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restinslices · 6 months ago

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Everything pt4 (FINALE)

PJO Show Ares x Child!Reader (no gender specified)

Word count: 6772

Summary: It’s been years since you’ve spoken with your father, but with Kronos’ armies marching and the final battle approaching, you have one question on your mind. If you survived this, would it be too late to mend what was broken? Unbeknownst to you, Ares is wondering the same thing. Warnings: Spoilers for The Last Olympian (not too big though), giving Hestia a power idk if she has for the plot, angst, OOC Ares but y’all know this already

You know what sucks more than daddy issues?

The world ending.

Both are seriously draining but the world ending? It was a real bummer. Not only was it a bummer, but it was incredibly confusing. You expected to be actively in battle right now, not being made a peanut butter and jelly sandwich by Luke's mom.

As shady as it sounded, you couldn't understand for the life of you how Hermes had fallen in love with her. She looked as if she had been electrocuted multiple times and the smile she wore reminded you of something you'd see in a horror movie. Looks aside, sandwiches and cookies were rotting in her house and it smelled like something had died. You couldn't see Hermes being here.

“Ms. Castellan” you began as nicely as possible. “I'm not Luke. My friends aren't either. This is Percy, Nico and I'm Y/N. We're…” the people that want Luke dead. No. You couldn't say that. “We're friends of Luke. That's all”. She seemed to understand what you said, even if her eyes told a different story.

“Friends… Friends? Friends with my precious boy…” you almost scoffed. “I'm so glad he has friends. I've always wanted to meet his friends”. She spoke like she was in a dream state and her eyes stayed on you, not blinking once. “You've come for a sleepover? I'd have to talk to your parents first. I need to know if you have allergies! Then your parents and I can also be friends and spend time together! I'm sure I'd like them”.

You forced yourself to keep smiling at her, even if she unknowingly brought up something you were trying desperately not to think about. In 2007 you and your father Ares came to an agreement that it'd be best if you never saw each other again. The year was 2009 and you were still keeping up your side of the deal. You didn't burn offerings for him, you didn't go see him for that field trip, you haven't even uttered his name since then. When you heard about the gods fighting Typhon, you tried not to think about him getting hurt.

You were the one that proposed the deal, yet you immediately regretted it. A part of you thought “good job! You're keeping your peace! Your relationship would've never gotten better anyway!”. The largest part of you kept thinking “but what if you were wrong? What if he changed?”.

You shook your head. Curse your stupid loyalty. You could've turned Nico and Percy down, but Percy pleaded with you to come with him. The last time you become someone's adoptive older sibling…

“Nah, you wouldn't like my dad Ms. Castellan. He's a real hardhead”. She chuckled, which looked insanely creepy because she still hadn't blinked.

“Men tend to be. I'm sure he's still very lovely”. Yeah, if you enjoyed headaches.

Nico took over the conversation and thankfully your familial issues were no longer a topic. Thankfully should be in quotations though, because the conversation quickly turned depressing. May Castellan spoke like she was floating and talked about her son and Hermes as if the last couple of years hadn't happened at all. In your heart, you knew that she either didn't know, or she forgot. You didn't know what happened to her and why she looked like she took a tumble in Wonderland and never escaped, but whatever happened caused her to never see reality the same. You pitied her. Poor woman. Forever making sandwiches for a boy that had grown into a man. An angel that snipped his own wings.

Suddenly she stopped and screamed. You all jumped up and you pushed the two boys behind you. You doubted May Castellan would try to fight any of you, but you wouldn't take that chance.

A glowing green filled her vision and she rasped “My child! Must protect him! Hermes! Help! Not my child! Not his fate! No!”. She grabbed at your shoulders and continued screaming about fates and you pushed her off.

“Guys! Let's get out of here!” You yelled to the boys behind you.

You were prepared to run out of there, but May collapsed and Percy ran to catch her before she could hit the floor.

As quickly as she was screaming about fate and her eyes were glowing, it all stopped. She went back to her version of normal.

“Normal” was a word that really sucked as a demigod because your version of normal would never be what you wanted. What you wished was normal for you was going to school, complaining about teachers, listening to music and playing video games. Your normal was fighting monsters, training, keeping the world from ending and nightmares. When other people's lives diverged from the norm, it was probably something small, like dyeing their hair a neon color. Your version of “well this doesn't always happen” was sitting across from Hestia and listening to her do that thing gods do, where they give you advice in riddles.

The conversation was mainly on Percy, until it wasn’t anymore. Hestia looked over at you and you couldn’t help but feel small under her gaze (which was comical considering she looked like an 8 year old girl), like she was peering deep into your soul in search of something.

In any other circumstance, you would’ve stayed silent. You didn’t have time for more mysteries right now, so you cleared your throat and said “my lady, is there something you want to say?”.

“I just wonder…”

”Wonder? About what? Please, I wanna hear it”

“I wonder whose side you’re on”.

What?

Your brows furrowed. “The gods obviously”.

”Is it obvious though?”. You had to stop yourself from rolling your eyes. Making an enemy out of Hestia wasn’t on your to do list.

”My lady, may I speak bluntly?”. She nodded. You really wished she didn’t choose the form of a child so you wouldn’t feel so silly. “The world is ending and there’s still so much I haven’t done. I’m stressed out, wondering if I’ll survive the battle-” if your father would care if you didn’t, “-if our efforts will be enough, how many mortals will die, if the gods survive their battle with Typhon. Please don’t add ‘not understanding a riddle’ to my stress. Whatever you’re thinking, just say it”. You could feel Nico shooting you a ‘are you crazy?’ look. How else were you supposed to say it? You thought you were being extremely kind and respectful. The alternative was “English please”.

Hestia looked you over as she thought. “I’ve heard about your conversations with your father”. Yeah sure, let’s bring that up again. Perfect!

You shifted uneasily, not wanting to talk about this anymore. Hestia either didn’t notice or didn’t care. “I wonder why you didn’t side with Kronos”.

You couldn’t stop yourself from rolling your eyes this time. Did she truly think so little of you? “Why would I side with him?”.

”Many of the demigods on his side feel neglected. No doubt you do as well. I wonder what’s the difference between you and them”

“Brains” you answered. “We all have parental issues. You don’t side with a guy like Kronos”

”You think little of those demigods? Think yourself above them?”

“You know what I did when I was angry with Ares?” His name felt strange on your tongue. It’d been so long since you said his name. “I gave myself terrible bangs and wore all black. I stared outside car windows, listened to sad music and imagined myself in a music video. I wrote in a diary that said ‘do not touch or I’ll kill you!’, all in uppercase letters. I didn’t side with a crazy Titan that wants to destroy the world as we know it. Seems a bit extreme, don’t you think?”. She nodded.

“My lady I mean this with respect and love in my heart; what is the point of this conversation?”.

She poked at the fire a bit before answering. “This battle will be a hard one. Perhaps I am buying time and trying to memorize your face in case something goes wrong”. Gee, thanks for all the hope lady.

”If something goes wrong for me, I at least hope everyone else gets a happy ending”

”Your death does not frighten you?” She asked with a raised brow.

”Of course it does” you answered truthfully. “But I can’t let fear stop me from doing what I know is right. You’re the goddess of the home, so you should understand when I say I fight for my home. I don’t think home is just a place though. Home can be people. Percy, Annabeth,

Grover, Nico…” you swallowed, “… my dad. They’re my home. I won’t let my home be hurt without a fight. I’m willing to fight, kill, and die for my home. That’s how much home means to me”.

She smiled. “Spoken like a true child of Ares”. You wish she’d just tell you why she was hassling you in simple words. “But homes can be hectic-“

”My relationship with Ares is hectic but it doesn’t matter”

”You have hope”

”Sounds more like a statement than a question” you mumbled.

You looked at the fire, not wanting to look at (what appeared to be) the child on your ass.

When looking at the flames, for whatever reason you thought of home.

Images flashed in your mind. Images of camp, of laughing campers, of you and Percy giving Sally multiple heart attacks.

Of you and Annabeth debating, you and Grover planting flowers, you and Clarisse training together.

Images of your life flashed quickly, yet it all made sense. You could see everything as if you were there again.

Then the images slowed.

You felt Ares arms as he caught you when you fell from multiple floors up in the mall.

You could smell burgers and fries in the diner and saw him sitting across from you.

You could hear the two of you arguing and your ears started to burn with rage when you suddenly felt his warm embrace. You leaned into him and sighed, feeling his beard against the top of your head. You probably looked ridiculous to everyone else in the diner, but you didn’t care. You couldn’t remember the last time you felt his warmth and you knew you never would again.

“I love you dad” you said.

You couldn’t believe what you heard next. He said “I love you too” and he genuinely sounded like he meant it. At the time, you thought there was no possible way he could’ve been being genuine.

“He’s gotten good at lying” you thought. “That’s all. He doesn’t care. You’re making things up”.

But what if you were wrong? What if there was a chance?

”I have to have hope” you said out loud. You were too busy looking at memories in the fire and missed Hestia’s satisfied smile.

Hope.

Home.

If you were still alive by the end of the war, you knew you’d have to break your end of the agreement.

You knew you had to go home.

***

Everyone knew war was coming.

The hope for everyone else was that Kronos would never get strong enough to challenge the gods. Hope wasn’t something you could depend on though. You had to actually work, and apparently the gods hadn't done enough.

All the gods, besides one, was nervous. Of course Ares was more excited than nervous, like a child in a candy store. If he had the power to control time, he’d speed this whole thing up so he could be in battle already. The anticipation was killing him.

It was so grim and depressing in Olympus. Everyone was on edge and acting as if this would be their last time seeing each other. Complete and utter bullshit. They were the 12 Olympians for fucks sake! Anyone else there was there for a reason. They’d beat Kronos and his army, then drink to their victory and hug their children.

Hug their children?

“Stop”, he thought. “Not that shit again”.

He didn’t wanna think about children.

He pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance and made his way to a nearby fireplace.

”Ares” Hestia greeted without having to look at him.

“Hestia” he greeted back and sat down next to her on the ground. “Poking at the fire again?”

“What else is there to do?”

“You could be preparing for the battle”. She made a noise of disapproval,

“You know I'm not one for fighting. I am where home is”. He couldn't say he understood it, but whatever kept her happy. Ares wasn't fond of all the gods, but he liked Hestia. She stayed to herself and overall was friendly with everyone. She didn't blab her mouth or make jokes about him and Aphrodite being caught by Hephaestus. She was a breath of fresh air honestly.

Hestia looked over at him and cocked her head to the side. “No” he said before she could get anything out, “don't start asking me questions about feelings and try to dissect me”. Hestia was nice and all, but she always noticed when someone was off, and even if they weren't she'd find a way to make a conversation more deep than it needed to be.

“Ares, the battle ahead will be a difficult one. There's a possibility that you could be destroyed or that your children-”

“Don't”. His voice came out harsh and he shot her a warning look. Unfortunately for him, Hestia was never intimidated by that.

“They can die. Do you think they're keeping their feelings bottled? I doubt it. I hear them whisper their fears around the campfire at camp. They're terrified Ares.”

“How many are terrified?”

“All of them”.

He wished he didn't ask. He should've stayed curious.

Hestia was right. Any of his children could die. Maybe all of them. They all probably whispered to each other in their cabin, trying to comfort each other, and what was he doing? Sitting in Olympus.

He hated that he cared. Ever since his last talk with a particular child, he had been trying to build those walls back up and go back to being his “normal” self. Unfortunately, those cracks seemed to remain and refused to go away. He tried to seal them, but even something as small as a talk with Hestia revealed those cracks again. “They'll be ok” he said although he knew the truth. The truth was that he had no idea what would happen.

“I could deliver a message to them if you'd like”

“There's nothing I can think to say to them”

“Then perhaps you could say something to me. Whatever is on your mind, you can speak and I will listen”.

Ares didn't wanna look at her so instead he looked at the fire in an attempt to ignore her. That proved to be an error when his nose filled with the familiar smell of rain and his ears filled his child's voice.

“To me… to me you were everything. You are everything. “. Your tears mixed in with the rain and you wore a deep frown full of a child's repeated crushed dreams. His heart squeezed tightly for the first time in a while and he hated it. That's when it all started.

Other memories flashed. Memories of him and the other Olympians fighting wars, sometimes with each other.

He saw a time before strict rules and before he vowed to keep himself distant from his children. A time when he mourned them fully and intensely when their final breath passed their lips and their bodies became limp.

He saw the time now and while it was full of distance and misery, he saw his other children. He saw them visiting him and talking about things he didn't care about but listened to anyway. Saw their sad faces and hung heads when they had to leave.

It all went back to you though.

“You want more from the child of Ares?!” You had puffed your chest when you said his name and held your sword tighter. “I have plenty to give!”.

He heard your back and forth snarky comments to each other before the smell of food filled his nose and the conversation went from humorous to angry then sad.

“I don't matter to you. Just admit it so we can move on”. You were so wrong but you said the words with such conviction. You genuinely thought you were right. Was that truly how neglectful he had become? All his children had become strangers and he couldn't blame anyone but himself.

“Seeing you at all, it gives me hope” Was hope so bad to have though?

“You want this?”

“No” you said immediately. He remembers how he was surprised you had been that honest with him. He thought you'd make up a lie and pretend to be extremely confident, but your voice cracked and this time there was no rain to hide your tears. If earlier you wore a frown of repeated crushed dreams, that day your eyes filled with a child's final dream crushed.

But then he felt the both of you hug and he couldn't help but think to himself “Does the dream have to be crushed? Does hope have to be lost?”.

The fire continued to show him more memories of his children before it went back to you purposefully ignoring him. He had to admit that seeing you spend time with Hermes instead of him made his brows lower in frustration. But he agreed to a deal.

“Ares?” Hestia questioned. Ares kept staring at the fire and hoped the images would return, but they slowly faded away. She said his name again. She had saw what he saw and felt the way his heart cried. It was a feeling she never wanted to experience again.

He agreed to that deal… but what would happen to him if he broke it? Nothing that hasn't happened before. How could he see all of that and still want to keep his side of the deal?

“I think…” he whispered “I think I miss my children…”.

His children. His family. His home. He had to believe that hope was possible.

Hope.

Home.

He'd fight with his all while keeping everyone in the back of his mind. He knew he'd have to break his end of the deal.

He knew he had to go home.

***

If someone were to ask how you felt in this exact moment, it'd be irritation. Because of some stupid disagreement between the Ares kids and the Apollo kids, Clarisse ordered that none of Ares' children were to attend the battle. When you reminded Clarisse that this battle was bigger than some stupid argument over a chariot and that campers have already died and more will, she simply puffed her chest and went on about how she's tired of Ares getting disrespected. Sure, ok. Maybe you got a point Clarisse. Couldn't this wait until after though?

You shared some harsh words, half of them being curse words, and joined the battle with everyone else.

Manhattan as a whole was trapped in a deep sleep, yet somehow they seemed like the lucky ones. Sure, maybe a monster would step on them but at least they'd die in their sleep. If you died you'd be fully conscious and you knew it'd hurt.

Only a fool feels no fear. A bigger fool lets fear paralyze them. You did your best to let your fear move you through your enemies and you cut and hacked at them, leaving a trail of dust in your wake. You tried at first to ignore how many old campers you were killing, but it was hard to when your sword was soaked and you stared in the eyes of people you used to call friends before you took their life. It didn't feel good but it was either you or them. None of them held their punches and those same kids came in camp and killed campers, so you wouldn't hold your punches either.

A squeal filled your ears and you winced as you looked up. The fighting stopped and you understood why when you saw a huge flying pig heading straight towards everyone. You scoffed and wanted to make some sort of joke, but figured now wasn't the time.

“As far as I know, no hero has ever beaten it” you heard Annabeth say when you got closer to her and Percy. Your heart beat in a skittish panic but you forced yourself to hold your sword firmly and say the words “we will” as serious and brave as you could muster.

Percy had some idea and while you were told to keep the enemies back, your eyes landed on a white Pegasus and you knew you couldn't.

“Hey Annabeth” you grabbed her arm, making sure not to grab too tight because of her previous wound.

“Yeah?” she asked. Annabeth looked terrible. She was covered in dirt, dust, blood, and her hair was so out of place that you thought May Castellan would take kindly to her. You didn't know how you looked but you knew that all of you would need showers if you survived.

“I love you too”

No. When you survived.

“I'm gonna try and help Percy. Stay here. I'll come back. I promise”. Before she could ask you what you meant or remind you that you couldn't promise such a thing, you ran off to the Pegasus.

“Hey buddy” you waved and forced a smile. You knew Percy could understand them and vice versa, but you couldn't understand them and you didn't know if that could understand you. “Me” you pointed at yourself, “friendly” you raised a thumbs up. You pet its head and it didn't bite you, so you assumed it understood.

