#and i heard them play Blow Up The Outside World one day

[ghwosty]

ya know for being Soundgarden’s most (overplayed) played song on radio, Black Hole Sun legitimately fucks raw

[byunpum]

You don’t have to if you don’t want to.but can you please do a child reader she was born on pandora.she lives with some other people in the forest (not in the high camp or where the Sully family lives). She was playing outside when she saw a seed of Eywa. Being the child she is she followed it, it led her somewhere in the forest. Then the sully kids and Spider find her.

AVATAR MASTERLIST

Pandora was never an ideal place to raise a child, but your mother had no choice. She had gotten pregnant, and she was a very low-ranking employee in the RDA. She never had the option to give you a good life, so you ended up stranded on this planet. When the humans were sent back to earth, a group of scientists stayed on pandora. But there was another group of workers…of lower class. Who did not even bother to warn and prepare for them to return home. This forced them to leave the facilities, and create a shelter away from the base. It was a group of 20 people, all adults. Except for you…you were the only child. You were about 8 years old, and you were quite a curious child. You lived with your father, in a small room, which was in one of the 5 wagons, which contained oxygen.

And as expected…that oxygen wouldn't last long. So it was up to your father to fetch some supplies from the nearest base. This was not an activity your father liked, it was boring and somewhat dangerous. "Dad…can I go? Please!!!" you plead, making puppy dog eyes at your father. He shakes his head, arranging some tools in his backpack. "No baby…it's not safe" says your father. You were bored of being on the base, you were only allowed to be in the surroundings, and inside the room. You had limited time with your oxygen mask. "Dad…it's boring here. I promise I'll be with you all the time" you whine, holding your father's hand. Giving a few little hops. You watch as your father looks away, and nuzzles you for a while. He knew how bored you were…being stuck in here all day wasn't healthy for you. You used to spend all day reading books he found, and playing near the base. After letting out a giant sigh he speaks. " Good, but you will be by my side all the time," your father speaks. You jump with excitement, running to get your oxygen mask.

You were at your father's side, just leaving to get lost in the jungle. "Y/N…stay close to me" says your father, you nod your head. Giving your father a big smile. Your father holds out his hand for you to hold, you accept it. And you start your way to the base.

For your father the whole process had been very difficult, your mother had died when she gave birth. You only counted on him, and having a child in this dangerous world. He felt he was going to lose you at any moment. After walking for at least 2 hours, you were on your father's back. "Dad…are we there yet?!!!" you groan, hearing a smile from your father. "I told you the walk was long…but yes. We're here" your father speaks, you look up from your father's shoulder. To see the base. It was all destroyed, and the area your father was looking for. It was a part of storage…the wall of the room was broken, and it was exposed to the jungle. Your father sets you down, walking into the room. "Baby…stay close to me. Why don't you sit in that chair?" your father orders you, pointing to a dirty chair. You sit down, looking all around you. This was much better than being locked in an 8x8 room.

The jungle was quiet, some animal noises could be heard. But everything was harmonious. You enjoy the view, and the breeze that was blowing. Out of nowhere you could see a kind of white leaf… that's how you could describe it. It was approaching, it seemed to be flying in the air. Your eyes widen with surprise, you have never seen anything like this before. You take a quick glance towards your father, he was kneeling down taking the numbers from the oxygen tubes. You get up from your chair and walk further into the jungle. The seed comes closer towards you, almost half a foot away. "It's like…an octopus" you think to yourself, raising your hand to try to touch it. You see it move a little away, but you could still feel it. It was soft. You watch as it starts to move away. "No" you mutter under your breath. And that's when you felt that sensation…it was like someone calling you. Pulling you close to her, you couldn't help it. You were a little confused, but very curious. I won't stray…that far" you think. Starting to follow the seed, you move deeper into the jungle. Until you disappeared into the trees. You knew you didn't have to go far, but you couldn't help it. Following the seed, you watched as they came closer. And they circled around you, inviting you to follow. You laughed and played with them.

Meanwhile not far away ….

"Lo'ak…we are far away from home….dad is going to get upset" says kiri, as he followed his brother. " chill out kiri" says spider, following his friend. The three kids had gone out to play, supposedly close to home. But lo'ak had the wonderful idea to explore deeper into the jungle. "If you don't say anything… Dad won't find out." Lo'ak speaks, hopping across a log as the trio continued deeper into the jungle. It doesn't take long, until kiri notices the presence of one of eywa's seeds, the girl clutches her brother's braid, causing him to yelp. "Hey…look" says kiri pointing to the seed. "That hurt me!!!" lo'ak complains, but watches as the seed is approaching them. Touching lo'ak's nose. Suddenly the seed moves away, pausing. So that the children noticed the signal, and began to lead them. "Should we follow it?" asks spider, kiri laughs. And pushes spider as she chased the seed. Behind her followed lo'ak and then spider.

You were still chasing the seed that had taken you away from your father, you had been following it for about 1 hour. But you didn't even realize that so much time had passed. And how far away you were. Running faster, in order to catch up with the seed. Watching as she stops in a low tree, kneeling down to bring your face closer.

Lo'ak had gone ahead, leaving his sister and his friend behind. Noticing how the seed he was following had landed in a tree. Kneeling down to get closer to it…slowly. Just as he was very close to the seed, she moved upward. Revealing the face of a girl in front of him. Just inches away. Meanwhile you, you stood still. Watching as it was directed towards the yellow eyes of the blue child in front of you. You had never seen a na'vi before, you knew they existed and you had been told something about them. But you had never had contact with them. Lo'ak sighs, and you can feel his breath create moisture in the glass of your oxygen mask. "Hello?" says lo'ak. You scream loudly, sitting up on your butt. Moving you backwards. Your back hit a log. You had a horrified look on your face. "Hey…easy honey," says kiri. In a calm voice, trying to get closer.

The girl was speaking in Na'vi language, you calm down a bit. You didn't understand anything about what she was saying. But you could tell she was trying to be nice. Your eyes scan your current situation, there were two na'vi children and a child just like you. "She's not from around here, is she?" says lo'ak looking at spider. "Mmm no, I don't know her" says spider. There was a rather long silence, until lo'ak settled in straight. "I AM LO'AK…. IT'S A PLEASURE TO MEET YOU" says lo'ak in slow English. Kiri had to laugh, shoved at his brother. Spider came over to you, kneeling in front of you. The boy smiles a little. "Hello…my name the spider, he is lo'ak and she is kiri. Where are you from?" speaks spider, you settle a little in your place. Noticing how the two na'vi boys approached your side, they looked so intigrated by your presence. Just as you were about to respond, jake's voice is heard in the background. Approaching quickly.

"Kids what are you doing here, I told you to stay close" says jake, not noticing your presence. "Ahhh Dad…we can explain" says kiri, moving a little to reveal your appearance. Jake stares at you for a moment, he had never seen this girl before. She looked kind of raggedy. Well…it wasn't like everyone in the shelter was well groomed. But this little girl looked kind of abandoned. Jake approaches carefully, watching as the little girl's eyes widened. "Hello baby… where are you from?" asks jake. He speaks in na'vi first, but then asks the same question in English. "I live with my dad" you speak softly, you were scared. Jake takes your hand, and strokes with his thumb your little hand. "Ahh ok, and is he around?" jake asks. You lift your shoulders, you had lost track of your father a long time ago. "I think I'm lost" you speak. Jake thinks for a moment, you were a girl he had never seen before.

*tin…tin…tin*

A warning noise from one of the oxygen machines was sounding indicating that the oxygen level was too low. Spider looks at his box, and sees that everything is fine. But then you look at yours, and raise your head in fear. Jake grabs you by the arm. "honey…come on we need to fill the oxygen" jake says, you back away a little, unsure to follow him. "You're going to be okay…I promise" says spider, reaching out to take your hand. You agree, you had no choice. You had at least 20 minutes before the oxygen in your mask ran out. Jake picked you up and held you. He didn't want you to walk, that could cause you to lose more oxygen. He started on his way to the lab.

One hour back….

As soon as your father missed your footsteps, he turned to see that you had disappeared. He dropped all the tools. Getting up from the floor to look for you. "Y/N!!! MY LOVE!!!" shouts the man, he was getting very nervous. Walking around his surroundings to look for you, but nothing. He kept screaming your name and no one was answering him. Some tears started to come out of his eyes. This couldn't be happening' he thinks to himself. Pandora is dangerous, and he knew that your mask was barely oxygenated. He was looking for you, until his own mask told him there was no oxygen. He sat on the ground for a moment, he had to go back to his camp. Get ready and come back to look for you with more help.

Jake quickly entered the lab, behind him his children followed him. Lo'ak kept asking you questions, even though you didn't understand half the words, you tried to answer him. As you entered, Jake put you on the floor, and took off your oxygen mask. " Now…we're safe mmm what's your name?" jake speaks, you giggle a little. Wiping your face with the sleeve of your sweater. "Y/N" you laugh widely. Making jake laugh, you were adorable. He could tell you were smaller than his children, even smaller than spider. Lo'ak takes your hand, dragging you over to where some cushions were. The children approached you, kiri sat next to you, touching your hair. While Lo'ak began to introduce you to his toys, which he had in a pouch on his waist.

Norm approaches jake, looking at jake curiously. "What about that little girl?" the man asks. "I have no idea…the kids found her. I brought her here because her oxygen was too low. But I don't know where she came from?" jake stands watching his children play with the new girl. She looked so impressed by everything, it seemed like everything around her was new to her. "From what I can see from her clothes…her parents have to be D class" norm says. This is weird for jake. "I didn't know there were 'classes' in the RDA" says jake. Norm laughs a little, clearing his throat. "Well yes…class A the bosses…class B the scientists, class C for soldiers. And then class D, the workers. Like cleaners, miners etc." Says jake, while keeping silent. "She sure is lost" says norm. jake nods his head.

Night had come, and you had been playing all afternoon with the children. You could hear the heavy rain pounding on the roof of the lab. Jake told you that it was best for you to spend the night here in the lab. And that he would look for your father in the morning, he had to reassure you. You had already started to cry, you knew you were wrong to stay away from your father. "Calm down," says lo'ak, hugging you. Norm made room for you in the spider room, which was a bunk bed. You settle into bed, closing your eyes quickly, but not before hearing spider say to you. "If you need anything…I'm down here," says the boy. You sigh with relief, and fall asleep.

The next morning, Jake had left early to find your father and that camp. Norm accompanied him. You wake up, looking around for a moment, wiping your eyes. Watching as someone peeks up the bunk stairs. "You're awake already!!! Come…..max prepare breakfast" spider announces to you, rushing out.You get out of bed, walking towards the lab. Max introduced himself when he saw you, you shyly greet him. The man hands you a plate of food, you sit down next to spider. You didn't used to have breakfast every day, in your camp food was limited. So you felt strange, but you still finish your meal.

After lunch, spider invited you to go out and play…he said something like 'let's go look for sully's". You follow him, grabbing your new oxygen mask, and following the boy. Not even 5 minutes passed, when you hear the screams of the kids from the day before.

Lo'ak ran as fast as he could, approaching you. Hugging you by the upper torso, lifting you off the ground. "My baby!!!" lo'ak moves you from side to side. You were so small next to him, to him you were a cute little baby. "Hello lo'ak!!!" you greet him. You were laughing, kiri walks over to his brother and pushes him.

"Let her go…she's not a toy" kiri scolds her brother. Fixing some pieces of your hair, the previous evening she had prepared your hair. "She is Y/N?" speaks neteyam. You turn to look at the other boy. He was bigger than all of you, he looked kind of scared and curious at the same time. "Yes…she is "lo'ak was excited to introduce you. "She's not from around here…so she doesn't speak na'vi" kiri says, watching as neteyam greets you shyly. You greet him too, you could tell he was much quieter. "By the way…this is my brother" says lo'ak,pulling out an ikran made of wood to give you. In very basic English, but you could understand him. "I give you my toy" says the boy. Just before you take it you hear a familiar voice call your name.

You turn around and see your father next to Jake and Norm. Behind him was the group of 20 people who were at the base. You run as fast as you can, jumping up to hug your father. "Hello my love!!!" your father hugs you tightly. "I'm sorry…I didn't have to walk away…but" you try to argue, but your father gives you a kiss on the crown of your head. "Honey…it's okay!!! Everything is fine" says your father. You move a little away from your father, checking on your other companions. You could see that they had some suitcases and bags. You look at your father again with excitement. "Are we…are we staying?" you ask. Your father nods, while you hug him.

Jake had found your father near the facility with a group of men. They are screaming your name. It was a foolish decision, knowing that the pandora's jungle was very dangerous. But from the tone of voice, they could hear the desperation in his tone of voice. As jake and norm approached, they were able to convince the group of men that it was best for them to move to the main base. Where they would be safe, your father hesitated for a while. But he agreed, their current camp was in ruins. He warned the whole group, and packed up their belongings. Norm promised them, they would look for the facilities and they would be safe after all. They all had to help each other.

"So Y/N is going to stay?" yells lo'ak, rushing to carry you and hug you. "Lo'ak!!!" you yell but playfully, your feet wiggling in the air. "Yeah…but lo'ak, watch out for the girl" jake says, helping you down. Lo'ak hands you the toy, "here you go…now we can play every day" the boy was very excited, as were you. Taking the toy in your hands, you now hug Lo'ak. Jake laughs, and shook his head. You two had met, and already you were acting as if you had known each other for a lifetime.

[shanieveh]

REVERSE 03↺: love the player

wriothesley x fem!reader smau

now playing: laufey — above the chinese restaurant

After cramming so many activities, your mind in a daze and body almost collapsed, it was finally time to go to the after party. This is where the game actually starts, and you hated every bit of it.

Back in the days, he wasn't the center of attention, and these loud houses were quiet secrets only shared for two people. Now he took the center stage, where everyone worshipped his every move.

And you watched.

"And our star player tonight!" Childe drags Wriothesley to the stage where everyone could see him, you just clapped no time to cheer loudly. After all, your voice will be hoarse with no more for the presentation tomorrow.

Before, these events always seemed fun for you, but now, now...

You see them six, popular, untouchable group and know that you will never belong to it. Wait there's only five of them... where is...

"Need some fun, girlie?" The red head from earlier came to you and offered you some sweets.

"I'm having fun, don't worry." You politely took his offer with faked grin, you liked sweets anyways.

After him was a series of people, an obstacle od sweaty and immature highschool teens, where was Kaveh? Oh probably with Alhaitham.

Then there was Scaramouche bullying Childe, and there was Cyno with Dehya chilling.

It only leads back to yourself, all alone.

You then entered the room, the very room where everything started. It was filled with the duke's past trophies and awards, a lot of memories unwind.

Back then he was your suitor, a nobody who who was mediocre at best.

A lot has change, huh. He changed, but you stayed at this moment. Unlike him, you stayed with him.

Promises were made, and he was the first to break them. With the chance of being popular and glorified he left you, but that didn't really stop you did it?

He did say you were the love of his life, about a million damn times.

Until that stupid reverse everything was fine, he was supposed to be yours, after all that he did right, now... now you were the one chasing, you were the one who wanted him back, it was as if the world reversed!

"I'm afraid miss that this is personal property, you can only go past the ground floor." A silky velvet voice was heard from behind.

With that you looked at the source, she was beautiful. She was smart, she was, she was... all that he wanted.

"I'm sorry Miss Clorinde, I was just looking for the bathroom." I excused myself and went to outside.

You left hastily without seeing the look on her eyes, for it was not one of anger or indifference.

It was one of pity.

"Now why do you look upset in this beautiful night?" Kaveh chimmed it at the sight of your disheveled form. "I thought your wriobaby won the big game today?"

No reply was ushered, just the wind blowing, and the moon at the height of its glory.

