#anyway. Ambrose better fall in love with that guy because look at him.. so pretty

[cyellolemon]

His everything

oc: Olive (he/him)

[chasingpj]

𝐔𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐳𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐬

"I might spread a rumor about you and Percy rendezvousing at midnight. The Aphrodite cabin will have a hoot with that one."

pairing: percy jackson x child of hecate!reader

words: 4,931

warnings: none

timeline: post sea of monsters

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a/n: hi hi! this is part one of a self-insert series I'm working on. in this story, y/n is a child of hecate, and this storyline follows the books. the current timeline here is post sea of monsters and will continue through the Heroes of Olympus books. though it follows the original plot, y/n has her own storyline and quests. i tried to make y/n gender-neutral but as I continued to work on the timeline for this project, i had decided that this fic is for a fem reader. guys, this is really just me projecting my fantasy into fanfiction lol. i feel like this is a slow start?? and there is a lot of info dumped in this so bear with me. it'll get better and I'll be working to improve my writing as the series continues. I was on a writing hiatus for a really long time and I'm out of practice so this is my way to get back and hopefully, exceed the skills I had when I was a consistent writer. anyways, if you have any feedback, let me know! I'd love to hear what you think. as i get deeper into the series, i might ask for some suggestions on what to do with the fic. anyways, i'll stop rambling and i hope you like it!

Part One Part Two

You ignore the aching in your neck as your focus is fixed on the herbology book in front of you. You’ve been seated at your desk for Zeus knows how long reading and taking notes in your Book of Shadows, determined to finish reading it as fast as possible. Your half-brother, Alabaster, insisted that you need to memorize all the herbs and their properties before he can properly teach you how to use them in potions. Even though you understand its importance, you hated introductory work. You are itching to get to the real stuff, resulting in you glued to your chair, studying through the night as your cabin mates were fast asleep in their beds. But as determined as you are, Ambrose, your familiar, wasn’t much help. Ambrose whines as he rubs his head against your legs like a needy kitten, making it difficult to ignore him.

“What is it, Ambrose?” You whisper, sitting back in your chair in defeat. You take a second to massage the back of your sore neck before turning to face the translucent hound sitting attentively at your side. His tail sweeps the floor as it wags excitedly, and a short huff leaves his snout as if he was proud to have finally gotten your attention.

Your eyes meet his, racking your mind to figure out what Ambrose needs to tell you. At first, you thought he wanted to play, but you didn’t have time for that, so you decided to ignore him. Usually, after being ignored for a while, Ambrose will give up, finding something else to occupy him. But tonight, he was particularly persistent, and he’s only like this when he needs to tell you something.

Before you can ask what he wanted again, Ambrose gets up from his seated position, running over to the small table that stands beside your bed. You furrow your eyebrows, the first thing you notice when you walk over are your crystals neatly placed in front of your spell books as usual. Seeing them made you suddenly remember what you had planned to do.

You had told Ambrose to remind you to charge your crystals and collect water from the lake since there is a full moon tonight and of course, Ambrose being your loyal companion, did exactly that. Before looking down at the hound, who now is breathing heavily, his tail somehow wagging faster than before, you smile to yourself.

“I told you to remind me earlier, didn’t I?” Ambrose snorts and runs around your feet enthusiastically. You couldn’t help but giggle at his excitement as you reached down to pat his head. “Good boy. What would I do without you?” You continue to praise him, grabbing a black pouch and carefully placing the crystals in it. You put your index finger to your lips, signaling Ambrose to be a little quieter despite his excitement. If he accidentally wakes anyone up, then you definitely weren’t going to be able to fulfill your plans.

You bite your bottom lip as you tiptoe out of the aisle between the bunks. You look around the notoriously cramped Hermes Cabin to make sure your assumption that everyone was asleep by now was correct. It wasn’t hard to make out the faces of your cabin mates since seeing clearly in the dark was one of your many gifts, so you carefully walked along the bunks, being as quiet as you could. You are especially cautious as you approach the front where your cabin leaders, the Stoll brothers, slept. You study them for a second, knowing for sure Travis was asleep since he was snoring and loudly at that. Before you can check if Connor is asleep, you hear him shifting in his bed. You stand frozen in your spot, hesitantly looking over and you were expecting to be met with the usual mischievous grin. Instead, his back was towards you now. You have a feeling in your gut that he wasn't asleep, the timing of his moving was much too convenient. You really didn't want to wait any longer though so you decide that you might as well leave before he could stop you.

