#and yet she continues to scamper. oh well

[orcelito]

Never thought I'd be so happy to hear June whining in annoyance again

Tally's feeling good enough to attack her for the first time in... God. Over a month now. They're finally playing again, and it's such a relief.

[thewritetofreespeech]

Oooh! Delico's Nursery requests are allowed?

Then, could I request Dali with a very snarky and stern s/o who turns into a doting parent around the children?

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

“Raphael, please hold still sweetie.” The boy winced again as his hair was pulled by the brush but held still as his little fists scrunched up tight in his sleep shirt. “There! All done!” Raphael opened his eyes and looked back at [Y/N] as they announced he was finished. His long hair freshly platted for bed. “Shall I tuck you in? Or would you like Clara to do it?”

“C…Could you and Papa both do it?”

“Of course!” Dali agreed for the both of them. Having already put Ul down in his crib, the rest of the evening as his.

Raphael beamed and hopped down from his chair to scamper off to his bed with unseen enthusiasm. “You don’t have to answer for me you know.” [Y/N] quipped when they were alone. To which Dali just smirked.

“Oh, come on. Like you were really going to say no to him.”

“I say no all the time. In case you’d forgotten.” They reply as the adults head down the hall.

“To me, sure. But to Raphael? By the way, why do you always say no to me and not Raphael?”

[Y/N] smirked at Dali over their shoulder once they arrived at the door. “You’re not nearly as cute.”

Dali placed his hand over his heart to show he had been wounded by their words, but quickly followed after into the children’s room. The two of them read Raphael a story and he quickly fell asleep between them. They then snuck out. Closing the door with hopes of sweet dreams for the night. “I should call my carriage.”

“Or, you could not.” [Y/N] turned to Dali with an arched brow before he continued. “You’ll be right back here tomorrow first thing. Why not save the horses the trip and stay the night?”

There was a long moment in which [Y/N] seemed to consider before they answered, “I don’t think that would be wise.”

“Awww….why not?”

“You know why not.”

It was all the ‘no’s’ Dali had been talking about. Their relationship was one of subtlety and complexity. One that existed before Frida’s passing, when they were all friends, until now when she was gone. Her absence was one Dali knew that they felt in their life as well. One they clung to each other for in the beginning before it passed, and they stayed close for the children.

[Y/N] had been instrumental in assisting him with the children and with the case in this new plan he was trying. Dali was grateful for them. But it was a different kind of grateful from what he felt for Gerhard and the others. Something a kin to love. Though they both knew it was too soon for any of that.

“I will see you in the morning Dali.” [Y/N] said as they headed for the door.

Dali smirked sadly. “Yes. Goodnight.” He then added cheekily. “Next time I’ll have Raphael ask you to stay.” [Y/N] smirked back, but said nothing as they continued for the door and out into the night.

Dali sighed. Suddenly feeling alone. It would be short lived, however, as soon his children would be up, and his friends back in his home, and [Y/N] back as well. It was just that he wished he didn’t have to wait. That they could just be here with him.

But, he was determined to be patient. There was no obstacle that Dali Delico could not overcome. He’d get his way, in the end. [Y/N] just didn’t know it yet.

[chillinglyadventurous]

Spooktober Day 9 - “I can’t die! I haven’t even had my first kiss yet!”

The forest of Gravity Falls was eerily quiet as you, Dipper, Mabel, and Ford ventured deeper into the unknown. The air around you was cool and thick with the scent of damp earth and pine needles. You could hear the occasional rustle of creatures moving in the underbrush though it was impossible to tell if they were harmless animals or something more sinister.

Ford walked close beside you. His hand brushed against yours as he walked and you two exchanged a brief, reassuring smile before returning your attention to the path ahead. You trusted Ford with your life and you knew he trusted you with his no matter what.

“We should be getting close,” Ford said, his voice low as he glanced down at his compass. He held it up to the faint light filtering through the trees, its needle wobbling slightly as it pointed toward a distant ridge. “The cave of the Oracle Goblins should be just over that ridge.”

Dipper sighed, walking just ahead of you and Ford with Mabel at his side. “I really hope they’re as friendly as the book says.”

“Oh, I bet they’re cute!” Mabel chimed in from up ahead, her voice full of optimism as usual. She skipped a little, her colorful sweater and beaming smile standing out starkly against the ominous atmosphere of the forest. Why was it that the woods were always so spooky even in broad daylight? “Maybe they’ll help us find that magic artifact thingy without any trouble! I mean, who could say no to a little help, right?”

Ford chuckled, though his eyes remained sharp as he scanned the woods around him. “Well, they do guard the Amulet of Oracleness, so I wouldn’t count on it being too easy. Goblins aren’t known for their generosity.” You noticed the grimace he gave. You wondered if he had tried this before, much like with the unicorns.

Mabel seemed undeterred, humming a cheerful tune as she continued to walk ahead. You found yourself smiling at her endless enthusiasm. It was the kind of brightness you needed in moments like this, even though you knew the danger was real.

Just as Mabel was about to make another cheery comment, there was another rustle in the bushes. The sound was sharp and deliberate. You froze in your tracks, your heart beginning to race. Ford’s hand immediately reached for yours, a protective instinct you’d come to rely on.

You ordered for Dipper and Mabel to get closer to you. They obliged quickly, scampering to stand just in front of you and Ford. You placed a hand on each of their shoulders to hold them in place.

From the shadows of the trees, a group of grotesque, green-skinned goblins emerged, their beady red eyes gleaming with malice. There was nothing cute about them much to Mabel’s disappointment. Each one stood about three feet tall with jagged teeth that glinted in the light. Their skin was pimpled and rough, covered in patches of dirt and grime. They carried crude weapons, makeshift clubs and spears fashioned from sticks and bones.

“We smell fresh meat!” One of the goblins hissed, licking its cracked lips with a forked tongue. “Humans! We haven’t had humans stew for years!”

Your heart lurched as the goblins began to close in, surrounding your group with hungry, predatory looks. They brandished their weapons menacingly and their eyes glinted with hunger.

Ford immediately stepped in front of you and the kids, his body tensing as he assessed the situation. You could feel the intensity of his thoughts as he calculated your next move. His mind was always racing, always strategizing even in the face of danger.

“Not the best time for a stew, wouldn’t you say?” Ford called out, his tone calm, but firm, trying to reason with the goblins even as his eyes darted around for any possible escape route.

The leader of the goblins cackled, his voice raspy and high-pitched, “It’s always a good time for human stew.” He pointed his gnarled spear toward you, his grin full of malice. “And you’ll make a fine feast. Tender and juicy!”

Dipper’s eyes widened in terror as he took a step back. “I can’t die! I haven’t even had my first kiss yet!”

“Seriously, Dipper? Now?!” Mabel shouted, pulling him closer protectively, though her face was pale with fear just as yours surely was.

You squeezed Ford’s arm, your own heart racing. “What do we do?”

Ford’s eyes flicked from the goblins to you then back to the creatures surrounding you. His mind was working fast, analyzing every possible angle, every exit. You could hear the wheels in that beautiful mind turning, “When I say ‘run,’ head for that ridge. There’s a cave up there they might not follow us into. Get the kids to it as fast as you can.”

Your pulse quickened. “What about you?” You whispered, your voice barely audible. There was no way in hell you were leaving him behind.

“I’ll be right behind you. Trust me.” Ford gave you a reassuring smile, one that sent warmth through your chest despite the fear clutching at your heart.

Before you could respond, Ford reached into his coat and pulled out a small device, something you’d seen him tinker with earlier that week. It was a makeshift flashbang, one of his many inventions.

His eyes shone with determination and affection for you, accepting small kiss you placed to his shoulder before he stepped out from in front of you, “Cover your eyes!”

A blinding flash of light exploded in front of the goblins, and they screeched in agony, stumbling backward as they clutched at their eyes, disoriented by the sudden burst of brightness.

“Run!” Ford yelled, his voice urgent.

You didn’t hesitate. Grabbing Dipper and Mabel by the hands, you sprinted toward the ridge, your heart hammering in your chest. You could hear the goblins shouting in confusion behind you, but the flashbang had bought you some time. Ford was behind you in an instant, his hand gripping the hem of your t-shirt as you climbed the steep incline toward the cave.

Just as you reached the mouth of the cave, you heard the goblins recovering, their furious howls growing louder as they charged after you. Their footsteps pounded against the forest floor, getting closer with every second.

“They’re getting closer!” Dipper panted, glancing over his shoulder in panic.

Ford’s sharp eyes quickly scanned the area. He spotted a large boulder near the cave entrance, “Help me push this!” His voice was commanding, steady.

With adrenaline coursing through your vein the four of you rushed to push the boulder into place. It was heavy, but the you all heaved with all your strength.

The creatures howled in frustration, clawing at the boulder and shrieking, but it was too heavy for them to move. Their ugly, twisted faces pressed against the small gaps between the rock and the cave walls, but they could do nothing more than glare at you through the narrow cracks.

Breathing heavily, you all slumped against the cave wall, your muscles burning from the effort. The air inside the cave was cold and damp, but it was a welcome refuge from the chaos outside.

Mabel, still catching her breath, turned to Dipper, raising an eyebrow. “So, uh, about that first kiss thing-”

“Don’t even start,” Dipper groaned, hiding his face in his hands.

Ford chuckled softly, the sound filled with both relief and amusement. He turned to you, pulling you close against his side as you all settled down, catching your breath in the safety of the cave. His arm wrapped protectively around your shoulders and the warmth of his touch eased the tension in your body.

“We’ll need to find another way out,” Ford said quietly, glancing at the cave walls. “But for now, we’re safe.”

You smiled up at him, your heart swelling with gratitude. “I’m just glad we didn’t end up in a stew.”

Ford’s eyes softened as he looked down at you, his hand squeezing yours gently, “As long as we stick together, we’ll always find a way out. That’s a promise.”

“Gross!” Dipper whined.

Mabel’s laugh echoed off the cave’s walls, “Almost as gross as your internet search history! Ayo!”

[woso-dreamzzz]

Little Buddy

Arsenal Women x Teen!Reader

Summary: Three members of the team take you under their wing

"There you are!" Steph said as you pulled open the car door, slipping inside and immediately placing your hands in front of the heater," I thought you got lost!"

You rolled your eyes. "Ha, ha," You said dryly," I didn't hear my alarm go off."

"Didn't your parents wake you up?" Steph pulled off from the curb, turning down the music from the radio.

"Dad's on the early morning shift and Mum was on the night one, she's knocked out in bed," You replied. You dug through your bag to check that you'd brought everything.

Waking up with twenty missed calls from Steph and another one coming in was not exactly the nicest wake up calls - especially when it was paired with getting dressed and ready for the day in under five minutes.

You yawned slightly as you tugged your bag closed again, head moving to rest against the rest.

"There's breakfast and a drink in the back for you," Steph said as she turned onto a roundabout. "You look like you need it. Have you eaten yet?"

You gave her a deadpan look at you leaned toward the back and snatched up the brown paper baggy. "Well, seeing as you woke me up this morning. I'll let you guess."

Steph laughed as you practically attacked your breakfast wrap. "I didn't think I would get your sass this early."

"Thanks," You said brightly, your mouth full of food," Leah calls it my moody teenage hormones."

"Don't listen to Leah," Steph said as she turned another corner," She's just jealous that you're younger and fitter than her."

Your ride to the training grounds made you feel much better than when you woke up and by the time you and Steph pulled up, you were energised and ready.

"Mornin'," Katie said, getting out of her car at the same time you two were.

"Morning," You said brightly and she groaned.

"How can you have this much energy so early?" Katie looked annoyed but you knew she wasn't by the way that she threw an arm over your shoulder and steered you inside.

"Steph gave me food!"

"This wave of energy is recent," Steph assured her," I had to get her up this morning. Her alarm didn't go off."

Katie gave you a look. "You parents couldn't get you up?"

You gave her the same excuse as you gave Steph. "Besides," You continued," It's not really a big deal. Mum and Dad are always busy. I'm pretty self-sufficient."

"You're sixteen," Katie deadpanned.

You shrugged. "And? I'm doing better than most kids my age." You puffed out your chest in pride. "I have a job."

Katie laughed, ruffling your hair as you approached the locker room. "Look at you, superstar!" She said, a hint of teasing in her tone," A job?! Wow!"

"Stop teasing me!" You batted her hands away as she continued to knock you about. "I'm going to bring this up in therapy in a few years!"

She laughed at you again, knowing that your threat was meaningless, but still let you scamper off to your cubby to change.

As usual, Alessia was already there. She wasn't changed yet though, typing away on her phone. You leaned over to read what she was saying. "You spelt that wrong."

She rolled her eyes but corrected herself. "Anything else, grammar police?"

"Actually, yes." You dug through your bag and pulled out your school planner. "I have to go in tomorrow morning and I need someone to sign off on my schoolwork." You offered her a pen.

"Gladly!" Alessia signed with a flourish and you gladly took your school book back.

"What?! Why couldn't I sign?!" Steph sounded outraged.

You rolled your eyes as you pulled your training shirt over your head. "Because you don't know a thing about my schoolwork."

"That's a lie!" She said and you sent her a pointed look.

"Oh, yeah?" You challenged," What classes do I take? Hell, where even is my school?"

"I know your address, isn't that enough?"

"Not when I need a responsible adult to sign off on my work."

This seemed to get Katie's attention.

"I'm responsible!"

"Yeah, for more than half of the yellow cards we get," You said with a laugh.

"Alright, that's it!" She leapt across the changing room and got you into a headlock. A rough noogie was pressed onto your head and no matter how much you tried to get away, Katie wouldn't release you.

"Say you're sorry!"

"Never!"

You howled with laughter as you were suddenly shoved into Steph, who hoisted you over her shoulder like you were nothing but a sack of potatoes.

"Don't know what you're laughing about, Russo," Katie said," You're next!"

●～●～●～●～

You panted as a cross came in from Katie. You barely had any space but you still went for it.

Your foot kicked out and connected with the ball. You didn't try to watch it go in, more focussed with landing on your feet after your bicycle kick.

