a cute attitude.”
You both smile at each other, because it’s true. He’s always been a gentleman, but he never tried to impress you with cute compliments, princess treatment or anything like that… The way you challenged yourselves in class, the games of cat and mouse and the bickering in between pulled you closer till he couldn’t handle it anymore. After realising the hatred you feel towards each other, or more specifically the hatred you’re supposed to feel towards each other was actually lust, attraction, desperation to know each other in more ways than one, Jiseok came up to you and straight up told you he wants you. “Right here, right now,” he said. No pick up lines, nothing.
“But we hate each other,” you stated even though it didn’t sound believable, because it wasn’t true at all. You said it just because you couldn’t think of anything else that wouldn’t make you sound easy.
“I don’t believe it, do you?”
“I don’t think so.”
“I actually think you’re good for me, Y/N.”
He fingered you in the library that day. It felt so inappropriate, so… filthy; but most importantly - exciting. Jiseok saw something shifting in you that day, and it made him realise that he was right about you. You had a secret filthy side that’s hiding behind that pure obedient smile of yours, and it was waiting for him to discover it; to make it his.
Two days later he fingered you in the restrooms, that’s when you returned the favour although he said you didn’t need to.
He ate you out in the dressing rooms before his basketball game, and days later he asked to sit next to you for your English lecture so he can sneak his hand under your skirt. He likes doing that to this day - sitting next to you when you’re out with friends and touching you under the table. He enjoys it, because nobody has to know you’re in a relationship especially your parents. Another thing he likes about this is how you let him do it despite this well known fact.
He took your virginity at his house when his parents were out of the country and you got the chance to wake up next to him for the first time.
“What do you want then?” Jiseok keeps shifting his gaze from your eyes to your lips. His hands, hidden from your skirt, are gripping your ass cheeks beneath it. “Tell me, doll.”
He presses his lips against yours into a soft kiss. Once, twice… You remain silent while the contact from his mouth floods your body with adrenaline. The only sound around you is from the nature of the park where you found yourselves a nice secluded spot.
“Why are you suddenly shy, baby?” He smirks after you break the kiss. “I already know how filthy you can be for me.”
As he speaks Jiseok’s one hand moves your panties to the side while the other pushes a finger inside your welcoming arousal. You moan into his mouth as he glides it through your tight walls.
“It’s why you wear these little skirts and tops, right? You let me get what I want whenever I want to…” His finger speeds up, and you hide your face into the crook of his neck. “You don’t really care who sees. You never did.”
“I think it’s time to end the bet.” Jiseok tosses his phone on the table between you and glances in your direction. “It’s been over two weeks now.”
“Hmm..” You’re lounging on the sunbed enjoying the sight of the calm beach as the sun is almost about to set meanwhile Jiseok is sitting on his, hunched over with a certain tense expression.
“It’s perfect.” He exclaims. “Not too late, not too early either.”
“Wouldn’t it look like I’m easy?”
“No, baby.” He disagrees immediately as he walks up to you. “It would look like I’m just too damn good at flirting which I am.” He sits on the edge, stroking your bare leg up and down. “I’m too hard to resist.”
“You’re getting all cocky, Kwak Jiseok.” You tease him with your foot ghosting over his crotch. His hand catches your ankle gently. “Not cute.”
“What do you say?” His eyes fixate on your contemplative expression. What’s there to think about so much? As you stay silent, just maintaining the eye contact with him, Jiseok feels his heartbeat quickening.
“If you insist.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” He blurts right away.
You cannot help but laugh while peeling your back off the lounge.
“I’m just messing with you! God, your cheeks got all red.”
You cup his face, smiling at his cute frustrations, but he grips your wrists, speaking out in an even more serious voice.
“I’m putting an end to this, you hear me?”
You pull back to drag down the straps of your light summer dress which is enough of an answer to his words. Jiseok watches you with half parted lips, finally laying eyes on the new pair of Victoria’s Secret lingerie you got.
You’ve talked about this - that you’re going to film just a few minutes as a proof, - but you’ve never discussed how, when, where or which minutes exactly - the beginning, the middle or the end. You completely let Jiseok guide you, but he seems too excited right now. He moves quickly, and kisses you roughly as if he hasn’t done it in weeks. You try to catch up with his speed, but all you can do is gasp and moan at every next touch.
“You can’t stop me, doll.” His tone comes out more intense and raspy. “I’m done listening to them thirsting over your ass, goddamn it. It’s driving me crazy.”
His fingers are already pumping against your g-spot, spreading your wetness and causing even more.
“J-Ji… Jiseok, fuck—“
Your legs dangle in the air as his arm flexes, moving steadily in order to make you cum as soon as possible.
“Slow down,” you whisper in a rush, squeezing your eyes, but Jiseok is too immersed into the fact you’re becoming even tighter than a moment ago.
“C’mon, baby, when have you liked it slow?” He smirks and a second later he feels you clench intensely around his fingers. “Yeah, there you go.”
Your jaw drops in a silent scream as Jiseok thrusts few more times till your climax fades down. Your chest drops heavily as you pant from the overwhelming feeling, it came so quickly and suddenly.
You’ve never cummed so fast before.
Jiseok pulls out his fingers slowly, all coated with your essence and drags them up to your clit. It causes your flushed face to scrunch up again which makes your boyfriend smile. He gives you a light smack.
“You needed this, huh?”
“I did,” you say already feeling relaxed and slightly lightheaded. Jiseok sneaks his fingers through your lips, doubling the pressure in his shorts by making you clean them up with your tongue. “Don’t you need something too?” You ask when you’re done sucking his digits.
Jiseok stands up, getting rid of his clothes. His tanned fit figure positions itself in front of you after you get comfortable with knees planted on the lounge. He looks stunning in this setting with the beautiful sea behind him.
“You can film me.” You say before you lick the side of his cock.
“Not yet.”
That’s all he says, as he stays with eyes shut due to the pleasant rush that's spreading wildly in his veins from your lips wrapped around his tip. You twirl your tongue around his oozing shape, but a moment later Jiseok gets impatient and slides himself all the way in, holding your head steady.
“Fuck, baby…” He groans with his deep voice. He commands his hips to move back and forth a few times, pushing as further as possible into your throat before emptying your mouth. “Give me your wet pussy now.” His soaked cock smacks your cheek lightly as a sign to turn around.
You feel him entering with ease. The pleasure is familiar, but it never feels exactly the same as other times. Every time your bodies connect you get dizzy with even more intense delight; with even stronger lust that only grows your addiction to Jiseok.
His fingertips dig into your hips, threatening to leave marks as the pace of his thrusts increases. He found your sweet spot and he doesn’t plan on slowing down until the knot in your tummy snaps.
“Fuck, b-baby—“ you call out with your weak voice; it keeps shaking from the immense pleasure and Jiseok’s rough pounding. “… gonna c-cum…”
Here at his parents' empty beach house, you can scream as loud as you want, so you don’t force yourself to be quiet nor discreet. You let out a deep wail of emotion that towards the end becomes just a shaky whimper as Jiseok fucks you through your second orgasm. He groans at the same time as you while doing his best to endure the pressure in his cock.
You collapse on your back, squeezing your trembling thighs together, but your boyfriend quickly separates them.
“I want to fuck you all night long,” he utters before his mouth sucks on your neck that’s sticky from sweat and the breeze around you. His body weight settles on top of your chest as his cock shoves into you again, making you whine beneath him. “You feel so fuckin’ good…”
The soothing sound of the waves clashing together blends with your moans as the rush starts doubling inside your core again. You feel how all the energy you had disappears from your body leaving only the overwhelming thrill from his cock turning you more and more sensitive.
“C’mon, my pretty girl, give me more.” Jiseok grunts. “I know you can.”
“Jiseok—“ you begin to say something, but he rises up, placing his thumb on your clit.
“I’m not gonna film shit until you start squirting, baby.”
He reaches for his phone, but the device stays locked in his free hand as the other stimulates your bundle of nerves causing you to squirm with each rub.
“You can do this, doll, look how needy you are.” Jiseok’s voice sounds lower than before as your clenching grows stronger.
His hips are not moving at all. He’s standing steady on his knees, feeling his cock being gripped tightly by your warm walls. He’s trying so hard not to keep his focus on this, but it’s impossible. His fingers speed up on your clit, and he pants heavily while you on the other hand cry out desperately with your silhouette convulsing in front of him. However, Jiseok doesn’t see a flinch of yours, because he cums inside you, and his eyes close shut.
Your clenching during your climax was enough to get him off.
“Shit,” he sighs, meeting your hazy gaze. You look completely washed off, but you still manage to smile after feeling how he spilled all that he had.
Jiseok unlocks his phone and guides the camera at your cunt so he can film the way he pulls out of you. His white cum starts seeping out in a slow thick trail and he makes sure to catch that too.
He keeps the video going as he pushes two fingers inside your hole tempted to fuck his essence back into you. His cock is still too sensitive, and he wants to get one more orgasm out of you.
“One more, pretty doll,” he whispers while pumping his digits, “this pussy is doing so well for me, keep it up.”
The camera memorises all the lewd squelching you do; all the messy juices emerging out of you as Jiseok’s fingers furiously bump against your deepest spot. Each and every whimper that slips from your lips in addition to your boyfriend’s praises.
“… can’t—“ you choke in the middle of your hitched breaths. “J-Jiseok, I can’t.. can’t…”
“Don’t say that, baby,” Jiseok fakes a disappointing look while keeping up the pace. “C’mon, you’ve been acting like a slut so many times for me, don’t get shy now. Show them what I thought you.”
You don’t realise when it happens; you feel too high to recognise anything else except your own crazy heartbeat and the burning in your core that makes you feel like you’re going to explode any second.
Jiseok’s phone gets sprayed when you succumb to the pressure and let go. You don’t even have the energy to let out a proper moan, you just gasp as the juices make Jiseok’s arm wet along with the lounge chair and the camera that catches everything.
Now, all that’s left to do is to send the video to the group chat, and get your money.
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! please do not repost, copy or translate my works
! please keep in mind that english is not my first language. i apologise in advance for any mistakes i’ve might missed
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rita-repulsa-ke · 29 days ago
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The Present
One more Agatha/Rio fanfic, post-finale, angst and tragic romance.
Rio goes to visit Agatha, and brings her a present.
Rio watches Agatha sleep, all of her dignity lost, mouth open, limbs askew. She takes a few steps forward and waits. The year is 1803 and by now, she knows the steps to this dance. Somewhere in this peaceful room, there is a trap.
Agatha Harkness cannot kill Death. But she can wound her, bind her temporarily, inconvenience and humiliate her. She can certainly hurt her feelings and she delights in doing so.
And Rio, when hurt, retaliates. She uses magic, knives, but most of all taunting, callous words. She derives a sense of twisted satisfaction from watching her beloved crumple and beg for something they both know she cannot give.
Sometimes, later, she regrets. Today, she carries a present, folded in her green and black cloak, either a peace offering or a dagger to the heart.
She takes another step, sits on the bed, then stretches to lie next to Agatha, inches away from a few locks of dark hair. She wants to caress them, put them in her mouth, as she once would have done.
Before she can do either, the trap springs. Runes on each wall glow purple, and fine wires of magic snap around her, haul her up by the neck, wrists and ankles, suspended in midair.
“You trapped the bed?” she asks, incredulous, as Agatha jerks awake, sits up rubbing her eyes, wearing only a nightshirt, her hair a tangled mess.
She still takes Rio’s breath away.
“You are so utterly predictable,” Agatha says, smug even though her voice is laced with sleep. She motions to the walls, to the carved runes. “The six bindings runes are done in the Solomonic tradition, but I added an extra layer with the—"
She stops abruptly. Explaining the cleverness of her magic to Rio is an old habit, from better times. “The point being, it should hold for a couple of years, if I’ve done it right, and the doors and windows to this room are bespelled so that once I leave, everyone will forget its here.”