You turn on your heels, walking over to the window before you push it open. You cringe softly as the hinges creak, and you look back at the cabin to double-check if anyone has woken up from the sound. You sigh in relief when you see no one has moved, and you turn back to the window, carefully crawling out of it. This wasn’t unusual for you. You’ve done this so many times that using windows as a mode of exiting and entering a room was as natural to you as walking in and out of a door, and soon you were hopping down onto the grass. Your back is pressed against the cabin as you walk the side of it. You look up at the trees and the sky, eyes scoping around for any harpies hanging around. After deeming that you were alone, you begin making your way to the lake, Ambrose walking by your side attentively and cautiously to make sure you are safe.

The night was clear; the stars and especially the moon shone brightly in the sky. You sigh softly, taking in the stillness of the night, admiring the glistening lake reflecting the full moon placed above it. You’ve always enjoyed how quiet and cool the nights were, preferring it more than the daytime.

Unfortunately, you couldn’t avoid it as much as you wish to. Most of your siblings can agree with you that they’d prefer to sleep in most days so that they can study and practice their magic at night. However, that wasn’t the schedule of the Hermes Cabin. It was pretty impossible to sleep in since the mornings were always hectic. In fact, the cabin was just hectic, period. There was always something going on, whether it was an elaborate prank or the guys arguing over who gets to shower first after coming back from training which usually resulted in an intense game of rock, paper, scissors. You can’t say that you didn’t like it; at least you were entertained.

You also always had someone to talk to, and because there were often new campers coming in and out of there, you have easily familiarized yourself with a lot of the kids at camp. However, like your mother, you did enjoy and yearn for the occasional periods of solitude. As fun as living with the Hermes kids was, you and your siblings did find yourselves getting a little irritable at their shenanigans. It was at those times, you did wish that your mother, Hecate, had a designated cabin.

You and your siblings had always said if they ever got a cabin of their own, they would make sure everyone had separate rooms and would have designated spaces to socialize and practice their magic so that it was quiet for the most part. Alabaster, especially, was really passionate about this topic. He complained how it didn’t make sense that your mother wasn't recognized since you and your siblings were a powerful little bunch. You all needed a space to practice your magic and practice preferably at night since you were the most powerful at that time of day; you were also less prone to making mistakes in your spell casting at night. You agreed with him and would get upset about it sometimes, but the Hermes Cabin was a place you considered to be a second home. The communal feel of the space was something you enjoyed, it was one of the few places where you felt fully accepted which was rare to find being a demi-god with abilities like yours. In return to the Hermes Cabin welcoming you with open arms, you accept the inconveniently loud environment as an admirable quirk and went on with your days.

Then to compensate for the lack of silence and solitude, you would often stay up late, taking advantage of the quiet to focus on your studies. Even if you had to sacrifice the amount of sleep you got, you felt like it was worth it.

It doesn’t take you long to arrive at the dock, sitting down close to the end with your legs folded under you. You first collect lake water in a jar before carefully taking out the pouch's crystals. Assuming you had only a few left in the pouch after laying most of them on the dock, you tilt it with your hand under it, only for the crystals to come out all at once. You fumble, hands trying to bring them to your chest, but with your luck, one of your crystals falls right into the water with a plop.

“Dammit!” You peer over the edge and groan, Ambrose whining at your misfortune as he stands beside you. You look down at the water, noticing Ambrose’s and your dim reflection in it. There was no way you could get that crystal now because you didn't know how to swim, and you consider that maybe tomorrow you can convince your twin brother, Atticus, to look for it or Alabaster if Atticus refused, which you were expecting him to.

Your breath hitches at the back of your throat, jumping back as a head of dark hair abruptly pops up from right where you were staring. Ambrose barks loudly next to you, equally as startled, and your eyes widen. You stand up hastily at the realization that Ambrose's loud barks in the dead of night will catch the attention of the harpies, and right now, that was more important to you than the mysterious person that just sprouted up in the water like a zombie coming out of a grave.

“Shush! Ambrose, quiet!” Your frantic command was enough to make him stop with a whine, and you sigh shakily, turning towards the camp to check if there were any harpies.

“I think you dropped something.” Ambrose moves in front of you protectively, a low growl coming from his chest as he cautiously studies the person. You look back where the voice came from and to your surprise and your relief, you find that the mysterious person in the lake was no other than Percy Jackson. You never had a conversation with him before, but you definitely knew about him. It was kind of hard not to know who he is since he’s been the talk of the camp since he’s arrived. Your thoughts about him weren’t any different from most of the camp. You’ve seen him fight and use his powers during capture the flag, and you were just as impressed as everyone else. You did have to admit that you found him to be pretty cute too. His eyes were gorgeous, clear, and bright like a shallow, cyanic sea. You also found it adorable how his hair always looked a little disheveled.