But suddenly, you were eating dirt.

A body crashed into yours, pushing the air from your lungs.

You were stunned for a moment before you felt more force on your back and then the pressure was released. You gasped for breath, groaning in pain. You could feel a pain and ache in your face.

A hand turned you over and you looked up into Alessia's eyes. She looked concerned and reached out to steady you, helping you sit up. She wiped at your cheek.

"That was a nasty fall," She said," How are you feeling?"

You didn't answer at first, still struggling to draw in the breath that had been forced out of you. You smacked your chest a few times as Alessia rubbed your back.

"Wh-What happened?" Your breathing was still shaky but you had enough in you to speak.

"Ouahabi tried to stop your kick," Lessi said," Crashed into you as you landed. You wiped out." She rubbed a bit of dirt from your cheek and you leaned away, the pain becoming worse when she touched you.

"Did I get the goal?"

Steph laughed as she jogged over, catching your last question. "Of course you did."

"Did it look cool?"

"Real cool."

Together, she and Lessi got you to your feet. With the dirt rubbed off your face, it became clear to both of them that there would be a nasty bruise on your cheek in a couple of minutes.

It seemed Katie came to the same conclusion because she squared up to Ouahabi without prompting, shoving the other woman back with force.

"You wanna have a scrap?!" She demanded," I'll have a scrap if you really want!" She looked like she was a second or two from getting another yellow card so you hurried over and took her hand.

She quietened for a moment and allowed you to drag her away.

"You should watch your back, Ouahabi," Steph warned as Katie tucked you under her arm and walked you back to your position.

"I think I can handle McCabe for another two minutes or so, Catley."

Alessia stepped forward. She was taller than Ouahabi put not by much so they were practically eye to eye. "She wasn't talking about Katie."

Across the pitch, Katie wiped at your cheek. "We'll get some ice on that as soon as its full time. You're gonna have quite the shiner."

"It'll look cool though."

[amournoir]

ello ello! i'd like to request a rafe fic, he takes y/n on a date on valentines? 💌 can’t help falling in love w you: sfw oneshot w/ rafe

- 🖤

Chaos & Calm

pairing(s): rafe cameron x f!reader

count: 1.2k

warning(s): none just fluff

author’s note: hi hunny, thank you so much for the request! i hope you enjoy it 🤍

Rafe had always been the reckless Cameron, known for his wild antics and questionable choices. Yet, when it came to Y/N, his usually fearless demeanor melted into a mix of nerves and uncertainty. Days before Valentine's Day, he found himself haunted by the idea of asking her out. 

One afternoon, in the sun-drenched chaos of the Outer Banks, Rafe approached Y/N. Surprisingly absent was his usual cocky grin; instead, he fumbled over words. "So, you know, V-Day's coming up, and uh, thought maybe we could, like, grab some grub or whatever." 

Y/N, amused by the unexpected vulnerability, smirked, "Grub, huh? Sure, why the hell not? Just don't make it fancy, Cameron." 

And just like that, in the mess of Rafe's less-than-smooth words and Y/N's easygoing response, a date was set in motion. In the days leading up to their not-so-typical valentine’s day date, Rafe found himself navigating unfamiliar waters. Gone were the days of carefree recklessness instead he was entangled in a web of genuine emotions. Y/N, with her easygoing nature had become the unexpected muse for this transformation. 

Their interactions, once centered around banter and playful teasing, now bore the weight of unspoken words. Rafe who was usually the master of evasion, felt an unexplainable pull toward Y/N that left him grappling with this new and uncomfortable vulnerability. Y/N, perceptive and patient, seemed to understand what he was going through. She didn’t push or prod but instead, she let him unravel at his own pace. Late-night talks on the beach and shared glances during the chaos of the islands’ parties became the canvas upon which their connection painted itself. 

Whilst Rafe stumbled through the intricacies of emotions, Y/N provided an anchor in the storm. Her laughter would echo through his mind like a calming melody, a stark contrast to the chaos that usually defined his world. In those moments, the layers of bravado peeled away, revealing a side of Rafe that even he hadn’t fully explored. This uncharted territory would become a shared exploration, and Rafe for the first time, found himself wanting to willingly navigate the emotional depths of those waters of vulnerability with her. 

Valentine’s Day dawned with an air of anticipation and curiosity as Rafe prepared for their unconventional date. The chosen venue wasn’t a high-end restaurant or a lavish setting but it was a local diner that had witnessed the ebb and flow of countless stories in the heart of the island. As Rafe and Y/N entered inside, the atmosphere was a blend of classic rock tunes and the clinking of cutlery. Booths with worn-out cushions and flickering neon signs set the stage for a date that defied expectations. The not-so-fancy date was a testament to the authenticity of their blooming relationship. 

Rafe smirked as his eyes drank in Y/N’s attire and her figure. “Well, you clean up nice.”

Y/N raised an eyebrow, “Takes one to know one, Cameron. I see you put in some effort tonight.”

“Only for special occasions, and you're looking at one right now.”

“Oh, am I?” She asked playfully. “What exactly makes tonight so special?”

With a smug grin, he replied. “Because I'm here…” Y/N scoffed and rolled her eyes but he continued, “...with the most beautiful person in the room.”

“Nice save, Cameron. But I'll take the compliment.” 

Rafe led Y/N to their table, holding her chair out with a confident yet playful demeanor. As they settled in, the banter continued. He leaned back in his seat as he looked across at her in the booth. “So, what do you think of this place? Impressed?”

A waiter quickly placed complementary glasses of water on their table, dropping the menus off and scampered off elsewhere. Y/N took a long drawn out sip then smirked, “It's alright. I've seen better.”

Rafe feigned his offense. “Ouch. Tough crowd. I thought you'd appreciate my refined taste.” 

She giggled and placed her glass back on the worn out mahogany table. “Don't worry, Rafe. I'm sure it'll be unforgettable.” 

As the night progressed, the flirtatious banter continued, each comment escalating the playful tension between them. The older Cameron leaned in closer to Y/N, elbows perched on the table as he held her gaze. “You know, after dinner, I was thinking we could take a stroll on the beach. I hear the stars are out tonight.” 

“A beach date, Cameron? Trying to impress me with clichés?” She teased, a small smile playing on her lips. 

He admired that beautiful look on her face and released a chuckle he wasn’t aware he held, “Just setting the mood, sweetheart. But if you're not into it, I'm sure I can come up with something more original.”

Y/N drummed her manicured nails on the four-legged furniture, her left hand resting on it whilst her chin was cradled in her palm. “Alright, Mr. Smooth Talker, beach it is.” 

“You know, I wasn't sure how you'd feel about going out with me. I've been wanting to ask you for a while.”

“What, the great Rafe Cameron nervous about asking someone out?” Y/N playfully teased him. 

Rafe scratched the back of his neck as he nervously glanced at her with his boyish smile. “Hey, it's different when it's someone you really like.” He was stunned at his own admission. He quickly tried to busy himself with the menu but after a moment, he peeked over it just to find her smirking at him. 

In that corner booth, amidst the diner’s timeless chaos, Rafe and Y/N engaged in a dance of laughter and shared stories. The menu, worn and stained, served as a backdrop to their unfiltered conversation. Rafe found comfort in the simplicity of the moment or perhaps it was her presence that brought out that peace within him. The food, far from gourmet, was a medley of local specialties; it wasn’t about the extravagance, it was about the shared experience. Y/N made him forget the weight of his usual reputation. 

The waiters and waitresses ran amok from one end of the tiny wooden restaurant to the other. Dishes and glasses and cutlery clattered as they crashed either on the tiled kitchen floors or the countertops. It was a bit chaotic but somehow still comforting. Amidst spilled drinks and mismatched silverware, Rafe’s nerves gave way to a surprising sense of ease. This date was not about impressing or performing; it was about two people, curious to explore their unexpected connection  in a place that made them feel seen and heard. Here in this diner, it was easy. It was simple. It was calm…with a bit of chaos. 

As they left the diner, the neon lights casting a warm glow on their silhouettes, Rafe and Y/N realized that sometimes, it’s the unconventional moments that leave the deepest impressions. The aftermath of their not-so-fancy Valentine’s Day date would usher in a new chapter for Rafe and Y/N. In the weeks that followed, they found themselves caught in a dance of shared glances and stolen moments. 

Rafe, the untamed Cameron, discovered solace in Y/N’s presence. She, with her serene nature, held him steady amid the storms of his own making. Late-night beach walks turned into shared confessions, and within the whispers of the ocean, they forged a bond that surpassed the superficial layers of their social existence. As the days rolled by, the tension between them slowly dissipated, leaving them standing on the precipice of something significant. Neither knew where this newfound friendship, each hopeful for a relationship, would lead them. He desperately needed calm in his otherwise turbulent life but she could do with some chaos to ruffle those feathers of hers but one date certainly wasn’t going to fix that.

🏷️ taglist:

⤷ @catmikaelson20 @elijahmikaelsontrash @hopes-wife @klaustopia @klausysworld @loverswillowed @moremaybank @miasmultifandomdump @mrs-maximoff-kenner @multiversediaries @mxacegrey @original-siphon @onlyfreds @panic-at-the-fiction @ranising @slinthoex @spike-and-angels-gf @spnandtvdudeservedbetter @thatfanficstuff @thatfictionalwh0re @wholoveseggs @drewstarkeyslut @drudyslut @jjsbank444 @moremaybank @rafetopia @sweetestdesire @tinyluvs {lmk if you’d like to be added to the taglist!}

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[deviousdeliciousness]

I'm always watching you Pt. 1

Here is where we've got our borrower being the oblivious one, and our obsessive giant just can't get enough of her~