“Clever,” Rio praises and Agatha’s jaw tightens, though the praise is nothing but truthful. She has always been impressed by the sheer skill of Agatha's craft. “But I’ve brought you a gift.”
“Keep it,” Agatha says, packing her things from where they are scattered about the room, fishing out clothes from where they've somehow ended up under the bed. “I think we’re past the courting stage.”
“You’re going to want it. Trust me.” She sees the other woman pause. She can still provoke Agatha’s curiosity, always her strongest emotion.
But Agatha won't ruin her own work. “It can wait a couple of yea—“
Rio tires of this game. She reaches for power, not magic, but the simple truth of what she is. Wisps of black and green smoke escape her, pour from her mouth to settle on Agatha’s runes.
“You can't do that!" Agatha protests, watching with clenched teeth as the magic dies and Rio glides elegantly to the floor.
“You can’t bind Death, Ags.”
Agatha’s face contorts with fury, the realization of how many times Rio has chosen to let her think she had won, to indulge her pride, when she could have freed herself so easily. “I hate you,” she snarls.
Rio pulls out the portrait and offers it to her.
It’s a good one, a little boy with crooked teeth and long hair, as perfect a rendering as she could manage.
Agatha takes it and sinks to sit on the bed, trembling, stares at it, traces the image with a finger and whispers his name.
Rio shrugs, doesn't quite look at the other woman, allowing her a private moment of grief. “So you don’t forget what he looked like.”
After some immeasurable length of time, the longest either of them have gone without violence toward each other in decades, Agatha puts the painting carefully, almost worshipfully, on the table and stands, opens her arms to Rio.
Death steps into the embrace at once, clings tight and is aware that she is shaking as Agatha’s fingers smooth her hair. For one blissful moment, her world is whole.
“Pathetic,” Agatha says and the word is spoken so flatly that it delays the blow, takes Rio a second to even comprehend what was said. “Pitiful, desperate, like a dog with its tail between its legs, rolling over to show your belly for me, as though I will ever, ever care about you ag—"
“Incendem,” Rio says, the word spoken quiet and empty.
Agatha reacts too slowly, lunges as the portrait goes up in flames. She burns her hands, fumbles and drops it, uses a nearby shirt to stamp out the flames.
What is left is a ruined mess of canvas, blackened beyond recognition.
Death laughs and laughs and laughs. “Please,” Agatha whispers, sinking to her knees, clutching the painting as though she could protect it, as though she could protect anything. “Please, please, please.”
Rio crouches next to her, too close, absorbing the heat from her body as a mortal might sit near a fire for comfort. “Pathetic,” she murmurs, almost affectionate. “Pitiful. You can't help yourself, can you? It’s all right, Ags. Cruelty suits you.”
“Give it back,” Agatha whispers, her voice cracking like a skull. “Rio, please, give it back, give it back, give him back to me…”
Rio gathers her beloved in her arms, unprotesting for once, lets her sob like a broken-hearted child and feels a gentle contentment with the situation, murmuring sweet nothings in a handful of dead languages in her ear.
"Rio," Agatha whispers against her neck, and the way her breath brushes over Rio's skin is a reminder of so many better times.
"Yes, sweetheart?"
"Let me drop my barriers for you. Read my thoughts."
Rio hesitates, it must be a trap, but this time it is her curiosity that gets the better of her. Even when there was genuine affection between them, Agatha always guarded her thoughts so closely. She reaches tentatively for the mind she always wished to understand above all others.
Hatred, raw and pure, impales her, a spear shoved through her guts and out the other side, a sucking, fatal wound. She recoils from the agony, a sob building in her throat.
"No," she gasps. "You love me. You love me, you do, you love me, you're hurt, you're angry, I understand, but you do love me, Agatha!”
Agatha's turn to laugh now, her cackling, witchy laugh that Rio has always loved, a hint of insanity wound through it. "See for yourself. Look as deeply as you want, my heart." She presses her lips to Rio's cheek, untwines herself and comes to her feet to look down at Death, sitting on the floor, staring up at her with blank, empty eyes.
Rio looks. She does not wish to, it is an act of self-harm to stare into the abyss of Agatha's relentless hatred, but she lets it cut her, wound and scar her over and over, relentless in her search for any morsel of affection.
There is nothing. Agatha's hatred is an endless fall, a vast, dark pit of torment.
Rio wrenches her mind free and doubles over, a terrible shriek ripped from her, the sound of her heart being torn from her ribcage, her chest flayed open, entrails flopping out.
"There is only one thing I want from you now," Agatha says. "And it is never, ever to see your face again."
Rio winks out of existence.
Agatha sits and stares at the blackened portrait, then carefully releases the spell on her mind that withholds her true feelings, a complicated rush of true hatred, the aching memory of a world-devouring love, a desperate desire not to be abandoned, and the sudden yearning to be back in Rio's arms.
Feel free to comment/reblog if you like this sort of thing. If you want to read something written pre-finale and therefore less angsty, try the talk. The part where Rio says she’ll never leave hits different now.
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anemptypuddingcup · 1 year ago
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EEEE Bae!! Okay, lemme get myself straight....*inhales dilf*
OKAY!!! First off, congrats on the 900!!!!! <3 I also wish to reach that milestone soon!!! >:)
Now for my requests....get ready.....ooooh it's gonna be hot......
May I have Kaku + Kink! Spanking? (god I'm a sucker for this kink) A possible scenario is like where fem! reader is always being rude to other ppl and him being the "nice" guy teaches her to get her act together? 🫣
The other one would be Sabo + Kink! Gloves (perfect for him😳) I'm not so sure about the scenerio here...so I'll leave it up to your creative mind!
Thank youuu >:) 💕
Omggg, you lucky I’m so excited baby girl. I was bouta continue writing the Luffy fic but I just HAD to answer your submission first. Dw you’ll get that Luffyussy soon baby.
And thank youuuu love! I’m happy that I’ve gotten this far, and just so you know I’ll support you all the way when you reach that milestone and higher. I love you stephie.💕
Kaku & Spanking.
“How many times have I told you to stop dressing like that!” Paulie huffs before he covers his face, flustered from you showing skin. You pout and huff at him before crossing your arms. “You do this every time I come up here, how bout you stop looking at me perv!” You say, gripping Paulie’s shirt collar and staring him deep in the eyes.
Paulie sighs as you walk away past him and Kaku. Before you could fully walk past Kaku, he grabs your wrist and stops you from walking away from him. You turn to him, your brows furrowed as you struggled to pull your hand away. “K-Kaku! Let go of me!” You demanded. Instead of listening, he throws you over his shoulder, shocking both you and Paulie.
“Kaku!-“
“I’ve just about had it with you and your slutty behavior woman, Califa doesn’t even act like this.” Kaku huffs.
***
“MMGH! A-AH!~” You bit your bottom lip hard as you feel Kaku’s palm hit your ass with intensity, drool spilling from your lips as you felt your ass beginning to sting from his hits. “Keep counting or we’re restarting.” Kaku demands, giving you a dark glare. Your body shivers under him before he hits you against.
“I-I-I lost c-count!~” You whined, turning back to him. You hear him chuckle before he slaps your ass again, this time a bit harder than all the others. You whine out as your body begins to shudder against his lap as you feel your cunt fluttering around nothing, your heat spilling down your thighs and legs.
“Fine by me then, we’ll just restart. If you lose count again we’ll keep restarting until you can learn to count like a good little girl.”
You let out a heavy whine as you squirm around on his lap, not wanting to admit to yourself how much you were enjoying this.
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Sabo & Gloves.
Sabo presses a kiss to your ear as your body trembled against his. Your legs were spread open for while his gloved fingers were buried deep inside of your aching hole. “You like this, angel? Does it feel good when the fabric is inside this pretty pussy?” Sabo asks, whispering the words into your ear.
You exhaled shakily before nodding, throwing your head back as he shoved his fingers hard against your g-spot. “Y-Yes!~ I-It feels good Sabooo~” You admit, your voices shaky as you moan out in pleasure. Sabo chuckles as he notices your slick coating and staining his gloves.
“I know it feels good~ Your pussy’s clinging to my fingers. With your tight grip you might just pull the glove off angel~” He giggles before pressing a kiss to your neck. Your legs begin to tremble as you feel Sabo’s gloved palm rub against your clit, adding on to the pleasure.
You feel his other gloves hand grope your breast as a gloved finger swirls around your hardened bud, the fabric of the glove feeling wonderful against your nipple. “Ahh~ Sabo~ S-Sabo p-please~” You thrust your hips up against Sabo’s fingers, wanting him to fuck you just a little bit faster with them.
Sabo moves in closer to you. “Please what angel? Use your words for me baby~” He says, teasing you. “P-Please move your fingers faster~ I-I’m so close!~” You whine out, biting your bottom lip. Sabo giggles.
“As you wish, my little angel~”
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baddybaddyadardaddy · 11 days ago
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is it barn time if they're both under the barn now? many such questions
The Southlander huddles up next to the orc commander as the earth rumbles and dust continues to waft through the trapdoor above. She can braethe thanks to the cloth the orc tied over her nose and mouth, but between the darkness and the dust, she can see very little save the red slight filtering in from above.
"You'll be safe here," the orc reassures her. His armor is flesh-warmed, his arms tight around her even when she jumps as things crash and crackle above them. "You won't be harmed. The tunnels will hold."
"How can you know?"
"My children trusted in me when they made these. It will take more than the mountain's wrath to crush them."
His children... "Do you have a wife, then?"
There is just enough light to see grief strain his face. "No. My other half has long since passed."
It is sad, that he is bereaved. But also, ah - the older women said it was good to marry a widower who had cared for his wife. And he was old, and he was not human, and she could not bring herself to care.
"I am sorry," she says, and kisses him. It is chaste, veiled by both of their protective breathing cloths, but when she pulls back his eyes are dark again.
"You do not know what you ask of me," he says.
"Maybe so. I ask it nonetheless. I have no husband, no living family, just me and what few of my sheep have survived the poisoning of this land. You say these tunnels are safe, and I believe you - but I can still wish for something nice in what could be my final night, can't I?"
His eyes roam her body - her dress clinging to her breasts from sweat and the damp of the tunnel, her hands on his hips, the way she's spread her legs over his lap -
"Then it is yours," he breathes, and drags her down to him to kiss you again. His tongue rasps against fabric as he laps over her lips, and his bad hand dips under her dress to run a rough hand up her inner thigh to the place between her legs, tracing through her linen underclothes.
The southlander gasps as he finds the nub within her folds and rubs two fingers against it.
"Wet already?" he asks. "Is watching an old man be tortured so exhilarating for you?"
"You can't be that old," she retorts as she grinds against his hand. His nails are long enough to pinch a little as he plays with her, as his fingers drag fabric against her inner lips and tease her hole.
"I am older than the sun and moon, and I am older than the oldest Man whom you would call elder," he rumbles, and his other hand drags her dress and linens down, freeing one breast. He grabs it with an appreciative sigh, his fingers digging in and relieving pressures the Southlander had not realized she had.
"Is that - ah - where you learned all this?" If not for her smallclothes, his fingers would be IN her, and she cannot decide if that is a blessing or a curse.
"Where else? The Uruk didn't simply spring from a hole in the ground," he says. "Though most of my partners were less reckless."
"They've never had to climb down a cliff to get a lost sheep," she says, and her hand drifts to his cock. He's somehow already getting half hard again. Most Men needed some time between rounds to be ready once more, but it seemed orcs were sturdier stuff.
"You'd be surprised what I have done," the orc says. "But I am sure you will know soon. If you are too foolhardy to flee, then there will be places for you in my new kingdom. Both for shepherds, and for those who wish to share a bed."
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"Is watching an old man be tortured so exhilarating for you?"
