#and its not really but shes made some great friends. and she decides to travel back home to see her sister bcus she misses her!

[thatdesigirl17]

please

jess mariano x fem!reader

requested by @dkjndfnmdfmdmnd I don't know if this is what you wanted but I hope you like it! no warnings, but its basically fluff and angst.

‘Do I have to go?’, Y/N whined as Lorelai pushed her in her room. ‘Yes, Luke and Liz both have invited you, it’ll be rude plus do you really wanna miss that wedding? It’ll be our share of entertainment for the entire week!’, Lorelai tried persuading her. Y/N was home for another week due to her holidays at Yale, although she wasn’t exactly Lorelei’s biological kid, Lorelai had basically adopted her since Y/N’s parents hardly used to be home because of their work and travel. Currently, Lorelai was trying to make Y/N come to Liz’s wedding with her, but she didn’t want to and the reason was simple. Jess Mariano. 

Jess was her ex-boyfriend, the love of her life, her best friend who had left without so much as a goodbye about two years ago and hadn’t been in touch since. ‘Is it because of him?’, Lorelai sighed, sitting on the bed. ‘What will I even say to him?’, Y/N said, sitting across Lorelai. ‘You could slap him.’, Lorelai suggested sarcastically, making Y/N chuckle, ‘You cannot skip the wedding because of a man! Have I taught you nothing? You are coming to the wedding and showing Jess what he missed out on okay? No more discussions.’ Lorelai said as she exited the room, closing the door behind her, and leaving Y/N to get ready. Y/N sighed, she knew Lorelai was right and decided to do exactly what she said. She got ready wearing a short dress with a corset, highlighting her chest and waist. She put on light makeup and flowers in her hair because Lorelai insisted upon following the Renaissance theme. 

Lorelai and Y/N went to Luke’s where he was waiting for them on the sidewalk. They greeted each other as Luke complimented Lorelai. ‘You look great, Y/N.’, he said, looking over at her. ‘Thank you.’, she smiled politely. They started walking together, towards the town square where the wedding was being held. ‘Hey Y/N, you gonna be okay?’, Luke asked. ‘I hope so.’, she smiled. He nodded and walked with Lorelai. 

Just as they got seated, Liz’s friend Carrie arrived and told them about how Liz had ripped her wedding dress. Lorelai got up to help and dragged Y/N with her to Miss Patty’s where Liz was getting ready.  They greeted each other as Lorelai inspected the rip and told Y/N to get some pins from her purse. 

‘Here you go-‘, Y/N said, stopping right in her tracks as soon as she entered the barn once again. She saw him, Jess, looking right at her. He looked the same, except he had let his hair grow long. She could feel his eyes roaming around her body, taking her presence in. ‘Hey.’, she breathed. ‘Hey.’, he responded with a nod, his face expressionless but his gaze soft. 

‘Y/N, honey, the pins.’, Lorelai reminded as they witnessed the staring contest taking place between Jess and Y/N. Y/N shook her head and walked towards Lorelai, brushing past Jess. He closed his eyes and took in a deep breath as their arm brushed. ‘Here.’, she said, handing Lorelai the pins and looking at Jess through the mirror. The awkward tension filled the air in the room. 

‘All done!’, Lorelai chimed as she finished altering the dress. ‘I’ll go tell everyone.’, Jess said and left the barn hurriedly. Lorelai and Y/N too made their way out and back to their seats. Luke and Lorelai sat in the second row, next to each other, while Y/N sat in the first, next to an empty chair. ‘Luke, shouldn’t you be seated here?’, she asked, turning around. ‘He cannot sit without his date! And I’m not sitting in the first row.’, Lorelai jumped in, just as an old-timey traditional tune played, signalling the start of the ceremony as the flower girls marched. Y/N turned her attention back to the ceremony, her mind still replaying the flashbacks of Jess, the late night drives in his car, them sitting on the bridge by the lake, reading together or just taking walks around the town.  A man cartwheeling and tumbling brought her attention back to the wedding as Liz entered, walking down the aisle with Jess. 

Liz kissed Jess on the cheek as he sat down on the empty chair right next to Y/N, wiping his cheek. They gave each other a small smile as the minister came forward, singing a poem. The four of them clenched their jaws, trying their best not to laugh at the wedding ceremony. Y/N looked at Lorelai over her shoulder, both of them on the verge of laughing out loud. Jess reached over and gently placed his hand on top of hers, trying to control his laughter himself, but he knew how hard it was for her to control her laughter, especially in serious situations. She looked at him and bit her lip, finding him looking right back at her. She quickly looked ahead as the ceremony proceeded. 

‘How is Yale?’, he asked, leaning over close to her. ‘Good, what about you? Where are you currently?’, she asked. ‘Oh, just here and there.’, he answered. She nodded, a bit of anger flaring up at his vague response. 

‘You look good.’, he whispered, leaning close to her ear. ‘Thank you, so do you. You let your hair grow long.’, she remarked, looking at him as he smiled and nodded, ‘You know what they say, hair holds memory, didn’t want to take the risk of forgetting.’ 

‘Forget what? Your perfect little life in Stars Hollow that you had to run away from?’, she said sarcastically, a bit of anger in her voice. She could feel him visibly tense at her words as he retracted his hand. ‘Y/N, I-‘, he starts but stops and sighs. She waits for his answer, she has waited for his answer for months. 

‘Nothing? Seriously?’, she says, her words laced with disappointment. She looks at him expectantly waiting for him to say something, anything, but he doesn’t, he just looks down, staring at his hands. She exhales the breath she was holding and gets up, walking away. He gets up quickly, following her, ‘Y/N, wait!’ ‘Why should I? I think I’ve waited long enough, Jess.’, she says continuing walking. He sprints catching up to her, grabbing her arm, stopping her and stepping in front of her. ‘Please.’ ‘Why? You’re not gonna say anything.’, she said. ‘You know I’m not good at all this small talk, just give me a minute, please.’, he said. ‘Fine.’, she said crossing her arms as she waited for him to explain. 

He bit his lip and sighed before speaking, ‘Y/N, I’m sorry.’ ‘For what exactly? Leaving? Not saying goodbye? Not keeping in touch?’, she asks, her anger getting the best of her. ‘For everything, you didn’t deserve it, you didn’t deserve an idiot like me.’, he said, looking down. ‘You’re right I didn’t.’, she said, her gaze softening at his genuineness. ‘I’m so sorry, trust me if you will, there wasn’t a day I thought of reaching out to you.’, he said, finally meeting her gaze. ‘Why didn’t you?’, she asked. ‘I didn’t know what to say.’, he said, his voice low, a whisper, as he took her hands in his, ‘Y/N, I know this isn’t an excuse but I’m sorry, for everything.’ ‘Jess, I have to go.’, she said slowly removing her hands from his grasp. ‘Y/N, don’t. Please stay, let’s talk this out.’, he said, holding her arms preventing her from walking away. ‘Jess please, you don’t understand.’, she said, tears almost welling up in her eyes. ‘What don’t I understand?’, he said, confused. She didn’t answer him. ‘Make me understand.’, he tried to convince her. ‘If I stay here with you-‘, she started and then stopped, looking away. ‘What? What are you saying?’, he asked, a bit of frustration in his voice. ‘If I stay here with you, I’ll start loving you again! And you won’t, you’ll just leave, again.’, she said, her voice low as her confession hung in the air. 

‘You think I didn’t love you?’, he said. ‘You left me. It doesn’t exactly scream I love you.’, she said her anger still present. ‘I know, I’m sorry, I know this won’t make up for anything but I still need to do this.’, he said, as he cupped her cheeks in his hands, leaning in and kissing her. She kissed him back almost instantly, the feeling so familiar to her. His movements were so soft and sincere that it made her forget all about her anger. He pulled her closer, one of his hands snaking around her waist as she rested hers on his arms. He breaks the kiss, resting his forehead against hers, as he says breathlessly, ‘I’m sorry.’ 

Her phone rings startling them as they let go of each other. It’s Lorelai, she answers it. ‘Lorelai says dinner is served, we should go.’, she says as he nods softly and follows her lead. She goes on to find Lorelai as he takes his seat on the table set down for them. 

His eyes follow her every move, a small smirk appearing on his face as they make eye contact, while she talks to Lorelai. He gets up and walks over to her. ‘Dance with me?’, he asks towering behind her. ‘Are you high?’, she asks sarcastically,  turning around. ‘Just trying to make up.’, he shrugs. ‘You’ve got a long way ahead of you for that, don’t think this is it.’, she says as she lets him lead her to the dance floor. ‘Not even when I’m doing something I hate for you?’, he asks playfully. ‘Not even close.’, she chuckles, narrowing her eyes at him. He chuckles, a breath of relief leaving him as he hears her laugh.

He grabs her waist, pulling her closer and swaying to the rhythm of the song the band is playing. She rests her hands on his shoulders. ‘I intend on making it up to you.’, he says, leaning closer slightly. ‘It’ll probably cost you your entire lifetime.’, she chuckles. ‘Then so be it.’, he smirks.

[cheriladycl01]

Goodbye NewYork - Grid and Daniel Ricciardo x Sunshine Driver! Reader

Plot: Y/N constantly jokes about the fact that she would take a bullet for any of the guys on the grid... however in 2026 when the FIA decide to make a New York track, with it not being policed as well as they have in the past Y/N turns those jokes into a reality.

A/N: Yes i know its dramatic ... but that's why you all are here! You love the fluff and the angst and the drama.

Warnings: Violence w/ Guns

2017 Rookie season Interview Age 22:

Interviewer - So, how has it been driving for Mclaren Honda alongside a world champion like Fernando Alonso.

Y/N - Oh wow its been a fever dream. He's taught me so much, and excited not only to be racing with him next year but with Renault as our engine manufacturer!

Interviewer - And who would you say have you become friends with this year?

Y/N - I think obviously i would consider Nando and I very close, you know we've travelled together and he even invited me back to Spain with him in the summer break. Other than that I've found myself close to Pierre, Daniel and Carlos, I've known Pierre for a long time back since karting days, same with Max and Charles who will be joining us next year in Sauber.

Interviewer - Thank you Y/N we really loved watching you drive this year and we can wait for next year!

2018 First Full Season Interview Age 23:

Interviewer - Hello again Y/N how are you!

Y/N - I am good and yourself?

Interviewer - Yes, obviously you've had a great year in Mclaren but they've decided against continuing with you and Fernando next year. This leaves you moving to Toro Rosso alongside Rookie Alex Albon. You said at the end of last year you'd made fast friends with him, Carlos and Daniel. Do they still stand where Carlos is taking over the Mclaren seat.

Y/N - Of course I'm really happy for Carlos, I performed well in Mclaren this year, but i think Lando Norris is a promising rookie and Carlos is an excellent driver. It didn't shock me when the Red Bull Junior team reached out to me as I was a junior driver for Red Bull. Obviously I'm gutted I wont be racing with Pierre this year but I've met Alex and we get on well!

Interviewer - Any new friends?

Y/N - Erm not really new no. Charles joined us this year and has driven fantastically and is going to Ferrari next year. I cannot wait to see what he can bring in a competitive car

Interviewer - Still friends with Daniel?

Y/N - Of course, the honey badger and i are closer than ever, he had some big decisions to make going in 2019 and he needed someone to support him. He's just a ball of sunshine and I'm not being dramatic when i say i would die for that man

Interviewer - Ah your so funny Y/N its always a pleasure to talk to you. Well i wish you all the best for this year to come and hopefully 2019 we can see a P1 finish!

2019 Season Interview Age 24:

Interviewer - Ah and here we have my absolute fave to interview at the end of the year it is Y/N Y/L/N!

Y/N - Hello!

Interviewer - Woah may i say what a year its been for you, this time last year and we will roll the clip here, you said you were gutted to not be racing alongside Pierre but here we are at the end of the 2019 season and you've raced the last half of the season with him when Red Bull switched out drivers

Y/N - Alex is a very promising driver, you know he proved that he was a good driver in Toro Rosso and i think he is proving that in Red Bull, its a shame that Pierre had to go because i think he was just getting used to a car that is clearly built for Max's driving technique which is very different from the rest of ours. The pressure isn't easy to be the second driver in Red Bull

Interviewer - Is that why you turned down Christians offer to take Pierre's place and they went with Alex?

Y/N - Not completely no, I think I've pushed my car to the limit this year and we've learnt a lot as a team so we will come back bigger and better next year with some major changes to the team. I think I would do well in Red Bull but I want to prove myself first

Interviewer - Incredible, really and your friends how's that going?

Y/N - It's amazing, each year i get closer and closer to these guys and i genuinely can call most of them my friends, I've enjoyed getting to know the rookies over this year I'm really close to Alex, Lando and George. You know me and Lewis have shared some really funny moments this year, me and Seb went fishing in March... its been a fantastic year both on and off track.

Interviewer - How important are these boys to you.

Y/N - Oh they are most important to me, my whole heart goes out to them.

2020 Season Interview Age 25:

Interviewer - What a year its been with this pandemic, but we are finally here back in Abu Dhabi, and weve just completed the last race of the 2020 season and there's some exciting changes for you next year!

Y/N - Yes it was sooner than i was hoping for, but I was told that my seat was being taken by Yuki Tsunoda who will be a rookie on the 2021 Season. Where it was so late in the year, i wouldnt have had a seat and I think as a woman i would have struggled to get that seat back. So i grabbed at the Red Bull offer.

Interviewer - That's amazing news for you, has it however affected any of your friendships?

Y/N - Everyone, even Alex told me i would be stupid not to go for it so i did. I'm very thankful to Christian for this opportunity. I know there were other people who were thinking it would be there seat, but I'm in F1 to win.

Interview - There's also been some... rumors about you and a certain Australian going around the paddock.

Y/N - Yes Daniel and i started dating this year, it was actually really funny. I joke to him how I'm only dating him due to my Stockholm Syndrome of being in lockdown with him.

Interviewer - You were with Daniel throughout lockdown?

Y/N - Yes we were at the Australian GP when we heard about it, my flight got cancelled and then they shut down all air control and i was basically stuck in Australia, with the risk as well it wasn't worth it so i got tested and then Daniel offered me to stay with him. Obviously was longer than expected but yeah we came out as a couple.

Interviewer - Amazing honestly, who do you see having a good come back next year?

Y/N - Oh i think Mercedes will be strong, same with AlphaTauri, I think Ferrari also have a fantastic line up with Carlos Sainz moving there. Obviously my boyfriend is going to Mclaren and i couldn't be happier that he's keeping his seat and working with someone as great a driver as Lando

Interviewer - And how does that work, tension wise with him being ex Red Bull and you now being a driver in what was his seat only 3 seasons prior

Y/N - Obviously i know that with Max Verstappen being as good a driver as he is the pressure is insane in that second Red Bull seat and you are very much that ... a second. So I've talked to the team and said that you know, if I'm the stronger car and the better driver that I don't want Golden Boy to be prioritized. He really helped me make my decision in the end.

Interviewer - Amazing thank you for your time Y/N.

2021 Interview Age 26:

Y/N - Hello lovely people its so nice to see you without masks on!

Interviewer - Yes we agree! Congrats on some fantastic driving this year it really showed how quickly you can learn a car. You really rivalled Max Verstappen and Hamilton this year. 2022 will be your year. It's amazing how you helped steal that Constructors title from Mercedes. I bet Christian is very happy with your performance i mean we can tell he is from that long 2024 contract extension...

Y/N - Yeah its been a really amazing year of racing. Max has been an amazing team mate, you know he's really supported by move to Red Bull and we've had an amazing year with a really good lineup, a really good car and i cant wait for next year.

Interviewer - So, to the questions we really have to ask, obviously you and Daniel have been dating for 2 years now, and someone found a clip from when you were friends jokingly saying you'd die for him. Is that still the case now that he's progressed to boyfriend.

Y/N - Honestly i wasn't joking I would lay my life down on the tarmac and let someone run we over at 300mph if it meant anyone on the current grid was happy. They have each given me something so special and so close to my heart, whether that be a gift, or a life lesson, or a hug, or advise... they honestly most of them have saved me on my darkest days when i considered leaving the sport.

Interviewer - And how do you feel about Albon's return as he joins Williams Racing in 2022

Y/N - I mean i kept in contact with Alex for the whole season, I invited him to some of the races with my passes and yeah we've hung out with Lily his girlfriend who i get on with really well. So I'm extremely happy to be racing against him again.

2022 Season Interview Age 27:

Y/N - I'm really sorry but I'm gonna have to make this quick, because my plane will leave soon and I have to grab my things from the hotel.

Interviewer - Of course no problem. It's been a fabulous year with you coming Third in the Drivers Championship, just a few points behind Charles Leclerc... and having the second win for Constructors... how do you feel.

Y/N - Yeah there was some really close moments where it could have been me, Max or Charles. We started of the season a little rocky and some miscommunication but then Ferrari's strategy got worse while ours improved which meant Max and I were getting those crucial points.

Interviewer - Leaning away from the racing ... how are you and Danny Ricciardo now that he wont be in the 2023 season...

Y/N - We've come to an agreement with Red Bull that he will come to every race with me to be my race engineer ...

Y/N - I'm kidding but he will still be attending with me as he's gonna be a reserve driver so he'll be a quick standby option.