TWs: stalking, invasion of privacy, and lowkey (highkey?) yandere

~~~~~~~~~

It'd been a couple of months now since Leela had moved into this new home, her last (being the one to the right of this one) having become uninhabitable after the humans had all moved out for good, leaving nothing for her to scavenge.

She was thankful for the final spur to change her own place of residency, though. Her new home and its singular inhabitant were much better - it wasn't even a fair comparison! He always had food laying around to take crumbs from, he was a bit of a klutz with losing small things and forgetting about them (much to Leela's continued joy), he lived alone and didn't entertain guests, and he was perfectly, blissfully oblivious to her existence, not suspicious at all.

It was nothing like her last place, with a whole family of humans to worry about spotting her and more than one of them being meticulous cleaners to the point it had become quite the task for her to scavenge enough food for a single full night's meal.

Really, the only small, insignificant issue she had here was this... feeling that she'd been getting. It'd started only a day or two after she moved in, and from then on, it'd become a near constant thing.

Honestly, at this point, she'd grown quite used to it, brushing it off as a quirk of moving homes again for the first time in so long.

But every now and then, it'd catch up to her, that feeling, the creeping, prickling sensation that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end and sweat bead along her spine. If she had to equate the feeling to anything, it was like the one time she'd been prowled on by a cat, barely managing to escape with her life.

It was the feeling of being watched - watched by a predator.

Now, she shook her head, firmly pushing aside the notion. It was obviously untrue, and it wouldn't do her any good to feed into her paranoia.

No, she wasn't in any more danger than usual for a borrower, and she most certainly wasn't being watched.

Huffing softly to herself with a wry little smile, she hoisted her sack over her shoulder and set out towards the entrance to her nest, ready for another day of successful borrowing to further stock up her stores.

The only actual problem she had with living here was that the giant tenant was something of a shut-in, seeming to work from home, and he rarely ever left. In fact, even his groceries seemed to be delivered straight to his doorstep!

But that was okay. Really, it was!

Her new giant was rather... lacking, in terms of self-awareness.

She muffled a giggle to herself, pressing her palm to her lips to smother her grin as she recalled the few (or, well, more than a few now that she thought about it) times where the human had walked right into the room she was in and never even came close to noticing her, even when she was practically in plain sight!

She finally allowed herself a little smile at the recollection, fondly shaking her head.

It was almost endearing - for a giant.

And it meant that she felt perfectly safe to go out to do some foraging now, even in the broad daylight with the oh-so-tall giant sitting right at home.

-

Silas bit his lip and shivered in pleasure as he watched his sweet little guest scamper between the shadows along the floor, her hair tied up with a plastic little clip - the pastel blue one this time. It was his favorite one of her collection, and he briefly allowed himself to entertain the fantasy that she'd worn it just for him. His eyelids lowered to half mast at the notion, and he released a low, enraptured hum, a hazed breath gusting over his lower lip.

A moment later, he swallowed languidly, and he nudged aside his idle daydreams with efficiency of many long hours of practice.

She wasn't wearing it for him, he knew. Not yet.

For now, his let his gaze seem to stay unerringly on his computer in front of him as it always did. His peripheral vision was better than most, and it was a trait he'd been making liberal use of in the past few months since his heart-stealing, precious little doll had come into his life - into his home.

He had to bite his lip again to hold back a croon as he watched her climb as nimble as a fairy onto the kitchen counter to his left, with him sitting directly in her line of sight (and him conversely in hers) from where he'd taken up residence at his dining room table.

She only spared him a brief glance, dismissing his presence as easy as anything. If Silas hadn't know any better, he would've thought she was teasing him.

But he did know better, unfortunately. After all, it was his own hard work that had gotten the both of them to this point. His sweet fairy had been so heart-breakingly skittish at first, jumping at the slightest sound and flinching at the mere sight of him.

It had hurt, truthfully, but he'd never dared let it show. It wasn't her own fault after all, that she didn't understand him yet.

Instead, he'd been meticulous in changing her reactions to him. He slowly but surely convinced his precious little creature that he was just a harmless, oblivious human being, nothing like whatever made her so upsettingly wary of his presence.

Why would she have to fear him if he never seemed to notice anything around him to even come close to being able to cause her any harm?

Oh, it had been difficult, and at times he had wanted to cave into his desires and turn to drink in her presence directly (to reach over and catch her with his bare hands and hold her close and-), but he never did. He was rather prideful of this fact. And there was a saying, wasn't there? That slow and steady wins the race?

Silas felt a curl of warmth low in his gut as he watched his adorable guest putter around on his countertop, gathering the fresh crumbs he'd purposefully left on the surface despite his distaste for being so untidy.

Yes, for now, this was plenty. For now, he would sate himself through these less direct means.

It was true that the miniature cameras he'd procured and hidden in her nest never did her justice, but at least they were enough for now as the only way he could content himself with watching her all safe and warm and tuckered out in her adorable little burrow beneath the wooden slats of the closet of the spare bedroom. It had been rather easy to find her precious nest (she almost always headed in the direction of the guest bedroom after she finished her foraging, after all), but it had still been quite the exhilarating discovery for him to pull up a loose board and find what could only be said nest, empty at the time and fluffed with downy feathers and old cotton socks. It was far less than she deserved, of course, and he had had to fight back the immediate, intense urge to find her and scoop her up and away from the hovel. The only reason he hadn't done so was his self-awareness of the misunderstanding such an abrupt turn in his behavior could cause.

And he could admit that her little self-made home within his own was heart-throbbingly enchanting in its entitlement - as if she was staking a claim upon him like he dreamed of doing to her. So he let her be, for now.

One day (one day soon), though, he would watch her sleep before him, curled up and warm and safe in the palm of his hand, his to hold and keep and love forever.

-

Hhehhehehuuhuhuhuh yandere giant, here we come!!~~ :33333

Ya'll I haven't given this a read through yet so hopefully any mistakes are minimal!!! Hope you enjoyed tho!~

[snowblossomreads]

Sunlight

Summary: In where Severus receives a small yet lovely gift from his wife on his birthday.

Pairing: Severus Snape x FemReader

Tags(s)/Warnings: Oral (Male Receiving) and Fluff

Word Count: 2.2K

A/N: And in a non-unhinged Snape story ^_^! Look I know his bday isn't till January but if you believe, his bday can be every day LOL. This lil short was inspired by a rare wholesome idea that me and @deepperplexity chatted about (love you dear 🥰🥰🥰)

Of course, though I had to add something spicy into it bc well you know me.. Anyways please enjoy and let me know how you like it!

There had been some sort of mild surprise when Severus had awakened on his 70th birthday to find that his hair, once an intermingling of black and white strands had turned fully white seemingly overnight.

The change hadn’t been immediately noticed well because honestly, he had been more interested in the more pleasurable way he was being woken up. Which was with the lips of his wife wrapped deliciously tight around his cock as she enthusiastically mouthed at his hardened shaft before she was taking him into her mouth with fervor.

Even though he had been fast asleep just moments ago, this was more than enough to fully wake him in both senses as his hand trailed down and his fingers looked for [Y/n].

His hand was met with her own as she gave it a little squeeze before she was coming up for air, the hungry look in her eyes was barely visible due to the lack of lighting from the curtains still being drawn.

“Good morning,” she purred before she was leaning back down and sucking at the tip of his cock, tongue swirling in his leaking slit and lapping his seed up right before taking him almost completely in her mouth in one go.

A loud groan filled the air of the dimly lit room as his hips canted upwards burying his cock deeper down her throat from the sudden burst of pleasure that flooded his veins. His head fell back against the pillows as she held his hand, his thumb stroking the top of her hand as she continued.

“Oh my love that’s it, use that wonderful mouth of yours. So beautiful,” he panted as he felt himself already close to release.

She moaned a noise of contentment at the praise as she raked her nails lightly against his thigh, feeling the quiver of his muscles as she swallowed around him enjoying his noises of pleasure.  He wasn’t going to last long as he felt his cock begin to throb incessantly at the attention it was receiving from his wife and it wasn’t before long that his fingers were tightening around the bed sheets as his limbs began to tremble and stiffen at the impending orgasm. 

A few more well-time sucks here, another languid lick there and [Y/n]’s mouth was being filled with a salty liquid that she greedily drank as Severus shouted her name before letting out a prolonged moan as he emptied himself in her mouth.

Once she was sure she had lapped everything up, she gave his cock one last gentle squeeze and a kiss, causing Severus to shiver as he ran his fingers through his hair, groaning quietly at his morning call.

“Happy birthday to you~,” [Y/n] sang playfully as she crawled up towards him, damp lips pressing against his softly and letting out a faint sigh as he kissed her slowly, the taste of his spend still lingering as he did so.

Fingers stroked her bare hips as their lips languidly met each others. Little rumbles came from Severus' chest as [Y/n] would nip his bottom lip playfully, and quiet squeaks left her own lips when he would bite back. 

It wasn’t before long she was letting out a giggle as she pulled away from him causing him to arch an eyebrow as she shimmed out of his hold and out of bed her body still on display.

“[Y/n]?”

“Meet me in the kitchen in twenty!” Was all she responded with as she grabbed her robe that had been tossed haphazardly on top of a chair from the night before. Wrapping it around her and securing it she turned and gave him a wink as she scampered out of the room, a soft tune being hummed from her lips.

By the time she was already out of earshot, Severus couldn’t help but let out a chuckle as he ran his fingers through his hair. Head flopping back down into the pillow as he let the buzz in his body calm.

Almost exactly after twenty minutes passed he did appear in the kitchen, hair still a mess and a bit of sleep still in his eyes as he was more interested in what [Y/n] was up to.  And that’s where the change would be noticed as he saw the twinkling awe in [Y/n]’s eyes as she placed the last plate down on a beautifully decorated table and came up to him when he entered the kitchen. 

At first, he was confused as she stared at him as a child would at their new toy. Mouth slightly agape in a smile, eyes wide as she went to play with a few loose strands that were in his face before she whispered in a barely contained amazement,

“Severus your hair! It's gorgeous!”

Not having glanced at himself in the mirror when he woke up, as he had gone to find [Y/n] after her wake-up call he was of course even more puzzled as she continued to play with his hair, a squee leaving her as she pecked his lips.

“Ohh! Happy birthday, darling but I think the lucky one is me today! Merlin, Severus I never thought you could become even more handsome but I was wrong!”

“Love what are you talking about my hair is the same as yesterday albeit less combed considering the early present you decided to give me.”

Her smile instantly grew at his words before she let a raucous laughter burst from her lips while she also tried to speak.

“Well I'm sorry dear I had to get breakfast ready for you but also the same? Severus! Did you not even look in the mirror yet? Unless you’ve been using the color change charm on your hair all these years then I suggest you take a peak.”

Now this had him frowning as [Y/n] gently nudged him back in the opposite direction as he was still utterly perplexed at what she had said.

Her tinkling laughter was still audible as he padded into the hallway, making a beeline for the bathroom to see what in the world she was talking about.

However, when he did finally see what she was going on about he had to say that he was slightly taken aback about the sudden color change, due to it being...well sudden of course. One day there was just a light smattering of white strands in his mostly dark hair that he would fuss about whenever he saw more of them show up. 

But now that it was just white as snow, he was surprised that he wasn’t more annoyed by it than before. There was a simple acceptance of it. He didn’t allow himself to ponder it much longer as he went back to join [Y/n] in the kitchen and a bright smile on her face as he came to join her at the table.

They ate, basked in each other’s presence, chatted about the plans for the day, and finally when finished [Y/n] happily gave him a beautifully wrapped present that contained an assortment of rare potion ingredients that she had been able to get imported for him.

"That’s not all though!” He remembered her preening at him, the soft crow’s feet in the corners of her eyes visible as she smiled brightly warming him in every way as she pulled away from the hug he had engulfed her in and opening her palm to show him what she was holding.

A deep purple piece of satin was in her hand that seemed to gleam in the morning light that streamed through the windows and danced on the walls.

“Oh and what is this for?”

“Don’t be silly Severus, you know exactly what this is for. How many times have I seen you fuss at your hair when you’re working on something?  You think you would put it up more often with that brilliant brain of yours but here I am, or rather here is something that will do it for you!”

There was only a playfulness in her tone as she scolded him while handing him the smooth piece of fabric.

“I thought it be a good gift, had it charmed so that it ties itself and doesn’t come loose until you tug on it. Try it darling.”

Taking another curious look at the fabric he did as he was told, sweeping his hair into a ponytail and lifting the ribbon towards his hair, and to his surprise, it indeed slipped from his fingers like it had a mind of its own and in a second he could feel his hair being pulled and secured. 

“A lovely gift indeed, though I wonder how much of it is a gift for you as I know you have a penchant for pulling my hair down when you get in a mood.”

There was a little smirk on his features as she grinned back at him while wrapping her arms around his waist and snaking one arm up to loosen the fabric. As she had said after a gentle tug it easily came loose and so did the long white strands of hair that framed his face and tickled hers a little as he leaned his head down.

“What can I say Mr.Snape my deviousness knows no bounds when it comes to you.”

“And I would have it no other way love.” 

That was the day his hair had turned white which if he was being honest was not a day he had ever thought he would ever see considering his more hazardous youth. 

But he was more than grateful to be able to see it after all those years of being shunned. Years of heartbreak, pain, and suffering at the hands of others and even at his own hands. He was happy, ecstatic even if he didn’t show it to be here celebrating it with his doting wife whom he had also been lucky to meet decades ago. 

The one person whose presence and love felt like sunlight coming through a glass pane on a cool fall day. Warming him gently, with her adoration and kindness that he had so needed after years of neglect.

