#and yet the loss is real and bitter and like evil did sort of triumph

[itspileofgoodthings]

it’s the real life weight of friday night lights for me. the way things that are hard are just hard for a while and often solved in unexpected ways that involve some combination of compromise or luck or timing intersecting with characters and their choices but it’s never slick? there’s never a pat lesson to be learned or resolution reached in one episode or even two. and there’s always a certain real life quality of bitterness or regret threaded through it too even while the show is hopeful and forward moving.

[figr0llmouse]

The Real Poor Unfortunate Soul

Note: I came up with this while at work and I felt like I had to write it down before I lost the motivation to do so. This is my first attempt at writing “fanfic” in a long time, so please keep that in mind when offering constructive criticism.

Synopsis: More or less the same story as the 1989 film The Little Mermaid, except that it is from Ursula’s POV(mostly); and it is just an attempt at filling in the blanks where I thought was needed. I hope to write more entries in the future. Until then, enjoy!

Fanfiction.net URL: https://www.fanfiction.net/u/13276408/

Part 1: Pre-Poor Unfortunate Souls

Hidden within her bed chamber, Ursula sat deep in thought, as she waited for her eel henchmen Flotsam & Jetsam to bring Princess Ariel to her lair for an unscheduled appointment. Just a few minutes earlier, she had witnessed an explosive argument between Ariel and her father King Triton, which was transmitted to her crystal ball via F & J witnessing the situation in real time, and which resulted in destroyed objects and the princess collapsing onto the ground in tears. At first seeing Ariel and her father argue over his human prejudices filled Ursula with malicious glee. This was turning out to be so perfect! While she held deep resentment for the entire Atlantican Royal Family, Ursula’s real grudge was with King Triton who had permanently banished the sea witch from the kingdom for the crime of usurping the throne; or so the official story goes. In reality Triton was growing jealous of Ursula’s talents in witchcraft and magic, which won her praise and acclaim amongst the merfolk who sought her services and advice; and he feared that along with her bared ambition, she would seek to challenge his rule over Atlantica by staging a coup. So it was not long until vicious rumours about her started spreading all over the kingdom, magical abnormalities started cropping up which were blamed solely on her and her witchcraft business suffered as a result. Living in Atlantica became so unbearable that Ursula had no choice but to pack up her belongings and leave the kingdom for good. The only customers she can currently get consist of the curious merfolk who had heard the stories of the “evil sea witch”, and wanted to seek her out for themselves and the desperate. And Ursula in her simmering rage and bitterness over her predicament which has never abated all these years, went out of her way to make her deals with her customers as difficult for them to fulfill as possible, to ensure she could survive another day. So when she became aware of the fact that Triton and his youngest daughter’s relationship was strained over her desire for the human world, Ursula finally saw an opportunity to enact revenge on the king. She had no genuine hard feelings for Ariel; she just saw her as the crucial key to Triton’s undoing. By the end of their argument, Ursula’s mood of sadistic triumph had vanished, and seeing Ariel huddled on the ground surrounded by broken objects evoked feelings of…..anger. At Triton for behaving like his typical petulant bastard self. The violent nature of his loss of temper alone brought to light painful memories of her past Ursula thought she had buried and forgotten. And compassion. For Ariel. The latter made Ursula want to slap herself. Was she going soft in her old age? She was The Sea Witch; she had a reputation to uphold! Ever since she started sending F & J to spy on Ariel, Ursula’s feelings toward her developed from mutual curiosity, to lustful attraction, to full-blown obsession. Something about that fiery red hair and vibrant youthfulness awakened a deep longing and new-found passion that Ursula had not felt for a long time. She saw in Ariel an adventurous spirit which could not be confined to the depths of the ocean and which could prove detrimental to her father’s plans for her future. A young woman who despite her high status was an outsider. Just like her.

                               "She’s waiting.“

F & J’s slow drawling announcement woke Ursula up from her daydream and she sat up straight, while still keeping herself hidden in anticipation for Ariel’s entrance. She finally appeared; she swam forth from behind the wall of the entrance, her posture bent low, like she wanted to disappear into thin air that very second. Her large eyes darted around the room in fear, her face woebegone and tearful. Ursula was taken aback by such an open display of raw vulnerability.  It was hard to believe that this pitiful creature standing inside her humble lair, was the young Princess in Waiting of Atlantica. All Ursula wanted to do at that moment was take Ariel into her arms, comfort her and lay down with her and never let her go. For one brief moment, Ursula almost re-considered proceeding forward with her plan. Alas her golden opportunity was here now and she had to take advantage of it before she lost it for good. Maybe when this whole ordeal was over, provided that it went her way of course, Ursula could persuade Ariel to start a new life with her, where she could be her own personal magical muse. There would be no need for her to end up being yet another sea polyp like the rest of her “customers”, no. Ursula was prepared to make the end result as painless as possible for Ariel.  Ensure that she will grow to enjoy her new surroundings. Heaven knows how lonely Ursula has felt so many nights, with nobody but her henchmen and a garden of moaning polys keeping her company. It would be a nice change to have a relationship with someone who had such a love for learning and an appreciation for the finer things in life. Now was the time to act, before Ariel got cold fins and swam back out again.

                               "Come in, come in my child.“

Ursula’s deep seductive voice echoed all around the room. Ariel froze, not knowing where to look and how to react.

                               "We mustn’t lurk in doorways, it’s rude.”

Suddenly the sea witch materialised right behind the mermaid, two of her tentacles wrapping around Ariel’s waist while she pulled her closer to her bosom in a type of embrace; taking Ariel’s small petite hands and clasping them into her own. Ariel reacted to all of this with surprise, this was not what she expected.  After her confrontation with her father, Ariel had decided to turn to Ursula for help as a last resort, her head filled with the stories of “that dangerous sea witch” who had nothing but contempt for all that is pure and good. But feeling the witch’s tentacles messaging her hips and her warm, tender embrace sent a shock wave through her system. It was all she could do to not burst into tears again, even if they were of relief. Slowly Ariel started to feel her resolve strengthen.

               "One might question your…..(here Ursula turns Ariel around slowly so that they were now face to face, one tentacle cupping Ariel’s chin so that they finally made eye-contact, their lips almost touching)…upbringing!” the witch said with a wide, toothy smile.

With a voluptuous chuckle, Ursula carried Ariel into her spell room where she gently untangled her while she swam towards her boudoir. Peering at the reflection in her mirror, the witch was pleased to see that Ariel, while still appearing to be nervous, seemed much more relaxed and her miserable countenance had evaporated. It would not do much good to do business with a customer who did not feel wanted or special; Ursula was determined to use all that was in her skill-set to exploit Ariel’s weaknesses and make her receptive to whatever she had in store for her. It is better to attract bees with honey, instead of vinegar or however that silly human-created phrase went. 