Your (e/c) eyes met Percy’s green ones before looking at your rose quartz in his hand. You smile sheepishly, noticing the amused look on his face.

“Ah, yeah, that’s mine.” You walk over to him, but as you get closer, so does Ambrose, and his growls get louder. "Ambrose, heel. It's okay," you say softly, and he stops in his place, but his stance is still at alert, his eyes watching Percy cautiously. You pat Ambrose's head before walking past him and over to Percy. "Thanks," you smile, taking your rose quartz from his hand.

"No problem… I don't think your ghost dog likes me," Percy jokes, moving to look past your legs at Ambrose, who’s standing tall on your left side.

"Yeah, well, you kinda scared the crap out of us," you point out, amused. You take in Percy's goofy smile as he pulls himself up from the water, and you notice that he’s completely dry as he settles on the edge before turning his body to look at you.

“It’s y/n, right?” He asks, and you nod, figuring he’s probably heard about you in passing from Connor and Travis since he was friends with them too. “What are you doing out here so late?"

"I could ask you the same thing," you retort playfully, making him smile. You move to sit down where you were standing. You spread the crystals neatly on the wood, making a mental note to get them before you go to bed.

"I couldn't sleep, so I came out here to hang out, but then a hippocampus swam up. One of its friends got stuck in a fisher's net not too far from here, so I went to help," he explains, and you nod. "I told you my excuse, so what's yours?"

You hum, "It's a full moon out tonight, so I thought I should take my crystals out. I also needed moon water for a potion, so I collected some for that," you point over at the big mason jar full of lake water. "It’s not as cool as your excuse,” you say playfully.

A short laugh comes from Percy, and when you look up from your crystals, you notice he was looking at Ambrose again, who was still in his tense stance. Ambrose was especially protective of you and Atticus, and it wasn’t unusual for him to be cautious of the new people you come across. You assumed that Ambrose was particularly tense with Percy since he had successfully caught you both by surprise.

"Ambrose, relax.” You pat the top of his head to soothe him. "Lay down." Ambrose whines, licking your hand affectionately for a little, and you can tell he was still uneasy about the other. He was hesitant, but he follows your command anyway, laying down with his head on your lap.

"You can touch him?" Percy asks, his eyes wide and curious as he watches you pet Ambrose.

"Yeah, I can touch ghosts in general. My mother is Hecate, goddess of necromancy, along with magic, the night and the moon," you tell him. "This is Ambrose. My mother gifted him to me to be my familiar, kinda like a guardian." You look down at the hound, smiling softly as you scratch behind his ear softly.

Ambrose is a burly Molossian Hound who lived in the time of Alexander The Great. From what your father told you, his breed was well valued in Ancient Greek and Roman times and was often used in war. It is easy to understand why the breed was used in war. Ambrose is huge and muscular, about 6 feet tall when he stands on his hind legs, and he weighs around 200 pounds. At first, Ambrose can come off as a little intimidating. You remember how your siblings had avoided him when you first arrived at camp before they realized that he was the clearest definition of a gentle giant. Even though he was trained to fight when he was alive, he was still as gentle as a well-trained house dog unless he was given a reason not to be.

"When did you get him?" Percy asks, his eyes focusing on Ambrose’s translucent body that looked like it is made up of this gray swirling vapor. He couldn’t exactly wrap his head around how Ambrose’s head was comfortably propped up on your thigh.

"We met on the night I was on my way to Camp so about 2 years ago. Without him, my brother and I probably would have never made it to the borders.” You look up at Percy, meeting his eyes again; you watch as his face softens as he shifts to lean back on his hand.

"Really?" You hum and nod, ready to drop the conversation there, thinking you shouldn’t bore him with the details. You didn’t really like talking about it much, but the way he was looking at you made you feel like he was inviting you to continue talking.

"We got separated from our father at the gas station a couple of miles away from here. He went inside the convenience store to get us snacks, and while he was in there, a cyclops had found us, tried to grab us out of his car. We jumped out and ran into the woods nearby," you explain as you look out at the dark horizon.

You remember the sound of your father yelling after you and Atticus and how it broke your heart hearing, for the first time, such despair in his voice. You knew your dad didn’t want to bring you guys to camp, but he knew it was in Atticus’s and your best interest to come here and be with other people like you guys.

When you and Atticus started developing your powers, your father had simply told you guys that you were special and to refrain from using your telekinesis anywhere else but home. He didn’t say anything more until one night, you and Atticus had gotten in a screaming match about a reason you don’t even remember. However, in your screaming match, the both of you were so angry that a green aura had formed around you both, and books, magazines, even cutlery were being flown across the room because of the sheer energy you were admitting as a unit. It was then your father had decided to take you and Atticus to the camp to control and learn about your powers before you guys destroyed the house over a dumb argument like who’s turn is it to have the TV remote.