“Me” you pointed at yourself. “You” you pointed at the Pegasus. “Follow Percy and pig” you pointed at Percy and the pig, who were quickly vanishing from view. It nodded its head and after a sigh of relief, you got on its back.

If it wasn't for the war and death, you'd say you were really enjoying this. How many people could say they had done something like this? Not many, that's for sure.

“Hey Sharkboy!” You yelled when you were within shouting distance. Percy thankfully was no longer hanging by a rope, but was on Blackjack. You didn't know if Blackjack recognized you as the one always giving him donuts, but he made a pleased sound when he saw you. “Uh, is this a part of your plan?” You motioned to the statue that took his place attached to the rope. “It's a pretty shit one”.

The boy rolled his eyes and huffed at you. Whether it was because of the nickname or insulting his plan, you didn't know. It made you smile either way. “I gotta get close to it! I can activate the statue to fight the pig!”.

Flying pigs, fighting statues, just another day as a demigod. You rubbed in between your brows to stop the migraine that was forming. How hadn't you gone insane yet?

“It sounds crazy but-” Percy kept talking but you stopped listening. You looked behind you at the battle and like a fool, you froze.

Manhattan was a war zone. This you knew. Seeing it up high like you were a god though made it all seem so much worse. You could see family being forced to fight each other. You could hear screams and pleads and crying. You could see kids trying to dodge being stepped on. You saw so many people not being allowed to mourn. You saw death. You saw it everywhere.

Then your shock and fear turned to anger. These were your friends and family killing each other! Sure, they were still responsible for their actions, but there wouldn't be any actions for them to take if Kronos hadn't got in the way. He used these people and he didn't care how many died. He just wanted his throne. Annabeth could die. Grover could die. Percy could die.

Your father could be destroyed.

You didn't know how you looked, but you must've looked terrifying because Percy “talks back to everyone” Jackson looked at you the way you expected him to look at the gods; with edge.

“Hey-”

You pet the animal under you neck and pointed at the pig “closer!” You ordered. It obeyed. It beat its wings harder and you passed Blackjack and Percy with ease. The closer you got, the more you could smell its stench. Under normal circumstances you'd pinch your nose and walk the opposite way, but this time you kept going straight towards it.

The animal under you whined and you assumed that meant it was having a hard time keeping up. Your eyes fell to the rope and you knew what you had to do.

Your sword morphed back into a necklace when you brought it close to you and after so much practice, clasping it wasn't a problem for you anymore.

“Good boy or girl. I'll get you some snacks when this is all over. You like donuts?” it made a pleased sound and you pet its neck.

You moved so that instead of straddling the animal, your legs were hanging over one side.

“Don't let me die” you whispered to no one in particular then you pushed yourself off.

A mixture of luck and skill prevented you from becoming a mark on the concrete.

The rope burned your bare hands but you held on anyway. You managed to grab on above the statue and started climbing upwards, using the beating in your chest to motivate you not to fall and die. The white Pegasus stayed beside you as you forced yourself up the rope and you gripped the pig's fur to pull yourself all the way up. Now, pigs don't have tons of fur, but a giant pig had plenty enough to grab onto.

The wind blew through your hair so harshly that you were surprised it didn't snatch it all off. The pig was flying at an intense speed with its only goal being to destroy everything you loved.

You pulled your necklace off and it turned back into the double edged sword your father gifted you so many years ago.

It was only now that you realized something.

When you killed this thing, it'd disintegrate. You wouldn't. In the mall you were high up but you were only up a couple floors. Now you were definitely above the mall and many other buildings. The white Pegasus was no longer keeping up with you and when you looked behind you, Percy and Blackjack were still a while away.

Percy connected the dots a lot faster than you did and you saw his lips move and Blackjack's wings flap faster.

What do you say when you know you're gonna die? Damn. You didn't have time to prepare and you didn't have time for a speech.

You felt like you were looking back at the flames. At home. At hope. You were supposed to return home after the battle and things would be okay again. But in the same breath, this is why you were fighting. You were fighting for your home and so the people you love could live as peacefully as they could.

The sword felt heavier in your hand. You smiled to yourself. You still had a piece of home with you and you'd use it to better the lives of the other people you call home.

You screamed as loud as you could in hopes Percy would hear you. “IF EVERYTHING GOES OKAY, TELL MY DAD THAT…” tell him what? You had so much to say. What could wrap everything you wanted to say together?

“... TELL HIM I MISS HIM! AND THAT I LOVE HIM!”.

Blackjack's wings beat harder, yet he was still far. Percy wore a look of determination and you laughed. You couldn't believe he was still the young scared boy that arrived at camp when he was 12.

“I LOVE YOU GUYS TOO!”. You smiled at him to leave him with something nice to remember. “THIS WAS FUN!”.

You turned away from him and with as much strength as you could muster you plunged the sword through the pig’s skin.

You felt its body crumble away and then you felt yourself slipping through the air.

***

As one could assume, war was Ares' element and where he felt the most comfortable. There wasn't much to say about the battle. Sure, it was a battle for humanity but honestly? Ares wasn't that worried. Call it an inflated sense of self. Was it really that though when you could back up how high you thought of yourself?

As corny as it sounded, the war in his mind was much more intense. As he fought, his mind kept slipping back to what he saw in the flames. His family. His children. His home. His hope. The reason he fought. Sure he liked a good fight but he fought this giant monster with the other Olympians for his family.

Ares is a proud man, so naturally he had faith that his children would survive the battle, but an ego could only get you so far. He knew the truth. He knew that any of his children could be crushed at any second, or squeezed to death, or stabbed, or eaten, or whatever Kronos and his army had planned. He knew that he could return to whatever was left of Olympus and he could mourn children that he had forced to become strangers. He wanted to be better. He had to be. He just needed time and that meant he needed his children alive. Especially the one that started this.

Besides the diner, Ares had only held you once. He didn't think he'd remember it well yet somehow he could smell the cookies your mother had baked and he could remember exactly how the furniture was. He could see blinds covering the windows and the white walls lined with family photos and art pieces. He could see the black couch that sat across from the TV which sat on a table.

And he could feel your mother place you in his arms.

“This is your child” she had said. He looked over at her and she smiled down at you with a sense of joy and pride, which was much different to how he saw her look at you recently, with hate and contempt.

You were so small then. Only months old, still exploring the world and having no idea how life would beat you down. You cooed as you looked up at him and shifted in his arms. He wondered if somehow you knew he was your father and that he was no threat to you.

So small. So curious. So innocent. Now you were a warrior seasoned by the battles you had been fighting since you were a small child.

He kept thinking about what would happen next the entire time. He knew he'd have to break his end of the agreement, but it was up to you and any of his other children to accept him turning a new page. It absolutely did NOT frighten him more than the Titan he was battling. Absolutely not.

As Ares suspected, the Olympians and their children won the war. Kronos was gone and his armies were slaughtered. That was the best part. He didn't get the chance to have a good look at the battle, but seeing the damage the demigods caused made him proud. He hadn't seen you though, which was something he noted.

The worst part was looking at Percy Jackson's face. Sure, he started the fight but that didn't matter! When Ares said “enemy for life” he meant it! The fact that he had to listen to Percy be praised and he couldn't beat on him right then and there made him tap his finger against the arm of his chair in discontent.

“Lord Ares” Percy said and he could tell he hated saying the “Lord” part. It made him grin.

“Boy?”

Percy's fist balled and Ares continued smirking.

“I have a message from your child”.

His smirk fell when he heard your name. A message? Did that mean…

“They said that they missed you and loved you. They were… They…” he paused and Ares leaned forward. “They were in trouble and out of everything they could've said, they said that. They’re-”

Ares didn't let him finish. He jumped out his chair and his feet thundered against the ground as he sped walked to the elevator.

This couldn't be. That boy was wrong. His child was fine! He wanted to be better for them and now…?

No. No no no no! This couldn't be! He pressed the floor button repeatedly hoping that the elevator would move faster, even if he knew that's not how elevators worked.

He lied to you once and said that gods didn't feel fear. How wrong he was. His whole body felt warm and if he wasn't pressing the button then he was tapping his fingers against his legs and if he wasn't doing that then he was pacing and if he wasn't doing that then he was imagining your limp body covered in blood. Was it at least quick?

“I love you dad”

No…

Not his baby…

After what felt like hours the elevator dinged and the doors opened.

He stepped into the hall of the building.

***

Turns out you should give Blackjack a lot more credit.

You closed your eyes and hoped that the fall wouldn't hurt as much as you suspected it would and then suddenly your crotch hit something hard.

“Fuck!” You exclaimed. Your eyes flew open and that's when you realized Blackjack actually managed to catch you. Percy let out a breath you suspected he was holding the whole time.

“You don't ever do that again!” he scolded. Ironic coming from the guy who always did stupid things.

“I hope I won't have to”. He rolled his eyes and looked back ahead of him.

“I just knew you were gonna do something stupid. I just couldn't tell what it was at first. And don't you ever look at me like that again”

“Like what?”

“Like you want to kill something”. Once again, ironic. Percy had that same look on his face more times than you could count, but instead of arguing you kept a hand on his shoulder and said “sure Sharkboy”.

You tried to tune out the rest of the battle to keep yourself sane. One moment you and Percy joined everyone else, then Percy and Annabeth went to Olympus and now you were sitting in the Empire State building completely exhausted. You were slumped in a chair, covered in dirt and grime when the Stoll brothers came over.

“Guess what we have” Connor said in a sing song voice and raised his brows.

“An Advil?”. The two laughed like what you said was funny. It wasn't funny to you. Your head was killing you.

“Even better” Travis said. “Boom!”. You hadn't noticed the bag he had on him somehow, and when he opened it your eyes were filled with candy. You looked back up at their faces, both with an ear to ear smile.

“I thought Percy said not to snatch anything when everyone was asleep”.

“We didn't! How could you say something like that?” The two looked at each other with faux innocence but their devious smiles betrayed them. Whatever. You were too tired to scold them and it wasn't your business that got ransacked.

“Listen, we'd typically charge for these but since you killed that pig, you can get something for free”

You raised a brow at them and looked at them disinterested. “Or I could report you and make you take all that back”

“You won't” Travis challenged.

Little shit was right.

You looked in the bag for what you wanted and chuckled when you saw it.

When you and Ares talked in the rain that night, you debated on burning a fruit roll up as an offering. You decided that was a shit offering and didn't do it, but your father saw you in the rain and came over anyway.

Now that same flavor of fruit roll up was sitting at the top of all of that candy.

You took it and thanked the two. They were on their way after, probably about to scam some poor kid by overcharging it. They never tried that with you or any of the other older kids.

You pocketed the candy and used your sword to help you stand. You were exhausted. Your shoulders sagged, your back ached and you smelled like everything unfortunate in the world. You needed a shower and new clothes desperately.

You began walking then a ding filled your ears and out of curiosity you turned from the door and looked over.

It was him.

By the way his eyes softened you could tell he saw you. You were done lying to yourself and convincing yourself he didn't care. You knew you saw relief in his eyes.

Maybe Ares should've listened to what else Percy was gonna say. Maybe he was gonna say “they're fine but you should really talk to them”. Something like that.

Ares had seen you tear up multiple times. In sadness, in anger, in betrayal. This time though? You didn't look hurt. You looked relieved. You looked like how he felt. You looked like a huge pain had been lifted off your shoulders. If before you looked like a child whose dreams were crushed, now you looked like an adult who realized there was nothing crushed that couldn't be fixed.

You had grown up more since he last saw you. He didn't wanna miss any more years.

“And I hope the idea of me calling you Ares instead of dad terrifies you”

The words rang in his ears. You were right. It terrified him. It paralyzed him. He had one question on his mind.

What would you call him?

The two of you stood facing each other for seconds but it felt longer. Both your minds were racing. You were both thinking of the past, the fact that both of you were okay, and wondering what the future would be.

You felt like a kid again. You just stared at him with so many emotions coursing through you. The main ones being joy and relief.

Without thinking, you threw your sword to the side and ran at him. “Daddy!” You shouted with the inner voice of a child who was finally getting everything they wanted. You jumped into his arms and he caught you. His grasp was firm and he kept you close.

You both closed your eyes and focused on each other's warm embrace. You were both okay. You were both home. Neither of you held your tears and vulnerabilities from each other.

“I heard you were missing me” he said. You knew it was a joke but you couldn't laugh. You nodded into his shoulder.

“I did”.

“I missed you too” he admitted. It felt so good to finally admit.

It felt so good to finally hear. He missed you. He cared for you. He loved you. He was holding you.

“I don't like our agreement anymore” you mumbled. “You gonna rearrange my fingers or-”

“No” he answered firmly. He set you down and his hands held your face. “No” he said again.

“Not gonna turn me into an ant either?” You joked. He smiled at you and pulled you into another hug.

“I love you dad”

“I love you too”.

Ares did something he hadn't done in a while and he kissed the top of your head like he saw other fathers do. It surprised him how much happiness it filled him with. You on the other hand thought this would only happen in dreams. You were so glad you were wrong.

Then he did something else he hadn't done in a while.

He apologized.

“I'm sorry”

“I know” you answered simply.

“I'm gonna be better”.

You smiled and closed your eyes, allowing yourself to melt in his embrace.

“I believe you”.

Hope.

Home.

You two managed to hold onto hope. What others would call delusional or stupid, you called a dream. You both managed to make that dream a reality.

After years and years of complications, heartache and frustration, you two made it.

You two made it home.

If y’all sexualize the reader calling Ares “daddy” I swear I will rewrite this and have the reader die a terrible death. Do NOT-

Anyway y’all IT’S HERE! We finally made it to the end! Y’all feeling as proud and emotional as I do? Originally Everything wasn’t gonna be a series. I made pt1 and was like “yeah. A simple one shot” but people wanted more and it became a series. I got 2 abandoned series for different fandoms so it’s an accomplishment I finished this one. I don’t have any new series planned right now but I wanted to say thank you for the support Everything has gotten and the nice comments I’ve received. This was really fun. Until next time! (Also I told y’all they’d get a happy ending. I know some of y’all didn’t believe me)

Taglist: @kyuupidwrites @chadmeeksmartinswifey @lebguardians @beansficreblogs @itzjustj-1000 @white-wolf-buckaroo @elsisenta @leathesimp @marshymallo @stickyfictioninwriting @asexualaromosafezone @arialikestea @1mawh0re @samoanroyalty @wolfgirl294 @unoficialy-married-to-ace-austin @ohlookitsasinglepoeceofpopcorn

#percy jackson #percy series #percy jackson ares #pjo tv show #ares pjo #ares x reader #ares x child #ares angst #ares percy jackson #pjo angst #pjo x reader #pjo olympians #I never know what else to put

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koolades-world · 9 months ago

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Can you do Obey Me headcanons of a Christian MC? MC isn't a toxic one though, they're actually super nice and supportive of everyone and such. They're also generally really trusting and try and see the best in people. They're more or less just extremely concerned and slightly uncomfortable with the entire being kidnapped and brought to hell thing(and also being forced to attend school again)

They also got really excited when they learned angels were gonna be attending RAD too, so there's that lol

Like when they saw Simeon and Luke for the first time they mentally went "THIS IS A MOMENT IN HISTORY!!!! TAKE A PICTURE!!!"

haha hi!!

when I first saw this I was really looking forward to doing it! been thinking about it a lot

one of my best friends is actually a christian who plays obey me, and she was the one to introduce me to the game. I think she would find this funny, so I'll def be thinking of her while I write this haha (if you're reading this, which you very much might be, heyyyy happy late bday girl)

Christian Mc

Lucifer

once you realize who he is, you're freaked out, both in a good and bad way

like, this is the lucifer! you ask to take a picture lol (and he's not amused)

you're a little sad and relieved when he pawns you off to mammon, since you're awed by his presence but also terrified since you knew the part he played in the bible by heart

once you get to know him, the both of you chuckle about human depictions of him and you finally get that picture! be sure to make him sign it and then frame it

Mammon

learns quickly just how many copies of the bible you own once he spends enough time in your room including but not limited to the version on your phone, the mini version in your RAD bag, and the one you keep on your side table

once you get to the stage of basically living together, he learns that you read the bible and say a prayer nightly

at first, he was nervous having to be the one to guide you but he learnt you were probably more scared of him, and you were actually just so sweet

he jokingly picks up all of the jesus merch he finds so now you have an entire shelf

Levi

the most normal out of the brothers besides the fact that he spends all his time in his room, but that kind of reminds you of a brother you only see like once a day

it's almost scary and a little jarring walking into his room, but after that, you guys get along so well

he admits that he thought the exchange program was weird, and it was all history after that

unlikely besties: a devout christan human and their gamer social outcast demon

Satan

highkey fuming about the fact that humans don't know that he and lucifer are different (he for sure smashed up an entire room of the house)

after he calms down from this though, although it takes a while for the two of you to get to know each other, he takes joy in making fun of the slanderous things said about lucifer

you both like to read but the only thing you reread and read nightly is the bible so

luckily he doesn't care about that since it wasn't his dad anyways (don't remind him that it's technically his grandpa's book)

Asmo

the first time you showed him biblical version of him, he was disgusted and refused to speak to you for the next two and half days

after that he feels a little bad since he knows you didn't mean it like that and since you basically tip toe around him

after that he comes on a little strong, but after a while you get along pretty well despite being so different

he’ll reminisce while you listen carefully and hold onto every work he says since he was a real angel and that’s so cool

Beel

while you were initially terrified of him, you quickly learnt how much like he actually was

at the core, you were both just a kind person (or demon) who wanted to help others and uplift them

always there for you to lend a listening ear and to help out out if others are giving you problems

the first in the devildom to make you feel truest welcome and let you know that you could call it home

Belphie

at first he thinks it’s a joke and kinda pokes fun at it

once he realizes you’re being serious, he feels a little bad but also still thinks is very funny how you hide your face behind a bible when you’re scare

has had holy water thrown at him, and has found a bible under his pillow before (gosh who could’ve done that…)

used to jump out at your from around corners in his demon form and it sent your running every time so you can prepared with a rosary blessed by the pope to shove in his face if he dare to try again

#obey me #obey me!#obey me x reader #obey me satan #obey me mammon #obey me asmo #obey me beel #obey me levi #obey me lucifer #obey me belphie #omswd #obey me shall we date #obey me! shall we date #headcanons #gn reader

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goodbuckcharlie · 8 months ago

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https://www.tumblr.com/goodbuckcharlie/744970952822095872/forbidden-things-jeremy-swayman-summary-its

ahhh love it!! part two would so goood!!!!! especially with steph, austin and mitch seeing how in love the two are

Warming up | Jeremy Swayman

Summary: Part two to Forbidden Things. Following up on their secret relationship no longer being secret, Steph, Auston, and Mitch start noticing how truly in love the two are

Warning: swearing, a little slut shaming (for like a second) and mention of blood/injury

Notes: I am glad people liked the last post :) I currently have a Cole Caufield x pro golfer story and a Luke Hughes social media Au both in the works but when I saw this comment I jumped back to this story. Let me know if you guys are interested in either one of those or idk maybe even a part two for my Nico story.