“So…..you decided to come to me because you have a forbidden interest in the world above. Most especially a human prince to be precise. And Daddy doesn’t like that, does he?” She says as she reapplies her lipstick and fixes her hair.

Ariel shakes her head.

“Well then, it seems such a personal problem of this magnitude requires an even more radical solution.”

With her elbows on the dressing table, her chin resting on her downward-turned hands, Ursula made eye-contact with Ariel through the mirror.

“The only way you can get what you want is by becoming human yourself. And I will help you do just that.”

Hearing this, Ariel’s face lit up with awe; a new-found hope.

“You will do that for me?”

Ariel’s response sent shivers of euphoric pleasure through Ursula’s body; it took a lot of restraint just so she didn’t end up grinning like an absolute fool. She had the mermaid’s full attention now, which guaranteed that her deal with her will go swimmingly. But what really touched her in Ariel’s question to her was its childlike innocence, a willingness to trust her with her fate and its tone revealed respect and admiration. It was more than Ursula hoped for.

“Of course, my sweet child.” Getting up from her seat, Ursula swam towards Ariel, her hands reaching out to cup her face; this time Ariel did not tense up. Rather she let the witch lead her into a sort of strange circular dance with both of them enveloped in the kind of physical space only two souls sharing a common desire could be. Ursula could not tell whether it was real or a part of her fevered imagination…..but she thought she detected a tiny smile spread across Ariel’s lips for a brief moment before being replaced with shy politeness again. 

“What kind of witch would I be, if I didn’t seek to help someone in such distress?” she said while cradling Ariel’s head and stroking her hair. “It broke my heart to see you in tears and alone, who else could possibly understand your plight?

While this was part of Ursula’s strategy for sweet-talking her customers into letting their guards down, all the same the emotion behind her words was real. Which in turn sought to make this double game she was playing a painful one. Giving Ariel’s shoulders one last squeeze, the witch started to prepare for the grand magical spell she was about to perform. With a snap of her fingers, she activated her custom-made cauldron, a mixture of smoke and bubbles emanating from its surface. Peering at Ariel through the pink haze, Ursula’s expression suddenly turned serious.

“You may have heard some…rather sordid stories about me. I am here to tell you that none of them are true.”

She let these words hang in the air between them, the only sounds that could be heard in the silence was the hissing and bubbling erupting from the cauldron. Ariel took this opportunity to confront the sea-witch directly with her misgivings.

“According to my father and all those loyal to my family, you were seeking to overthrow him because you weren’t satisfied enough with his offer that you can run your witchcraft business however you pleased as long as you did not interfere in royal affairs. Apparently you think you can rule better than he can. Is that true?”

“ My only crime, Ursula said, throwing and mixing various ingredients into the cauldron. “was that I was the only person with close relations to your dear dad who was not afraid to speak my mind and tell him when he does something wrong. You see…..I know you love him dearly but your daddy is an egotistical control freak; I am sure you would agree with me on this?” Ariel’s response was to roll her eyes and turn her face away slightly, the stormy confrontation with her father still fresh on her mind. Smirking, Ursula continued:

“As it turned out I was blessed with the privilege of interacting with the common merfolk who sought my services. Dozens and dozens of them would come to me, with such wretched tales of woe you could not even imagine!” Ursula bit back a sneer. But the one complaint they all shared in common was how unhappy they were living under your father’s rule. That it was not just that he would throw endless lavish parties for his friends while they struggled daily to get by. Naturally this was all very positive for my business, I am not a free therapist you know, and eventually he started to notice. So I may have offered some criticisms here and there over how he should prioritise the well-being of the merfolk instead of looking to feed his ego all the time, and I naively thought he would take my advice as me being helpful. But to overthrow him? Absolutely not!.” At those last words, Ursula had grabbed a bottle full of some gooey business from a nearby shelf and flung it into the cauldron with a little too much force, resulting in a mini explosion of violent red and yellow sparks. “Your father couldn’t stand the fact that I was more popular with the public than he was, so he and his loyal goons conspired to turn them against me and ruined my reputation for good! He put me through hell!” It took her a few moments to realise that she was breathing heavily and her eyes were wild with suppressed rage, and Ariel was staring at her with shock.

“I…..I had no idea..”

 Ursula quickly composed herself and laughed reassuringly: “Oh why would you, you are the baby of the family. Am I correct in assuming you just heard what I said for the first time?”

“Yes.”

 “Thought so. Now I admit that I am rather ambitious, but not SO ambitious that I would even think about overthrowing anyone, no matter how terrible they are. But enough about Daddy dearest and his dull desires. We are here to fullfill your desires my dear. You need not fear suffering punishment for his sins.” Here Ursula motioned to Ariel to swim near the cauldron, beckoning her with one crimson nailed finger. She dropped her voice to just barely above a whisper.

“Come closer, child.”

The two of them were now leaning forwards over the cauldron, facing each other on opposite sides. The bubbling substance was now emitting a yellowish orange glow and it felt really warm and pleasant on Ariel’s skin. To Ursula, Ariel with her hair floating like a fiery halo, large blue-grey eyes and and her full lips parted slightly appeared to be like a creature more otherworldly than a mermaid, as if she were goddess from a legendary myth. The light emanating from the cauldron only served to further enhance her beauty which seemed unfairly impossible. Her face was only a few inches away from hers…..what should she give to just kiss those luscious lips…..but alas….focus! For now Ursula had to contend with keeping Ariel in as close to her physical proximity as possible. 

“What I am about to tell you is very important. I am making you a potion that will give you a human form for three days. Three. No more, no less. If you decide to stay as a human indefinitely, you must find your prince, get him to fall in love in you and seal that love with a kiss.”

“And if I fail?”

“Then you turn back into a mermaid and……Ursula leans back biting her lower lip. “You are mine.”

“What???”

“Oh don’t look so alarmed girl, this is quite a generous arrangement that I am offering you. When I say you become mine I mean that you pay your debt to me by visiting me on an agreed number of days and offering whatever services I ask of you. Sort of an employed muse of some sort.”

It was during this moment that Ariel happened to notice the miserable-looking polyps hidden in the furthest corner of the room.

“What are those supposed to be?”

“Oh those are mostly spies sent from the royal palace to expose my hideout. I had to teach them a lesson. Pay no attention to them!” Ursula waved at them dismissively. To her relief, Ariel seemed satisfied enough with her answer and did not ask further questions. 

“So about the deal?….”