AND THE CHORUS OF RABID ADAR GIRLIES SCREAMED:
"YES, LORD-FATHER!"
SUB-TERRANEAN BARN SCENE SMUTFEST, COME AND GET IT
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robinette-green · 1 year ago
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Spooky Stories from the Daycare!!!
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Part 1: Beneath The Full Moon
part 2
“Are you sure we’re going the right way?” Sun asked for what seemed like the hundredth time. He was clinging so tight to Moon’s arm that Moon had to concentrate not to trip over Sun’s feet. Moon didn’t want to tell Sun to let go, though. He was finding comfort in his sunny companion’s hold, and it was helping him pretend not to be nervous as they walked through the moonlit trees.
“This is the way she told us to go. Follow the lanterns, and we’re following the lanterns… It can’t be much further.”
Deeper and deeper into the forest, they walked, following the light from the lanterns along a winding dirt path. As they passed through the trees, clouds slid over the moon, blocking its light and casting the duo into an inky blackness only broken by the lanterns on their patch, but even those barely cut through the dark.
Sun’s hold on Moon’s arm turned into a vice grip, and Moon stumbled slightly.
“M-Moon!” Sun whispered, voice trembling almost as much as he was. This was supposed to be a fun little adventure out to a forest cabin for a little Halloween retreat, but now it seemed like they had become very lost.
“W-We should have reached the cabin ages ago! We’ve b-been walking in circles, and n-now it’s pitch black!” Sun was starting to panic. He didn’t like the dark, and there were stories of creatures living in these words. Stories of people getting lost and never coming back.
“The cabin is probably feet away. Has to be.” Moon said, primarily to comfort Sun but also to reassure himself.
And then the lanterns vanished, leaving the two animatronics in the pitch black.
Both animatronic’s eyes glowed in the dark, but the light only illuminated a few inches, not creating enough light to see the closest trees.
It was Moon’s turn to grab Sun, letting his unease get the better of him, clinging tight to his trembling companion. What had happened to the lanterns? Why would they all go out like that? All at once?
They had been following lanterns… right?
______
You looked down at the two trespassers from your perch in the tall oak tree, tail flicking behind you. They would regret wandering into your forest. You’d scare them, just like all the others, and send them running… but maybe you should play with them first? Subject them to some nasty tricks before sending them running.
You giggled to yourself, the sound floating through the trees and sending chills down the spines of the men below.
You could use your fox fire to lead them into the pond. They’d fall in and get all wet and slimy.
Or you could approach them through the trees in the dark, pretending to be a ghost, scaring them silly.
Maybe you could make spooky noises, screams, and howls to chill them to the bone before jumping out of them to send them running.
There were also trying vines across their path to trip them or shoving frogs down the backs of their shirts.
So many choices.
As you watched the two men standing below you, pondering what you would use to terrorize your victims, you found yourself wondering why they were wearing such silly costumes. Humans were so strange.
The shaking one appeared to be wearing some sort of halo of points around his head, making him look like the sun, and his companion was wearing a cap covered in stars. Both were wearing regular human clothes, but their heads were round like they were wearing masks.
It didn’t matter. They’d run off like everyone else and leave you in peace.
___________
Sorry this took me so long! I wanted to get this out sooner but life happened 😅. I’m just glad it’s out now. In theory the next parts will be longer but we’ll leave this short to get things rolling.
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stardustandash · 2 months ago
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in the ashes
Whumptober Day 6: Not Realizing They’re Injured – “It’s not my blood”
The hum of the Mantis’ engines overhead is the sweetest sound Cal’s ever heard. It sounds like home and comfort and family, and he’s glad the others are safe, even if he has to be the one to face them with the news that their small family will never be the same again. Years apart is different than dead.
Ao3 Link
Smoke lies thick on Cal’s tongue. It’s all he can smell, all he can taste, in the wake of the attack on the Anchorite’s base. The fires have grown cold, but the ash still floats in the air, coating everything in a dull grey. Cere and Cordova lie before him, both wrapped in what blankets Cal could salvage from storage to preserve some dignity for the two of them. Kriff, Cordova had barely had a face left in the wake of Bode’s attack.
The hum of the Mantis’ engines overhead is the sweetest sound Cal’s ever heard. It sounds like home and comfort and family, and he’s glad the others are safe, even if he has to be the one to face them with the news that their small family will never be the same again. Years apart is different than dead. Grief rises in Cal’s throat, but by the time the Mantis touches down he’s managed to swallow it back into the part of himself he tries to ignore.
He clings to BD-1 when the little droid rushes down the ramp and into his arms. What else can he do. Greez follows, falling to his knees beside Cere’s body. Merrin stands by Cere’s feet with eyes a thousand miles and many years in the past.
“I’m so-“
“Don’t even start, kid,” Greez cuts him off. “Don’t even begin to try and apologize for this.”
Cal swallows hard. Fear makes his throat tight. What if Greez never lets him set foot on the Mantis again, or eat at his table, or even see him. What if Merrin hates him for letting their friends and mentors die.
“None of this is your fault, okay? I can go in depth about it later, but for now, know that none of this is on you,” says Greez. His voice is rough and wet.
Some of the fear trickles away, but it only leaves room for grief to come rolling back in.  Merrin is still standing still as a statue, and Cal latches on to the chance to do something, to not give in to the emotion.
“You okay?” he asks, one hand hovering next to hers.
It’s a stupid question, but at least it gets her eyes off of the bodies and Cal can see her mind returning from wherever it went.
“She sent us away,” says Merrin in a small voice. “She knew what was coming and she made us go. I should have stayed with her.”
Greez lays one hand on Cere’s shoulder through the blanket before standing up and turning to the two of them. His cheeks are wet, and his eyes are red around the edges, but his face is full of determination.
“I don’t want to hear either of you talking like this, am I clear. Cere wouldn’t have wanted you to die with her. What we do now is we give them the respect they deserve.”
“And get the compass back from Bode. He can’t take Tanalorr away from us now, not that the Path has lost Jedha,” says Cal.
“Yeah, okay, and that too,” says Greez. “But first, let’s get them onto the ship.”
Merrin sets her mouth in a grim line and nods, Cal alongside her. The two of them carry Cere and Cordova onto the ship with as much care as they can manage. Now that Greez has somewhat taken over, Cal feels his energy draining away with it. Every step into the ship feels heavy, and not just from the burden in his arms. Even BD-1 feels heavier than usual. In fact, BD must have grabbed him wrong, because his shoulder’s starting to twinge where he usually plants his foot.
Still, he will not falter with Cordova in his arms. The man deserved a death with dignity, and though Cal cannot clearly remember Jedi funerary customs, he will do his best to see that both Cordova and Cere get his best approximation of being laid to rest with honour. Cal settles Cordova next to where Merrin has laid Cere and vows that he will not rest until they have time to lay the both of them to rest.
In the aftermath the four of them cluster in the lounge, three of them with a glass of the nicest brandy Greez has on board and no one telling BD-1 to get off the potolli-weave. Not like he hasn’t been climbing all over it for the last few years anyway.
“You feeling okay, Cal?” asks Greez.
Cal blinks at him. Of course he isn’t feeling okay. The real question is how well can Cal function right now. To which the answer is of course; “I’m fine.”
“You’re looking a little pale. You sure Bode didn’t get a good hit in?”
Cal frowns. Sure, Bode had shot him and he’d fallen off the cliff, but he’d gotten back to the base fine.
“You are covered in ash,” supplies Merrin. “Perhaps a shower could help.”
Cal almost makes a joke about being as pale as her, but the thought is knocked out of his head when Merrin puts a hand on his shoulder and it sends a line of fire down his arm. He can’t help the flinch that runs through him and Merrin pulls away. There’s an odd reddish-grey smudge on her hand.
“You are bleeding,” says Merrin.
“See, I knew you weren’t fine!”
“It’s not my blood,” Cal protests. “It’s from carrying Cordova.”
Yet as the words leave his lips Cal can feel his shoulder start to ache and notices just how much he’s slumped against the couch.
“I’m fine,” he says again quickly.
Merrin and Greez send him matching disbelieving looks. BD-1 unhelpfully starts scanning Cal and trills a self-satisfied confirmation that yes, Cal has been shot and the wound edges didn’t fully cauterize.
“I’m fine, it’s not going to kill me.”
Greez lets out a long sigh and sips at his brandy before standing on weary legs. “You’re right, but I’m not risking it with your luck and everything that just happened. Merrin, keep him there, I’ll go get the medkit.
Merrin is all to happy to swing her legs up into Cal’s lap. BD-1 hops on top, perching on Merrin’s knees and settling in. It’s nice, to have the weight on top of him to keep him grounded. He puts a hand on Merrin’s thigh just to feel the warmth of her beneath his fingers.
The pain in his shoulder is building now that he lets himself feel it. He refuses to cry, but he can feel the tears burning at the back of his eyes. All he can do is hold on to the family he has left, and embrace the fire in him to hunt down Bode for all he’s done to them.
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ithinkthiswasabadidea · 1 year ago
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Of their friends and allies, Nikolai hears the news first.
He'd kept close by, waiting to see if he was needed. Task Force 141 is one short when they walk into the hangar. Nik notices immediately, frown darkening his features.
"Soap?" He asks, looking first at the Captain who seems lost, almost, then at Ghost.
Ghost, who he'd been starting to get a read on and understand his mannerisms better, barely catches his eyes, and in them, all Nikolai can see is a wretched despair.
"Nothin' could be done," Gaz finally grits out. He doesn't realise there are tear trails running through the dust on his face.
"No... no..." Nik's voice is softer than anyone has ever heard it as he shakes his head, and sits heavily.
Price's hand on his shoulder grips hard enough to hurt as the last of the debrief is wrapped up, but he doesnt betray a single ounce of his own pain as he sees it so clearly in the eyes of his friends.
There's not much he can do, but gather them into exfil, and be a rock to cling to as the men in front of him process their loss as they fly out.
*
In the morning, a secure connection lets Price call Urzikstan, their dawn still a couple hours off, but he knows Farah will already be awake.
She waits patiently as Price recounts what he can, uncharacteristically rambling until he reaches the crux of the description.
"Soap didn't make it."
Farah looks up from the laptop, away from the video feed, not in shock but understanding. Her eyes immediately look towards Alex across the table. His head is down, lips drawn tight, jaw clenching.
"I'm sorry, John. He was one of the best," she continues before Price can speak again, knowing where his mind must be, "And it wasn't your fault. He made his choice."
Price looks away from the screen now. The sign off follows quickly.
Farah bows her head, Alex closes his eyes, as she leads them through yet another of the countless mourning phrases they have had to utter over friends and comrades alike over the years.
As early as it is, a nip of strong alcohol is shared as Farah and Alex look out upon a colder sunrise than usual.
*
Laswell was only a little surprised that the acting leader of Los Vaqueros picked up her call so quickly.
If Rodolfo could hear the poorly disguised upset in her greeting, he didn't bring it up.
Soon he found out why, with even fewer details able to be shared.
"And John- Soap- was killed in action."
Rudy let out the breath he'd been holding for who knows how long. The one that he kept for each and every call he got, waiting to hear that another friend, another brother in arms is gone.
He murmurs softly, reverent as a prayer, "His spirit will keep fighting, in all of us."
It manages to make Kate smile just a little bit.
When Rudy updates Alejandro later in the day, the Colonel is less composed. Rudy is unsurprised that the first thing he hears is swearing, before Alejandro can calm enough to echo his earlier sentiment.
"Rudy, when you get the time, add something for Soap to the ofrenda."
"Already planning on it, Ale."
In a small room, tucked away on a base still being rebuilt, slowly burning candles surround a new photo placed amongst many, many others. Rudy says goodbye for both of them.
*
In their own way, Task Force 141 accept the grief and rage that comes and goes in waves, and keep moving forwards for Soap, for Johnny. For the promise of finishing what they started.
