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midnightelite · 5 years ago

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A Witch’s Guide to Pillow Forts: The Barrette Method

Me and @solstilla co-wrote a cute little one-shot for you guys!

He can battle Slytherins, he can face Death Eaters, he can even look Voldemort in the eye and defy him. But he can not stand thunderstorms. Fluff fic!

You can read it on AO3 or FFN

The rain was pounding on the roof of James and Lily’s brand new apartment-their first apartment they’d ever owned together. Hopefully, it would be one of many. Lily lay surrounded by cool air and the smell of James and Sirius’s apartment as it still lingered on the furniture. It was familiar and comforting; the perfect combination filled her heart with the feeling of home, slowly lulling her to the brink of sleep. Between moving out of her parents’ home, helping Sirius and James pack up their old apartment, and unloading boxes from the rental van her father had gotten her, Lily was absolutely knackered.

She vaguely heard the front door open and close, and the sound pulled her back to reality. James had just returned from Sirius’s new flat! Her face lit up as James entered the room, scrambling up from her spot on the sofa and bounding into his arms. Lily smiled up into his eyes, going on her toes to press her lips to his. James ducked before their lips met, a small smirk gracing his features before he pulled her into a tight hug.

“You were gone entirely too long. I missed you,” she whispered, burying her face into his shoulder. “You owe me James time tonight. Do you hear me?“ Lily tilted her head back to look up at him, her nose bumping his with how close they were.

“Oh isn’t someone getting overly attached now that we live together? If you’re lucky, you’ll get some James time.” He pressed a kiss to her nose and pulled back, starting to walk away.

“James!” she squealed, taking hold of his hand so he wouldn’t go too far. “You missed!” Lily tugged him closer with their conjoined hands, batting her lashes up at the dark-haired boy.

“Actually, I’m pretty sure I hit my mark.” He winked before turning and leaving the room.

She watched him leave, her lips parting in surprise. What was he up to? James had never rejected a kiss from her, and while she could tell he wasn’t upset, Lily knew he was up to something. She heard the shower in their downstairs bathroom turn on and huffed before sitting back on the sofa. Fine. Two could play at that game.

As the minutes ticked on, Lily got lost in the sound of the rain hitting the window pane. It reminded her of how much Petunia and her enjoyed rainy days when they were younger. Memories came flooding back, memories of laughter and togetherness, and simpler times.

Petunia raced in, holding a pile of blankets in her hands. “Lily! Come help me hang these!” Lily looked up from where she sat. She stood up to grab a blanket from Petunia and once she started building, she copied Tuney’s precise work. The two worked tirelessly to perfect their own little blanket castle. Bed sheets flung over the armchairs and clipped onto each other with Lily’s barrettes. The barrettes were the most important part. Not only did using the many different color barrettes the girls had introduce decoration to their design, it was crucial to the structural integrity. With the barrettes in place, their castle was looking good. After the two sisters made sufficient progress on the walls of the structure, they switched to the interior, laying down every pillow and cushion they could find along the floor in front of the sofa. Quilts and fuzzy blankets draped over the tops of the cushions so the cracks in between the pillows wouldn’t be as noticeable, but they were lacking the right amount to fully snuggle underneath. Their mother must have heard them complaining, for moments later she would usually stroll in carrying a heap of fuzzy blankets.

When their masterpiece was finally finished, Petunia would crawl inside carrying a torch with her. Lily, on the other hand, found it much more important to bring their favorite fairy tales with them. Although it sometimes took some begging, Tuney would read those treasured stories of fairies, unicorns, and even wizards! Weaving entire worlds around battles and romance with the thunder crashing down around them. A little later on their parents would usually join them, taking over the storytelling so that both girls could snuggle close together. With the fireplace lit just outside their own little fortress, their imaginations filled with wonders beyond belief, and their parents by their sides, little Lily had never been more at peace.

The rain was picking up outside, but Lily didn’t notice the sound until the boom of thunder forced her back to the present.

Thump.

Well that wasn’t thunder. The sound seemed to originate from the bathroom, so she stood to investigate when James came barreling into their living room donning nothing but a towel hastily tied around his hips. Lily’s eyes scanned him up and down. He hadn’t even dried off yet.

“Where’s the fire?”

“What do you mean fire? My life was at risk! Showering during a lightning storm? Do you want to be a widow?” He tried to hide the panic in his eyes, passing it off as a joke. He failed miserably, if Lily’s stifled laughter was anything to consider. At least she was kind enough to try to hide it.

“James, deer, we’re not even engaged.” Lily slipped her hand into his, squeezing gently.

“We already have three children,” James said in such a matter-of-fact voice Lily had to wrack her brain to remember when she was ever pregnant. “Considering how Sirius, Peter and Remus act, and all.” He added. That made more sense. “I feel like we are basically married at this point. Which means me dying would make you a widow.”