Interviewer - Amazing thank you for your time

2023 Season Interview Age 28:

Interviewer - Another win from Max Y/N, he's a three time World Champ now and you were close coming in second again. How are you feeling confident for 2024, or worried you loose your seat.

Y/N - Holy shit, you sound so cryptic and me and Christian have already been talking about a contract extension. I'm happy in Red Bull and he believes I'm driving on par with Max and I'd like to see a lengthy future with them.

Interview - So are we hearing 2024 will be your year?

Y/N - Yes i think working with Max has led me to learn the way he drives very well, I'm able to anticipate what he's going to do, and I can out maneuver him easier than most. I'm excited to see what 2024 will bring us.

Interviewer - And of course, I have to ask now that you've been with Mr Ricciardo for 4 years now, going strong and you have some amazing bonds with your fellow drivers on the grid are we going to see and F1 wedding anytime soon?

Y/N - Oooo i mean Y/N Ricciardo does sound nice, I think where he is coming back onto the grid this year, the timing wouldn't make sense but ... you know I think anything can happen.

Interviewer - Oh she's so cheeky with that wink ... Hello Charles how are you feeling.

2024 Season Interview Age 29:

Interviewer - Oh Y/N what an awful year this has been, i bet you and Max cant wait to say goodbye to this car. P4 in the constructers... what happened.

Y/N - I think Max and I struggled driving this car, which was both a skill issue on our half and a team issue of Red Bull's half, we had lost of changes of team members throughout the year, lots of miscommunication but I promise 2025 we will come back bigger and better. I'm so happy for Charles getting his World Championship finally and I'm incredibly proud of two of my sons getting their Maiden race wins... Lando and Oscar congrats. And on my other son, for getting his first Maiden podium and proving everyone wrong and having an amazing second season in Williams, well done Logan. Well done to Ferrari, Mclaren and Mercedes for Constructors Top 3, but watch out for us next year.

Interviewer - Amazing, its so nice to see how proud and close you are too the other drivers.

Y/N - Yes, i would change none of that.

2025 Season Interview Age 30:

Interviewer - And here we are with the first ever Female World Champion of Formula One, Y/N you've hit some amazing achievements this year. You've become a WDC, you got engaged to you soulmate, you hit 30 years old, you had such a great car and great races. How are you feeling.

Y/N - I have no words for this year, you know I was starting to think maybe my time is up. But my contract in Red Bull lasts till 2028 to match Max contract and you know I'm happy, still driving well clearly and yeah I've loved every moment of this year.

Interviewer - And do you think 2028 would be your retirement year?

Y/N - Oh i don't know about that ... I love racing and you know, Daniel and I are happy and obviously the F1 wedding will be soon. We've said we are happy to wait a while for kids, so we'll see how it goes...

Halfway through the 2026 Season.

BBC News:

And we bring some shocking news to you tonight. F1 Driver Y/N Ricciardo is in critical condition after being shot on race weekend here in New York City. It was reported that the drivers were all celebrating her recent wedding to fellow F1 Driver Daniel Riccardo last month in Australia. The race according to the FIA and surrounding authorities wasn't well protected and put a lot of the drivers in danger. Y/N celebrated a first place podium the same day she was shot, with fellow drivers Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri. More Updates will be shared at 10 tonight.

F1 Instagram:

Y/N Ricciardo, in critical condition after altercation at New York Grand Prix.

We are sending our thoughts to her family and the people affected at this time...

Comments -

landorizlover02 - omg this is so scary, the videos on twitter of them all celebrating in the paddock and then the screams

f149 - sources say Y/N actually saw the person before anyone else and pushed Daniel, Lando and Oscar out the way before stepping closer to the man so he would aim for her and not the others. Talk about fight or flight!

kimiisfoine - she is literally a hero ... I'm in shock.

carloschili - I've seen the video, and her face when she realizes something isn't right and then she literally pulls Lando behind her and pushes Daniel and Oscar away.

The drivers tweets -

@PierreGASLY - I'm deeply upset by the lack of protection at the New York GP, I hope that this teaches, the FIA when we are on street circuits like this extra security measures are needed. I wish Y/N a full recovery <3

@Charles_Leclerc - Y/N saved my life tonight and I will never forget that. Alex and I are sat here shaking in shock, i wish for her full recovery and send my prayers to Daniel and her family.

@RGrosjean - Y/N was one of the best people I've ever met on the grid, having scary crashes is part of the job. Never did i think that this would ever be possible. Wishing Y/N to get better!

@KevinMagnuessen - I wasn't there, but hearing the panic and lockdown annoucement is never something I want to experience again. #dobetterf1

@Carlossainz55 - Y/N is one of my best friends and the fact that his has happened to such a happy and bright individual is so sad. I hope to see Y/N soon and am staying in New York until i no longer can in hopes to see her.

@LandoNorris - I never thought I'd be standing behind someone who has acted like my older sister in this sport, who has become a true friend as she takes a bullet to save me from an evil individual. I am in the hospital with Daniel now, awaiting news on her.

@LewisHamilton - Y/N has been an exceptional individual both on and off track, I hope the FIA do better in the future to protect us as drivers.

@OscarPiastri - I have no words for what occurred tonight... no words.

.... more loading

"Y/N baby please" Daniel says as he looks at you, you'd just got out of surgery to remove the bullets. The doctors said that you were lucky that Max and the Mclaren pitstop worker had acted as quickly as possible to get the gun away from the man. Daniel held you as you fell to the ground from the pian holding the wound that was bleeding out.

"How is she?" Lando asks coming into the room with two coffees. Handing one over to Daniel.

"There was a lots of strain on her body, so they don't know if she'll wake up..." Daniel breathes slowly.

"When she wakes up, man... When. She's the strongest person I know" Lando sighs tears in his eyes.

"I fucking froze, I watched a she pulled me behind her after she pushed you and Osc away..." Lando cries a little.

"And I do it again Lan" a course and strained voice breathes out.

"Y/N! Hunny oh my god" Daniel cries smiling at you.

"Hey darling" you smile a little strained.

"I'll go get the doctor!" Lando says rushing out to grab a nurse.

"I love you so much, you are without a doubt the strongest woman I know!" he says kissing your forehead and cheek.

"I love you to baby"

"When do you recon i can race again" you ask after a silent moment making him cry out a laugh tears still falling from his eyes wondering how you can be thinking about that already.

"My little racer, huh" he sighs looking over at you.

"I love you, never ever do that again!" he says.

"I'd do it a million times over if it means you are sat where you are right now..."

A/N: This feels borderline social media au... and i kinda want to get into it... but I love writing out the angst and tumblr still confuses me with picture sizing and stuff so I'm not sure...

Taglist:

@littlesatanicassholebitch @hockey-racing-fubol @laura-naruto-fan1998 @22yuki @simxican @sinofwriting @lewisroscoelove @cmleitora @stupidandunnecessary @clayra-g @daemyratwst @honey-belden @moonypixel @lauralarsen @vader-is-hot @ironcowboycopnickel @itsjustkhaos @the-untamed-soul @beebo86 @happylittlereader @ziejustme @lou-larcher5 @thewulf @purplephantomwolf @chasing-liberosis @chillyleclerc @chanthereader @annoyingmoonballoon @summissss @evieepepi08 @havaneseoger08 @celesteblack08 @gulphulp @fandom1ruined2me @celebstories @starfusionsworld @jspitwall @sierruhh @georgeparisole @dakotatankbig @youcannotcancelquidditch @zzonsbeek @tallbrownhairsarcastic @mellowarcadefun @ourteenagetragedy @otako5811 @countingstacksandpanicattacks @peachiicherries @formulas-bitch @cherry-piee @hopexcroc @mirrorball-6 @spilled-coffee-cup @mehrmonga @bigsimperika @blueberry64857959 @eiraethh @lilypadlover @curseofhecate @alliwantisadonut @the-fem1n1ne-urge @21stcenturytaegi @dark-night-sky-99 @spideybv28 @i-wish-this-was-me @tallrock35 @butterfly-lover @barnestatic @landossainz @darleneslane @barcelonaloverf1life @r0nnsblog @ilove-tswizzle

[vlassk]

Keeper

Stanford Pines x Reader

She/ her Reader

After learning of Stanleys past with Ford y/n, she decided she wouldn't be getting close to the twin. But she finds it difficult as Ford is just so damn cute.

Warning: age gap, angst, 18+ later on. Swearing. Pervy Ford(lmk if i missed any) not proofread as i no no wanna

You had lived in Gravity Falls for a couple of years now. Stumbling upon it, one winter road trip and falling in love with the beauty. As the years went on, you made good friends, including one neighbor. Stanford Pines was always one person you could talk to about the supernatural. Although he liked to pretend it wasn't real or not as big of a deal, he would always hear you out on your discovery in the town.

You being in your early 30s, the friendship was awkward at first. You saw the faces around town from friends and passer bys. But as time went on, people saw that it was simply platonic.

You spend most of your free time helping him around the house and grabbing food together. He told you about his time in prison and everything about his brother Stanley...

You would linger on his brother. Knowing how horrible he treated Stan and how he would never hear Stan out. Being the Better Brother. The days were good. You ran a local Inn a little out of town. The primary owner would travel most of the time.

One summer though The lnn that you ran shut down. And your manager had to let you go.

"Ughhh, what im i going to do! My place of living! My job!" You slam your head on the table, a loud thud being heard

"Kid, why dont you just ask your parents for some help? Im sure they will under -" Stan lifted up your head to place a small pillow under your face.

"No! Do you know how disappointed they will be?! YEARS of Tuistion for West Coast Tech just to run an Inn?! In a small town! Stan...stanford pines they would kill me and bring me back home..." You plead out looking up only to cry more and slam your head back down, the pillow guarding you.

" y/n you haven't told them?!" Stan yells out, only making you cry more. He paces the room and looks towards you. His frustration leaves when an idea pops into his head.

He sits next to you at the table

"Ya know.. my great niece and nephew are visiting once summer. Break starts...ill need someone to watch the store, maybe evenbuild some cool robot stuff for the shop! Ya know, wendy likes, so take her days off... you could even stay here in the storage closet..." He lays his hand on your back.

Your breathing slows as you look up at Stan.

"Really..." You wipe your tears away, going to hug the old man.

"But you gatta tell your parents at least"

"Fine..."

A couple of months had passed, and you were now a normal part of the household. Mable and Dipper always took you on adventures. You never realized how many crazy creatures were around. You would always come home and help stan though, building him add ons to his favorite chair, making animotronics for the shack. You know things were going wrong when the Fbi arrested Stanford. You remember looking at him as he was taken away. A sad look on your eyes.

" y/n, please. Its not true they dont know what they are talking about!"

You didn't say anything. You didn't know what to say.

You looked over the kids, trying to prove his innocence when they found a code for the vending machine. Soos stood in the way of the machine, and mable threw glitter at him to make him move.

As you made your way into the basement, you could only think of the worst things.

What if he wasn't really Stanford. What if he was someone else. What if everything was a lie like they say. Are you even safe.

You hold onto Mables hand as Soos led the way. Once you get to the bottom, you see all the tech Mable goes on about how Stans is the same man and he loves us. All you can think about is all the tips you gave Stanford on how to fix or build different things. Dipper finds the 2 journals putting all 3 together to see the blueprints of something.

You only look at the basements, build, scan the area, hear Dipper Freak out, but your mind races, and you can't focus on his words. You look at the countdown reading 1 minute. Dipper and mable run into the next room. Turning keys. The strange Build glows. Before Dipper can press the shutdown button Stan runs in

"Dont touch that button!"

You turn to see Stan walking through the door, picking up his pace to you all.

"Dipper, just back away! Please dont press that button, you gatta, trust me!" Stan pleads. Slowing as he sees that Dippers hand is hovering over the red button.

"I should trust you. Why?!. After you stole that radioactive waste?! After you lied to us ALL summer?! I dont even know who you are!"

"I know all this is nuts, but i need that machine to stay on!" A beep is heard after Stans pleads. You start to float up with the rest as the triangle structure opens up. A space like portal opens

"STANFORD?!" You scream out. trying to reach for your friend.

"Dipper!" Mable screams, her foot caught on a wire holding her close to the button

"MABLE HURRY SHUT IT DOWN," Dipper screams out from across the room.

"Stan, why wouldn't you tell me?!" You cry out. Your hair floating around you.

"Kid...i couldn't. I didn't know how!"

As mable crawls her way down stan tries to float towards her, soos swooping in to tackle stan

"Soos, what are you doing?!i gave you an order." Stan struggles between Soos

"Sorry Mrs pines if that is your real name, but i have a new job now! Protecting these kids!" Soos tries to push him away from Mable.

"Soos, you idiot let me go!" Stan continues to reach out. You kept floating. trying to go back down.

Dipper goes to tackle stan as well. You find a way to get to mable holding her down as you both hover over the button.

As Stanley pleads with you both, you see mable tear up.

"Grunkle Stan,"Mable says between tears. "i don't even know, if you're my grunkle! I wanna believe you, but"

"Then listen to me. Remember this morning when I said I wanted to tell you guys something?" Stan breaks from Dipper and Soos.

The computer reads 20 seconds. A power surges through making you float away from mable. You hit the roof of the. Building,The others fly against the rooms walls.

" I wanted to say that you're gonna hear some bad things about me, and some of them are true, but trust me. Everything I've worked for, everything I care about, it's all for this family!"

"Mabel, what if he's lying? This thing could destroy the universe! Listen to your head!" Dipper cries out.

Mable looks up to see you, floating closer to the portal. You glanse back at stans pleading with your eyes. Stan gives you a nod.Mable watches as you close your eyes. Relaxing your body

"Look into my eyes, Mabel! Do you really think I'm a bad guy?"

" He's lying! Shut it down NOW!"

"Mable please"

Ten Nine

"Grunkle stan"

Six five

"I trust you"

"MABEL, ARE YOU CRAZY?! WE'RE ALL GONNA-"

Mable lets go floating up to grab onto your leg. Pulling you closer and away from going through the portal.

One...

Screams are heard as a light blast blows up.

The light shooting through the whole town.

You slowly open your eyes, seeing a figure in front of the portal

"...stan..." You pull your head up from the ground

"What who is that?" Dipper stands

"The author of the journals..." Stanford also stands up.

You see, the man pulls off his goggles, revealing a face just like stans. He looks down at you. As you slowly sit yourself up. You're the closest one to him.

"My brother..." Stan sighs

"Is the the part where one of us faints.." mable giggles

"Ohoho, I am so on it, dude" soos faints on cue. Falling to the floor.

"Finally! After all these long years of waiting, you're actually here! Brother!"

You watch as the man you're assuming Stanley walks up and punches Stanford.

"This was an insanely risky move – restarting the portal! Didn't you read my warnings?!"

"Warnings, schmarnings. How's about maybe a thanks for saving you from what appears to be, I don't know, some kind of sci-fi sideburn dimension?"

"Thank you? You really think I'm gonna thank you after what you DID, THIRTY YEARS AGO?!"

"What I did? Why, you ungrateful...

Stanley pins Stanfords arms. As they bicker, the man slams him on the ground. "

"Get off him, you asshole," you shove Stanley off Stanford. Mable stands next to you

"Hey, hi. Mabel here. Quick question – WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON HERE?!"

"Stan, you didn't tell me there were children down here... And some sort of large, hairless gopher? And... uh, " you see the mans eyes dart from top to bottom, then back to the top.

"A woman..."

"Heh heh. I get that a lot." You laugh at Soos. As he smiles back at you. You watch as Stan eyes you. Wondering what thoughts he could be having.

"They're your family, Poindexter. Shermie's grandkids." Stanford rolls his eyes.

"I-I have a niece and nephew? Greetings. Do kids still say greetings? I haven't been in this dimension for a really long time."

He bends down to shake mables hand

"Whoa, a six-fingered handshake? It's a full finger friendlier than normal!"

"Heha, I like this kid. She's weird."

"And you are?" He extends his hand to you. You ignore it and turn away.

"A friend of Stans..."

Stanley Huffs turning back around

"I-I can't believe it. You're the author of the journals!" Dipper fanboys

"You've read my journals?"

You don't listen to the conversation, but you help Stanford up. He thanks you as he stands. You see stanley eyeing you both out of the corner of your eyes. You dart your eyes towards him, making him look off.

"Well, it looks like we're stuck down here for a while. Who wants to tell us their entire mysterious backstory?" Mable sits back down on some rubble.

"Yes, I have some questions about all this myself, Stanley." The man walks over ignoring you to the next if his abilities

"Stanley..."dipper puts a finger to his chin

"But your name is stanford..." mable questions

"Are you fucking kidding me?!" You leap forward at stan, soos catching you

"Wait, you took my name?! What have you been doing all these years, you knucklehead?!"

"Yeah, Grunkle Stan, no more lies! You owe us some answers – What's the deal with this portal? Why did you keep this a secret?" Dipper exclaims.

"And what happened between you and your brother?" Maybe points at stan angered.

"Im hoping all this aligns exactly with my fanfic, Stan. If not, I will be very disappointed."

You stop struggling against soos. Only to pause and give him a confused look.

"Stanf-...stanley why do you keep lying to me?!" You plead with the old man

"Kid listen... i did what i had to do"

"No. I won't accept that. Tell me why. Was everything about Him even true? " You point to the other man.