That birthday was also the day he had received his favorite gift as simple as it was. Each day afterwards he would wear the ribbon, picking it up from its place on top of a velvet box that it came with and tying back his hair that had grown towards the middle of his back.

He had toyed with the thought of cutting it as he did many years ago, but the doe eyes that [Y/n] had immediately shown him when she begged him not to was what had saved the strands.

And now with the ribbon his routine slightly changed, which sounded silly to say. Whenever he knew he was about to be up to something that would benefit from not having hair in his face the ribbon was the first thing he reached for. 

Whether it was potion making, taking notes, or cooking meals for him and his love the ribbon was in his hair. And with it, it also felt as if [Y/n] was sitting beside him even on days when she had to leave the house and he was left to his own devices. 

Such a simple gift yet it meant the world to him. 

And so it became a trend that whenever it was time for a gift-giving occasion he would find himself saddled up with a new ribbon from [Y/n]. From the color to the style of the ribbon, there was always a variation, something that made it a little different from the last.

‘Just in case you want to switch it up.’

As she had smartly said when she had given him his second one. Yet even as his collection grew, the love for the first one grew with it. While the other ones were just as finely made and maybe even richer in style and fabric, the first one with its beautiful purple sheen was still ever his favorite. 

When [Y/n] asked him about it as she watched him take it off one night she was met with silence as he made himself comfortable. His arm wrapped around her shoulder, and brought her close to his side as a soft noise of contentment escaped both of their lips as she cuddled close and looked up at him waiting for an answer. 

Looking down at her with dark eyes that were always so gentle when they were on her, he spoke, 

“I think it’s because it reminds me of our love darling. No matter how much time has passed or how much it has endured day in and day out it keeps it shine. Never dulling, never fraying. I’m truly quite fond of it.”

The light that was in her eyes seemed to brighten as she lifted her hand up to finger through the white strands that framed his face. A smile was offered up to him as she leaned up to bump her nose against his, nuzzling it gently as she stared at him.

“Oh Severus.”  Her whisper was tender, and soft like the touch of his fingers that went to hold her side. “I love you, darling.”

“As do I [Y/n], as do I.” He answered back to her, eyes glinting with adoration as he pressed their lips together gently in the dimly lit room that felt warm with affection and care that would always be there for them both.

A/N: Long white-haired Snape is 👌👌👌 Like it's just an image I love so much. His hair tied up as he sits with his wife in their cottage just being cute together. It makes my heart hurt and wobble yet also tight with happiness. Anywhose thanks for stopping bye and reading

Feel free to scream at me as always ^^!

[leohtttbriar]

the snow-melted and it's sunny and it's spring and that makes me feel some type of way so here's a kiradax springtime fic featuring the fascinations of a nature-walk and jadzia dax as a sort of ms. frizzle:

On a bright day like this, Kira was happy to be handing out juice boxes.

Sure, she would’ve preferred to have been part of Keiko’s field-trip party, with the older students on a rock-climbing mission to observe cliff-side fungus. But Keiko had been a little too bright-faced and excited as she tucked her climbing shoes into her backpack and gathered all the older kids together for a lesson in knot-tying and rappelling, and, almost immediately, Miles had begged Kira to swap chaperone positions so he could trail after his wife pretending to be worried about the cliffs on which she was leading an educational expedition but really interested in just documenting ‘the moment,’ as he called it.

“When Molly starts to be embarrassed of us,” he said, turning on his camera and smirking as Keiko demonstrated a very long finger-hold on a nearby boulder, the strained muscles in her forearms and shoulders not even appearing to shake. “I want evidence that we’re actually cool.”

“Well, one of you is,” said Kira. “You mostly play games with Julian in your free-time.”

Miles shot her a dirty look but then Keiko was calling her group to start on the hike and he was scampering after her.

So Kira was left with the younger kids on a much less dangerous nature walk that didn’t involve rock-climbing. But she was happy about it. The day was bright, crisp air with warm sun, and she didn’t have to do much more than make sure the little ones stayed on the path and hand out juice boxes. And, really, they were all too mesmerized by Jadzia to misbehave or wonder off.

Kira couldn’t exactly blame them, though. Jadzia had turned up in a shirt covered in colorful scientific illustrations of various Bajoran insects, a giant hair clip that looked like one of the stone-caterpillars that Kira used to make into a stew in her hungriest moments during the war, and a box of tiny, kid-sized binoculars which she handed to each student with all the sincerity and solemnity of a general handing out medals of honor to soldiers. She oo’d an ah’d over every little thing and all the kids were following after her like she was personally responsible for putting a flower in their path to look at.

“Oh, look at that!” gasped Jadzia, pointing up at what looked to be a normal tree limb with such drama that every single kid was gasping with her despite, Kira assumed, not knowing what it is they were gasping at. They gathered around Jadzia, following to where her finger pointed, their little mouths open in awe.

“What?” asked one of the more impatient kids. “I don’t see anything.”

“It’s an aerial succulent,” said Jadzia, bending down. “See, between the stalks, there's a film which will expand and catch on a breeze if the plant needs to move.”

“Like wings?” asked another kid, taking rigorous notes in her notebook (Kira was able to read she had just added plant flying color green pretty in uneven block letters).

“Yes! Exactly like wings!” said Jadzia, as if this comparison had just occurred to her.

“Wow.”

Jadzia had them all draw a picture of the succulent, a star shaped thing with a sparkly veil between each point, tipping this way and that on the tree branch but yet holding steady. Kira attempted a drawing herself, as Jadzia had made sure to provide her with a “field notebook” and binoculars, along with the kids. It was not a good drawing, but Kira liked it. After, they continued shuffling along the path and Kira helped a couple kids not to trip on their feet as they traversed forward, binoculars glued to their eyes.

When Keiko had suggested a field trip, Kira had not expected to be asked to help. But it seemed Sisko was of the opinion that she needed “a break,” or something like that. And so he had volunteered much of his chief staff to help out with the trip to Bajor and even extending the offer of the supervised field trip to some of the schools that would be nearby their educational expedition. As the morning progressed, Kira couldn’t help but be thankful for it. There were worse ways to spend a day. And Jadzia had been very happy when Kira had turned up, which always made Kira feel warm in more ways than one. She might've switched assignments, anyway, if Miles hadn't asked.

Eventually they ended up by a stream and Jadzia instructed everyone to be on the lookout for fossils.

“I know there are fossils,” she whispered triumphantly to Kira, once the kids were darting back and forth on the bank like the intrepid explorers they were. “I scouted the trail—this watershed area is almost nothing but limestone.”

Kira bent down to examine the earth herself, picking up an angular yet smooth-cornered rock and rolling it around in her palm.

“Limestone has more fossils in it?” she asked.

Jadzia plopped down next to her. “Yep,” she said. She reached over and gently guided Kira’s fingers to hold the rock so the angle was pointed up. Then she poured a splash of water on it, smoothed away some dirt, and pointed to an imprint in the stone. “See?” she said. “A shell.”

“Oh,” said Kira, looking closer at the strangely patterned whirl. It looked like the aerial succulent.

“Limestone is a graveyard, for organic life,” said Jadzia, halfway to soft but still cheerful. “It’s got a bit of a sacred history on Trill, but I never bought into all those sad poems. Trills only seem to know how to write sad poems”—she rolled her eyes, and Kira bit the inside of her cheek to contain her grin—“and I just don’t think fossils are things to be sad about anyway. True, this”—she indicated the rock in Kira’s hand by cupping Kira’s knuckles and pushing gently against them, causing Kira to, embarrassingly, blush—“is made of the compressed bodies of ancient marine life, but it’s not as if they’re gone. There they are.”

Kira turned her gaze away from Jadzia’s open face and back to the dirty rock in her palm. She didn’t like to think of it as a graveyard. Death was a strange, conceptual thing for Bajorans—as all things are and have been and will be all at once, so eternal ending is just one edge of infinite reality, which has many edges stretching on and on.

“It’s just evidence that they were,” she found herself saying. “But they also are. Just—are.”

Jadzia tipped her head, her eyebrows pinched together. “This might be one of those temporal perspectives I don’t get,” she said.

Kira smiled. “I mean,” she said. “In some way, this…shell?”

“Crinoid.”

“This crinoid,” said Kira, still biting back a grin. “Is swimming around now. In the sea.”

Jadzia looked at her, eyes sparkling. “Okay,” she said. “Then limestone isn’t a graveyard at all.” She picked the rock up out of Kira’s hand and placed back on the ground but replaced its weight with her own palm. “Everything just adds and adds, in every direction.”

Kira’s smile couldn’t be stopped. She curled her fingers around Jadzia’s wrist. “Yes,” she said, leaning in close, tracing the line of sun lighting up the dark hollows on Jadzia’s face and the soft hairs on her jaw.

Jadzia tilted her chin down, their noses now millimeters apart. The sound of the stream and the sound of her breath on Kira’s mouth washed over her. “Nerys—” she said, voice sweet.

Then, “Da-ax!”

They leaned away from each other quickly.

“Yeah?” called back Jadzia, wiping her twitchy hands on her shorts.

“I fell in!” said one of the kids while all the others laughed.

Kira snorted. Jadzia pressed her palm against Kira’s once more before launching to her feet.

“Duty calls,” she said, dramatically. “Remember me fondly.”

She walked off, already lecturing all the kids about the joys of an impromptu swim and the subsequent chance to dry off in the sun, and soon Kira was being bombarded by tired students in search of snacks.

She slipped the rock in her backpack, when no one was looking. An eternal touch of a swimming creature and the warmth of Jadzia's hand--everything just added on. It was a bright day.

[imfluentinfangirlandgay]

A Father's Resolve - Ch 10

Ingo returns after a decade - with two extra cars in tow. Years later, his kids are swallowed up by time in the same way he was. Will he be able to find them? Will they be able to make it out alive?

Word Count ~3400

hope yall missed me cuz im back on my bullshit. i already have 14 more chapters written of this garbage and youre gonna like it cuz im not even halfway done with the fic as a whole yet

“Hmmm…” Rei sat with his sister in Laventon’s office as he hummed to himself. They had told him about Kleavor, and he had been deep in thought ever since. They had taken out their pokedexes to work on them, Rei drawing in the margins of his dex and Akari filling out the words of hers, as she insisted that he was the better artist of the two. He was currently doodling the little Budew that sat on the table in front of him, drawing a diagram of how its top buds opened and closed on command. The lone Rowlet also observed them closely, occasionally turning its small head one way or another as they sat in silence. It had even begun to drift off, a small bubble forming in its nostril as it breathed, its wings tucked into itself. 

“EUREKA!” Rei and Akari jumped in their chairs so hard, they smacked their knees together painfully. Budew screamed, letting off a Razor Leaf on accident, giving Rei some painful cuts. Rowlet let out terrified “HOO?” as it fell backwards on the branch and flailed, its feet snagged on the wood but unable to right itself. Akari hopped up and grabbed the poor thing, helping it down and placing it back into the tree. Its feathers were a bit unruly now as it blinked and glanced around wildly.

“We’ll simply have to throw the food!” Laventon shouted. Rowlet shot him a dirty glance at the ludicrousy of that statement. Rei rubbed his arm where small bubbles of blood were welling up from the sharp leaves. Budew sat down, tears in its eyes, as it looked at him apologetically. He rubbed its little buds. It was an accident. “You’ve quite the arm for throwing things, haven’t you both? Might I suggest taking Kleavor’s favorite foods and throwing them at him?”

“How would that help?” Akari asked from her spot by Rowlet. In an attempt to placate the upset bird, she had snagged a couple berries from its food dish and offered one to it. It had accepted the bribe. For now.

“By taking the foods Kleavor loves and wrapping them up into little balls, we can achieve the same calming affect - but from afar! A genius idea, if I do say so myself. We could call them Teatime Balls!”

“Why not Laventon Balls? You came up with the idea.” Rowlet had settled on Akari’s arm now and she brought it over to the table. It continued to munch on a Persim as she stroked its feathers. 

“I worry that’d make it sound like I was the projectile being thrown…” Laventon trailed off. “In any case, we can trust that the Pearl Clan will gather the necessary foodstuffs, yes?” The twins both nodded. “Then you should head back to the Grandtree Arena to let them know our plan! It would be best to set off from the Heights Camp- oh, Rei, my dear boy, wherever did those scratches come from?” 

—

The twins crested the ridge that separated the Heights Camp from the rest of the Fieldlands. Rei was surprised to find some people waiting there for them. 

“Wyeeeer!” 

“Rei! Akari!” Adaman smirked at them from his position beside the Noble. Mai stood just a couple paces away from him. The twins scampered over to see what he needed. “I’ve been telling Wyrdeer all about what you two have been doing for Kleavor, like how you’ve been traveling all across the fieldlands to help him. All for someone not even from the Pearl Clan or our clan.” He grinned at the majestic white deer pokemon. “And you can see how he responded!”

“I trust you appreciate it,” Mai added. 

“He’s found you worthy, you see. You’ll need a flute like we have. Mai, mind demonstrating?” 

Mai nodded. She brought a silver instrument to her lips and played a series of seven notes. The musical tones reverberated around the clearing, loud and crisp. Wyrdeer huffed loudly in response to the notes she played, tossing his massive head.

“That’s a Celestica Flute,” Adaman explained, “an instrument that can be used to call upon pokemon like the mighty Wyrdeer. It is said that the flutes are gifts from almighty Sinnoh itself… and now, we’d like you both to have these. Do not lose them,” he added with a sly grin. At their bewildered looks, he shrugged. “It’s not that grand a gesture, really. I can’t play the flute for the life of me.Try to replicate that melody.” 

Akari met eyes with Rei. He played the tune first, the lilting timbre of the flute eerie and somehow, it seemed that the notes could be heard all around Hisui. Akari played them next, each sounding exactly the same as the one Mai played. Wyrdeer huffed and strode forward. They both lowered their flutes in confusion as he bowed his head and shook his horns, allowing something to fall from his mighty beard. A small brick-like object fell directly into Rei’s hand. It was a deep fuschia. He had no idea what it was. 

“I- uh… Thank you, Lord Wyrdeer.” It was probably best to be polite. 

“Use that flute wisely and gallop across the land with the great Wyrdeer!” Adaman announced proudly. Wyrdeer tossed his head and huffed again. 

“We can ride him?” Akari asked incredulously. 

“He deemed you worthy of it,” Mai clarified. “He will allow you to ride his back.” 

Akari grinned at her brother. “I call the front.” 

—----

Wyrdeer thundered down the path, its hooves tossing aside leaves and smashing through twigs and tearing up clumps of mud and grass as it wove its way up the hillside to the arena. It was all poor Rei could do to hold on and try his absolute best not to be thrown off the back of the massive beast. He bounced up and down uselessly, holding on to the saddle for dear life. The trees passed by in a blur, along with smaller pokemon on the ground. The Lord was careful never to run any of them over, resorting to leaping over any pokemon in his path. 