Lily snorted. “Right. Well the storm isn’t going to kill yo-” Another crash of thunder echoed outside, and he couldn’t help the jump his body decided was appropriate given the circumstance. And that’s when it hit her. “Oh my gosh, you’re scared.”

“Me? Scared? Absolutely not! I literally dueled Slytherin students in the corridor. I faced Death Eaters just last week! I looked Voldemort in the eye and told him no. This is just weather Lily. Please pull yourself together and stop projecting.” He hoped the tremor wasn’t evident in his voice.

Lily couldn’t help but grin, watching her boyfriend as she leaned against the back of the sofa. James was visibly trying not to squirm under her penetrative gaze. She knew this was nothing compared to his daily life, but he was still at least a little bit scared. How was it possible for one man to be so adorable?

“Hmm. Right. Okay, I’ll stop projecting,” Before Lily could continue her thought, another boom shook the house. This time even Lily had to admit she was a bit startled, but James...James was a whole other story. The color from his face drained and you could see the anxiety behind his eyes.

She shot him a knowing look, her eyes speaking for her. “Fess up, buttercup.”

“OkaywhenIlivedwithmyparentsyoucouldn’treallyhearorseeanythingfrommyroomandthenwhenImovedinwithSiriushealwaysdistractedmebylettingloosemysnitchormakingmeplaywizard’schessuntilIdidn’tnoticethestormanymore!” James mumbled incomprehensibly.

“What?” Lily shook her head. “I got like half of that. James, love, it’s me. You can tell me anything. You know that.”

James took a deep breath. “I am a bit afraid, okay? I didn't notice as a kid when I lived with my parents. The house was so big the sound never really carried in. I did notice very much when I moved in with Sirius, but he was always good at distracting me! Now…” James’s eyes fell toward the ground. He looked defeated.

“Now you need a distraction,” Lily finished, nodding her head. Everyone had their thing. Lily had spiders. James had thunderstorms. Honestly, it was a bit relieving to see someone usually so strong and fearless have simple fears like this. But she wasn’t going to let what happened earlier just slip by without a proper response.

She smirked, tilting her head to the side. Her fingers found their way into her red locks, twirling a strand playfully. “And your wife isn’t a distraction enough?” She pouted her lips, looking up at him with the biggest doe eyes James Potter had ever seen.

His eyebrows disappeared behind his damp hair. Lowering his voice, the corners of his lips quirked up. “You are more than enough a distraction” James leaned in to meet her lips.

Perfect. Right where she wanted him. She let him linger right in front of her, so close they were almost touching. Almost.

“I have a better idea,” her lips quirked up at the corners, reminiscent of the man standing in front of her. James’s eyebrows rose momentarily before he began to wiggle them. She had to suppress a laugh and waited a few seconds, letting him hang on the edge. James lingered just on the precipice of seduction before Lily changed her demeanor entirely. Just as he made a move to close off any space between them, she turned her head quickly so his advance landed on her cheek instead. He may have wanted a kiss on the lips, but he would have to, what were his words? He would have to be pretty lucky to make that mark. “James,” Lily said in a sugary sweet tone, “I was going to suggest we make a blanket and pillow fort, what kind of woman do you take me for?” She placed her hand over her heart to complete the dramatic remark.

Lily watched as about a dozen different emotions flashed across his face in only a matter of seconds before settling on something a bit more guarded. “I am so sorry if I have dishonored you. I thought I was fulfilling your wishes. I hope you do go easy on me.”

He knew just what heart strings he was tugging on, but Lily was not going to dwell on that or her plan would completely crumble. “Yeah, okay, Mr. Darcy, now go get changed. Also while you’re up there, can you look through the box in our room for extra blankets?” James flashed his signature sideways grin at her, back to his normal self.

“As you wish.” James swept into a deep bow before turning and heading up the stairs towards their bedroom.

“That’s from The Princess Bride!” Lily called after him. Though he was already in their bedroom, she still heard his laughter carry down the stairs. She smiled to herself, wondering how she ever got so lucky to have James as her boyfriend. Not that she would ever say that aloud. He doesn’t need a bigger head. While he was preoccupied, she busied herself with pulling the cushions off the couch to prepare for the inside of their fortress. Just like when she was a kid. Grabbing her wand off the coffee table beside the sofa, Lily shot a couple sparks into the fireplace: a skill she didn’t have as a kid. She tucked it into her hair for easy access, just in case she would need it inside the fort.

The thud thud thud thud of James bounding down the stairs caught her off guard. She popped her head up, squealing at the sight of him. James’s tower of blankets peaked over his head. Only his fleece pajama bottoms from Euphemia distinguished him as a human as opposed to a blanket monster.

“How many blankets does a full grown woman need?” She could hear the jest in his tone. He then unceremoniously dropped the blankets into a pile on the now cushionless sofa.

“I get cold.” Lily rubbed her hands together in excitement, overlooking their supplies.