Ariel signalled to the sea-witch that she wanted to think it over and closed her eyes, her head bent over the cauldron, her hands gripping its opening. Outwardly she appeared calm, serene but inside she was bursting with adrenaline and conflicting emotions. Ariel was still very furious with her father for barging into her private grotto and destroying the “human” collection she had worked so hard to build, and finding a way to escape the ocean by going to his biggest nemesis for help seemed like the perfect way to get back at him. He had another thing coming if he thought she was going to swim back to him right on time for dinner and give him the satisfaction of thinking that he managed to shatter her human-world dreams into pieces. Oh how she will make him sorry that he ever lashed out at her like that, and for what? For saving a human being from drowning underwater instead of letting him die like he would have. Recalling the horrible cruel words Triton used to describe humans in general made it easier for Ariel to believe Ursula’s side of the story, her body language and facial expressions alone read as genuine. Speaking of the sea-witch, Ariel found herself getting drawn towards the older woman. Her charisma and charm was incredibly infectious, her flirtatious bordering on erotic behaviour also did not go unnoticed by the mermaid and she happened to have a magical spell for her that will give her at least a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience true happiness. It was all very exciting. Almost too good to be true. And yet…Ariel still sensed that there was something off about her. That underneath the warm, heavy comfortable aura that was currently enveloping her, she was in dangerous and threatening waters. Nevertheless she was being offered a choice to finally take charge of her own destiny and she had to make a decision now. There was no going back. After all she had to admit the deal Ursula was offering to her was quite fair. Being in servitude to the sea-witch in case she failed the challenge of achieving her permanent human forum did not sound that bad. Ariel was startled awake by a slippery tentacle encircling her waist and she felt a hand brush her hair away from her face and a sensual voice whisper in her ear.

“So what will it be child?” 

Ariel turned to see Ursula looking down at her with a tender expression on her face. She could not help but feel a little smitten.

“If I am to remain human forever….like you said….I will never see my family again.”

“That’s right.” Ursula replied with a dramatic flair. “but you will finally be happy. If your father really loved and cared about you he would want that for you. Wouldn’t he?” Here she shoots a sharp, side-ways glance at Ariel.

“ I guess.”

“Oh I almost forgot. We haven’t discussed the subject of payment.”

Ariel clapped her hands over her face with sudden dismay.

“Oh no I didn’t bring anything with me. If I had known-”

“No need to fret dear. I am quite flexible when it comes to payment methods.” Ursula stroked Ariel’s cheek, letting her fingers trace downwards towards her throat. Her facial expression suddenly turned carnal.

“You can repay me with…your voice.”

“My voice??? But if I gave away my voice how will I communicate with Eric? With other humans?”

“You’re a smart girl, I’m sure you will find a way to make your feelings known. Take it from a woman who knows. Men whether they are on sea or land are rather simple creatures. A lady who talks to much confuses them, enrages them even. In fact they prefer that she does not talk at all. So she must rely on her looks and her body to get her man; and you my dear are blessed in that department!” Here Ursula made a playful attempt at grabbing Ariel’s seashell bra which elicited an embarrassed giggle from the mermaid.

Suddenly the cauldron started to erupt, signalling that the potion was nearing completion. Ursula reached inside it to pull out a a golden shimmering piece of parchment, flinging it open to Ariel. She handed her a fish-bone for a pen.

“All you have to do is sign. Make your choice.”

Ariel hesitated but only for a moment. Whatever consequences occurred as a result of her actions today, she will face them when the time came. She was sick and tired of denying her dreams and desires out of fear of punishment from her father. Whatever it cost she was going to experience the world of the humans above. To finally meet Eric properly.

“I’ll do it.”

 With a quick cursory glance at the parchment’s contents Ariel signed her name at the bottom. The contract disappeared into a puff of smoke by a flicker of Ursula’s hand who now appeared to be in a state of manic joy.

What happened afterwards seemed to be all a blur in Ariel’s mind. Smoke and lightening everywhere. The room filled with an electric blue light, then sickly green. Ursula shouting at her from the other side to sing something, anything. She does. Two long, ghost-like claws travelling down her throat and feeling her vocal chords go numb. Suddenly a small volcanic force covers her entire tail and she is being propelled upwards towards the surface in a burst of speed. While all of this was happening maniacal laughter was ringing in her ears.

The sea witch let herself go into a state of euphoric mirth as she watched her spell do its work and Ariel spinning to the top out of her sight. Today has turned out to be the best day of her life. The first phase of her plan went flawlessly; she knew that she made the right decision in trusting her intuition and seeing it through without hesitation. Once she was in a state of calm and was sure enough time had passed for Ariel to have reached the surface, she turned to Flotsam and Jetsam who floated to her side.

“Go after her boys, make sure she never receives that true love’s kiss.”

Sneering the eels dashed out of her lair leaving Ursula alone. She caught her reflection in her mirror and indulged in her vanity, her hands travelling across her breasts down to the area where her stomach and tentacles met. She may not be the young sprightly thing that she used to be, but she had curves in all the right places and the power to seduce anyone who crossed her path. Including Ariel. She recalled the few moments she made physical contact with the mermaid. A little touch here, a little embrace there…she swore she did not imagine this…but she was sure Ariel understood what she was doing. Not once did she utter a word of protest or show any revulsion towards her advances much to her delight. Still Ursula hoped that she did not intimidate her with her less than subtle gestures. Once Triton’s precious daughter was finally hers, she intended to be very very gentle with her; that insipid human prince Ariel latched on to was nothing compared to the lover the sea witch was capable of being. There was no chance that the mermaid and human could fall in love in three days hence why she dictated so in the contract. One way or another she was going to make Ariel love her. All she had to do now was wait.

Next chapter: Part 2 Post-Kiss The Girl 

SPLASH! The little rowing boat Ariel and Eric were riding tipped over, catching them both by surprise. Flotsam and Jetsam emerged out of the water, checking to see that the couple failed in their attempt to secure their true love’s kiss. Confirming their success, they snickered and beamed their vision back to their mistress; who was watching everything through her crystal ball several feet below the ocean.

“That was so close…..TOO close!” 

Ursula sat in her lair fuming a toxic mixture of panic and rage. Pity the fool who was unlucky to approach the sea witch in her current state. Had the eels not acted right on time, her plan would have completely fallen apart. This was not supposed to happen this soon! How did that wretched mermaid manage to seduce her boy toy in only two days? Were human couples really able to get intimate that quickly? Even though Ursula realised deep down that it was irrational for her to feel this way, she viewed Ariel’s almost kiss with Eric as a betrayal. No, not just a betrayal, a cruel rejection. Apparently the deal she had offered wasn’t good enough for the ungrateful little brat. The first few hours after the deal was struck were nerve-racking. How she waited on tenterhooks for something….or nothing to happen….that would signal to her that there was still time. The first night passed she breathed a sigh of relief. She recalled their meeting the previous two nights….Ariel’s face inches away from hers….her torso pressed against her own…the witch grimaced with longing. That palatable chemistry between them was no magic trickery, it was real. She was sure of it. And Ursula had managed to convince herself that Ariel felt the same way about her, at least a little. Just the thought of the mermaid giving away her heart to that bland human fop was enough to make her blood boil. How dare she? Ursula watched Ariel huddle close to Eric as they walked out of the beach soaking wet. She had to think fast. A malevolent smile slowly formed on her face as she suddenly thought of an idea. Oh you’re not getting away from me that easily princess. A demented chuckle caught in her throat as she rushed towards her potion cabinet, grabbing the items that she needed and tossing them into her cauldron. As the mixture formed, the sea witch stroked the sea-shell pendant hanging from her neck. Ariel may have gotten within a hair’s reach of securing her permanent human form but she was missing her most important asset: her voice. It was very clever foresight on Ursula’s part that she never specified what she will do with her vocals regardless of the deal’s outcome, which gave her the freedom to use them as she pleased. A blinding orange beam of light shot out of the cauldron and the sea witch swam into it. Ariel belonged solely to her and nobody, not even Triton had the power to stop her from getting her way. Now she was at war with both of them. As she felt her octopus form transform and the light of the spell permeating every nerve and muscle in her body, she let out a demonic laugh that could only mean that her already fragile sanity was slipping at a dangerous rate. 