Just as suddenly as they started, Wyrdeer skidded to a halt. Rei had to wait for the world to stop spinning before sliding off the pokemon’s back, his legs wobbling. He waddled his way over to Lian as Wyrdeer’s footsteps pounded away behind them. “...throwing them at him,” Akari was saying. 

“You want us to ball up his favorite foods so we can THROW them at him? That’s quite an unorthodox approach…” Lian scratched his chin. “Though I must admit, you Galaxy folk are quite inventive. Let us not waste any time! Let us begin!”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself, Lian! We still need to prepare!” Irida came up the path to join them all at the offering table. “I have his favorite Plump Beans, but I still worry about having someone outside the clan do this. They do not follow our customs and values…” She knitted her brows, taking on a fighting stance. “I must ensure you are worthy of the Lord. Battle me! One of you! Battle me and let me test your worthiness! You may order about the pokemon in those silly balls, but I have with me a pokemon as close as a sister!” At her shout, a Glaceon tumbled down the path where she had been and let out a battle cry. 

Rei could feel his blood beginning to stir. Honestly, the more Irida complained about pokeballs and assumed that the relationship with his pokemon was strictly a boss-and-slave type of work, he grew more and more frustrated with her. He stepped forward. He tossed a ball in the air. If he had to show her that pokeballs weren’t shackles for his beloved partners, then he would show her the old-fashioned way. 

“Campfire.” His voice was calm. Too calm. “Quick Attack, Agile Style. Then Ember.” The little Cyndaquil hadn’t even hit the ground before it shot off like a rocket, careening into the side of the icy opponent. Glaceon tried to fire off a Swift, the stars readying themselves by its side, but they never even had the chance to be released. Campfire spit out a red-hot coal that buried itself into the ice-type’s fur, hitting it so hard, it careened into a bush and quivered as it fainted. A critical hit. Campfire huffed as it turned back to Rei. 

Rei blinked. He needed to calm himself. It really wasn’t that serious. He took a breath and knelt down to pet the excited little pokemon. “Good job, buddy! You did so well-” He stopped as a glow enveloped the tiny blue ‘mon. He gasped, backing up to allow it space. An ethereal, primal power emanated from Campfire’s body, swirling in a blinding flurry of activity until it just as suddenly exploded out, rushing past all the humans. And there stood Campfire, a freshly-made Quilava. “C-Campfire! You evolved!” Campfire took inventory of itself, looking at its much more elongated body. Its eyes were much wider than they had been prior to evolution, the irises a vibrant red. Fire now came from a mohawk on its head, as well as in a ring around its behind. It blinked a few times. 

“Qui…?” 

“Campfire evolved?!” Akari rushed forward, standing with her hands on her knees as she watched the fire starter. It ran towards its trainer as Rei squealed and hugged it close. “Now you and Riptide match! Look at you both!” Akari released her own starter, the blue fur of the water pokemon almost matching the fire-type. They investigated each other. Quilava sniffed at Dewott. Dewott showed it its two shells on its hips. Quilava burst into flame and tried to stand on its hind legs. 

Rei patted his starter’s head again as he stood, recalling the pokemon. They would have a proper celebration later. Akari recalled hers as well, clipping the ball safely to her belt. 

“I see now…” Irida murmured. “The balls are simply tools of choice, not products of disregard for your pokemon…” She looked up at the two. “You still treat the pokemon you catch as partners. I feel better putting some trust in you now. Allow me to heal our pokemon’s wounds. As I do, tell me the Galaxy Team’s plan.” 

Akari explained what Laventon had devised as Irida healed up Rei’s pokemon with poultices and berry mashes. She nodded along to the explanation. “So you have developed balms to throw at Kleavor to calm him, I see…” She stood up after everyone was revived, including her Glaceon, which now was curiously sniffing at Campfire. Her eyes were lit with a rejuvenated fire. “Very well. If it is to help Kleavor, we will make these balms with our very hearts and souls!” 

—------------

Emmet put away the last of the groceries and sighed to himself. He grabbed all the cloth bags used for grocery runs and placed them on their hook by the door so as not to be forgotten. Ever since he'd come home, he'd heard not a peep from his brother. He was half-convinced Ingo wasn't even aware he'd come home. 

To say he was worried was an understatement. 

Emmet peeked into the bedroom. There sat Ingo, books piled up around him as he combed them meticulously. A page flipped.  Ingo’s thinning hairline seemed to be thinning faster than Emmet's in the last month from the amount of times Ingo ran his hand through his hair, as though the goal was to rip it right off. Emmet could hear a foot tapping away. 

He hesitated before leaving. He should pull Ingo away from his studies, but to be honest… He wanted a minute to himself. Granted, he got many of those lately, but just a minute he needed to not argue with the brick wall that was sitting in his desk. 

He flopped onto the couch with a deep sigh. His arms rested at his sides as be stared at the ceiling. His mind could not seem to slow down. More often than not, he was throwing out food as of late, because he could not eat the food for two he bought. Someone needed to be working to pay their bills and quite honestly, it was exhausting for him to bring Ingo to work because he practically had to babysit him. Ingo would space out on the tracks and was not able to battle properly. 

Emmet ran a hand over his face. He knew, he knew, it was not fair for him to be so harsh on his brother. He'd been in that place before. Even thinking about it sent a wave of guilt over him, for the millionth time. But it was so damn exhausting. Having to be the sane one was usually not his forte. 

“Drill?” Emmet peeked through his fingers. Ingo's Excadrill stood in the doorway. It's drill hands were threaded into each other as it glanced up at him awkwardly. 

“I'm alright, Excadrill.” Emmet sat up straighter. “What do you need?” The pokemon gestured to him and pointed down the hall. Emmet stood and followed the ground pokemon as it led him away from the couch. 

He was dimly surprised to come to a stop in front of the spare bedroom. “In here?” 

“Excaaaa.” The mole nodded at him and stood back to let him into the room. What could be in here? Ingo was in the room back where they had come. Emmet opened the door and flicked on the light. 

On the bed, in a makeshift nest of blankets, laid his beloved Butternut. All her legs were curled underneath her, her pedipalps tucked against her chin as she investigated the scene before her. Emmet smelled a thick scent of wet electricity. He sprinted to the bed, skidding down on his knees. His eyes were wide with excitement as he took in the objects of interest. 

Thirteen yellow orbs with blue speckling sat in a blanket. If one looked hard, some of them were beginning to shake imperceptibly. Emmet listened hard for the tell-tale scritch scritch scritch from the inside of the shell. Yes! They were there! 

The pair waited alone with bated breath, watching the eggs like Staraptor. One of them began wiggling more than the others, knocking aside other eggs as it rolled out of the blanket. It nearly fell to the floor, making Galvantula give a strained “VAN-”, but Emmet caught it with ease. 

He went to place it back as the shell cracked in his hand. A small blue foot stuck out of the shell. More scratching emerged from the egg as the occupant struggled around inside. Another leg erupted from a different spot. 

Finally, the legs retracted and a small head burst from the shell, shattering it to pieces. A soggy little spider was left in his palm, wobbling as it took in its surroundings. Galvantula clicked her mandibles, prompting Emmet to move the infant closer to her. She rubbed over it with her pedipalps, working on drying off the little creature. Emmet plucked a towel from the floor and rubbed it off the rest of the way, making its fur downy soft. Then he placed the baby onto its mother's back, where it burrowed its way down and settled in, blinking around with large blue eyes. 

They continued on with eleven other eggs. One would begin to hatch, it would fully emerge, Galvantula and/or Emmet would dry it off, and the little Joltik would be brought to sit upon her abdomen. 

Finally they were left with one egg left. Scratching noises were still coming from it, though Emmet had noted them growing weaker and weaker over time. He worried for the Joltik within. They waited for the last egg to hatch for several minutes. Emmet bit his lip. 

The scratching stopped. 

Emmet plucked the egg out immediately, standing and rubbing his socks against the carpet. Galvantula squealed in surprise and concern at him. He worked up some static for a moment and then laid the egg directly against the carpet, eliciting a loud shock. And then they waited again. 

A crack appeared in the shell. Emmet scurried back to the bed and propped up the egg again, murmuring, “Come on, little one. You can do it.” A little leg appeared, quickly followed by a second, a third, a fourth. They flailed around wildly, trying to get some purchase on something. Emmet set the egg down as the baby scuttled blindly into his chest, the shell shattering as it splatted to the blanket. It blinked up at him. He gasped. 

Its eyes were a bright purple instead of blue. Its fur, upon closer inspection, was a greener shade of yellow than the others. Emmet grinned and shouted in excitement, scooping the baby into his hands. A shiny! He'd never actually seen one before! 

Galvantula waved her frontmost limbs at him. He wiped the baby dry and went to set it on her back with its siblings as the door creaked open. 

“Emmet? What was that?” Ingo was peeking into the room, trying to find the source of the shout. 

Emmet gently took the baby, getting permission from Galvantula. He strode to his brother, the newly hatched infant in his palms. “After almost two full decades of breeding Joltik, we have had a truly special one hatch. Behold, a shiny!” He held the little one up to his brother’s face for him to see. The small spider could still hardly stand, it was so fresh. It blinked up at Ingo with large eyes. 

Ingo cocked his head as he examined it. “Ah! That is rather exciting.” Emmet could swear that a ghost of a smile danced on Ingo's features. 

“Indeed!” Emmet quickly returned the infant to its mother before shooing his brother and his lamp from the room - Chandelure had come in to see what was going on. She bobbed at Galvantula from a distance, likely offering congrats, but left quickly. Emmet shut off the light as he left her with her newest brood. Every pokemon in the house knew that a new clutch meant that Butternut would prefer to be alone for at least a week or so to bond with the babies and keep them safe. Only Emmet was allowed into the room to care for her and the babies. 

“I did not know that she had laid eggs,” Ingo confessed. His voice cracked from disuse. Emmet did not mention it. 

“She laid nearly six weeks ago. They were due to hatch any day now,” Emmet grinned. “I was beginning to get worried they might not come. Usually they hatch closer to five weeks.” 

Ingo hummed, but said nothing else. He followed Emmet around the house for a bit, deciding to dwell in the kitchen and grab a snack. “I didn’t see the food…”

“I just got home from the store an hour ago. I do not believe I forgot anything.” Emmet noticed Ingo staring longer than usual into the fridge. “Is something missing?” 

“What?” Ingo blinked and shook himself out of whatever he was thinking about. “Oh no, nothing like that. I… how long have I been in there?” 

“At seven hours, give or take,” Emmet admitted. “I tried to bring you out for a break, but I do not think you heard me.” 

Ingo said nothing as he closed the fridge. He instead watched what Emmet was doing - putting away dishes from his solitary breakfast that morning. He busied himself with wiping down counters and the stove, starting the dishwasher, tidying the silverware drawer… but Ingo was still staring. “What’s wrong?” Emmet asked finally. 

“Do you need help?” Ingo returned after a minute. 

“If you want to.” Emmet shrugged. “You could help in the living room. We haven’t dusted in ages.” 

Ingo nodded and grabbed the cleaning spray and a rag from under the sink and shuffled into the living room. Emmet had no idea what he was on about but if he was offering, Emmet would by no means turn him down. 

Emmet began the laundry, swept the kitchen, and even pulled out the vacuum before checking on his twin. The entire room was spotless, top to almost-bottom, as Ingo was finishing up the last shelf. His brother wordlessly grabbed the vacuum from Emmet and began to run it under the couch. Emmet stood and openly stared at Ingo as he did so, gears slowly turning in his head, but approaching no conclusion. 

[First] - [Previous] - [Next]

[thebest-medicine]

Thank youuu I’m starved for KP tickles

24 for like cheer up tickles bc Kim is stressed that Bonnie is being annoying, Mr. Barkin gave her detention again, she has college applications to work on, and the last time they fought a villain (of ur choice) they lost, so Ron wants to make her feel better

or 71 with just Kim and Ron messing around lol

Kim is such a lee in my heart

Prompt 24 - "Sounds like someone needs a visit from the tickle monster."

Prompt 71 - "This isn't cuddling! This is an attack!"

A/N: time for you to eat my dear. EAT.

…

Kim flopped against her bed, the long day of school (not to mention after pulling an all-nighter fighting Shego) finally coming to a lull. She groaned as she kicked off her shoes and tossed her backpack to the floor. She hadn’t had a crash in her energy yet so it wasn’t quite time to sleep.

Before she could decide what to do until sleep invited her, she heard a knock on the door. “Hey Kim! Your booooooyfriend is here!” Came Tim’s voice.

Ron? A great distraction!

She got up from her bed and stretched before walking out to where Ron had already been let in and was waiting for her in the living room.

“Hey, KP. I know it’s been a long day so… I figured I would bring over some Bueno Nacho and we could watch some movies.” Ron smiled, holding the food up triumphantly. Rufus posed on his shoulder. Then, Ron added, “Oh, unless you’re too tired or anything.”

“No, no. Sounds great.” She turned to her brothers. “Scram, Tweebs!” And shooed them out of the room.

Popping in a movie, the two of them soon gathered several blankets and pillows and made themselves a comfortable lounging space across each end of the couch. They ate carefully as a comedy played on the TV, laughing a little and enjoying their food.

“I’m glad you came over, Ron.”

“Me too! It’s nice seeing you actually smile again.” Ron said bashfully, then quickly screwed up his face into a grimace. “You were walking around all day like this.” He pointed to himself.

“Hey!” Kim scoffed, tossing a throw pillow at him.

“Hey!” He called back. “Watch the naco!”

“Rude!”

“You are!” Ron was nearly shouting now, a goofy smile on his face.

“Ugh!”

“You know what?”

“What?” Kim snarked.

Ron squinted his eyes at her.

“It sounds to me.” He sat up. Rufus quickly dove off the couch with the rest of the Bueno Nacho in hand. “Like somebody needs a visit from the tickle monster.”

Kim blanched, eyes wide. “Ha- what?!” She managed to squeak out, curling her legs inward.

Ron leapt forward with a somewhat muted war cry, descending onto Kim’s torso with pinching fingers and scurrying tickles. She squealed, flailing in an uncoordinated dance of giddiness.

“Wahahahahahait!” Kim laughed.

“Sorry, KP. The tickle monster doesn’t wait.” Ron teased, trying to get a finger in her belly button as she squirmed about.

“Nohohohohoho!” She cried, cackling. “I ehehehee- I’ll get you for thihihis!”

“If you ever escape.” Ron wiggled his eyebrows as he scampered fingers all across Kim’s stomach and sides, quick enough that her hands couldn’t quite follow. Hopefully, by the time he was done, she would be tuckered out enough to well-deserved rest.

…

[SOME TIME LATER]

…

“Ha! Kim no! Stop- stahahhahop it! Nohohohohoho!”

“Stop what? I just wanna cuddle, Ron, come on.” Kim teased, squeezing into his sides and stomach where her arms were around him. “I wanna give you a chance to be the little spoon!”

“This- ahHAA- this ihhihihisn’t cuddling! This is ahahahan attack! AhHHH-hahAH!” Ron snorted out more laughter, teetering toward the edge of the couch.

“Aww, come on Ron, you’ve been under wayyyyyy more dangerous ‘attacks’ before. Where are those skills? Defend yourself! Fight back!” Kim laughed along, continuing to tickle.