"Cyno was right maybe I don't stand a chance against her. I'm just a nobody." You pout at nothing but your own misery. "And everyone thinks nothing of me beyond of him, she's spmething without him and I'm just no one!"

It was not long till the snoppy Charlotte saw you both, perhaps it was your loud exclaim.

"Want me to make an editorial about her so she will have a bad reputation?" That was her ideal of comfort, and in some degree it would work.

"Or better yet we will spread bad rumors about her at school?" Dehya joined in, wanting to cheer you up.

No. Clorinde does not deserve any of those, even if hatred panged your heart, you knew that she deserves none of it. She was always organized, she always knows what to do. She's just... perfect.

"The poor Clorinde, Lottie!" Kaveh reprimanded the journalist with his drunk boyfriend on one shoulder. How chaotic. "For me you should just get over the guy! It would also help your reputation at school! It's that furry's fault!"

You let out the heaviest of sighs, almost at the verge of just giving it all up. Clorinde's wrath just seemed to strong. But... you can't, you just can't let go, not today, not next week, and not even when everything changes.

You would always stay.

And in the fleet of defeat, you see Kaveh's drunk boyfriend finally holding his composure.

"Name, your phone is ringing." He gives it to you.

Oh.

'ONE MESSAGE NOTIFICATION'

My.

'WRIO BABY: DO YOU WANT TO COME? .... [see more]'

God.

Scrolling past your previous texts, you finally saw it.

———————————[ 02 —↺— 04 ]————————————

the whole campus knows about your 3 year crush on the student body president and basketball captain wriothesley. you were fine with his constant ignoring and rejections until something happened, until you stopped, and a reverse took place... now he won't leave you alone.

TAGLIST I (open): @vash-yuu @nayukiyukihira @aethion @whodissbitj @astolary @ayayaaayyiire @randomidk-123 @superdark-soul @sleepy-waffle @kittywagun @ceaether @ichorstainedskin @numwoon44 @eutopiastar @reni502 @fictionalfantasy17 @lucienbarkbark @kyon-cherri @huanator @jqnehr @yourlittlemissworld @zworllyx @unknownlololol @sara-midnight @jaguarthecat @we-wo-we-wo @duhsies @interstellar-equilibrium @ariparri @lolmeowing @aruatsu @k-cris @quacking-simp @vlamouren @semi-orangeapple @tamikahoshiko @imnotgoodwithnamessoidk @portgas459ace @r4yyyyy @vxnuslogy @kazuhasmaid @explosive-wuisa @falors @rirk-ke @shotovhs @aixaingela @ruhaxol @yelleloww @sc1twi @ash4ree

author's note: if you noticed from the spotify playlist, all the songs of the day are the tracks in order. this will grant you special privileges to see what the plot will be in the order of the songs! anyways, no update next week because its finals here in the philippines, gotta focus. love you all!!

[otdiaftg]

The King's Men - Chapter Three

Day: Friday, January 5th Time: 11:25 PM EST

He took the tray with unsteady hands and brought it back to the table. He wanted to send Kevin away, but Andrew would never let him get far without a guard. Luckily Kevin couldn't speak a word of German. Neil sat sideways in his chair, facing Andrew, and said, "Why does Roland think you're tying me down?" Andrew hesitated with his glass halfway to his mouth. He glanced down at Neil's hands where they were clenched on the edge of the seat between his knees. Neil didn't look to see if the angry lines were showing again. He couldn't take his eyes off Andrew's face. At length Andrew put his full shot back on the tray. He didn't let go of it completely but tapped his fingers on the rim in an uneven beat. It seemed an eternity before he finally dragged his stare up from Neil's hands to his face. "Presumably he thinks you're as bad at following directions as he is," Andrew said. "Roland knows I don't like being touched." "That doesn't answer my question." "It is the answer," Andrew said. "Rephrase the question if you don't like it." "I want to play another round," Neil said. "What's outside Coach's pay grade?" Andrew shifted in his seat to face Neil and propped his elbow on the back of his chair. He cradled his face in his hand and considered Neil. He didn't look at all bothered by the sudden interrogation but that calm did nothing to ease the gnawing in Neil's stomach. "When Coach signed us, he promised to stay out of our personal problems. He said the board paid him to be our coach, nothing more and nothing less." That answer wasn't much better. Neil wasn't sure he should keep pushing, but if he didn't get the truth now he knew he never would. "I didn't think I was a personal problem. You hate me, remember?" "Every inch of you," Andrew said. "That doesn't mean I wouldn't blow you." The world tilted a little bit sideways. Neil dug his shoes harder into the floor so he wouldn't fall over. "You like me." "I hate you," Andrew corrected him, but Neil barely heard him. For a dizzying moment, he understood. He remembered Andrew's hand over his mouth in Exites as he backed out of their conversation. He thought of Andrew yielding to his prodding and holding him up when Neil needed him most. Andrew had called him interesting and dangerous and had given him keys to his house and car. He'd trusted Neil with Kevin because Kevin was important to both of them and he knew Neil wouldn't let him down. Neil tried to piece it all together, but the more he pushed, the faster it fell apart. It didn't make sense. He didn't know what he was supposed to think. It could be a lie, but Neil knew it wasn't. Andrew was a lot of unpleasant things, but a pathological liar wasn't one of them. Honesty suited Andrew because he was an instigator at heart and his opinions were often unpopular. It took Neil three tries to find his voice. "You never said anything." "Why should I have?" Andrew lifted one shoulder in a shrug. "Nothing will come of it." "Nothing," Neil echoed. "I am self-destructive, not stupid," Andrew said. "I know better." There was nothing Neil could say except, "Okay," but it didn't sound okay and he didn't feel okay. What was Neil supposed to do with a truth like this? He was going to be dead in four months, five if he was lucky. He wasn't supposed to be this for anyone, Andrew least of all. Andrew said all year long—had said it to Neil's face just this week—that he didn't want anything. Neil shouldn't be the exception to that rule. Andrew downed his shot and dropped the glass carelessly back on the tray. He pried his cigarette pack out of his back pocket on his way to his feet and flicked it open to check the contents. Neil should let him leave unchallenged, but he said, "It's your turn." Andrew shook a stick into his hand and propped it between his lips. The pack was safely tucked away again before he looked at Neil. "I do not have to take it now."

Art used with permission by smokesontheroof. Thank you @smokesontheroof!

[archetypal-archivist]

Riddle x Yuu - Secret Garden

In which there's an enchanted place in Riddle's backyard where the edges of two worlds blur together. In the walled garden that resides there, Riddle meets Yuu.

( @yuri-is-online I blame you for this.)

Thought: Consider a Riddle/Yuu story with Secret Garden elements. A very young Riddle whose mother decides he needs time outside at least a few times a week so she sends him out into their gardens to do his homework. Riddle enjoys the sun well enough, the weeks flow more gently, a honey-slow, sun-sweet pace. Then one summer day when it's just a little too hot to be outside for long, one of his work sheets catches on the wind and blows away.

Riddle chases it and ends up in the rose maze, eventually stumbling into a place where there are walls and a gate, almost fully overgrown in thick red blooms. Riddle is curious and the shade of the overgrown garden looks inviting, so he slips past the gate to do his work at the picnic table he can just make out inside. Only, when he steps through, there's another child sitting at the table- Yuu.

At first it's all accusations and competition, then Riddle tries to make Yuu go away with magic and that flips the conversation on its head because Yuu is very convinced that magic isn't real. Riddle can hear his mother calling (Yuu can hear it too) and tells Yuu to come back tomorrow, he'll prove magic is real. And despite a brief scolding from his mother, Riddle is indeed able to come back tomorrow, bringing with him some of his textbooks.

Yuu comes back too, only they have a few books of their own on technology. Riddle is astounded by the illustrations of planes, the way metal wraps over wooden framework, the precise mathematics that go into the elegant curve of the propeller. Yuu is astonished by the production of flame from thought, flowers from incantation. How incredible it would be, to have coal-less stoves and fields of wheat springing up on demand!

Both very convinced, Riddle and Yuu spend weeks getting to know each other and participating in cultural exchange. Helping each other with their homework makes it go twice as quickly, though they often have to take breaks to explain some concept or another, such as health potions and quinine.

Yuu and Riddle also experiment with the magic of the walled garden, insisting on the scientific method as two kids understand it to try and figure out the rules. They bring different toys/objects into the garden, try standing at the gate and yelling for attention, Riddle even sneaks his broom in to see if there's a vertical limit. What they discover is that anything brought into the garden will stay, and things can travel outside the walls, but their respective yelling is only heard in their respective worlds (Riddle's mother got worried but only heard her son's voice) and once Riddle flew up past a certain point, he could no longer see Yuu. They just flickered from view, vanishing in a blink, which freaked Riddle out so much he immediately flew back down and crushed Yuu into a hug.

Riddle asks Yuu about him maybe traveling back to their world to visit as he really wants to see the planes they speak of so fondly, but both are hesitant because they aren't sure of what it would do to him. Yuu and Riddle make do with playing make believe, tying fake wings to Riddle's broom and Riddle taking them up, careful of the vertical limit.

Yuu, wistful, wants to fly freely, not having to worry about speed or limited space, but both are too cautious to actually do anything risky. At last, they conclude that things can be brought into the garden but nothing from the other world can fully travel out of it to the opposite realm. Only when Yuu and Riddle are in the garden together can they see each other.

Then Chenya and Trey meet Riddle and Riddle's world expands that much more. He knows plenty about the world beyond his own and he feels so grown up compared to his new friends, but there's still so much he doesn't know and Riddle takes to learning about tag and tarts and playtime with aplomb. He tries to introduce them to stuff from beyond their world, like fizzy lemonade (he uses a minor air spell to 'carbonate' it, give him a break, he's, like, nine) and matchbox cars. They don't really get it though and Riddle realizes many times over that his life is very, very different from everyone else's.

Between his mother's rules and Yuu, no one else is like Riddle at all. It suddenly feels very isolating, and not one to be helpless, Riddle drags Chenya and Trey to the secret garden. Yuu is there and introductions go well enough but it's clear that Trey and Chenya don't really believe the duo, thinking it's the pair playing pretend. Both are very annoyed by this and it's the only interaction the quartet have before Riddle's mother catches Riddle at the Clover bakery.

House arrest in effect, Riddle feels terrible being inside, so used to the freedom of fresh air and sunshine, doing his homework at his own pace with a companion to help him. Now he's trapped under his mother's attention and it's stifling. It's a whole three months before he's allowed to do his work outside again and his broom is still confiscated (the wings long torn off), but he'll take it.

Riddle beelines for the walled garden only to find a small white rose bush, a pile of letters, and no Yuu. He feels torn over doing his work or reading the letters first and he eventually decides on work, tense and anxious the whole time. A couple hours later- still no Yuu. Riddle reads the letters and tries not to cry.

Apparently, Yuu had thought something had happened when he didn't come back for over a week and had taken to writing him letters so he'd remain up to date with their daily life. They call him their friend, too, starting each with 'to my dear friend Riddle' and ending with sincere wishes for his happiness and safety. The pleas for his safety grow more desperate with each letter and it's revealed that political tensions in Yuu's world are growing. It's leery enough at home, they want him and his world to be okay too. The white rose bushes were apparently from their own world, a gift since his last name was Rosehearts and something to remember them with.

Riddle is deeply touched and also deeply fed up with his mother so he resolves to wait for Yuu so they can spend time together again. The hours slip past until it's early evening but Riddle is too stubborn to give up. As the first stars creep over the horizon, Yuu finally appears, letter in hand. They burst into tears at the sight of him and Riddle finds himself crying too, running to hug his friend, work forgotten.

Riddle asks Yuu again if he can travel to their world with them in a fit of impulse but Yuu denies him. They explain sorrowfully that in a few days, they'll be going away to boarding school as it's unsafe where they currently live. However, they have a few days- they can make the most of them. Yuu's eyes burn with resolve and they run through the gate, coming back with an old canvas tent and a bunch of water, snacks, and books.

The duo camp out in the secret garden for two days, Riddle so caught up in enjoying the time and committing every bit of it to memory that he forgets his mother entirely. Indeed, it's the least stressed he's been in a while. At the dawning of the third day, Riddle hears his mother calling for him, genuine panic in her voice, and he realizes he has to go. He begs Yuu to be safe, Yuu asks the same of him, and neither can fully commit to the promise, Riddle grimly aware that his mother is going to be furious with him.

He plucks a white rose off the bush to tuck into his lapel, a last bit of armor to remind him he's got people in his corner, and leaves the garden, refusing to look back. (Unbeknownst to him, it stays visible, having become 'part of him', a facet of who he is). Quietly he walks up to his mother, face as blank as he can make it, and when she sees him, she goes white with panic. She grabs Riddle's hands and he looks too: in the cradle of her fingers, his own are nearly transparent.

The next hour is a flurry of activity, Riddle's mother sitting him in front of a mirror in the library as she frantically researches what could have happened to her son. Sure she's pissed at him but this takes precedence. Riddle stares at his reflection, fearful and awestruck, and realizes that this is likely the result of eating so much food not from his world.

Outside the boundaries of the garden, you can't see or hear things from the other world. Having eaten nothing but food from Yuu's realm for a few days, his cells have started to assimilate more materials from that world than his own. (The water is the real culprit, the replacement rate is faster there). As such, bits of him have gone translucent, no longer visible to Twisted Wonderland.

It scares Riddle a little but this mess seems to scare his mother more. She does come across an 'answer', one that makes sense to Riddle's world. Borrowing from Snufkin and the Moomin Trolls- unloved, unwanted children will eventually turn invisible, trying to be unseen and unheard so they can be good, good enough to be loved. This isn't the case at all, Riddle is indeed loved a lot even if it's been demonstrated in a damaging way, but it's the only thing that makes sense to Riddle's mother and so it must be true.

Riddle's mother apologizes to Riddle and asks him outright if he's happy. Riddle... Isn't certain what to do with this information. It feels like a scam; he could ask for his freedom in this moment and have it granted, could ask for Chenya and Trey, ask for tarts at supper and hugs at breakfast, and surely he'd get them. In the same measure though, his mother is laboring under a falsehood, to ask anything now would be to take advantage. And really, can he truly say he has been unhappy under his mother's rule? Perhaps not always happy, but certainly not miserable.

Riddle- compromises. He doesn't tell her the truth, nor does he tell her of how oppressive she can be. He merely tells her that yes, he's happy, but he wishes he could fly again. As expected, she grants this and actually pulls back some on her harshness, being quicker to praise. As expected, the invisibility fades.

However, she micromanages him even harder in trying to make Riddle feel loved, her attention on him almost always. Anything he shows interest in, he gets classes on, and Riddle learns not to show his interest in too many things at once or else he gets overwhelmed with work.

The only breaks he gets are tending to his personal garden, during flight (constrained though it is to the manor grounds) and horseback riding. The garden is where he tends to the roses he cultivates from the seeds he took from Yuu's bush, and fed on Twisted Wonderland soil and water, they bloom visibly for all to see. As for flying, it reminds him of his flights with Yuu and their shared dream to share the sky together; Yuu in the cockpit of their own plane, him on his broom. They'd wanted to race, once...

Now, horseback is the only way he can get that same rush, able to go as far and as fast as his mount allows. It feels like freedom and Riddle falls in love with the sport. In the back of his mind though, Riddle always wonders how Yuu is doing; if they're safe, if they're happy. If they're alive.

In this way years pass and though Riddle changes, it's not enough. He goes to NRC with a potted white rose in his hands, a broom in his baggage, and a flower on his lapel, and he still becomes house warden in a week. Trey greets him warmly, though he admits to barely recalling Yuu, thinking them an imaginary friend of Riddle's. This puts a little distance between Trey and Riddle, but it's just one more straw in the mountain of awkward that makes up Riddle's tyrant tendencies and Trey's guilt complex.