The now understood Stanley sighs. I looked up from his brows.

"Everything about HIM is correct. I just switched the names..." he shrugs. With another sigh, he leans against the wall, telling the tale of the two brothers.

As they both took turns telling their upbringing, you couldn't help but watch the twin. He would smile at the good times, and you would catch him watching you as well.

You had to admit he was handsome. You never saw Stan in a way, but Stanford was totally different even with the same face.

If you, too, matched eyes, you would simply roll them and look away. Even though you were curious about this handsome man.

"Oh! This story's so sad! I know what you two little broken teacups need: to hug it out! Hug it out! Hug train's comin' in the station. HUGAPOLOOZA! 2000!" Mable triez to push the men together.

"Kid, will ya knock that off? I'm tryin' to tell my life story here. "

"I already know all this..." You walk off sitting in the room where the portal once was. You could still hear the conversation. Noting again at the Dream school Stanford wanted to go to... but couldn't. You burrowed your face in your legs. Conflicted, you never thought you'd meet him. You were so angry at all the things he did to your friend. But knowing everything and knowing he's alive. Could you be nicer to him?

You hear a Scream and turn to look at the room, dipper fan boys over the journals.

"just got excited there... About the journals... Keep-keep talking."

"I began to keep a journal..."

Dipper screams again. You walk into the room staring at the child. He looks up at you and calms himself down.

"Just going to ignore that..."

He goes on you decide to sit back in the room with the others.

As they retell the fight, you can't help but stare at Stanford. Aggravated at every word he says.

He pauses for a moment. Staring just as intensely

"What is your problem?" Stanford exclaims, throwing his hands up.

"You... you are my problem. you're dangerous. " he looks shocked at your words. And leans back a bit, not knowing what to say.The story finishes as the agents from upstairs get closer. Stanford makes a plan. Telling everyone to stay put as he travels upstairs.

Mable hears the agents leave and runs upstairs with your protest

"Great-uncle Stanford, that was amazing!"

"Let's not go crazy; it was serviceable."

"Thank you, kids, but please, call me Ford."

You stand on the porch. Watching the kids talk to Ford. You catch glimses of him looking at you. Your heart beats faster when he does. Is this anger? You're not nervous..are you?Stan pushes the kids off to bed. He turns to look at you. He mouths out 'stay'. You fix your posture, waiting to wave the kids off while they go inside. Saying a goodbye to Soos and moving towards Stan.

You punch Stans arm

"Ouch why me?!"

"That's for lying to me, you big idiot! Dont do that again!"You furrow your eyebrows. Stan frowns, rubbing his arm. You go in for a hug. Letting go just as fast and looking at Ford.

"So...who are you agai-" you cut him off by slapping him. Both stan and fords face in shock.

" That's for building such a STUPID machine... and hurting my friend!"

Stan begins to laugh. Resting a hand on your shoulder.

"Who even are you?!" The man shouts, angerly walking towards the house. The sun is going down.

" haha shes a keeper! Now Y/n go to bed. I gatta catch up with this man..."

"What's the point of me staying behind?"You shrug your shoulders. Pushing the old man slightly a small okay left your lips.

"No hard feelings, old man?" You smile and walk away, turning around to point finger guns at both men, going into the house and upstairs to your room.

"Old man? Rude, " Ford says under his breath

The two men head in as well. I'm sitting at the table to talk. Catching up on the little things

"Nothing so bad, ya know... people come and go...?"

"Hmm...and that women you keep around?"

"Huh? Women? Haha, that's Y/n. She's a good friend.."

"Just friend?"

"Of course! She's a good kid. Takes care of Dipper and Mable and always makes great adjustments to her past works. " Stan leans back in his chair, talking about you normally

"Past works? What does that even mean" Ford questions.

"Ah, she's a graduate of West Coast tech... some phds in some stuff i dont really pay attention. But she makes awesome stuff. Let me tell ya, " Stan points to a few things you've improved or added.

"Wait, she went to WCT?? Wait, why is she here with you?" Ford laughs still in shock of your success.

"She's been a friend of mine for a while now. She used to work at an Inn that closed down, so i gave her a place to work and sleep. Listen, i felt bad leaving her alone. She needed someone"

"Interesting... " fords mind goes off. Picturing you again. How angry you looked at him, the disappointment when you would stare. But how beautiful you are. How every time you looked at him with hate or pity, all he could see was the opposite.

"I know that look,"Stan leans forward

"What look?" Ford looks away at anything but his brother.

"That look... you stay away from her..." stans eyebrows furrow. His fist on the table

"I dont even know what you're talking about." Ford looks away again, and this finds his head resting on his hand.

"Stay. Away." Stanley gets up.

"But... I'm happy you're home," he holds his hand out. Ford takes it, and they get up to go to bed. Stopping by the bathroom for one last conversation, you can't help but too listen in on.

[mci-writing]

Hi I saw that your requests are open. Can I request a senku x female reader where he has a crush on an older tattooed foreigner who was on vacation in Japan when the world was petrified

I've had this sitting for a minute tbh, but mostly bc I didn't want there to be too many spoilers for anime-onlys 😭😭 mostly for how tattoos work,,, Don’t be surprised if there’s a heavy focus on language plot wise, I’ve been working on a lot of linguistics homework 😞

Anyways, hope you enjoy

Science Makes Age Complicated (Ishigami Senku x Reader):

Warnings: technically an age gap but also not (reader was once 2 years older than Senkuu, but now they're the same age due to time shenanigans), fem!reader, some language use (a few swears here and there), reader is American (RIP but it’s plot relevant), reader is implied to know an insane amount of languages (bc this is Dr Stone and it’s relevant to world-building)

"Think you can scrounge something up for her, Yuzuriha?" Senku parts the lush shrubbery for his friend, unresponsive to her obvious surprise at the sight before her. He figured it would go that way, considering how kept away the whole area is, but he'd rather start the spectacle with her big reactions instead of the loud and boisterous version involving the rest of their crew, "I'm more than sure you'll manage to make her something she's 1 billion percent comfortable in."

He'd considered this statue his secret weapon for the next part of their excursion. Well, that would be his explanation as to why he'd waited so long to unveil her and finally free her from her encasement. Really, he could never find the proper time to finally revive her, especially when every time it would feel right to, something else would arise that would require them to use the revival fluid for someone else.

When talks of traveling to the Americas came up, he knew it'd be the perfect time to properly reveal her and, hopefully, ease her into their current predicament. While Gen is a great diplomat, thew mentalist isn't exactly fluent in as many languages as the girl in the statue before them. Even more, if they are to run into more people (which they very likely are), it's better to have at least two representatives to talk things over. That's going to be his reasoning, anyway.

Deep down, he's a little nervous to finally see her again, especially now that he's technically older than her by a few months at least. The last time they'd seen each other had been the day before the petrification light, the two decided to spend time with each other before he went back to school. She was visiting Japan for a bit, a trip she'd planned to make at least once a year since the two had officially met in person while he had been in America. Back then, she'd been 17 to his 15, owning an American driver's license and a tattoo sleeve that left many of the older members of society scandalized.

"I don't think she's going to take being younger than us well," Yuzuriha mentions as she finishes up sewing the outfit she'd made for (Y/n). She worked fast, wiping the sweat that had accumulated on her forehead once she finished. She takes a step back once she's finished, watching as Senku steps forward, "Especially when she finds out how long it took for you to bring her back."

"She'll be fine. I'm 1 billion percent sure she's going to be grateful for it," He responds, popping the top off the tiny vial between his fingers. He doesn't stop the grin from spreading across his face as he lets the contents of the vial drip from the top of her head. The two watch expectedly as it eases its way down her body, stone cracking and parting in its wake, “She’s going to get to visit home, after all.”

The stone falls from her body, the life slowly coming back into her (e/c) orbs as more of her skin is revealed. Her tattooed sleeve remains, now accompanied by the petrification markings on her face and other parts of her body. A wave of confusion hits her as she takes in the unfamiliar surroundings, but her shoulders relax a little as she takes in the two familiar figures next to her, "Senku...? Yuzuriha...?" "Hey, (Y/n)," He immediately greets in response, an excited light coming to his eyes as ruby meets (e/c), "Looks like we're the same age now."

Yuzuriha flinches at his greeting, sighing with a shake of her head as she takes a small step closer to their friend. A nervous smile forms on her lips as she takes (Y/n) hands into her own, leading her out of the hidden away area into the light of the new world. She feels the grip tighten as (e/c) eyes dart around the surrounding forestry in an attempt to better understand the circumstances and environment, "We have a lot to catch you up on, but I'm sure if we ease you in slowly it won't cause you too much whiplash-"

"We don't have time for that, Yuzuriha. We still have to load the ship back up and travel to America," Senku waves the notion off, walking past the two of them and leading them back into the village. Neither of the girls miss the smirk on his face as he continues, unmoving as they gape at him like fish, "(Y/n) will catch up along the way."

He's bluffing, which they realize a little later when Ryusui recounts the plan to spend the next few days loading the ship and replacing the items they used on their last voyage. (Y/n) is assimilated faster into their new society than she can process, the rest of their group taking the basic information they're fed and working with it. Yuzuriha is eventually forced to leave her to fend for her own after a bit to attend to her own assignments and Taiju only stops to catch up for a bit (which is mostly him speed talking and making assumptions about how much she's been made aware of) before continuing to move along.

Senku doubts he'll ever admit it out loud, but he is grateful that they're the same age, even if he's technically older by a few months now. Standing next to (Y/n), who hadn't aged a day past the last time he'd seen her, was the reassurance he secretly needed about his own development. While his growth spurt, a result of the final pushes of puberty during the Stone Wars and roughing it during the New Stone Age, was the only difference he could notice next to her, (Y/n) had been hit with the whiplash of every other development.

To her, it felt like both a lifetime and a long night since she had seen Senku, yet he looked almost completely different and exactly the same. The remainder of his baby fat had rounded out of his cheeks, his face maturing nicely into that of a young adult, and he'd sprung up quite a bit in height. He was still lithe in comparison to Taiju, till thin and very much not built for too much physical labor, but he'd gotten a bit of meat on his bones to fill his arms out a little more. Despite that, he still looked like him, like the jerky boy she'd met by chance in middle school who would be the first person she'd show her newest tattoos to when she was 16 to get some kind of rise out of him.

Taiju and Yuzuriha were a further reminder of the weird passage of time, the two more developed in their own rights. He was beefier, still ever-muscular in a more defined way. His hands seemed rougher, but she didn't know if that had been due to the rougher circumstances or if they were always meant to get so rough with all the handy work Senku would put him up to. Yuzuriha had filled out a little, a few scars littering her hands from what (Y/n) could only assume was from her thread work she'd seem to consistently be working on since they'd gotten back to their stronghold. Her silky brown hair, which had once reached her waist and made a few of the girls from their school envious of its length, now barely reached past her shoulders in its bobbed shape.