Steph definitely was the first to see how much Jeremy loved Mackie. She realized it at the family dinner that Mitch invited Jer to. It wasn’t even anything special, just watching how Jeremy interacted with the family, she knew he was the one for Mackie.

“So when Maddie set us up on a blind date, she forgot to mention that Mackie was the Executive chef at the restaurant we were going to.” Jeremy was telling the family how his neighbor who just so happened to be Mackie’s best friend, set the two together, “So we were served cold food ,like it wasn’t super cold, but Mackie definitely wasn’t happy. She excused herself and then went to the back. I could hear her scream ‘I’m on a date with a hot ass guy and you guys can’t do your fucking jobs? What the fuck do I pay you guys for!’ She then came back and acted like the whole restaurant didn’t hear her screaming. Let’s just say, I was ready to propose in that second.”

“Okay you are being a bit dramatic,” Mackie corrects, “You only heard what I said cause we were sat by the kitchen. The whole restaurant didn’t hear me scream.”

“Babe, the hostess looked terrified and the poor girl was on the other side of the restaurant.” Everyone laughs as Mackie gives a little pout, “Aw no need to get all pouty, I thought it was extremely hot. Still do.”

Jeremy pokes Mackie’s neck until she starts laughing.

“You know Jeremy, Mackie had a few boyfriends in high school, and none of them were ever able to hand our girl’s temper.” Mrs. Marner says while holding her husband’s hand and smiling in endearment, “They often called her too bossy and one even told her that her ego was unlady like.”

“Yeah Mitch was not happy when he heard that.” Mackie looks across the table at Mitch, who has been eyeing Jeremy, observing him like a Hawk, “When I came home crying, Mitch drove to the guy’s house and fought him.”

“This guy in a fight? I couldn’t imagine that.” Jeremy laughs and Mackie is surprised to see Mitch also laughing.

“Don’t get to excited bud, I lost that fight.” Mackie and Steph can tell Mitch is still hesitant about Jeremy, but it was a good sign to see the boys laughing together. Well until Mitch notices something.

“What the hell is on your neck?” Through the long day, Mackie never reapplied her makeup on her neck, so the darkest hickey is now visible.

“Would you believe me if I told you it’s a burn mark from my curling iron?” Mitch gives Mackie the angry brother look and she automatically know that mean he doesn’t believe her. Luckily Steph came to the rescue.

“Oh Mitch calm down, you know we were doing that same thing when we were her age.” Steph manages to keep Mitch calm and civil for the rest of the dinner.

At the end of the night as everyone was leaving, the restaurant started to play one of Mackie’s favorite songs. She hides her excitement, but Jeremy notices.

“Dance with me pretty girl.” He holds his hand out.

“Jer we are at a restaurant, we shouldn’t.” Steph is the only who is noticing the interaction, but she can’t help but smile.

“Nobody is going to kick us out for dancing, plus who cares if they do, your restaurant is 10x better anyway.” Mackie takes his hand and they start swaying along to the music. Mackie giggles as Jeremy spins her around and they almost knock over a table. But they don’t care they are in their own world.

In this moment, Steph knew Mackie was right and that Jeremy was her one.

Surprisingly Auston was the next to approve the relationship. And it was a total accident.

It was March, a whole month since All stars, and the Bruins were playing the maple leafs in Toronto.

Mackie had stayed at home in Boston. Jeremy was missing her during the roadie, but he knew after this game they would be at home for a while.

Auston was just walking around the backstage of the arena when he walked past Jeremy on the phone.

“Babe you know you don’t have to call me to get permission to go out with Maddie.” Jeremy says while smiling at his phone.

“Oh I know I just wanted an excuse to talk to you.”

“You are going to be the death of me.” Auston can’t help but eavesdrop. “While I have you here, show me what you are wearing out.”

Auston at first thinks the worst and thought that Jeremy was trying to be controlling, but his worry soon went away.

“Damn baby, you look so good makes me want to bail on the game and fly back home to see you.” Auston fake gags at Jeremy making comments like that to the girl he considers as little sister. “Is that my jacket?”

“Yeah Maddie wouldn’t let me borrow one of hers so I went over to your place and grabbed a jacket.”Austin wasn’t surprised to hear that Mackie had a key to Jeremy’s place.

“I would have let her borrow a jacket if she actually wanted to wear a jacket, not because our old ass neighbor was being a bitch.” An unfamiliar voice that Austin assumes is Maddie comes out of the phone.

“Maddie you said you wouldn’t say anything.” Mackie whines.

“Wait you guys are talking about that cougar that’s been trying to get in my pants since I moved in?” Austin can feel Jeremy get upset even as he hides in the corner, “What did she say?”

“She said, and I quote, you shouldn’t be going out like that when you have a man at home. It makes you look desperate.” Maddie said cause she knew Mackie wouldn’t.

“Fuck her. Mackie you look amazing in anything. If you like how an outfit looks, nobody and I mean nobody shall tell you different. Now take off my jacket and go have fun with Maddie, I’ll be there in the morning to nurse that hang over. And after that I’ll go talk to our neighbor, I’m not letting her get away with disrespecting you.”

That was all Auston needed to hear. He walked away satisfied with the conversation. Before this conversation, Auston didn’t think Jeremy and Mackie’s relationship was serious. Now he knows not only are they serious, but he now had a newfound respect for Jeremy.

At the end of the game, the bruins won 4 to 1. After his shower, Auston set out on a mission to talk to Jeremy. Luckily he finds him as he is heading out of the visitors locker room.

“Hey Swayman.” Jeremy looks up from his phone is surprised to see Auston.

“Oh hey.” Jeremy is a little skeptical, but knowing how important Auston is you Mackie he doesn’t question it.

“So I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but earlier I heard your phone call with Mackie.” He totally meant to eavesdrop but he wouldn’t admit it. “You’re a good man Swayman. And it might take a little more for Mitch to see it, but you really do love Mackie. And I’m glad she has someone like you.”

“Thanks Auston. You mean a lot to Mackie, so your approval is very important to her. And what’s important to Mackie is important to me.” Auston extends his hand out for a hand shake but Jeremy being Jeremy pulls him into a quick hug. “Now I got a plane to catch so I can see my girl.”

“We just finished the game and your already talking about that girl?” Brad Marchand hit Sways back and teases him, “You’re such a simp.”

“I’m a proud simp for Mackie Marner .” Both Auston and Brad laughs as Jeremy rushes out so he can hurry back to his girl.

Mitch by no means hated Jeremy and Mackie’s relationship, but the idea of his little sister dating anyone especially someone on the rival hockey team to his, didn’t sit right with him. But that was until, Jeremy did something that completely changed his perspective.

The maple leafs had just played the Bruins again this time in Boston. The leafs had decided to stay in Boston for a few days before leaving back to Toronto. So Mackie closed her restaurant for the day and decided to host both the leafs and the bruins for dinner. But a few things had gone wrong causing the girl stress.

It was the middle of the day so the staff had plenty of time to prepare everything. During this time, little things happened that all piled up causing Mackie to be on edge. Things such as some dropping knives or someone not following her instructions. She keeps her composure to the best of her abilities, since she doesn’t want to ruin the dinner.

Everyone started to arrive at 6:30 which was 30 minutes before the dinner started. Mackie doesn’t know because she is concentrating on the food. She is so concentrated that her staff even starts to worry about her.

“If you can’t chop it properly I’ll do it myself.” Mackie doesn’t mean to sound rude, but she doesn’t have time to apologize since her brain is currently running 100 miles per hours. She starts to cut veggies as fast as she can but because she is being careless, she cuts her finger. “Fuck, Eric please take over.”

She runs her hand under the sink hoping to stop the bleeding, but the cut was much deeper then she thought.

“Chef are you okay? you should probably get that checked out. It looks pretty deep.” Eric, one of the first chefs Mackie hired, finished chopping and check on Mackie. But as any girl can tell you, when you are trying not to cry and someone asks if you are okay or are you crying, you feel like you need to cry even more.

“it’s just a cut I’ll be fine.” She didn’t mean to raise her voice but her frustration caused her to do so. Jeremy who is talking to Mitch and Auston, hears Mackie and heads to the kitchen in concern not knowing that Mitch was right behind him.

When he entered the kitchen, everyone was working hard, but Mackie was no where in sight.

“After she yelled, she said sorry to me before she grabbed a cloth and ran off to her office.” Eric said standing next to the sink. “I can finish the dinner,but that cut of hers needs attention so could you try and get her out of the office.”

Jeremy quickly thanks Eric before heading to the office.

“Hey pretty girl, you wanna talk?” No response.

“Baby, we’ve talked about this you have to talk to me when you’re upset, we are a team.”

The door to the office opens and reveals a crying Mackie who is holding a bloody towel to her cut.

“I just wanted tonight to be perfect.” Jeremy pulls Mackie into a hug. “But before I got here Maddie and I got into a fight and I tried to ignore it to keep the night perfect, and then little things kept happening and now my stupid finger won’t stop bleeding.”

“Whatever you and Maddie are mad about I’m sure it’s nothing, you two are like sisters.” Jeremy sits Mackie down while looking at her cut. “And everyone out there loves you too, so no matter what you served us we would thinks it’s perfect.”

Mitch (just like Auston) listened in from outside the office to make sure his sister was okay but not to interfere in their moment. (Steph would be so proud)

“I know you are going to try and fight me on this but this cut is really deep. We should get you to a hospital.” Mackie shoots Jer a look of disapproval but before she can voice that disapproval, Jeremy stops her. “I will go get your brother and Auston, then we will carry you to the hospital.”

“Off the ice, I’m faster than all three of you.” Her confidence makes Jeremy smile in adoration.

“Seriously thought I’m no professional but how deep this looks I wouldn’t be surprised if you had nerve damage as well.” Jeremy has seen his fair share of hockey injuries as well has had to deal with his own so that is why this cut was so concerning.

“Could we go out the back door?” Mackie says through tears, “I don’t want Mitchy to see me cry.”

“Anything you want if that means you’ll go to the hospital.” Jeremy goes into Mackie’s purse and grabs a makeup wipe and hands it to her. “I know you’ll be upset if I let you go out with your mascara running so go ahead and wipe off your makeup as I go and tell everyone that you’re okay and where we are going.”

Mackie nods and Jer kisses her forehead before he leaves her office shutting the door behind him. He then sees Mitch.

“She’s alright.” Jeremy says not to relieve Mitch but almost as to relieve himself from his worry.

“I know she is, because she’s in good hands.”Jeremy is surprised when Mitch hugs him. It’s quick but still shocking, “She’s the most stubborn person I know, and that’s saying a lot because we are hockey players, but you are careful and collected with her. You are the one for her.”

Mitch tells Jer that he would handle telling everyone and to call him when the doctors know what’s wrong.

Despite the high stress of the situation, Jeremy couldn’t help but smile the whole time.

#hockey imagine #nhl blurb #nhl imagine #jeremy swayman blurb #jeremy swayman

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mariesjordans · 5 months ago

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Oh yeah I had this idea where Marie and Jordan were Internet friends - with one key difference: they don't reveal that they're supes. It just felt like giving the other a reason to hate them.

Then they meet at God u and underneath the animosity there's this familiarity that nags at them.

Hxjsjdhdks

I know this isn't a drabble idea but sjsksbsj

Comfort Zone

(1.2k words) i’m rusty hope you like

There was something about them, something she couldn’t quite put her finger on. Like she’d met them in a past life or an old friend you knew once as a child.

What they said replayed in her head all day. Despite how they got under her skin, she couldn’t let it go.

“All progress takes place outside the comfort zone”

3 days earlier

J: [I think you’re overthinking]

Jordan had never thought themself to be the motivational type but there was something about this girl. They wanted the best for her and they’d ensure she knew she deserved it.

They felt like they knew her entirely but not at all at the same time. The girl wouldn’t even give them her first name under the excuse that “the mystery is what keeps their friendship alive”.

Friendship…. the old Jordan would kick himself right now because of course they managed to fall for a girl through a screen.

Jordan’s thoughts were interrupted by the ping on their phone, they rolled over and unlocked it.

M: [I’m not overthinking, it’s a new school. New people, new everything it’s… nerve wracking to say the least]

Jordan smiles waiting for the girl to finish rambling, knowing they were due a few more text bubbles before they can successfully calm her down.

M: [I mean i’m not like antisocial but at the same time I can’t see myself just walking up to somebody and us hitting it off and your silence is really starting to freak me out!]

J: [I wanted to let you have your moment before pulling you back to reality, you know where the rest of us live]

M: [I’m glad you can find entertainment admist my turmoil]

J: [I can find amusement during your dramatics yes]

M: [I will block you]

J: [You’ve had a year and a half to block me, good luck living without me]

M: [Thumbs down]

Jordan smiles a bit to herself, continuing.

J: [Look the way I see it, all progress takes place outside the comfort zone. A quote I live by]

M : [That was not helpful and I know you just googled that]

J : [Listen i’m free tomorrow and i’ll have my phone on hand so you can talk to me whenever, it’ll also make you look super busy deal?]

M: [Deal]

Present

“She hasn’t even told you her name and you’re talking like she’s the one, excuse me if I’m a bit concerned.” Luke kicked his feet up on the desk in front of him to immediately be knocked off by Jordan.

“I didn’t say she’s the one I just said I wouldn’t mind if I knew someone like her in real life, and respect the desk man.”

“You’ve been checking your phone all day waiting to be her knight in shining armor.” Cate pipes up from the couch across the office.

“No one asked you! And as for you- “ Jordan cuts eyes at Luke. “Why do I even bother telling you anything alone if you’re just gonna relay the information to barbie”.

“Play nice Jordan.” Andre walks in and Jordan sinks into their chair because yes of course all three of them teaming up against him as usual.

“Yeah be nice Jordan.” Cate stuck her tongue out to make a point met with Jordan rolling her eyes.

“I’m still trying to figure out why you invited that freshman to come out with us don’t you have enough on your plate.” Jordan pointed between Cate and Luke.

“I know this comes as a shocker to you my friend but some of us are capable of friendship with other beings without intentions of jumping in their pants.”

“What are you trying to insinuate here!” Jordan knew exactly where this was going but didn’t have the care to stop it.

“What he’s saying is maybe we do wish your dream girl was real and present cause that’s the most committed any of us have seen you in all 3 years of knowing you.” Cate teases as she grabs her things. “Anyways it’s getting around that time, we need to go get ready.”

“Oh is that what you’re doing, getting ready?”

Cate makes a point to flip Jordan off as Luke trails after her followed by Andre blowing kisses and shutting the door.