 Chapter 3 (?) Post-Sham Wedding

 The third day is almost over; dusk is fast approaching. Ariel had gotten her voice back but had missed the deadline to permanently become human and has reverted back to her mermaid form. Ursula had grabbed her off Eric’s ship and was currently dragging her down to the bottom of the ocean.

“It’s no use struggling.” she said in a mocking tone to Ariel who was desperately trying to free her arm from the witch’s steely grasp. 

“You cheated!” Ariel shouted angrily.

“I did no such thing, child. Since I am the original negotiator of our little deal, I have the authority to intervene and subvert any situations that might threaten to break it. It is all in the contract. You should know, since you read it in my presence.”

“That isn’t fair!”

“Life isn’t fair princess. Better get used to it.”

Somehow or other, Ariel managed to stop in her tracks, causing Ursula to also pause right next to her. They had managed to reach the sea floor by this point.

“That incident with the boat….that was your doing wasn’t it?”

The sea-witch flashed a taunting smile. “I might have had some…..indirect influence in that….OUCH STOP THAT!!!”

Ariel had let out a scream of rage and started pummelling Ursula with her free arm as well as trying to kick her with her tail. It did not take Ursula long however to defend herself and stop Ariel’s attacks by grabbing both of her arms and pinning her down.

“Why can’t you see that I did this for your own good? Those humans you are so enamoured with….they are a mediocre, primitive, ignorant lot. Do not think for one second they would not destroy you if they discovered what you really are. You will never belong with them. And that includes your precious prince. That boy has nothing to offer you.”

“You’re wrong. Eric is in love with me. I can feel it.”

“BAH!!! You foolish girl. He is not in love with you, only with the idea of you as I demonstrated when I used your voice to trap him just now. Tell me dear, if he really is in love with you, why hasn’t he come to your rescue?”

Ariel turned her gaze upwards towards the ocean’s surface, where she could see the faint reflection of the moon rising against the violet-hued sky. The bottom of the wedding ship hovered like a giant bird in mid-air casting shadows on the sea-bed. Even from where they were floating, Ariel could sense that there was chaos above the deck due to the surreal event that had just occurred. Humans had just seen an actual mermaid and a half woman half octopus with their own eyes for the first time. Things will never be the same from this point on.

“He will come for me.”

Ursula rolled her eyes in frustration. “You know…..even though you broke my heart pretty badly these past few days, I am willing to forgive you for your transgressions.”

“What are you even talking about?” Ariel asked, incredulously.

“I must admit I had my eye on you for quite some time. And I say that you and I have more in common than just ideological disagreement with your father. We could make a powerful partnership together.”

 Ursula picked Ariel up from the floor, albeit holding her hands and tail tight with her tentacles so she wouldn’t start physically attacking her again.

“I am being honest when I say I have no real quarrel with you. In fact the only reason I involved myself in your little family drama is so I can get close to you. Why throw your mortality away for those inferior creatures up there when you can become the greatest, most splendid mermaid this kingdom has ever known, with my assistance? I can show you wonders and knowledge any human with his vast riches could only dream of possessing.”

Ursula pulled Ariel closer to her, wrapping her arms around her waist. “You might not know it, she said lustfully. “but you are an especially bright woman, as well as beautiful. It would give me great pleasure if you actually considered my offer. Forget your father, forget the prince, start a new life with me. What do you say?“

Alternate ending 1

Ariel turned her head once more towards the ocean's surface. The evening dusk had completely turned to night so the wedding ship was just a barely visible outline. She could no longer hear the shouts and cries from the humans aboard; it became eerily quiet. In her desperation, Ariel waited, hoping that Eric would somehow release her from her predicament. But he never came. Why would he? She remembered the last time she looked at his face as he saw her mermaid form. His reaction was strange, was it shock? Definitely. Confusion, disappointment, disgust? He did not seem able to reach down and comfort her before Ursula grabbed her from him and threw her overboard. He probably thought that she had deceived him these past three days but what choice did she have? If she had tried to communicate the truth to him, he would have thought she was crazy and laughed at her. Minutes passed. Nothing. When it dawned on her that her waiting for Eric was futile, she let out a heavy sigh and her head dropped. Her journey to the human world was wonderful and she will never forget it, but it was over now. She had metaphorically sold her soul to get what she wanted and now she must pay the price. At least in the midst of the commotion on the ship, she had gotten her voice back, albeit accidentally. As Ariel slowly accepted her fate, Ursula wrapped one tentacle around her shoulders, nestling her closer. “I will make it worth your while.” she said in a velvety whisper before planting a soft kiss on Ariel’s forehead. This time, the mermaid did not flinch, or protest.

Alternate Ending 2 coming soon :)

[hollowedrpg]

CONGRATULATIONS, LISSA! — You’ve been accepted for the role of Frank Longbottom. While reading you app, I could not only see the ways in which Frank has developed so far, but what’s to come for his character. Not to mention, your in depth description of his relationship with Alice. Somehow, you made Frank and Alice feel like people I know in real life, not just text on a page. Truly, your app was impressive from start to finish, and if I had to point out specifics on why I loved your portrayal, I’d be writing an essay. 

Thank you so much for applying. Please create your account and send in the link, track the right tags, and follow everyone on the follow list. Welcome to Hollowed Souls!

OOC.

Name: Lissa

Age: Twenty-Two

Preferred Pronouns: She/Her

Timezone: PST

Activity: I currently work full-time, but on my days off I would be fairly active. If I had to assign it a numeric value, I’d say maybe a 6-7/10?

Are you applying for more than one character?: Not currently, but I’m certainly tempted to!

How do you feel about your character dying?: Although I’d be pained to see him go, if it served a purpose and was well thought out, which I’m sure it would be, I could be convinced.

Anything else?: Nope!

IC Details.

Full Name: Francis Theodore Longbottom, but please, for the love of Merlin, just call him Frank.