She feels so out of place...

~~~~

The rush of information coming to people’s senses is always amusing to watch, but (Y/n) is taking a little more time to process than usual. Even now, a few days into her now being free from the stone prison, she still has more questions. They aren’t particularly scientific, more so just random observations that she really wants the answers to. She’s also hyper-analyzed the villagers' speech patterns, having them repeat their newer slang and pronounce random words in Japanese, English, and German (something they did not realize they were fluent in until she came around). In return, they ask her questions about the past (mostly Senku, Yuzuriha, and Taiju), the sleeve on her arm, and why the hell she knows so many languages already.

Senku can’t really be mad about it slowly down progress, he’s sure he’d slack off a little too if they didn’t have so little time to prepare for their trip across the sea. Neither of them miss the way their eyes longingly stare at one another, meeting a few times before either is dragged away by the others they’re surrounded by. It’s even worse that (Y/n) feels she hasn’t been able to get any time alone with him since they made it to the village. She’d been made aware of their plans once her confusion died down a little, even taking the time to freshen up on the main languages she’d be focused on for their trip and doing what she can to pitch in. Unfortunately, their different preparations would barely, if ever, cross over. Lowkey, it had been killing both of them inside, but they kept up appearances for the sake of getting things done.

She’d learned from Gen, who gave her brain a break by speaking in English with her, that Senku had kept her relatively well hidden. He’d visit her often, but no one had put together that’s what he’d been doing until now. Yuzuriha made it clear she’d only learned of (Y/n)’s whereabouts a little before they’d revived her. However, the brown-haired girl did mention that a few passing statements he’d made in the past were starting to make sense.

It took the last night before the Kingdom of Science would set sail again for (Y/n) to find time away from the others. Despite the various discussions scratching her brain in the best way possible in a new world, the dark blue of the night accompanied by the low noises of crickets and crashing waves gives her the solace she needs. While everything has mostly settled, or settled as much as it can, it's still moving so fast. To her, everything was normal yesterday and then dark for longer than she thinks possible to comprehend, "Maybe this is how Sleeping Beauty felt..."

"I doubt that," A familiar voice speaks up from behind her, the heels of his shoes clopping along the ground as he approaches. The gravel scrunches as he shifts to sit next to her, deep zircon-colored eyes staring out towards the ocean's expanse. He scoots a little closer to her, his head tilting as his pinky reflexively reaches to dig out of his ear, "Considering she typically is depicted to have been a young preteen when she first fell asleep and an older teenager when she wakes, I doubt there were many technological changes to throw her for such a loop, especially if the story takes place in a fictional version of the middle ages."

His eyes shift to peak at her instead, his typical grin filing onto his face. Somehow, they're one of his few features to remain the same despite his growing age. He's one of the reasons she's out here tonight, gathering her thoughts privately one last time so she can tuck them away to focus her attention more on to returning civilization.

Of course, she always thought he was good-looking, most people did. However, where they were turned off by his passion for science and technical engineering, she found it to be all the more endearing for his character. He had his pesty moments, but so did everyone else in some way. It added to his charm, "Didn't see you as the fables type, Senku."

"Had a friend who was super into literature. She read it in different languages to challenge herself," He teases in response, his gaze turning back to the sight before them, "Wonder where she is now..."

(Y/n) tugs her knees up to her chest, the irony of the comparison not lost on her, though made completely on accident. She pulls them closer, resting her cheek on them as she takes in the boy next to her, "Maybe she's trapped somewhere in a stone prison back in the woods."

She watches his chest rumble with his chuckle, a soft breeze picking up and spreading the smell of salt water. He's closer now, the smaller changes staring her in the face and taunting her. She'd wanted him this close to her again, just for the reassurance, but now... She kind of regrets it.

"I would've found her by now," He mumbles, the sound just barely reaching her ears. A fond smile slowly eases across his mouth as he returns his gaze to her, "Would've taken me a while to finally see her like this again, but I think it'd finally be worth seeing her again. Even with the circumstances."

"I'm sure she'd be grateful to see you again too, even with the circumstances."

[freesia-writes]

Ch 20: Keytoll

~ Master List ~ Previous Chapter ~ WC: 2.6k

Author's Note -- I couldn't resist publishing this a lil early... I'm excited for the next few chapters!!

.

“Hunter!” Lyra burst through his shop door. “Hunter?” she peered around the counter, stepping back in surprise as he appeared from the back. “Hey! Sorry... Um… Listen, I have to go. Urgently. There’s an old friend of mine that I’ve been trying to find for years, and she just contacted me and is trying to find a safe place to disappear. I’m taking the next shuttle to Keytoll to meet her.”

“Alright,” Hunter said slowly. His brow furrowed. “Though last I heard, Keytoll is a fairly popular outpost for the Empire… Not exactly a good idea…”

“I have no choice,” she said, with a fervence that hinted at a much greater depth. 

“You trust this person?”

“I’d give my life for her in a heartbeat.”

“Wow. That’s big talk for you.”

“I mean it.” Her earnestness was compelling, and Hunter nodded slowly, eyes darting from her to the ground as he considered the options. 

“You gonna be safe?”

“I mean… I’ll do my best,” she said with a helpless shrug. “I’ve gotten this far.”

“Want some backup?”

“What?” She looked up at him quizzically.

“Want… Some help? A second pair of eyes? Extra protection?” He was offering it as vaguely as possible, but realized with each passing word how much he wanted her to ask him to come along.

“I don’t want to ask you to do that,” she said, averting her own eyes now. “This is my own issue, not your burden.”

“I know,” he nodded, untying his apron with a calm intentionality now. “But if you’ll have me, I’m coming.”

“Okay… Um, thanks. That really means a lot. But at any point if you change your mind, it’s okay…” She shifted anxiously from foot to foot, still nervously staring at the floor. 

“I’ll meet you at the station,” he confirmed with a nod, reaching out to grasp her hand as she turned to flit back out the door. They exchanged a meaningful glance, and he squeezed her hand before releasing it and watching her leave.

* * * 

The off-world transport was a clunky old thing that seemed to be under maintenance more often than it was actually running. It had a few routes to nearby systems, where travelers could catch a ride to more popular destinations, and Keytoll was a backwater planet in the Outer Rim that, aside from being a transportation hub, didn’t have much going for it. It was decently populated in its capital city, which shared a name with the planet, but the rest of it was dusty wasteland. The city was full of tall clay buildings that rose in slightly rounded squares and rectangles from the center outward. 

Hunter had put together a bit of a disguise, a fabric wrap concealing his head and face except for his eyes and a thick, dusty cloak hanging from his shoulders. He wanted to be extremely forgettable, and in the arid climate of Keytoll, he’d look just like anyone else. Lyra already wore neutral, simple clothing, but he was surprised to see that she’d gone to great lengths to braid her hair up around her head so its length was impossible to tell, and the dramatic makeup on her face was definitely a contrast from the usual. Her eyes were framed by bold swipes of black that curved up at the ends and her eyelids were brushed with smoky dark gray. The gentle shape of her lips was made to look much fuller with liner and a splash of deep red. Everything about her features was not only accentuated but changed, and he was impressed with just how much she looked like an entirely different person by taking a completely opposite approach than he had.

She took his arm as they boarded the shuttle, the look in her eyes intense and difficult to read. They sat in the back where they could see everyone getting on, and he could feel anticipation coursing through her veins. 

“You… uh… You look…” he began, but she rolled her eyes in exasperation.

“Like an underworld performer, I know.”

“Well, I mean…” he paused, deciding between two responses. “You’re the one who said it.”

She laughed, relaxing a tiny bit, and stole a glance at him before returning to her vigilant scan of the other passengers. “How did you know what they wear there? This is impressively accurate.” She gave the cloak a little tug, unable to resist one last lingering look at his hawkish eyes. 

“Tech,” he said simply.

“Ah. Handy.”

“So do you want to tell me a little more about what we’re getting into?” he asked, his voice a little constricted. They’d both been so slow to open up to one another, but the way they’d nestled into each other’s lives and hearts was undeniable. He still wanted to respect her privacy, but this was a notably different sort of activity for her, and his curiosity was getting the better of him. And, more importantly, any mission needed solid intel and strategy to be successful. The ship’s engines came online, shuddering into motion as the boarding ramp folded up and the takeoff announcement began to play. 

“Breslin is… a dear friend. Family, really. We got separated when we left Coruscant, and I was afraid she was dead from the way she just disappeared and never responded to my communication. She… um… worked with me on Coruscant, and I think she was feeling the same need for a change of pace when she left. But we’d talked about going somewhere together, and then she just… vanished.”

Hunter shifted in his seat, wildly uncomfortable with so many factors to consider. “So she suddenly found you again, now?”

“Yes, and her note was short, but it just sounded like she needed some help.”

Silence sat heavy between them for a while, Hunter feeling torn between so many courses of action. He hated going into a situation without his squad and some idea of what lay ahead, but it seemed like a relatively harmless sort of escapade, all things considered. There was a strong sense of protectiveness around Lyra, but he also had a deep desire to keep Xylo as unnoticed as possible, and each new person that learned of its existence was a potential threat to its safety and anonymity. 

“You really don’t have to do this,” Lyra repeated, her nerves apparent in every movement. 

“I know,” he assured, reaching over to take her hand in his. “It’s fine. It’s been a while since I’ve seen any action. Might be good for me.” He didn’t believe a word of what he said.

“Old habits die hard, eh?” she attempted, referring to what he’d shared about his time as a mercenary of sorts. 

“Something like that.”

When they arrived in Keytoll, they made their way through the city, keeping their heads down and appearing as inconspicuous as possible. The city was bustling with activity, species of every kind shoving their way through narrow streets and kicking up dust as they went. It was just after dinnertime, so the restaurants were releasing full and happy patrons to find their way home for the night, and Hunter kept his hand on the blaster at his side, sharp eyes scanning constantly. They arrived at their destination: a very old-looking hotel on one of the edges of a small courtyard, and after a brief check-in under a fake name, Lyra opened the door to their rented quarters for the evening. 

It was a surprisingly comfortable and clean-looking room compared to the rest of the hotel and the dilapidated buildings around it. There was a very basic kitchenette, a table with two chairs, a couple of windows facing different directions in the corner, a tiny couch facing a holoscreen, and, tucked in the back near the door to the refresher, a fairly large bed. Each lost in thought about certain aspects of their accommodation, they pushed their suitcases off to the side and locked the door, ambling about the room aimlessly after shedding most of their disguises.

“I’ll sleep on the couch,” Lyra said abruptly, fidgeting with her purse strap as she did when nervous. 

“Maybe half of you will,” Hunter chuckled, sitting on one side of it to demonstrate just how small it was. “We’ll figure it out.”

A pause. 

“So what’s the plan with the friend?” he continued. 

“She’s meeting us tomorrow morning. The shuttle schedules didn’t really line up so this was the best we could do. Then she’ll come back with us on the afternoon departure.”

“Sounds simple enough,” he nodded. “Where’s the meeting?”

“She said she’d send her hotel coordinates when she arrives and we can figure out a place in the middle, or just meet back at the station. Whichever is safest.”

“Mmkay.” He stretched, sidling up to the windows in the corner to scope out the surroundings. “So, until then…”

“We eat!” Lyra snickered, rummaging in her back for the few ingredients she’d brought for a simple pasta dinner. “I figured it would be better than going out…”

Hunter grinned, shaking his head fondly as she also produced a bottle of wine and began digging in the cupboards for anything to put it in. Two plastic cups and a little while later, they were nestled on the tiny couch while pasta sauce simmered on the stove. 

“What do you miss most about your action days?” Lyra asked, absently swirling the red liquid in her small cup. A sigh escaped Hunter’s lips as memories sprang to mind indiscriminately, each one demanding attention as much as the rest. But they all seemed gray… heavy… so much pain and loss that had gotten him to where he was now. “Sorry, maybe that’s not fun to talk about right now,” Lyra added sheepishly.

“No, there’s just… a lot,” he began. “I mean, not a lot that I miss. But some of it, I suppose. It was fairly cut and dry… Here’s the job, you take it, you do it. Then you wait around until the next one.”

“Sounds pretty monotonous.”

“Heh. I mean, if every mission being a different objective with a risk to your life in a new way is monotonous, then sure.”

“Oh, I didn’t mean to downplay the dangers,” she corrected quickly. “I just mean… there’s not a lot of freedom for you to choose your own path? Although I guess you could at any point, since the jobs are all on an individual basis.”

“Yeah… But we were kinda in a groove for a while. And,” he hesitated, considering the similar conversation he’d had with Omega months ago. “It’s a little simpler because you have one straightforward purpose. Now… I don’t know. I sometimes feel like I’m living a lie.”

Lyra’s heart rate picked up noticeably, and she tilted to be able to face him more fully. “How so?”

“So much of my life was constant chaos, I never had much time to sit around and make my own choices. All this stuff, as wonderful as it is,” he noted, lightly stroking the back of her arm, “just feels… Too simple. Like it’s all going to fall to pieces somehow. And I’ll have been too distracted by all the fluff to have seen it coming or be able to prevent it.”

“I mean…” She struggled to find the right words. “What’s the alternative? Bounty hunting for the rest of your life? You’d always have to be looking over your shoulder.”

“Yeah,” he conceded. “Maybe I’m just too… whatever… to believe that it could really be this pleasant. 

“Should I try to make it less pleasant?” she asked, her attempt at humor slightly hampered by her strong undercurrent of discomfort at his words. 

“And how would you go about that?” he challenged, mildly amused.

“We could always get that girl to come and beat you up again.”

“Cheap shot,” he grumbled, elbowing her gently in the side as she chuckled, relaxing a bit more into her normal self. “Although I do think I need to exercise more,” he continued, “because my pants are getting a little too tight with all your delicious cooking.”

“We can start hiking up the mountain instead of cuddling on the couch all the time,” she suggested. 

“That sounds terrible.”

“It really does.”

It was far later than usual when they finally sat down for dinner, the cozy details of their homes notably missing from the generic layout of the hotel room. They ate rather quickly around some halting conversation then wordlessly began getting ready for bed. After locking herself in the refresher for a while, Lyra emerged, having cleaned off all her makeup and loosened her hair back into a braid down the middle of her shoulder blades. She had a thin robe wrapped around herself, the hems of pajama pants poking out the bottom, and Hunter felt a wave of affection at the sight.

He’d brushed his teeth and washed his face in the kitchen sink, quickly changing into soft black pants and a long-sleeved henley while she was in the refresher, and his hair fell in loose waves around his face. Lyra busied herself by plugging in her commlink on the nightstand next to the bed, then, with nothing left to do, they stared at each other for a few moments, each fidgeting slightly while waiting for the other to talk. 

“The bed is pretty big,” she observed, keeping her face carefully neutral. Hunter nodded, rubbing the back of his neck. 

“I don’t think anyone should sleep on that couch,” he added. 

Moving as they spoke, they found themselves each on a side of the bed, pulling the covers back tentatively before climbing in. Lyra paused to remove her robe, revealing a ridiculously endearing pajama set with long pants, a loose button-up top, and a dainty floral pattern. Hunter hid a smile, laying on his back and staring at the ceiling, and Lyra did the same for a few minutes before finally rolling on her side to face him. 

“I mean… We’ve slept on the couch before… Why does this feel so different?” she confessed, and he noticed the flush on her cheeks and the way she tucked her hands protectively in front of her chest. 

“It doesn’t have to be,” he offered, lifting an arm to invite her in, trying hard to appear breezy despite his own pounding pulse and the intoxication of his senses from all that the situation entailed. She hesitated for a moment, subtly biting her lip before slowly scooting across the bed to tuck herself against his side, nestling her head into the soft crook of his shoulder and resting a hand on his chest. His arm held her gently, other hand laying atop hers, and he sighed in deep contentment. 

“I’m really glad you’re here,” she murmured, nuzzling a little closer to his neck and sending a little shiver down his spine. He hummed his agreement, trying to focus on anything but the softness of her body pressed along his and the calm affection that radiated from her hand where it lay over his heart. 

* * * 

Early in the morning, the quiet buzzing of the commlink woke Lyra with a start, and she rolled over to look at it, casting a quick glance back at Hunter’s sleeping form. His shirt was twisted, pulled tight against the curve of his side as it rose and fell steadily. She rubbed her eyes, trying to focus on the words on the screen, then got up and snuck into the refresher, emerging a few minutes later fully dressed.

She tiptoed over to Hunter’s side of the bed, unable to resist brushing a tendril of hair from his face, and she bent down slowly, caressing the side of his cheek as he remained unmoving. Indescribable depths of emotion swirled in her eyes as she gazed at his features, leaning in to press one last kiss to his temple. 

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, closing her eyes in a singular, poignant moment of regret before tearing herself away and slipping out the door.

.

Song: “Someone You Loved” by Lewis Capaldi

.

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[vint-knight]

Seeing a ghost...

Hermes, God of Travels, Speed, Tricks and Messages, what a delightful god that one is, born from Maia, creating the lyre from skinning a turtle and killing the cattle of Apollo, this god had quite a beginning, throughout the years nothing really shocked the god, except for some occasions of course, but on this specific day, this would shock the god the most.

Flying about the skies, Hermes had a gloomy look on his face, which is very unlike the god, but believe me friends, he had just lost one of his great grandsons, even though said, great grandson made a mistake in angering the god of seas, Hermes found amusement in him, hearing of how witty he was, he didn't feel like sending the news to Itacha, even told most of the Olympians not to bring in the news, for he did not want to hear the anguish it would cause to his family, especially Penelope.

While reminiscing on these thoughts, Hermes decided to stop by Aeaea, the island where the daughter of Helios, Circe lived with her nymphs, he and the goddess were quite casual with each other, only having minor conversations, he did not much care for the men she would make into pigs, very much understanding the reasoning.