Jordan rests his eyes for a moment, a moment that didn’t last long seeing as they jumped at their phone the minute it pinged.

M: [Day is going decent so far, I got invited to hang out with this guy. One of the people he hangs with seems like a total douche though. I can probably get around it.]

J: [I like this change of spirit on you, I’d be careful though you just met this guy. Define “hang out”.]

Jordan cringed knowing they sounded like a jealous boyfriend, but hoping it went over her head.

M: [He seems laid back, plus I think I can take him. I guess we’re going to some club.]

J: [Weird.]

M: [Don’t make me second guess myself what happened to the inspirational you I was getting this morning!]

J: [No that’s not what I meant, I mean we kind of have the same plans tonight.]

A bit too similar.

M: [ Awesome, well I’ll hit you for a drunk texting session later and tell you all about it.]

J: [You wanna get drunk with these guys first night out???]

M: [I’m KIDDING, you can put the guns down superman I got this]

J: [Superman doesn’t use guns.]

That night

“Staring daggers at her all night isn’t gonna magically make her explode Jordan”

Cate nudged them as they eyed the new girl at the bar with Luke, “Marie” excessively giggling at something they knew couldn’t have been that funny.

“Don’t they seem a bit too comfortable to you.”

“Oh no you’re not gonna turn this on me, and you’re especially not gonna turn me on that girl, she’s adorable!”

“I agree!” Andre plopped down on the couch next to Jordan, the music was loud but Andre was still yelling a lot louder than need be.

“I just don’t understand where you guys got this random urge to let this girl into our circle 3 years into this friendship.”

Cate shared a look with Andre before they both bursted into giggles.

“Somebody sounds possessive! Maybe we should make the bed up for four instead tonight.” Jordan cringed and pushed Andre away from them.

“You guys aren’t funny i’m being serious.”

“We know that’s the sad part.” Jordan looked at the bar as Marie tried to help Luke balance their round of shots on a slim tray.

“Give her a chance.” Jordan opened their mouth to protest but Cate quickly cut them off “Give. her. a. chance. Promise me!”

Jordan remained silent.

“Promise me Jordan!”

“Fine!”

“Not a fan of dancing?” Jordan once again mentally kicking themself trying to make small talk.

Marie stared forward at Andre pulling out some of his most ridiculous moves as Luke and Cate encouraged his antics, stopping only to look at Jordan-bewildered.

“Wow he says more than 2 words and is capable of different facial expressions outside a death glare, color me shocked.”

Jordan felt their irritation rise and fall reminding themself of the promise they made Cate.

“I’m….. sorry.”

Marie took them in for a second, his eyes genuine.

“I know I just kind of showed up and barged my way in but I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable, I promise.”

“Well, all progress takes place outside-“

“-the comfort zone.” Marie eyed them for a second.

Then it hit her….. it should be impossible but….. it was…. it was them.

Totally down to continue this btw if anyone wants. I’m writing requests rn but I have more for this one I wanna do. Also I proofread a few times but sorry for any spelling errors.

#jordan li #marie moreau #mariejordan #jaz sinclair #london thor #derek luh #gen v prime #gen v amazon #gen v fic #gen v #mariesjordanswrites #gen v fanfiction #mariejordan fanfiction #mariejordan fanfic #first fic back don’t kill me #jordan uses any pronouns

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poseidonsdaughterthesiren · 9 months ago

Text

The Daughter of Poseidon: Chapter Six

Della has to admit flying on a bronze dragon’s back is a surreal feeling. Up high the air is frigid. But thanks to the heat Festus generates they don’t feel it at all. Talk about seat warmers!

Leo uses reins to steer Festus through the clouds like a reindeer. They zip through the clouds with ease the rest of the world below is nothing but a speck.

“Cool right?” Leo says. A pleased smile coats his features.

“What if we get spotted?” asks Piper.

“The mist,” Jason and Della say at the same time. Jason smiles at her.

“It keeps mortals from seeing magic things,” Della explains, “Only seers will notice anything out of the ordinary.”

Her mind goes back to the memory of Luke. His poor mother–

“Seers?” asks Leo.

“Mortals who can see through the mist,” Jason answers.

Della glances back at him and notices he’s holding a photo of a girl, a girl with dark hair. Is that…Thaila?

Jason glances up at her. He sheepishly puts the photo back in his pocket.

“We’re making good time probably get there by tonight.”

“Get where?” Della asks. “I thought you didn’t have a plan.”

Jason laughs, “We’re going to find the god of the North Wind. And chase some storm spirits.”

⬳

The silence had begun to drive Della insane. Typically, when she and her friends went on quests they couldn’t shut up. Percy, in particular never shut up on their quests.

“So,” Piper says. Oh, thank the gods. “Della earlier you said you’re a cursed child…what exactly does that mean?”

Leo sat up straight at the head of the dragon. “You’re cursed?!?”

Della laughs dryly. “Sometimes I wonder, but being a cursed child means that you’re an offspring of the Big Three.”

“The Big Three?” Piper asks. “Do you mean, like Zeus, Hades, and–”

“Poseidon, yeah. They made a pack to not have kids. It’s a loose promise. Anyways, all three have broken it in recent years. We’re more forbidden than cursed.”

“So, are you, your brother, and Jason the only ones?” asks Leo.

“No there’s Nico Di Angelo a son of Hades, and Thalia Grace…she’s a daughter of Zeus but has taken up with the Hunters of Artemis.”

“So why did make a pact if they break it?” asks Piper.

“We’re considered ‘too powerful’ which is fair Percy can take on a whole army by himself, and I–we don’t fully know what all I can do yet.” Della looks down at her lap.

She’s always felt second best to Percy, especially after he took on the Curse of Achilles. She doesn’t understand all she can do. The only thing she does know is her fate, her usual nightmare. Meeting a similar end to Thesus. Being betrayed and thrown over a cliff–but instead of into the sea, it’s Asphodel. She’d seen it in person back when she was twelve, on her first quest.

Della shivers at the thought of the horrid place.

“Shut up me,” Leo says out of nowhere.

“What?” Piper asks.

“Nothing,” he says, “Long night. I think I’m hallucinating. It’s cool.”

Jason, Piper, and Della all share looks of concern.

“Just joking.” Leo decides to change the subject. “So what’s the plan bro? You said something about catching wind, breaking wind, or something?”

As they fly over New England, Jason lays out the game plan. First, find Boreas and grill him for information–

“His name is Boreas?” Leo has to ask. “What is he the God of Boring?”

Second, Jason continues, they have to find the spirits that attacked them at the Grand Canyon–

“Venti? Do you mean anemoi thuellai?” asks Della.

“Can we just call them storm spirits?” Leo asks, “Venti makes them sound like evil expresso drinks and the other one sounds harder.”

And third, Jason finishes, they had to find out who the storm spirits work for, so they could find Hera and free her.

“So you want to look for Dylan, the nasty storm dude, on purpose?”

“That’s about it. Well…there might be a wolf involved too. I think she’s friendly…so she probably won’t eat us, unless we show her weakness–”

“I’m sorry…a wolf?” asks Della. She turns around and faces him.

Jason explains his dream of Lupa the murder-wolf and a burned-out house with stone spires growing out of the swimming pool.

“Uh-huh, but you don’t know where this place is?” asks Leo.

“Nope.”

“Lovely…” says Piper.

“Sounds about right for a forbidden child’s quest.” Della turns back towards the others.

“There are also giants, the prophecy said “The giants’ revenge” Piper reminds them.

“Hold on,” Leo says, “Giants? As in more than one? Why can’t it be one giant who wants revenge?”

“Too easy,” Della mutters.

“I don’t think so,” Piper muses, “I remember in some of the old Greek stories, there was something about an army of giants.”

“But they haven’t been seen for centuries, but then again neither had Kronos.”

“Great…knowing our luck it will be a whole army,” Leo says. “You learn anything else while doing research for your dad Pipes?”

“Your dad?” Della asks.

“Umm yeah, he’s an actor, Tristan McLean.” Piper mumbles.

“What was he in?” asks Della and Jason.

“I’m surprised Della doesn’t know.”

“Hmmm….oh wait…wait! Yes! He’s the Aphrodite’s cabin top pick this year!”

Piper sighs. “That’s why he’s on the wall in my cabin.”

“Yeah, they pick a new “hottie” every year.”

Piper looks about ready to heave off to the side.

Leo on the other hand cackles. “That’s the only reason you’ve heard of him?”

“I mean I vaguely remember the movie posters. But Percy, Beth, and I don’t go to movies very often.”

“You don’t go to movies?” Leo asks.

“Look I don’t go out very much in the mortal world unless I’m thirdwheeling.”

It was a sad truth, Della didn’t really go out that often. It just wasn’t her style. Of course, she’s been to movies over the past few years but is has always been with Annabeth and Percy. Mostly, because Percy drug her carcass out with them.

“Thirdwheeling?” The others ask.

Della sighs. “Not to change the subject, but I’m gonna….giants, we were discussing the giants.”

“The giants–well there were loads in Greek mythology. But if I’m thinking of the right ones they were bads news.

“Extremely bad news,” Della sighs. “They rose after Krono's first downfall–eons ago. They could throw mountains and things of that nature. Like the Titans, they too tried to destroy Olympus. If these are the same giants–”

“Chiron said it was happening again,” Jason says. “The last chapter–that’s what he meant. No wonder he didn’t want us to know all the details.”

Leo whistles. “So…giants who can throw mountains. A wolf-mother who will eat us if we show weakness. Evil Starbucks drinks. Got it. Maybe not the best time to bring up my psycho babysitter.”

“You’re joking,” Piper says.

Leo tells them about Tîa Callida, who was Hera, and how she’d appeared to him at camp. He fills them in on his past. How his mom died. And finally tells them about a woman in earthen robes who seemed to be asleep.

“That’s disturbing…” says Piper.

“Bout sums it up. The thing is everyone says not to trust Hera. And the prophecy says we’ll unleash death if we cause her rage. So… I gotta ask…why are we doing this?”

“Because the gods–she chose us,” Della sighs, “I will admit you guys have it a bit rougher than my first quest.”

“What do you mean?” Jason asks.

“You,” she points at Jason. “Have no memory. But I’m not that worried about your fighting ability. This is definitely not your first quest.” She looks over at Leo and Piper. “You two have absolutely no training. At least Percy and I had two weeks…then again we were twelve…”

“You were twelve?!?!” Piper and Leo say in disbelief.

“You only had two weeks of training?” asks Jason.

Della shrugs and smiles a bit. “ Zeus accused me and Percy of stealing his master bolt. Even though we didn’t know we were half-bloods.”

“Holy–how’re you alive?”

“Luck?” Della laughs. “Anyways the other reason we have to do this is–this quest will kick off something bigger. This is an antecedent.”

“And helping Hera is the only way to get back my memory. That dark spire in my dream seemed to be feeding off Hera’s energy. If that thing unleashes a king of giants by destroying Hera–”

“Not a good trade-off,” Piper agrees. “At least Hera is on our side.”

“Mostly–she’s the peacekeeper. The only thing that keeps the gods from annihilating each other,” Della chimes in.

Jason nods, “Chiron said worse forces are stirring on the day of the solstice, with it being a good time for dark magic, and all–something that could awaken if Hera were sacrificed that day. And a mistress who’s controlling storm spirits, the one who wants to kill all demigods–”

“Might be that weird sleeping dirt lady.” finishes Leo.

“If she’s asleep that means we have some time,” says Della.

“Yeah, Dirt Woman fully awake,” Leo says, “not something I want to see.”

“But who is she?” Jason asks, “And what does she have to do with the giants?”

Good questions, no answers. The wind blew colder the further north they went.

Della rubs her hands together to keep warm and then rubs at her eyes.

“Hey,” Jason leans forward, “get some sleep, Ariel. We need our guide.”

“I’ll take you up on that Hercules. You do the same,” she whispers.

She closes her eyes and dozes off.

#oc character #percy jackon and the olympians #percy jackson #heroes of olympus #percy and annabeth #percyjacksonxsister!reader #jason grace x jackson!reader #fanfic #jason grace x reader

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lfghughes · 1 year ago

Note

could you write something for luke based on kill bill by sza

a/n: i've now been playing this song on repeat for the past couple of days. hope you like it!

This whole staying friends things had been a horrible idea and you had only agreed to it because it meant Luke would still be in your life. Maybe a part of you naively thought that if you remained in his life that eventually he would want to be together again. Guess you were wrong about that because now he had a new girlfriend. Of course he also was clueless to the way your attitude would shift when she was brought up or was around.

You had remained pretty active in his life, you were still a fan of his and he still invited you to his games. You were also close to a lot of the boys on his team but now you felt like you hung out with the boys more than you did with him because he was spending a lot of his time with his new girlfriend. You knew this anger inside of you was unreasonable and you tried to be mature and push it to the side but you couldn’t.

“I heard Luke is actually coming out tonight.” You heard one of the boys say and your ears perked up. Not that you had known anything because he hadn’t messaged you about coming to meet you all. One of the boys had invited you to this hangout and it was fun but you still missed the good old days. It didn’t take long for Luke to show up, his arm around his girlfriend and you did your very best to not roll your eyes. Be mature, you reminded yourself.

This mature thing sucked. You finally understood the saying ‘if I can’t have him, no one else can’ because that is literally what you were thinking when it came to Luke. Not that you would actually physically say that to either of them but you could sure as heck think it at least. “Hey.” Luke told you as he nudged your shoulder playfully as he sat down next to you, his girlfriend sitting on his other side. “Hey.” You replied, keeping it simple and short as you got up from your seat. You needed something to drink and to be far away from him.

You made your way to the kitchen, leaving all the boys to their video games in their little man cave. Maybe hanging out with them is better when Luke isn’t around if this is how you were going to feel the whole time. You grabbed a cup and looked through the fridge for something good. “So you gonna tell me why the hell you just gave me the cold shoulder like that?” Lukes voice came from behind you and you jumped from the surprise of him being in the room.

“I didn’t, I said hey.” You pointed out as you closed the fridge behind you and turned around to look at him. “Don’t act like that’s your normal hello.” Of course he knew you too well, even if he liked to pretend otherwise both of you had dated for a good chunk of time. “Honest truth?” You asked him, irritated at him, this situation, and everything in between. Forget being mature. “Seeing you with your new girlfriend bothers me and I wish it didn’t but it does so yeah, not really in the mood to talk with either of you.” His jaw fell slightly open like you had caught him off guard.

“Don’t worry, I’m going home anyways this night is lame.” You told him with a shrug. “Come on, you don’t have to do that.” But you weren’t going to stick around not after your confession either. You waved off his words and started towards the door. “Have a good night, Luke.”

#luke hughes #luke hughes x reader #luke hughes fic #luke hughes imagine

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askbensolo · 5 months ago

Text

Journal Entry #43: laundry day

“I can understand why your mother has a protective tendency over you,” Fannie said, neatly folding a pair of pants. “You gave us quite a scare when you ran away.”

I made a face. I hated remembering that event, even if I couldn’t remember much. The night that Snoke convinced me to leave home and meet him in secret... I never ended up meeting him, but I did leave. The whole thing was a blur, and I had woken up in the medcenter a few days later.

“That was six years ago," I muttered, balling a pair of socks together and tossing it at the open drawer. I missed.

“Six years isn’t a very long time to older people,” Fannie pointed out.

"Well, don't tell my mom you think she's old."

"I never said that," Fannie said primly, "and I would never dream of disrespecting the Huttslayer in such a way." She started to hand me a pair of underwear, blushing, then stopped.

"Oh...the front needs to be sewn up. I could fix it for you, if you like."

I looked at it, and then at her, not sure what to say.

"It...it's supposed to be like that."

"It is?"

"Yeah."

She looked at me blankly, the very picture of a girl who had only had sisters.

I suppressed an awkward laugh. "Want me to explain?"

She went red. "Goodness, no." She thrust it at me and drew one of her tunics from the pile.

"...Anyway," I went on. "I just feel like I've changed so much, and it's not fair that the things that happened when I was younger are still being held against me like this."

"It's not you she doesn't trust, Ben. It's Snoke."

"Okay, but how does that play out practically?” I countered. “It’s me she’s always checking up on. Even if she has backed off a little. Every time I go home, or every time she calls me, she’s always gotta ask. ‘No more voices, right?’ I’ve been fine for years. I mean, the only thing keeping any of that alive is her, every time she brings it up and back into the present.”

I balled up another pair of socks and flung it hard. Missed again. Fannie bent down and put them in for me.

“You don’t have to do that, Fan.”

“Oh, I’m right here anyway.”

I sighed. “I just want to move on and forget about what happened. And I’m doing that. But she isn’t.”

“I think she’s right to be cautious,” Fannie said, sounding rather careful herself. “She doesn’t want to lose you again. And neither do I, or any of your other friends.”