The Ache of Knowing You ❤️
This ficlet is also on AO3! Give some love there too?
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rosileeduckie · 1 year ago
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Hark the Herald Devils Sing
Snow was going to fall anyway, don't see what the fuss is about.
A Christmas prank gets Christmessy.
Good Omens/Ineffable Husbands tickle fic. Warnings: none.
Word count: 1,914
~*~
"Crowley, darling, look! Carolers!"
"Oh, brilliant."
If Aziraphale, certainly bright with cherry cheeks and a merry smile, had turned back from the front door to look toward the couch where his partner had just been, he would have found the seat completely vacated. For as relaxed as he'd been lounging on the sofa, snuggling and reading over Aziraphale's shoulder, Crowley had been off like a flying reindeer the moment there had been a knock at the door and the dreadful sight of a gaggle of Santa hats out the front window. It's not that the golden-eyed demon didn't WANT to suffer through being sung at through a door to the polar vortex by an all too cheerful amateur choir. It's just that, well, okay, he didn't. Even if being subjected to such torture came with the blessed side effect of getting to bask in the radiance of his angel’s unabashed gleeful smile at humans doing silly human things in even subzero weather. But Crowley would have many a chance to see that smile. The chance to thwart the spirits of people banging down doors in the name of peace and cheer? That was seasonal.
Crowley took the stairs up through the bookshop and flat with enough enthusiasm that he could have been flying, and soon found himself on the roof, overlooking the a cappella band. Time was short before they would become other than sitting ducks, but, upon getting blasted with freezing night air, Crowley spared a precious few seconds to miracle himself up some gloves and a diamond patterned scarf. Gingerly, avoiding both patches of ice and lumps of snow that threatened to cling to and soak the cuffs of his pants, Crowley crouched low to the edge of the roof, perched above a bucket of water that had neither been there that morning nor frozen after the sunset. He could already feel his feet beginning to tingle with numbness. No time for dilly-dallying. One big breath, one tight grip, one good heave, and the bucket was upended over the side of the roof, an impossibly massive but precise deluge of water raining down onto the street.
“Happy Christmas, indeed,” Crowley snickered, rocking back on his heels to dodge out of view. The choir would be fine, surely. Their concert had been disrupted, yes, but they’d all find themselves miraculously immune to frostbite as well as pass a wagon that would just so happen to be offering free hot cocoa and biscuits for the holiday. Crowley was a demon, not a total asshole. To be safe, he’d made himself scarce so as not to earn more ire from people, even if said people were uninvited carolers. As such, he’d missed getting to see their faces as the torrent of water descended upon and soaked them. Still, he should have been able to HEAR their shocked shrieks and grumblings as a result of the prank. He peeked over the edge.
Rocketing up to the roof before the prank had made him miss seeing one of his angel’s sunniest expressions. Craning to look over the edge of the roof now brought him face to face with about the sourest look Crowley had ever seen from Aziraphale. The choir having ostensibly been pushed back a good ten feet, the only one to suffer as the target of Crowley’s mischief was Aziraphale himself, figuratively frozen to the newly wet snowy ground and shooting a glare burning with divine fire up into the eaves.
Crowley shrunk back but could still feel Aziraphale’s gaze singeing the tails of his scarf and melting the snowflakes from his hair. Or perhaps he mistook the sound of his own mortified hissing. “Oh, fuck.”
**
“I’m sorry,” Crowley bemoaned again, having lost count of how many times he’d done so. The carolers, scared stiff but dry, had been shooed away, and Crowley had ushered Aziraphale back inside toward the fireplace, shucking off any of the wet and cold clothing clinging to his skin, sitting him in his reading chair, and wrapping him in all the blankets Crowley could carry without losing balance. The demon had begun his apologies before even making it down from the roof, and he didn’t see himself stopping any time soon.
Aziraphale’s glare had been murderous, but he had softened considerably upon such repentant dotage from his partner. Crowley watched, with substantial relief, the way the crease in Aziraphale’s brow smoothed over and the pout in his lips faded after being dried off and bundled up in his favorite chair with a cup of steaming cocoa easily in reach.
“Angel, I really am sorry I caught you in the splash,” said Crowley, kneeling by the arm of the chair and laying a hand on Aziraphale’s knee--or where he approximated a knee to be; it was hard to tell through at least three throws and a comforter. “I didn’t mean to--”
He broke off his umpteenth apology, breath catching in his throat, when Aziraphale chuckled. “I know you didn’t, my dear.” Aziraphale wriggled one hand free from his blanket cocoon to take a sip of cocoa and then to hold Crowley’s cheek. “You would have been much more devious and proud of yourself if you’d meant it.”
Crowley smiled, half-sighing and half-chuckling and fully nuzzling into Aziraphale’s touch. “Absolutely, I would have been.”
The angel scoffed, smile growing brightly and easily as he gave a little shove against Crowley’s nuzzling with his hand. “Come give us a cuddle? Least you can do to make it up to me, really,” Aziraphale teased.
With a roll of his eyes, Crowley nodded, pretending to mutter, and rose from his knees, melting comfortably into Aziraphale’s lap when the angel spread his blanket wings to create a spot for him. Soon, they were both wrapped up, tangled up, safe together in their little nest. Crowley’s legs straddled Aziraphale’s thighs, arms around his shoulders and face buried in his neck, purring in quiet contentment as the angel’s hands rubbed slow circles over his back.
“Wouldn’t have to make it up to you,” Crowley hummed, catching a whiff of lovely sandalwood cologne from the angel’s curls that had dried and gone back to their usual white-blond fluffiness, “if you hadn’t insisted on being daft and heroic. Saving carolers from their just desserts, hgk. And when they were ASKING for their figgy pudding.”
Aziraphale giggled, pressing a kiss to Crowley’s crimson hair that brought his lips close to the demon’s ear. “And from whom did I need to save them?”
“Ggk,” replied Crowley, leaning back from Aziraphale’s chest enough to scowl and wave his hands to bat away that logic. “Are you warm yet or what? While you’re incapacitated, I could set up another bucket on the roof. Bound to be more than just one group of carolers tonight.”
“You would return to engaging in such villainy after it’s already hurt me so?” Aziraphale gaped, wiping at a nonexistent tear. “Crowley, darling, I don’t know that my heart could take the thought.”
“OKAY, okay, drama queen,” Crowley said, nestling back into Aziraphale’s neck but still well aware the angel was grinning.
“You won’t let me be heroic OR dramatic?” Aziraphale tutted. “Would it make you feel better if I was mischievous? Since you’re busy keeping me warm?”
As quickly as he’d molded back to his cuddle spot, Crowley wrenched backward, spurred by Aziraphale’s hands, once soothing, slipped beneath his jumper, and they were COLD. “Angel-!”
The grin Aziraphale had already been wearing was downright devilish. “Yes, my dear? Oh my, you don’t mind, do you? This is such a nice way to warm up my hands~”
If Crowley minded, he couldn’t exactly say so, because Aziraphale’s hands had taken up exercise to warm up all the more quickly. The angel’s fingers moved to Crowley’s ribs, plucking them as delicate and sharp and quick as if he were playing a harp. Sputtering with a shriek that dissolved embarrassingly quickly into merry chortling, Crowley tried to lean back and out of reach, only to find himself thoroughly trapped by the weighty blankets around the pair. Rather than run, since that option was out, he elected to hide, crumpling forward to bury his laughter in Aziraphale’s chest (which was easy enough since the demon hadn’t even let go of his angel in his escape attempt. Maybe he knew he deserved some recompense for drenching him. Maybe he didn’t want that badly to get away. He couldn’t say, literally.)
“Why, thank you, love,” said Aziraphale, kissing Crowley’s ear once more and taking extra care to brush the stubble of his newly growing beard against the sensitive skin of it (a style change inspired by Crowley’s historically shifting fashion sense, which Crowley wasn’t sure if he regretted or adored at the moment.) “Your laughter does always make me feel warm and happy. I know you don’t care for the sound of it, but I rather adore it.”
If Aziraphale wanted warmth, the sudden heat in Crowley’s face ought to have sufficed. “Angel,” he whined, the sound morphing into a squeal and then wild gay laughter as Aziraphale’s fingers scuttled up to tickle under Crowley’s arms.
“Come to think of it, Crowley darling, you must be quite cold, too. Yes, I didn’t appreciate being on the end of your little prank, but it must have taken you a bit of cleverness to set up and a bit of strength to deal with that cold, my lovely snake. And, seeing as tickling you gets you warm enough for both of us, I think that’s the best way for us to spend the remainder of our evening, don’t you?”
Crowley’s ecstatic squirming had all but tipped him off Aziraphale’s lap (it couldn’t be helped; he had the bad habit of forgetting he had bones when he laughed hard enough), and soon Aziraphale’s torturous hands were the only things keeping the demon from falling off the chair in a tangle of blankets. Giggling proudly, the angel had mercy, pausing his attack long enough to get Crowley comfortably lounging upon his lap once more. Gulping air and keeping his guard cautiously up, Crowley held onto the lapels of Aziraphale’s cardigan and tried to rub away the tingling beneath his arms while he could. “You’d discorporate me before the evening was over, mean as you are when you tickle,” Crowley said, sticking out a forked tongue as though that could negate the blissfully happy smile stuck to his face.
Aziraphale’s chuckle was a purr as he leaned in to kiss Crowley’s neck. “I could tease you all evening instead. We both know you’d get just as red.”
With a flustered grumble, Crowley tilted his head away from Aziraphale’s advances, able to pretend to be grumpy for maybe five seconds before Aziraphale dove back in to croon and kiss along his ear. “You’ll have to be gentle if you want to keep from getting an elbow to the face or a demon on the floor.” The angel raised his eyebrows, and Crowley smacked his arm, growing all the redder when Aziraphale laughed. “You know what I MEAN.”
“I do, darling. I do.” Aziraphale pulled Crowley close, warm and secure. “Ready then?”
Crowley nodded.
Slowly, sweetly, Aziraphale’s hands returned beneath Crowley’s sweater, tickling gently and with the occasional flurry or scribble of his nails just to make Crowley snort and squawk. Each time, without fail, Aziraphale pressed a kiss to Crowley’s cackling mouth. “You make much sweeter music than those carolers, anyway.”
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tearfallpixie · 5 months ago
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Trust and Love - Chapter 2: Savior
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Tags: @nerdraging4point0 @thesazzb @synthetic-wasp-570 @circle-with-me @beaker1636 @itsjustemily @witchyweeb34 @agravemisstake @cookiesupplier @cncohshit @faceless-mirror @nonamessblog @yournecessaryevil @black-damask1999
@lyschko666 @vinyardmauro @skulliecadaver-blog @some-daniela @latenightmusiclover @rye14-blog1
“You two looked adorable earlier.” Ricky murmured when I joined him later that day.
“What?” I asked, looking at him in shock. He pulled out his camera and I melted. The photo he had taken was cute with Vinny and I snuggled together. “I’m sorry. We just got to talking and once I told him what happened with my ex we just kind of drifted off.”
“Hey, no need to apologize baby girl. He’s my best friend so it makes me happy that you trust him. Especially enough to tell him that.” I leaned into his side and dropped my head on his shoulder. “You need all the support you can get so having someone you are as comfortable with as you are me is really good, especially while we are on tour with so many people in one tight space.”
That turned out to be a good thing later that day even. We decided to stop and go get some essentials we had forgotten at Walmart but by the time we finished apparently word had gotten out that we were there and there were hundreds of fans outside. Ricky grabbed my hand and pulled me through them but at some point, in the chaos his hand slipped from mine and I lost sight of him. I felt myself start panicking but hands grabbed my hips and a body pressed against my back.