As he was gliding down to the forests of Aeaea, the god found a figure, and almost flew into a tree if he hadn't stopped so quickly, his bright blue eyes that bared no pupils of any human widened, the figure was... a corpse, a corpse of a man, but this wasn't just any man, the man had short longish brown hair, which was slightly damp, his skin looked pale and bits of bone and rotten skin was shown, he still held some strength and beauty in his looks despite being a corpse, then there was the eyes, those grey eyes that so resembled his step sister Athena which he would joke how they looked related, the god gently flew down, not believing at the sight before him, it was Odysseus, Willy Odysseus, thee Odysseus who sacked Troy, the Odysseus who raced Penelope's father for her hand instead of trying to earn the Helen of Sparta's, the one who tried to escape the draft by pretending to be mad while planting seeds, that Odysseus was standing before him

The god of travels could muster out one word, one that sounded confused, startled, but most of all hopeful "Odysseus?"

The corpse lifted its head, the jaw was slightly half torn, showing teeth, it muttered out a strained word, but it was clear enough for the god to hear "Her... Mes?...."

And like that, an actual smile came on the god's lips and a horde of gleeful cackles came out from his mouth.

[tinynerdz360]

Future Ghost Chapter 10

Kirk paced back and forth in his office, hands clasped behind his back, brow furrowed in deep thought. The dilemma of what to do with young Danny Fenton weighed heavily on his mind. At just 15 years old, the ghost-powered hybrid from another time had no business being an ensign on the Enterprise without proper academy training. And yet, here he was.

Kirk tapped the comm button. "Spock, McCoy, meet me in my office.”

Moments later, the door slid open with its familiar hiss, admitting the Vulcan science officer and the chief medical officer into the room.

"You wanted to see us, Captain?" Spock inquired, one eyebrow raised.

"It's about our resident time traveler, Ensign Fenton. We need to decide what to do with him. He's far too young to be serving on a starship."

McCoy crossed his arms. "Dammit Jim, we can't just send the kid packing! He's got nowhere else to go in this time period. And with those ghost powers of his, who knows what kind of trouble he could get into. Someone unsavory could take advantage of his abilities, make him disappear..."

"The doctor raises a fair point," Spock interjected. "Furthermore, as a hybrid from an undocumented species, Ensign Fenton presents a unique challenge. There is no precedent for this situation."

Kirk sighed, sinking into his chair. "I know, I know. But bypassing the academy entirely sets a dangerous precedent too. What kind of message does that send?"

"Look, we've made exceptions before in extenuating circumstances," McCoy argued. "And the kid's got a good head on his shoulders. He hasn't used his powers for any ill will since coming on board. Isolating him planetside could be disastrous."

Kirk nodded, acknowledging the gravity of McCoy's words. "But we can't just ignore the fact that he hacked his way onto the Enterprise."

"Which demonstrates considerable skill," Spock conceded, though his tone remained neutral.

Kirk drummed his fingers on the desk, considering both sides. He had to report this unorthodox situation to the admirals eventually. But perhaps he could delay that communique a bit longer, at least until he witnessed a demonstration of Danny's abilities for himself.

"Alright, we'll hold off on any final decisions for now," Kirk declared. "But I want to see what Ensign Fenton can really do, sooner rather than later. In the meantime, I’ve had Chekov investigate Danny’s hometown,” Kirk said, tapping his communicator. "Kirk to Chekov. Report to my office immediately."

As they waited for the young navigator to arrive, Kirk's mind drifted to Danny. The captain couldn't help but feel a mix of admiration and concern for the boy who had managed to infiltrate Starfleet at such a young age. He only hoped his decision, whatever it may be, would be the right one.

The door chimed, and Chekov entered, his youthful face etched with a mix of excitement and nervousness.

"Ah, Ensign Chekov," Kirk greeted. "What have you discovered about Amity Park?"

Chekov straightened his accent thickening with enthusiasm. "It vas very strange Keptin. At first, zere vas no record of zis Amity Park anywhere. But ven I dug into Earth's history from ze late 20th and early 21st centuries, a few references to ze town popped up. Zen...nothing. It's as if it disappeared after Vorld Var III and ze Eugenics Vars."

Kirk frowned. "Disappeared? What do you mean?"

"Vell sir, I asked a friend back on Earth to inwestigate ze town's last known location in Illinois. She reported some very odd things. She had great difficulty finding ze location, sir. She kept missing ze correct road, as if something vas... interfering vith her navigation." Chekov paused, his voice dropping slightly. "Ven she scanned ze area, she detected an unusual energy signature. As she got closer, she felt an overwhelming urge to turn back, like something vas trying to keep her away."

Spock's eyebrow arched higher. "Fascinating. An external force attempting to repel visitors?"

Chekov nodded vigorously. "Da, Mr. Spock. But that's not ze strangest part. Ven my friend finally reached ze coordinates vere Amity Park should have been, she found..."

"Found what, Ensign?" Kirk prompted, leaning forward.

Chekov swallowed hard. "A giant crater, sir. As if ze entire city had been... Ze whole town, vanished without a trace."

A heavy silence fell over the room as the implications of Chekov's report sank in.

Dr. McCoy's brow furrowed deeply. "And what about evidence of weapons? Surely, there'd be some sign of what caused such destruction."

Chekov's brow furrowed as he continued his report. "My friend found ze energy signature around ze crater fascinating. She plans to study it further. But vat really intrigued her vas ze persistent sense of needing to leave and ignore the area altogether. It was as if something was compelling her to forget about it and move on. But zere vas no signs of nuclear fallout, photon bombardment, or anything to suggest conventional or even advanced weaponry vas used. It's almost as if..." He paused, searching for the right words. "As if Amity Park vas cleanly scooped right out of ze earth itself."

Spock arched an eyebrow.

McCoy's face paled, a knot of dread forming in his stomach. "Good God, Jim. The implications of this... If the Ensign's entire hometown was wiped off the map, if everyone he ever knew........"

Kirk nodded gravely, his eyes distant as he processed the disturbing news. Spock, ever the voice of logic, interjected.

"Captain, I must advise caution in revealing this information to Ensign Fenton, at least until we have a clearer understanding of the full extent of his abilities and emotional control. Given his youth and the trauma of temporal displacement, learning of this tragedy could provoke an extremely volatile reaction."

"Dammit, Spock, we can't just hide this from the kid!" McCoy argued, his blue eyes flashing. "He has a right to know!"

Kirk held up a hand. "Bones, I understand your concerns. But I'm inclined to agree with Spock on this one." He sighed heavily. "The idea of a being with Fenton's potential power losing control in a fit of grief and rage... It could endanger the entire ship.”

The Doctor grumbled under his breath but consented to the captain’s judgment. 

"There's a difference between coming to terms with your loved ones passing naturally in your absence versus learning your entire world was horrifically snuffed out. And if the Ensign did return to his own time armed with that knowledge..." Kirk shook his head. "The damage to the timeline could be catastrophic. Amity Park clearly has a role to play in history. But for now, we keep this information between us."

***

Danny's laughter echoed through the mess hall as he sat with Tina and Kas, relishing his brief respite from sickbay. The normalcy of it all - just hanging out with friends - felt like a lifeline in the chaos of his situation.

"I should probably head back," Danny said reluctantly, pushing away from the table. "McCoy's gonna wonder where I am."

Tina grinned. "Don't want to make the good doctor grumpy, do we?"

Danny chuckled, waving goodbye as he headed for the exit. The corridor seemed longer than usual, his footsteps echoing in the quiet. Suddenly, a firm hand gripped his shoulder, spinning him around.

"Well, well. If it isn't the little imposter," Lieutenant Weston sneered, looming over Danny.

Danny's heart raced. "I-I'm just heading back to sickbay, sir."

"You shouldn't even be here," Weston spat. "You should be locked up in the brig. How dare you wear that uniform?"

Danny felt himself shrinking back, his throat tight. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"

"Lieutenant Weston!" Captain Kirk's voice cut through the tension like a phaser blast as he walked down the hallway in passing. "What exactly is going on here?"

Weston straightened. "Sir, I was just-"

"Harassing a minor?” Kirk’s eyes narrowed. “Report to my ready room at 0800 tomorrow. You’re assigned to sensitivity training.”

As Weston skulked away, Danny let out a shaky breath. “Thanks, Captain.”

Kirk’s expression softened. “Come on, let’s get you back to sickbay.”

As they walked, Danny’s mind whirled with anxiety.

“Danny,” Kirk said gently, “I understand Weston is your roommate?”

Danny nodded, his stomach churning.

“We’ll arrange a room change immediately,” Kirk assured him. “You should feel safe here.”

A spark of hope ignited in Danny’s chest. “Does... does that mean I can stay?”

Kirk’s smile was enigmatic. “We were planning to change your quarters anyway. Weston’s behavior just expedited things.” He paused. “I haven’t made a final decision yet, but we do want you to feel secure here.”

Danny nodded eagerly. “I’ve finished rewriting my reports, sir. I’m almost done with the list of abilities, too.”

Kirk’s eyes crinkled with amusement. “Good work, Ensign. You’re certainly eager to prove yourself.”

As they neared sickbay, Danny couldn’t help but ask, “Sir? Do you... do you think I have a chance of staying?”

Kirk’s expression grew thoughtful. “Danny, I won’t lie to you. Your situation is complicated. But I see potential in you.” He seemed to be wrestling with some internal debate before adding, “You remind me of someone I once knew. He had incredible abilities too, but... well, let’s just say I’m glad to see how well you’re controlling yourself, even when provoked.”

Danny’s brow furrowed. “Sir?”

Kirk shook his head. “Never mind. Get some rest, Ensign. We’ll talk more tomorrow.”

As Danny entered sickbay, his mind raced with questions. *Who was this person Kirk had known? *

**

In sickbay, Scotty bustled in holding the strange stone device, his eyes alight with determination. "I've got an idea, lad," he announced, thrusting the object into Danny's hands. "Hold this and press your thumb to the smooth bit there."

Danny blinked down at the stone, confusion etched on his face. "Okay, but why?"

"Just trust me," Scotty urged. "Now, I want you to focus and push a wee bit of your ghostly energy into it."

Dr. McCoy watched the exchange with a mixture of curiosity and concern. "Scotty, what in blazes are you up to?"

Ignoring the doctor's question, Scotty nodded encouragingly at Danny. "Go on, give it a try."

Danny shrugged and pressed his thumb to the stone's smooth surface, concentrating. A faint green glow emanated from his finger, and suddenly, the device beeped and lit up. A holographic screen popped into existence, floating in the air above the stone.

"HAHAHAH, I knew it!” Scotty exclaimed, his face lit with triumph.

McCoy leaned in. "About time."

As McCoy reached out to tap the hologram, trying to figure out what the strange symbols meant.

“I think those are ghost symbols…...maybe there’s an English setting….or something.” Danny mumbled.

"Fascinating," McCoy muttered. "Danny, try pressing that icon there."

Danny obliged, his finger hovering over a glowing symbol. As he touched it, a dial tone echoed through sickbay.

"What in the blazes—" McCoy started, but his words were cut short as a miniature holographic figure materialized atop the stone.

Danny's jaw dropped. "Dr. Bonechiller?!"

The tiny yeti ghost blinked, looking surprised to see Danny. "Great One? My, you look so young! Oh... I see. It's *that* time."

McCoy's eyebrows shot up, his gaze darting between Danny and the hologram. "Well, I'll be. I didn't realize ghosts came in such... diverse forms."

Dr. Bonechiller turned, noticing McCoy for the first time. "Ah, greetings! I am Dr. Bonechiller, young Daniel's primary physician. And you are?"

"Dr. Leonard McCoy, Chief Medical Officer of the USS Enterprise," McCoy replied, his tone professional despite his apparent fascination. "Dr. Bonechiller, if you wouldn't mind waiting, I'd like to invite my commanding officer to join us."

The yeti nodded. "Of course, Doctor. I will await your return."

As McCoy hurried from the room to summon Kirk. “Danny, don't hang up!"

Danny stared at the green glowing hologram of his yeti doctor. "So... uh, nice to see you again, Dr. Bonechiller. You're probably wondering why I'm calling, huh?"

Dr. Bonechiller turned his attention back to Danny, his expression softening. "Oh, I have some idea…...but no matter, how are you faring Great One?"

Danny swallowed hard, his voice shaking. "I'm stuck in the future, Doc. I don't know how to get back." He paused, searching the yeti's face for answers. "I need help."

The ghostly physician waved a dismissive hand. "Your guardian says all is as it should be. There is no need for concern."

"My guardian?" Danny's brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean? Who are you talking about?"

Before Dr. Bonechiller could respond, McCoy strode back into the room, Captain Kirk close behind.

Kirk's eyes widened slightly at the sight of the holographic yeti, but he quickly composed himself. "Dr. Bonechiller, I presume? I'm Captain James T. Kirk of the USS Enterprise. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Likewise, Captain," Dr. Bonechiller replied cordially.

Kirk wasted no time getting to the point. "Doctor, do you know of any way to return Danny to his own time? Or Even to this infinity realm?”

Danny held his breath, hope rising in his chest. But Dr. Bonechiller shook his head, his expression apologetic. "I'm afraid that's beyond my abilities, Captain. I gave young Daniel this device in the past, but bringing him to the Ghost Zone now would not solve his temporal displacement."

"But—" Danny tried to interject, only to be cut off again.

"You see," Dr. Bonechiller continued, "Daniel's guardian has the power to return him to his proper time. However, this guardian has foreseen these events and won't retrieve Daniel until certain... circumstances have come to pass."

Danny's eyes widened. "Wait, are you talking about Clockwork?"

Dr. Bonechiller's amused chuckle sent a chill down Danny's spine. "Ah, young Daniel. You still have much to learn about ghost etiquette and cultural norms. You've already been adopted, you know."

"Adopted?" Danny sputtered, his face paling. "What do you mean, adopted?"

Dr. McCoy leaned forward, his brow furrowed with concern. "Now, hold on just a minute. What's all this about adoption and guardians? He has human parents.”

"In the Infinite Realms, it is common for elder ghosts to adopt newly formed ones to guide them as they grow into their powers. And young phantom was not getting the care he needed from his human parents.”

Danny blushed deeply at this, feeling embarrassed on his parents’ behalf. “They just didn’t know! I was going to tell them at some point…...they tried!”

Dr. Bonecrusher gave Danny a gentle look in response. “It’s perfectly alright to have more than one guardian. And to gain favor with an ancient is no small thing.”

Kirk spoke up before Danny got a chance. "And why has this Clockwork chosen not to bring Danny back to his own time, as a guardian should?"

Dr. Bonechiller shrugged, his fur rippling. "I cannot say for certain. I only know that I was tasked with giving the Great One this device years ago in his past. Clockwork's motives are his own."

As Kirk opened his mouth to ask another question, the ghostly physician held up a hand. "Captain, I'm afraid I can only maintain this connection for a short while longer. This device was designed to navigate the fluxing times of the zone, you should be talking to the version of me from Danny’s time, it’s probably only Clockworks will, we are speaking now. But I am willing to share any medical information pertaining to the Great One, with his consent."

Danny nodded, giving his consent.

Kirk nodded, sensing the doctor's urgency. Through out this entire conversation Kirk was wondering why the ghost doctor kept calling Danny, ‘great one,’ but seeing as time was limited, he’d have to bring it up to Danny later. He could sense there was a story there.

Dr. Bonechiller's holographic form shifted slightly. "Very well. To begin with, Daniel's ghost core is quite young - only about a year old, if my calculations are correct. In ghost terms, he's essentially a toddler."

McCoy's eyebrows shot up. "A toddler? But he's-"

"His core is still developing," Dr. Bonechiller continued. "This means he'll be prone to emotional outbursts and may struggle to control his abilities, especially as new ones manifest."

Danny felt his cheeks burn with embarrassment. *Great,* he thought. *Now they're gonna treat me like a little kid.*

Dr. Bonechiller wasn't finished. "Furthermore, due to his unique hybrid nature, Daniel may remain in a 'teenage' state for up to a decade. His aging process won't follow typical human patterns."

"That explains why he looks so young," McCoy muttered, glancing at Danny with a mix of concern and fascination.

Danny couldn't contain himself any longer. "Wait, what? I'm gonna be stuck as a kid for years? That's not fair!"

Dr. Bonechiller's voice took on a gentler tone. "I understand your frustration, Great One. But remember, ghost aging is influenced by multiple factors. Facing challenges and having a stable, safe environment to grow in can help accelerate the process."

Danny slumped in his chair, his mind reeling. He caught Kirk and McCoy exchanging worried glances and felt a pang of anxiety. What did this mean for his future on the Enterprise?

Kirk placed a reassuring hand on Danny's shoulder, his eyes filled with understanding. "We'll do everything we can to provide that for you, Ensign Fenton."

"Alright, Dr. McCoy," Captain Kirk continued with a sigh, "extract whatever knowledge you can from our spectral colleague here. I’ll be looking forward to the report. It was a pleasure meeting you Dr. Bonechiller.”

“Likewise, Captain.” Dr. Bonechiller replied with a nod of his fury head.

Kirk left sickbay, giving Danny privacy with his medical information, as Doctor Mccoy asked more in-depth questions of the other doctor.

***

After a suprisinly lenthy conversation regarding Danny’s health and medical history. Doctor Bonechiller, changed the topic to proper nutrition for the young hybrid.

"Alright, Danny, let's discuss your diet," Dr. Bonechiller's deep voice resonated from the communicator, a holographic image of his yeti-like appearance flickering above the small device. "Given the scarcity of ecto plasma in this time period, I've made some substitutions."

Danny's stomach growled at the mention of food, and he felt his face flush. Dr. McCoy raised an eyebrow, his lips pursing into a thin line.

"Substitutions?" McCoy raised an eyebrow, leaning forward with interest.

"More solid foods, especially proteins. He'll need to eat nearly twice as much as a normal growing teen," Dr. Bonechiller explained, scrolling through a digital document that appeared beside his image.

"Twice as much?" McCoy turned to Danny, his tone tinged with annoyance. "You never mentioned being hungry!"

"I didn't want to get caught," Danny mumbled, staring at his feet. "I was hungry a lot, but I figured it was better than revealing myself."

McCoy's face reddened. "You should have said something sooner, kid!”

McCoy crossed his arms and fixed Danny with a stern glare, though concern flickered in his eyes. “I'm a doctor, it's my job to make sure you're healthy."

Danny nodded, properly chastised. "Yes sir, I'm sorry. I'll be more upfront from now on."

"Good," Bones grumbled.

Dr. Bonechiller interjected, "I will also note that with proper nutrition, Danny's need to fulfill his obsessions will lessen somewhat."

"Obsessions?" McCoy echoed, puzzled.

"Ah, yes." The yeti nodded. "It's akin to a purpose or innate drive. All ghosts have one, sometimes several. It's best for Danny to explain his personal ones to you."

Danny felt his heart rate quicken. *Great, another weird ghost thing to explain. *

McCoy turned to Danny, his expression softening slightly. "We'll discuss that later, son. For now, let's focus on getting you properly fed."

As they wrapped up the nutrition talk, Dr. Bonechiller's image began to flicker. "The connection is fading." he said, his voice distorting.

“I’m sending a compressed data file with more detailed information on halfa biology and various factors for you and Dr. McCoy to review. I'm afraid, however, that further communication is unlikely - the chronal flux of the Ghost Zone seems to be interfering with the signal." Dr. Bonechiller continued.

Before they could get clarification, Dr. Bonechiller's image winked out, leaving them in stunned silence.

McCoy sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Well, at least we got that biological data. I'll need to figure out how to transfer it from this blasted stone to our computers."

Danny stared at the now-silent communicator, his mind reeling. What did Bonechiller mean about time interference? And how was he going to explain his "obsessions" to Dr. McCoy? The thought made his palms sweat. One crisis at a time, Fenton, he told himself. First, food. Then... everything else.