I grumbled and tossed the last ball of socks, barely even trying. It went sideways, but course-corrected itself in mid-air and roosted cleanly in the drawer. I turned to Fannie, who had her hands behind her back and a look of wide-eyed innocence.

“Nice one, Fan.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

I stacked a bunch of folded gym shorts on top of each other and chucked them into the closet. “I don’t even know what Snoke would do with me now, anyway. He never told me why he was trying to win me over—or if he did, he made it so I can’t remember now—but it doesn’t take a genius to figure it must have had something to do with the Skywalker blood. My Force potential—or whatever. He wanted me to train with my uncle. And I’ve tried to tell that to my mom. That if I went to go train with Luke, I'd probably just be playing into Snoke's hands somehow.”

I leaned half of my weight against the bed, spreading my arms to gesture around the room. “I’m safer here. Just a normal guy with a bachelor’s degree and a one-bedroom apartment he can’t afford, in a city he loves, living out the rest of his natural days in corporate hell like the Force intended.”

“I thought you said you were happy with your life,” Fannie remarked dryly.

“Oh, I am," I assured her. "Did you miss the 'city he loves' bit? Anyway—what’s Snoke gonna do with me now that I’ve got a bachelor’s in Journalism and no Force training? Make me write dark-side propaganda? Oh wait, I’m already doing that.”

“You’re so bad, Ben.”

“I’m a realist is what you mean," I corrected. "But what I mean is…I don’t see why he’d come after me anymore. I’ve rejected my bloodline. Rejected the Force. So…I’m not useful to him, or anyone else who’d want to control me. I’m safe.”

Fannie looked uncertain. “It does seem like you’re doing a lot better these days. And I do hope you’re right. But, I don’t know, Ben…I don’t think someone spends seventeen years poisoning a young mind through the Force, just to give up and disappear.”

“Well, that’s what it sure looks like to me,” I said, putting my hands on her shoulders to gently move her out of my path and sidling past. “He spent years priming me to be his little toy blaster, only for me to beat him and win. Can’t blame him for not wanting to show his face ever again."

I kicked the sock drawer closed with a satisfying thud.

#askbensolo #written #ben's diary #fannie #snoke #story event: an awkward situation 2

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misc-obeyme · 5 months ago

Note

YEAHHH SOLOMAMS FOR THE WIN- I'VE GOT KINDA AN OUTLINE OF THE SONGFIC TOO !! Preview straight from my notes that I wrote on the bus (the ring thing is something I've started doing):

"I wanted to say 10 because i have to go to bed at 10, but simeon said that was too early! So you better have him back here in one piece by 12. And no later!"

"Alright, fido. Back in one piece, got it" Mammon visibly fidgeting with his pinky ring, twisting it around his finger.

"H-hey um... Solomon's been trying to decide on what to wear all day. We've been trying to keep him out of the kitchen as well because he wanted to bake you something. He's just as nervous as you, even if he doesn't show it. So... Don't worry, alright?"

also horchata anything is to die for. There was some people selling agua fresca in a parking lot and I begged my mom to turn there so I could buy us some aksjdj.

And yes!! I keep getting videos of people making lace with all the bobbins!! Raphael would make the coolest stuff I bet!

OKAY THE LAST PART OF MY ASK GOT NAUGHTY LMAO, JUST A WARNING:

HELP, YEAH IT WOULD DEFINITELY COME UP WHEN THEY'RE GETTING FRISKY AJSJD. please imagine solomon takes off his shirt during and both Mammon and I point at different tattoos and are like "hey! I've seen a photo of that at the shop I go to!" and everyone does the spiderman meme pose "wait! you know about Reaper's Cave Studio?! How?!"

(Cue the three of them getting sidetracked examining Solomon's tattoos that they forget what they were originally doing.)

Like thirteen def posts on social media but also has photos on the wall/in a binder of past work she's done. And Sol is her test dummy, so his tattoos appear a lot.

Mine would just be a scattering of star sparkle tattoos on my collarbone, but easy to hide under my shirts so the boys usually never see them (similar to my sign off basically). I have an idea about the boys and my tattoos and it involves the constellations ,,,heh

akskf okay okay listen, about Mammon's piercing ,,,, hey man,,, h-hear me out,,, AKDJFJ pls im making myself sweat thinking about it because. I have. Thoughts and feelings that need to stay in my mind. But he definitely has nipple piercings and a dick piercing. I follow this artist on patreon and I can't imagine him any other way 😭 like, the one where it's on the underside across? The jacobs ladder one is maybe what I'm thinking of ?? I'm not about to google that to see if I'm right though. But yeah! He just,,, looks good in gold is all I'll say-

IF I HAD ANYTHING ELSE TO SAY I CAN'T REMEMBER BUT YIPPEE SLEEPOVER SCENE SOON OKAY BYEE

- ✨ anon

a;lksdfjf LUKE being all protective and then reassuring Mammon in the next sentence I CANNOT.

I love when the Purgatory Hall crew act like a lil family it's so cute! And Mammon being all nervous ahhh precious babies!!

Horchata is delicious and I will get it at every opportunity! A friend of mine had horchata at their wedding and they had a couple gallons left over and they just gave it all to me 'cause they knew how much I love it. Truly the best week of my life lol!

YES the lace bobbins!!! I was like I can see it in my mind, Raphael getting all crazy about it and making intricate patterns with that stuff like it's no big deal...

AH that is EXACTLY the scenario I was imagining!!! Just everybody being like wait that tattoo!!! LOL!!

I love that you just recognize Solomon's from Thirteen's portfolio lol that is perfection! And it does make sense if he has a bunch from her!

Star sparkle tattoos I love it... also constellations!!

AH I want nipple piercings so bad! Um, but anyway, yes you are thinking of the Jacob's Ladder! It's barbells that go down the bottom of the shaft, so they're like rungs! I think three is the standard but I'm sure you could do more if you want. Anyway, I totally imagine the same thing I cannot believe that Mammon doesn't have at least one dick piercing and the Jacob's Ladder situation just seems like what he'd go for!

I'm also just obsessed with piercings in general so perhaps that has to do with it. But he's the only one who actually has piercings in canon that we know of, so who's to say he doesn't have a Jacob's Ladder, right??

The only reason he doesn't have canon nipple piercings is because Solmare are cowards lol.

That boy definitely looks good in gold...

WOO sleepover!!

#listen here you are not helping my Mammon brain rot #I've been thinking about him a lot lately #obey me #obey me mammon #obey me solomon #✨ anon #misc answers

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tridentqueen · 5 months ago

Note

share your thoughts about ep 1 and pls give us a spoiler

Hello! Thank you for asking ❤️ Putting everything under the cut!

Just in case: I do not mention book spoilers for the Dance itself, but I do bring in like one or two points from Fire & Blood related to scenes in the episode.

This is all going off memory, so it might be a little jumbled. Also, this is not an invitation to start team discourse or character bashing. That’s not what this blog is for. That said, I’m happy to talk more about the episode if anyone wants!

Overall I thought it was a good episode until the end (more on that later). The beginning was a little rough with the number of short scenes/cuts (is that the right word? lol), but I totally understand the necessity of getting all the major players on the screen in the first few minutes.

I am a Stark girlie first, so it was nice to see the North again and hear the Winterfell theme. With very little direct mention of the White Walkers, I’m curious to see if the show leans into the Song of Ice and Fire prophecy going forward. This is a complete aside, but I’m not really sure how I feel about it. I’m pretty sure Aegon’s dream came straight from Martin, but idk if I buy that the knowledge survived Maegor. Maybe Aegon the Uncrowned told Rhaena, and she told Jaehaerys? I don’t know.

ANYWAY I guess I thought we would have a longer scene with Jace and Cregan showing more of their friendship or bond, but with only 8 episodes this season the writers couldn’t really allow that to breathe. In a world with 9 or even 10 episodes this season, I think (and this is totally off the cuff) a good premiere would have covered Jace’s time in the North, Rhaenyra searching for Luke and deciding that she will go to war, Team Black’s grief, the Greens finding out about Luke’s death and their reactions/realizing war is no doubt inevitable now/etc. and leaving Blood & Cheese for the second episode.

Rhaenyra’s scenes were extremely powerful. Emma is such an amazing actor, and you can really feel Rhaenyra’s grief and anger. Jace’s return, their embrace, and Luke’s funeral were excellent. I wish there had been more time to explore their grief, but I get it.

Rhaenys’s “Would that you were king” was so great lmao. I loved Rhaenys in the book, and I’m looking forward to seeing her role this season. Corlys wasn’t really in the episode a lot, but his scene with Alyn was interesting. It wasn’t clear to me what exactly their relationship with each other is at this point, but we’ll see how the show approaches it.

I don’t have super strong feelings about Daemon telling Blood & Cheese to go after Aemond. I know before the episode aired some people were mad because they thought it was going to be another case of misunderstanding/them going rogue on their own, but I thought the episode made it pretty clear that he told them off-screen to kill Helaena’s son if they couldn’t find Aemond. Jaehaerys and Helaena were the targets from the get-go in the book, and there is lots to be said about the dishonor of targeting a child during a war and the psychological damage his death was intended to inflict, but this is a change I’m personally okay with. I totally understand if people aren’t, though.

Aegon was great! I’d seen TGC being referred to as one of the standouts of the first four episodes, and wow is that completely right. He seems to me the type of dad who likes to play with the kids but then won’t discipline them haha. Tyland beefing with Jaehaerys was hilarious. Aegon is still new at the whole king thing, and I’ll admit I was side-eying him a little with Otto when he was like “yeah, everyone can get everything they’re asking for, it’s whatever” but as my friend (and others) pointed out it completely tracks with him wanting to be liked by everyone. It also is a good continuation of his coronation scene – you can see him transform when the crowd starts to cheer, so it makes sense that he’d want to keep that energy going, especially with a rival claimant.

Also, I think Otto is such a fun character. Him immediately turning to walk up the steps of the throne as soon as Aegon said anything was so funny to me. I know a lot of people hate Otto, but I do think he’s a good Hand of the King.

I’m really interested to see how Alicent’s arc goes this season, how much influence she’ll have as the war goes on and all that and how she’ll feel about everything. Right now her and Otto are both frustrated by Aegon (and Aemond) so I’m excited by the potential there. I’m also curious about her reaction next episode – she’s still wanting peace right now (understandable! Dragons going to war only brings death and destruction, fire & blood) but that might change after Jaehaerys’s murder. We shall see.

I’m fine with Alicole happening because it was clear in season 1 that they were devoted to each other, but I wish we had gotten more build up to it rather than just starting the episode with them together because it just raises a ton of questions. When did they start, being the obvious one. And them being together during Blood & Cheese was ridiculous. I’ve seen some people blaming them for it even happening, which is also silly.

On the topic of Blood & Cheese… wow I hated how they adapted it. The entire reason they sneaked in through the secret passageways in the book was because of the sheer number of guards in the Red Keep. Yet in the show there’s not a single one in the wing in which the royal family reside? Please be serious. And them just walking through the throne room? Stop. I’m assuming they’re trying to go with everyone having a sense of guilt over it but come on.

And Helaena’s reaction was way too muted. I understand that she was disassociating, but to only have her offer her necklace and then just point Jaehaerys out? No. My friend mentioned to me that in Helaena’s first scene she is saying something like “they only want the boy,” which I completely missed, so she apparently already saw it happening. And I think that could have opened the door (and maybe it will in future episodes, I can’t say) to explore how Helaena’s dreams “work” – the show hasn’t really done a lot with it, and I think it would have been really powerful if Helaena did all she could to try to change it. A “I saw this happening, but I’m going to fight tooth and nail to prevent my dream from coming true and prove the future is not set in stone” type of thing and then the tragedy of maybe it cannot be changed, after all.

Blood & Cheese is one of (if not THE) worst moments of the entire Dance and it’s a moment that was supposed to really make the viewers ask themselves “what is the cost of the Iron Throne?” And the heartbreak of Helaena, after realizing Blood & Cheese will not kill her instead in exchange for her sons’ lives, having to choose between her children and then having to live with that choice. This was supposed to be a Catelyn Stark at the Red Wedding moment, but instead more people are talking about Alicole or the dog being kicked than a child being murdered. Phia’s performance was great though.

All of the actors are phenomenal, and I was super excited to see everyone again. We are so fucking back! (This was way longer than I thought it would be. Anon I’m sorry if you didn’t intend for me to write so much! Haha)

Spoilers for part two (pretty minor imo):

Since Aly and Aegon will be separated for most of the war, there will be more Aegon POV chapters than part one.

I will be including a scene where the Greens find out about Luke’s death because there is so much potential there.

#asks

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callofthxvoid · 1 year ago

Text

WHO: Luke Matthews, Calloway de la Luna, Celia Reyes Ortega

SUMMARY: Three people have dinner and talk about grief.

TW: Mentions of death

luke didn’t feel like his usual self for obvious reasons but most people didn’t actually know why. sure people knew lincoln and him were friends and could chop it up to that but there was more to it than just that. he’d only been leaving his house for work, the bar and to walk lady which is what he was doing now. making sure she could still get her energy out before dusk hit and was letting her run around wherever she wanted to right now.

"I'm just worried about him, I don't know what all he's been up to lately," Cal mumbled as he walked next to Celia. It was their new routine, her coming to the library or him going to the diner, then going back to her place. He'd been sleeping easier now days, less nights spent at the library. He brushed his hand against the back of hers, "Losing someone isn't easy and-" cutting himself off when he spotted Luke and Lady walking towards them. "Well speak of the devil, I was telling Celia it's been a while since I've seen Lady."

Celia was about to take Cal's hand when she heard him calling out to Luke. Looking over at the pair, she greeted them with a warm, if somewhat subdued smile, before crouching down to pet Lady. "Hello beautiful," she greeted, before looking up at Luke. "It is genuinely good to see you, Luke. Both of you." She gave Lady a few more pets before standing back up. "How are you holding up? I… I can't even imagine how you must be feeling at the moment."

the intention wasn’t to run into people but it is a small town after all. luke gave a quick nod to cal and watched as celia pet lady, shrugging at the question. “i’m fine,” he said putting his hands in his pockets. “it’s life i guess, people die in this town all the time what can you do.” he shrugged again.

They'd lost so many people this year, he hadn't known any of them personally. The closest being that reporter who knew Jay's dad's coworker. While he sympathized for them, it hadn't affected his day to day. "Doesn't mean it doesn't hurt still," Cal said studying him, pushing the thoughts of his sister away wanting to focus on Luke. "You eat dinner yet?" Glancing at Celia, technically it wasn't his house, but he hoped she'd understand what it was he was suggesting.

Celia looked at Luke with a slightly worried expression before glancing at Cal. She didn't mind that he had extended the invitation to Luke on her behalf - in fact, that only endeared him to her more. It was exactly what she had planned on doing anyway. "If not, you're very welcome to come over," she filled in. "In fact, I would encourage it. Guillermo is at his other place and Felipe is with Jay. Gives me an excuse to cook for more than two people."

luke only nodded some, it hurt a hell of a lot more than he was willing to show even though it was getting increasingly more difficult to hide just how much this affected him. "not yet, i was just gonna grab something at the diner probably." though he hadn't had an actual home cooked meal since finding out not having the energy to do anything else besides work and caring for lady. "i guess i could come over though, it alright if lady comes with? she's been getting upset when i leave her at home alone."

It was hard to keep his face neutral, part of Cal wanted to just hug Luke and tell him things would be ok. But realistically he couldn't even be sure, that and he knew well enough how hollow that could feel to hear. "Well you have the diner owner offering to cook for you," he tried to joke glancing at her, "No offense to your cooks, but you are the better cook." Bending down to pet Lady on the head, he figured Celia would say yes.

Celia felt a slight sense of relief when Luke agreed to come over for dinner. She laughed softly and shook her head at Cal's comment. "You only think that because at home I cook entirely different food than what we serve at the diner," she reasoned, before looking at Luke again and nodding in the affirmative. "Of course, Lady is always welcome. There might even be a meal in it for her too depending on what I have." Slipping her hand into Cal's, she nodded in the direction that they had been heading in. "Shall we?"

“that’s true i do.” luke managed to chuckle a bit. he nodded some and watched lady enjoy getting all the attention and at the mention of her possibly getting something to her ears perked up. luke shook his head at her with a slight smile and started walking in the direction now. “i’m sorry i didn’t ask, how are you guys?”

It still surprised Cal how easy it had been to fall into step with her, "I have gotten less Luke lectures over my diet not being just coffee now," giving her hand a light squeeze. "Same old same old at the library, other than trying to get Josie to take it easy," he said figuring it be better to take things light for now as they headed back. "Not sure if you heard but she's expecting."