“Hey, sorry for touching you but I got you.” Vinny whispered in my ear. I let out a cry of relief and spun to wrap my arms around his neck. “Do you trust me?” I nodded and felt myself being lifted off the ground and into his arms. “Excuse me guys. I really must get my friend to the bus.” It was as if the fans disappeared. All the noise stopped and all I could feel was the security of Vinny’s arms wrapped around me. I barely registered the clicking of the door or him stepping up into it before another familiar set of arms grabbed me.
“Baby, I’m so sorry.” Ricky murmured as I adjusted to cling to him. “The fans got ahold of me and pulled me away from you. Are you ok?”
“Yeah, I’m lucky Vinny was there.” I sniffled.
“I cannot thank you enough Vinny.” Ricky stood and wrapped the drummer in his arms.
“No problem. I know if she was my girl, you would do the same for me.” He shrugged padding over to where the other boys were watching us with worry.
“Maybe think I could test out one of those games you brought?” I asked in a futile attempt to change the subject. Chris perked up and nodded.
“We have Halo, we have Battlefield, there’s Destiny.” He said flicking mindlessly through his game book.
“I’ve played Halo before I think.” I mumbled. Ricky smirked, knowing what I had up my sleeve.
“Hell yeah. Its always one of my favorites.” Chris cheered popping it in. He handed me one of the controllers and took another one for himself.
“Ok, I feel like something weird is going on here. I have to get in on this.” Vinny said snatching up a controller.
“You’re both going to regret that.” Ricky coughed.
~
“What the fuck? You think you’ve played Halo before?” Chris cried. “You fucking team wiped us on your own!” I flopped back onto the couch cackling maniacally. Ricky was sitting over in the booth and grinning at his computer. “You knew too? You traitor.”
“I can’t betray my girlfriend.” Ricky snickered. I looked over to see Vinny dying of laughter next to me. I got up and grabbed a Gatorade out of the fridge and took my seat once more. Vinny sat up and leaned onto my shoulder and I was pleasantly surprised that I didn’t feel the need to recoil instantly. I looked over to see Ricky had noticed and was smiling at how we were sitting too. “Alright, move. It’s time for me to whoop him too.” Ricky picked me up and practically shoved me in Vinny’s lap who instantly wrapped his arms around me to keep me from falling.
“You ok?” He asked quietly as Chris and Ricky played the Xbox. I looked up at him and smiled.
“Yeah, I am. Thank you for earlier by the way. I don’t know if I properly thanked you for saving me.” He blushed and nodded.
“Of course. That was pretty intense out there.” I dropped my head onto his shoulder and continued to watch the boys with a happy sigh.
~~~~
“Love, you’re tossing and turning. Are you ok?” I rolled to face Ricky as tears streamed down my face. We had been on tour for two weeks and it just seemed like the crowds had just gotten more and more intense. “Oh, baby.” He pulled me into his arms and hugged me tightly.
“I can’t sleep, I keep remembering you getting pulled away from me. I just feel so overwhelmed, and I don’t know what to do.” I sobbed, clinging to his shirt.
“Do you trust me?”
“Of course I do!” I exclaimed. He pulled away and stood up, making me cry out.
“I’ll be right back.” He left our little room for a second and when he returned he had a sleepy Vinny in tow. Once Vinny saw the tears on my face he was by my side instantly.
“Hey, sunshine. No need for tears.” He murmured, wiping the wet streaks from my cheeks. He laid down next to me and pulled me into his arms, Ricky settling behind me and wrapping his arms around my waist and burying his head into the back of my neck.
“We got you baby girl. You’re ok.” He whispered. I felt my fear and panic melt away as I laid there in their arms. It was a few minutes before I felt calm enough to speak.
“Why did you grab Vinny?” I asked once I had collected myself.
“Because he was the one that saved you when I couldn’t. I figured that he would be comforting right now.” I rolled around and nuzzled under his chin.
“I love you.” I whispered into his chest. He had said those three words to me before, but he preferred to show his feelings vs saying them. I had not gathered up the courage to say them yet though so when I did, I felt his arms tighten around me and hold me impossibly closer.
“I love you too.” He murmured. I heard him take a deep breath and exhale slowly, so I knew he was holding back his emotions at that moment. I finally felt myself relax in between my boyfriend and the man who had become so unbelievably important to me in the two weeks I had known him and allowed myself to drift off.
“Is she asleep?” Vinny whispered after about an hour.
“Mhm.” Ricky hummed. He was drifting off himself.
“I can go if you want.” There was a hint of sadness in that statement letting Ricky know that Vinny did not actually want to leave.
“No. If she wakes up and you’re gone she’ll have a panic attack. She freaks out if she wakes up without her partners next to her.” Ricky mumbled. “Just stay the night.” Vinny settled back in and the three of them fell into the most comfortable sleep they had yet on this tour.
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cvlutos · 2 years ago
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MUNDANE!!
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♰ | Apr.17th.2023 | —K |
♰ | Epel Felmier | Gn!Reader
♰ | Romantic | Tooth-Rotting Fluff | Established Relationship | Epel really loves you | Marriage |
♰ | Synopsis: This is your life with him. It's utter bliss.
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His hands do so much for you...
Light-blue eyes focused solely on your face, dancing across your skin, drinking in your features, forgetting about the multiple papers scattered across the old wooden hand carved table, a old wedding gift passed down generation to generation. That now rests in your dining room with a wobbly leg that needs to be replaced, yet always brushed off until the table tilts and knocks over his morning apple tasted coffee. A old table covered in scratches and cuts, yet hidden beneath both you and his work.
His hands gently cup your face, thumbs slowly dragging along the fullness of your cheeks, dragging along your nose and lips that taste slightly sweet. Your heart beats fast in your chest as you smile. Watching his eyes practically light up at the subtle motion, he fights back a widening grin, yet his sun redden cheeks flush with subtle color.
No matter how many times you sit in front of him, facing each other as your knees touch, as you gently press your palms against the back of his hands. No matter how many evenings after a long day of picking apples and managing the numerous jobs that come with running an apple orchard. From fighting off pesky crows or nosy children hungry for ripe fruit. It's a mundane life. One of routine yet freedom.
You watch his lips curl upwards, his nose slowly rubbing against yours. Earning a soft laugh, as he promises the entirety of your and his lifetime to this. To this simplicity.
From busy hot days, to carrying heavy apple crates, that he demands he carries, or chatting with neighboring farmers, sharing their fresh vegetables for a delicious apple pie.
To simply ending the day by sitting on the porch and watching the sunset. With mugs of tea. Or coffee. Or of whatever it is you fancy, growing cold and forgotten as you sit in silence. Comfortable silence. While he holds your hand in his tight, silently promising that this and yet to come, would be alright, and that he'd be here for you. Always.
He do so much for you...
Holding his hands, your fingers grazing over his knuckles and you pull them from your face. Squeezing them tightly, before pressing your lips against his skin. His hands littered in the tiniest scars from working, from splinters to accident cutting himself with a knife cause of his impatient, that he simply laughed as you rinsed his hand under cool water. Hands that have changed from his school years, hands that he feels slight shame for. Hands that you love and kiss, that has him sucking in a breath.
"..."
His voice above a whisper as he stares at you with wide eyes. No matter how old he grows, he's never once lost his pretty features, his long lashes and pink lips. Light-blue eyes that never change, that's filled with such love and adoration. With admiration. And as you pull away, entwining his hands in yours and pressing them against your knees, your eyes lock onto Epel's.
I love you...
It's like a whisper of wind, one that makes you laugh as flurry of kisses graze your face. Laughing between each kiss, practically lunging onto you, forcing you further into the back of the dining chair, still clinging onto your hands. While a silver ring band, bumps against yours.
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ⓒ 2023 cvlutos — all rights reserved. Any sort of plagiarizing, copying, modifying, translating, editing of my works are strictly prohibited.
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cosmicjoke · 10 months ago
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Winter
Winters in the Underground are bleak.
It’s the drafts, Furlan knows, coming in through the holes in the caverns roof, the ice melt which sinks down through the sewer grates, and flurries of fat, freezing flakes of snow. There is no sun to melt it as it carries on the strange currents of wind which suck down like a vortex into the open space, blowing endlessly through the dark tunnels of their world.
Isabel hates it. Complains constantly about how cold it is, shivering and shaking as she tries in vain to warm herself by their pitiful firepit.
Levi bears it like he bears everything. In silence, grim faced and unreadable.
Though, sometimes, Furlan catches the tremble in his small hands.
This year is worse than usual.
There’s a famine up above, apparently. No rain during this last spring resulting in fields of dead crops.
It’s well hard enough getting food down here, even when things up top are thriving.
But people struggling for food on the surface meant people starving to death in the Underground.
It’s been hard for everyone, even the three of them, who usually did a descent enough job staying afloat, thanks, mainly, to Levi.
But these last, few weeks, they’ve had to take to scrounging through the gutters in hopes of finding some tossed out and molding piece of bread, or wilting, days old vegetables, just to get by.
There’s no food. The merchants from the surface willing to come here, few and far between as they are, have all packed up their stalls and left, and whoever’s left has nothing to sell at all, stands left bare and empty, their owners gone and out of sight.
Levi had managed to hit one of the fleeing merchants about a month back now and steal a sizable sack of dried goods from him, and they’d been living off that ever since. But, between the three of them, even with Levi skipping meals and leaving the bulk to Furlan and Isabel, much to their dismay and protests, they’d finally bled the haul dry, and now they had nothing.
Each new day was weighted with uncertainty, then, as to whether they would eat or not.
They all knew what starvation felt like. They’d all been through it.
That didn’t make bearing it any easier.
It didn’t make the pain, or the fear, go away.
And the cold was only making things so much worse.
It was fucking freezing, even holed up in their little space as they were, clinging to each other for what little warmth they could share. Levi has his arms around both of them, drawing them against his sides as they hunch with their heads together in front of their meager fire, and Furlan can feel Levi shaking just as violently as he and Isabel.
Through the thin material of Levi’s shirt, Furlan can feel his ribs and the ridges of his spine. He’s lost a lot of weight, from skipping so many meals these last weeks.
“… I’m gonna’ die, ain’t I?” Isabel’s voice breaks the pressing silence, dried and cracked and barely more than a whisper.
Furlan feels Levi stiffen.
“Don’t be talkin’ like that.” He scolds her, his own voice barely seeming stronger. “You ain’t gonna’ die.”
“… B-but I’m so hungry, B-Big Bro, and… and I’m cold. Oh, God…”
“I know. But ya ain’t gonna’ die, Izzy. I wouldn’t let that happen. Alright? You trust me, don’t ‘cha?”
“Y-yeah Big Bro. Yeah…”
Levi’s arms squeeze tighter around them, and the room goes silent again, but for the pops and crackles of the fire.
Furlan squeezes his eyes tight and bites the inside of his cheek ‘till he tastes blood.
He knows Levi means it. He means it when he says he isn’t gonna’ let them die. Knows Levi would give his last damned breath to keep both him and Isabel going. But… strong as Levi is, it doesn’t amount to much when there just isn’t any food to be had.
Shit… they might have to resort to trying to catch rats soon, if things don’t improve.
Furlan doesn’t think Levi would eat a rat. He doesn’t think Levi could bear it, twitchy as he is about disease and filth and the like.
Something to do with his mother, Furlan thinks, who Levi told him died from disease when he’d been a child. He hadn’t said more than that; Levi rarely spoke about himself at all. But Furlan can guess at the ugliness of the thing.
“… I’ll go out and look for somethin’ to eat. You two stay here.” Levi says after a while, and he starts to stand.
Furlan is slow to react, his energy sapped almost to nothing, and it takes too long for Levi’s words to process. By the time they do, Levi is already wrapping his cloak around his shoulders.
“Levi, wait…” he starts to protest, beginning to stand. “you can’t go out there now. It’s too cold. You’ll…”
“Stay here Furlan. You and Izzy keep holdin’ each other, try to stay warm. I’ll be back soon as I can.”