"We were more concerned about the monster hurting our dad, so we decided on a whim to run in the forest. My brother and I have telekinesis powers, and I aimed well enough to send a rock right at the cyclops eye. We lost him a little after that, but we didn't know where we were. We made too many twists and turns; we had no idea what direction we came from. And then, this buddy appeared out of nowhere from a distance. I saw him glowing from far away and couldn’t make out what he was, but I felt that I had to follow him. So we did, and he got us to camp with no detours for any other monsters. He's been with me ever since," you say, and a low whine comes from Ambrose’s mouth as he nuzzles the side of his face on your thigh contentedly.

Percy nods, and he huffs softly, "You guys got lucky. How old were you and your brother when you got to camp?"

"12, we're twins. We actually got here a couple of weeks after you did,” you mention. You watch Percy’s mouth curve into a half-smirk.

“Wow," he says, amused, and shakes his head. “So you have a twin and a dead dog, no fair," he jokes. You giggle, rolling your eyes playfully,

"Oh please, and you have crazy water powers. You’re completely dry after swimming! I think that's pretty envy-worthy."

"Hey-,” he shrugs, taking a second as if to form a protest. “I guess you're right,” he admits and laughs. You laugh with him, opening your mouth to say something else but unfortunately, you were interrupted by a screech echoing in the distance.

Both you and Percy stand up quickly, trying to figure out which direction it came from. “The harpies,” you both mutter in unison. You bend down to grab your things, and you look at Ambrose.

"Go distract them, bud," you tell him, and Ambrose jumps up to his feet, and you watch as he runs away, barking to get their attention. Just then, you see the wings of the Harpies coming up from the trees of the forest. You turn to Percy, grabbing his hand quick,

“Incantare: Transpectus!" You exclaim confidently, closing your eyes to envision you and Percy becoming transparent on the dock. You've never tried doing this spell before, but you've gotten better at visualizing and setting intentions, so you had some hope in yourself. You open your eyes, not feeling any different, and you hoped that you just didn't make a fool of yourself in front of Percy. But when you look down at your hand hesitantly and notice it was hard to make out since you were see-through like glass, you sigh in relief. You smile to yourself, more than satisfied that you were able to pull that off.

"Woah, are we invisible?" You look over at Percy, able to see him just fine since he was under the spell with you. Percy looks down at himself, eyes widened as he processes he can’t see his body anymore. You observe him for a second, finding it cute how he looked surprised and obviously entertained at the fact that he was completely see-through. You feel yourself growing a little flustered, trying not to focus too much on the fact that you were holding hands with him.

"Something like that. C'mon, it won’t last too long," you whisper, and your grip around his hand tightens as you guys begin running to his cabin. You hear the harpies screeching in frustration as they swoop down to try and grab Ambrose, only for their claws to go right through him. While the harpies were growing more annoyed, Ambrose, on the other hand, was having way too much fun, running in circles and barking at them as if he’s teasing.

"Man, I wish I had a ghost dog," you hear Percy mutter behind you as you arrive at the steps of his cabin.

"Yeah, Ambrose is pretty great," you admit, watching him play with the harpies before shifting your gaze over to Percy. "Thanks for getting the crystal for me." As much as you wanted to stay talking to him, you knew you couldn't stay too long. You were still eager to finish studying, and Ambrose can only hold off the harpies for so long.

"It was no problem. It was on my way up anyways," he shrugs, and you smile, trying to ignore the fluttering feeling in your stomach. You look down, the two of you still holding hands even though the spell wore off already. You awkwardly let go of his hand, shifting on your feet.

"Well, I'll see you around," you say sheepishly, fiddling with your fingers.

"Yeah, I'll see you.” His hand comes up in an awkward wave. You nod, returning the wave. Your eyes meet Percy’s green ones one more time before turning on your heels and walking down the steps of his cabin. You notice that Ambrose is now long gone into the forest, taking the harpies with him to give you time to rush to the other side where your cabin is.

As you hurry back to your cabin, you couldn’t help but smile to yourself as you replayed the interaction you just had with Percy, and you couldn't help but wonder when would be the next time you could talk to him.

You carefully hoist yourself up, climb back into the cabin through the window, sighing softly once you get in. You slowly close the window, your face scrunching at the creaking sound, but you successfully get it closed before turning around, only to be faced with Connor Stoll standing a few feet away with his arms crossed over his chest. You gasp loudly, almost dropping the mason jar in your hand, being startled for the second time tonight.