Celia squeezed his hand back before looking over at Luke with a small smile. "It's the same at the diner, just getting used to operating things like normal now that the power is back, and we're not having to pick and choose what to run on the generator," she filled in after Cal's answer. "And the family is good. Now that school is back in session, you might actually see more of my son than I do. When he's not there, he's usually with Jay."

"i saw the paper said she was yeah." surprisingly luke had actually somehow managed to read that at some point, maybe it was a way to distract his mind he wasn't sure since he didn't typically read it. he was looking at the ground as they walked, reaching over a few times to pet lady along the way. "i'm glad powers back on, not that i really needed it for school but i'm sure the kids are glad the ac is back."

Cal grimaced at the mention of the paper, he'd have to check in on her later he thought. Having all your business out there wasn't going to help her out of whatever spiral she kept slipping into. "The kids and Jay seemed pretty happy about," he agreed, "Grateful for having it back for the library, having to open all the windows was getting a bit much." As they walked back he kept an eye on Luke, trying to gauge how he seemed to be doing, not feeling particularly reassured even with the affection he showed Lady.

Celia listened in, letting the two of them carry most of the conversation as they made their way back to her house, occasionally chiming in with a comment. She caught Cal's glances toward Luke a couple of times and each time she squeezed his hand to let him know that she was there. When they got to the house, she unlocked the door and swiftly made her way toward the kitchen. "Please make yourself at home," she called out."Can I get you anything to drink?"

luke nodded in agreement, he wasn't feeling very talkative as they walked so it was mostly cal speaking but he'd still try and chime in to keep the conversation going so neither of them felt like he was ignoring them. he let cal walk inside first then let lady follow behind, closing the door behind himself when he actually walked in. "oh um, i'll just take a water please." luke headed towards the living room instead so he could keep lady in there with him so she wouldn't try and get into the kitchen while celia was in there. "thanks for inviting me over by the way."

Cal had followed Celia into the kitchen grabbing three glasses and a small bowl. He set a water glass near her already knowing how she could be when cooking. Taking the other to Luke and setting the bowl for Lady down. Taking a seat on the couch he took a sip, "Course, you know I always have time for you." He wasn't always this open about his sincerity but with everything going on wasting time on being afraid of making things awkward no longer seemed worth the effort. Taking another sip he debated the elephant in the room before deciding to at least slide into it. "You been sleeping ok? Was pretty hot there for a minute."

Celia smiled at Cal at mouthed a 'thank you' before following him with her gaze as he left the kitchen and walked into the living room. She spent the next time in the kitchen humming to herself and preparing various ingredients. If they needed her, she reasoned, they knew exactly where she was.

luke took the glass and gave a quick nods and thanks before taking a sip from it. he held it in his hand as he leaned against the back of the couch and gave a simple shrug. "yeah a bit, doesn't help i've got this giant fur ball wanting to cuddle at night." he was grateful for it though, he needed it and lady knew that so he really didn't mind. "she's been coming with me to work more often too, the kids have been excited about that."

Cal scratched idly at Lady's head when she came over to sit next to him, he took a long sip sneaking a glance at Celia. He knew she was listening so if this went sideways he hoped she'd step in before he glanced back at Luke. "You know, no one would blame you if you needed to take some time off work. I didn't start at the library till at least a month after I got here. I didn't really feel like myself, least not a me without her," he said briefly grimacing at the end.

Celia continued cooking.

luke shook his head. "i'm fine, i don't need to take the time off work. he was just a friend so whatever, i'll get over it eventually." though he knew he'd told cal and celia otherwise or at the very least mentioned it being his best friend and it would've been easy to put two and two together. "i don't want to take the time off anyway." he needed the company even if it was the form of his students that he had to teach, it still helped.

Cal chewed on his lip as he rubbed the back of his neck, hell he'd barely dealt with his own grief who was he to say anything to him? "This isn't the kind of thing you just get over Luke, and…the way you talked about him, he wasn't just a friend was he?" He wasn't sure at what point they'd reached but with how Luke was talking he was leaning towards them still being in that weird limbo zone.

Celia had forgone humming to herself while cooking in order to listen in on their conversation. She stopped in her tracks when she heard Luke refer to Lincoln as just a friend, a memory of a conversation they'd had a while back resurfacing from the back of her mind, causing her to furrow her eyebrows. Judging from what Cal responded, it seemed the two of them had had a similar conversation, and she quickly went back to preparing their food, albeit paying closer attention to what was being said.

luke was chewing on the inside of his cheek at this point. cal wasn’t technically right but he also wasn’t wrong either. “he was.” he said, taking another drink from his water to try and stop himself from saying anything more at that moment. it took him a second to gather his thoughts before he just blurted it out anyway. “but i wanted us to be more than that.”

Cal's gaze softened as he studied look, without thinking he'd glanced over at Celia while Luke wasn't looking at him. Partly to see if she needed help and partly just for the moral support for all this. Feeling a bit guilty that he had that while Luke didn't. "I'm sorry," he said glancing back at Luke, "How have you been feeling about this, or…are you just holding it in?"

Celia turned to catch Cal's eye, offering him a small smile before mouthing the words 'be right there' and turning her attention back to her cooking, at least until it reached a point where she could leave it alone for a little bit. Luckily, growing up in a house as chaotic as theirs had resulted in a lot of her staple meals being of the 'throw shit into the pan and wait for it to cook' variety. Setting the pan to a simmer, she picked up her glass of water and walked to the frame of the door, leaning against it as the watched the two of them on the couch. "Did you ever get around to telling him?"

luke took a deep breath and fell silent for a while. cal somehow always knew how exactly he was feeling about something even if he didn’t express it and as frustrating as it was in the moment it helped. luke shrugged now, “no i never got to tell him.” he decided to answer celia first since that one was easier. “and i… don’t know. maybe? i guess i haven’t fully come to terms that he’s gone yet.”

Cal had gone back to petting Lady, mostly to not stare at Luke, opting to let him work through his thoughts. He gave Celia a grateful nod, shoulders relaxing when she came over to the doorway. He bit back a sigh at Luke's confession, or well lack of confession. Nodding his gaze fell back to Lady, gently motioning for her to go back to Luke. "Yea that…that's the hard part. You wake up and you don't…you um," swallowing he shrugged, "You forget sometimes, then it hits you again, but uh…it does get easier. It doesn't hurt as much." He managed to give Luke a small smile, "It does get easier, he was a great guy."

Celia had planned on staying in the doorway to the kitchen, but Luke's admission that he hadn't told Lincoln how he felt and Cal's awkward attempts at comfort prompted her to make her way to the couch, perching on the armrest next to Luke and placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "I can't say that I've ever gone through what you're going through," she started, squeezing his shoulder lightly. "But when I was at my lowest, the biggest mistake I made was trying to carry on with my life as if nothing was wrong. I needed help, and I refused to ask for it, and that ultimately made things harder for myself and the people around me."

luke had heard that it'd get easier before, he didn't believe it then and he wasn't really believing it now. maybe that was partially because of what celia had added on, acting like nothing was wrong and that he wasn't as upset as he was leading people on to be. he hadn't noticed lady coming back to him until she rested her head on his knee wanting attention so he scratched her head. "i just don't know what to do, every time i think about him all i feel like doing is crawling into bed and crying thinking that'll fix everything. like somehow my tears will bring him back but they don't and they won't." luke cleared his throat a bit, biting the inside of his cheek. "i was supposed to see him the day after i found out… i was going to finally tell him then.."

Cal's sister had been the people person, better at talking than him. He'd like to think she and Luke would have gotten along, probably bond over teasing him. His insomnia hasn't been as bad lately, can see the same look in Luke's eyes he'd seen on the mirror for months. "You don't have to do anything, just take it day by day," he said, "Honestly crying isn't a bad way to let it out." He grimaced at Luke's words, "It might not be the same but if you ever wanted to go see him and tell him that way. Might at least let some of what you're carrying go."

"Cal is right," Celia filled in, glancing up to give Cal a small smile while keeping her hand on Luke's shoulder. "Even if crying doesn't bring him back, you shouldn't stop yourself from feeling what you need to feel." She leaned forward to set her glass of water down on the coffee table before looking back at Luke. "You're not alone. If you'd like to go see him and talk to him, one or both of us can come with you if you think that would be easier."

luke shook his head again, partly because he wasn't even sure where lincoln had been buried and could only assume it was on commune grounds. "no. if i see him then i'll know it's real and i'm not ready to admit this is real yet cause then i'll start crying and i don't think i'll ever stop." he'd been able to hold out this long, only letting a few tears slip every now and again before he'd push the feelings down to find something to distract him.

Cal remembered that feeling, it taken having to watch the video of the event on repeat the first few days for it to really sink in for him. "We can go whenever you feel ready, or even if you only feel half ready. You can change your mind at any point, there's no rush to going through this," he said. As much as he wanted to tell him to let it out, he knew from experience it was easier said than done. "Look tonight we eat dinner, maybe have a drink. We don't have to figure everything out now."

"Drinks can definitely be on the menu if you'd like," Celia reassured him, giving Luke's shoulder one last squeeze before standing up and starting to make her way back to the kitchen to check on the food. Stopping in the doorway, she looked over her shoulder at the two men on the couch. "There's no wrong way to grieve. You know that, right? You do what you have to do, and when you need us, we'll be there." In a way, she was speaking to both of them when she said that, before disappearing back into the kitchen.

“drinks sound nice.” luke said quietly. of course they did since that was majority of what he was doing lately anyway. “and i’ll get back to you on the whole going thing, i don’t know if i’ll ever be ready for it honestly.”

Cal tried not to flinch at her words, he's let her know a lot about him, but that part has stayed pretty buried. "I can grab drinks," he offered, considering Celia is already busy with dinner. "Take your time, like I said no rush. It hasn't even been a month, Luke, and I mean in this town we kind of have nothing but time," he tried to joke to lighten the mood. Grabbing a set of glasses he set some wine at the table, figuring Luke would come and join him. Glancing at Celia, "Need any help?"

Celia was in the middle of taste testing her sauce when Cal asked if she needed any help. At first, she shook her head, but quickly changed her mind. "Actually, can you help set the table? I've still got some of this to do and you know where everything is anyway." She looked over at him, a small smile automatically growing on her face, before she turned back to the food. "And grab a plate for Lady as well. She's getting food too."

luke nodded and stayed on the couch for now just continuing to pet lady as cal and celia went into the kitchen. he wanted to chuckle at cals joke but couldn’t bring himself to actually do so then leaned forward to put his glass on the table. he took a couple of deep breaths finally getting up from the couch and headed for the kitchen where he stayed in the doorway, leaning against the wall.

Cal waited when she shook her head, had gotten use to her initial reaction to deny help before changing her mind. He didn't hold it against her, just happy she'd started letting him help. "Course she is," he said chuckling as he set the table as well as leaving a plate near her for Lady. Glancing at Luke he walked by and squeezed his shoulder, "Wine alright or would you rather have a beer?" He'd already poured the glasses but wouldn't be hard to switch it out he mused.

Celia smiled to herself, focusing on getting the food ready while listening to Cal moving around the kitchen, finishing up and place everything in serving bowls before carrying them over to the table. She offered Luke a small smile when he joined them before plating the food she'd prepared for Lady and setting the plate down on the floor. "We might also have some moonshine left behind by my brother, although sadly, I cannot vouch for the taste of that," she offered, before gesturing toward one of the chairs. "But either way, dinner is served."

#interactions: celia #celia: luke #celia: cal #tw mentions of death

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librarianwithlove · 2 years ago

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All Good People Here by Ashley Flowers - Review

since i have no followers but I have books that I want to talk about, this seems like a great place to do it. i have a personal book account but i feel weird making people i know read my (not complete or thought out) thoughts and i hate proper grammar when im getting my feelings out

My rating- 4/7

it has been weeks since i read it so pieces are missing from my brain already but anyway

I WILL BE PUTTING SPOILERS BELOW HERE

overall, i really liked the book. i was really keeping my expectations low because while ashley can tell a great story on a podcast, i wasn't sure that would transfer over to her book. i also really enjoy her podcast, and i didn't want a negative review of the book to alter my opinion of that.

anyway, like i said, i truly enjoyed the book. I feel like there was a lot of good material that kept you guessing and while at some points I feel like there was almost too much going on, it didn't overwhelm me. i'm not sure if it was just me but I do feel like there were moments it became harder to follow, especially when new characters were introduced. I will admit that part of that is my fault because I have a tendency to read 5 books at once, a few chapters at a time.

things i really liked

pete. i feel like he was just a feel good character and ashley made you want to like him and root for him. i really liked him in the background and if theres a sequel or spinoff or anything i just hope its about him because he just reads like a warm hug.

jodie and krissy. listen this came out of nowhere and i absolutely love it. as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, i feel consumed by straight literature. this nice little surprise representation was a welcome slap in the face and i liked how it was done too. there was no sugarcoating & it just felt like a run of the mill affair, not like a run of the mill GAY affair

how realistic it had the ability to feel. i knew reading this it was a fiction story, but i felt it was really easy to let yourself forget that and think it was a true story. so many aspects are incredibly realistic, from the town's treatment of the family, to the police response, to krissy covering for jace. maybe im so used to ashleys storytelling that it read that way for me, but it evoked a lot of feeling that I often get when im listening to crime junkie

that it was written by ashley flowers!!!! i have been listening to crime junkie for at least 3 or 4 years and love the show so much. i havent been able to find a podcast i enjoy quite as much and so reading her book felt like reading something from an old friend. im glad she was able to do this for herself, im really in awe of what she has done over the years.

there are two things that negatively altered my opinion of the book.

the way she treated luke. I know that she was so consumed with solving the case that she pushed everything else to the side to make it her priority but i cant get past her willingness to leave him alone for extended periods of time. it bothered me that she simply forgot about him after stating many times that he was essentially her father growing up. I just cant imagine being so ok leaving him behind for a case she didnt know she could solve

THE ENDING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! is ashley just leaving it open for a potential sequel? this brings me back to point one. what is happening with luke now? like is he ok? is billy gonna up and murder him too?? i also dont know what piece im missing, again could be me putting pieces in the wrong places, but what is so monumental about january having her blanket that made margot put together the pieces that it was billy? i know it was her special blanket and she held it when she was scared and he gave it to her but how does that implicate him and not anyone else? who is to say that "elephant wallace" didnt see her with it previously & know to give it to her? i dont know what im missing but it just didn't make sense to me that in a split second it all clicked. and also that he had to go and kill her next.

questions that remain about this book:

do we actually know the real killer

i still think luke it sketchy with the "shes asking too many questions about january" thing, something isnt right. how is luke involved?

is jodie okay? doesn't billy know they are in kahoots?

who is going to look for margot? (pete pls)

???? what was the ending here ?????

the police have to put 2 and 2 together now that another dead body is about to show up in billy jacobs basement, right?

#scale out of 7 because out of 5 isnt enough and i dont like 6 #booksbooksbooks #ashley flowers #all good people here #review #two am thoughts #anti decimal point as well #book review #thoughts #i am still processing #so many questions #crime junkie

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trinity-mia · 10 months ago

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a story as endless as the ocean

the lightning thief

1.9 creating life-long grudges

warnings : large-scale sword fight, mention of injuries, ares is also angry, cussing, mention of guns (that aren't actually guns)

word count : 3.7k

1.9 Thank the Gods for All Those Years of Sword Training Because... Yikes

A Coast Guard boat picked us up, but thankfully they were too busy to keep us for long, or to wonder how three kids in street clothes had gotten out into the middle of the bay. Or why my backpack had been completely dry (yes, I was going to compromise everything just so nothing of mine would get ruined. Call me shallow, I don't care). They probably thought our boat had capsized or something. Anyway, there was a disaster to mop up. Their radios were jammed with distress calls. They didn't have time to worry about us. Or about me being me, which I was pretty stoked about.

They dropped us off at the Santa Monica Pier with towels around our shoulders and water bottles that said I'M A JUNIOR COAST GUARD! and sped off to save more people.

Our clothes were sopping wet, even mine. When the Coast Guard boat had appeared, I'd silently prayed they wouldn't pick me out of the water and find me perfectly dry, which might've raised some eyebrows. So, I'd willed myself to get soaked. Sure enough, my usual waterproof magic had abandoned me, sparing only my Louis backpack.

Luke was barefoot, having given his shoes to Grover to cover up his hooves after his shoes disappeared somewhere in the ocean. Better the Coast Guard wonder why one of us was barefoot than wonder why one of us had hooves.

After reaching dry land, we stumbled down the beach, watching the city burn against a beautiful sunrise. I felt as if I'd just come back from the dead— which I guess I technically had. My backpack was heavy with Zeus's master bolt. My heart was even heavier from seeing my mother. It felt like I had abandoned her, even though she'd have been pissed at me if I'd chosen her over one of my friends or myself.