“Levi, please, you could die out there…”
Levi just shakes his head, starting for the door.
“I’ll be alright. I’m strong Furlan. You know that.”
“Y-yeah, but…”
“I’ll be fine. Stay with Izzy. Don’t leave. Don’t come after me neither. Alright? I’ll be back, soon as I can.”
Before Furlan can lodge any more protests, Levi is gone, the shabby wooden door creaking shut behind him, and Furlan feels what’s left of his energy drain outta him as he sinks back to the floor. Isabel throws her arms around him, burying her face against his shoulder.
“H-he’ll be alright, won’t he Furlan? Big Bro’s the strongest, s-so he’ll be alright. Yeah?”
Furlan puts his arm around her, laying his cheek to the crown of her head and holding her tight against his side.
“… Yeah.” He promises, and wishes he felt as confident as he forces himself to sound. “He’ll be alright.”
//
Levi doesn’t come back ‘till almost four hours have gone by. Isabel had fallen asleep, somehow, and Furlan had been grateful for it, because he’d been starting to grow sick with worry, more and more convinced with each second that past that something horrible had happened to Levi.
He didn’t know what they would do if something happened to Levi.
He didn’t know how they would survive.
But then Levi walks in through the door, carrying a heavy looking sack over his shoulder.
Furlan stands immediately from where he’s still sat by the dwindling fire, stumbling forward a step, before coming to a halt partway, eyes wide.
Levi’s got blood on his face, a thick smear of it coated across his brow, over his eyes, running from what Furlan can see is a large gash, just a little above his left temple. Gaze dropping to his hands, and Furlan sees Levi’s cut up and already swelling knuckles.
He’s been in a fight, then. A bad one, from the looks of it.
Furlan can’t help the words which spring unbidden to his tongue, a tight, sick knot in his gut.
“What happened?”
Levi looks dolefully back at him, silent.
It wasn’t that Furlan was surprised.
Levi was rough stock. He came from some kind of hardship extreme even from down in this place, and for a long time, violence was his only friend. The only thing he could depend on to make it from day to day. Furlan knows that. He knows. Even though Levi rarely spoke about his life before he met him, or Isabel. You could hardly miss the scars littering the kid’s hands, or all over his body. Knife fights, long, gnarled ropes of raised, white skin, some clean and straight, some jagged and twisted, like whoever’d done the cutting meant to make it ugly as possible. There were starburst shaped patterns of raw, too smooth skin on his chest, parallel in place on his back, and Furlan knew those to be entry and exit wounds from bullets.
Yeah, Levi was rough stock, and he’d made his way before mostly through fighting.
That was the thing down here, in this place. Predators picked off the weakest looking prey, and Levi was small. Just a tiny kid. The top of his head barely reached to Furlan’s chin. Hell, Furlan knows, when he’d first seen Levi, he’d thought like everyone else. Short, scrawny looking kid, should be an easy mark, even though, by then, there’d started to be talk of a scrappy little midget who could take down men twice, three times his size, even. And like everyone else, Furlan had wanted to see if the rumors were true.
Well… Levi was rough stock. He was fucking terrifying. Stronger than any man Furlan had ever seen. He’d felt it, one time. How strong Levi really was. One time, when a guy from a rival gang had come charging at Furlan, ready to sink his knife into his back, and Levi had caught Furlan by the arm and jerked him outta the way before it could happen. In his panic, Levi’d grabbed him hard, harder than he’d meant to, Furlan knows, and the power in his hands, in his grip, had stolen the breath right outta his lungs. He could break bones with his bare hands. Furlan knew it then sure as he knows his own name. And then that’s what he did. He took hold of the man who’d tried to put a knife in Furlan’s back, and he’s crushed his hand. Mangled it, ‘till he couldn’t hold a knife, or any other kind of weapon, ever again.
You didn’t fuck with Levi.
That’s what kept Furlan and Isabel safe. Because everyone knew. You try anything with them, and it was Levi you’d bring down on your own head. And you didn’t fuck with Levi.
Unless you were the MP’s. They fucked with Levi all the time, ‘cause they fucked with everyone, down here, and ‘cause they knew Levi wasn’t fool enough to kill no government workers. That’d draw attention. That’d get people from up above involved. And Levi was always telling him and Isabel, it was best not to get people from up above involved, ‘cause they had money, and money gave ‘em power, and they could take everything from them. Levi was always saying. They could take everything.
Furlan’s eyes catch on the sack over Levi’s shoulder. It’s one of those stitched potato sacks, starched white, and printed out in bold, black letters across the front, are the words “Government Property”.
Well, shit…
“Levi… what happened?” Furlan asks again.
Levi slides the sack down, lying it gentle onto the floor.
He doesn’t say anything as he kneels down on one knee, starts undoing the tie round the bags end.
“Levi… did you kill military police?” And even as the words leave him, Furlan feels a dizzying horror in his head, threatening to black out his vision. If Levi killed police, then…
“… I didn’t kill ‘em. Just roughed a couple up. They ain’t dead. Just socked ‘em, some.”
“Levi…”
“They did me first. I… I tried talkin’ to ‘em Furlan. You know how I ain’t good with no words. But I tried talkin’. I told ‘em I could do stuff for ‘em, if they was willin’ to spare some ‘a their food. They got… all this food, Furlan. More ‘an they need. It ain’t fair. It ain’t right, down here, what you got people starvin’ to death, droppin’ dead in the streets from starvin’, and cold. I told ‘em Fur… I said…”
“Levi, alright. It’s alright.” Furlan says, keeping his voice even and level.
Levi got like this, sometimes. He got emotional, like this. He kept himself so even keeled most of the time. Was most of the time so reserved. He only got worked up like this when he was real upset about something.
Levi sniffs, wipes the back of his hand against his nose, and keeps working at the bags tie. He gets it open after a minute, and starts pulling what Furlan can see are dried goods, mostly. Crackers, standard military rations, some cans of beans. Stuff like that.
Levi’s hands are shaking.
“… What did you tell ‘em you could do for them, Levi?” Furlan asks, even though he doesn’t want to.
Again, Levi says nothing, just keeps pulling the goods from the bag.
There’s a lot.
Enough to last ‘em several weeks, Furlan thinks.
Their lives are saved.
“Levi, you didn’t…”
“I said, ‘cause, like… you know.” Levi cuts him off. “I said I could do ‘em some jobs. If they needed anything, like… like, I could steal stuff for ‘em, or what. You know how good I am at that stuff Furlan. You know, ‘cause I’m small. I can sneak into any place. You know it, right?”
Furlan nods.
“Sure do, Levi.”
“Well, but then they got to laughin’ at me. And one of ‘em says, he says, what I could do for him is suck his dick, ‘cause I’m… ‘cause he says, I’m the perfect height for it. And they were laughin’ at me Furlan. And I got mad. So I beat ‘em up, and took a bag. They got dozens ‘a bags, Furlan. They won’t miss just the one.”
“… Okay.”
“They were laughin’ at me Furlan. They… they used to laugh at Mama like that. I remember. They used to laugh at her just like that. I got mad.”
“Okay.” Furlan feels his heart sink.
“But I didn’t kill ‘em. I just socked ‘em good.”
“… What happened to your head?” Furlan tries, and Levi blinks at him.
Furlan points to his own head, near his temple, and he sees understanding come into Levi’s eyes.
“… Yeah. I socked the one who said about my height, and the other one came in and hit me with his billy. Caught me good too. I almost went down.”
“God, Levi…”
Levi shakes his head.
“But I kept my feet. Kenny says to me, you gotta’ keep your feet, no matter. No matter what they hit you with. So I kept my feet, and I socked him too. I just knocked ‘em cold Furlan. I didn’t kill ‘em, so you don’t gotta’ worry none about that. Don’t worry none. Only, maybe we’ll have to move soon, in case anyone comes sniffin’ around. Them MP’s don’t like to be stolen from. You ask me, they’re the ones stealin’. There’s people starvin’ to death in the street, Furlan. There’s little babies dead out there in the cold.”
“I know, Levi.”
Levi looks at him, and his eyes are, for a moment, so damned hurt, that Furlan has to look away.
Fuck…
“Well, I gives some ‘a what I stole to some poor lady, ‘cause she had a baby, Furlan. I lied, before. I’m sorry. I took more than one bag. I… I took a couple. And I gives one to some poor lady. Don’t be mad, Fur. We gotta’ eat. You know that. We gotta’ eat.”
“I ain’t mad Levi. God, I ain’t mad at ya.”
And he isn’t. He can’t be.
Fuck, Levi just had too much feeling in his heart, and Furlan couldn’t ever be mad at him for that.
It got sometimes so he could hardly stand to look though, for all the hurt Levi had in him. All the hurt he had for everyone else.
People didn’t know, ‘cause Levi was rough stock, and he grew up learning to keep it all in, pressed down so nobody could use it against him. He kept it all in, usually. But when he got like this, there it was, plain as anything, all that feeling and hurt he carried around inside him for everyone else, and sometimes Furlan could hardly stand to look.
He couldn’t imagine what that felt like, to be carrying around all that hurt, keeping it all inside like that.
“… Yeah? Well, alright then.” Levi says and starts up emptying the sack again.
“Say, Levi, that can wait ‘till later. I should clean up that gash you got on your temple. Okay? Fix up your hands too.”
Levi keeps unpacking the canned goods for a moment, before he stops, rubbing at his nose again.
“… Okay.” He finally agrees, and Furlan feels an almost dizzying relief.
He has Levi sit down along the bench in what they’ve designated the living area of their small hovel, and tells him he’ll be right back, going to fetch a bowl of water and some clean rags.
They’d filled a couple wooden buckets with water a few days ago, when the ice stopping up the well a little ways from their place had final broken enough apart, but they were gonna’ have to get more soon. Assuming the well hadn’t frozen over again. It probably had. Furlan tries not to think about it. Getting drinkable water down here was almost as hard as getting food, now.
He sees Levi’s removed his cloak, finally, as he makes his way back towards him, and he’s got his arms crossed against his chest, his hands stuck in the pits of his arms. He’s shivering, and Furlan knows he must be freezing, though Levi won’t ever complain about it.
Furlan knows better than to make a fuss about it either. Levi never liked anybody fussing over him.
Instead, Furlan just takes a seat across from him and sets to work, cleaning his wounds.
The gash along his temple is pretty bad. Might even need stitches, Furlan thinks, frowning to himself. He tells Levi as much, and Levi huffs, but doesn’t otherwise protest as Furlan gets up to set the bowl of water to boiling over the fire and fetch a needle to sterilize. He needs to add some kindling to the fire to make it hot enough, and Isabel tosses and turns in her sleep, mumbling incoherently to herself, dreaming.
“She alright?” Levi asks as Furlan comes back.
Furlan shrugs.
“Sure. Good as she can be, I suppose. She’ll be happy to see you’ve got us food.”
“… Yeah.” Levi says, and goes quiet again.
Furlan doesn’t say much as he sets to cleaning and stitching Levi’s wound, good as he can, and Levi doesn’t complain, sitting stiff and still, mouth pulled tight at the corners.
“Hands.” Furlan orders after, and Levi dutifully holds them out for him.
There’s scar tissue all over Levi’s knuckles, the skin split and bleeding now. It must hurt, but Levi gives no indication of it as Furlan works, trying to be gentle as he can.
“Alright.” Furlan says when he finishes, letting Levi’s hands go.
“Thanks, Fur.”
Furlan smiles tightly back.
“No problem.”
Furlan packs the materials away, leaving the used rags in the bowl of water to soak for a bit. He’ll have to clean them later, or Levi will get upset.
Levi busies himself by storing away the food items he’d nabbed, and there’s a heavy, comfortable silence which falls over the place.