Francis: It’s an old family name that has been handed down from progenitor to progenitor like some sort of sacred relic. He’s been told it can be traced back to the age of Merlin, to age of knights and chivalry, predating even Hogwarts’ crumbling stone walls—his first name, just like his last, is a reminder of their austerity, their contribution to the world of magic and Frank certainly believes it’s ancient. Only two individuals in all the world are allowed to use his given name: the first being his dear old mother and the other is his beloved wife, Alice. Still, whenever they use it, he has a tendency to “not hear them”—whether it’s accidental or purposeful is up to your interpretation.

Theodore: Of his three given names, he hates this one the least—perhaps, it’s because he hears with this one the least. Nonetheless, its meaning is, “gift of God.” In the past, he’d remind Alice that’s exactly how he expected her to treat him, like he’s been sent from the heavens above. It’d be enough to elicit a laugh from her petal pink lips, but that was a lifetime ago; now all they seem to do is haunt each other.

Longbottom: It’s a name that he owes much to and although he does not revere it as others do, it does amuse him that the name “Longbottom,” in all its ridiculousness, is included on a document detailing the “Sacred Twenty-Eight.″ Still, Frank is proud to be just that, a Longbottom, but for reasons that differ from his peers. His lineage, established eons ago, placed him in the upper echelons of their society, but ultimately it was what forced him out in the end. Sometimes he wonders how the others were raised; how they could all be so different, but yet so alike. He always comes to the same conclusion: none of it matters, everyone bleeds red in the end.

Date of Birth: December 20th, 1956—Sagittarius (Generous, Idealistic, Enthusiastic)

Former Hogwarts House: Gryffindor—it’s expanded upon below, but I can say he was very nearly a Ravenclaw.

Sexuality: Heterosexual

Gender/Pronouns: Cisgender Male; He/Him

Face Claim Change: N/A

More.

How do you interpret this character’s personality? How will you play them? Include two weaknesses and two strengths.

These key traits are expounded upon below:

Positive: Determined, Intelligent, Noble, Passionate

Negative: Stubborn, Selfish, Mercurial, Vengeful

As a child, he was all consuming. Always active and fussy for attention, wailing throughout the night until he was blue. For him, it was all or nothing; Frank could never do anything in half-measures. First, it began with securing Augusta’s undivided attention, then it led to thumbing through all the books in his family’s library even though some tomes were denser than Rabastan Lestrange’s skull. Once he was done with that, Frank set his sights on the land surrounding their vast estate, exploring like a New World cartographer, set on leaving no stone unturned. In some respects, it was an innocuous trait, but at times it would overtake him. Let’s call it what it was: greed with, perhaps, a touch of selfishness.

While at Hogwarts he tried and sometimes failed to keep his voracity in check. He pursued each of his passions to completion. Only when Frank was quite literally at a loss, did he meet absolution. His orbit was thrown and his world was shaken by the girl with the eyes like warmed honey. Just as he was a taker, Alice was equal parts a giver—it could’ve gone wrong in so many ways, but oh how it didn’t. She checked his greed, made him expand beyond his selfishness. They would’ve been untouchable too, if things had panned out better—for awhile, in fact, they were untouchable. But the truth is, it won’t be the Death Eaters that get him at the end of it all—no, his hamartia is his greed, his need for more. If anyone will be his undoing, it will be himself. Frank demands answers, blood for blood, and always more, more, more. It will never be enough though—nothing will ever fill this wound that’s been left raw and festering.

He’d be the first to admit that up until this point, his life has certainly been charmed. It’d be easy to credit his triumphs to the Fates or Felix Felicis or whatever dictates good fortune in your mind, but ultimately Frank is responsible for success he has found in life. Even as a child, he would make calculated moves in an upward direction—blatantly pursuing his life’s goals with a kind of singularity that can only be described as unrelenting. This contrasts Alice quite nicely; through the years she has allowed herself to be defined by her passivity. She is pliant like clay, permitting others like her mother or even Moody to mold her into another and to direct her course. Frank, however, is rigid in his ways; from birth, he’s been the one helming the ship. This is due to his privileged upbringing; Frank has always been afforded his own choices and rarely were there ever true consequences to his actions.

The best example of this juxtaposition is what happens upon graduation. Alice allows herself to become an Auror after Moody’s intervention, which differs strikingly from Frank, who actively sought out the position for himself. After years of honing his craft while playing Wizard’s Chess, he believed it would be the next best move and most natural transition. He was right. Swiftly, he rose in the ranks, planning ambush after ambush, mapping out elaborate plans on the backs of old Ministry memos; first alone, then with Alice. There were, of course, the occasional missteps resulting in broken limbs (mainly his own) and bruised cheeks (mainly Kingsley’s), but his track record was solid and became much more refined after Alice joined him. At the core of it all, although Frank prides himself on being a skillful tactician—it’s Alice who has bested him before; it’s Alice who dissects him and sees beneath the carefully crafted veneer. However, it’s his drive and perseverance that guides them into the breach of war and out the other side.

This is also what divides them, however; Frank cannot face the consequences or the mistakes he’s made in the past. He cannot concede defeat and admit to his misgivings. For all his talk about pragmatism, his emotionality over his son’s death is what clouds his mind. He was so used to being able to see ahead, beyond the superficial, that a failure of this magnitude is unforgivable to him. For the boy that was constantly planning and plotting, making leaps and bounds to outwit his opponents; first on the chessboard, then on the battlefield—Frank cannot make sense of it all. Now, his dogged cleverness is set upon a new quest, he’s tracing out all the connections he missed and catching new ones, but the question is: is this paranoia or foresight? He’d be remiss to say that sometimes, now more than ever, the lines do blur a bit.

In truth, he’s poisoned by his need for retribution and he knows it. His recent thoughts and actions have been some of his greatest acts of sabotage, but instead of setting upon the evil that exists in the world, Frank has been undermining himself. Brick by brick, he pulls the foundation of his life apart, stubbornly clinging onto rationality and order in a time where the world is in disarray. He claims he needs answers for justice, to comprehend how it all went wrong, but the ones that truly know him know he’s lying. In actuality, Frank is a hypocrite—he is blinded by his emotions, lost in the tumult of rage and despair. In his misery, he’s abandoned her and with his own hollow eyes he sees how she looks at him like of all the loss she’s experienced, he’s the freshest wound. Frank has always been Alice’s touchstone, but now he is lost to her and the whole damn world. This is what happens when the young hero escapes childhood unscathed by the world; the first taste of tragedy begets madness. It is who he is though.

However, when all is said in done, Frank Longbottom is good. Although he comes from a background rife with privilege, he has always had an innate desire to help others whenever he can. It was his steadfast nobility that got him placed in Gryffindor as a young child and his tried and true bravery that finally led him to the Order. Although there are instances in which he falls short of the mark, Frank constantly strives to uphold his House traits. Lately, it’s been difficult, to say the least, but somewhere underneath all the bitterness and fury, he still wants to do the right thing. The rest of the Order members believe in him—it’s just he’s lost faith in himself.

How has the war affected this character, emotionally and otherwise?