“Yeah well, considering the circumstances I don’t think you’ll need this many blankets. I am the human equivalent of a heater.” That pulled her away from her plans for a moment, looking up at him with glee on her face.

“Maybe, if you’re lucky tonight,” she repeated the phrase from earlier, quirking one eyebrow at him.

“With the amount of blankets you have, my deer, you may need to be the lucky one. I’ll be just fine.” Lily rolled her eyes at the wink he sent her way, and took his hand so he could stand next to her and overlook their supplies together. How his arm made its way around her waist, she wasn’t quite sure. Lily gave in just a bit, leaning into his side.

After a moment of reflection, Lily set to work by draping blankets over the sofa to build the foundation of the external walls. James quickly followed suit.

“Hey, love, can you get the chairs from the dining room?” She pointed, scratching her head as she built the pillow fort in her mind. Something was missing, but she couldn’t place her finger on what exactly.

“Of course, Master Lily.” James made to bow again, so Lily threw a cushion at his head. Which he promptly caught before dropping it and leaving the room with way too much of a skip in his step. Damn those Quidditch reflexes.

James brought in the first two chairs, acting as if he was returning from some great battle with his pride in holding one on either side of him. Pretending she didn’t notice her show-off of a boyfriend, Lily kept focused on the sheets. Only when he returned and set down the last two chairs did she look up.

“What’s next, my princess?”

“It’s queen, actually.” The smile he shot her was bright enough to light up the whole planet, completely and utterly blinding. Queen. She and Petunia would pretend their pillow forts were castles. Her smile turned bittersweet, to which James scrambled to sit beside her.

Lily blinked at his gesture. Poor James was all worried over nothing. Sitting up a little straighter, Lily took his hands in her own. “James, have I ever told you about what me and Tuney would do on rainy days?” James shook his head. She took a deep breath and continued on.

“Before I knew about magic, Tuney and I were best friends. I’m pretty sure I mentioned that?” She looked at him for affirmation. He nodded his head. “When it was storming bad, I’d always get a little bit scared, but Tuney always knew that getting my hands busy would keep my mind off what was raging on outside. She would run and grab all the extra blankets and sheets from our linen closet and we would build fortressesses.

“At first, they were small, but as we grew they would take over the entire living room. We would spend most of the day constructing them.” Lily laughed, looking around their new living room. It seemed such a tall order now. “Building the walls with different sheets and blankets, padding the inside with sofa cushions and pillows. Then when we were done, we liked to pretend they were our castles and we were princesses like from the fairytales. I would always bring our favorite stories in and she would create magical worlds filled with every creature imaginable. I would completely forget about the storm raging around us. Eventually as it got later, my mum and dad joined us, and would take over the storytelling. We would end up camping out in the living room, falling asleep after cuddles and bedtime stories. Sometimes Dad would wake us up with cinnamon hot cocoa.” A quiet laugh escaped through her lips. “It’s funny, I was scared, but these are some of my fondest memories.”

Lily looked up from her lap a little misty eyed, that same bittersweet look from before gracing her features. James leaned over to kiss the one tear that slipped down her cheek away. She pulled him closer into a tight hug. Although claps of thunder sounded outside, she didn’t even feel him flinch.

As the silence settled James blurted out,“Have I ever mentioned I love you?” Lily rolled her eyes in exasperation. What a sap, right? She kissed his cheek and pulled him up from the floor.

“Hmmm….I don't recall. It doesn’t sound familiar. What was it again?” Lily’s eyes crinkled as he tackled her with a bunch of kisses all over her face.Catching herself with one hand, the other landed on his chest, and she gave him a gentle push to create more space between them, much to the disappointment of both parties, so that they could return their focus to the task at hand.

“Hey, I’d say you’re thoroughly distracted, but this fort still needs some work, so get back to it!”

James stood at attention and saluted. The two lovebirds began setting the chairs a good distance apart, smiles blossomed on their faces as they worked in comfortable silence. They graduated to padding the inside with the cushions. As they were nearing the end, the draped blankets just weren't staying in place like they should. They kept slipping down from where they hung them. It hit her like a ton of bricks: she'd forgotten the most important part!

“Hold up!” She darted towards the stairs, the biggest, goofiest grin on her face. James was left to catch the end of the blanket she’d dropped when she left. “I know just what we need to finish this off!”

Lily raced up the stairs, towards the bedroom, on a mission to acquire her secret ingredient. The mahogany nightstand’s top drawer had been claimed as their junk drawer, slowly filling up with odds and ends from both Lily and James over time. During this move, the junk seemed to accumulate much faster. She tugged open the drawer harshly, excited to get back to her project with James when she spotted it. A little blue velvet box.

Her breath hitched. What was this doing in the junk drawer? If Lily’s heart hammered any faster she was afraid it was going to explode. Now she needed the distraction. She reached a shaky hand out and grabbed the box. Why was this in the junk drawer?

This better not be what she thought it was.

Still debating if she should open it or not, she jumped at the sound of James’s voice. It was incomprehensible over the blood pumping in her ears.