“Nahahahahahaha! I cahahahan’t!”

The movie was long forgotten as Ron squirmed on the couch, enjoying the closeness to his girlfriend but also dying a little on the inside.

“WaHAHAH NO- R-RUFUS!” Ron squealed suddenly. “DON’T HEHEHEHELP! CHEHEHEATER!”

…

[more sentence starter fic prompts]

[other sentence starter fics]

[read this & further KP drabbles on ao3]

[cyber-corp]

A """summary""" of Homestuck: Act 6 Part 1

by someone who's glad they've gone back to basics for a bit

Let's (for a brief, fleeting moment) start again nice and simple.

It is the 11th of November, 2011 and today a young girl named Jane Crocker is excited to play the alpha for a game that comes out today called SBURB. How fun!

Jane here is heiress to Betty Crocker's baked goods empire (as mentioned previously in Nannasprite's story), and there is also set to be a major rebranding initiative happening today as well. She likes baking, detective stories, as well as the occasional jape.

But look out! There's another guy! His name is Jake English, and he's quite fond of action-adventure flicks, guns, and blue alien chicks. Fucking freak he is.

Jake is currently helping/pestering Jade, his ectodaughter/dead grandma who is set to give it to John (Jake's relations with him is yet to be revealed), before realising that it'll need a bit of uranium to be finished. He only can get it through a boy called Dirk Strider, (unfortunately), and his Brobot which just so happens to be the only source of uranium on the island that Jake lives on.

Before he pesters Dirk, Jake gets a message from someone (presumably a troll) named UU. They essentially tell him "hey!!! go for it!! i believe in yoU!!! also this event is extremely important timeline-wise, so dont screw it Up!!!!"

Jake attempts to get to Dirk about uranium, only to get the equivalent of an AI-based answering machine, much to his dismay.

He then heads out of the island's forest (with the dread of the Brobot lingering) and into the open. He witnesses the beautiful fauna on display.

Too beautiful for comfort.

Jake attempts a getaway, before being swarmed by a large swarm of fairy bulls! Whatever shall he do now? But not to worry, because a certain BrotherRobot has come to rescue!

He then immediately gets his ass kicked royally, (complete with Tensei's amazing score) and blacks out. He has a dream about someone who kinda looks like Vriska???? But isn't really??? Maybe it's one of the prophecy people that Doc Scratch was talking about??? Or undead Vriska??? idk man.....

He tells Roxy Lalonde about this, who panics because everyone in the group is attracted to Jake in some way. He is a harem protag, apparently.

Anyway, while Jane has the most relatable moment in all of Homestuck by awkwardly confirming her and Jake's 'friendship', Brobot tears out its own heart, then blows itself up, giving Jake the uranium he needs. He also confesses to Jane that he and Dirk would be a good couple!!!!

The Alpha Gang have proved themselves to be superior to the Beta Gang by being gay.

Jake is last seen in this chapter heading down the frog temple, presumably to finally send that package.

Where was I? Oh yeah, Jane!

So CrockerCorp undergoes its big rebranding, changing its symbol to a fork instead of a spoon, which will have very big implications later on.

After UU pesters her about the nature of the game she will play, she continues to look out the window, to no game yet in her mailbox.

While pestering a ditzy girl named Roxy Lalonde, she just so happens to notice that her mailbox flappy thing is up, meaning the game is finally here! She dons a shitty disguise to confuse her dad (which is the same as John's dad), and, with the help of Dirk's robot bunny Lil Seb creating a massive hole in the wall, she lass scampers out of there.

She opens the mailbox, which then proceeds to fucking explode, knocking her out and sending her to Prospit, where Jack Noir ᶠᵘᶜᵏᶦⁿᵍ ᵏᶦˡˡˢ ʰᵉʳ ᵍᵒᵈᵈᵃᵐᵐᶦᵗ before she wakes up.

I think at this point I am completely past the point of no return and have no choice but to cosplay as Gamzee with nothing but grey Sharpie. Other than that, Homestuck continues to keep itself fresh and interesting through established lore (probably from a page you don't even remember because you were too distracted by Karkat yelling).

Even more excited to see where this goes!

[cast-you-dxwn]

Purpose.

“Viásou, gie mou!”

Lucius’ head snaps up at the sound of his fathers voice, the little ball of ice that had been hanging suspended between his outstretched palms all at once melting into water, spattering the planks of the porch with a wet splat.

Talons tip-tap against the planks as he runs to the door, throwing it open, his momentum sending him sliding a few feet over the marble of the entryway to the Morningstar family home, making a godawful squealing noise against the stones as he tries to arrest his movement.

“Érchomai, patéra!”

His voice cracks in the middle, cutting high, and he cringes. He is thirteen this year, and though he now stands head and shoulders over his sisters, his father’s blood has not robbed him of the more embarrassing points of becoming a man. When his voice breaks, his sisters often rib at him by squawking, laughing at whomever comes closest to the tone of his changing voice.

But they are not here to prod at him, off on some training sortie, and so he shakes off his shame, padding softly into the kitchen. There his father stands over the sink, one hand holding a plate and the other a sponge, looking expectantly between his son and the large gathering of dirty dishware that remains yet untouched.

Lucius feels a groan rumble in his throat as his own forgetfulness, and scampers to the Seraphs side, picking up a sponge and dipping his hands into the soapy water, wrinkling his nose at the feeling of the wetness that soaks into the feathers that coat his forearms.

“Sorry, dad…I was just…thinking about something. I didn’t meant to forget.”

A small hum of comprehension rises from Michael as he sets the plate he had been working on into the drying rack before taking up another, wetting it and beginning to scrub it clean.

“And what thoughts enthrall you, my son?”

His father’s tone is not displeased, if anything it carries a note of slight amusement, eager to hear what so preoccupies the attention of his youngest. Lucius’ lips purse as he takes a plate in his turn, mirroring the others movements in a well-practiced manner. In such a large family, one becomes swiftly practiced in washing dishes. His silence lasts only a few moments before he snorts.

“Nothing. Lyriel just told me a dumb story to scare me, like I’m a nestling.”

“Oh?” From the corner of his eye he can he his fathers lips curl upward into a small smile, his golden brows raise, obviously primed to hear whatever fresh sisterly torment had been visited upon him. Lucius rolls his eyes, and continues.

“Just something she made up about when she was little. Stupid. About how some men came and tried to take her from mom, and-“

Crack.

Lucius nearly jumps from his skin at the sound, fumbling and nearly dropping his plate into the sink as he turns to look at his father, bewildered at the sight of the serving platter that had cracked in half in the Seraphs hands. He cranes his head to look at his face, but Michael is not looking at him. In truth, he is not looking at anything. Though cast downward into the sink, those soft pools of quicksilver are unfocused, looking beyond the floor, as though deep into the distance.

“I thought…that she had forgotten.”

A chill runs through Lucius’ bones, the boy feeling the ruffle of feathers about his neck puff up, the quills on his forearms stand on end, gingerly placing his now-clean plate on the drying rack and lacing his fingers together in front of him, the talon of an index finger scratching anxiously at the opposite knuckle. When he speaks, he sounds, feels…small.

“Dad?”

“Not all angels are good, Lucius.”

The boy cannot explain why, but the words his father speaks feel heavy. Simple and seemingly obvious but carrying a great and incomprehensible weight. Like a truth meant to be hidden, and he finds himself slowly nodding, though he is not quite sure what he is agreeing to.

“Like the Fallen. Like Uncle Lucifer.”

He doesn’t like speaking of his uncle this way. On the few occasions they had met Lucifer had never been anything but kind to him, and his cousin Charlie was always a lot nicer to him than his sisters. Lucius knew that what Lucifer had done was evil, unforgivable even, but he’d been named after the man, he couldn’t be all bad.

“No.”

A quiet denial, as Michael rests his hands on the edge of the sink, the tips of his fingers putting slight dimples into the metal basin.

“Your uncle…he did what he did because he was in love. Foolish, damnable, but love is the folly of any man, even angels. I cannot call him evil for it. But for some, it is not love, or all of those good intentions that they say the road to Hell is paved with.”

His eyes are focused again, but now they are sharp, attentive, cold. Yet still he does not look upon Lucius, and the boy follows his eyeline out of the window that sits above the sink, to the garden. To where his mother kneels in the garden, where Iméra yips and noses at a weed, and Oriana pulls it from its roots. The matriarch of their little clan tosses a root in the air and the Heavenhound catches it in her teeth, met with adoration and scritches in return.

“Some want for power. For blood and death. They are willing to hurt the innocent to get these things. They took your sisters, and I found them in our home, trying to take Lyriel from your mother’s arms. They were led by a man named Inalbiel, a Councilor.”

A Councilor? But uncle Gabriel sits on the Council, Auntie Sera sits on the Council, his mother sits on the Council. Lucius knows his father has small regard for the civilian government of Heaven, and until now it had never occurred to him that there might be a reason why. He swallows, and suddenly Lyriels hushed tones and haunted eyes seem much more than a put-upon dramatization for her story.

“She said you tore him apart. With your hands.”

His voice is tiny, and when his father finally turns to look at him, he feels even smaller still. Those silver eyes that had never held anything but love and warmth now swirl with something else, something Lucius cannot quite place. Anger? Hatred? Sadness? The great seraph raises a hand toward him, and he leans forward, wrapping both hands about his wrist and bringing his palm to his cheek, seeking comfort, but from what he is not sure.

Lucius is not afraid of his father, he could never fathom the thought, yet he finds himself afraid. Afraid of whatever could bring the man he had only ever known as a source of love and comfort and security to such terrible lengths.

“He was an evil man, my son.” Michael’s words are barely more than a whisper, as he brushes a thumb over Lucius’ cheekbone, and for once the boy realizes that his callouses cannot be from pulling weeds in the garden. “He had harmed your sisters, your mother, and had worse yet in mind. I was furious. More than that, I was afraid.”

Afraid? Father? Lucius is quite certain, has always been, that the man is simply incapable of such a thing as fear. Yet his father is anything but a liar, and the knowledge that he can be afraid shakes him down to his core. What had happened? What had gone on that Lyriel and the others had been simply too young to comprehend, that could strike fear into Saint Michael?

“You know that your sisters are strong, and swift, and brave, Lucius, yes?” Michael brings his other hand to the boys cheek, slowly lowering himself until his knees touch the floor, bringing himself to his son’s level. “You know that they are much older, much wiser than you, that though at times they are mean and unfair, that they love you and will not allow you to come to harm? That when there is danger, you must do all that they say, without question?”

Again without thought, Lucius finds himself nodding. He knows this, and knows it well. He remembers wandering from the home when he was a fledgling, and coming face to face with a bear. He remembers how, in an instant, his sisters had been there, Daliah’s spear skewered through the beasts eye socket, snarling curses at its leaking corpse in Enochian. He remembers how after a quick once-over, Yamiel had dragged him all the way back to the house by his ears, berating him all the way.

Michael exhales softly, and all at once he seems heavy. Weighed down, as though there is a great weight upon his shoulders. Tired in a way Lucius has never seen before.

“One day you will be stronger, swifter, more powerful. This is not a gift, it is not a point of pride, it is a duty. It is a burden.”

The words hit the boy as he imagines a boulder might. Weight on his chest, golden eyes wide and only half-comprehending. He knows that he is different from his sisters, but that has never mattered before. He thought it never would.

“There are things in Creation beyond your ken, evils beyond Hell and all of its Legions. There will come a day when you must protect your sisters, Lucius. It is a long way off, of that I can assure you. But it will come, and I am sorry.”

[danses-with-dogmeat]

S is for -- Sunny Smiles

Sunny was just so much fun, I loved her in-game, and writing for her was great! Ahh, another winner I was really happy to see recognized 😊

I hope y'all enjoy!

And here is the 2k event masterlist, for your browsing pleasure!

--

Pair: Sunny Smiles x g/n! Six

Dialogue: “Are you sure there isn’t anything I can do to help?”

Word: Savor

Rating: SFW

Category: Hurt/Comfort

Word Count: 1.3k

“So, pardner, you gonna tell me what’s wrong, or are we both jus’ gonna sit here in the dirt and sulk?” 

Six only sighed in response, their eyes still trained on the way Cheyenne padded about on quiet paws, sniffing all there was to sniff in the old graveyard, as the meager wildlife came alive beneath the slow-rising moon. 

“Hey, not talkin’ to myself here, am I?” Sunny gave Six a shove with one hand, jostling the still-full Sunset Sarsaparilla they held, until little droplets darkened the dusty ground below. “What’s yer problem tonight? Yer the one askin’ me to come all the way up here just afore the sun falls, and fer what?” 

“Sorry.” Six managed, but their head felt about as jumbled as it had the first time they found themself in the Goodsprings Cemetery. “I-it’s just…” 

They trailed off as the words scampered away from their tongue frustratingly. 

How am I supposed to explain a problem like this? 

And why the hell did I think Sunny would be the right person to tell? 

“You drag me out here to tell me you’re in love with me or somethin’?” 

Six had, evidently, chosen the wrong time to take a sip of their sarsaparilla, as that too, sprayed over the ground in their shock.

“Heh, seems like it!” Sunny gave them another shove as she laughed, and though Six’s mind still ached and their conscience still ran amuck in every direction, they couldn’t fight the grin that tugged at their lips. 

“That’s not quite… Well, I do like you, Sunny. But I thought that bit was already pretty obvious.” 

“Oh?”

They tried to tell themself that they didn’t like that smug look on their friend’s face, but… yeah, it would’ve been a lie. And Sunny could always see through their lies, even from the start. 

Six smiled all the more at the thought of it, of their first meeting, the way she’d taught them to shoot, how to live off the land without poisoning themself; helping them, and yet, she'd been anything but sunny to Six all throughout the first month of them knowing each other. 

Even so, it only made them more fond of her. 

Her prickly pear personality, her quips and shoves of her elbow into their ribs… But still, she’d helped them more than anyone else in the wasteland. Sure, without Doc Mitchell and Victor, they’d never have made their way out of the grave. But without Sunny? They’d have made it maybe 20 yards outside town before keeling over, dead by some gecko or powder ganger, an unforgiving plant, or just plain heatstroke. 

“No, I just…” They continued slowly, still wrapped up in their own fond thoughts, and their jumbled, upsetting ones.

“I came back here for a different reason than that. Hell, if that was it, we could’ve stayed down at the bar for me to tell you.” 

“That’s what I was sayin’.” 

Six braced themself for another shove of an elbow as their friend raised her arm, but Sunny only took a sip of her own sarsaparilla. 

“But okay, so that yer smitten with me ain’t it…” Six let out a giggle at the way she sounded annoyed by that, “Well, then what’s the issue? Spill it, so we can head back down the hill. Place creeps me out. Cheyenne too. 'Specially at night.” 

“Yeah, how do you think I feel?" Six scoffed good-humoredly, "I died here.” 

“That’s a little dramatic, don't ya think? You look fine to me. Now come on, Six. You’re stalin’, don’t tell me yer not.” 