In truth, the whole business of war had been easier before Neville. Life was just another game to him and with Alice by his side, there was no fear of losing. He collected Death Eaters like trophies, using stratagem he learned from playing Wizard’s Chess to ensnare them. Each capture of theirs served as a checkmate; each threat of retaliation echoed the petulant cries of a sore loser. Frank liked playing hero; he liked engaging in this act of rebellion against his blood. After all, what did he have to lose?

Once Neville was born however, his perspective shifted. He was no longer interested in the thrill of it all, but instead, he sought to make his young son proud of his father. It was then he noticed once unmasked, these enemies of his were characters that dotted his boyhood, friends of friends, and not just casualties of war, but also of his life’s story. It was perhaps a cautionary tale, that it was not nature that separated him from the others, but nurture. Even then though, Frank hadn’t learned his lesson. He didn’t take the betrayal seriously enough, not until he crossed into the Malfoy’s foyer and recognized the wand pointed inches away from his son’s forehead, thin lips speaking into existence Death and all the tragedy that came with Him. In a flash of green, life as he knew it ended and stupidly, Frank never saw it coming.

Now, quite frankly, he’s adrift—lost to Alice, the Order, and even to himself. In his grief, Frank has become unmoored, detached from reality, and living in a hell he has constructed with his own two hands. He is plagued by his willful ignorance, obsessed with the questions he holds himself accountable for: the who, the what, the why, and the where—but perhaps the greatest of all his questions, the one he can’t bear to answer is: how did he let this come to be?

Where does this character currently stand? With those who wish to hide in Godric’s Hollow until the war ends, with those who wish to rebuild the order and continue fighting the war, or on neither side? Why?

Frank is suspended somewhere between grief and madness, just one soft shove away from crossing that fine line into insanity. What happened that fateful day was more than just a tragedy, it was a trauma that is now etched into the very marrow of his bones. Everyday, the memory takes root and haunts him without provocation or any hope for repose. When Alice screams in the dead of the night, it mirrors the image he has of her and her pretty face, mouth agape as their child grows cold. In this, he doesn’t know how to comfort her or soothe her. He can offer no solace as he cannot find any himself. This boy who had grown used to having all the answers, used to having the world right at his fingertips, has collapsed in on himself like a star half-extinguished somewhere deep in the universe.

In truth, he’s just numb to the plight of others now. Frank is drowning in his sorrow, too self-involved to notice Alice’s suffering, too blinded by his need for vengeance, and too bent on forcing the world to finally make sense again. He will not divert from his course despite what the other members say. How can he let this go? How does he stop it from swallowing him whole? In these moments, he can’t imagine the future, much less build for it—not when it was already so deliberately snatched out of his grip. For now, he’s on his own side, his son’s side, and whether she believes it or not, he’s never not on Alice’s side.

How is Frank looking into the death of his son? Does he have any theories about what happened? Where did he get those theories?

Frank has always been a damn good Auror and although his world has tilted on its axis, this is a fact that hasn’t changed. If he’s honest, a fair number of his theories are more conspiratorial than founded in reason, fed by his voracious mind that knows no rest and knows no peace. It’s his futile attempt to make sense of the senseless, but nevertheless, with each deep dive he takes into the rabbit hole, the light around him dims.

The other handful of leads he’s chasing down do have some truth to them though. Some may say his interrogation tactics have gotten more aggressive, but their complaints fall on deaf ears. They showed him no mercy, so it’s only fair if he returns the favor.

Currently, his most favored theory is that there is a traitor in their midst—how else would his son have ended up there? It makes him wary of the other members, distrustful of their outreached hands. His suspicion nearly borders on paranoia, intensifying whenever he has a particularly sleepless night. Whoever it is, taunts him; they toy with him and leave him tortured by his own thoughts. Frank will persevere, however—there will be an end, he’s sure of it.

Extra.

If Iwere a _______, then I’d be _______.

If I were a season, I’d be summer, but not the days at the beginning that are filled with childish wonder and boyhood adventures—no, those days are long gone—I am midsummer, when the sun is seemingly always at its apex, beating down relentlessly, and the air is so languid and sweltering that it feels like the world is aflame.

If I were a time of day, I’d be late afternoon.

If I were a place, I’d be an empty shore, abandoned after the storm came and went.

If I were a type of weather, I’d be a cloudless sky.

If I were a scent, I’d be smoke dissipating in the breeze, fresh linen, and pine.

If I were a plant, I’d be English Ivy, unkept and unruly, invading the flora and fauna around me, bent on expansion and progress at whatever cost necessary.

If I were an element, I’d be fire.

If I were a color, I’d be slate grey.

If I were a song, I’d be “As It Was,” by Hozier.

If I were an item of clothing, I’d be a wrinkled white button-up, wearing at the seams from years of care and use, much-loved but in need of repair.

If I were an object, I’d be a pawn.I used to think of myself as the rook, capable and cunning, but in the end it was all a charade.

If I were one of the seven deadly sins, I’d be greed.It eats me whole and it eats me alive.

If I were one of the seven heavenly virtues, I’d be diligence.

If I were a god/goddess, I’d be Prometheus. For my defiance, Godhood has been stripped from me and all that remains is torment.

[seriouslyhooked]

Bubbly (The CS Mixtape) Part 156/?

Series of CS oneshots inspired by music. Collection on FF Here.

A/N: So for this first Sunday without Once I decided that what I needed most in the world was a little extension of the happy beginning they set up for CS. It takes place the morning after Emma and the others break the curse (so kind of post 6x22 I guess). Inspired by a reader request for the song ‘Bubbly’ by Colbie Caillat and rated M because I never got my freaking CS smut! (Can you tell I’m bitter? I’ll try to be better about it but no promises). Anyway hope you guys enjoy and thanks for reading!

Waking up enveloped in warmth and knowing without a doubt that she was safe, Emma opened her eyes the morning after what could have been her end of days with a smile already playing at her lips.

This, right here, was exactly the kind of life she’d been fighting for all these years and the fact that she was getting this chance to actually enjoy what it meant to be married to Killian (after being so rudely interrupted by the Black Fairy) and to get a happily ever after was intoxicating. It stirred up feelings inside of Emma that bubbled from the tips of her toes all the way through her, and the songs of yesterday that she’d found in her heart still lingered in a way, leaving nothing but this happy coursing sense of rightness that lit up her whole being.

I can’t believe we’re really married, Emma thought to herself as her smile grew, her eyes casting down to where her hand rested on Killian’s chest, seeing the wedding band that had joined her engagement ring at that beautiful ceremony they had together. Her mind replayed every beat of it all, tripping over Killian’s vows as well as her own and finding that there wasn’t a single part she regretted. It had all been perfect, at least until the Black Fairy came to mess it all up.