Second year rolls around and the night before his departure for NRC, Riddle enters the secret garden in a fit of nostalgia. To his surprise, Yuu is there, on their knees and sobbing. He immediately runs and sweeps them into a hug, frantically checking them over for injuries, which only makes them sob harder. It takes a while for them both to calm down and once they do, Yuu wants nothing to do with explaining themself, only wanting to hear of Riddle's exploits.

Riddle hesitantly tells them, then insists on having Yuu's story. In fits and start and more tears, they do manage to tell it; their world is at war and they aren't safe. Their boarding school had been far from the action, but not far enough, and now the bombers are bearing down on them. They'd panicked when the sirens went off and are now hiding here, hoping that the magic of the garden will keep them safe.

Horrified, Riddle questions them but Yuu has no answers. The whys of war, the usage of planes for fighting, Yuu hadn't cared to learn and Riddle can't blame them. At last, Riddle asks Yuu if they're scared, and Yuu explains they're terrified, Riddle asks further if they're scared of planes now.

Yuu says no, calms down, and begins to explain that flying is *theirs*. A plane of their own, under their own control, affecting only themself and free of all others? They want that, they want to *fly*. It's their dream. Planes are only evil when people use the gift of flight to hurt others.

Mentally, Riddle makes the connection between Yuu's thoughts on planes and his own rules- wonderful when he makes his own rules and follows them, the problem comes when he uses the power of rules on others in a way that hurts them. It's almost an idle thought and one quickly pushed aside when Yuu goes still in his arms, oddly placid. They sit up, smile at him, then very quietly ask him to leave.

Riddle can hardly believe what he's hearing and Yuu repeats themself, asking Riddle to go home. Riddle furiously points out that Yuu is under bomb threat still and Yuu explains that's exactly why he has to go, go *now*, before it's too late. Things from their worlds can still enter the garden, don't you see? If the garden is struck, the bomb would kill them both. Riddle needs to *leave*!

Riddle's heart cracks in two as an icy sickness takes hold of his gut, making him swallow back tears. He hates this, really and truly, and in desperation he asks Yuu to come with him, already knowing it's futile. If Yuu were to come with, they'd be invisible, unheard, and while perhaps feeding them food from Twisted Wonderland would help, there's no guarantee they'd be solid enough for that to work. How was a ghost supposed to eat a sandwich? Were ghost sandwiches a thing?

Yuu gently pushes Riddle away and momentum drives Riddle to his feet, backing away a few steps. Yuu stands too, and turns towards the gate, looking back at Riddle with a teary smile and a nod. Riddle shakily nods back, silent, and they both turn to go.

Just as Riddle is about to step through the gate into his world, he hears a dull roar of what Yuu had described to be sound of a plane overhead. He closes his eyes tight, pushes on, and the sound cuts out as he leaves the garden. It's silent but for the birds in the trees. A minute passes. Two. It's all Riddle can do to keep from passing out, his knees locked to keep him standing. Time passes and eventually Riddle can bring himself to open his eyes, turning to look at the garden behind him. He doesn't see Yuu there, knows he wouldn't anyway, not without stepping into the garden proper, and he can't bring himself to do that yet.

With the ease of long practice, Riddle turns and walks back home, certain enough of the path that even in his grief he's sure in his steps. He... Keeps his eyes closed, for most of the trip; Yuu's smile lingers in his mind.

Leaving for NRC after is an awful affair but one Riddle drags himself through regardless. Grief and exhaustion war for dominance in his heart and most of that transmutates into anger, his temper fraying faster than ever before. Even his mother is a little shocked by how quick he is to snap, as Riddle had done just that over the toast at breakfast.

Riddle's heart only cracks further when he finds himself a ghost in his own body come his arrival at school, collaring people left and right on impulse when Riddle knows he knows better. There's something particularly awful about falling into old habits that you know are damaging, but being unable to stop yourself at the same time. Here, Riddle knows he's hurting his dorm mates, he just can't bring himself to care.

Indeed, it's all he can do to keep from burning the Yuu who emerges from the coffin during the NRC sorting ceremony. At first he'd thought it was his Yuu, they'd looked identical in all ways, but this Yuu didn't recognize him. (And, his mind whispers treasonously, his Yuu is dead.)

As such, Riddle can't bring himself to believe that they are the same person as his friend, and he slides further into grief and rage, intent on ignoring the situation. Canon proceeds apace, only Riddle keeps up with the white roses left to him by Yuu, magic keeping his desk plant in bloom so that a new flower can grace his lapel every day. He tries to keep the sorrow from his face, his eyes firmly away from the familiar stranger who looks so much like his Yuu.

When Riddle overblots, white rose on his chest, the last surge of magic he does as a finishing move has the flower taking up the magic. It explodes outwards, sending tendrils of white roses in all directions, students scattering in their wake. Vines crawl up the walls, dig into the ground, and bind Riddle to the earth so that Trey and the others can get the last blow in.

As the overblot monster disappears, Riddle slumps to his knees and Yuu catches him, memories rising up to meet them both. See, Yuu had woken up in Twisted Wonderland with no memories save for a vague nostalgia. Now seeing so much of their life through Riddle's eyes and hearing about their life before NRC, their mind begins to recall their past and Yuu remembers themself, and more important to the moment, Riddle. The two friends burst into tears and Yuu apologizes for forgetting while Riddle sobs about being so cruel, for not meaning a lick of it and how sorry he is.

This, of course, alarms everyone around them, and the pair are promptly bundled off to the nurse's office, something a bit tricky as Riddle refuses to let Yuu go. Both fall fast asleep, exhausted from the day's events, and only awaken when the moon is high in the sky and everyone else is long gone.

The rose on Riddle's lapel is the first thing Yuu sees as they blink awake, the petals edged in fine silver from the light of the moon outside their window. The smell is pleasantly sweet, bringing to mind the bush they'd given to Riddle so long ago. Was this a flower from that same bush?

Yuu's heart squeezes at the thought and they hesitantly reach to touch the bloom, then move to press their hand to the space above Riddle's heart. Tilting their head up, they're surprised to see Riddle looking at them, something terrible and grieving in his eyes. Emptily, Riddle tells Yuu that he thought they were dead. Yuu chokes back a sob and quietly admits that they think they were; they're still not sure how they ended up in Twisted Wonderland.

Riddle nods as if expecting such an answer, then gently gathers up Yuu's hands in his own, holding them, unable to meet their gaze as he recaps his life for the past many years. Yuu ends up weeping at the realization that Riddle had adopted their fondness for flight as his own, as well as how stifled Riddle has been all these years. How much their friend has suffered in their absence! And then, their arrival with no memories? Is it any wonder that Riddle overblotted?

Through their tears, Yuu fiercely tells Riddle that he's forgiven and more than that, he's free now. He can act however he wishes! Riddle's own cheeks are wet as he points out that Yuu is too- forgiven for dying, for leaving him, because it was never something either of them could control. He's just so, so glad they're back.

And- and now they can do all the things they'd wanted to do together! Try new foods, visit the places in Riddle's books, they can even fly for real! Yuu's face lights up at that and Riddle finds himself smiling too, heart full up on love and joy at the thought of flying with his friend. He tries to get up, ready to go grab his broom right that moment, but his ribs twinge and he falls back into bed with a groan. Only, he falls on top of Yuu, who wraps their arms around him on instinct.

This brings a brilliant flush to both their faces and Yuu shakily jokes that perhaps they should get some sleep. They feel more than see Riddle nod and Yuu shoves their face into Riddle's hair, suddenly realizing that their childhood friend had grown up. Riddle was so much bigger in their arms now but the scent of his shampoo is the same... Yuu flushes again, brighter.

(Riddle was still awfully handsome, too.)

Time passes, the duo heal, and while neither explain to anyone their bond, everyone can see that Yuu and Riddle are deeply connected in some way. The white roses that'd sprung up from Riddle's overblot had proven themselves impossible to remove so Heartslabyul had simply incorporated them, weaving the vines into the rest of the garden to make a seamless whole.

And, on the day of Riddle's apology Unbirthday, Riddle grabs his broom, Yuu's hand, and smiles for real for the first time in far too long. It feels like flying when Yuu and his new friends smile back, and when he kicks off into the sky, Yuu's arms around his waist, he never wants to come back down.

[aziraphales-library]

Hello and thank you for being a great source of fics! I read a super sweet outsider AU that included Crowley singing Abba songs and I need more! Are there any Abba themed fics you would recommend to us?

Hi! Here are some fics featuring ABBA songs/references, and a couple of Mamma Mia! fics...

The Stars Were Bright, My Dear Boy by not_joeys_secret_account (T)

It’s 1977 and Aziraphale and Crowley go to see Star Wars in the theatre, and, surprisingly, Aziraphale has never heard of ABBA

And Everything Is You by acetonitril (T)

Once a week, Crowley joins the local pub's karaoke night to sing an ABBA song. Aziraphale doesn't know about this. This is the story of Aziraphale finding out. Also, there's a bunch of students who might or might not be involved.

How You Thrill Me by ingafterdark (E)

There were three things Crowley would remember about this movie. The deception-driven chaos, the blastedly delightful musical numbers, and the idle weight of Aziraphale’s hand on Crowley’s thigh, which grew ever-more insistent from about the half-hour mark. Or: The night in the South Downs when a certain Angel debauched a certain Demon as Mamma Mia! played in the background.

I Believe In Angels by Raphaela Crowley (T)

Crowley and Aziraphale travel to a Greek island under false pretenses. Aziraphale's a bit worried about the morality of the situation, while Crowley just wants that blasted ABBA song to not be stuck in his head any more. Sophie S. wonders if the father she's never known is Sam Carmichael or just some guy in sunglasses named Anthony Cowwley.

One Look And You're Hypnotized by quiltedspacemittens (T)

“What are you doing in Greece?” Aziraphale asks, with distanced politeness, as the silence between them stretches a moment too long. Crowley ambles, one step behind him. “’M here on business. Supposed to tempt some poor woman to engineer a decades-long inheritance and property tax evasion scheme. Something about her ex-boyfriends.” “I see. And she’s on Kalokairi?” Kalokairi, Greece, 1977. One moustachioed demon on business, one clean-shaven principality on holiday, and one island in need of a little divine intervention. A Mamma Mia!-themed Tony fic written for Stayin' Julive aka Tony Month. Hypothetically updates every Wednesday in July. Title from "Angeleyes" by ABBA.

dancing queen (guaranteed to blow your mind) by Quilly (T)

Warlock has a secret, and it's that he invited three former staff members from his estranged parents' household to his wedding in the hopes that one of them is the one Nanny is still in love with. Crowley is just wondering what entity he pissed off to make three of his old flames show up the day before his adopted kid's wedding.

Do You Like ABBA? by Matcha_Tea_and_Other_Delights (T)

“I heard there’s going to be a meteor shower tonight.” The boy tells Aunt Lilith. “Oh?” She says in response, still a little unfamiliar with some of the earthly phrases and customs. “Yeah, stars falling from the sky and you get to make a wish, it’s great. Might stay up in my room watching them for a while.” Aunt Lilith looks up at the sky too, this time with an odd sense of woe coloring her features. “Falling stars, huh?” Or: Seven years after the events of Not-mageddon, things start to gear up for the Second Coming: Supreme Archangel Raphael would sound the alarms, a flight is boarded, as a swarm of locusts envelope the Earth. Everything is destroyed, with nothing left standing. The End. …yeah that’s not gonna happen. For starters, Satan is missing. Or or: Like the ones before them, it’s up to an angel and a demon to try and stop the world from ending. Third time’s the charm isn’t it? (Basically, what if Good Omens 3 went like this?)

- Mod D

[kissesforsatoru]

can I request separate hcs for Bonten!Mikey, Sanzu, Rindou, Ran, and Sanzu x Farmer!Reader? like there's this one time where the boys asked the reader for a date but their own secretaries are making fun of the reader bcs yk she's from a farm and she doesn't wear any fancy clothes that the city girls have 👀

BONTEN! MIKEY, SANZU, RINDOU, RAN x GN!READER

₊˚⌗ bonten boys reaction to their darling being insulted

⤷ cw : general yandere themes, violence, threats, descriptions of injury, death, murder, slight nsfw for rindous part

notes : you put sanzu twice and i haven’t a clue who you could’ve meant instead so i just did the four you asked for

mikey is pissed. who the hell do these people think they are to be talking badly about you when they're just dumb fucking entitled sluts. their only personality trait is being a good fuck, unlike you who's kind and hard working. he needs to put them in their place, so he fucks with them a bit. but if they dare to ever say anything bad about you again, they're dead.

“i heard mikey asked out that farm person that was here the other day”

“really? them?”

“i know! their clothes look so rugged, i bet they’ll show up in overalls and a flannel or something like that. don’t they realize that they can’t wear stuff like that on dates?”

“mr. sano is way out of their league, i don’t know what he sees in them if i’m being honest.”

“right. he should be going after people with more class than that farm freak.”

mikey, sighs and sets down his glass with a force that causes the strippers sat around the booth to jump and look in his direction. he ignores them, instead standing up from his seat with a pissed off look on his face.

“sanzu.” he calls to his second as he walks towards the back exist of the club they’re currently occupying. sanzu smirks, knowing exactly what his boss wants without him having to say another word.

he’s quick to lure the girls outside where his boss waits, a cigarette between his lips that’s already been half smoked. the girls giggle as they look between sanzu and mikey, which just makes sanzu’s smirk grow wider with a thrill of excitement and anticipation. what dumb bitches, he thinks as he gestures to mikey.

mikey takes another drag of his cigarette before he wordlessly takes it from between his lips and grabs one of the girls—the one who called his bosses play thing a freak, sanzu remembers. she giggles again, giving her friend a look as she nuzzles up to mikey with an arch of her back that makes the man holding her quirk his lip in disgust.

“i’m fucking tired of sluts like you acting like you’re better than everyone because your loose pussy gets you a little bit of money.” he says lowly, threateningly, and finally, the girl stops giggling.

“what?” she says, body going rigid.

“your only value in this world is to be used and fucked, then get passed onto the next guy that wants some quick, cheap pleasure.” mikey continues. the girl begins to struggle in his hold, but mikeys grip only tightens.

the other girl tries to back away as she witnesses the situation unfold between her friend and mikey, but sanzu is quick to grab her and keep her in place with a knife to her throat.

“so what gives you the fucking right to talk shit about people with real value, hm?” he questions, flicking the ash off of his cigarette before taking another drag and blowing the smoke in the girls face. she coughs, struggling to breath as the smoke clouds her lungs.

“you’re not shit, unlike y/n. you need to be put in your fucking place, you dirty bitch.”

the girl screams as mikey puts his cigarette out on her arm, flicking the bud to the ground before doing the same to her.

“don’t ever fucking talk shit about them again or i'll kill you.”

sanzu coudn't have been scarier the moment he hears an insult to his darling leave someone's lips. he's crazy, so he's not going to just rough 'em up a bit, he'll straight up kill them without hesitation. anyone whos speaks bad things under his darlings name is a waste of space in his eyes.

"what the fuck did you just say?" he asks, chin tilted up as he gazes down at the woman who just said something bad about you--a display of superiority that has the girl shivering under his towering form.

her lip quivers as she tries to muster up the courage to say something, but all that can escape is a nervous laugh. sanzu sneers, lip curing in distaste as he pulls out his gun and pushes it against her forehead. he unlocks the safety and pushes teasingly on the trigger.

"w-wait! i'm sorry! sanzu, i-i didn't mean it!" she starts to scream, her heart thumping so loudly against her chest that sanzu can practically hear it. he smirks, pushing it further into her head which only coaxes more ugly sobs and screams from her vile mouth.