“What?” She didn’t turn around, focusing on the feeling of the velvet box moving between her fingers. Why was this in the junk drawer?

“Lils? Are you okay? I thought you knew what you were grabbing, want me to come up and help you find it?”

“No!” she yelped, far too fast of a response. Far too panicked. Just as she heard James scramble up to check on her, she spotted the barrettes, snagged them before racing down to see her boyfriend before he could find her at the junk drawer.

Why would you put a ring box in the junk drawer?

“Hi,” she breathed, moving to wave her hand but realizing she was still holding the box! She smiled sheepishly, quickly hiding the box behind her back.

“Hey…” James narrowed, his eyes, leaning to the side to try and see just what Lily was holding.

“Found the barrettes,” she said, holding up her other hand. Like a magician, the idea of distraction would work.. Right? Lily laid the hand with the barrettes on his shoulder, giving him a nudge to turn around and move towards the living room again.

Another thunderclap and this time he truly has no reaction at all. Well at least she managed to keep his mind off the storm. Lily tried for a reassuring smile, giving his shoulder another nudge. He was silent, but he actually turned around and went down the stairs.

Said silence lasted a lifetime. Finally, he whipped around with a blazing look in his eyes. She was not off the hook. Perhaps if she decided to start the conversation, she could gauge his reaction.

“Funny story...So I found the strangest thing while looking for my barrettes upstairs…” Lily unfolded her hand to show him the small velvet box. “Any idea why this was in the junk drawer?”

The color drained from James’s face as he realized what she’d discovered. Lily could practically hear his internal monologue.

Okay so I have two options here: pretend I have no idea what she is talking about, or fess up. Though the former is looking more appealing at the moment because she does not seem happy. Oh god. What if she isn’t happy? What if she doesn’t want to marry me? What if-

“James, do you not plan to use this?” She decided to go easy on him seeing the doubt and fear creep into his face. He really was an open book, at least to her. The longer they were together, the more fluent in James Potter she became.

“I-uh planned to use it eventually?”

“It was in our junk drawer,” Lily deadpanned.

“I was kinda hoping it would get buried and you wouldn’t notice…” His hand flew up to his hair in an attempt to subdue the wince creeping onto his features.

“How long have you had this, James?” Instead of looking at him, she was entirely focused on the blue box. She hadn’t even opened it yet.

“Uh.. Do you want the truth? Or like an answer that will make you comfortable?” His hand still had yet to leave his locks alone.

Despite the whirlwind inside her, Lily managed to choke out a laugh, dragging his hand from his hair and into her own.

“The truth, please.”

“So you remember that time you came over and met my parents for the first time?” Lily nodded. Of course. She’d been so nervous, and Euphemia and Fleamont had treated her as if she was the daughter they’d never had. “Christmas break, seventh year?” A smile tugged at Lily’s cheeks.

“You made me cookies the muggle way and burnt them to a crisp. I remember.” James let out a little chuckle.

“Well Mum loved you, and after you left she told me, ‘You better marry that girl James,’ and gave me the ring.” He took the box from her still outstretched hand, hesitating for just a moment before kneeling in front of her. Inside the box was an ornate ring, with a gold band and emeralds instead of diamonds.

“Lily, I knew from the moment I met you that you were it for me. Although, it was nice to hear Mum felt similarly. This was my grandmum’s engagement ring; her and my grandfather were married for seventy-six years. Mum said it would bring us good luck, and really, what I was trying to get at before I got side tracked with the ring’s history is...You have bewitched me body and soul. You are the greatest adventure I’ve had thus far, and I do not wish for it to end.”

Lily dropped the barrettes she had been gripping so tightly, covering her mouth with her hand as she felt the prickle of wetness start to form in her eyes.

“I love you. I want to wake up next to you every morning and kiss you goodnight-if I’m lucky-every evening. I want this to be only the first of the many, many places we live together. I want to travel the world with you. I want to win this war with you by my side. I want to explore new places, new things with you, only with you.

I want to start a family with you. I want to grow old with you. I want to live every waking moment with you by my side. And it would be the greatest honour of my life, if you, Lily Marie Evans, would agree to be my wife. ”

Lily’s lips quivered, tears slipping down her cheeks as she looked down at him. She slipped down to his level and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Yes,” she breathed. “Yes, yes, a hundred million times, yes. James Potter, I want to marry you.”

James stood, his arms snaking around Lily’s waist and spinning her with him, snug against his chest. Lily squealed, hugging James tighter, as her tears turned into laughter. He spun her around and around until they both were dizzy. When he eventually placed her back on the ground, Lily refused to let go. Whether it was due to affection or the room spinning was still up in the air. All she knew was she’d never felt this way before. Never in her life had Lily experienced this much joy, this much peace. Not even those nights camping in her living room. He was her home, and she his.

James stared down at his fiancée-his fiancée!- in total adoration. His thumb rubbed along her cheek in a tender caress.