Furlan wants to ask Levi if he really thinks they’ll have to move again soon, but he knows Levi will let him and Isabel know if they do. If he’s anything, he’s cautious, and keeps his eyes open and ear to the ground. He’ll know if their spot’s been compromised.
Furlan rummages around in their pile of wood bits they’ve been collecting for kindling, throwing a few more pieces on the fire, stocking it and building the flames back up.
“Levi, you should rest.” He calls to the smaller man after a while, watching Levi move restlessly about the space. He’s got his duster out, aimlessly waving it at different surfaces. Even from half the room away, his face looks gaunt, pale and too thin. The circles under his eyes are like dark bruises. He must be exhausted.
Levi stops, but he doesn’t turn to face Furlan, just stands there, staring at the ground.
“Come on, Levi. You can lay by the fire, try to warm up a little. You need rest.”
“… Okay.” Levi at last relents, placing the duster down and making his way to where Furlan and Isabel are lying together. Furlan scoots some to the side and holds his arm out, inviting, as Levi settles down, nestling against him.
They’re quiet for a while, and Furlan stares absently at the ceiling above them as Levi turns, pressing his face against his shoulder.
There’s a thousand and one things Furlan thinks he wants to say to Levi. He wants to beg him to stop doing this. Going out and putting himself in so much danger like that. He wants to thank Levi for it, for taking care of him and Isabel, even at the expense of himself. Wants to find a way to show Levi how much he appreciates it, how grateful he is. Wants to understand why it is Levi seems to care so little about himself in turn. Why he… treats himself like a tool to be used, instead of a person who matters.
Maybe it’s his fault, Furlan thinks dismally. Maybe, because when he first met Levi, that’s all Furlan saw him as too. A tool. Somebody he wanted, so he could use him to move up in the Underground gangs. Somebody who’s strength he coveted.
He was still using Levi for that, in a way. Even though Levi was their de facto leader, he let Furlan make all the plans, let Furlan, ultimately, call all the shots. He didn’t have to. If Levi wanted, he could rule their gang with an iron fist, and there wasn’t anything Furlan, or anybody else, could do about it. But Levi only ever leant his strength to make Furlan’s plans reality, only ever did all the hard stuff, the dangerous stuff, and Furlan let him.
He thinks he shouldn’t.
But he does, and he knows it’s because it’s comfortable for him, this way. Because he’s too selfish to try and change their setup. Because his plans, he knows, wouldn’t even be possible if he didn’t have Levi backing him up.
So he says nothing now, just curls his arms tighter round Levi and Isabel both, lets the silence settle over them as the night deepens outside.
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lcdy-decth · 23 days ago
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Even Death has a heart & it keeps on breaking
Agatha Harkness / Rio Vidal Smutty angst? NSFW (no fr it has a bit of sexual content), top!Rio, bottom!Agatha
Death was found in many religions and mythologies. It was feared by most, revered by others, but no matter what it was the one certain event that no one could avoid. And despite how many tried to cheat it, sooner or later, Death came to all as it was the natural order of all things.
Agatha Harkness, however, was a disruption to said order. For, you see a long time ago Lady Death had fallen irrevocably in love with the purple witch.
She was Rio's sole exception, the only one who'd managed to make Rio bend or entirely break the rules.
Special treatment. That’s what Rio had believed it to be, yet the hatred and anguish blazing in those defiant blue eyes as she demanded for Rio to stop pursuing her finally made the immortal realize just how selfish she’d been when it came to Agatha.
First rule she broke had been to allow herself to fall in love with the witch. Death should never let itself to experience humanity; a cosmic being could not afford such weaknesses. Yet Rio truly was weak for Agatha. And it was a lapse that yielded to the creation of life “from scratch”. Yet another rule broken...
“Rio,” the witch whimpered in that sweet tone that dripped with need for Death’s touch. A touch others spent a lifetime dreading, there her witch was, desirous for it. The cry she let out could not be denied any longer as Rio finally entered Agatha with two fingers. A low, guttural moan clawing from the depths of Rio’s throat when her digits were welcomed by tight, wet heat.
“Mi amor,” the reaper of souls groaned approvingly at the feeling of Agatha’s walls stretching eagerly around her digits. Her hips rising to meet Rio’s thrusts as the witch’s nails clawed into her bare back.
Rio could only hiss her pleasure at the delectable pain Agatha inflicted while she worked her fingers inside her; pumping in and out. So good. So damned good. The feeling of having Agatha writhing underneath her, spread for Death and greedily taking her fingers while moaning sweetly for Rio. Begging for something forbidden.
“Please, my love.” Agatha moaned, soft and desperate, full of need and yearning. “Give in to me…” she pleaded, as if Death was not excessively indulgent to her every whim. “Make it so.”
Were it anyone else begging, Rio would have no qualms denying their pleas. But not Agatha. Rio was too far gone, completely lost in the way the witch’s body reacted to her —lost in the feeling of Agatha’s bare skin against hers, the way she breathlessly responded to Rio’s claiming, sensual kiss. How she gripped her shoulders and arched to meet Rio’s every thrust as she moaned for more. Honestly, how could Rio do anything other than comply.
There was something raw and primal in the way Rio stared at her lover once she broke the kiss and her long fingers pumped in and out of Agatha. The heel of her hand pressing against her clit as Rio’s thrusts picked up speed, making Agatha cling to Death itself to steady herself and meet the relentless pace with which she was being deliciously stretched and filled.
The rhythm set by Rio had them both moaning, and Agatha’s cries of ecstasy filled the cottage, resonating off its wooden walls while Rio claimed her sweet witch, indulging her insatiable appetite for Agatha as she plunged deeply and wildly into her.
The air around them grew thick with static charge. The ground beneath humming as the flames in the lit fireplace danced to the tune of a powerful energy that radiated off the two beings engaged in the throes of passion while the bed frame creaked under the punishing motions as their bodies moved in unison.
Agatha’s pliant body trembled with pleasure, and Rio’s tempo didn’t falter as inner walls clenched around penetrating digits, hungrily consuming the green force that began pulsing from Death’s fingers.
“That’s it, love.” Rio encouraged, her breath icy against the siphoning witch’s heated ear. “Take it all, every last drop.” The command was sealed with a hard kiss as Rio hungrily forced her tongue into a more than receptive mouth, taking away Agatha’s control, though the witch seemed to happy to relinquish it, falling further into submission as she was kissed ardently and fucked thoroughly.
...Rio had meant it when she had promised forever all those years ago. And she’d believed that Agatha had too. It was why she never stopped looking for the witch even after Agatha claimed to hate Rio and hid behind all that dark magic.
But here, in this fabrication of the Witches’ road conjured up by a child’s imagination, Death was able to finally understand that Agatha didn’t want her. Not anymore.
While Rio’s black heart beat only for the witch, Agatha’s harbored hate and resentment for her, eclipsing whatever tenderness she might have once felt for Rio.
And it was finally clear to see… for centuries Rio had foolishly believed she was giving Agatha preferential treatment when in reality she’d only been taking from the mortal.
Agatha possessed the unique abilito to make Rio feel vulnerable in a way nothing else ever could, and it twisted her love into something possessive, toxic and petty. And in her desperate attempts to retain Agatha and the love they once shared, Rio had been inflicting unimaginable pain on the witch.
Perhaps that was the reason as to why Death was never meant to fall in love in the first place...
And there the object of Rio’s affections stood, bargaining with Death itself to be let go. The stipulation to the proposed deal was expressed in a somber tone of voice that showed how -even after all these years- Agatha remained grief-stricken, showed that the scars of her sorrow and heartbreak were still fresh. But above all else, it brought into focus just how much the witch desired to be rid of Rio’s presence in her life.
Rio’s tolerance to Agatha’s disdain had grown over time, and at that point she believed herself numb to the feeling of having the woman she loved display mostly bitterness and hostility towards her. Yet, when hearing Agatha’s demand, a fresh pain stabbed at Rio’s chest; like a knife sinking into her flesh and piercing an already fractured heart.
The mortal's words took all the fight right out of Rio, who for over three-hundred years had been waging a losing battle.
It was high time for her to admit defeat.
The witch had warned her, after all— she would hate Rio forever. And at long last, her vision was crystal clear; Death needed to let Agatha go.
“Okay,” her tone was vulnerable and utterly subdued as she agreed to the witch’s terms before she schooled her features behind a hardened mask, then took her leave.
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novemberhope · 8 months ago
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Neri (One Piece OC)
the basics:
name: Kaiyo Neri Sirena age: 18 years old zodiac sign: aquarius one good trait: fiercely loyal to her "family" (aka the crew) one bad trait: sometimes rather insecure
habits:
one bad habit: there's so much to discover in the human world that sometimes, she forgets to be careful. one good habit: always willing to help. one habit they can’t break: going barefoot. She hates wearing shoes. If she must, it's flipflops. If she has to wear any other kind of shoes, she will try to get rid of them sooner than later. one they’ve broken: picking up everything that looks pretty. The ocean floor might be fair game but in the human world, most pretty shiny things belong to people. what they’re afraid of: after having lost her entire family she desperately clings to the new one she found in the strawhats. she's absolutely afraid of losing them too one day.
family:
their family:a mermaid clan living in the East Blue, which consisted of several families, including Neri's parents and her many sisters favorite childhood memory: swimming in the ocean with her sisters, her mother singing to her favorite childhood toy: oh, all that stuff her older siblings brought home from capsized ships... the first ever actual toy was from a sunken ship too, it was a human-looking doll and Neri carried it everywhere until her sisters broke it during a fight embarrassing story: the siblings were forbidden to go on land but one day Neri and one of her sisters did so anyway. Fortunately they didn't get very far because they had no idea how to walk on legs and were trying to crawl across the beach favorite family member: her mama a story about that family member: Neri got her beautiful singing voice from her mother. All of her siblings could sing but Neri was the only one who could match her mother's voice.
what they prefer:
coffee or tea?: tea. showering in the day or night?: both are fine taking baths or taking showers?: baths writing or reading?: she can't do either yet but she's learning platonic or romantic love?: both iced tea or lemonade?: iced tea ice cream or smoothies?: ice cream cupcakes or cake?: cupcakes beach or mountains?: beach
favorites:
outfit: dresses and skirts that allow a lot of movements, same for her top - she didn't wear clothes as a mermaid and still finds them rather restricting but she's fine wearing things that are not too tight as long as she does not have to wear shoes. place: either in the ocean or on the Sunny, looking down at the ocean below memory: that one moment - finally feeling accepted into the Strawhat crew and seeing them as her family, knowing that they know her secret and would protect her no matter what. person: Zoro because he makes her feel safe
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catchyhuh · 1 year ago
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sorry if this has already been asked ; but who is more like to have dreams over nightmares [ & vice versa ], are there any reoccuring ones?
i mentioned it a teeeeny tiny bit in my sleep hcs post (i should probably make a table of contents huh. or masterpoMASTERPOST THAT'S WHAT IT'S CALLED. FORGOT THE WORD) but i think it warrants really getting into because dreams as a thing that your brain just Does are so interesting to me! so let’s dive a lil deeper
slight tw for suicide and vague allusions to trauma in general
lupin:
despite being the most animated in his waking AND sleeping hours, lupin. doesn’t really remember his dreams too well. everybody dreams, in fact, i think you have 4-6 dreams a night on average, but when you can’t remember them, it doesn’t mean shit!!
on the rare occasion he DOES remember it, it’s usually just his brain repeating a past event that’s happened to him already, like, in REAL life. unfortunately, it’s usually the mundane parts, which is odd for someone who’s life is so… decidedly unmundane. maybe his subconscious is trying to tell him to chill the fuck out for 10 minutes and just go hang at an aldi’s or some shit
absolutely one of those people that knows, at face value, obviously sleeping with a book under your pillow DOESN’T magically make you absorb all the knowledge. but it’s funny to pretend. especially when the book inevitably slips from under his pillow and hits the ground with a loud THWACK, to which you can hear the others from their respective beds going “For Fuck’s Sake, Lupin”
jigen:
remembers them better than lupin, but again, doesn’t recall his dreams easily. and if he has a particularly unpleasant one just barely clinging to his mind, he forces it out before he’s even gotten out from under the covers. 