"did you not fucking hear me? are you deaf or somehting?" i asked you what you just fucking said." he repeats himself, laughing bitterly and coldly as the look on her face contorts more and more into a look of pure terror. good. she should be fucking sorry that she ever uttered your precious name.

"i-i said, y/n’s clothes look like they were t-taken from the dumpster. i d-don't understand why y-you asked them out." she stutters pathetically as she repeats the disgusting words she said about you just a second ago.

"that's what i thought i heard you say. i was hoping for your sake that i was wrong." he says coldly, any ounce of amusement on his face disappearing.

“w-what?” she askes, voice wobbly and hoarse from all the screaming she just did. she gulps and gives him a hopeful look when he lowers the gun. but instead of putting it away, he hits her haid with the gun, causing her to fall to the floor. she doesn’t get a chance to do anything other than scream and cry before sanzu speaks again.

"filth like you should learn to keep their mouths shut." he says, aiming his gun down at her before shooting.

rindou would insult the hell out of whoever insulted you, and he won't hold back either. anyone that isn't you is already trash to him, but anyone that insults you? they're the filthy dirt on his shoes as far as he's concerned. and if they have the gal to insult you again, he won't hesitate to cut off their tongue so they can never say anything bad about you again.

"rin rin, do you have to go out with that person from the other day?" the girl on his lap asks in a high pitched, whiney voice that gives him a headache. he hums, tilting his head in question as he tries to recall the person she's talking about. she pouts, bouncing in his lap when he doesn't remember.

"the one that looks like their clothes were washed with mud because of how old and dirty they were." she describes, and rindous body goes stiff with realization--she's talking about you.

"yeah, i do." he says curtly, turning his head to take a sip of his drink. the girl pouts some more, but this time she leans into him and drags her hand down his chest, her breasts pushing up against him to make them look bigger. she giggles after seeing the amused look he gives her.

"but why would you want to go out with an ugly person like them when you could stay and have fun with me." she whispers, trying to sound seductive, but rindou was pissed rather than turned on.

he pushes her off of him, uncaring of the fact that she fell on the floor and spilt her own drink all over herself.

"hey, what the fuck?!" she yells at him, but he ignores her and just takes another sip of his drink.

"and why the fuck would i want a desperate bitch like you, hm?" he asks, setting his glass down on his thigh as he leans forward and glares down at her. she doesn't say anything, but the look of disbelief on her faces makes rindou want to laugh.

"y/n is far better than some whore that doesn't even know how to turn a guy on properly." he says motioning to his flacid dick.

"honestly, how useless can you be? i paid a lot of money expecting a good fuck, and this is what i get? some try-hard bitch that's entitled and thinks she can replace my y/n" he scoffs, a feigned huff of a laugh leaving his lips as he shakes his head.

"you'll never be anything compared to what y/n is to me. you're just some whore i'm using for pleasure, but y/n is my everything." he says sternly.

"if you ever say some shit like that to me again i'll cut you're fucking tongue off." dumping his leftover drink on her, he stands up and leaves.

ran is similar to mikey in the way that he'd definitely fuck them up. he's not going to let anyone talk shit about you and get away with it. but the difference between him and mikey though, is he's a bit sadistic and enjoys fucking up anyone that talks shit about his darling.

"who did that person think they were coming into the club with dirty, old clothes? and they talked to ran so causally! he should've kicked them out right away for embarrassing him like that."

"excuse me?" the woman jumped at hearing someone behind her. she quickly turned around and sighed in relief seeing ran with an amused smile on his lips.

"oh my, i didn't notice you behind me." she giggled. "i was just saying you should've had that person thrown out from the other day. it was embarrassing how they came in here looking like they just got dragged through the mud. they didn't contaminate you or anything when they touched you, right?" she joked and ran laughed along with her, forced and strained.

"of course, they didn't." he says once she comes down from her fit of laughter, and his faces falls.

"why would they? they're perfect. unlike you who was born trash." he says, and the womans face scrunches up in confusion. ran grabs her arm with a smile before dragging her upstairs to his own private section of the club, all the while she's yelling protests that go ignored.

he throws her to the ground and looks down at her with a displeased look on his face. when she tries to stand up, he presses his foot against her body and pushes her back down to the floor.

"you said it yourself, right? filth doesn't have the privilege of standing and talking so casually to me." he says as one of the bouncers enters the room and hands him a baton. the woman begins to scream as ran looks down at her with mock sympathy before whacking her side.

"shut up. you should've kept your fucking mouth shut if you didn't want this to happen." he says just as the woman starts to cry.

[earthtoharlow]

Flashing Lights

18) Easy

Jack Harlow x Singer!OC

series masterlist

“I’m kinda nervous.” Jack said as he and Maryse walked up the sidewalk towards Maryse’s childhood home. He was meeting her parents for the first time and he was nervous as hell.

Maryse squeezed his hand and looked up towards him. “You shouldn’t be, seriously!” Maryse knew that her parents were going to love him, everyone loved him. There’s not a person on this earth that Jack couldn’t charm.

When they walked in her mom gave both of them a huge hug. Her laughter filled the entry way as she pulled Jack into a tight embrace. “I’ve heard so much about you!” She said, her eyes twinkling with mischief just like Maryse’s would. “You must be the one who stole my daughter’s heart!”

Jack grinned in response, his charm winning over her mom in an instant. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Mrs. Monet!”

“Oh honey, that makes me feel old! Call me Margot.”

As they settled in the living room, Jack immediately stood when her father walked in the room. This was the moment he had been dreading the most. As they shook hands Jack couldn’t help but feel a pang of nerves. His nerves became worse when Maryse's father asked him to step outside with him.

“Dad!”

“I’ll be nice, I promise.” Maryse’s father said with a wink

Once outside, the two men were silent for a moment, enjoying the cool breeze blowing in the air. Maryse’s dad's gaze towards Jack softened with a knowing look. “I can tell just by how you look at my daughter that you love her,” he said, his voice filled with understanding.

Jack’s heart skipped a beat. He knew that his feelings for Maryse ran deep, but hearing her father acknowledge them so openly filled him with a sense of validation and reassurance.

Jack met the older gentleman’s eyes with sincerity, “Yes, sir,” he replied, his voice steady with conviction. “I love her more than words can express. She’s the most incredible person I’ve ever known, and I’m grateful every day to have her in my life.”

A small smile playing at the corners of his lips. “Good,” he said gently but firmly. “Loving each other is easy. It’s the simplest thing in the world, really. But sometimes, we have a way of making it harder than it needs to be.”

Jack nodded listening intently, feeling the weight of his words.

“And my daughter,” her dad continued, his voice softening with affection, “She’s a special one. She’s got a heart of gold, but it’s also fragile, you know? So I’m asking you to be gentle with it. Love can feel like a stranger to her because of how she’s been hurt in the past,” he said, his words carrying the weight of understanding.

Jack’s heart began to ache when he thought back to everything Maryse dealt with, with Nate. He knew she carried some of those scars.

“I understand, sir. I’ll do everything I can to show M that love doesn’t have to hurt or be toxic. It can be gentle and kind.”

A smile of approval spread across her dads face. “I believe you, just remember to be patient with her. Treat her with care and she’ll love you back fiercely in return.”

Maryse was slightly shocked when they walked back in the room with a smile on their face. Her dad’s stern demeanor softened as he announced to the room. “I like this one.” Clapping Jack on his back with a smile. “You’re alright, kid.”

“Thanks sir.”

“You can call me Murphy.”

“You didn’t threaten him did you?” Maryse quipped, half joking.

He chucked, a twinkle of mischief in his eyes. “Oh, you know me, sweetheart,” he replied with a grin. “I just gave him a friendly reminder of what’s at stake if he ever breaks your heart.”

Maryse rolled her eyes at her overbearing father, happy that he cared about her well being and happiness. Jack chuckled and made his way back over to the couch and enveloped Maryse in his arms, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “I love you.” He whispered softly.

A sense of contentment washed over Maryse. She knew that she had found someone special. Jack has successfully won over the most important people in her life. She couldn’t wait to spend the rest of her life with him.

Maryse slowly opened her eyes and turned her head to the side, and quickly became disappointed that Jack wasn’t next to her. That dream had left her heart heavy. She couldn’t shake the sadness that lingered after.

With a heavy sigh, she wiped away her tears and tried to push the memories of her dream aside, knowing that dwelling on the past would only bring more pain. Maryse longed for the days when they were happy together, when their love felt effortless. Emptiness consumed her as she continued to face the reality of the breakup.

As she laid in the dark staring up at the ceiling couldn’t help but wonder if she would ever find a way to move on from the pain of their breakup, it had only been a month and she felt like she would forever be haunted by the memories of what could have been.

***

BREAKING: Jack Harlow And Maryse Monet Break up!!

In a shocking turn of events, the much-adored celebrity couple, Maryse Monet and Jack Harlow have reportedly called it quits! Sources say they broke up about a month ago and have been trying to hide it from everyone. Including friends and family. The two have unfollowed each other on social media.

Reports suggest that Maryse has been struggling to deal with the breakup, with eyewitnesses claiming to have seen her in tears during her recent concert performances when singing songs she wrote about the rapper.

While neither Maryse nor Jack have officially addressed the breakup, the news has sent shockwaves through their fan base. Many have taken to social media to express their disbelief and sadness over the apparent end of their fairytale romance.

Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops.

Jack’s heart sank as he read the article announcing their breakup. He was shocked that it took this long for the press to find out. Jack had to stop Neelam from putting it out there immediately.

Navigating his crazy tour schedule, he found himself engulfed in a relentless cycle of performances, interviews, and appearances. The demands of his career left him with little time to process the breakup.

The shows each night were a temporary escape. But the quiet moments between performances, the weight of his grief constantly threatened to suffocate him. Alone in his hotel room at night, surrounded by the silence of his thoughts.

His chest tightened as he scrolled further and watched the video of Maryse crying on stage, pain evident on her face. A surge of guilt washed over him. He longed to reach out to her to offer her comfort and reassurance, but a nagging fear held him back.

Jack knew that Maryse needed space to heal, to confront her own demons and work through her issues. And as much as he wanted to be there for her, he also knew that she needed to reach out first – that she needed to take the first step towards reconciliation.

The thought of her suffering alone tore at his heart, and he couldn’t help but feel a sense of helplessness wash over him. He wanted nothing more than to hold her in his arms and tell her that everything would be okay, but he knew that it wasn’t his place – not yet, anyway.

He had heard from Urban the day prior that they finally announced she was playing Princess Belle. Jack had clenched his fists in frustration, cursing the timing of their breakup and the distance that now separated them. He hated the fact that he couldn’t be there to celebrate Maryse’s achievement in person, to share in her joy and shower her with the love and support she deserved.

The more Jack thought about her the more upset he got. Overwhelmed by a flood of emotions, he felt tears welling up in his eyes, the ache of missing Maryse was becoming unbearable. He closed his eyes, willing the tears to stop, but they continued to flow unchecked down his cheeks.

Jack had his head in his hands when Urban unexpectedly walked into the hotel room with a grin on his face but it quickly faded when caught sight of Jack sitting on the edge of the bed with trembling shoulders.

“Hey, man, you okay?” Urban asked, concern lacing his voice as he moved closer.

Jack quickly wiped his eyes and put on a fake smile. He wasn’t ready to talk about it yet, not even to Urban. “Yeah, man, I’m fine,” he insisted, his voice wavering slightly. “Just… you know, tour stuff.”

Urban raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced by the deflection. But before he could press further Jack quickly hopped up from the bed and made his way to the bathroom, “I’ll be right down, I’m just going to use the restroom.” And closed the door behind him before Urban could even respond.

Jack leaned against the sink, his hands trembling slightly as he splashed cold water on his face. As he stared at his reflection in the mirror, the raw pain etched in his features, was a stark reminder of the heartbreak he had been trying so hard to bury.

He knew he couldn’t run away from the pain for much longer but he was going to stretch it for as long as he could.

***

CoCo stood in front of the doorway of the hotel room, her arms crossed and a look of determination on her face. “Alright, enough is enough,” she declared, her voice firm. “You’ve been moping around in bed for a month now when not performing, and it’s time to snap out of it.”

Maryse stayed curled up under the covers with tear stained cheeks, she groaned in protest. “I don’t feel like celebrating,” she muttered, her voice muffled by the pillow.

CoCo rolled her eyes, refusing to be swayed by her gloomy attitude. “Well, tough luck,” she retorted, marching over to the bed and yanking the covers off with a swift motion. “You’ve just been announced as the lead in a live action Beauty and the Beast and you’re going to act like it.”

Maryse let out a frustrated sigh as she reluctantly sat up, rubbing her eyes tiredly. “I can’t just pretend like everything’s okay,” she protested, her voice tinged with sadness.

CoCo softened her voice, kneeling down in front of her with a sympathetic expression. “I know it’s hard, Maryse”, she said gently, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. “But you can’t let this breakup consume you. You’re stronger than that, and you have a career to focus on.”

She nodded reluctantly, as she stared down at her trembling hands. “I just miss him so much,” Maryse admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

“I know you miss him,” CoCo said softly, “but you’re never going to get him back if you don’t take care of yourself and heal from past trauma.”

Maryse knew deep down that she couldn’t continue to wallow in her pain and expect things to magically fall back into place with Jack. She needed to prioritize her own well-being and address the unresolved issues that had been weighing her down for far too long. “It’s like I’m scared of letting myself be happy.”

CoCo nodded in understanding, her expression filled with empathy. “You want a healthy relationship until one is sitting in front of you, then you don’t know what to do with it so you sabotage it,” she explained, her voice gentle yet firm.

It was true – she had spent so long yearning for real love after her breakup with Nate and when it finally presented itself to her, she had struggled to fully embrace it. Instead, she had allowed her insecurities and fears to drive a wedge between her and Jack sabotaging their relationship in the process.

Tears welled up in Maryse’s eyes, she had pushed away the one person who had truly cared for her, all because she didn’t know how to handle the intensity of her own emotions. “I don’t know why I do it,” she admitted, her voice trembling with emotion.

Her manager reached out and gently squeezed her hand, offering her a reassuring smile. “It’s okay, Maryse,” she said softly. “We all have our demons to face. But you have to remember that you deserve to be happy, and you deserve to have love in your life.”

Maryse sighed heavily knowing she was right. “What should I do now?” she asked. “I feel helpless.”

“You’ve gotta pick yourself back up, Maryse,” she said gently. “Become a better version of yourself, and put all your emotions into your music. Let it be your therapy, and your outlet for healing.”

She nodded, she knew that she needed to channel her pain into something constructive.

“And as for your broken relationship,” CoCo continued, her tone filled with wisdom, “it’ll fix itself when it’s ready. Love has a funny way of finding its way back to us when we least expect it. But in the meantime, focus on yourself and your music. That’s where your strength lies.”

Maryse nodded knowing CoCo was right but that didn’t make the breakup hurt any less. The sting of heartbreak was still fresh and overwhelming, but she was going to do what CoCo said because she wasn’t sure how much longer she was going to be able to handle the ache in her chest.

***

AN: I can’t handle this 🤧 tell your thoughts thank you for reading!!

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[archiveikemen]

『 Dark If 』 Story Event: Epilogue

Jude Jazza

This is a fan-made translation solely for entertainment purposes with no guaranteed perfection. I do not own any of the original content. Please support CYBIRD by buying their stories and playing their games. Reblogs appreciated.

❥･• Warnings and FAQ

Note: This epilogue is a continuation of the Premium END story.

And so, Sleeping Beauty fell asleep for 100 years due to her curse.