“I feel pretty lucky tonight, James.” He smirked, and pressed his lips to hers briefly. Lily met his eyes, glancing towards the ring box to which he happily slid the ring onto her finger.

“Have I ever mentioned I love you?” Lily whispered, a smile far too similar to James’s signature lopsided grin toying on her lips.

“Hmmm….I don't recall. It doesn’t sound familiar. What was it again?” Lily threw her head back in laughter, pulling him in close for a passionate kiss. Only when they both were breathless did she pull away. “Why don’t we make good use of that fort we built?”

His lips brushed against hers ever so slightly. “I suppose I do feel lucky.”

Lily and James disappeared behind the entrance to their dilapidating castle, the barrettes lay on the ground forgotten.

#Jily #Jily*#MWPP #marauders #James Potter #Lily Evans #Lily Evans Potter #jessica #melissa #writing

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jayjaynerdybird · 5 years ago

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This started out as a drabble for @nightwingshero using her OC Deputy Wren Blake that she requested I continue so... Here you go sweetie! I hope you like it! <3

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John let out a deep sigh as he shoved the pile of paperwork away from him. For hours now he'd been sitting here doing the same damn thing. Paperwork.

Leaning back in his chair he began to massage his temples, hoping that it might help to stave off the migraine that had been building for over an hour now.

With one last glance at the stack of papers taunting him John scoffed and pushed away from his desk, getting to his feet and wincing at the twinge in his neck from being bent over for so long.

With yet another deep sigh he flicked his office light off and began to make his way into the kitchen. Food and maybe some scotch. That's what he desperately needed at this point.

Maybe he still had some pasta leftover from last night?

Opening the fridge John winced as the bright light assaulted his eyes before he narrowed them into a glare at the offending light and pulled out his quarry.

With a satisfied smirk he quickly tossed the Tupperware into the microwave and hit a button absentmindedly as he reached for his scotch.

Just as his fingers brushed against the cool glass if his decanter a soft knock, just barely audible over the hum of the microwave sounded.

John's shoulders tensed and his eyes narrowed. He swore if this wasn't important someone's head was going to roll.

With a huff he marched toward the front door, the thump of his feet against the floor sounding suspiciously far too loud to his own ears and only proving to worsen his mood with each step.

With a sneer and far more force than necessary he flung the door open, his frozen mind distantly recognizing the bang as it hit the wall.

What... What was happening?

There on his doorway stood the Deputy of Hope County, Wren Blake. But she looked far different than the last time he had seen her.

Her black hair hung limp and stringy, clumping against her cheeks and neck, her pupils blown wide to the point where her eyes looked black instead of the lovely blue that he so loved to see sparkle with fire, and her pale skin pallid with splotches of pink.

She looked more like one of the other druggies that he had met in his time on the streets than like the little spitfire who was causing quite a bit of his current troubles.

As Wren swayed, clutching desperately to the frame of his door, his mind finally began to work, reaching out slowly to help steady her.

"I- I'm sorry," even her voice was different; soft, airy, and weak. "I... I didn't have anywhere else to go."

There was a sob in her voice, her eyes bright with the tears she was trying so desperately to hold back.

With gentle hands John guided her inside, he knew what had happened to her without needing to be told, the scent of bliss hanging around her strongly. Of course, the lack of mist or excess salivation also showed that she had not ingested or been doused in it, instead it had been injected into her, and not of her own will.

Settling her down onto his couch John decided to help the Deputy through this, just as Joseph had helped him in the past. She didn't need to say yes, she had already accepted that he could save her, she had come to him in her time of need, hadn't she?

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Wren was freezing despite the fire that crackled in the grate beside her, the flames warming her skin but still failing to sink lower than that and sooth the icy grip that held the rest of her hostage. The weight of a throw blanket on top of her serving no purpose other than to make her feel suffocated rather than comforted.

Her entire body felt mixed between the sensations of being nothing more than a wisp of smoke mere moments from vanishing completely and a statue made of ice and bone, teetering on the edge of its stand, ready to shatter when gravity finally decided to take back its ownership of the moment and drag it into oblivion.

Each thud of her heart brought a pang of agony to her mind, a soft buzzing sound coming from somewhere nearby, the scent of tomatoes, onion and garlic causing her stomach to churn uncomfortably despite the hollow ache of it which would typically have Wren hunting down the delicious aroma.

With a groan of defeat Wren squeezed her eyes shut and attempted to breath slowly through her mouth in an attempt to ignore the nauseating scent that was only getting stronger.

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John ignored the shrill beeping of his microwave as he dug under the sink for one of the various first aid kits that he had stashed throughout his house, the hissing of the sink running above him filling the silence that was left behind from the now absent hum of the microwave.

First aid kit in hand John stood, deftly turning off the faucet and grabbing the bowl of cool water with his free hand, setting his quarry down on the counter as he turned and pulled several water bottles from the fridge. Quickly opening the first aid kit John grabbed a packet of Tylenol and quickly swallowed them, hopefully that would take care of his headache so that he could better care for the Deputy.