She turned her body towards them with mildly violent intent, and the courier raised their hands in surrender.

“Alright! Alright…” Six took a breath as they looked back out into the, now blue-toned, desert. The heat from the orange sand contrasted greatly to the dropping temperature of the air, and they felt themself shiver. 

“I just… I don’t even know if you can help me, honestly, but... you’re the only one I could think of that would be honest with me."

They could feel her eyes burning into them, but Six only made eye contact with darkening horizon.

"Just... you’re sure you didn’t know me, like… before?” 

“Not sure I catch yer drift there, Six.” Sunny’s voice was a little softer now, as though detecting her friend’s delicate state. 

“I mean, no one knew the real me. I could’ve been anyone, you know? What if I was… horrible, or something? Maybe that’s why I’ve had such rotten luck.” 

“Six, you sure yer not–”

“No, but think about it, Sunny. You’re the best– I mean, the only good thing that’s happened to me since I was dragged out of that hole." They gestured to their would-be grave with one hand. "Maybe that’s karma or something, maybe I was kept alive, not because I was supposed to live, but because the world wasn’t done punishing me yet.” 

“I can’t be the only good thing.” Sunny said, and though she smiled, Six could see the sympathy in her expression as they turned to face her. It was a strange quality to notice in someone like her. 

It made them hurt, to see the way they pained her with their words. 

Didn't make their voiced thoughts any less honest though.

“I’m not even that good, you know? So if I'm all you've got goin' for ya, well...” 

Sunny cringed dramatically, and they both chuckled a bit. As the laughter faded, Six dropped their bottle to the sand with a definitive sigh. 

They’d gotten what they wanted out of their system, just voiced their concerns to the world, to her, those thoughts that’d been spiraling around their troubled head, uninterrupted, for too long now. 

“An’ ya can’t… I mean, there’s no way o' knowing.” Sunny continued, placing her own bottle on the ground next to theirs. “Don’t think it’s all as complicated as all that fate and destiny stuff. An’ the karma bit, too. Could just be yer an unlucky clutz.” 

“Thanks. That makes me feel better, Smiles.” 

As they twiddled their fingers together, looking down into the dark sand between their knees, they felt one arm sling itself over their shoulders, and then Sunny was leaning against them. 

“Look, I wanna say the right thing for ya, Six, but thing is, I just don’t know for sure. Like you said, we didn’t know ya in the past, but… That don’t really matter to me now. I like the gal/guy that was dragged outta the dirt by ole Victor, what can I say?” 

Another weak laugh escaped Six at that, but they found themself leaning further into her contact at the-- somewhat-- comforting words. 

“You know, Sunny, I think you might’ve just said it right, there.” 

Six felt themself relax a bit. Maybe they didn’t know who they were before, but… maybe that shit just didn’t matter-- matter as much as who they are now. 

“Are you sure there isn’t anythin’ more I can do to help? Yer so sensitive, you know. Jus’ wanna make sure you’re okay.”

“Yeah, no, your backhand compliments are really doing it for me. So I think I’m all better now.” 

“Well, I’m not just good for my backhand compliments," They heard the smile in her voice, "I’ll tell ya that much, pardner. Word on the road is, you like me… An’ maybe-- just maybe, now-- I might like you a lil bit too. I thought maybe we could explore those feelings some, how’s that sound to you?” 

Six's eyes were wide as her words met their ears, and they felt a warm flush rise to their cheeks, heating their body from the inside out.

Gotta be careful here. Sunny likes to tease me, maybe if I just...

"Care to give me, ah, a little hint as to what you mean by that?" They tried, "I don't wanna assu--"

Before Six could finish, Sunny pressed a kiss-- not to their cheek, not to the side of their mouth-- but she pulled them in with both hands, and kissed them like she wanted to taste the sarsaparilla in their belly.

It was exactly the kind of all-consuming gesture they'd dreamed she'd make one day, and Six couldn't help but smile into it, through their shock, and revel in the fact that that day is today.

[reggies-eyeliner]

THE CLASSIC & PLATONIC MATCHUP - 🐛anon!

-> THE "TAKE-MY-JACKET-IT'S-COLD" COUPLE<3

& THE "WHY DID YOU FORGET YOUR JACKET" SQUAD

[ ANON / STEVE HARRINGTON || ANON & ROBIN BUCKLEY, DUSTIN HENDERSON, ERICA SINCLAIR, STEVE HARRINGTON ]

#now playing ... "SOMEWHERE ONLY WE KNOW" by keane

he falls for you when you're patching up his wounds. he falls for you when you gently caress his hair as tears fall down his face because he's so so tired. he falls for you when you ramble for hours about your interests; when you're the only one who points out the remarkable designs on the stairs of the house they've newly discovered can be linked to the upside-down. you made it so easy for him to fall in love and he is both terrified and at peace with that (begins to sob on the floor bangs fists on the table oh my GOD)

it's during the scariest of times that he'll start cracking a dry joke just to lift your spirits, or he'll let you talk about mythology to calm yourself after a rather stressful mishap. he'll be the first to tell you that you did your best, and that's all anyone could ever ask for. his breath will be taken away when he sees you dressed up for the first time, even when he's already speechless when you show up in casual clothes.

robin + steve + you, the trio that stays out to play badminton until late in the night, only to hear something in the woods as you both scamper in doors, sheltered form the cold as you turn on a film (as background music for your conversations) and talk until the sun rises. the trio that'll have unscheduled, mutual therapy appointments for hours, to talk about all of the deep things that are hard to talk about, but talking about it with each other makes things so much easier.

dustin and erica continuing to look up to you, even when you fail, knowing that you always get up and try again no matter what, but also reminding you that you can ask for help. dustin seeing you and steve as parental figures in a sweet, yet a bit sad, way.

robin being completely chill about you and steve's relationship, she'd assumed that you two had been dating previously, when really you had only gotten together after a particularly life-threatening moment that separated you two, and after that he didn't want to waste a single moment without you

dustin sees you as an older sibling in a sense, he's always asking questions because he wants to start conversations with you, and he's genuinely there to listen to you talk whenever you need it

erica absolutely loves your hair and will ask you to do hers !! (begins to sob and curl up into a ball) you two are so so iconic, erica will stop at nothing to ensure your safety, contrary to her behavior around others. she enjoys your company a ton, and will usually be on your side, no matter the circumstance

steve harrington, who learns how to really feel his emotions around you instead of keeping them bottled up, who lands gentle kisses on the forehead while patching up wounds, who is always the first to ask how you're doing

RANDOMIZED TROPE + INCORRECT QUOTE

" FOUND FAMILY "

-> robin: guys imagine if someone handed you a box full of all the items you have lost throughout your life erica: oh my god my childhood innocence?? how fun, thanks! dustin: i knew i lost my potential somewhere! steve: my moral code, is that you? you: oh man, my non-perfectionistic views? robin: damn i was just gonna show you this cool trunk my mother left me but do you guys need a hug?

a/n: oKAY THIS ONE WAS SO FUN TO WRITE HOLY SMOKES. WOW. i wrote this and went thIS COULD FIT SO MUCH HURT/COMFORT AND FOUND FAMILY AND OH MY GOSH?? i hope you're doing well anon + THE PICKUP LINE IM CRYINGFFSHCSC THANK YOU SO MUCH HELLO ?? anyways please take care + remember to hydrate lots and eat well! get plenty of rest! :-)

REQUEST A MATCHUP HERE!

[druidx]

7 Snippets, 7 People

Thanks for the tag, @artdecosupernova-writing, @eli-writes-sometimes & @late-to-the-fandom. Because I got many tags for this game, I figured I'd throw them together and do 21 excerpts.

Tagging back: @aalinaaaaaa @thewriteflame @wildswrites @aquadestinyswriting @artdecosupernova-writing @autumnalwalker @blind-the-winds @eli-writes-sometimes @hannahcbrown @oh-no-another-idea @rhikasa @swordsoulwrites @winglesswriter @andromeda-grace @writingmaidenwarrior @wispstalk @late-to-the-fandom @athenswrites

Rules: Post 7 snippets and then tag 7 people (DW, I'm not expecting anyone else to do 21 snips 😅️)

Once again, all these are from Alexis Dalliance vs the Evil of Titan, in my unending quest to edit the damn thing.

One

Alexis hurried off again, every step taking her further from her companions. Halfway down the west corridor, the tapping of claws sounded from around the corner ahead. Alexis' heart sped up. Along the long, straight corridor there was little cover – only the nook where a support buttress met the ground. Quickly, she stuffed herself into it, crouching down, thinking small, invisible thoughts. Two goblins passed her hiding spot. By their conversation, their attention was less on any interlopers and more on what they were having to eat once their shift was done. Alexis waited, hardly breathing, until they had turned the corner. She counted out slowly, keeping her ears alert. When it was clear they'd moved on, she slipped out of the nook, continuing her investigation.

Two

At the corner, turning back east, she noted an alcove on the inner wall. A quick look showed a set of stairs spiralling down into the inky darkness. Not the direction they intended to travel, but worth noting for later investigation. Alexis continued down the corridor, passing a wide door of sturdy, studded wood. It must lead to the outer defences. At the further end, she paused at a door on the outer wall to check the sounds coming from within; a barracks, this one. Once again, the corridor turned sharply right, southwards now. Halfway down was a shadowy alcove. Alexis frowned – that had to be the stairs up. As she approached, the scritching of goblin claws on stone came again. She ducked into the alcove’s far side with only a moment to spare, breathing lightly as the goblin guards rounded the corner on their patrol and strode on past. She waited, eyes on the winding stair above, willing her heart to slow, as the receding click of claws counted down the seconds.

Three

As soon as it was safe, Alexis started to duck out of the alcove but paused. Richard and Ithanor hadn’t come rampaging around the corner yet, and it would be prudent to at least observe the next level… As fast as she dared, she scampered up the stairs, peaking into the next level. The brightly lit corridor led away in the same manner as below, racks of arms and armour lining the way. Odd, that no doors lead off the inner wall… Feeling she was probably pushing the limits of her companion’s patience, she padded back, completing her circuit of the tower.

Four

This floor was well lit, flicking touches replaced with wicked lanterns, the light forced outwards by metal dishes behind each flame. A hacking cough from her left made Alexis freeze. She pulled back into the shadows of the stairs. When the cough didn't get any closer, she peaked out. At the end of the corridor was a barred door. On either side stood goblins with spears. There was no way of her exiting the stairwell without being seen so she retreated back to the others.

Five

"There's some kind of prison cell up there, and it's being guarded by two gobbos. They're looking right down the corridor. I'm good, but not even I can hide in plain sight like that," Alexis told them Richard hefted his sword. "They're evil. We should kill them." With a heavy sigh, Ithanor put a hand on Richard's blade, lowering it. "We can't. It'll create a ruckus and bring the whole tower down on our heads." "Maybe," Nathardin said, running a finger along his bowstring, "we should turn back. Captain Hengar told us not to take any unnecessary risks." As one, the group turned and glared at him. Nathardin held up his hands in defeat. "I'm just saying." "We have made it this far," Victor said with a glance to Richard and Ithanor. "We are strong, brave, and true! I know we have it within ourselves to defeat Zagor. We must continue!" "There was a lot of goblin and orc styled armour on this level. The woodling and I are both reasonably small. I bet we can convince them to leave their post. Right, Half-pint?" Ithanor raised an eyebrow. "It could work. Do you speak the goblin tongue?" Bastet's grin faltered. "No…" "I do," Alexis said. Richard and Nathardrin raised an eyebrow each at her. Alexis shrugged. "To know the language of one's enemy means you can always defeat him. That's what my Uncle used to say, anyway." Ithanor nodded. "Then it's agreed. Go select your new outfits, ladies."

Six

Their old armour shucked, Alexis passed her pack to Ithanor, muttering phrases in Goblinish. "You alright, Sprout?" Ithanor asked. "Yeah. I'm just rusty." Alexis blew out her cheeks. "Listen, Sprout." Ithanor crouched down. "I know you can do this. And you know, if Sindla fails you, we've got your back. You've just got to holler." "Keep forgetting that." "You'll get get used to it, lass." He rapped on the top of her helm. "Off you go. Telak guide your tongue."

Seven

With that, Alexis continued to feel out the lock, brow furrowed in concentration. With a faint clunk, it popped undone. "There." The dwarf shoved open the door. "Well knock me down with Moradin's hammer! 'Tis a woodling after all. Nice job with them green-skins, lass." "Thank you." Alexis' ears twitched, catching the distinctive rattle of Richard's heavy plate armour. "And here is the rest of our group."

Eight

As the others crowded around, Alexis introduced her companions to the dwarf. "I am Magar Silvarius, the boss of this here fort," the dwarf said, reaching up to shake hands with everyone. "I'm right glad you folks have come. My fellows are in the other cells. You think you can get 'em out?" "Of course we can free them," Richard said. With a flourish, he gestured towards the other barred doors. "Alexis?" "Yeah, sure. I'll get right on that," she muttered, heading towards the doors. Over her head, Magar called out, "Worry not lads and lassies. You’ll be out in a jiffy." The lock Alexis was picking popped open. "One down, seven to go…" The dwarves inside pushed out, shaking first Alexis' hand, then bustling over to Magar who embraced them. "Hey," Alexis called, "what happened to the gobbos we sent down to you?" "We took them out, of course," Richard answered. "Right. They have any keys on them? This would go a lot faster if I had help." "I think I saw a keyring on one of them," Nathardrin said. "I'll go check." Alexis sighed and got to work on the second door.

Nine

"Alright now, settle down, settle down!" Magar called after a while. "I've had a wee word with her ladyship-" here he nodded to another dwarf, standing a little apart, dressed in fine velvets, "-and we've agreed it's only right and proper we compensate these fine folk for their work in freeing us and taking our home back from these marauding nuisances." The dwarves cheered. Magar turned to the group. "The next level up contains our vault. But it’s also the most fortified level. There’s a guard post at every corner of the tower, and Moradin knows how many gobbos are in each." "We can take on whatever’s above," Richard said. "But there are still many vermin in the lower levels which stand between you and reclaiming your tower." Victor scratched at his chin, glancing at Ithanor. "A little help would not go amiss," he said and turned his attention back to Magar. "There are arms and armour down below, if you’ve any men still able to fight?" As he spoke, Alexis saw many of the dwarves nodding their heads, some pounding fists into their opposite hands. Magar must have seen it too, as she ran a critical eye over her people. "Aye. I think I’ve a few."

Ten

Soon the dwarves were back, armed and armoured. Five of the dwarves remained with the group; the rest were led by Magar's lieutenant back to the lower levels, set on wiping out the goblinoid invaders. "Here's the plan then," Ithanor said. "We'll split into groups of three. Alexis and Bastet will lead our most stealthy into position outside the furthest rooms. They'll hold until Richard and I can get into position. We attack simultaneously. Agreed?" Ithanor glanced around as the group variously nodded heads or gave murmurs of assent. "Alright, Alexis, take your team and check the coast is clear." "Right. Nathardrin and Victor, you're with me," Alexis said. "We'll take the far left room. What d'you think, Bastet? Five verses of Down in the Square?" "Make it seven," Bastet said, looking at the two dwarves who'd come to stand next to her. "Richard, Ithanor, give us seven verses of Down in the Square to get in place before you come up and give the signal." With that, she scampered up the stairs, and, once sure the coast was clear, called down, "C'mon, lads."