She was awakened by a true love’s kiss from a prince, and they lived happily ever after. —

Kate: … I wasn’t kissed by a prince.

I muttered while recalling a passage from the original story of Sleeping Beauty I read back in England.

Ellis: What’s the matter?

Kate: Ah, it’s nothing, just… did my father or any soldiers try breaking into this castle while I was asleep?

Upon waking up, I was informed that my father had passed away while I was asleep.

His passing weighed on my heart for some time, because I felt that I was unfilial for not being there during his final days.

However, I was able to better cope with my feelings after paying a visit to his grave

Besides… I had to be considerate of Jude, who cursed me and took me away from my father, and was still hated and greatly feared 100 years later by the entire country.

(I don’t want to make him regret saving me.)

That was why I never asked for any details on the matter, but it suddenly started troubling me again lately.

Ellis: Ahh… come to think of it, I think I remember something like that happening.

Ellis: I drove them all away under Jude’s instructions.

Kate: What…?

Ellis: I did try my best to have them leave as unharmed as possible.

Ellis: But it seems that the ones who came while I was away were flayed by Jude and thrown out.

Ellis: Some of them were even left hanging outside for a while.

It was possible that all the princes who attempted to get to me were defeated by the fairy of the thorn castle and his assistant, the thorn.

(In order for this world to have a happy ending…)

(Perhaps someone from this world has to kiss me to wake me up from my sleep.)

“There is something missing in this world” — those words had been bothering me for a while.

(But…)

(If I have to kiss someone other than Jude… I'd rather this world remain twisted.)

Kate: … Thank you for protecting me.

Ellis: Nah, don’t mention it.

Jude: You haven’t paid for that service yet.

Kate: ! Welcome back, Jude.

My heart instantly started racing the moment I heard that voice.

I sprang up from the couch and ran to Jude.

Jude: You don't have to come sprinting towards me every single time. What are you, a dog?

Jude muttered dismissively and sat down on the couch.

It had been a few months since I woke up from my sleep, and I was still very much in love with him.

Kate: … I can’t help it when I miss you so much.

Jude: Yeah, yeah, how nice.

The way Jude treated me was as though I were a little girl.

(... I want him to see me as a grown woman.)

(Could it be that he thinks the difference between our mental ages is too big, because I was asleep for 100 years…?)

I still wore the collar he gave me back when we first met.

He told me that I could take it off whenever I wanted, because it wasn’t really something that could blow my head off.

But I found joy in the thought that this collar connected me to him in some way, so I couldn't bring myself to remove it.

…

— On nights when I had difficulty falling asleep, I would sneak into Jude’s study.

(These piles of books… they were all for finding a cure to my illness.)

While I did find Jude’s spiteful nature endearing, I yearned for him to look at me beyond my illness and as a person.

(I wonder if right now, Jude only sees me as nothing more than free labour and someone who’s repaying a debt they owe him.)

(I mean, of course I’m genuinely trying to be helpful towards him as I promised to and I’m more than happy to help, but…)

(I’m asking for too much, aren’t I? This just isn’t nearly enough for me.)

A suffocating feeling of hopelessness overwhelmed me.

(... This room smells like Jude.)

The love overflowing in my heart was making my body throb and heat up.

Kate: Jude…

I touched my lips.

(I don’t need a prince to kiss me. But…)

Kate: … Will you finally notice me… if we kiss?

Jude: I was just thinking it's admirable that you’re holed up in the study night after night to read…

Jude: What kind of dirty thoughts are you having, pervert?

Kate: …!?

I whipped my head around to see Jude leaning against the door with a mocking smile.

(Jude!? W-When did he come into the study…)

Kate: E-Erm, I was uhh…

Jude: What? Feeling frustrated?

His disgusted remark made my face turn bright red.

I bit my lip tightly in frustration, feeling as though I had just been chided for doing something indecent.

Kate: If you say so… then yes, I am.

Kate: But… it doesn’t mean that I want just anyone to think of me that way or touch me.

Jude narrowed his amethyst eyes and stared at me intently.

Jude: … You sound like you're saying that you’re horny for me.

Kate: … That’s exactly what I’m saying.

Even if it would make him dislike having me around or hate my entire being, I wanted to come clean about my feelings for him.

Kate: It bothers me that I’m only being thought of as a labourer working to repay a debt.

Jude: — Just a labourer?

He had remained unfazed until now, but upon hearing those words — Jude’s facial expression stiffened and his eyebrows twitched.

Jude: … You really don’t get it at all.

Kate: What…?

Jude hooked his long finger under my collar.

Kate: … ah…

His fingertip coming into contact with my skin sent a sweet tremble through my body that had been throbbing with need ever since he entered the room.

He pulled on the collar, bringing my face closer to his.

Jude: Do you think I’ll spend 100 years finding a cure to an incurable illness, just to save the life of someone I don’t see as anything more than labourer?

Jude: Are you looking down on me?

Kate: ah… ugh.

I felt a pain in my back as I was pressed against a bookshelf.

He let go of my collar and held my wrists together—

There was a soft touch on my neck, at the spot where the needle pierced me.

(Huh…?)

The moment I realised that it was Jude’s lips, my entire body started pulsating.

Kate: ah… aah…

His teeth grazed on my skin and he bit down on it like he wanted to slowly instil the pain.

(Did Jude just… bite me…?)

I felt my body go numb and it was as if my legs were about to give way.

Jude pushed his leg in between my knees, preventing me from falling.

Jude: … Before you fell asleep, I said this to you.

Jude: I said that, because it's you, I would never let you die.

The gaze from his gleaming amethyst eyes staring down at me became harsh.

Jude: I must've phrased that wrong.

Jude: It’s precisely because it’s YOU, I didn't let you escape me just like that.

Kate: Jude…

I was so happy that I wanted him to touch me, kiss me, and look at me as soon as possible.

Jude looked down at me mockingly.

Jude: Oh, but I’m not going to kiss you or anything more than that.

Kate: … Why not?

Jude: You kept me waiting for 100 years — it’s not fair to me if I so easily give you what you want.

Jude: As much as possible, I’ll make you feel impatient, frustrated, and miserable.

Jude: Knowing how persistent you are, 100 years will be nothing, right?

Kate: — You’re awful…!

Jude: Hah… I could say the same thing about you.

It was miserable and painful, my body wouldn't stop throbbing.

The heat from craving for him like mad was messing with my thoughts.

(I don’t need a prince to kiss me.)

(Nor do I need a happy ending, or to return to my original world.)

Even if this bittersweet pain he gave me was making me feel miserable — to me, that was the best form of happiness.

[winniethewife]

'Cause shade never made anybody less gay so (Jake Lockley X GN!reader)

Week 4: Food, fashion, fun

Words: 637

A/N: Thanks to @midgardian-witch and @ominoose for help coming up with drag queen names For @romanarose 's Pride event!

“Jake c’mon we don’t wanna miss the show!” they excitedly jump up and down, they had been having a great time at the local pride fest. They were covered head to toe in rainbow merch, they had even convinced Jake to let them pin some rainbow pins and ribbons to his hat, he's also wearing so many Mardi gras beads that its giving his neck a work out.

“Muy bien, vamos!” he laughed, he loved how excited they were for this, they had been in a bit of a slump recently, a mix of their work and personal life were rather taxing on them as of late, so this one day out at pride was exactly what they were looking for. A chance to have fun, to be themselves and not worry about the outside world. As they approached the stage they both found a place to sit in the amphitheater. They watch the act that was currently on finish their routine and exit the stage. As they do the MC, a drag king in an ill-fitting suit, Dark eyeliner and a pencil mustache walks on the stage.

“Please give your warmest regards to the duo, Lola Lavish & Pippa Pizazz!! I see we have some new faces in the crowd so let me introduce myself again, I’m Vin Dictive, No really that’s my name, Although, I am know to be hell bent on revenge on occasion.” Jake let out a laugh along with the rest of the crowd. Vin Dictive gave a exaggerated bow to the laughter. “Thank you, Thank you! Now as a quick reminder this show is for charity, so all our tips today are going to The Trevor Project, so please tip our good performers in good faith, and good money.” There was a cheer from the crowd and Vin gave a big simile. “Alright you’ve heard enough of me yapping, lets give it up for our next performer…Marry Golds!”

As Vin dictive left the stage a song began to play as the blonde haired, er wigged? Jake wasn’t sure what the right term was, either way She entered the stage lip syncing to the song and doing some rather impressive choreography.

“You are somebody that I don't know, But you're taking shots at me like it's Patrón, And I'm just like "Damn, it's 7:00 a.m."

They leaned over and whispered in Jakes ear. “I think you’d make a really great drag queen Jake.” He chuckled.

“Yeah? You think? What would I call myself Senorita Tortilla?” he asked with a laugh. "Hola Soy Senorita Tortilla!" He said with a tip of his cap. they burst out laughing

“I donno that’s a pretty good name.” they gave him a smile, before returning their gaze to the performance. As the Drag queen came to the edge of the stage they stood up and held up a five dollar bill, which the drag queen took with a flourish, blowing a kiss in their direction before continuing the show. Jake gave them an affectionate look as they sat back down. “What? It’s for charity.” They said laughing.

“Of course, of course. I was just thinking how cute you looked up there.” He gives them a little nudge.  They blush slightly, Jake couldn’t help but smile. He was glad they made time to do this. They looked so happy, and it was a lot of fun. He at some point forgets to watch the drag queen, focused on how they danced along to the song.

“Like, can you just not step on our gowns? You need to calm down.”  They sing along with the ending before looking over at Jake with a smile. “What is it now Lockely?”

“Te amo, Mi amor.” He said softly. They look at him with a soft smile.

“I love you too. So much.”

~

Translations:

Muy bien, vamos : Very good lets go!

Hola Soy Senorita Tortilla: Hello, I'm Miss Tortilla.

Masterlist

Taglist: @romanarose @silvernight-m @queerponcho @boredzillenial

Please Consider donating to The Trevor Project this pride

[mychoombatheroomba]

Don't Let Go

Between the Bones (Leon x GN! Reader) - Chapter 36

You get some unexpected support, and you and Leon come to an understanding that neither of you likes.

(Cross-posted from Ao3)

Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

Chapter Index

They had the day off, but the first thing that everyone wanted was answers.

To his credit, Krauser took the time to answer them all as best he could. 

“Why didn’t you warn us?” 

“I didn’t know.”

“Do they have the authority to even do that?” 

“. . . Yes.” 

“What are they so afraid of us blabbing about?” 

“You’ll be learning that in the coming weeks.” 

“Are those assholes really going to be staying?” 

“Yes.”

Leon stood in the back as the rest of the squad learned what he already knew: what they’d suffered for. What some of them were being sent home for. No one was happy with the answers given, but most understood. Leon understood. The reasoning, at least. Not the practice. Not the torture. He would never understand that. 

Nor would he understand the answer to the question Valeria hissed out, one that had been eating away at Leon, too. The one thing he wasn’t reasonably sure of, on Krauser’s end regarding the whole experience. 

“They had our letters,” she said, her foot tapping against the floor beneath where she sat on her bunk. “From months back.” 

Leon watched shadow overtake Krauser’s eyes, that crease between his brows deepening. 

“Hadn’t heard from my mom. Is it because they held those letters from us?” 

Krauser nodded once, his gaze unwavering even if it was full of regret. “Yes.” 

“And you knew?” Valeria pressed, hurt evident in her features. 

Another pause, before Krauser nodded. “Yes. STRATCOM procedure. No communication with the world outside during training.” 

“So any letters we sent home . . .” 

“. . . Were never sent.”

Top-secret shit, even before the bioweapons were brought into play. 

Not that it made the pill any easier to swallow. 

Still, the Major didn’t try to shift the blame off of himself, even as Valeria fixed him in a scalding glare. If looks could kill, Jack Krauser would be a pile of ash on the ground. “That’s bullshit,” Valeria snapped. “Sir.” 

“Watch that tone, Soto,” Krauser met her, steel for steel. Leon had seen the man make soldiers give him fifty push-ups for mouthing off . . . but he’d also seen him allow Leon to speak his mind. He’d seen the Major listen to Leon’s own concerns, even if the Major seemed to like quite literally everyone else better than him. So, even if he barked at Valeria now, Leon wasn’t surprised when a moment later, the Major just gave her an apologetic look. There were a lot of those that he gave that morning, until there were no more questions. 

None that anyone was brave enough to ask, anyway. 

Their personal effects were passed back out to them - the ones that had been abandoned in the Humvees when Reed and Hellman had taken the squad. Three days ago. Three days and a lifetime, it felt like. 

Just like how Raccoon City felt like a lifetime in one night. 

Pain had a way of doing that, didn’t it? Warping the world. A day became forever, forever became attached to the idea of something terrible. A cage with no bars. He wondered how long he and the rest would be stuck in that cage? How long the bruises would take to heal, how often, like last night, someone would hear movement in the barracks and jolt awake, expecting a blow for having fallen asleep . . .

Everyone was still so quiet as they unloaded their freshly returned packs. Hard not to be when Andersen and the other three who had failed were there, not bothering to join in the unpacking. What was the point if they were going to be gone by tomorrow anyway?

As for the rest, the day was theirs to do with as they pleased, and no one had any idea how to spend that free time. 

Not until heavy footfalls against the floor made Leon and those around him - Alenko, Williams and Valeria - look up, and they found the Major standing there, his hands behind his back. He looked at each of them, gaze sweeping from right to left before landing on Leon and hardening. Sharpening. Leon was sure then that he was about to hear a speech about his failure. About how he’d broken and the only reason that he and Valeria were being allowed to stay were because of Krauser’s own intervention. Or maybe that this entire thing was because of a request that Leon made. He could think of no other reason for the loathing in that stare. 

Instead, the Major looked back at the group as a whole. “Heard you had some trouble back at Fort Benning,” he said, and Leon’s brow furrowed. So the conversation wasn’t going to be about the beatings taken in those cells, but rather the one that he and the others had taken in defense of one another. “Got a call from Commander Cortez a few days back. Said you got into a fight. That you put twelve of his men in the hospital. That true?” 

That, too, seemed like a lifetime ago. Alenko was the one to nod and answer Krauser’s question. “Yes, sir.” He frowned as he spoke, the expression tugging at the splotches of blue and purple on his face. 

Krauser nodded once, his face set in stone. 

“Good,” he finally said, and Leon recognized veiled pride in his eyes. “Make sure you don’t end up in the hospital too, next time.” 

It was one of the few orders that Major Krauser had given in his time here that Leon agreed with. 

Of course, when the Major unclasped his hands and tossed what he’d been holding onto the bunk nearest him, Leon felt an entirely different wave of emotion sweep through him. The little radio rolled onto its back as it landed amidst the scratchy blankets, leaving a flash of recognition to cross Williams’ and Alenko’s faces as they saw it. The same radio that had been in Cortez’s office. The same one you’d somehow stolen for them, that you’d all been listening to on the ride home before everything went wrong. 

Krauser was giving it back to them. 

“And don’t make a habit of stealing from your Commanding Officers.” 

Leon might have laughed, under different circumstances. 

Instead, he found himself even more surprised as Krauser went on, this time looking towards Valeria. “Your letters,” he began, “they were from your mother?” Hellman must have told him, then. Or maybe Krauser had read the letters himself, after the fact. Leon hoped that wasn’t the case. He hoped he hadn’t read through Sherry’s letters before Leon even had the chance to. Still, he knew enough about the contents to ask.

Valeria’s mouth twitched down, and she nodded once in response, stiff and all too plainly upset. 

Krauser nodded too, and again Leon saw conflict in the Major’s face. Whatever combat his thoughts were doing, though, it was over quickly. “I’ll do what I can to get you clearance to write home. All of you.” 