Looking around the kitchen for anything that he may have missed John quickly grabbed a large saucepot and a glass, adding them to his rapidly growing pile and, throwing one last fleeting glance towards his meal with an internal reminder to come back for his food later John left the kitchen.

Who on earth would have injected the Deputy of Hope County with Bliss? Injection was something that only Faiths… ‘Angels’ would do, and even then, they only did it to themselves.

Something about the Bliss would mess with the Angels minds, forcing them into a rather disturbing dependency on the Bliss. Angels either had to carry their own supply, be near a supply or inject the Bliss for longer trips, if they didn’t…

Well, and Angel coming down from Bliss was not pretty. In fact, it was always fatal to them…

It was no secret that Wren did not like the Bliss, in fact she tended to avoid the areas of the Henbane that were covered in it, preferring instead to tackle the areas here in Falls End or up North in the Whitetail Mountains. Whenever she had to take on a mission in the Henbane for Dutch she would go in, strike fast, and then get out again, never staying in the region for very long.

With a wry shake of his head John made his way towards the couch that Wren was resting on and sat himself down onto his coffee table, spreading his supplies out next to him. Wringing out the wet cloth John quickly got to work cleaning off the Deputies forehead of the sweat and grime that clung to her brow, it was going to be uncomfortable enough coming down off of the Bliss without the added discomfort of dried sweat and dirt.

Running the cloth down the side of her face John couldn’t help the small chuckle that left him as she leaned into his touch. Finishing with her face and throat John moved the blanket and moved down to her shoulders and arms, taking in with increasing anger the tell tale signs of a struggle, seeing that multiple hands had taken part in holding the Deputy down as they stuck a needle into her arm.

Now finished with the cloth John discarded it back into the bowl, grabbing the first aid kit so that he could bandage the raw skin of the injection site to try to prevent an infection.

Next John pulled off the Deputies boots, setting them on the floor beside the couch and rearranged the blanket around her.

Glancing at his remaining supplies John poured some water into the glass that he had grabbed, setting a packet of pain pills beside it and moved the saucepan onto the floor beside the Deputies head.

Throwing himself into the chair beside the couch John sighed and reached for his phone. He needed to inform Joseph of what had happened. This was going to be a long night.

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Wren felt like she had been in the mist for years, floating in a suspended sense of agony, knowing it was there and yet not truly comprehending it.

Brief flashes of memory; cold, pain, a burning feeling in her throat and the cold edge of a metal pan, concerned blue eyes, a warm weight on her cheek, all shrouded in mist and unclear.

Forcing her eyelids open Wren stifled a groan of pain as a ray of sunshine pierced her eye, causing a stabbing pain to shoot through her brain. Closing her eyes once again Wren instead began to take stock of her other senses, noting the comfortable cushions below her, the soft murmuring of voices coming from somewhere nearby, and, most importantly the scent of John Seed.

Of course, it wasn’t like she spent large amounts of time thinking about what he smells like or anything. It was just hard to forget the scent of such obviously expensive cologne, pine, sandalwood, and some sort of musk that all came together into a very attractive and calming aroma.

Wait… What?

Oh, her head hurt! What happened and how did she get here?

She remembered… Talking, she was mad about something, and then… A fight? Pain in her arm, and then running? But why would she run? Actually, the bigger question was why would she run here!?

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“I understand that Joseph but that doesn’t make any sense, if it wasn’t someone from the Project, then it had to have been a member of the Resistance. But why would they do that to the Deputy of all people?” John just couldn’t understand this. For three days now Joseph had been trying to find out who would have done this to the deputy as he had helped her suffer through an unnecessary detox.

“I know John, once she wakes up we will ask her, once we know they will suffer for what they have done, I promise you.” Josephs words as always were strong, full of his conviction, a conviction which helped to calm John down. With a sigh Joseph squeezed the back of his neck and brought their foreheads to rest against each other. John took a deep breath as he felt himself relaxing.

Pulling back with a soft smile John glanced through the doorway towards the Deputy once more, resisting the urge to smirk as he saw the Deputy sniffing at the air.

It looked like the Deputy was finally awake.

Jerking his chin toward the Deputy John began to make his way towards where the Deputy still lay.

“I’m glad to see that you are finally awake Deputy, now if you don’t mind, I do have a few questions.”

At being acknowledged the Deputies eyes opened, her head turning away from the light which streamed in from his windows. John was pleased to note that her pupils had receded to a more natural level, it looked like the worse was over with.

“Why are you helping me?” The Deputies voice was rough, which he had been expecting of course, what he hadn’t been expecting though was the lack of fight. The Deputy was tired, not just in body but in spirit as well. Well… John would just have to fix that, wouldn’t he?

“Because you asked me to,” John said simply as he sat down on his coffee table once again. “You came here for help, so I helped you.”