Dr. McCoy turned to Danny, his expression softening slightly. "Alright, kid. You've had quite the day. Why don't you rest up for a bit? We'll be having a power demonstration later, and I want you at your best."

****

A few hours later, Danny stood nervously in one of the Enterprise's spacious cargo bays. Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, Dr. McCoy, Mr. Scott, The Chief of security, lieutenant Uhura and Lieutenant Sulu were assembled, watching him with keen interest.

Danny felt his heart racing with anticipation and a touch of fear. He couldn't help but wonder: What if they saw him as a threat once they knew what he could do? What if this was the thing that finally made them decide he was too dangerous to keep around?

No, he told himself firmly. I'll show them I can control it. I'll prove I'm not a danger to anyone.

Kirk looked up from his Datapad, reading off of the list of abilities Danny had sent him. It was an impressive list, most of it Kirk was having trouble believing the scrawny teen could do. “I understand, there are a few things you can do in both forms? Is this correct?”

“Yes, sir. I can do more in my ghost form, but there are some abilities I can do in both, its usually weaker in my human form.”

“I see, Danny, I’m going to read off a few of these abilities, for you to demonstrate, and if some are too dangerous for you to demonstrate I want you to explain them to the best of your abilities.”

“Yes, sir.”

"I’d like you to show your abilities in your human form first. Starting with invisibility, and intangibility. Whenever you're ready, Mr. Fenton," Captain Kirk said, his voice kind but carrying an undercurrent of authority.

Taking a deep breath, Danny, blinked out of view. He smirked at the gasps of those who hadn’t seen him do this already. Then blinking back into view, Danny walked up to a crate and phased through it. Simply walking through to the other side, like it was the hologram.

"Isn't that dangerous? What if it fails and you get stuck in the crate."  lieutenant Uhura asked, her voice tinged with worry and fear.

Danny shrugged, “I don’t know, that’s never happened before……but I think I’d be fine.”

After explaining how he could do these abilities at the same time and how he could also make objects and people intangible and invisible, the captain asked him to demonstrate some abilities in his ghost form.

Danny took a deep breath, closing his eyes. "I'm going ghost," he whispered, more out of habit than necessity. He felt the familiar cold energy wash over him, transforming him from the inside out.

When he opened his eyes, he saw the astonished faces of the Enterprise crew staring back at him. Danny Phantom floated a few inches off the ground, his white hair and glowing green eyes a stark contrast to his human form.

"Fascinating," Mr. Spock murmured, his eyebrow raised in what Danny was beginning to recognize as his expression of intrigue.

“I would like a demonstration of the same abilities you can do in your human form, and the ecto-blast, duplication and shielding you have listed here.” Captain Kirk ordered.

Lifting gently into the air, ghostly tail replacing his legs, Danny took another fortifying breath. Time to show them what a halfa could do.

"I'll start with something small..." Raising a gloved hand, Danny concentrated ectoplasmic energy into his palm, forming it into a swirling green orb. The officers murmured.

Then, face setting in determination, Danny flew through a complex aerial pattern. He phased cleanly through a stack of cargo containers, unleashed a hail of ecto-blasts at a target, split himself into 4 duplicate Phantoms, and, finally, crafted a huge dome-shaped ectoplasmic shield around the entire group of watching officers.

Breathing hard, Danny floated back down, shifting back to human form as he landed. He looked up at the officers' faces, trying to gauge their reactions. Awe, intrigue, fear, wonder...it was all there.

"So...yeah. That's, um...that's some of what I can do." Danny rubbed the back of his neck self-consciously. "I know it's a lot. And kind of scary, the power I have. But I swear, I only want to use it to help people. To protect the crew." He met the Captain's eyes imploringly. "I'd never hurt anyone here. You have to believe that."

Kirk stepped forward, still looking shaken but also thoughtful. He studied Danny for a long moment. Then, slowly, he reached out and clasped the halfa's shoulder.

"I do believe that, Danny. You've already shown you have the heart of a Starfleet officer." He smiled slightly. “I think that’s enough for today, the explanations you have in this ability sheet will be enough for the rest of it. Although expect some clarifying questions on some these other one’s you have listed. But as I understand it, some of these are too dangerous to demonstrate?”

Danny sighed in relieve, he had make sure to add as much detail to that list as possible. He was so glad he didn’t have to show a ghostly wail, he’d for sure destroy something vital. “Yes, sir, if you have any questions, I’ll try my best to answer.”

"I appreciate your honesty, Mr. Fenton. Now you’re dismissed.”

**

Kirk, Spock, and McCoy convened in the Captain's ready room, the door swishing shut behind them with an air of finality. For a long moment, they simply stared at each other, the weight of what they'd just witnessed hanging heavy in the air.

"Well," McCoy said at last, breaking the silence. "That was...something else."

"Indeed," Spock agreed, one eyebrow climbing towards his hairline. "The extent of Mr. Fenton's abilities is quite remarkable. And potentially concerning."

Kirk nodded, his brow furrowed as he leaned back against his desk, arms crossed. "Agreed. The kid's got power, that's for sure. More than any one person should probably have."

McCoy's eyes sharpened. "You think he's a threat, Jim?"

"No," Kirk said immediately, then sighed. "At least, not intentionally. I meant what I said - I don't believe Danny would ever deliberately harm anyone on this ship. But Spock's right, that level of power...it could be dangerous, if he ever lost control."

"Which brings us to our next problem," McCoy said grimly. "Command. We're going to have to report this, Jim. And when we do..."

He trailed off, but they all knew what he meant. The admiralty's reaction to a crewmember with superhuman abilities was unlikely to be a positive one. Plus Danny had been someone who had hacked their way on board, that would not go over well.

Kirk's jaw tightened. "Then we don't tell them. Not everything, anyway."

Spock tilted his head. "Captain?"

"I'm not suggesting we lie," Kirk clarified. "But we report only the bare essentials. That Danny is half-human, with some extranormal abilities that could prove useful in first contact situations. We leave out the specifics of what he can do, at least until we know more ourselves."

McCoy crossed his arms, his brow furrowed. "We're treading on thin ice here, Jim. You know how folks react to anything that has an ounce of extra abilities. Danny's... different. He hasn't used his powers against any of us, and from what I've read about these ghost obsessions, and talked to Danny about what his are, that protection complex of his might be why."

"Indeed," Spock added, "his non-human biology may influence his ethical conduct. Unlike many humans who might exploit such power for personal gain, Danny does not exhibit those tendencies."

"Which is why we need to guide him," Kirk affirmed, his resolve hardening. Kirk turned to Spock. "I want you to work with him on controlling his powers, especially in emotional situations. It's clear that his feelings directly impact what he can do."

"Understood, Captain," Spock replied, his tone measured. "I shall endeavor to provide him with the necessary training to maintain equilibrium."

"Good." Kirk glanced at both of his officers. "Let's keep this between us for now. We'll inform the Academy and the Admirals of only what they need to know. For Danny's sake—and for the ship's."

"Agreed," McCoy said with a nod. "The last thing that boy needs is to become some sort of lab experiment because people got scared."

"Then it's settled." Kirk's voice was firm, his command clear. "We protect our own. Danny stays.”

*****

Dr. McCoy approached Danny with a PADD in hand, his expression a mix of concern and determination. "Alright, Danny, you're free to go.”

Danny's shoulders sagged with relief, but he eyed the PADD warily. "What's that?"

"Your new schedule," McCoy replied, handing it over. "I've got your schedule all set up. Classes, training sessions, therapy appointments - it's all there. And I expect you to stick to it, you hear me?"

Danny scrolled through the PADD, his eyes widening. "This is... a lot."

"You've got a lot of catching up to do, kid," McCoy said, not unkindly. "Oh, and you've got a new roommate. Ensign Luke McCann, he's 18. Should be a better fit."

Danny's stomach churned with a mix of excitement and anxiety. "A roommate my age? Well, closer to my age..."

McCoy continued, "you're also only cleared for part-time work in Engineering, with your age, full-time isn't appropriate yet."

"Part-time is better than no time," Danny said, attempting to mask his disappointment with optimism. "

"And Spock will be helping you with some meditation techniques," McCoy added, watching as Danny's face shifted from relief to apprehension. "It'll help you manage those powers of yours, especially when your emotions run high."

"Commander Spock? Really?" Danny's voice cracked slightly. "But... what if I mess up?”

A half-smile tugging at the corner of Mccoy’s mouth. "Spock's not going to judge you, kid. He's here to help. Besides, it takes more than a bit of raw emotion to rattle that Vulcan."

"Great," Danny muttered, his mind racing. He looked up at McCoy, feeling overwhelmed. "Dr. McCoy, I... thank you. For everything."

The doctor's expression softened slightly. “Remember, Danny - stick to that schedule. And comm me if you need anything.  Now get out of my sickbay before I change my mind."

As Danny left, he couldn't shake the conflicting emotions swirling inside him. Relief at being accepted, uncertainty about what lay ahead, and a nagging fear that he might not be able to live up to everyone's expectations.

Chapter 11

[am-i-the-asshole-official]

AITA for uninviting my friend to a concert after she bought her plane tickets and refusing to pay her the money she spent on the tickets?

Me and my friend both love a singer called Melanie Martinez. We have both been listening to her for years and her music has gotten us through a lot.

A year and a half ago I got my first job. As someone who has a disability and grew up with not a lot I pride myself on the money I make and how well I’ve been doing at my job. My friend knows this, she also knows I take how I spend my money very seriously. My friend does not have a job, but she lives with her parents who give her monthly allowances so she can do as she pleases until she gets a job. The amount they give her is not a lot but she does save up so she has quite a bit of money. She likes to buy small things while setting aside some money for something big she wants while I like to save up almost all my money and get one big thing every once in a while that I really want.

Melanie first announced her Portals tour she only gave US dates but a while ago she announced UK dates for the tour. The UK tickets cost quite a bit of money and travelling and a hotel would also be pretty pricey but I had been saving and decided that this would be the big thing I would get for myself. I really wanted to go but with my disability I didn’t want to go alone. I asked my friend if she was available for one of the dates and she was so I invited her. I bought both of our tickets for the London date and since I make the most money out of both of us, it was my idea and I was being nice for my friend I also booked the hotel (instead if splitting it like she had originally suggested), while she offered to buy her own ticket for the plane and pay for her own food while we were over in London.

We had everything set, she bought a new outfit to wear for the tour and we were so excited. She hadn’t yet bought her plane ticket but I wasn’t too worried because I hadn’t yet either (and honestly flying makes me so nervous that just buying the tickets puts me on edge).

When we talked about it with our other friends she bragged about going which I found weird but whatever she was excited y’know. But she started complaining along with her bragging like “you’d think that we could’ve gotten closer seats but oh well at least we’re going” or “the tickets were just so expensive we’ll be broke after this” which made me feel weird. I asked her if she had an issue with the seats I got since they were in the disability accessible areas the view was good but it definitely wasn’t the front so I was kinda sympathetic to her disappointment. She said she didn’t care were the seats were and she was only joking around. But she kept complain-bragging until she was just complaining. Like “its gunna so cold I’m gunna hate it” or “we better have to deal with those annoying fans with the signs or the bracelets” and on and on and when I asked her if she was still excited she said she was just joking and she was excited. I have a hard time understanding when people are being serious or not so I just took her word for it.I didnt want to cause any arguments between us.

So she shows me the outfit she bought and it looks great and I show her the outfit I put together and we buy those plastic elf ears to decorate we are having a great time. She would say that my outfit didn’t fit the vibe as well as her and I better not actually wear it and embarrass her and again she says she’s joking. I made part of my outfit so I didn’t find it very funny.

She didn’t really talk with our friends about the concert other than with me, because my friends were kinda over it which I get. But I got a message a week ago from one of my other friends he’d sent a lot of screen shots of the friend i was taking to the concert saying she’d rather be going with him because he’d be more fun but at least with me she’ll “get disability special treatment and get to skip the line” and that “it wasn’t her money so she might as well try to enjoy herself”. Firstly we are adults we are too grown to be talking shit on snapchat. And secondly i was so crushed. I’d really been looking forward to spending time with my friend on a fun get away to see an artist we adore and she’d been complaining the whole time and was only looking forward to it because with me she’d get “special treatment”.

So I sent her the screenshots and I told her if she really didn’t want to go with me then she wasn’t going I’d just take someone else. She sent me a screenshot of her plane ticket she had bought that morning being confirmed and was like “no u have to take me I’ve paid for my plane tickets” and I was upset and said I didn’t care I’m not going to waste a ticket I spent my hard earned money on someone who didn’t appreciate it and views my disability as a way to get a better deal for herself and wanted to go with someone else.

She said she was joking and that I was ruining things for her and that it meant so much to her to go and how dare I take that away from her.

I have invited a different friend. They also love Melanie Martinez and I hadn’t asked them originally cuz they had plans around the time of the concert but the plans they had fell through so it works out, I need someone to go with they need something to do and honestly they deserve a break and a good time.

My friend who I was taking originally is very upset with me and is demanding I either take her or I pay for the plane ticket she now isn’t going to use. I told her to just get a refund from the airport and she said she didn’t want a refund from them she wanted me to pay for the “emotional stress” of the whole situation. I even got a message from her mum telling me to just pay the money.

My other friends are either neutral or think I’m taking things too far over some “inappropriate jokes” and I do feel bad since she was very excited and I was excited to go with her. I was originally so sure in my decision to uninvite her and bring someone else but now I just feel so bad. I can’t uninvite my other friend and reinvite her but I also don’t want to pay her anything since she offered to get her own ticket herself it was her money to spend and I have already spent far more on this than her. She says I’m greedy. I’m hurt by her comments she’s been my friend for 8 years and I’ve never really seen her act this way and say these things.

I felt I was doing the right thing and now I’m not sure. I feel like I’m going to lose a good friendship over a situation I’m overreacting in.

Am I the asshole???? Help????

What are these acronyms?

[jazzystudios82]

Diabolik Lovers - An Angel's Embrace short story #3: A Green-Eyed Monster♡

DL Prompt #12: Jealousy

Pairing: Karlheinz Sakamaki x Angelica Amor-Sakamaki

"There is no greater glory than love, nor any greater punishment than jealousy."

This is another entry for @yuriko-mukami's DL writing prompt.

WARNING: This short story contains a jealous Karlheinz and an implied character death.

Let me tell y'all, this took way too long to make. This was originally going to be something else, but it was taking so long for me to finish and it probably wouldn't have made sense for the prompt, so I made it into its own thing. Also, this one might be a bit short and darker then usual, so sorry in advance. . . .

——————————————————————————

The Sakamaki Mansion. . . . .

"Oh, he's so beautiful Angie!" Christa said softly, her gloved hands gently holding Angelica and Karlheinz's baby, the six month old Akira. The pink haired woman smiled at the sight of her son and best friend being rather adorable with one another, what with Akira trying to play with Christa's pinkish-white hair strands and with her making funny noises to get him to laugh.

"That's great to hear, Christa." Angelica said. "Now can I please have my baby back?"

"Oh, yes! Of course," Christa said as she handed the babbling Akira to his mother. "Here you go."

"Thank you dear," Angelica said. As she held her son in her arms, the pink haired woman and her friend walked out of Akira's nursery, both planning to head out to the garden for tea time. Angelica and Christa hadn't really had much time together since Akira's birth, but they managed to make some time for themselves (and Akira) today.

However, while on the way, the two ran into none other than Cordelia and Richter, the first wife and younger brother of Karlheinz respectively. "Oh! I'm sorry, Christa and I didn't see you two." Angelica said, apologetic.

Cordelia narrowed her eyes at Angelica, and after glancing at Christa and Akira, said nothing as she had Richter follow her.

Normally Angelica would be annoyed with the purple haired woman and the red eyed man for ignoring her, but she decided that it wasn't worth it. She was in a good mood today, and she wasn't going to let something as ridiculous as this ruin it.

As soon as Angelica and Christa made it to the gardens, they had gone to the gazebo where they had the butlers and maids set up not only their seats, and one for Akira of course, but they also had prepared some iced tea and mini tea cakes.

After putting Akira in his little chair, Angelica and Christa had sat in their respective seats and began to talk about their respective families, and how they were both planning on visiting them soon, Angelica especially. She wanted her father, younger brothers, and other relatives to finally get the chance to meet Akira, mainly due to how many letters she had been receiving over the last few months.

One of the reasons why she had delayed having her family meet her infant son was because she and Karlheinz wanted to ensure that Akira would have been healthy enough for traveling long distances. It wasn't common for vampires, or any demon really, to get sick, but Karlheinz claimed that it didn't hurt to be careful.

It had been only an hour into their tea party was when Angelica noticed that one of Karlheinz's personal familiars had arrived, nearly startling Christa, whose back was facing him.

"Lady Angelica, Lord Karlheinz wishes to see you right away. And that you are to bring the young master with you." he said.

"R-Really? Right now?" Angelica asked. "Yes, if that is fine with you."

Angelica tried to let out a sigh as she let out an apology to her friend, even though Christa said that she didn't mind. After getting out of her seat, Angelica got Akira out of his own little chair and carried him as she followed the familiar to wherever it is that Karlheinz was at.

.

.

.

.

Unknown Human Village. . . .

As it turned out, Karlheinz had been wanting to take both Angelica and Akira out to a nearby carnival that was going on in the nearby human village, as he'd been wanting to spend 'quality family time' with them, but hadn't been able to do so due to his work. And with the carnival ending tomorrow, he finished all of the necessary paperwork the day before.

Angelica herself wasn't really the biggest fan of carnivals due to how overcrowded and noisy they could be (and how that would affect Akira), but Karlheinz had assured her that he had been able to make a deal with the workers of the carnival to limit the number of people attending, so she wouldn't have much to worry about, which she appreciated.

So far, they had gone on a few rides, watched some performers (such as a sword swallower), ate some food from the stalls, and Karlheinz managed to win some prizes for Angelica and Akira, like stuffed animal toys and pretty accessories. Angelica thought that it would be difficult for Karlheinz to win as many prizes as he did due to her knowledge of rigged carnival games, but he was able to win with incredible ease. She just felt bad for the servants who'd have to carry all of the rewards back home.