"I don't believe it," Luke said. "We went all that way—"

"It was a trick," I interrupted him. "A strategy worthy of Athena. You get it right? You know what happened?"

"I know," he grimaced, eyes dropping to the ground. "I get it."

"Well, I don't!" Grover complained. "Would somebody—"

"Allie..." Luke murmured, reaching out to touch my shoulder lightly. "I'm sorry about your mother. I'm so sorry..."

"The prophecy was right," I said instead, dusting off my wet skirt uselessly. "'You shall go west and face the god who has turned.' But it wasn't Hades. Hades didn't want war among the Big Three. Someone else pulled off the theft. Someone stole Zeus's master bolt, and Hades' helm, and framed me because I'm Poseidon's daughter. Poseidon will get blamed by both sides. By sundown today, there will be a three-way war. And I'll have caused it." Luke pulled me into a hug and it took everything in me to keep from crying.

Grover shook his head, mystified. "But who would be that sneaky? Who would want a war that bad?"

I stopped in my tracks, staring grimly down the beach. "Gee, let me think about that for a fucking moment."

There he was, waiting for us, in his black leather duster and his sunglasses, an aluminum baseball bat propped on his shoulder. His motorcycle rumbled beside him, its headlight turning the sand red.

"Hey, kid," Ares said, seeming genuinely pleased to see me. "You were supposed to die."

"You tricked me," I accused, rage welling up in my chest. "You stole the helm and the master bolt."

Ares grinned. "Well, now, I didn't steal them personally. Gods taking each other's symbols of power, that's a big no-no. But you're not the only hero in the world who can run errands."

"Who did you use? One of your kids? Clarisse was at the winter solstice, but she would never have done something like that. She's a good person. I suppose she must get it from her mother's side."

My statement seemed to amuse him. "Doesn't matter. The point is, kid, you're impeding the war effort. See, you've got to die in the Underworld. Then Old Seaweed will be mad at Hades for killing you. Corpse Breath will have Zeus's master bolt, so Zeus'll be mad at him. And Hades is still looking for this..."

From his pocket, he took out a ski cap, the kind that bank robbers wear, and placed it between the handlebars of his bike. Immediately, the cap transformed into an elaborate bronze war helmet.

"The helm of darkness," Grover gasped.

"Exactly," Ares said. "Now, where was I? Oh yeah, Hades will be mad at both Zeus and Poseidon, because he doesn't know who took this. Pretty soon, we got a nice little three-way slugfest going."

"You fucking bastard!" I cried furiously. I had never been so pissed off in my life, both with Ares and myself. I had played right into his trap.

"But this war will tear the world apart!" Luke protested.

Ares shrugged. "Best kind of war. The bloodier the better, I always say."

"You gave me the backpack in Denver," I crossed my arms in front of my chest to keep myself from leaping at him with my bare hands. "The master bolt was in there the whole time."

"Yes and no," Ares said. "It's probably too complicated for your little mortal brain to follow, but the backpack is the master bolt's sheath, just morphed a bit. The bolt is connected to it, sort of like those swords you got, kid. They always return to you, right?"

I wasn't sure how Ares knew about that, but I guess that a god of war had to make it his business to know about weapons.

"Anyway," Ares continued, "I tinkered with the magic a bit, so the bolt would only return to the sheath once you reached the Underworld. You get close to Hades... Bingo, you got mail. If you died along the way, no big loss. I still had the weapon."

"But why not just keep the master bolt for yourself?" I asked, genuinely curious. "Why send it to Hades?"

Ares got a twitch in his jaw. For a moment, it was almost as if he were listening to another voice, deep inside his head. "Why didn't I... yeah... with that kind of firepower..."

He held the trance for one second... two seconds...

I exchanged confused and nervous looks with Luke who was gripping his own sword pommel tensely.

Ares' expression cleared. "I didn't want the trouble. Better to have you caught red-handed, holding the thing."

"You're lying," I declared. "Sending the bolt to the Underworld wasn't your idea, was it?"

"Of course it was!" He snarled as smoke drifted up from his sunglasses, making it seem as if they were about to catch fire.

"You didn't order the theft," I guessed. "Someone else sent a hero to steal the two items. Then, when Zeus sent you to hunt him down, you caught the thief. But you didn't turn them over to Zeus. Something convinced you to let them go. You kept the items until another hero could come along and complete the delivery. That thing in the pit is ordering you around."

"I am the god of war! I take orders from no one! I don't have dreams!"

I hesitated at that. Then I gave him a half-smile that said 'I won.' "Who said anything about dreams?"

Ares looked agitated, but he tried to cover it with a smirk. "Let's get back to the problem at hand, sugar. You're alive. I can't have you taking that bolt to Olympus. You just might get those hard-headed idiots to listen to you. So I've got to kill you. Nothing personal."

He snapped his fingers. The sand exploded at his feet and out charged a wild boar, even larger and uglier than the one whose head hung above the door of cabin seven at Camp Half-Blood. The beast pawed the sand, glaring at me with beady eyes as it lowered its razor-sharp tusks and waited for the command to kill.

I stepped into the surf, taking strength from the ocean swirling around my feet. "Fight me yourself, Ares."

He laughed, but I heard a little edge to his laughter... an uneasiness. "You've only got one talent, kid, running away. You ran from Echidna. You ran from the Underworld. You don't have what it takes."

"Try me," I retorted, grabbing my swords and falling into the familiar attack/defense position I had first been taught, then drilled into my head until it was second nature.

"Angel," Luke muttered.

"Stay back," I replied softly. "I got this, I promise."

"No direct involvement," Ares drawled, the heat from his eyes melting his sunglasses. "Sorry, sugar. You're not at my level."

"Allie, run!" Luke cried, just as the giant boar charged.

But I was done running from monsters. Or Hades, or Ares, or anybody. As the boar rushed me, I sidestepped and slashed upward. The boar's severed right tusk fell at my feet, while the disoriented animal charged into the sea.

"Wave!" I shouted.

Immediately, a wave surged up from nowhere and engulfed the boar, wrapping around it like a blanket. The beast squealed once in terror. Then it was gone, swallowed by the sea.

I turned back to Ares. "Are you going to fight me now?" I asked. "Or are you going to hide behind another pet?"

Ares' face was purple with rage. "Watch it, kid. I could turn you into—"

"A dolphin," I suggested scornfully. "Or a seahorse? Yeah, I'm fucking sure. That'd save you from getting your godly ass whipped, wouldn't it?"

Flames danced along the top of his glasses. "Oh, man, you are really asking to be smashed into a grease spot."

"If I lose, turn me into anything you want. Take the bolt. If I win, the helm and the bolt are mine and you can go fuck yourself."

Ares sneered and swung the baseball bat off his shoulder. "How would you like to get smashed: classic or modern?"

I showed him my swords.

"That's cool, gorgeous," he said. "Classic it is." The baseball bat morphed into a large, two-handed sword. It was probably the size of me with a hilt shaped like a large silver skull with a ruby in its mouth.

"Angel," Luke begged. "Don't do this. He's a god."

"He's a coward," I told him, lifting my head determinedly.

He swallowed. "Take this, at least. For luck." With that, he took off his camp necklace and tied it around my neck. He looked like he wanted to do something else, then thought better of it.

"Thanks. I'll win this. Don't worry about me."

"And take this," Grover added. He handed me a flattened tin can that he had probably been saving in his pocket for a thousand miles. "The satyrs stand behind you."

"Grover... I don't know what to say."

He patted me on the shoulder. I stuffed the tin can in my back pocket.

"Are you all done saying good-bye?" Ares came toward me, his black leather duster trailing behind him, his sword glinting like fire in the sunrise. "I've been fighting for eternity, honey. My strength is unlimited and I cannot die. What have you got?"

A smaller ego, I thought in a snarky tone of voice, but I said nothing. I kept my feet in the surf, backing into the water up to my ankles, accepting the strength it gave me.

Ares charged at me and cleaved downward at my head, but I wasn't there.

My body thought for me. The water seemed to push me into the air and I catapulted over him, slashing as I came down. But Ares was just as quick. He twisted, and the strike that should've caught him directly in the spine was deflected off the end of his sword hilt.

He grinned. "Not bad, not bad."

He slashed again and I was forced to jump onto dry land. I tried to sidestep, to get back to the water, but Ares seemed to know what I wanted. He out-maneuvered me, pressing so hard I had to put all my concentration on not getting sliced into pieces. I kept backing away from the surf. I couldn't find any openings to attack. His sword had a reach several feet longer than Riptide and Shaker.

Get in close, Luke had told me once, back in our sword class. When you've got the shorter blade, get in close.

I stepped inside with a thrust, but Ares was waiting for that. He knocked Riptide out of my hands and kicked me in the chest. I recognized the feeling of my ribs breaking, at least four of them, as I went airborne. I flew twenty, maybe thirty feet. I would have broken my back if I hadn't crashed into the soft sand of a dune.

"Allie!" Luke yelled in warning. "Cops!"

I was seeing double. My chest felt like it had just been hit with a battering ram, but I managed to get to my feet.

I couldn't look away from Ares for fear he'd slice me in half, but out of the corner of my eye, I saw red lights flashing on the shoreline boulevard. Car doors were slamming.

"There, officer!" somebody yelled. "See?"

A gruff cop voice: "Is that Allie Jackson? What the heck...?"

"That guy's armed," another cop said. "Call for backup. We need to get her out of there."

I rolled to one side as Ares' blade slashed the sand. I lunged desperately for my sword, scooped it up, and launched a swipe at Ares' face, only for my blade to be deflected again.

Ares seemed to know exactly what I was going to do the moment before I did it. Damn him to Tartarus for being a god. Cheaters in every sense of the word.

I stepped back toward the surf, forcing him to follow.

"Admit it, kid," Ares smirked. "You got no hope. I'm just toying with you."

My senses were working overtime. I now understood what the others had told me about ADHD keeping you alive in battle. I was wide awake, noticing every little detail.

I could see where Ares was tensing. I could tell which way he would strike. At the same time, I was aware of Luke and Grover, thirty feet to my left. I saw a second cop car pulling up, siren wailing.

Spectators, people who had been wandering the streets because of the earthquake, were starting to gather. Among the crowd, I thought I saw a few who were walking with the strange, trotting gait of disguised satyrs. There were shimmering forms of spirits, too, as if the dead had risen from Hades to watch the battle. I heard the flap of leathery wings circling somewhere above. And more sirens of course.

I stepped farther into the water, but Ares was fast. The tip of his blade ripped my sleeve and grazed my forearm.

A police voice on a megaphone said, "Drop the guns. Set them on the ground. Now!"

What guns?

When I next looked at Ares's weapon, it seemed to be flickering; sometimes it looked like a shotgun, sometimes the true form of a sword. I didn't know what the mortals were seeing in my hands, but I was pretty sure it wasn't something that'd work in my favor.

Ares turned to glare at our spectators, which gave me a moment to breathe. There were five police cars now, and a line of officers crouching behind them, pistols trained on us.

"This is a private matter!" Ares bellowed. "Begone."

He swept his hand, and a wall of red flame rolled across the patrol cars. The police barely had time to dive for cover before their vehicles exploded. The crowd behind them scattered, screaming.

"You son of a bitch," I hissed at him.

Ares roared with laughter, his sides shaking. "Now, sugar, it's time to add you to this barbecue."

He slashed. I somehow managed to deflect his blade. Then I got close enough to strike and tried to fake him out with a feint, but my blow was knocked aside. The waves were hitting me in the back now. Ares was up to his thighs, wading in after me.

I felt the comforting rhythm of the sea, the waves growing larger as the tide rolled in, and suddenly I had an idea. Little waves, I thought. And the water behind me seemed to recede. I was holding back the tide by sheer force of will, but tension was building, like carbonation behind a cork. And it was hard. I wouldn't be able to hold this for long.

Ares came toward, grinning confidently, as if he had already won the battle. I lowered my blades, as if I were too exhausted to go on. I wasn't quite done yet though.

Wait for it, I instructed the sea. The pressure now was almost lifting me off my feet, I was going through a cycle of getting worn out and being reinvigorated again. Ares raised his sword. That was when I released the tide and jumped, rocketing straight over Ares on a wave. Thank the gods I knew how to surf.

A six-foot wall of water smashed him full in the face, leaving him cursing and sputtering with a mouth full of seaweed. I landed behind him with a splash and feinted toward his head, as I'd done before. He turned in time to raise his sword, but this time he was too disoriented, and he didn't anticipate the trick. I changed direction, lunged to the side, and stabbed Riptide and Shaker straight down into the water, sending the point through the god's heels.

The roar that followed the wound made Hades' earthquake look like a minor event. The very sea was blasted back from Ares, leaving a wet circle of sand fifty feet wide.

Ichor, the golden blood of the gods, flowed from a gash in the war god's boots. The expression on his face was beyond hatred. It was pain, shock, complete disbelief that he'd been wounded. I felt a surge of incredulousness that he was reacting so melodramatically to such tiny wounds. I had most of my ribs broken, risking a lung puncture and I was still fighting. I hadn't even 'umphed'. Ares would never make it as a demigod. Then again, those ribs were healed now because of the water, so I did have that going for me. Still, though. Talk about dramatic.

He limped toward me, muttering ancient Greek curses.

Something stopped him.

It was as if a cloud covered the sun, but worse. Light faded. Sound and color drained away. A cold, heavy presence passed over the beach, slowing time, dropping the temperature to freezing, and making me feel like life was hopeless, fighting was useless. I hadn't felt like that in a long, long time.

Then, thank Olympus, the horrible darkness lifted.

Ares looked stunned.

Police cars were burning behind us. The crowd of spectators had fled. Luke and Grover stood on the beach in shock, watching the water flood back around Ares's feet, his glowing golden ichor dissipating in the tide.

Ares lowered his sword.

"You have made an enemy, godling," he warned me. "You have sealed your fate. Every time you raise your blades in battle, every time you hope for success, you will feel my curse. Beware, Astraea Jackson. Beware."

"You did that to your own damn self. Don't think challenging someone you can't beat is a good idea." I also think mocking Ares was a good idea, but I was too pissed to think about that.

His body began to glow.

"Allie!" Luke shouted. "Don't watch!"

I turned away as Ares revealed his true immortal form. I somehow knew that if I looked, I would disintegrate into ashes. After what seemed like an eternity, the light died.

When I looked back Ares was gone. The tide rolled out to reveal Hades' bronze helm of darkness. I picked it up and walked toward my friends.

But before I got there, I heard the flapping of leathery wings. The three Furies with lace hats and fiery whips drifted down from the sky and landed in front of me.

The middle Fury, the one who had been Mrs. Dodds, stepped forward. Her fangs were bared, but for once she didn't look threatening. She looked more disappointed, as if she'd been planning to have me for supper, but had decided I might give her indigestion.

"We saw the whole thing," she hissed. "So... it truly was not you?"

I tossed her the helmet roughly, which she caught in surprise.

"Return that to Lord Hades," I instructed her curtly. "Tell him the truth. Tell him to call off the war. Also, tell him I told him I wasn't in New York and maybe he should listen to me more often if this is going to be a common occurrence."

She hesitated, then ran a forked tongue over her green, leathery lips. "Live well, Allie Jackson. Become a true hero. Because if you do not, if you ever come into my clutches again..."

She cackled, savoring the idea. Then she and her sisters rose on their bats' wings, fluttered into the smoke-filled sky, and disappeared.

I joined Grover and Luke, who were staring at me in amazement.

"Allie..." Grover said. "That was so incredibly..."

"Terrifying," said Luke.

"Cool!" Grover corrected.

I didn't feel terrified. I certainly didn't feel cool. I was tired and sore and completely drained of energy. Despite that, I managed to give Luke his necklace back and Grover his tin can, which I knew he'd want to eat.

"Did you guys feel that... whatever it was?" I asked.

They both nodded uneasily.

"Must've been the Furies overhead," Grover said hopefully.

But I wasn't so sure. Something had stopped Ares from killing me, and whatever could do that was a lot stronger than the Furies.

I looked at Luke, and an understanding passed between us. I knew now what was in that pit, what had spoken from the entrance of Tartarus.

I reclaimed the damn backpack from Grover and looked inside. The master bolt was still there. Such a small thing to almost cause World War III.

"We have to get back to New York," I said heavily. "By tonight."

"That's impossible," Luke protested, "Unless we—"

"Fly," I finished. Have I ever mentioned just how much I hate my life? In case I haven't, let me do so right now. I really, really hate my life.

He stared flatly at me. "Fly, like, in an airplane, which you were warned never to do again, lest Zeus strike you out of the sky, and carrying a weapon that has more destructive power than a nuclear bomb?"

"Yeah," I agreed. "Pretty much exactly like that. Come on, let's go die a fiery, hopefully quick, death."