“Why!?” Ah, there’s her fire. Good, John was glad to see that it hadn’t been put out.

“Because we care about you Child,” Joseph said calmy, laying a hand on Johns shoulder as he took a seat beside him. Josephs words were like a balm to the soul, one of the many reasons that so many chose to follow his brother. You could hear someone else speak the same words in the same tone a million times but there was something that was only there when Joseph himself would say it.

“You don’t care about me,” The Deputy is angry again but this time it’s different. That fire, that Wrath, it wasn’t directed at them, it wasn’t even directed at her situation, no, they were directed at herself.

Suddenly Josephs words came back to him, the words that he had scoffed at, that he didn’t understand the reason for, suddenly made sense.

You have to love them, John. You have to love them, because sometimes they can’t love themselves…

John looked at Joseph then, understanding finally shining in his gaze as he truly understood Josephs path him. His brothers gaze stared back at him with pride shining deep within as a weight that John had never realized was there finally faded.

“We do care about you Deputy,” John said slowly as he reached out and covered her hand with his. “We care about you and what happens to you, because you’re worth it.”

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You’re worth it. Those words kept echoing within Wren’s mind as she stared into John Seeds eyes, those eyes which she had seen hold anger and sadness were now full of such honesty that Wren couldn’t help but believe him.

What did she have to lose in believing him anyway?

She could either go back and either be killed or continue to be used, or she could trust him, and either be killed, or gain something so much better than she could imagine…

“Wren,” She breathed, “If I’m going to trust you here, then you should probably use my name. It’s Wren.”

“Wren then,” John murmured, his eyes never leaving hers. “Tell us what happened, and we can help you. You just have to trust us.”

“I… I’m not completely sure, everything is still kind of hazy. But…” This was it, she thought looking down at where her hand was being covered by Johns, no going back now.

“Dutch,” With a deep breath Wren looked back into Johns eyes, the blue pools of his gaze comforting her, “Dutch was going on about how I needed to get over my aversion to the Bliss. He was saying that I needed to either gain a tolerance or to… Well, they held me down and forced the needle into my arm… Sharky came in and he had no idea what they were doing because he was pissed, he yelled something about the Angels and started pulling them off of me… A fight started an-and I couldn’t tell what was going on, everything was hazy, so I ran. I ran and kept running until I got here.”

By the end of her tale Wren could hardly breathe, the anger, pain, and betrayal that she felt coming out of her in large sobs. Everything that she had been fighting for and against in her life coming to a head now as she cried.

Vaguely Wren could feel strong arms surrounding her, and a warm hand running through her hair soothingly, a deep voice whispering assurances to her, promising to her that everything would be alright, that they would help her.

For the first time in a very long time, as Wren drifted off into an exhausted sleep, still cradled in those strong arms, Wren felt at peace…

#far cry 5 #john seed #joseph seed #bliss #sharky #angels #forced drug use #poor wren #deputy wren blake #this got out of control #trigger warning #how do you tag?

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ryancanedy · 8 years ago

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Four Elements for a Budget-Friendly Patio Refresh

The one thing better than a patio refresh is a budget-friendly patio refresh. Alma Arietta, who writes the blog Almafied, knows a thing or two about keeping things affordable. She also knows how to make a space, indoor or outdoor, look terrific.

Alma breaks her own budget-friendly patio refresh down to four simple elements.

Budget-Friendly Patio Refresh

If you are still trying to figure out how to update your space or thinking of some ideas that are affordable yet effective, keep reading cause today I wanted to share four affordable ways we gave our patio a little face lift on a budget.

But first, grab your coffee because the best conversations are held over coffee, am I right?! I would include tea in there, but my friend hates tea so just in case any of you are like her, I’ll play it safe and stick with just coffee today ’cause who doesn’t like coffee?!

Paint

So, the first and biggest way to give your patio a whole new makeover: (and this is the bang for your buck guys!) PAINT. It’s the most affordable way to TRANSFORM any space, patio included! Let’s be real, you gotta put your back into it. But with a little sweat, it’ll be done and looking fly.

Oh and why did we just now discover one coat coverage?? We used the Behr Marquee in the exterior flat finish. The color we went with is called “Still Gray”. It definitely covered with one coat and we didn’t have to use a primer. We also painted a pergola a bright cool white called “Frost” which actually brings in a lot more light into the house. With this, you are on your way to the patio refresh you’ve been wanting.

And I know there are some of you reading this and thinking, it’s too much work. Well, we used a paint sprayer, and I have to say the job was 10x easier. Pergolas are not fun to paint. But I promise, it cut our painting time in half. And seriously, it made the world of difference in our update!

Planters

Moving on. Second way to give your patio the ultimate refresh is to add something personalized and fun like a DIY planter box. Which in my case meant two. I love these guys and it was so easy to make.