Eleven

The others were similarly successful; by the time the three of them had moved forward, the fighting was over and Magar was dismissing the dwarves to help with the fight downstairs. "Right, then," Magar said. "Now yer all here, let's have a wee look at those feckless beasties have done to my vault." They followed her around to a solid metal door, decorated with ornate geometric designs.

Twelve

"Magar," Ithanor said as they were finishing up. "Thank you for these gifts, and your help to clear the lower levels." "It’s no problem, laddie. You’ve still a few levels to go. Sure you don’t want an extra hand or three?" "We’ll take it from here. With these new weapons," Ithanor hefted his warhammer, "we’ll have the fort freed in no time." "Alright," Magar shook Ithanor’s hand. "Best of luck, all of ye. Moradin’s strength go with ye."

Thirteen

At the final stairwell, they paused, silent. Ithanor motioned for Alexis to go up first. Her heart in her throat, Alexis glided up the stairs, her crossbow primed. The top of the tower was a domed, circular room. To the south, bookshelves stood sentry beside a writing desk, piled high with scrolls and pens. To the north was a gleaming piece of equipment, with balls of multicoloured stones on concentric rings, taking up a large space by itself. But what caught Alexis’ eye was the figure to the east of the room, turned away fiddling with something on a bench filled with esoteric rods and scrolls. It was long and lean, draped in an ill-fitting robe of yellow. This has to be him! Alexis thought. There was no one else in the room, and he certainly fit the ideal of an evil warlock. She breathed out softly and raised her crossbow, training it on the creature’s narrow back. Her trigger finger curled. One good shot could end this now– "There is no point in doing that, little one." His grating voice filled the space. "You’ll find it will not work." Alexis jerked. Her bow triggered. The bolt rattled harmlessly off an invisible shield. Zagor sighed and turned. "What did I tell you? A shame. I thought you were the observant one." He tapped his foot, and it was then Alexis noticed the circle inscribed around him, arcane sigils dancing at its edges.

Fourteen

Alexis shivered. Her hand groped out for her meagre blanket; it found only hard-packed dirt. The air was cold and still and weighty in her nose – like the hours after a snowfall. Her face scrunched up. The middle of summer shouldn't be so cold. She rolled over, hand exploring a different way. Where was her blanket? She'd always had her blanket. After the Wargs and their riders had left, the folks who found her let her take items from her ransacked home. The blanket embroidered by her step-grandmother had been the first thing she'd grabbed, and it had never left her side, ever. So where was it? Her questing hand hit something hard and cold that rang with a dull chime. Smooth, metallic. Round. Alexis opened her eyes. Darkness, pressing in on all sides. A blank, black void. She sat up. If it wasn't for the feeling of her chest rising with each breath, or the sound of her heartbeat drumming in her ears, Alexis might have thought she'd gone to the Here After.

Fifteen

She sat, perfectly still, with one eye squeezed closed. In the incessant dark, she counted out time with her heartbeat. Slowly, she became aware of others breathing nearby. When she opened her eye, lumps appeared a few meters away, softly rising and falling. They were too slight, too low to the ground to be her companions. Confused, Alexis stood, turning to take in more of the strange situation. A chill breeze pricked her flesh. She wrapped her arms around herself, shocked to find she was wearing nothing but her undershorts and shift. Her eyesight more attuned, she searched for her equipment but found only the bars of a cage. The metal was cool and slick under her hands, ringing with a dull chime when she taped it. "Oh," she breathed. "Bollocks."

Sixteen

"Wake up, scum," the guard said, then in a mocking tone: "Breakfast is served." He slung a bowl of thin gruel onto the cell floor, barking out a laugh as half of it split on the floor. The women took turns, each quickly eating a spoonful of the gruel, with Bastet and Alexis last. Alexis tried not to think too hard about the taste or what it may have been made from, as the guards unlocked the cell.

Seventeen

Soon enough the menfolk were brought down. Alexis strained to see in the guttering torches, watching the procession of haggard elves as they passed by. She felt her heart lighten as she caught sight of the rest of their party. Nathardin and Victor looked ragged, but Richard and Ithanor still stood strong and true – though the latter already sported a purpleing bruise on his cheek. Alexis waited while the men's line was secured and the guards passed back, before she gathered up the slack in her line, shuffling to be closer to where Richard stood at the end of the men's line. She hissed up at him, and the elf looked down, relief spreading across his face. "Alexis! Thank the gods!" "Shh! Keep your voice down, you big twit." "Sorry," he whispered. "You have a plan, right? You can get out of this?" Alexis huffed. "No, no plan yet. They took all our gear." "Same here. We woke up with nothing." "There's very little I can do without my lockpicks. Even if I had something to use as a rake and tension, I'm not sure how much good it would do us. I'm sure you've noticed all the heavily armed guards?" Richard blinked and nodded. "Yeah. So even if I could get us out of our cells, we still have to deal with them in nothing but our skivvies." Richard opened his mouth – but was cut off by a whip-crack behind him. "Keep working, scum," a guard snarled. He prodded Richard with the but of the whip. "You – stop slacking!" Richard raised his pickaxe, face contorting, but Alexis put a hand on his knee. He looked down to see her shaking her head, eyes wide. With a growl, he turned the pickaxe on the mine face. The guard watched as Richard hewed huge chunks of rock and opal from the mountain. Satisfied, the guard turned, making his way further up the line. Richard paused. "He's gone," Alexis whispered. Richard dropped his pick. "I know you'll figure something out," he patted Alexis on the head, "cuz you're super smart. I'll pass the word along that we've got a lock-breaker who just needs some tools. Maybe one of the elves has something."

Eighteen

From Richard's other side came a heavy thud. Alexis looked around him to see one of the elves, an older man, collapsed on the floor. "Hey!" called the guard, marching back towards the fallen elf. "Get up! I said, get up you worthless milk-drinker!" The guard pulled back his foot, intending to kick the old elf. Before anyone else could move, Victor was there. The wizard cried out, falling to one knee as he took the blow meant for the elf. "Leave him alone," Victor ground out. The guard laughed. "Look like we got a hero here, boys," he called, summoning three other guards to join him. One of the new guards drew back his lips in a contemptuous snarl. "A good beating will teach you how things work around here." No matter how much she and Richard strained against their bonds, the chain wouldn't budge. They watched, helpless, as the three guards used feet and fist and whip to beat him bloody. Alexis growled – if only she had her tools! In frustration, she spat out a curse. One of the guards turned around. "You want some too, short-arse?" he said, flexing the whips between both hands as he strode towards her. Alexis cursed herself for being so stupid. The guard raised his arm. Alexis flinched back, squeezing her eyes closed. The blow never came. Only a pained grunt from above her. Alexis opened her eyes to find Richard standing between her and the guard. His back was ridgid, his fists clenched. The guard backed away, flicking the whip. "Back to work, cur," he snarled, but Alexis could see the fear in his eyes. Richard's head turned as he watched the guard back away, stumbling over a loose rock, until he was back with his mates. "All of you," the guard cried, cracking his whip again. "Quit gawking. The opal won't mine itself! Go on, move it!" Two of the guards dragged the elder elf away, the other two walking up and down the line, their whips flicking, as they cowed the slaves into action once again.

Nineteen

Back in their cell, the women were given another bowl of slop and a bucket of gritty water before the lights were expunged. The rest of the women curled up, as they had before, against the far wall. Bastet laid down in the middle of the cell, putting herself between the door and the women. Alexis was moving to join her when Nassurae called her name softly. "Yes?" Alexis asked, as Nassurae shuffled over. "I just wanted to thank you for what your friend tried to do today. The old man who fell was my father. He had been growing sicker for the past week. Nothing could have been done to save him – but your friend's actions allowed him to pass in some dignity, and for that I am thankful." Nassurae's green eyes shone in the darkness. "The resistance you showed too… We quickly gave up on our hope. But, perhaps – with your help – we may find it again. Goodnight, sá itil." "Good night." With that, Alexis curled up, back to back with Bastet.

Twenty

The next day arrived and left the same, but on the third Nassurae came to Alexis again. "Sá itil," Nassurae said. Alexis looked up from listening to Bastet's plans for eviscerating their captors. "Yes?" "I have something for you." The woman beckoned Alexis closer, and from the skirt of her shift revealed a flat section of metal and a piece of moulded wire. Alex's eyes grew large, and she hurried to take them, hiding them in the waistband of her shorts. "Where did you get these," Alexis breathed. "They are from my husband," Nassurae said. "He had planned to attempt our escape himself but did not have confidence in his abilities. After hearing your friends' tales of your skill, we agreed they would be better in your hands." Nassurae grabbed Alexis' hands, moss-green eyes mositening, her voice sinking low and shaking. "Please, please get us out of here. I know your people did their best for my father, but I could not stand it if I lost my husband here too." "It's okay," Alexis said. "We'll find a way, I know we will. My companions are resourceful and clever. I'll let them know of these tools and we'll come up with a plan to free everyone. I promise." Nassurae still gripped Alexis' hands, but she nodded, acorn-brown hair swaying with the movement. "Now, you must sleep," Alexis said. "Tonight is for remembering the stars. Tomorrow is for planning." "Of course." Grudgingly Nassurae let go of Alexis' hands and shuffled away to sleep with her people.

Twenty-one

Alexis returned to where Bastet sat cross legged, and lay down behind her. "What did she want?" Bastet asked. "She gave me some things I can use as lockpicks," Alexis said, her voice hushed. "I suppose Ithanor or Richard convinced the men we have a plan to escape. Being able to pick the cell doors is a good thing, but I'm not sure it helps us really." Alexis sighed. "I don't know if I'd be able to find our weapons and the men and free them before the guards would catch me." Bastet leant back against Alexis, her nails sounding a dull staccato on the dirt floor. "What if…" Bastet said slowly. "What if I could create a distraction?" Alexis rolled over, looking up at Bastet's face, creased in thought. "How would you do that?" "Drow men are easily swayed by feelings of power, and it's not often a drow woman will allow a man to have power over her. If I can convince the guards to let me… entertain them, that would give you enough time to get out and let the others out." "But what about weapons?" "Maybe the men have something improvised that can be used while we find our own. We'll need to discuss this with the others. " Bastet yawned. "Either way, it's time for sleep. We're going to be busy tomorrow." With that, she laid down, back to back with Alexis, and fell asleep.

[trytofic]

Fairies

This was a fun one. I thought about fairy Amy, but that sounded kind of boring to write? So I'm actually taking inspiration from a different fanfic and I like how my idea turned out! These will be crossposted on my Ao3! Thank you to @shadamytober

Ao3

Day 10: Faires

Not all fairies are cute and soft on the outside.

The forest is a wonderful place to explore and experience at twilight. Footsteps through the woods are the only noises other than crickets and the occasional scamper of small animals. Bright red boots walk through the trees, knowing the way to her favorite spot to grab mushrooms and berries as well as her favorite flowers, Lunar Tears. She smiled and hummed to herself as she continued her path. She walked up a path and slowly she started not recognizing her surroundings. She knew the path, how could she be lost?

She set her basket down adjusting her coat, and looked around her. When she heard a low growl, she jumped. She looked around, wondering if there was anything big enough in the area to make a noise like that. She rethought her footsteps, grabbed her basket, and ran in the opposite direction. The growl was followed by only the faintest of rustling. She looked around still finding no familiar territory and finally fell to the ground with something heavy on her back. She could barely turn her head to see a creature. But what was there was so hard to distinguish.

She could make out red eyes and what looked like large ears. Its whole body was almost like a cloud of smoke. She could make out the charge hands that pinned her to the forest floor and her breath hitched, seeing them digging into the earth. She let out a whimper as it put more weight into its grip and at the noise, it jolted to a stop causing yet another growl to come from it.

It backed away and Amy turned her head, not daring to move her body out of fear of another attack. It seemed to curl in on itself, no red eyes to be seen. Was it hurt? She very slowly sat up and stared at the creature, it started to shrink in size, and it ended up staring at her.

“Do you need help?” She asked it. “Can you tell me what is wrong?” It stared for a moment, the silence was horrible, and she hated how she could hear every heartbeat in her ears.

“I…” Its speech was distorted. “was injured. A hunter attacked.”

“Oh no! Is there anything I can do?” She looked over its body. “Although I can’t tell exactly where the wound is.” She started to worry. But it made very simple movements of its hands from the floor of the forest to above his head, slowly transforming its shape into that of a hedgehog-like herself. Instead of a solid black coat like she expected, it had red stripes along its back and quills stuck at all different angles. Long sharp claws and fangs that poked from its mouth. He was nearly a head bigger than her, much like her friend Knuckles. Its eyes were red, but almost dull now that they weren’t shining through the smoke he once appeared in. It had a long tail that looked dry and scaly as if it were a lizard of some kind. And the biggest thing she noticed was the scars that littered its body. Part of its ear missing, claw marks on its chest, and one over an eye.

“Where are you hurt?” She asked it. Slowly maneuvering, it sat with its leg straight, and there she saw a hole, probably from an arrow of some kind. “Oh dear.” She kneeled before it and inspected the wound. It wasn’t clean through the leg, but it was deep. She looked at her basket and quickly rummaged for anything that could help. She found a shirt, which she would sacrifice to wrap the wound, and a bottle of water to clean it. She quickly got to work, all the while it watched her carefully. It felt as though she were still prey to a larger predator.

“There isn’t much I can do other than dress it. Will you be okay?” She looked up to see its eyes studying her.

“I will be fine.” Its claw touched the fabric. “How can I repay… you?”

“Is there any way you can help me home? I’ve never been here before.” Her shoulders slumped. “I just wanted to grab some berries and flowers. But I lost my way.” It stood up and slowly reached out its hand. As she took it, the world almost seemed to shift. She noticed the familiar trees and fauna and began to feel relieved. She went to thank the creature but when she went to speak it was gone. Feeling the sun starting to rise, she decided to go home.

The next day she woke up and was about to leave her home until a thud on the door made her jump. She slowly opened the front door to see a basket, roughly made to look like the one she normally carried, filled to the brim with berries and her favorite flowers. She looked around to see if there was someone nearby but, she was alone. Inside the basket was a messily written note.

Thank you for your assistance. The fae will watch over you from now on. -Shadow