has a lot of dreams where he’s lost things. his hat and gun are most common, of course, but sometimes it’ll be something like a phone lupin’s instructed him to keep track of because it has some valuable pictures on it, or a little mirror pouch with something in it he’s not allowed to look at, so when he loses it he doesn’t even know how to DESCRIBE what he’s looking for, things like that. he’s had the same dream of goemon trusting him to hold onto zantetsuken and him losing it a handful of times too. probably doesn’t mean anything :) 
you can tell when he’s dreaming because the usually dead silent jigen will shift a bit. not noticeably, in fact, if you didn’t KNOW he usually barely moves, you wouldn’t think anything of it, but his muscles are so instinctively reflexive that even if it’s just a dream, his shoulders will tense like he’s trying to dodge away from something
fujiko:
oh baby. miss thing has SO many nightmares. i mentioned it a lil bit in the above post, but really, it doesn’t bother her as… much as it should? usually it’s the type of abstract, strange nightmare, where nothing bad is ACTUALLY happening, but for some reason, you have this horrific tight feeling in your gut throughout, like you KNOW something bad is ABOUT to happen, like it’s just on the other side of the door you’re standing in front of
however, on the plus side, fujiko IS the type to be able to remember about 2 dreams a night, and the chances of them BOTH being nightmares EVERY night is pretty damn low. her other dreams are a mix of memories and wishful thinking. in contrast to the nightmares, these are always so nice. not even necessarily luxurious (though it would be silly to pretend she doesn’t have those too lmao.) but just. her bundled up in the world’s comfiest couch, being given her favorite tea. but she doesn’t talk about THOSE dreams. she talks about the FANCY ones. she wakes up frowning because the gold diamond-encrusted cuff from her dream isn’t ACTIVELY on her person, and tells lupin “it must be fate. get me that shit plz” because it’s not lovely ENOUGH that she’s busting her OWN ass for it, but if he happens to find it, yay!!
very adamant that dreams aren’t symbolic or anything. which is. hilarious, given the fact she’s used the “but i dreamed about it! that must mean you should steal it for me” excuse numerous times. it’s not that she’s a buzzkill, and we know that, it’s just that she insists they don’t mean shit. it’s just your brain processing information from the day, all in rapid succession. which… true. but if you’re having this many dreams where your brain is trying to make your heart stop from fear that probably means something just in a real, actual real-life sense!
goemon:
goemon has a few recurring dreams, and they all bother him. but of course, he won’t tell anyone! nobody talks about their goddamn feelings in this house. the most common, although the one with the most variations, is him dying in front of people. sometimes it’s just one of them, sometimes two, sometimes its even a crowd of strangers. sometimes he’s been shot, or stabbed, or sometimes it’s by his own hand. every time, he falls to his knees in pain, and looks up, and sees watery eyes staring back at him. it’s a slow, agonizing death, even though he doesn’t feel any pain from it at any point. he wakes up, his face pale as a ghost, and… goes outside to have breakfast. that’s it. he hasn’t told any of them about it. for some reason he can’t place, it makes him feel guilty.
remembers his dreams in precise detail, which is lowkey a bit annoying, since he’d rather have more important stuff on his mind. all this psychological trauma is annoyinggg he was supposed to pick up three things from the grocery store today but all he can remember is carrots and frosted mini-wheats because of his stupid murder careeeeeer,
wishes he knew how to lucid dream, but in a passive sense. maybe one year if he gets bored and tired enough he’ll commit to it, just for funsies. i mean, to hone his skills.
zenigata:
very, VERY vivid dreams, nightmares and good ones alike. he doesn’t have as many nightmares as you might expect, because yeah, there’s multiple factors making him unhappy, but… ultimately, his brain is doing just fine processing that while he’s screaming outside of a cop car window, so there’s no need to file through all THAT again at the end of the day! so instead, here’s a dream about that cat that lived near your apartment three years ago. sleep tight pops.
talks in his sleep when he’s having a real crazy one. none of it is really decipherable, like if you were sitting on the other end of the room when he was passed out on the couch, you might baaarely be able to make out one or two guesses, but it’s mostly words running together. except when you’ve made your peace and started tuning him out then he’ll shout something very suddenly and very forcefully AND HE WON’T EVEN WAKE UP FROM IT
TELLS people the same as fujiko: dreams are just a brain thing, not anything meaningful, but sometimes, if he’s woken up early after a real crazy dream involving jail bars and handcuffs and throwing away the key, he sits there and stares at the ceiling, thinking to himself about why his brain sees him locked up in a cage. that… that doesn’t MEAN anything, that’s just his brain doing a little what-if scenario. right? his subconscious can’t be trying to spell out for him that he’s his own undoing-- OOPS THERE’S THE ALARM CLOCK GOTTA GET UP N SHAVE
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thxrnking · 2 years ago
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Imperfect - Chapter 6: Recruit
Content warning: None that I can think of
[Imperfect Masterlist]
Author’s Notes: Jack is older 18, Wanderlust is 19. - Thank you for your patience with this chapter, I had somewhat of a burnout.
----
Wanderlust is by no means arrogant but he’s not exactly what you might call humble.  Since he was a child he’s never doubted his ability to do something until he’s tried and failed. A commendable quality but it does make him somewhat reckless. Prone to do things without thinking about the potential consequences. Something like say, reaching beyond the Danceverse into the Human world and pulling someone through.
The Danceverse is home to a great number of people, and even the most powerful of them would never even think of trying something so catastrophically dangerous. Anything could happen, anything could come through, but ‘you can’t’ is just not something that Wanderlust really takes as an answer.
Besides, Sara’s great. She’s curious, energetic, and expressive. In her world she looked dull and bored but in here she’s so vibrant. If he didn’t know better, Wander wouldn’t be able to guess she wasn’t a citizen of the Danceverse. She fits right in.
No one else notices either, easily accepting her presence as he shows her around. No one questions who she is, or why she’s there, just letting her in and sharing their ways and cultures as they would with anyone else. For hours, Sara and Wander jump between countless areas, laughing, and Dancing, and just having fun. If only things hadn’t gone so very, very wrong.
They’re stood in a vast desert, orange rock stretching as far as their eyes can see, while a vast golden orb slowly sinks below the horizon in the distance. Wanderlust, Sara, and four friends they brought with them are lost in the moment, jumping, Dancing, spinning, just wholly enjoying themselves. None of them see the darkness in the distance.
It rushes across the golden landscape towards them, weaving back and forth, bee-lining towards them. As it reaches them, the shadows weave between their feet, wrapping around their ankles before suddenly gripping tight, stopping all of them in their tracks.
Sara screams, but Wander doesn’t hesitate, reaching a hand for her. When she takes it, he pulls hard, pulling her towards him as he throws a translucent blue shield around them both. The darkness inside the shield soon dissipates but the others are too far away. The shadows climb their legs, circling around them, reaching their chests and growing until finally it consumes them. Just like that, they’re gone.
It’s only now Wander sees her, a gigantic, horrifying figure looming over the horizon. Tens of feet too tall to be real, most likely an illusion to strike fear.
The Night Swan.
Sara clings tightly to him, and Wanderlust squeezes her hand. They can’t stay here. Just the two of them, they wouldn’t stand a chance. She’s caught them off guard and very likely hasn’t come alone. To have any hope of saving those people she just kidnapped, they’ll need help.
Wander drops his shield, tearing open a portal and rushing towards it, pulling Sara through with him. Her feet stumble slightly but she doesn’t let go, holding tight as the dusty ground beneath their feet changes to concrete.
Discoball zips through the portal after them, flying around the pair of them excitedly. The Prince seals the portal before turning to his silver companion, beckoning it towards him.
“Find him.” The Prince tells Discoball who nods before whizzing away.
Night Swan is not usually so brash. She tends to favour subtlety and distraction, taking advantage of other situations so her work goes as unnoticed as possible. Kidnapping so many people at once with such an elaborate illusion, in front of the Traveler’s son no less, means she doesn’t care who notices. Which makes her dangerous, especially to those closest to her.
The portal’s brought them exactly where Wander needed it to; Luz Solar Retail Therapy. A bustling hive of energy, bursting with artists, Dancers, shoppers, and families. While some of the outlets are empty and boarded up, every wall is awash with glorious graffiti; elaborate designs that build and build, turning the building itself into a work of art.
The main foyer is a large space, usually rented out to some pop-up shop or other but not today. Instead, in its place there’s a large group of people Dancing. Moving, hopping, jumping, almost as one to the music playing from a surprisingly small boom box. In the centre of it all is exactly who they’re here to see.
Brezziana. Orange and yellow cropped top with a soft pink heart in the middle, orange shorts, pink leg warmers, blue socks, a teal jacket, and brightly coloured shoes; her frizzy dark purple hair is pulled back into two large buns.
There’s something infectious in her upbeat nature. As she bounces back and forth, she’s constantly reaching out to everyone else, helping them up, raising their spirits. Bystanders can’t help but join the Dance as she beckons them in.
Sara’s hand is still in Wander’s, staring around in awe as the song comes to an end. Everyone is laughing, smiling, several people share high-fives before slowly collecting their items and starting to continue on their way. As Brezziana stands up from retrieving her coat, she spots them waiting and makes her way towards them.
It doesn’t take much to get her on side, not that Wanderlust expected it would. In truth, all he needs to say is ‘we need help’ and she’s already on board.
Three is better than two, but even so, four is better than three and Wander knows someone else they need to find.
Another portal brings them where they need to go. From bustling, noisy concrete halls, the trio step through into a luscious grassy outdoor area.
The sky above them is a gorgeous unending pool of blue, while the air is cool and fresh, no doubt due in part to the nearby roaring waterfall. A firm breeze blows around them, cooling but not cold.  It may be noisy, but it’s a far cry from the mall, an expansive space of peace and tranquillity.
Mihaly is not too far away. They’re wearing a red shirt with a panda pawprint symbol on it, a large jacket with blue waves, ripped jeans, yellow circular glasses with blue lenses, and their hair is long, straight, and hot pink. They wave when they see Wander, though their smile falters as they see he isn’t alone.
As Wander explains, Mihaly seems hesitant, though the Prince isn’t discouraged. As a student of Master Panda, Mihaly is well known for their level-headed rational nature. While they do their best to avoid unnecessary fights, they understand better than most that sometimes fights are unavoidable.
The Night Swan needs to be stopped, and if the group intends to make a stand, Mihaly is with them.
“Wander!” Sara cries out, pointing up.
In the sky, something’s hurtling towards them, glinting silver in the sunshine as it gets closer and closer. Wander holds up his hands, bracing himself ready to catch as Discoball collides with him with force. Even braced, the impact pushes him across the floor a few feet.
Discoball is distressed, frowning and beeping frantically.
“Show me.” Wander tells it.
The distress disappears as Discoball plays a video on its surface.
A young man in red, with a golden feather brooch at his throat and a bright pink feather boa over his shoulder, stands behind a vast black and twisted throne. His gloved hands are gripped tight around a black cane with a golden microphone on the top. His red hair is well groomed, swept away from the face. There’s no bruises, no injuries but his eyes...
Jack’s watching something they can’t see, his eyes flitting very gently back and forth, but his brown eyes that Wander knows hold such light and life are empty. There’s no fear in them, but there’s no fight. They’re hollow.
She’s done something. Wander doesn’t know what, or when, but that is not the Jack Rose he left behind. He’s seen enough.
Wanderlust gently tosses Discoball into the air where it drops the video and floats, hovering worriedly over the Prince.
“We have one more stop to make.”
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