We used this pine wood, and it was perfect for this project. They definitely make the space. Where it was once blah is now a little more interesting. I blogged about the details and how we made them over at our blog: pinewood planter tutorial.

Flowers and greenery says, “welcome, come on in,” without a word. And of course in this case, it’s saying, “come on out.” ;) We even picked up these Ames wood handle garden tools and Digz garden gloves to help with my black thumb!

Your planter box could be a wine crate, a window box, etc. They all are just as effective. Their beauty needs no words. And don’t limit them to the planter box. I have it throughout the space all from The Home Depot garden center.

Seating

So my third big advice for a budget-friendly patio refresh is by making it inviting. There are many ways to make a place inviting. First, for me, is comfortable seating. Remember, your patio is an extension of your home, not an afterthought. These comfy Sky Medallion Square Outdoor Throw Pillows and the Metallic Diamond Square Outdoor Pouf are just as much for style as they are for comfort!

We don’t want anyone’s tush falling asleep on us five minutes into a conversation! We are using the Hampton Bay Belcourt 4-Piece Metal Patio Conversation Set with Spa Cushions in our patio, and it’s super comfy.

Another part of being comfortable is shade! If you don’t have an overhang or a pergola, have some seating below a tree or even under an umbrella! We want to be able to lounge and enjoy our time outside! You certainly don’t want to worry about sweating profusely just sitting down or getting a sunburn while you sip your coffee ;) There’s a little place to chill under our 9 ft. Steel Crank and Tilt Patio Umbrella in Surplus Stripe for those who enjoy the picnic feel like my kids!

Lighting

The fourth way to give your patio an affordable update (and this one’s easy) is with lighting.

Lighting enhances the ambiance at night and these wall sconces we just purchased for this patio gives the patio a cool touch of farmhouse too. And you guys, these are not expensive. Umm, I really can’t beat that!

These 8-Light Hood and Cage Outdoor Hanging Cafe String Lights we hung on the pergola and the 60-Light Warm White LED Battery-Operated Garden String Light in our Hampton Bay 22 in. Metal Lantern in Copper on the ground just creates a lot of interest to the space and not just ambiance at night.

Your Motivation

OK, I know I said four elements for a budget-friendly patio refresh, but most importantly, is what the motivation and purpose is for this patio refresh? That’s hopefully to exercise hospitality!

Once you’ve done the refresh, (and let’s just be honest, I could enjoy some BBQ even without the refresh) it’s meant to be enjoyed with others. The most important thing to this project is to put your hard work to good use, enjoying it with your family and also extending that invite to that someone in your life that needs a friend or encouragement!

So, who’s ready to get started?? Hope you’re feeling a little more motivated today to get started on your own patio refresh!

We still have more work to be done back here, but a very big thank you to The Home Depot for inviting us to participate in this challenge and reminding me to not let my patio go unused!

If you enjoyed hanging out with me, let’s hang out some more over at my blog. Come say hi, and let me know you came from The Home Depot!

Alma Arietta is a stay-at-home mom who has a passion for creating and designing on a budget. She writes about DIY projects, home decor, raising a family and more on her blog Almafied.

Follow our Patio Style Challenge board on Pinterest for more patio decorating ideas and inspiration. And check out this gorgeous low maintenance backyard makeover on The Home Depot’s YouTube channel.

Browse The Home Depot’s online Patio Furniture section for patio sets to fit any style or budget.

The post Four Elements for a Budget-Friendly Patio Refresh appeared first on The Home Depot Blog.

from Roofing Pro http://ift.tt/2prkQw4 Curated by a professional Roofing Contractor from Blogger http://ift.tt/2pTwKk6 via RoofingProToday

#Home Improvement

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dnodes18 · 8 years ago

Photo

Four Elements for a Budget-Friendly Patio Refresh http://ift.tt/2prkQw4

Alma breaks her own budget-friendly patio refresh down to four simple elements.

Budget-Friendly Patio Refresh

Paint

Planters

Seating

Lighting

The fourth way to give your patio an affordable update (and this one’s easy) is with lighting.

Your Motivation

OK, I know I said four elements for a budget-friendly patio refresh, but most importantly, is what the motivation and purpose is for this patio refresh? That’s hopefully to exercise hospitality!

So, who’s ready to get started?? Hope you’re feeling a little more motivated today to get started on your own patio refresh!

We still have more work to be done back here, but a very big thank you to The Home Depot for inviting us to participate in this challenge and reminding me to not let my patio go unused!

If you enjoyed hanging out with me, let’s hang out some more over at my blog. Come say hi, and let me know you came from The Home Depot!

Alma Arietta is a stay-at-home mom who has a passion for creating and designing on a budget. She writes about DIY projects, home decor, raising a family and more on her blog Almafied.

Browse The Home Depot’s online Patio Furniture section for patio sets to fit any style or budget.

The post Four Elements for a Budget-Friendly Patio Refresh appeared first on The Home Depot Blog.

Alma Arietta

#The Home Depot Blog

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