Angelica noticed that Akira's diaper needed to be changed due to him starting to tear up and him emitting a certain stinky smell, and instead of having one of the servants take care of it, she told Karlheinz and the others that she was going to head to the nearest restroom and handle it herself.

It only took the pink haired woman a minute to change her son's diaper with a fresh one and throw the soiled one away in the trash. Akira, now feeling better, fell asleep against his mother's chest as she carried him in her arms.

'Hm. . . .where are they?' Angelica thought to herself, looking around for her husband and the servants. They didn't seem to be in the same area they were previously.

Angelica had gone to a couple of the stalls and asked the employees if they had seen Karlheinz and the others, but they had said no and apologized. However, there was one, a so called 'beast tamer' from a visiting circus from England, who told her that she saw a fancy white haired man with some servants heading to one stall that was selling jewelry.

Angelica thanked the beast tamer and used the directions the black haired woman gave her. Angelica walked around the carnival grounds to see that the human families were leaving, meaning that the carnival was closing soon.

'I need to get to them soon.' Angelica thought to herself, now starting to worry. 'It's almost close to Akira's meal time.' She also never really did well when she's by herself for a long period of time.

"Miss, are you alright?"

Angelica turned around to see a handsome youth wearing a black Men's cap, a white cotton shirt, black trousers, and black shoes. Due to his plain attire, Angelica assumed that he was a commoner, or at the very least somewhere in the middle class.

"I'm fine, I'm just trying to find someone right now." she told him, keeping her voice low so that Akira didn't wake up. "Who is it? Perhaps I've seen them around." he said, offering her his assistance. "Besides, a lovely lady like yourself shouldn't be alone when it's getting dark."

"Thank you for the concern, kind sir." Angelica said. "But I can assure you that I'm fine." She did have demon blood flowing through her veins after all. After all, what could a human do to someone like her? But she knew that she had to be careful as long as Akira was there.

"Now what kind of gentleman would I be if I left a woman unattended?" he said, causing Angelica to gently smile at the chestnut haired young man. "I wouldn't want anything to happen to you or your baby." He's a concerned one, isn't he?

"Alright, I suppose it wouldn't hurt." Angelica said. The youth smiled, and listened to the directions Angelica had as he escorted her. During the walk, he asked her who she attended the carnival with, to which Angelica replied that it was her husband.

The youth seemed surprise, though he then said, "Well, I suppose that it actually isn't that surprising. Of course a beautiful woman like you is taken. It also explains the little one."

"?" Angelica was confused by what he said, and perhaps a little flustered. Is this what her brothers called. . . .flirting? Or was he just simply complimenting her? She was probably over thinking it.

Besides, why would he flirt with a married woman anyway?

"So, what kind of games have you and your husband play earlier, miss?" the youth asked, trying to start a conversation. "Well, I didn't get to play any games myself really, but my husband did win a couple of prizes for me and our son." Angelica told him.

"Oh wow!" he said, his turquoise eyes sparkling. "How many?" "Oh, uh. . . .he may have gotten me and my boy a little over twenty." she admitted, a little embarrassed.

"OVER TWENTY?!"

Angelica shushed him, as he nearly woke up Akira. "O-Oh, sorry miss! I didn't mean to." the youth said. "It's fine. Just remember to-"

"Angie? Is that you my dear?"

Angelica turned around to see Karlheinz and the familiars, causing her to let out a sigh of relief. "Karl, there you are!" The pink haired woman walked up to Karlheinz, satisfied that she was able to find him. After giving her a kiss on the forehead and taking Akira out of her tired arms, Karlheinz finally noticed the human youth who had acted as Angelica's 'attendant'.

"Angie dear, who is this. . . .fellow?" he asked, his molten gold eyes practically burning holes into the poor youth, which Angelica noticed. "This is. . . .oh dear, I'm sorry sir, I don't think I ever asked for your name." Angelica said to the chestnut haired male. "I suppose so," he said, now nervous due to a certain white haired vampire. "I-It's Simon, m-miss."

"I see, thank you. Karl, this is Simon. He's the nice young man who offered his assistance in helping find you. And please be nice to him." Angelica said, whispering the last part to him.

"I. . . .will, my dear. Especially since he was oh so nice to you and our son." Karlheinz said with a closed eyed smile.

As Angelica went to go give the youth named 'Simon' a goodbye before the carnival's end, neither one of them noticed Karlheinz's mastered fake smile ever so briefly turn into a frown. He made a mental note to have his head butler send a letter of 'thanks' to Simon later.

.

.

.

.

Two Days Later. . . .

"As soon as Belle realized her true feelings for the Beast, she rushed back to his castle as fast as she could," Angelica said, reading a fairytale to Akira, who was laying on the carpeted floor of his nursery playing with his toys.

"However, when Belle arrived, she found that she was too late, and found the Beast laying motionless in the-"

"I'm sorry to interrupt my lady, but Lord Karlheinz wished for me to gift you this." a butler said, standing just outside Akira's room. The butler then presented a crystal glass bottle that contained what seemed to be fresh blood.

"What's the occasion for?" Angelica asked, putting a bookmark in the fairytale book she was reading to Akira from. Akira didn't seem to like the interruption to his story time, making Angelica feel a little guilty.

"His lordship has told me to inform you that even though there is no special occasion today, he wants to spend another day with you and the young master today: it'll start with a family picnic and it will be followed by a walk through the gardens. If you aren't busy today, then please go to the master's office as soon as possible."

"Oh my, that sounds rather lovely. Doesn't it Akira?" Angelica asked her son as she picked him up from the floor. Akira babbled as a response.

"I agree. We'll be there shortly, sir." Angelica told the butler.

"I see. How wonderful."

.

.

.

.

"I must admit, this is rather lovely Karl." Angelica told Karlheinz, who had Angelica rest her head on his chest. "I'm glad you think so, pet." Karlheinz said. And his brother Richter claimed he didn't have a romantic bone in his body. The idiot.

While Karlheinz wanted to give Angelica a kiss, he noticed that she was drifting off to sleep, causing to let out a chuckle. She looked rather cute when she slept.

The vampire king took out a soft pillow from one of the picnic baskets he had the servants carry and place Angelica head on it so he was able to move freely and she could sleep comfortably.

Karlheinz noticed that Akira was chewing on something peculiar. "?" Curious, the white haired vampire picked up his son and whatever it was that he was chewing on. He was a little amused to see that it was the special dish he had the chefs make for him: a meat pie that contained a very special combination that consisted of pork, ground beef and some vegetables such as potatoes and carrots.

"I see that you have similar tastes to me, my boy." Karlheinz said, ripping off the piece of the meat pie that Akira was chewing on. Akira babbled nonsensical words as he tried to eat the pie piece. "I should probably soften it more for you," Karlheinz said. Or maybe he shouldn't have given the piece to Akira in the first place. His son was only six months old after all.

He grabbed something else from the picnic basket, bringing out some a baby bottle filled with a certain youth's blood. "Here you go, my boy." he said with his infamous smile, the bottle in his gloved hand catching the baby's attention.

Karlheinz chuckled as he watched his son drink from the bottle, as the way the pink haired baby was treating it as if it was ambrosia made in Mt. Olympus. After Akira finished, he became tired, which made Karlheinz place the baby near his mother.

Karlheinz was now getting lost in his thoughts as he drank the blood of the human male known as Simon, who made the foolish mistake of 'ogling' at his wife.

——————————————————————————

I just want to preface that the shorts for An Angel's Embrace will be told out of order, so sorry for the confusion. And in case you're wondering, the main butler in this story is supposed to be 'Gramps', who is the butler from the anime and the Young Blood manga.

Also, sorry if Karlheinz seems out of character in this. I'm still figuring out how to write him.

[laufire]

august reading meme!

BOOKS

Burning Your Boats by Angela Carter. I got through this collection of short stories slowly but surely, and it cemented Angela Carter as one of my favourite authors. The Bloody Chamber will always have a special place in my heart, but each collection had stories that made my imagination run wild and enthralled me with their prose. Some of my favourites were "The Loves of Lady Purple," "Impressions: The Wrightsman Magdalene," or "The Scarlet House."

Olvidado Rey Gudú by Ana María Matute. This is my ASOIAF. What a long, meaty, enchanting tale, seriously. This book is the magnus opus of one of my favourite Spanish authors, and tells the story of the Kingdom of Olar from its birth to its end, over five tumultuous generations. It mixes the grounded medieval setting and outlandish fantastical elements in a very fluid prose, and following the tragic tale of woe in its pages over the last couple of months was a delight.

COMICS

The Cheshire Contract (Action Comics #613-618). I wanted to read the story of Lian going to live with Roy, for Reasons. It's good and fun and short (it occupies a small part of a larger issue, 8 pages each), so if it interests you, go for it.

Batman & Spiderman. This is part of a bunch of crossovers I haven't read, and don't plan to for now, so I was mixing some context, but I read it because Talia was there lol. I don't think DC and Marvel mix well, most of the time, but this little one-shot makes it work.

Jason Todd: Rebirth (2016-2020ish). It... had its moments. Waaaaay too much Lobdell, just as the New 52, but now that I've started the next phase to fall face-first into Cheer, of all arcs... yeah, neither is good lol. But one thing that really appealed to me was the dynamic between Jason and Bizarro; hence the cover. The other highlight was the (tragically few) interactions between Jason and Duke, especially in New Talent Showcase 2017. Give me mooooore, DC!! Other than that... well, there were many things that annoyed the hell out of me (Black Mask's writing, Bruce's EVERYTHING), but let's not get into it lol.

Green Arrow (2001). What a run. I've loved it from beginning to end, really (though a bit through the middle the art horrified me xD). It turned Mia into one of my favourite characters (and in reread, elevated a rareship into an OTP, because it really works for her character :P), which is not rare given that this is clearly where here best arcs are :D. Connor didn't have enough to do, tragically, but he's a great character and I look forward to read more about him; about Dinah&Ollie as well.

Batman: Bane of the Demon. Hi yeah just mentioning this arc to tell you guys about how Ra's apparently keeps cameras in Talia's bedroom :))) he might've been watching as she hooked up with Bane (who he unceremoneously decides she must marry to advance his plans). Let's all kill Ra's.

Batman: Death and the Maidens. A Rucka story, so you know it's good (though not particularly good to Talia lbr... I'm not bothered by *what* happens, I just wish we'd seen more of her perspective, during and especially after -though that's not a mmater of *this* run of course). Bruce's dream journey/possible visions of his parents's ghost were a highlight. Do recommend.

Truth & Justice: Hunted by the Past (#4). Way better than similar "Jason fears becoming the Joker!!!" stories, though that interpretation of the character is never going to be one I agree with. I liked seeing him with the helmet again, and the art is fun. The story gave Jason yet another pre-Robin childhood friend (this one got killed

Green Lantern/Green Arrow: Hard Travelling Heroes. A fascinating read, especially taking it in its context and comparing it to how timid DC is about politics in current comics, IMO. This run was messy and didn't always seem to know what it was doing, and some of what it included or argued feels wrong from a modern perspective, but it dared to take risks and that's always appreciated on my part. My favourite story was the one introducing John Stewart; both for John himself, of course, but also because it was unafraid to write Hal as someone that despite good intentions and despite being a ~heroic character, had racist biases he needed to face and overcome.

Kingdom Come. This is one of those ~iconic comics that feels like a must-read; it's meaty and it raises questions and it's a run you could really sink your teeth into. And I didn't like it at all LOL. It's so... nostalgic and regressive and downright reactionary. Its fluffy epilogue does it no favours, too (other than prompting this post of mine, ig).

No Man's Land. I finally read the whole thing!!!!!! It took me SIX MONTHS!!!!!!!! And speaking of reactionary beliefs añdslfkjasf. But I did like it and enjoyed it far more than Kingdom Come, tbf (except Dixon's issues omg whyyyyy is he everywheeeeere he's so boriiiiiing). Helena Bertinelli is the uncontested star of this event AFAIC, and I won't hear otherwise. Well, Leslie, Barbara and Cass definitely shined too. And Montoya and Essen. Aaaand Harley Quinn has her introduction. And Selina has a lot of fun stealing things and screwing with everyone!!! And Talia gets Bruce to get his head out of his ass!!! Ugh, there's so much I could say about this run. The Renee & Two-Face issue. Alfred's tale of himself as Bruce's squire. Lynx and Batman's brief team-up. The Secret Files and Origins tale about a man named Jason who thinks Gotham is speaking to him, and who thanks Barbara for her service to the city. There is a lot in this arc that I'd gladly rotate in my mind forever. But Helena is my darling and THEE best Bat(man). That is all.

[ask-the-royal-absol]

*Later on, Destino finally made their way to Reshi’s room in order to get themselves ready into their gear. The gown was neatly rolled up in the royal blue bag that rested on their back. The slipped it on, feeling a sense of comfort from it. The lining was incredibly soft and Destino took some joy from wearing it. As much as they didn’t have many luxuries down in the Underdark, they were thankful for what they could get. They began to do their lashes when the creature from before slithered out from the body pillow and hung onto their shoulder.*

Destino: Are you still deciding to use my belongings as a means of movement? I still haven’t authorised you to use it, you know.

???: We apologise but it is convenient for us to use. And we also appreciate the softness of it.

Destino: Well, that’s something we can both agree on. Anyway, talk. What are you and why have you chosen me? I really don’t need anymore drama coming from this evening.

???: We have been known by many names. The most common one mortals seem to like for us is the Endless Nightmare. For you see, our powers are that of helping others through their nightmares to allow for pleasant dreams. We have been known to inflict them too but we try not to do it as often.

Destino: I do that because it’s funny seeing them get annoyed. Best part is when they try to insult you back. I would never actually want to be a legend. It seems like too much effort if you ask me. Why would I want to waste my time with all of those responsibilities?

???: We are aware of the effort it takes being one who governs an aspect of life itself.

Destino: Of course. You still haven’t answered my other question. Why me? Why not any of the other guests here? You seemed to get along swimmingly with that other one. Perhaps go bother him some more.

???: We have been sent to keep an eye on you. You are…unstable at the current moment and so we must make sure you do not destabilise.

Destino: What the fuck does that mean?

???: We assume you are aware of the strange occurrence of being here. How have you gotten here when you were travelling with your friends before?

Destino: It’s crossed my mind.

???: It is because you are not supposed to be here. It is not an event that had been planned for in the grand timeline of this universe. Your coming here has lead to you becoming increasingly unstable and there is talk of you reverting back to your original state. As the almighty has said, we cannot have another failure.

Destino: Buddy, I have no idea what you’re talking about and it honestly sounds rather boring. Though, I don’t like the fact you’re calling me unstable. Come on, I’m not that bad.

???: Our apologies if it came off to be rude. We suppose we can simplify the explanation for you to better grasp its meaning. You are aware of the fact that you need to save the world, correct?

Destino: Urgh, don’t remind me. Another responsibility that has taken me away from relaxing on my throne.

???: Well, every second you are here is time lost. You should already be in Terrestria if you would have stayed on the correct path. However, with you hopping from event to event, it is making you have less time to stop the threat from above. Of course, not all of these instances are your fault. It seems the great legends, such as the void spirit, have plans and are using you for these events.

Destino: Oh great. Just what I wanted to hear. I’m a puppet to some greater beings. You’re just awful at making Pokémon feel better.

???: We can stop if you so desire.

Destino: Please do. I’m already tired of listening to your voice and I’m sure Reshi doesn’t want to wait any longer for me. I have no idea what she could possibly want. At this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if she found out everything I had done and wanted to kick me out. Then again, that would be an achievement. Being kicked out of an event meant for legends. An impressive feat.

???: Oh! The truth bearer! I wish to meet with her!

Destino: Of course you do. Fine. You can continue to use my pillow. But if you do anything else to make my evening go to shit, I’m not going to let you use it for transport, got it?

???: We understand! We will not cause trouble. Will you cause trouble?

Destino: That’s kinda my thing, causing trouble. It’s actually my middle name.

???: It’s not.

*Destino finished getting themselves changed into their night gear, slipping on their pink, fluffy slippers as a final touch. Before Destino left to go and find Reshi, they placed a couple of the berries they obtained from the grafaiai earlier inside of one of the drawers as a fun little surprise for her. Maybe she’d find them early before they started to rot. Maybe not.*

[mercurygray]

I'm also pulling an oldie out of my hat and going “i didn’t do it. please, you have to believe me!” & drunkenness & a skeevy motel just off the highway for Ron and Billie, for funsies 😏

Thanks for this prompt, Killy, and for being patient while I dithered about how I was going to do it! I decided to take advantage of costume season vibes to do a 1920s AU.

Scene: Small seedy motel outside of town. One of Duchess Warren's men has just been shot in his bar after being seen arguing with a woman earlier in the day, and one of the city's most notorious killers is on the scene to investigate.

It wouldn't have been his first choice for a hideout - but then again, what was?

The rain was really falling now, windshield wipers fighting steadily against the downpour while Ron turned the headlights off and eased into the center of the ratty little motor court, his eyes sweeping the numbers on the doors, the lights outside each one. Mahoney had said room six, and she'd had no reason to lie; Chuck was her friend, too. There was no car in the space outside, but Mitchell was too smart for that - she'd probably parked around back.  Ron eased the car into park and shut off the engine, pulling his gun out of its holster before getting out of the car, the rain changing its cadence on his hat. The room's blinds were drawn and there were no lights on inside - typical for near midnight. His gun was drawn regardless. He had a pretty good idea of what he'd find behind that door, but it never hurt to be prepared. And she's too smart to be sleeping. She's already tried running and hiding, so now it'll be time to fight.

The front desk's spare key scraped in the lock, and the door opened with ease, letting him take in the still-made bed, the travel case on the floor - and the short snub of a derringer, held between white-knuckled but otherwise steady hands, pointing at him from across the room.

"Expecting someone?" Ron asked, his voice pleasant. (It was a hell of a look, having a pretty woman point a gun at you.)

 "I didn't do it," Billie Mitchell said adamantly, standing her ground. "You have to believe me."

Ron could only scoff, his own revolver still ready in his hand. "You think that's why I'm here?"

The derringer remained where it was. "Someone shot up the Outpost and Charlie Grant is dead. You're the man they send for revenge."