That was all Krauser said . . . but just before he turned away, his eyes found Leon again. Fixed on him like crosshairs. The words spoken were all that were said, but Leon could see that Krauser had more to say. Something lurking just beneath the surface, unformed but sharp. Leon only glimpsed it for a moment, but it was there all the same. Leon almost didn’t care if the Major was angry, now though. Because even if he didn’t have a home to write to, really, he could write to Sherry. 

He might be able to tell her he was sorry for not answering her letters. To tell her he was okay, to make sure that she was alright too. 

So, whatever was behind the sharp look that he received now, Leon just met that sharpness with gratitude. He didn’t get much but a moment of that gaze losing its edge. Just a second or two, and then the moment was gone, and so was Major Krauser, moving down the rows of bunks. He hesitated as he neared Andersen, the older soldier sitting on the edge of his bunk, looking shell-shocked. 

Krauser looked down at him, his jaw tensing as he reached out a hand, patting the other man on the shoulder. 

Then, lifting his chin, he left the barracks. 

More silence followed, until at last, Williams spoke up. “Looks like Sarge was right about him being proud,” she muttered, watching as he stepped through the door. 

There was no doubt in Leon’s mind. Jack Krauser was an asshole. He had a sadistic streak. He liked to push people and he would never apologize for doing it. All of that was still true. 

But maybe you’d been right about more than just Krauser being proud of you all. 

“Do you buy it?” Alenko asked, looking over at Leon. “That he didn’t know about Reed and Hellman?” He didn’t sound overly skeptical. Just like he wanted to be sure. That he needed that one last opinion that reinforced his own. 

You had faith in the Major. Leon had criticized you for that, once. 

Now he understood it better. 

“He’s telling the truth,” Leon nodded, and he could have sworn he felt hell freeze over because he was defending Krauser of all people. “You saw how he reacted to . . .” to your injury. Leon had seen it up close and personal. The shock that mutated into rage. Rage enough to make Krauser nearly do something stupid. 

“Yeah,” Alenko conceded, knowing well enough what Leon was referring to. They’d all seen the concern the Major had for you. The regret he’d hidden poorly as he answered the questions today. He had not meant you all to come to harm. Not like that. 

Didn’t change the fact that you were still going to be hospitalized for who-knew-how-long. 

“Never seen him worried like that,” Williams nodded, shaking her head. 

“Never seen Sarge hurting like that either,” Alenko said, and tensed when he felt Valeria’s gaze turn on him. She was still feeling guilty, Leon could see it. Alenko could too, shutting his mouth when he realized he’d just reminded Valeria of what she’d inadvertently caused. 

Because Reed and Hellman had asked about the two of you specifically. That’s what Valeria had said last night, and those words had Leon on edge. That’s what made him worry even now that there was danger, even now that they were all free of those cells. 

You’d told him last night that you couldn’t risk him being there, and you hadn’t known how right you’d been. 

The two of you had been obvious with your care for one another. So, even if she’d given up information about you two being close, Leon didn’t blame Valeria for what happened. Even if it was clear that she blamed herself. 

Maybe that was why, after a moment, she reached for the radio that Krauser had left on the cot in front of her, and stood. “Come on then,” she said to the group, and her voice had more resolve in it than Leon had heard in a long while. 

“Where are you-”

“We weren’t the ones that stole the radio, right? And Sarge is gonna get a lot more use out of it than we are.” 

It was a day for looking past old angers, Leon found. He hadn’t liked Valeria much before the trip to Fort Benning. That had changed steadily while there. Now, though, as she marched off in an effort to try and alleviate your loneliness, whether to lessen her guilt or because she genuinely cared for you, Leon didn’t care. What mattered was the effort. It mattered that someone besides him cared enough to think of that before he could even voice it. 

And Leon, for the first time in the last few days, smiled. He didn’t hesitate as he stood alongside her, following her as she moved towards the door. It didn’t take long before Williams and Alenko were following along, too. 

⧫⧫⧫

As soon as you heard the knock on the door, you steeled yourself. 

You weren’t sure how you were going to tell Leon. Distancing yourself had been the first instinct. You were good at that. It would be easy. Well, not easy, but doable. You’d done it once before, after all. 

It had left you feeling like shit, and it hadn’t solved anything. 

You’d both promised to talk about what you were feeling. It was a promise you regretted now that it made things more difficult, but you wanted to honor it. You owed him that much. So, you’d torn your mind apart all morning trying to put together the right words. 

Krauser knows-

Reed and Hellman will be watching-

We can’t-

All of them seemed like bullshit, even if the concerns Krauser had raised were valid. Real. Just as the happiness that Leon Kennedy brought you was real, too. The most real thing you’d felt in months, besides that old and aching pain that you could never be rid of. Pain that was dulled and, sometimes, forgotten around the man you’d come to care for so much. The man you’d watched grow into a stronger person, inside and out. The man you would take a thousand hits for. 

You couldn’t just let that go. 

So when you heard that knock, you weren’t sure what the hell you were supposed to do because Leon wouldn’t want to end this. Not now. And neither did you. 

The door opened and you found yourself speaking on instinct alone. “You shouldn’t be in here,” you repeated the words from the night before, not looking up from that spot on the floor you’d chosen as yours. 

And then you regretted not looking up as soon as you heard a smoky but strained voice reply. “Nice to see you too.” 

Your head snapped up and you pushed yourself up from bed, thanking the pain meds in your system for allowing the movement. Valeria didn’t wait to be invited in. Neither did any of the three people following her. Alenko and Williams gave you gentle, apologetic smiles as they followed the shorter woman in, and you felt your heart splinter because you’d thought to spend this day alone, like the last time. You thought you’d have to push Leon away the moment he stepped through the door, just for the sake of keeping up appearances. 

Instead, you found yourself looking at your squad mates with wide eyes. 

And when Leon did walk through the door, you felt that splintered heart break apart when he smiled at you. 

“Hey,” he greeted, and you knew this conversation was going to hurt. Both of you. 

But what conversation was it going to shape up to become? 

You didn’t know, and, as you looked at the four visitors in front of you, you decided that maybe you didn’t want to know, either. 

“Hey,” you said. “What are you all-”

“We got the day off,” Valeria answered. “Figured you could use the company.” 

“If you wanted it,” Leon added, giving you an understanding look. 

You’d been alone during your recovery from Finland. Krauser had checked in on you when he could, but he had a life and duties to attend to. The nurses that pitied you had made for shitty companions. Not that you’d wanted anyone, anyway. Solitude. That had been your companion and your shield. You’d thought just Leon had the ability to break down that barricade around you. 

You’d been wrong. 

It wasn’t quite a smile that you gave the group as you nodded, but it was close enough. “Okay.” 

That surprise and that slight smile only grew as Valeria held out her arm and presented you with none other than the little radio you’d stolen from Cortez’s office. “Think you’re missing this, too.” 

You weren’t sure what to think as you took the radio from her. Valeria seldom did anything without cause. What was her reasoning for this? For being, well, downright kind to you? You didn’t know, and, honestly? In that moment, when you had been so sure you’d been condemned to isolation in every possible way, you decided that you didn’t care, either. 

So, you settled the radio between your hands, fighting back the new kind of pain in your chest. One not born of your cracked ribs or the fear that Krauser’s words had instilled in you. 

This pain was sweeter. One you hadn’t felt in a long, long time. 

“Thank you,” you murmured, looking from Valeria, to Leon, and then the rest. 

Valeria just shrugged. “You’re no fun when you’re miserable. So pick a station and let’s fucking relax for once.” 

You couldn’t really argue with that, so you flipped switches and dials until you heard a synth beat and vocals you hadn’t heard in so long. A song from another life. 

“. . . there’s no turning back.”

“Even while we sleep . . .”

“Shit,” Alenko smiled wide as he took a seat a ways away from the bed you sat in. “I love this song!”

Williams just nodded, crossing her arms over her chest and leaning against the wall. “Least it’s not the Spice Girls,” she mumbled over her split lip before she looked over at the rest of you who, back in the Humvee, had made her sit through one of their songs. It seemed her opinion of them hadn’t improved. “Respectfully, they’re shit.” The near-apology was delivered with a near-smile to match. 

“Well, Williams,” you found yourself saying, even if your words were muted by the ordeal you’d just been through. Still, there was something familiar there. Something you’d rediscovered at Fort Benning, and were glad to find at your fingertips now; humor. That was what ever-so-slightly colored your words as you told Williams, “ respectfully, go fuck yourself.” 

An Army brat like you, Williams just smirked right back. 

“Help me make the-”

“Most of freedom and of pleasure-”

“Nothing ever lasts forever . . .” 

It made it easier, having them there. There weren’t many words, but there didn’t need to be. You all just listened to the song as it played, finding a comfortable state of quiet between each other. Valeria moved to lean against the wall by Williams’ side. Leon . . . you could tell he wanted to move closer to you. You wanted that too. You wanted it to be just the two of you, like in the hospital in Fort Benning, but Krauser’s warning hung over your head. 

“There’s a room where the light won’t find you-”

“Holding hands as the walls come tumbling down-”

“When they do, I’ll be right behind you . . .”

Being alone with him was dangerous, more so now than it ever had been. That didn’t change simply because you wanted his presence or company. Your desire for him wouldn’t be pitied in a court martial. Not if Reed and Hellman were already looking at you like an infected limb that needed to be cut away.

You needed to heal, and Leon needed to finish this training. You both did. You’d just never thought it would be apart. 

“So glad we almost made it . . .”

So . . . you would be alone with him one more time. At least for a while. 

“So sad they had to fade it . . .”

You hoped he would understand that this was for the best, for now. 

The song eventually finished and you looked up to meet his eyes. You’d learned to speak without words to each other, now. So many stolen glances and nights spent side by side, in training or with him pressed up against the wall of the mess hall, you had a language all your own. Insight into each other’s thoughts. And as you looked into those ocean blues, you saw your own thoughts reflected back at you. 

There was a talk to be had, and both of you knew it. 

⧫⧫⧫

The day went on and eventually the others left. Alenko was first, saying he was going to go in search of food. Had to be desperate, to want what the mess hall served, but Leon didn’t begrudge him. The hunger of those three days had left them all empty just as much as the rest of the experience had. 

Williams went next, saying she needed to move, to make up for those days spent in captivity. Valeria didn’t take much convincing when asked to join her.

Leon almost told them to be careful. To not let the agents see them. 

To not end up in the predicament that the two of you were in. 

A situation that became clear and present, once the two of you were left alone, the radio playing on. 

“How are you feeling?” He knew what the answer would be, but he asked anyway.

“They gave me pain meds,” you shrugged as best you could, “so not that bad right now.” 

At least there was that. Even if you shouldn’t have had to be in the infirmary in the first place. “Have they told you how long you’ll be on bed rest?” Leon asked, because he didn’t want to have the other conversation. Not yet. 

The mirth that had been present on your face, however muted, faded. “It was a six week recovery last time. For the bones.” 

“Six?” The number sounded so much worse than what Leon had imagined. He remembered his own long recovery from the gunshot wound he’d suffered in Raccoon City. It had seemed long then, but he hadn’t been kept from anything. It hadn’t stopped him from living his life. Not that he’d done much living after that night anyway. Still, he couldn’t imagine what this was like to you, because it would be six weeks without physical training. Six weeks without sparring, without being able to clear your head in the way Leon knew you would need. Six weeks of what would be hell to you. 

And if you couldn’t train for combat like the rest of them . . . would you be able to graduate with the rest? With him? 

“You need to keep practicing,” you told him, and by the stiffness of your words, Leon could tell that you were thinking of exactly what he was thinking of. It sounded like you were telling him to go on without you. “Train with the others, but ask Krauser to spar too. He’s the best. He’ll kick your ass, but he’ll make you better.”

“You say that like you’re not gonna-”

“I’m not gonna be able to spar with you, Leon. Not for a while. I’m not gonna be there. You can’t let yourself fall behind with me.” 

The words, while well intentioned, were painful to hear aloud. True, but painful because after months of training with you, he couldn’t imagine not being by your side. He didn’t want to have to train for hell on earth and not know that you would be there to face it with him. 

But you were right. 

As unfair as it was, as completely and utterly shitty, you were right. 

“Okay,” he nodded. “But then when you’re better, we’ll catch you back up.” Because he knew you would need it. He knew you’d want it, too. That after so long letting your body heal, you would want nothing more than to throw yourself back into the swing of things. 

The trouble was-

“Leon . . .” you shook your head, and he knew that the conversation he’d dreaded was here. “Krauser knows.” 

Just like that, the color drained from his face. You’d never been one to beat around the bush, but those words were like being doused in ice water.

“About . . .”

“Us.” 

He felt a pit open up in his stomach that threatened to turn him inside-out, and all he could do was sit on the bed beside you. The jaws were closing in. Had that been the cause of that look from Krauser earlier? Had the Major been looking at him with such disdain because of that?

“. . . Fuck.” It was really all he could say. Why even warn you about Reed and Hellman if the game was already over . . .

“He’s not going to report it.” 

. . . or maybe not as over as Leon had thought. 

“What?” he blinked, turning to look at you without bothering to hide his confusion. Major Krauser hadn’t exactly been by the books, as far as Leon knew, but he’d been so adamant about respecting the order of things. This whole mess had happened because he’d not wanted to step outside the bounds of red tape. Why the hell hadn’t he reported fraternization? 

“Said he doesn’t care. But he also said that Reed and Hellman will.” 

Leon nodded, trying to reconcile all the mismatched thoughts and solutions buzzing around his mind. 

“So he’s saying he won’t stop us but if we get found out we’re fucked.” 

You just nodded, the air growing heavier and heavier with each moment. Because Leon knew where this was going, just as much as you did. 

Leon pursed his lips, looking down. “They asked about us during the interrogations,” he finally said. “Reed and Hellman. Valeria told me they were asking.” 

It was your turn to frown, he could see it out of the corner of his eyes. He wouldn’t rat Valeria out, but you deserved to know that the agents were onto you, even if Krauser wouldn’t be the one to confirm it.

Why wouldn’t he confirm it?

“Then they’ll be watching.” 

Leon nodded once, feeling emptiness beginning to set in. “So what do you want to do?” he asked, dreading the answer because he’d heard the distance in your voice last night, and he could hear it even then. He’d heard it once before, after you’d kissed him that first night and tried to convince yourself and him that it was a mistake. 

The difference was that, then, he’d seen that emptiness in your eyes, too. He’d seen you retreating into yourself. 

He knew you well enough now to know that the look that he saw in your eyes didn’t match the attempt at distance in your voice. Because, as you turned your gaze up towards him, Leon could see only conflict. Only you, a casualty of the crossfire between what your mind had to be telling you and what your heart wanted. When you answered, that conflict was all the more apparent. “You know what I want. But we have to be smart about this. Because if Krauser knows - and has for months now - then Reed and Hellman will pick up on it too, and they’re already gunning to cut me for this shit,” you gestured down to your ribs, and Leon swore he heard your voice waver.  

“They wanted me out, too,” Leon admitted, and he watched some fear seep into your expression. “Krauser convinced them to let me stay.” 

And again, Leon found himself wondering why?

“They wanted . . . why?” you asked. Why they’d wanted Leon gone - that’s what you were asking about. 

“Because I broke,” he admitted, his voice hushed. Not ashamed, but overwhelmed by other emotions. “When they were hurting you, I had to get them to stop. So I was going to tell them what they wanted to know. Right before Krauser got there.” 

You looked at him then, silent, your eyes piercing his own. Searching and seeing straight through him, just as you always had. 

You had suffered on account of him. It was the last thing he ever wanted for you, but you’d endured it. You’d taken pain for him, in fights and behind bars, and you’d been taking pain from him for far longer. With your company, with your touch. You’d helped each other learn to walk again. It was what had made him fall in love with you, even if it had been something that happened to him at the end of your knife. 