Even then though, it had only been a matter of time before good won out over evil, and despite being separated by realms and curse inflicted memory loss again, Emma and Killian had found each other once more, proving that their love truly would conquer all. Hope might have taken a hit under the Black Fairy’s curse, but it hadn’t truly died. There had still been a spark inside Emma’s heart stoked by Henry and by those images she’d remembered of Killian back there on the rooftop, and though no one had felt the need to break down exactly how their victory came about after all was said and done, Emma knew she wouldn’t have made it through without them and without the rest of her family who was always fighting to give her her best chance.

Yet through everything that the aftermath of victory had brought forth, from the dinner, to the celebrations, to the feelings of real belonging Emma shared with all their family and friends, it was the coming home at the end of it all that filled her with the most joy. Walking hand in hand with her husband back to their house from Granny’s, Emma had known in her heart for the first time in her life that the darkness was really behind her. The biggest trial of her life had been overcome, her destiny triumphed over, and the world righted, but that only meant that her life could truly start. Last night had marked the beginning of all the good that Emma and Killian had been promised for so long, and so far it had definitely lived up to the hype.

“Just think, Swan, of all the memories we might make here now that there are no villains banging down our doors or curses emanating from darkness itself,” Killian had said as he locked the door behind them once they got inside. Then he waved an extra key at her which confused Emma some until he clarified. “I also swiped this from your mother at dinner, so there will be no interruptions tomorrow of any kind, magical or otherwise. I learned my lesson on that front, and I’ve no intentions of a repeat performance.”

Emma had of course laughed at that before wrapping her arms around his neck and running her fingers through Killian’s hair lovingly. It was all so surreal that they should be here and actually doing this, but nothing had ever felt more right, and Emma knew without any kind of doubt or uncertainty that she was ready for this. She was ready for all of it, and she wanted to set down that path to happy endings with Killian right then and there.

“So why wait?” she’d asked eagerly. “We should start making those memories now… unless you think you couldn’t handle it.”

That jest and call back to earlier times in their journey towards love was received by her husband in exactly the way that Emma expected, and the next thing she knew he was mumbling about his love of a challenge and she was being taken by the man she’d given her heart to long ago in so many different corners of the house it was hard to keep track. The one thing Emma did recall vividly, however, was that she loved every damn second of it almost as much as she loved Killian himself. Because even if it had taken them a little longer than most people to get there, Emma and Killian’s wedding night was an exact reflection of the two of them, a heady mix of passion, love, lust, and comfort.

Truth be told that awe inspiring combination of feelings and emotions would have scared Emma to death not so long ago, but now it was the part of all of this that Emma clung to the most. For it was those happy sort of energies bouncing around inside of her that made her feel light as air and warmed all the way through, reminding her that she was alive and that she’d really done it. She had faced her fate as savior head on and come out on top, and now she was freed from the constraints of that role in the most liberating way.

Emma could feel the difference already too, not just in her state of mind and more relaxed outlook on the world around them, but physically as well. Her white magic danced close to the surface, humming through her system and almost singing out a sweet melody of its own, and Emma didn’t dare tamp it down, because she knew what it meant. She could only ever feel this way when she was totally and completely at peace, and now was the time to choose happiness and to follow it wherever it led, not doubt it and pass up such an incredible opportunity.

“It’s not very often we find ourselves in this situation, Swan,” Killian murmured suddenly, pulling Emma from her thoughts with his words. She’d been watching him for a while now, completely unaware he was awake, but then his eyes opened and Emma watched as a grin of his own formed and she knew he’d been aware of her for a while. She should have expected that, and yet with Killian she still found herself amazed at just how in tune they were with each other.

“You mean married and actually alone for once?” Emma teased and Killian growled out a sound of approval at the mention of their being married, pulling Emma closer and dropping a kiss to her neck as he did that caused Emma to shiver ever so slightly with a heightened thrill of pleasure.

“Well there is that, yes, but I was speaking of you rising before I do.”

Emma chuckled at the mention of their typical routine knowing he was right. Usually he was the early riser in this family and since they’d moved in together Emma couldn’t remember a time when Killian wasn’t awake before her. But Emma reasoned that perhaps Killian slept in today because the worst of the threats they might face were behind them. After all, he’d been protecting her for so long, guarding her from any kind of hurt that he could, and that had to be exhausting work even though he’d never once complained.

“What can I say? Sleep just doesn’t compare to the alternative.”

As she said the words, Emma’s fingertips came up to brush against Killian’s jaw, hitting that spot where beard met flesh. She could feel the fact that he hadn’t shaved the past few days and she loved that rough scratch just a little too much. It actually almost made her blush to think about how much she loved it and all the times it had come into play last night as he was making love to her every which way that he could. But then her eyes moved back up to Killian’s and she could see in them so much emotion that it blew her away. He was so open with his regard for her and his appreciation of her honesty was so clear, but there was more there too, something just a little darker and promising that the more sensual activities of last night were far from over.

“While I’m happy to hear that, my love, your being awake leads me to believe I didn’t entirely fulfill my husbandly duties as I should have last night. You should be so exhausted you’ve no choice but to sleep in.”

That avid proclamation had Emma’s legs tightening together as she felt the impact down to her core. His promise was heated and designed to make her want more in an instant, but it didn’t do justice to what Killian could bring her in terms of pleasure. It was barely a hint of his power over her, and Emma, feeling greedy for one of the first times in her life, wanted everything right now without interruption or delay.

“Oh you fulfilled them alright,” Emma said, her voice growing taught as Killian’s hand traced her body and his kisses fluctuated from rough to gentle and everything in between. “But it wouldn’t hurt to do it all over again. I mean we have all this spare time it would be a shame to waste it…”

Killian immediately concurred with Emma’s thoughts on the matter, and in seconds he switched their positions to come over her. Then he set out to torture her with undiluted passion the likes of which could only ever come from true love and insane levels of chemistry. He waivered in the most frustratingly exhilarating way between fast and slow, rough and tenderly sweet as his hand and mouth traced out a map along the curves and slopes of her body.

There were spots on her bared skin that Emma saw he had marked last night, and he went over all of them, branding her again and again and in new places too, and each little spot he satisfied brought a rush of more lust and need and desire coursing through Emma until she was too wound up to see straight. All she could do was close her eyes and hold on for dear life as he moved from her breasts down lower and lower until he was right where she wanted and needed him most.

But just when Emma thought that she’d get that push from her husband into the euphoria his meticulous attentions promised, he would pull back, teasing her desire and stroking the fire within her right to the edge only to not finish her off. It was maddening, but it was also so damn promising too, because Emma knew that when he did finally let her come apart it would be just as earth shatteringly fantastic as all of last night had been.

“Killian, you’re killing me here,” Emma said finally, feeling the reverberation of his chuckle at her sex and groaning when she did. Damn him for being so infuriatingly sexy and commanding! Who was he to leave her a quivering mess like this only to not follow through?