"I'm not here to kill you," Ron assured her. Mahoney and Talbert wouldn't have given me information if I was.  His relationship with Chuck's best friend was tenuous, at best, but he had to give him credit for loyalty. Floyd had put himself in front of his girl hoping to take whatever bullet Ron had ready for her, and that counted for something, with him. You've got some friends, Miss Mitchell. There had been many reasons, good reasons, for coming in and shooting first and asking questions later, but everyone he'd confronted about this had said the same thing - that Billie Mitchell was not at fault, that she was being framed. "I want your help." And I think you want mine, too, because you could have shot me when I came through the door, and you didn't. Because you've got questions the same as I do. "And Chuck's not dead," he added, on a whim. "He's not great at the moment, but he's not dead." He gave her an abbreviated smile. "You were his friend, and you're going to help me find the bastard who did this."

Finally she lowered the gun. "Molly told you I was here."

He nodded. "Not until she knew why I was asking," he clarified, hearing the note of accusation in the woman's voice. "She was ready to take a bullet for you." He recalled the light in the kitchen, the tipped over chair, the way one body was placed in front of another. "Talbert, too."

Billie's expression was almost a smile. "I wish she wouldn't."

"You're lucky to have friends like that."

It was her turn to scoff. "Didn't stop Chuck from getting shot, though, did it?" She looked around the darkened room and took in the still-open door, the rain outside, the near-total darkness of the room. "So, who sent you? Duchess? Nixon?"

"No one sent me," Ron offered, privately laughing a little at the idea that Lewis Nixon would have the power to send him anywhere. I might like money but I'm not a man you can buy or sell, and Lew Nixon hasn't quite figured that out yet. "Chuck was my friend, too."

"I didn't know you had friends." The observation is so open that he almost stared. No one else on this earth would be so bold - but that's why Chuck was friendly with her, wasn't it? You gotta understand, Billie Mitchell ain't like other girls, Ronnie.

She took another look around the room and gestured, finally, to the waiting table and chairs. He took a moment to shut the door behind him and holstered his gun, watching her turn on the light above the table and sit down.  "So who do you like for it, if not me?"

It was a good question, one that Molly Mahoney had asked, too, and one he'd been thinking about on the drive here. Everyone remembered the fight earlier that day, the way Billie had stormed out, but details from that night were more difficult to come by. Connie Schmidt had remembered a drunk man, but couldn't place his face, and she couldn't say for certain if he'd been armed. (She'd been in the back room and hadn't seen anything - only Chuck on the floor, bleeding heavily, and his own gun next to his body, still warm.)  "The Outpost is near Hundreds territory. Someone gets cocky, crosses a boundary and goes to a bar he's not supposed to, and Chuck says he won't play. Guy gets mouthy and picks up the first thing he finds. It wouldn't be the first time it's happened." Certainly won't be the last, either. "Miss Mahoney said she'd call Bob Rosenthal, make inquiries."

Billie scoffed. "I'm sure Tab was real happy about that."

Ron recalled the annoyance on Floyd's face, the way he'd tried to wheedle her out of promises he didn't want her to keep. Are you afraid of being outmatched, Mr. Talbert? Gangland's golden-boy lawyer against the Iceman's right hand man? "He wasn't thrilled with the idea. But Mahoney didn't give him much choice." Billie nodded, taking it all in. "She said she'd wait up for us to come back," he added, watching her face for signs of agreement.

"Does this make us friends, then?"

Ron considered his options - the way Chuck had spoken of red-haired Billie, the way her eyes had followed him down the barrel of her gun, the way she had been completely unafraid of him. How long had it been since a woman had looked at him like that? Billie Mitchell ain't like other girls, Ronnie. "Why don't we start with allies, first."

[aeroblossom]

more on albedo and rhinedottir

what is transmutation, if not rebirth?

okay. i think i figured out the motive behind rhinedottir's creations, among other things.

bear with me and my poor explanation, i'm also really bad at linking sources lmao. do correct me if i've gotten any details wrong. much of this was possible thanks to conversations with a friend of mine!

rhinedottir's reason for creating durin, elynas, albedo and everything else was to find the meaning of life itself.

i'm gonna try and make it as simple as possible to get, i hope.

so, back in search in the algae sea, during the third orthant - cater gives us a riddle, to which the answer is 'love'. some discussion upon alchemy and the orthants with my friend later, we decided to match the stages of alchemy (in rene's given order) to the order of orthants we travelled. that makes citrinitas corresponding to love. the third orthant is also the one of the soul. love and soul.

so here's an idea i've had for a long time. one motive for rhinedottir's actions may be that she was trying to recreate someone dear to her through albedo. someone she loved - be it a family member, lover, anything. with my friend, i discussed how rene quotes aleister crowley's poem regarding the womb of pan, which is essentially a void where all souls originate and/or return to in the time of rebirth. durin and elynas both speak about how they existed in some empty darkness before rhinedottir called them forth - but not albedo.

albedo's earliest memories, he says, are of traveling with rhinedottir. so.

'primordial human project'. rene's search led him to primordial humans. he tried to become one and failed. it involved dissolving himself to be reborn.

'primordial human project' - consider, albedo is not an original creation, but a reborn being.

the rebirth of someone dear to rhinedottir whom she tried to make a primordial human.

why? because albedo is her last ditch effort at saving the world - just like rene. like how citrinitas corresponds to the age of glory for empires and their subsequent collapse with the coming of the stage of rubedo, rhinedottir - khaenriah as a whole - knew its end was destined, and they must have known this. she asks albedo to reach the far side of philosophy and create a better future for them all.

think about it. societal collapse is imminent, your country is crumbling, the end of the world is near and everything feels so utterly doomed. and you know it. you know you're doomed. she must have known of the world formula, must have known rubedo must follow citrinitas.

in the hexenzirkel trailer, she sounds just somewhat reluctant when it comes to being called a mother. you know what this reminds me of, who she reminds me of? ruan mei. ruan mei, upon learning of the infinitely transient nature of life, sinks into emptiness. she can't show love to the creations she's made with her own hands. she knows so well how short, and thus meaningless their lives are. she fears forming attachment - she dissects the scientific meaning of attachment in her character trailer instead of seeing it as something people just do.

rhinedottir must thus have attempted to flip the last two stages of alchemy to prevent their fate, yeah?

if everything is truly meant to end, if it's all destined to fall from rise, what is really the point?

most hoyoverse games are about fighting this sort of nihilistic thinking. the character of otto apocalypse makes it abundantly clear. otto's character takes great inspiration from friedrich nietzsche, whom many people misunderstand for a nihilist. however, nietzsche's philosophies were actually staunchly against nihilism.

rene tried to save the world because he wanted to believe it has meaning. it troubled him that the rise and the fall are void of purpose, he wanted to save it because he believed there was a point in its existence.

rhinedottir is no different. there is no force greater than love. and guess what?

in wagner's play 'the ring' - the dwarf alberich steals the rhinegold from the rhinemaidens. the rhinemaidens tell him there's nothing greater than love in the world. and what does alberich do?

he denounces - wouldn't you know - love.

like rene, rhinedottir became the scapegoat for the cataclysm for her deeds.

i've expressed previously that the primordial human rhinedottir was trying to create through albedo may possibly be the third descender. one who descends.

so, then,

that may be what dainsleif means when he says "we will defy this world with a power from beyond", no?

[side theory :: i once came across the idea of the twins being meteors. the rifthounds induce corrosion on you, making you bleed. gold corrodes. and gold on the earth is also theorized to be extraterrestrial, ie, it came from meteor impact. so then, what if the twins are the source of azosite, or any other such materials derived from gold, that khaenriah now prizes?]

so, tldr : rhinedottir, amidst a world rapidly approaching its doom having learned of the world formula, seeks to prove it wrong, to prevent it, undo it - she tries to fight back against collapse by finding meaning itself. there is nothing more transient than life itself, and thus she sought to prove that there is meaning in something as short lived as that. i'm shaky on albedo being a life reborn, but i do believe it's not impossible. he could have been somewhat dear to her that she tried to make attain the status of primordial human - descender, even - so as to undo the laws of fate.

(some screenshots of the discussion, NOT in chronological order)

[alotofpockets]

Falling for your best friend | Florence Pugh

Pairing: Florence Pugh x Reader

Prompt: “I saw that, you were checking me out.”

Warnings: none, just fluff.

masterlist | marvel masterlist | Words: 1000

You met Florence at Hailee's birthday party. You had been close friends with Hailee since high school, and her and Florence met while filming Hawkeye. It was a rather large party, so none of the people you saw there you got to see or speak to for long. Though you did seem to have an instant click with Florence and got to spend quite a bit of time with the woman.

The day after the party you got a text from an unknown number.

Unknown: Hi, this is Florence from the party last night. Hailee gave me your number after you left. It was really good meeting you, and I'd love to maybe hang out with you again some time, maybe grab some lunch or something?

You smiled at the message. Glad you weren't just reading into the instant connection you felt with the woman and decided to text her back immediately.

Y/n: Hi Flossie! It's so good to hear from you, I'd love to grab some lunch today if you're free.

Slightly tipsy Florence Pugh might have introduced herself as Flossie, before Hailee told you her actual name. You thought it was funny to call her that to see if she remembered.

Florence: Hm that nickname is going to haunt me now, isn’t it? Florence: Today sounds good, do you want to meet me at [restaurant] around noon?

You went out to lunch together and confirmed your great connection and immediately because best friends. Now two years later Florence was still your best friend. You hung out with her and Hailee whenever you could with all of your busy schedules. Sometimes the schedules lined up where you were only able to hang out with Flo, when Hailee was out of the country for a movie.

Now was one of those periods where Hailee was away, and you spend a lot of one-on-one time with Florence. You enjoyed the time you spent together, but you never planned to fall for your best friend. Especially not after having met her right as you got out of a relationship. You had decided you needed time for yourself, to figure out who you were without your ex.

Florence had made you realize how toxic your ex could be, even though she had never met them. It was nice being able to talk to her about the things that bothered you in your past relationship, and her telling you that you deserve more. Slowly, but surely her kindness and the way she cared for you and the fact that she was always there for you made you fall for her.

It was scary at first, not knowing if you were ready. You got hurt in your last relationship and didn’t want to get hurt again. But, as your feelings for Florence grew, you knew deep down in your heart, that Florence would never hurt you. So, you started showing Florence you liked her, even if it was while taking slow steps in doing so.

You’d compliment her, get her favorite snacks for the next time she would come over. You started texting her good morning and goodnight every day, getting to talk to her every day. You started getting closer physically, sitting closer to her and walking closer to her, your hands grazing each other from time to time.

Your thoughts get interrupted as the door of the restaurant where you first went out to lunch with Florence dings, as it opens. Looking up you see Florence walk in, she looked beautiful as always. You let your eyes travel over her body. Her blonde hair was down, the slight waves falling perfectly over her shoulders. She was wearing a tight black dress with an oversized black and green jacket. Her outfit matched with a pair of black boots. Your eyes make their way back to her face, that’s when you see her smile back at you.

Florence walks over to the table, you stand up and give her a hug. You notice a smirk on Florence her face, “What’s up?” You ask. “I saw that, you were checking me out.” She says, the smirk still present on her face. The heat creeps its way up to your cheeks fast, you thought you just looked at her for a second when she came in, but apparently it was longer than that.

“I, eh.” You start, trying to find words. Being flustered and nervous was not good for your vocabulary. You stop trying to find an excuse and decide to just speak your mind. “Yes, you’re right, I have no excuse. You look beautiful.” A warm feeling fills your chest as you speak your truth. Florence smiles and kisses your cheek. “You look quite stunning yourself, y/n.” She says with your faces only inches away from each other, as she’s moving back from the kiss on your cheek.

You can’t help yourself and move your eyes down to her lips. Florence notices the way you’re biting your lip slightly and moves a hand to your cheek. At the contact you move your eyes back up to hers, which are filled with love and adoration. You smile and lean into her hand slightly, closing your eyes to take in the moment.

When you open your eyes, Florence smiles and leans in, you do the same and meet her in the middle. You share a short, but sweet kiss together, as you are aware you’re standing in the middle of a restaurant. “I’ve wanted to do that for so long.” Florence shares as she pulls away. “Me too.” You say with a smile.

It was safe to say that the rest of the day was considered a date. You enjoyed the lunch and went on a walk over the boardwalk. Hand in hand you explore the pier. Getting some ice cream for dessert and riding the fair rides. It was a day to remember forever. Both of you were taking many pictures and videos to keep the memories.

~

Turn on notifications for @pocketslibrary to be notified when I post a new fic! 

[kiaradaughterofselene]

Intro post

Heyy I'm Kiara. The group blog over on @willows-pjo-ocs is cool and all, but I decided to make my own.

So here's some basic info i guess

Age: 15

Pronouns: she/her

Sexuality: bisexual

Godly parent: Selene

Powers: healing (only at night), photokinesis (limited to moonlight and not that much, Aurelia says I'm like a glowstick), increased strength at night time particularly when the moon isn't obscured by the clouds (which does not change when the moon is new since its still the moon), I can transfer the pain you feel to myself, limited hydrokinesis since the moon controls the tides, and I sees better in the dark. Limited umbrakinesis plus I can shadow travel. Not really a power, but I am pretty good at chariot driving since my mom is Selene, if I do say so myself.

Status: taken i love my wife girlfriend @southerndaughterofeos

I'm pretty chill just don't be a dick, i guess.

Ooc under the cut

Heyyy! I figured it might be fun to make some blogs for my ocs. With the amount i have and probably will make, this will make things easier and more fun.

i am way too autistic about the riordanverse send help

I'm the moderator of @willows-pjo-ocs and my main is @gaygirldoodles

I also run

@southerndaughterofeos

@glykera

@overlyprotectiveheadcounselor

@amaiahunterofartemis

@melissathetherapist

@selene-goddess-of-the-moon

#willow speaks ◇ is what i'll use for when the mod is speaking vs #willows pjo ocs ♡ and #insomniac daughter of the moon will be for in character stuff

the rest of this will probably be copy pasted from the intro post on the group blog tbh

TW/CW FOR TRANSPHOBIA, MENTIONS OF DEATH, AND SELF BLAME IN HER BACKSTORY also SH so im making it extra big so you dont miss it i dont wanna risk anything

Kiara is a 15 year old transgender demigod daughter of Selene. She arrived at camp a bit before the Battle of the Labyrinth (the battle itself, not the book, but both are technically true), so she did end up fighting in the Battle of the Labyrinth, the Battle of Manhattan, and the Battle of Half-Blood Hill (plus if there was another one in toa i havent read it yet so dont spoil me.)

I would say she was about 12 or 13 when she arrived at camp so she's been there for a bit

She wasn't claimed until 2 or 3 years after she arrived since her mom didn't have a cabin yet

She is currently dating Aurelia Emerson, another oc of mine.

No father issues here since her dad is pretty awesome, but she does have mother issues, which comes with your godly parent being your mother.

She has a good deal of trauma from these battles, as do the other demigods who fought in said battles.

Since she can only heal at night, she compensates with her fighting skills. She was unable to save lots of friends and fellow campers during the battles and she blames herself for their deaths constantly. The tragedy of being a combat medic at her age.

Kids used to tease her all the time and do stuff like pulling on her hair at school but she ended up finding her people

At some point (sometimes i rp before, during, or after this) she ended up going on a quest. I haven't planned out much of this quest or who she gets captured by, but she ends up getting captured by these monster or something who want a son of Selene even though she very much isn't a son, but a daughter. They only ever referred to her as a boy and made her wear raggedy ass "boy" clothes (even though i believe that clothes dont have gender idk how else to phrase it)

She ends up back at camp somehow, havent planned that part out yet, but yet another trauma she has to deal with (yay i guess..?)

She ends up picking up smoking to deal with the trauma. She doesn't really tell anyone, and she tries to hide it since she's underage, it's against the rules, and sincs Aurelia would kill her if word got out.

Every time she heals a patient, whether it's a broken wrist or the entire arm is ripped off, she transfers a great deal of the pain to herself so they don't have to deal with it. Better her than them, she tells herself.

Eventually, she grows pretty numb to the pain. She can still feel it, of course, but she's just used to it. It doesn't bother her as much as it used to. Occasionally, when she takes a smoke break, she'll put out the cigarette on the heel of her palm or her shoulder or something just to prove that she can still feel pain.

Also, I apologize if I accidentally portray her a bit wrong since I'm not trans but feel free to critique me if I do something wrong bc I really want to know so I can do better/be more educated

Face claim:

tag list from the group blog:

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[genderdotcom]

ffxivwrite2024 day 13: butte

the warrior of light and lyse do some amateur geomorphology. (stb)

“Night will soon be upon us, my friends.” Announced Hien, his eye on the mountainous horizon. “We should take shelter ere it falls.”

Gosetsu cast his gaze around the Azim Steppe, illuminated in the red, purple, gold of sunset, and nodded.

“That hill, perhaps?” 

“I would scout around it first, before we make camp.” Yugiri spoke up.

“We shall scout the east side, then, and you and Gosetsu may take the west.” Thus decided, they split off, tracing separate paths.

“What a weird shape.” Fickle mused, looking at the hill. “Just sitting alone like that.” 

Lyse perked up.

“Oh, I know this one! It’s called a “butt”.”

Fickle snorted.

“No, really! Papalymo was telling me about rock formations-” Here her voice lost some of its fire, as it often did at his mention, but she barrelled on- “-It’s got steep sides and a little flat top. A butt!”

“What kind of butts have you been looking at?”

“Oh, none at all. It’s the clothes here, you know? Stiff as a board from the back.” A mischievous tone had seeped back into Lyse’s voice.

“Hiding the steep, pointy sides, I’d guess. They must be embarassed.”

“I’m sure they’re no worse than the butts back in Eorzea, Fickle, no reason to be judgemental.”

“Of course, of course. Hien, are you alright?”

The inheritor of Doma had turned away from them both, shaking silently, hand pressed to his mouth.

“Mm-hm.” He affirmed, stifling his laughter.

“Great. Now back home, those are some good butts. The Peaks of Gyr Abania… very pointy.”

“Best butts in the world, I’d say.”

“Not to demean all the butts of Rhalgr’s Reach-”

“-Especially in those Resistance uniforms-”

“Rock solid, they are. And made of rocks.”

One would be hard-pressed to miss the appraising gaze Lyse sent her travelling companion, one lingering on the curves not quite hidden by her armour- but the Warrior of Light was, as always, capable of miracles.

“Now, my Eorzean may not be entirely without fault-” Hien spoke up, laughter still lingering in the edges of his voice, “But I believe it is pronounced butte.”