He loved you. So, he made a decision. 

“Look,” he went on, turning to face you more, feeling something in him building. A resolve or a desperate hope, he wasn’t sure. “I’ll focus on training. I’ll work with Krauser, I’ll . . . I’ll only visit you with the others, if you think it’ll be less suspicious. But I’m not leaving you here by yourself. I’m not letting go of this. I can’t do that. Not if you don’t want to let go, either.” 

He watched you, feeling emotion overtaking him. Bearing down on him, nearly making him shake because it had all been too much. Raccoon City. STRATCOM. All the hurts he’d suffered - that you’d suffered - and the best thing to come from it all had been this. You. 

So, his throat constricting, he hoped that you felt the same way. 

For a moment, he worried, because you were staring at him like he was something you could never have. He saw the regret in your eyes, the tension in your body, like you were bracing for some great pain. It all faded, though, and the corners of your mouth turned up just a bit. The dark of night graying as the sun tried to appear once more. 

It was all the warning he had before your lips were on his, and Leon felt the resolve he’d built up for months, the guard he’d put around himself in that prison, crumble. Emotion and relief flooded him, and his hand shook a bit as he lifted it to your face. It was different from the kisses the two of you had stolen in the shadows. Different than the sweet one he’d given you in the hospital at Fort Benning. This was all longing. Wordless in its declaration. He held you gently, no longer needing to memorize the feel of you but trying to hold on to every detail anyway. 

Because he didn’t know when he’d next get the chance to kiss you. Or hold you. Or be with you the way he wanted. 

But he wasn’t letting go. 

“I don’t want to let go, either,” you told him, your lips against his. “I don’t know when we’ll be able to-”

“Neither do I,” Leon admitted, as the words tore at him. “But . . . we’ll find a way.” 

He had to believe that. 

He had to believe that this wedge being driven between the two of you wouldn’t change what he felt. And to that end, he would watch. He would find moments of safety for the two of you, he would learn to play the spy game if it meant he could steal a few heartbeats with you. He’d wait for those moments, and he’d wait for you. 

However long it took. 

Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

Chapter Index

[fly-sky-high-bug-games]

Gambit of Crystal Peak (she/they, aromantic, possibly ace as well but who knows)

Species: Cricket

Design based of: House Cricket

As a toddler, Gambit was part of a large and poor family. When she grew a little older, she was your typical troublemaker, ending up in places she shouldn't be because her family was busy working to keep everyone fed. She would often get lost, hurt or dirty from playing outside constantly. Kind of a wild child.

Then, at some point, a load of caravans with merchants was passing by. They are usually a family of their own, with rows and rows of homes and shops on wheels, passing by the roads like a train. Gambit got invested and during their stay near home, she got around helping the merchants and traders, earning her first dime.

As the merchants were to leave, Gambit insisted to come along. It wouldn't be the first time the folks of the caravan would take bugs with them as long as they would help with work. Gambit was stocked for it and her family agreed that she'd be better off with them, seeing the world but still having someone to keep a watchful eye on her. 

Gambit traveled with them for years, seeing various places and kingdoms, both through hardships of the weather and people, thieves and welcoming bugs with shelter. The caravan folks helped her grow some communication skills and thought her many songs and stories she would often whistle through work.

At some point, they arrived and stopped at Hallownest. Intrigued by the mines, she went to explore the place. Well attuned to the sounds, she could hear the crystals "sing", soon learning from the miners that those are charged with energy used to power devices. She was practically a natural at hearing them, surprising miners to the point of asking her to stay and work for them and at first, she denied, having her current "family" with the merchants.

However, as the caravans lingered within Hallownest due to good business, Gambit got to visit the mines as well as the miners working there. They acted like a big family, just like her merchant folks. She got close with few of them, got introduced to the director of the mines, Cineraria (AKA Dusty), Galo the supervisor, the musicians... her core felt "at home" so she started to doubt her decision from earlier.

What completely sold her on it is when she was introduced to the dynamite! Blowing rocks and crystals up brought back the rush she had as a kid when she scaled dangerous cliff sides on her own or running for her life from an enraged wild critter! She decided to focus on becoming a demolition expert of Crystal Peak! The merchants understood, as once again, it wasn't the first time someone leaves the caravan crew in pursuit for something greater. They bid the teen Gambit goodbye with hopes to see her again some day. Gambit never cried so much in her life, both from joy and sadness.

: 

Time has passed, many issues arose at the kingdom of Hallownest. Nobles demanded greater distribution and shipment of powered crystals, life got quite busy at the mines. Still, the miners persisted, sticking together as a family, looking after each other, sharing burdens and grief of lost miners, sharing food and shelter... Through sacrifices of Dreamers, the Vessel, the disappearance of the King, the silence of the Queen, the mystery of the Great Knights... they persisted as long as they could...

This made Gambit grow a calmer poise. She learned to be serious and not mess around. She wasn't the smartest but she knew about living a life more than some miners every did. She persisted and so did her family.

Then, one day, when traveling back to the mines from the Crossroads, she heard a faint cry....

THE COMIC STARTS

FURTHER STORY, FUTURE COMIC SPOILERS BELLOW! (if I ever continue it that is!)

:

Gambit took the grub as her own and did her best to raise it. Once it pupated, she learned that the mystery child was some kind of butterfly. It quickly became adored by the miners as there weren't a lot of kids left at the mines' community.  

A lot of folks fled due to the slow and steady decline of the kingdom's state. Those who could flee did and those who didn't have anywhere else to go stayed with hopes that them sticking together will be enough to keep everyone safe. 

Given the name Silva by Dusty, the little butterfly was a little troublemaker of her own. It was uncanny how much she resembled Gambit as a child, wondering off on her own, getting lost within the mines, almost getting gravely injured... Gambit finally got the taste of her own medicine. She cursed her younger self for not realizing the dangers but in the same time was proud how much Silva was also learning and gaining experience this way. 

As she grew, the mines got worse. The reappearance of the infection was a disaster. Lockdowns around the kingdom begun to take place, mines included. Few miners got infected as well. They were losing their friends and families to it... 

Silva just hit her teen years when this happened. They struggled to survive and hide from the miners who lost themselves to dreams. Gambit, unfortunately, was losing herself in this too. 

Seeing her family members no longer being themselves, she focused on protecting Silva, keeping her safe. Unfortunately, the pressure allowed her own mind to slip away... she was no longer strong enough. 

Her mind was running after Silva to keep her close and safe but in reality she was almost hurting her. Silva fled to the Hallownest Crown, no longer having space to hide and run from Gambit, she hid behind the large statue. Gambit, in her foggy infected mind, went after and slipped off the cliff to her death... Silva was alone.

[fishy-sushi]

Biography of Tia

One day, when my life was full of joy, I created a story about Tia. Vivid images began to appear in my mind, and it was impossible to stop the flow of thoughts. If you are interested, you can read the small notes.

Let's start from the beginning, with the birth of Tia. She was born into a family of forest elves: her father was a gifted bard, and her mother was a simple merchant. Tia was born in love, but unfortunately she soon lost her parents. Vampires entered their house, and Tia's parents disappeared without a trace.

A day later, Tia was discovered. The neighbors came running to her screams and saw the destroyed house. Tia was taken to an orphanage, but no one tried to figure out how the child ended up alone. So Tia began to grow up in an orphanage, where she was surrounded by abandoned children of tieflings, humans and halflings. Among them, Tia was the only pure-blooded elf.

As a child, she did not know what parental care and love were, but she always tried to be kind to the younger ones. As an adult, she established warm relationships with many children.

A couple of times, for her sharp tongue, she received blows in the eye, after which she began to act more cautiously and even secretly took revenge on the offenders.

She didn't like studying at all, and she quickly lost interest in everything. She would never force herself to do something she didn't like. But one day she heard a bard playing outside, and at that moment something changed in her mind. Tia began to imitate this bard, who clearly liked to embellish his stories.

She soon became an integral part of street life, chatting with bards and asking them a lot of questions. Many of them treated her with mild irony, but she didn't give up, continuing to listen to their stories and bombard them with questions. Finally, one of the bards couldn't stand it and decided to become her teacher.

When Tia turned sixteen, she left the walls of the orphanage and went on her first trip. After leaving her hometown, she joined a group of adventurers, where she found new friends and even met her first love.

Along the way, some of her companions became mentors for her. They taught her how to wield a crossbow, a sword, and even use some spells. However, Tia was not distinguished by outstanding abilities in these areas and usually preferred to stay in the shadows during battles, observing what was happening and recording interesting moments in order to use them later to create songs and stories.

During one of the trips, the group that Tia had been traveling with for some time was attacked by robbers. All the members of the group were killed except Tia. She was shocked and scared, and the robbers wanted to kill her too, but she, without thinking about the fact that they had taken the lives of her friends, began to praise them.

The robbers, deciding to keep Tia alive for fun, made her their prisoner for several years. They treated her like a toy, and she became a fun pastime for them.

However, a few years later, Tia was able to win their favor. One night she managed to escape, and she returned to her hometown of Baldur's Gate. But on the way, she stopped at the Sharess' Caress brothel, where she spent several months pouring alcohol over her worries.

Tia's debt grew so much that she couldn't pay it off, and she had to become a prostitute. After that, her life turned into a routine. She continued to write music and short stories, but spent most of her time in a brothel. Sometimes she managed to break away and go on a trip, but she always came back.

Plunged into the vicious world of debauchery and alcohol, Tia gradually destroyed her life. She could not accept the fact that she began to lose her loved ones — they were getting old and dying a natural death.

Some clients were aggressive towards her, and one day a lord imprisoned her in his chambers for a whole week, torturing her.

At some point, she was forced to resort to self-defense and committed her first murder. Fortunately, the victim was a minor figure, and her disappearance went unnoticed.

The girl was often invited to perform in front of the aristocrats so that they could enjoy her relaxed game and magical performances. She earned a lot of money, but she never spent it on her own needs, saving it for the future.

One day, on one of her less successful days, when she was on her way to another performance, she was kidnapped by a nautiloid.

[hotdfic]

The Pain and Desperation.

A/N : sorry lol idk what part this is. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was a rare, golden afternoon in the Red Keep, one of those fleeting days when sunlight poured through every crack in the stone and bathed the courtyard in a warmth that softened even the sharpest edges of the fortress. Rhaenyra watched from her perch on the steps, her gaze drawn to the sounds of laughter and shouts ringing out from the training yard.

There they were—Aemond and Lyanna, both no older than seven and five, a lively pair of pale-haired Targaryens running barefoot over the cobblestones, oblivious to the world outside their small orbit. She smiled, a little wistfully, as she watched them play. Lyanna, all bright-eyed with cheeks flushed pink, darted around her older brother, her giggles echoing against the high walls. Her little feet moved quickly, but unsteadily, her arms flailing as she tried to keep her balance while swinging a tiny wooden practice sword she could barely hold. It was one of Daeron’s, much too large for her hands, but she held it proudly, as though it were Dark Sister itself.

Aemond, even then, had a certain seriousness to him, though it faded in Lyanna’s presence. He held his own practice sword in one hand, moving carefully, his stance already reminiscent of a young knight in training, though there was still that playfulness only Lya seemed able to bring out in him. Aemond’s eyes gleamed with an uncharacteristic mischief as he watched her, allowing her to swing wildly at him with exaggerated effort.

“Is that all you’ve got, Lya?” he teased, holding up his own sword in a lazy defense. “If you’re going to defeat me, you’ll have to be faster than that!”

Lyanna grinned, her little mouth pulling up in a defiant smirk as she swiped at him again, putting all her weight into the strike. Aemond caught her blow effortlessly, his sword a shield, and she stumbled slightly, caught off guard. Aemond’s laughter rang out—free and genuine. It was a sound Rhaenyra rarely heard from him, and she found herself savoring it, as though hoarding something precious.

“You’re cheating!” Lyanna cried, her voice high and indignant, though the twinkle in her eyes betrayed her delight.

“Cheating?” Aemond replied, feigning innocence. “How could I be cheating? I’m only standing here.”

She giggled and lunged at him again, and this time, Aemond stepped back, letting her push forward. He moved with a careful grace, matching her pace and deliberately leaving himself open. In her mind, she was a warrior, and he was the enemy who dared to block her path. For her, the game was deadly serious, even as he parried each of her attacks with a patient smile.

Rhaenyra folded her hands on her lap, her heart softening as she watched them. Aemond was always so tightly wound, even as a child, so aware of his place in their complicated family. He rarely let his guard down, even around his siblings.

Then, with a triumphant squeal, Lyanna swung her sword in a wide arc, and Aemond stepped dramatically into her blow, letting it tap his shoulder as he staggered backward in mock defeat. He dropped his sword with a flourish and clutched his chest, stumbling back and collapsing onto the ground.

“Oh, no! You’ve bested me!” he cried, his voice full of exaggerated distress. “The mighty Lya has struck me down!”

Lyanna squealed in delight, dropping her sword as she leapt on top of him, her tiny fists pounding his chest as he laughed, holding her with one arm to stop her from rolling off him. She declared her victory, her face alight with unrestrained joy, and Aemond’s smile grew softer, a warmth that Rhaenyra rarely saw.

Watching them, Rhaenyra felt a pang in her chest—something equal parts joy and sorrow. She wished she could freeze this moment, capture it and preserve it against the years to come. She wanted to hold onto this laughter, this innocence, before the world inevitably changed them, pulled them in different directions, filled their hearts with the conflicts and rivalries that came with being a Targaryen.

The winds of politics and duty swirled always around them, threatening to pull them apart, yet here they were, still tethered to one another in these quiet, precious moments. One day, Rhaenyra knew, things would be different. One day, they would be asked to make choices, to pledge their loyalties in ways that would cut deep and leave scars. But for now, they were just children, bound by love, laughter, and the simplicity of shared play.

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

The sky was dark as the storm raged over the waters, a monstrous gale that seemed to sweep away every last glimmer of light. Rhaenyra recalled it vividly—how the skies had roared, the clouds closing in like a tightening fist around her half-sister-. And she remembered Lyanna and Aemond, high above in their dragons’ desperate, twisting dance, shadows cast by lightning as they fought against fate.

Lyanna had come to Dragonstone with news, but she hadn’t yet found the refuge of the castle. Aemond had found her first. He had always been a storm unto himself, but that day he was more—a force of rage, of fire and fury, borne upon Vhagar’s ancient wings, his eye fixed with a bitter fury that would not be softened.

She could see Lyanna in her mind’s eye, mounted upon Sambar, his dark scales rippling against the wind, his cries drowned out by Vhagar’s thundering roars. Sambar was fast, but Vhagar’s wings were endless, like the night itself swallowing all in its path. Lyanna tried to evade him, banking left and then right, her silhouette small against the storm. Sambar wove through the clouds, diving low, but Vhagar followed—relentless, ancient, and fierce.

Lyanna had shouted at Aemond to stop, begging him even, Rhaenyra had no doubt. Her half sister had never been made for battle nor war, but even she must have seen the wild, feral look in her brother’s eye, must have realized that he’d gone beyond reason.

Then, just as Luke had done, Lyanna had urged Sambar downwards, racing the wind toward the cliffs below, weaving between the sharp, jagged rocks in a final attempt to shake him. But Aemond, furious and reckless, had pursued, forcing Vhagar through the narrow pass, her wings scraping against the cliffs with a terrible screech.

And then—she closed her eyes, the memory too painful—the storm had taken control. Sambar’s wings, torn and bleeding from the vicious pursuit, had faltered. A gust of wind slammed into them, sending them tumbling through the air, and in that moment, Vhagar snapped. Rhaenyra could only imagine the terror in Lyanna’s face as the dragon’s massive jaws bore down upon them, unable to pull back from the frenzied wrath that had taken control.