He’s my husband, Emma thought to herself, and the word attached to Killian only made her hotter, setting that tight coil of need low in her gut even tenser than it had been. She felt like she was ready to combust, but Killian had other plans, pulling back to respond to her accusations.

“You said it yourself, Emma. We’ve all this time, I’m merely making the most of it.”

Emma wanted to reply that making the most of it would actually mean making her come over and over again, but she didn’t need bother, because at that moment, Killian returned to her sex, sending her over with just the right pressure at her clit and making her see stars. Then he brought her back up and over two more times before Emma eventually pleaded for mercy and essentially begged him to come with her this time instead of just teasing her this way.

When he caved to her wishes, easing away from her still tender flesh before working his way back up her body, Emma could sense in Killian an ever increasing store of need on his part too. His muscles were taut, his jaw set firmly, and his eyes were almost wild, but still he touched her with a gentleness and a care that spoke to a love so pure it was truly remarkable. Even in moments like this, even in the throws of passion and without any kind of walls between them, Killian was still this selfless man who put her above all else.

It was totally unbelievable, and yet this was her life. After years of searching Emma had really found someone to love who loved her more than anything, and somehow, through some kind of beautiful, life affirming magic, she’d managed to marry him and commit herself to a life of love and happiness with him forever. Now she just needed to find a way to say that, and to tell him how much he made her feel and how grateful she was to have found him and been found by him. The only problem was her dashing pirate broke their temporary quiet first.

“I thought for sure that as I watched you walking down the aisle to me I had never seen a sight more spectacular, love. You in your white dress, choosing me, looking just as thrilled at the prospect of forever as I felt… it was perfection. You were perfection in every way imaginable.”

“And now…?” Emma asked through the thickness of her emotion, sensing that he had some impossibly sweet compliment that he totally meant to bestow on her. He smiled at her clearly overwhelmed demeanor and then brushed her hair away from her face, confessing his feelings in full.

“Now I know I wasn’t quite right in that. Our wedding will forever be one of the single best moments of my life, but this one, and all the ones we’ve yet to find… they’ll each be just as brilliant because it’ll be you and me, Emma. There’s nothing that will come between us. Nothing and no one will take this away from us again.”

“I love you Killian Jones,” Emma whispered, running her hands across his skin as her eyes never strayed from him, hoping he could see just how much she meant it.

“And I love you, Emma Jones. For now and always.”

With nothing more to say for the moment, but so much more to feel and share and revel in, Emma arched against him, moaning out in bliss as Killian filled her completely, setting a rhythm that was at once familiar and totally new. Because even if they’d known for so long that what they had was special, the world just felt so much brighter and filled with possibility now that they’d vowed to have and to hold each other all the rest of their days.

Every touch, every kiss, every inch of contact between them was a whole new world to explore and to love and though Emma knew hard times would come again, they weren’t anywhere near her heart or mind today. Instead there was only light and love and the unbeatable comfort of knowing that she had finally found her place in the world where she didn’t just have a family, and a husband, and a house to call home, but a sense of herself and who she was to match it all. Finally Emma truly knew who she was and what she wanted, and she had the power to set her own fate and chase all the dreams she dared to imagine with the man she’d love all the days of her life.

Of course with all those feelings bubbling between them and with that blissfully transcendent chemistry that was unique only to true love, Emma and Killian both found completion in only a matter of time, and when they came together it was nothing short of magic. But maybe the best part of all of it was knowing that this happy beginning was so far from over. The two of them had years and years to feel this way, and if Emma had anything to say about it, they’d have a whole life to lead together that would be even better than any fairytale that had come before.

…………..

Will you count me in? I've been awake for a while now You've got me feelin' like a child now 'Cause every time I see your bubbly face I get the tingles in a silly place It starts in my toes, and I crinkle my nose Where ever it goes I always know That you make me smile, please, stay for a while now Just take your time wherever you go The rain is fallin' on my window pane But we are hidin' in a safer place Under covers stayin' dry and warm You give me feelings that I adore It starts in my toes, make me crinkle my nose Wherever it goes I always know That you make me smile, please, stay for a while now Just take your time wherever you go But what am I gonna say? When you make me feel this way I just, mmm And it starts in my toes, makes me crinkle my nose Wherever it goes I always know That you make me smile, please, stay for a while now Just take your time wherever you go I've been asleep for a while now You tucked me in just like a child now 'Cause every time you hold me in your arms I'm comfortable enough to feel your warmth It starts in my soul, and I lose all control When you kiss my nose, the feelin' shows 'Cause you make me smile, baby, just take your time now Holdin' me tight Wherever, wherever, wherever you go Wherever, wherever, wherever you go Wherever you go I always know 'Cause you make me smile, even just for a while

Post-Note: Just a little bit of CS smuff to round out my weekend (because why not?) and one of my favorite songs to go with it (thank you very much my lovely reader for suggesting it!). We are a week post season 6 and I still have so many feelings, ones I am sure will go unresolved for quite some time. But the natural instinct for me is to take what the writers gave us and run with it, so you can all expect a fair many upcoming fics from me in this series where we get glimpses into the future for Emma and Killian. Anyway, I hope that you guys enjoyed and thank you all so much for reading!

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9,Part 10,Part 11, Part 12,Part 13, Part 14, Part 15, Part 16, Part 17, Part 18, Part 19, Part 20, Part 21, Part 22, Part 23, Part 24,Part 25, Part 26, Part 27, Part 28, Part 29, Part 30, Part 31,Part 32, Part 33, Part 34, Part 35, Part 36, Part 37, Part 38,Part 39,Part 40, Part 41, Part 42, Part 43, Part 44, Part 45,Part 46,Part 47, Part 48, Part 49, Part 50, Part 51, Part 52, Part 53,Part 54,Part 55, Part 56, Part 57, Part 58, Part 59, Part 60,Part 61,Part 62, Part 63, Part 64, Part 65, Part 66, Part 67, Part 68,Part 69,Part 70, Part 71, Part 72, Part 73, Part 74, Part 75,Part 76,Part 77, Part 78, Part 79, Part 80, Part 81, Part 82, Part 83,Part 84,Part 85, Part 86, Part 87, Part 88, Part 89, Part 90,Part 91,Part 92, Part 93, Part 94, Part 95, Part 96, Part 97, Part 98,Part 99,Part 100, Part 101, Part 102, Part 103, Part 104, Part 105,Part 106, Part 107,Part 108, Part 109, Part 110,Part 111, Part 112,Part 113, Part 114, Part 115,Part 116, Part 117, Part 118,Part 119,Part 120, Part 121, Part 122, Part 123,Part 124, Part 125,Part 126, Part 127, Part 128,Part 129,Part 130, Part 131,Part 132,Part 133, Part 134, Part 135, Part 136, Part 137, Part 138,Part 139,Part 140, Part 141, Part 142, Part 143, Part 144, Part 145,Part 146, Part 147, Part 148,Part 149, Part 150, Part 151,Part 152, Part 153, Part 154, Part 155