* * *

previous | next

SERIES M.LIST | MAIN M.LIST | TIPS

#asaeato #a story as endless as the ocean #alliejackson #female percy jackson #lukecastellan #lullie #trinitymia

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irishhills · 11 months ago

Text

a poet and a one-man band

Chris takes the exit from I-94 while Blair twists around in the passenger seat, trying to reassure Faye in the back.

“You liked the house when we went to see it in the spring, remember?” Blair says. “You said you liked how there was a real driveway.”

“Yeah, and you liked Sweetwaters,” Chris says. “Remember, the blueberry scone? And the girl behind the counter who said she never saw a ten-year-old girl like a blueberry scone?”

“I’m eight,” Faye insists.

“Yeah, but you look like me,” Blair says. “When I was eight, I looked ten. And that was on a good day.”

Chris watches as Faye folds her arms across her chest and slumps backward in her seat.

“Why can’t I look like Daddy?” she asks. “He looked fourteen until he was seventeen.”

“Faye!” Blair says.

“What? It’s true! He says it himself.”

Chris laughs a little as he comes to a red light on the main road. Faye isn’t wrong. When he was growing up, he always looked two or three years younger than he really was. It was awkward to stand next to his brother, Luke, only two years Chris’s senior, and feel like a baby. It was even more awkward to stand next to Blair at Christmas concerts and school dances, knowing he was too short to like her back (and not understanding why she liked him at all). For a long time, it was easy to pretend like none of that ever happened. When he and Blair (and Faye, eventually), lived in Milwaukee, it was easy to pretend there was no Michigan – no Ann Arbor, no Saline, and not even the Irish Hills.

Maybe he should take Faye through the Irish Hills before they pull up to the new house in Saline. They’ve been driving long enough already. What’s an hour more?

“Do I still get to paint my room?” Faye asks. “Or did the rules change?”

“All the paint you want, honey,” Chris says. “We’re not renting this time.”

“That’s right,” Blair says, throwing her arms up to the roof of the Sonata. “We own!”

Chris laughs a little. They’re only thirty-three, but it feels like a long time coming. The whole time they lived in Milwaukee, even after they both finished graduate school, they could never afford to own. It’s been over a decade of saving, plus two tenure-track jobs, that gets them where they are now.

It just happens to be back home.

Back around Chris’s family.

To be fair, Blair’s family is in the area, too. They visit them three or four times a year now that Faye is old enough to miss them. But with Chris’s family … an exchange of Christmas cards? The occasional awkward lunch date with Jane, who always feels like she’s holding onto a secret? The Egan family was never so happy as when Chris moved to Wisconsin. Mom claims otherwise, but Chris has the sneaking suspicion she’s lying. Now that he’s an adult, she has every right, anyway.

“Can I still paint my room purple?” Faye asks.

“Of course,” Chris says. “As long as it’s that light shade we talked about. Makes it easier for you to sleep at night.”

“You speak to the girl like she’s guilty,” Blair jokes.

“Only thing Faye’s guilty of is being cute.”

Faye leans forward and grins with a mouth of crooked teeth. Chris smiles, too. This move is a lot less hard on her than it could be. Faye didn’t have a lot of friends at her old school. People to sit with at lunch, sure, but no one for sleepovers on Saturday nights. A new place will be good for her.

At least, that’s what Chris and Blair keep telling themselves.

“Can we put on the Grease CD?” Faye asks.

“No,” Chris says.

“Never thought there would come a day when you wouldn’t want to hear that,” Blair says.

“Time to change, baby. You know the rest.”

“Well, if we can’t hear the Grease CD,” Faye says, “can we put on Simon and Garfunkel?”

Blair laughs as she rifles through her portable library of CDs.

“Faye Egan, I swear,” she says, “you’re the only kid in the world who asks to hear Simon and Garfunkel.”

“I am?”

“Yes.”

Blair fishes Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme from the library and pops it into the radio’s mouth. She skips through “Scarborough Fair” until she gets to the song she knows Faye really wants to hear. Chris’s hands tighten around the steering wheel. He knows what song Faye wants to hear, too.

I’m sittin’ in the railway station / got a ticket for my destination …

“Mmm-mmm,” Faye happily sings in the backseat.

Chris takes a deep breath. He feels Blair’s hand on his knee but does not look at her. He can’t look at anything but the road, and even that feels like pushing it. He doesn’t hate home, but what did it ever really do for him? For Blair? What place is there for …

For a poet and a one-man band!

OK, maybe they weren’t exactly a poet and a one-man band. But what good was this place for Chris, the writer, and Blair, the girl who wouldn’t stop talking about television? How did this place ever embrace them?

“Turn right,” Blair says as they approach their new street.

Chris nods.

They’ll find out.

#drabble #writeblr #ch: chris egan #ch: blair donnelly #ch: faye egan #year: 2007

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websterss · 2 years ago

Text

KISSING BOOTH — LUKE PATTERSON

SUMMARY: You’d think one little kiss would be a piece of cake, but turns out it’s a full fudge mess.

WARNING(S): Fluff

WORD COUNT: 2,323

PAIRING: Luke Patterson x fem!Reader

A/N: Hope you enjoy it! ♡ Feedback is always welcomed!

MASTERLIST

Los Felix, Los Angeles, California, 1994. Town Fundraiser.

“What a wonderful day to be alive. As I live and breathe at the same time as Luke Patterson.” Your friend Mia, exclaimed as you stood off to the side watching the long line of girls plant themselves in front of the kissing booth. The kissee being Luke himself.

“What a dreadful day to be able to see.” You crossed your arms.

“Who would have thought Luke’s idea for a kissing booth would become so popular.”

“Yeah…who knew.” You gave her a tight lipped smile.

“Oh come on, Y/n. It’s for a good cause.” She shook your arm in an attempt to cheer you up. “Plus, Alex said they’re raising a ton of money so far. I think by tonight we’ll have raised all the money we needed from all the booths, including the kissing booth.” Mia started making smooching noises at you, laughing at your reaction.

“Okay, okay enough of that. Can we go enjoy our time? I’d rather hurl due to the swirl of evil than at the sight of girls kissing Luke.”

“Maybe Luke’s lips can change your mood, ya know make you feel better.” She nudged you, quirking her brow at you.

“Gross.” You laughed at her assumption. “As if I’d ever let that stupid rockstar, smirk grinning two timing specimen anywhere near me and my lips.”

“Okay, whatever you say, Y/n.” Mia giggled, pushing you away from the group and the line of girls.

To say you spoke too soon would have been an understatement.

“You gonna stand there all day? There is a line ya know?” Luke smiled at you, amused. You were five feet from the actual booth. Clenching and unclenching your fist.

“M-Maybe.” You took a deep breath. You could not believe that you lost a stupid bet to Reggie of all people. You knew you were a bad shooter, yet you took the challenge anyway. Losing at the water balloon game. You didn’t even get the bear you wanted.

Luke licked his lips, looking away with a laugh.

“The fundraiser is gonna end at some point, Y/L/N.” Luke checked his watch.

“I know…just give me a minute.” You sassed at him.

He threw his hands up in surrender.

“It’s just a whole dollar for a quick kiss on the cheek, Y/L/N. Come on, it’s for a good cause.” Luke threw that charming smile of his, your way.

“Yeah…kissing you would be quite the act of charity, huh?” You smirked. You looked over your shoulder as a girl from school told you to hurry up for holding up the line. You groaned as you dug out some cash from your leather boot. “You said a dollar?” You asked, observing the 5 you had.

“You can get a special deal for those 5.” Luke leaned down, supporting his weight on his arms on the counter.

“I expect my change.” You quipped back, slamming the whole buck down for a dramatic effect.

“Alright then…” Luke mouthed, taking the 5 dollar bill and giving you back four. “Your change, madam.” He smiled gently then said. “Now my kiss.”

“Don’t get too excited, Patterson.” You rolled your eyes, mentally preparing yourself. You closed your eyes and leaned in to peck his cheek. Luke leaned in wanting to let the touch of your lips linger a bit longer on his skin.

“Now that wasn’t so bad.” He teased you.

“Guess not.” You averted your eyes, leaning back. You looked up and saw Luke already doing the same. “I got to go.” You nodded. You patted the counter with your hands.

“Yeah, see ya later?” Luke raised his eyebrows waiting for your answer.

“Sure.” You gave a gentle smile.

Your eyes grew wide as you walked away from the booth. You just gave Luke a kiss, on the cheek, just like you said you wouldn’t do. “Keep it together, Y/n. It didn’t mean anything.” Back at the booth Luke was in a nervous wreck state as well.

“Keep it together, Luke. It didn’t mean anything.” He then called the next person in line with a tight lipped smile. “Next!”

If you had to be honest the kiss on the cheek wasn’t as bad as you thought it was going to be. Save for the nerves running through your veins, you couldn’t help but feel like something was going on. You just couldn’t quite put a name to it yet.

“So I take it, the kiss went well?” You heard Mia’s sing-song voice come from behind you. You turned around and faced her. She frowned when your mouth opened and closed like a fish needing water. “Seriously? You got out of line didn’t you?” She placed her hands on her hips.

“No I uh, he kissed me- well on the cheek.” You stammered as you began explaining yourself.

“Wait, are you for real? Oh my god, Y/n!” Mia cheered for you. “How was it?”

You looked around and grabbed her hand, finding a photo booth nearby and getting in. “Woah what’s wrong?” She noticed you fiddle with your fingers.

“Mia, why do I feel like this?” You frowned trying to shake whatever it was out of you.

“Like what?”

“My head feels heavy, my heart is pumping fast. I don’t know what I’m feeling. I think I might explode!” You rambled on.

“Is this a panic attack you’re having?” She looked at you, questioning your sanity.

“Mia!” You hit her. She cupped her arm wincing from your punch.

“Okay jeez. I think I have an idea, but you probably won’t like it.” She grimaced already knowing your reaction.

“What, what is it?”

“I think you’re experiencing, wait for it ...butterflies!” She made a big hand gesture to emphasize.

“Mia, I’m serious.” You began getting upset.

“I am too. I think you like Luke.”

You preteneded to vomit, to which she replied with. “I did say you weren’t gonna like it.”

“I-I can’t like Luke. Luke’s is…he’s Luke! Mr. Big shot wannabe Rockstar. Me? Liking Luke? No. Okay, no way. Wanna hear it in Spanish? No!”

“Hey it’s your butterflies. Do what you want with them, but when love is real, it doesn’t lie chica.” She clicked her tongue, placing her thumb underneath your chin, and shooting you a wink. “Don’t push those feelings aside. You know you shouldn’t.” She got up and pushed past the curtain to get out.

“Mia!”

“See ya!” She laughed and walked off with Reggie who had been waiting for her with two cotton candies in her hand. And oh how you wished that he was alone, but he wasn’t. Alex and Luke just had to be there.

You huffed and got out as well.

“Hey.” Luke greeted you warmly. “No pictures?” He gestured to your empty hands.

“Um no, just girl talk.” You nervously laughed.

“Ooh what about?” Alex butted in, and that’s when you looked away from Luke. “Ahh I see then. Well I’m gonna go, Willie wants to get on a few rides before the fundraiser closes.” Alex motioned over his shoulder with his thumb. “So bye.”

“Bye Alex.” You laughed.

“See you at band practice tomorrow?” Luke patted his shoulder and bid his farewells with him.

“Yeah. Anyways I got to go, nice seeing you, Y/n.”

“Likewise, Alex.” You waved him off, then awkwardly turned to face Luke. “So.”

“So.” You smiled and found interest in your shoes.

“Care for a walk?” Luke gestured ahead of you two, and you slowly agreed.

“Sure why not.”

“After you, m’lady.” He tried his best at a British accent.

“Oh, thank you kind sir.” You curtsied with your skater skirt and giggled at his antics.

“So did you enjoy the fundraiser?” Luke stuffed his hands in his jeans.

“Which part? The one where I lost a bet to Reggie of all people, or the fact I almost threw up on the swirl of evil?” You smirked over at the brunette.

“Yeah I still can’t believe you bet 20 bucks against Reggie.” Luke shook his head.

“Would not recommend…I mean I didn’t even win that stupid bear. Take my word for it Patterson, not worth it.” You laughed it off. Yet, Luke was surprised to know that you didn’t win anything today. He turned around and stopped. His smile grew upon realizing that you both stopped at the exact game you lost at.

“Wait right here, okay.” Luke put his hands on your forearms to stop you in place.

“What?” You giggled, confused.

“Just wait right here and don’t move.”

“Okay…” You agreed nonetheless and stayed put.

You watched as he ran up to the man running the water gun game. Luke pulled out his wallet and handed the man a bill. He took a seat at the gun, and turned to face the little kid next to him. Then the game began, Luke put all his focus on the mouth of the clown and watched as his balloon filled up. He had filled it up and made it pop first. A bell rang out signally that he had won. The man asked him what reward he wanted, and Luke just so happened to remember the one you pointed to early in the night.

“If I win, I want that one.” You had pointed to a dark brown teddy bear the size of a bean bag.

“Why that one?” Luke asked you.

“Why not? I don’t know, it’s a great motivator, helps the win feel better, I guess.”

“You’ve never won these types of games before have you?”

“Nope.” You shrugged.

“No ones ever won you anything either?”

“Sadly no. Anyway...Reggie you’re going down!” You pointed at the black haired boy and put your game face on.

“Can I have that one please?” He pointed to the bean bag bear, and thanked the guy once he handed it over to him. The little boy he beat looked sad and defeated, to which Luke then proceeded to hand him all the other tickets he had left in his pockets.

“Knock yourself out kid.” He ruffled the boy’s hair, and the boy ran off excited to be able to play some more.

You let out a breathy laugh, feeling your heart pick up. A timid smile made its appearance on your lips as you stared at Luke, approaching you and hiding behind the bear.

“Hi there, my name’s Teddy, and I love kisses, muah.” Luke took the hand off the bear and pressed it to its mouth to throw you a kiss. A genuine laugh rang out of you, and he came out behind the bear, beaming. Yet he stopped once he noticed your shocked expression. “What?” He smiled.

“Butterflies…” You muttered, under your breath.

“What?” Luke heard you mumble but couldn’t quite hear you.

“You got me the bear I wanted.” You chuckled in utter disbelief.

“Yeah…I thought it’d be nice knowing how much you wanted it. Plus like you said earlier, no ones ever won anything for you, so I thought I could be the first.” He looked up at you nervously.

“You remembered.” You nodded. You couldn’t wipe the smile off your face. It was all too much, you felt like you were going to cry on the spot.

“Yeah.” He nodded.

“You know you’re not so bad, Luke.” You looked at your shoes then at him.

“Didn’t think you knew my first name.” He smirked.

“I know your middle name.” You shrugged.

“No you don’t!”

“No? Lukas Charl-” You laughed as he tried to place his hand over your mouth. “Charles Patterson.”

“Okay, so you do know my middle name. What else do you know?” Luke eyed you wearily.

“You slept with a blankie till you were 13.”

“Who told you?” Luke’s eyes grew big.

“Reggie has a bad habit of telling me things.” You laughed.

“I’m gonna kill him.” Luke looked over his shoulder for any sign of him, but it was just you two, and other people that were walking around. He shook his head before turning back to face you. You rocked on your heels letting the sound of music and rides take over the silence between you two. Luke liked how comfortable you were. You let your hard demeanor down and let yourself enjoy the night with your friends.

“So you want the bear or…” He teased backing away with it

“What? Yes I want the bear.” You snatched the stuffed animal out of his hold, then placed it back in his arms after realizing how heavy it was. “Actually how about you carry it the rest of the night.” You teased him.

“Oh so that’s how this is gonna go, huh?” He raised an eyebrow at you. Chasing after you as you began walking away backwards. “Oh, you’re so gonna get it, Y/L/N.” He exclaimed as he ran after you.

“No, no, no.” You laughed as he caught you.

“Caught you…” He spun you around to face him.

“You caught me…” You gasped realizing the close proximity between you two.

Your eyes fell on his lips then his eyes. Luke caught you and began leaning in but stopped. “That’ll be a dollar.”

You scoffed smacking him playfully.

“Jerk. No discount for me?” You batted your eyes playfully at him.

“How about free of charge?” He played along offering you a better deal.

“I like that deal…I like that deal a lot.” You giggled tugging him closer by the nape of his curls.

“Well, I like free kisses, especially if they’re by Y/n Y/L/N, I think Teddy can vouch for me too.”

“Well I am very grateful for you, and for Teddy of course.”

“Can’t forget Teddy.”

“No we can’t.” You shook your head. Luke pulled you in by the waist to kiss you. "You’re still carrying Teddy for me.”

“I figured as much.” Luke closed his eyes, sighing.

#luke patterson #luke patterson imagines #luke patterson imagine #luke patterson x reader #luke patterson x fem!reader #my gif #writings by juls

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