She remembered hearing the messenger's words, his voice shaking as he described the blood that painted the sea, the remnants of Sambar scattered upon the rocks, and Lyanna… her daughter, lost to the depths.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Yea hi, Author here, yes lyanna dies, and yes this is the end of the story, short story short the rest if the story plays out like normal.

[meowteorite]

The Lantern | Outer Wilds

Outer Wilds is a game best enjoyed without spoiling anything for yourself. The game relies on mental checkpoints, so once you know about something, there is no way of reliving the magic of finding it out via simply playing the game.

This piece of literature includes spoilers for the WHOLE main game (Outer Wilds) AND DLC (Echoes of the Eye). I am going to mention critical story points and I am going to touch on how to solve endgame puzzles.

If you are interested in space, please check out Outer Wilds. If you like puzzle games, please check out Outer Wilds. If you are interested in a more unconventional game, please check out Outer Wilds. I will not force you to, but I can only recommend playing Outer Wilds.

Night has fallen. The familiar sounds of silence are filling the dark room that is lit only by candlelight and the dim blue light coming from the tiny window. How long have I been imprisoned here? Left alone in this room, unwilling – or unable? – to die. My body may have rotten, may have crumbled to dust. I do not know. My soul is caged only by the blue fire emitted by the lantern I have been holding onto for years. I cannot unlearn how to talk, though it has been a good while since I did. I should have lost my mind, but the sheer force of not wanting to has kept me sane. I have not heard a sound from beyond these walls in so long. Is anybody even still out there? Am I the only one left? I will not blow out my lantern. The sun rises again.

Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen.

I have witnessed so many sunsets and sunrises within these walls, thousands of years must have gone by. But what if it is a trick by the others? I am trapped in this simulation that they have created. What tells me they have not modified it to make time seem endlessly long? For the real world outside this box, it might have been only a few hours. It would fit them. It would fit them to be trapped alongside me, though not by force but their own will. It would fit them to misalign how fast time in here progresses, compared to the real world. They had always feared the end. Death. The great unknown. A few thousand sunrises and sunsets ago, I would have called them cowards. But I am trapping myself in the simulation – just as much as they are. I will not blow out my lantern. The sun rises again.

Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen.

I could blow out my lantern at any time, disconnecting me from this room that keeps me prisoner. I could die. My body could already be rotten, crumbled up to dust. If I blew out my lantern I could disconnect my mind, finally free. But if my theory, however wrong it may actually be, is true and only a few days have passed since my imprisonment, I could still be alive. Before the simulation caught me, I felt the air thickening, felt my stomach aching from not having eaten in days. My feet were giving in, only for me to discover that the wooden box forced me to stand. But what kind of life would I even have left? Trapped inside a wooden box, my own grave, my own sarcophagus, starving or suffocating to death. In this simulation I cannot feel the pain inflicted upon my real body. Maybe staying – however boring it may be – is more welcome than pain and suffering. I will not blow out my lantern. The sun rises again.

Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen.

My prison houses a telescope, to look at an image of the planet we had left behind. They were so keen on following their new hope, they had rendered our home a barren wasteland. Then they felt betrayed by their new hope, and so they constructed an image of our home planet in our fake simulated world. I do no longer care to look at it, I have seen every inch at least a thousand times. I am saddened by how we treated our home, though I am happy we were curious enough to leave it. Even though I only see the same walls each and every passing day now, I am happy that I was able to see something more before that. I will not blow out my lantern. The sun rises again.

Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen.

I am staring at the same walls again. My nails do not grow, my feathers are not falling out. My antler is not growing back. My eyes are adjusting to the light and the darkness as they always have. Even if I had always hated the simulated world, found it to be a cowardly way of escaping reality, I wanted to look outside. The window is too high up for me, I can only look at the sky. The sky with the big blue planet, the sky with the simulated sun. I have tried staring into the sun, but while it would hurt my eyes in the real world, here it does not do anything. Everything stays the same. I will not blow out my lantern. The sun rises again.

Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen.

My two rooms have started to feel smaller. I have tried carving into these wooden planks, they seem indestructible. No scratches, no marks. The lift is working as usual, I can go wherever I want. As long as “wherever” is within these walls. This simulated body does not need to eat. It does not need – and it cannot – sleep. I cannot pass the time. Looking through the window and into the sky has long become utterly worthless to me. There is nothing else to do within these walls, aside from thinking. I might blow out my lantern? The sun rises again.

Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen.

The planet in the night sky has began taunting me. The blue light coming from it fills my room each night. I cannot escape it. It is the same shade of blue as the fire of my lantern. I have picked up my chair, I have smashed it into the wall. There is no damage to be found. Not a scratch, not a mark. I might blow out my lantern. The sun rises again.

Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen.

Can this simulated body feel pain when it becomes too much? I am sticking one of my fingers into my lantern, holding it directly into the fire. My vision becomes blurry, though my finger does not ache. I pull it back. I will blow out my lantern. The sun rises again.

Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen. The sun rises again. Night has fallen? The sun rises again? Night has fallen? The sun rises again?

Night has fallen. Is it possible to hallucinate within this world? I could have sworn I had heard a sound coming from outside the walls. I tried looking through the window, but the planet is still here and there’s nothing else to see. I wanted to scream, but fear had taken over me. Who else but my former peers could be out there? There is no way to reach this island from within the simulation. Maybe my theory of how time progresses within the simulation is correct. Have they come to free me from my prison? Maybe they think I had been broken enough? But it would be so unlike them to welcome a “traitor” amidst them. They surely have not considered being in the wrong, I cannot believe. I will not blow out my lantern.

There are steps outside, I am so very sure of it. I heard something move on … water? It must be. There is something moving, someone is aligning the platforms for the bridge. Have they come to free me? My ears start ringing as I hear the sound of bells, but the footsteps continue on. I hear someone rotating a wheel. I must be hallucinating, it cannot be. I hear someone approaching through the tunnel. Suddenly, I am scared. I shift back into the darkness, the darkest spot of these walls. I sit down on my chair. I am going to wait. I will not make a sound. My life may be over soon. I can hear footsteps in the room above me, going in circles. I will not blow out my lantern.

Someone is stepping inside of the lift, it is moving downward. I am sitting in silence, I am not moving. The door opens, someone enters. They are small. They are turning around. I hope they will not leave, even if I am scared. They are looking left and right, checking the walls. They are searching for something, but what is there to be found here aside from me? They are staring in my direction, their face is … Their face is blue. And they have four eyes. And they are smaller than me. No need to fear them, probably. They are taking tiny steps toward me, eager. Lantern in hand. I will not blow out my lantern.

They are within reach, but they are not doing anything. They are looking, staring into the darkness. They are taking a step toward me. I do not want to scare them, but I most likely will once they bump into me. I will not blow out my lantern. I will not stand up. I might stand up? I will stand up. I stand up. I reach out my hand, my body had become a bit stiff from sitting. Fear overcomes their face, they run to the other side of the room. I scared them, even if it was not my intention. I will not blow out their lantern.

I stand there, staring at them. What is their intention? They are staring at me, regaining their composure. They are approaching me, they open their mouth. There are words coming out, but none that I know. I cannot recall a species looking like that. Maybe they have come from far away? Maybe they are also in search for the Eye? This is what I have waited for all this time. Someone to share my knowledge with, yet I lack the words. I must think of a way that enables me to talk to them. I must ask them how they were able to visit me, how they were able to unlock my seals. I remember my vision torch, I am stepping aside to grab it. They take a step back. I will not blow out their lantern.

I am holding the vision torch to their head, communicating to them what my species did. How we left out home planet in search for the Eye, how we left it a wasteland. How we built this space station to last for an eternity so that we could stay with the Eye forever, no matter what it looked like. What the Eye told us, how it told us that the end of the universe is near. How betrayed the others felt upon seeing this and how they tried to lock the Eye away. How I managed to break the seal, freeing the Eye for a mere moment. How they locked me away, both in the real world and the simulation. Finally, I could talk to someone. All this time, this time where I had felt so alone and stripped of purpose – there was a purpose. And I was not alone. I want to think of them as a friend in need. I will not blow out my lantern.

I am done with sharing my experiences. The look on their face is one of understanding, the look of someone that has found the final piece to their puzzle. They seem eager to share something with me, I am so very glad. I want to know their story, their origin. I hand them my vision torch. I will not blow out my lantern.

They show me my own species. My own planet. The plants are dying, the houses are still standing but in the worst condition they have ever been. Time has passed, my theory was wrong. My body is dead, so are the bodies of all my former friends. My former family. The thought saddens me a little, but I cannot help but feel a little bit more at peace. They tell me how the Eye sent out a signal to a faraway place. The inhabitants of this place built a spaceship, teleporting away from their home in order to find the Eye. I can relate to them. By shutting the blocking system for the eye off, I helped them receive a signal of the Eye. I am happy to have helped another species find out about this mysterious thing. The next vision. I am glad I did not blow out my lantern.

Their ship got stuck within a vine-like structure, but they managed to send out some little shuttles. I hope they all managed to safely escape their shuttle. I hope they are all well. They built houses on different planets. A blue light approaches them, they all fall to the ground. They are dead. Their skeletons remain, their houses crumble. An astronaut found these houses, they brought a wall with some sort of violet text to a house. A museum? There are other blue people. I see the person before me, they look even smaller. The one that had transported the wall must be some sort of other blue person. The one before me is looking at the wall, they are growing older. They are in their own spaceship, putting on some sort of suit, flying off into the deep vastness of space. I am so very glad I did not blow out my lantern.

Hearing this person’s story makes me happy. I did not think my prison would allow me to talk to someone else again, but I did. My species is long gone, everybody has long withered away. The natural course of life, the end. Their minds may still wander this simulation, for now. Seeing what had happened to our space shuttle makes me realize that nothing is forever, their life is going to end at some point as well. But I remember the three seals of my prison, and I remember what sacrifice had to be made in order to break one of them. I am saddened that by visiting me, the creature before me had given all they had left away. I hope they will not rely on the simulation. It would be their prison, as it was mine. I am saddened but hope that they will blow out their lantern.

For now, I wish to see the surface again. I stretch out my hand, I wish to hold my vision torch. My newfound friend hands it to me. I step on the lift, eager to leave the prison behind. I want to go before them. I bow to them, my deepest and most heartfelt thanks. There is nothing I would have loved more for the last few minutes of my life. I step on the elevator. I go outside, the sand beneath my feet. I see the raft. I would have loved to sail into the sunset with my friend, but I cannot. I cannot stand this world any longer, and I am at peace. A last vision for them, to show how glad I was to have met them. We push the raft forward, we sit in it. We float toward the ever-growing sun. We are together, nobody needs to be alone anymore. I push the vision torch into the sand, making sure that they will see it. I am glad I did not blow out my lantern.

I take a few steps, I approach the dark water. The sun begins to rise again, but I am not here to see another day. My knees are touched by the cold water, my lower body is submerged. I cannot swim in this simulation, I do not feel the need to try. I walk further. One last look at the planet I had watched from my prison all these years. I am glad I did not blow out my lantern, so that the water could do it for me.

[jaketswine]

the important things…

1k

little fluff inspired by the new jake photography era, via gretvanfleet’s tiktok

you and jake have talked for ages about buying a house together.

you've saved up every extra penny you could.

worked any overtime your boss would allow.

and the work had finally paid off.

you both now stood on the front porch of your new home, jake turning the key over in his hand as he looked at you with one of the widest smiles you've ever seen.

you whipped out your small film camera from the bag you carried, to capture the moment of jake putting the key in the lock for the first time.

you had gotten the camera a few weeks back when the two of you had made your weekly run to the farmers market down the road from your apartment. jake had stumbled upon a little antique table, pulling you along, claiming you had to check it out. you picked up the camera, hoping to capture special moments of this new portion of life with jake.

and that’s exactly what you were going to do.

jake pushed open the door, turning back to look at you, motioning for you to enter before him.

quickly snapping a photo, you stepped forward, entering through the threshold of your new home.

though you had seen the house before, it felt like a brand new reality. a new portion of the world waiting to be explored.

you waltz through the house, peeking into rooms, cracking windows open, imagining what the space would look like once all of your belongings filled the area.

how jake’s guitars would line the walls of his music room.

how your creative works would be scattered over the floor of your so called office.

imagining how the shelves of records you both shared would look against the currently stark white wall of the living room.

imagining how it would sound to have the low melodies playing through the house while cleaning, cooking, dancing with your lover.

you couldn’t wait until the space felt like your own.

but as jake had informed you on the ride over, the moving truck was going to be delayed until the next day, leaving the both of you with only the few necessities you brought along, as well as the blow-up mattress josh had convinced you both to bring ‘just in case.’

standing in the living room, taking in the new space, you heard jake creep up behind you, wrapping his arms around your shoulders.

“well honey, what do you think?” he waited for a moment for your reply, stretching his neck around so he could see a portion of your face.

“would like it better if we had a place to sit, but I guess for now it will do,” you replied teasingly, turning your face in his direction.

he let a light laugh escape before resting his chin on your shoulder, beginning to sway you both side to side, following some imaginary rhythm he no-doubt has running through his head.

“we might not have a table to set it on, but could I interest you in some takeout? I’m starving.”

almost right on cue, you could feel your stomach beginning to growl, realizing you hadn’t had anything to eat in quite a while.

you nodded and hummed your approval, earning a kiss on the cheek from jake as he loosened his hold on you, turning away to go put in an order for a much needed meal for two.

-

you both found yourselves planted outside, on the back patio area, finishing off the last of your food.

the topic of conversation had ranged from memories of the old apartment, to a photo of a kitten josh had visited in a rescue shelter earlier in the day, back to imagining all the moments you would get to experience in your new house.

jake went on and on about a local artist he had found, and how he would love nothing more than to fill your new home with handmade artworks from all over the world- souvenirs that would live with you all forever.

you spoke of your desire for a garden. telling jake all about how you’d like to plant flowers just for the sole purpose of watching them bloom.

as you spoke, you found yourself wandering around the vast backyard, running your hand over tree trunks, and admiring the area around you.

you were lost in thought when you heard a click, recognizing it as the shutter on your film camera.

you turned around to look at jake, watching him fiddle with the knobs and buttons, as he sized up his next shot.

you began to walk towards him, hearing him snap another, causing you to giggle, then another.

“jake, I love being your muse, but film is quite expensive these days,” you playfully scolded.

he lovingly rolled his eyes, proceeding to take another photo of you looking at him quite disapprovingly.

“darling, I will buy you all the film your heart desires… so long as I get to capture you with it.”

you were the one to roll your eyes at that, secretly loving the cliche sentiment.

“at least save some so we can have pictures of the house once all of our stuff is here, I want the finished product,” you told him, finding your spot by his side.

“you have another roll in your bag,” he informed you. “just want to focus on the important things right now.”

another cliche from him, but you asked anyway. “and what might that be, jacob?”

“you, darling,” he replied as he reached a hand out to stroke over your cheek, balancing the camera in his other to snap one more photo.

“us,” you corrected, “you, and me, and our new home; our new beginning.”

he grinned wildly, placing the camera beside him, moving the now unoccupied hand to your other cheek, holding your face gently.

you both stared into each others eyes for some time before jake spoke again, “I’m so grateful I get to share this life with you. I love you, y/n.”

you closed the distance between the two of you, placing a gentle kiss on his lips.

“I couldn't ask for anyone better. I love you jake.”

you both moved to lay in the grass of your backyard, wrapped together in the wide open area, listening to the crickets, and watching the sky fade to black.

thankful for each other.

excited for the new adventures to come.

full of love.

the important things.