“Oh, look who’s back,” he says, his lips pulled in his usual mischievous smirk, his right eyebrow raised as if he's suspicious of you. You shift, giggling nervously under his graze,

"Hey, Con.” Shit. You knew he wasn’t asleep, and a part of you wasn’t surprised that he had caught you sneaking out again. You weren’t too worried since Connor wasn’t one to be strict or easily angered, neither was Travis, but you can understand if he did get a little upset with you since the cabin could also get in trouble, and he worried about you getting hurt.

"You leave so often, I'm starting to think you're seeing someone," he teases, and you furrow your eyebrows, not really sure what he was trying to get at.

"I'm not seeing anyone. You know what I do when I sneak out," you tell him, putting your hand out to show him the jar full of water. After being caught the first couple of times, you had explained to Connor why you occasionally needed to head out at night. He was understanding of your reasons, telling you to try and not sneak out as often. When he did catch you, he always kept your outings secret. It came with a price, though. You were sometimes stuck doing extra chores, especially anything that had to do with cleaning, since he hated doing anything that had to do with mopping or sweeping.

"So that wasn't you and Percy on the dock?" Your eyes widen, and you feel your face get hot again. You shake your head, stumbling over your words for a second.

"Uh… n- that was a coincidence!" You hear him snort, laughing quietly as if he didn't believe you. Even though he couldn't see your facial expression very well in this lighting, he can still tell how flustered you were at his sudden question.

"Yeah, sure," he says sarcastically, and he hums, "Anyways, what are you going to do for me so that I don't tell on you?" He asks, and your mouth drops open. Usually, he wasn't so forward, and he never threatened to tell on you. "I might spread a rumor about you and Percy rendezvousing at midnight. The Aphrodite cabin will have a hoot with that one."

You gasp, "Connor, are you blackmailing me right now?" You narrow your eyes at him, and he shrugs,

"I guess you can say I am." You shake your head, walking over to your desk to put down your moon water before turning toward him and crossing your arms in front of your chest.

"... what do you want?" You ask, expecting him to make you take up one of his chores. But from the way he was smiling at you, you can tell that there was something more he wanted, and you were beginning to worry.

"Help me turn the Ares Cabin into bunnies," he says, and you shake your head frantically,

"No way! Clarisse will kill me," you whisper. Connor smiles,

"No, she won't. She can't kill you if she's a bunny," he points out, and your face falls flat,

"They're not gonna stay bunnies forever," you say, and you fiddle with your fingers nervously at the idea of the outrage you'd get from the Ares Cabin after shifting back from being bunnies. "I don't know, Con. I don't even know if I can turn all of them into bunnies at once."

Connor waves his hand at you, dismissing your concern. "I don't care for the logistics now. We can work on that later, but you have to agree to at least help me," he says. "Or I'm telling everyone I saw you smooching Percy on the dock."

"What!? We didn't even kiss. We talked for like 5 minutes!" You whisper-yell, your reactions much too entertaining for him, and he was having a hard time holding in his laugh.

"Your decision, y/n."

You sigh, throwing your head back. You look at the ceiling for a second as you consider your two choices. And you decide that getting your head potentially put on a stick by Clarisse was better than the burning embarrassment of Percy thinking you're spreading rumors about kissing him. "Fine, whatever. I'll help you do the bunny thing," you mumble, your shoulders slouched.

Connor nods with a proud smile on his face for trapping you into helping him. "Good choice. I will be going back to sleep now. Good night… again," he announces, turning on his heels and walking over to his bed. You frown a little as you walk back to your desk to study. Plopping down onto your chair, you decide that you’ll worry about Connor’s little plan later so you can focus on your studying. After a while, Ambrose comes trotting in, joining you by the desk as usual. You smile at him, praising the other for distracting the harpies for you before he lays down, his head laying on your foot.

As you study, you find that you couldn’t help your mind drifting back to Percy once and a while. You deem that there was no way that you could have a crush on him since you guys have only spoken once. In the midst of your internal debate to decide what you felt for him, you suddenly remember the crystal that was retrieved for you. You remember how Percy presented it to you, holding it out for you with his fingertips. It was your rose quartz. What a coincidence. You smile, rolling your eyes as you tell yourself that you’re thinking too much into it. You look over, noticing the dim illuminating light of the beginning sunrise shining through the curtains. You sigh, deciding that you should probably get to sleep and take advantage of the maybe, four hours of sleep you’ll get tonight. You close your herbology book before making your way to your bed, and with a soft sigh, you retreat under the covers, and finally, you surrender to your drowsiness.

masterlist

[gayaristocrat]

Lupercalia (Nicholas Scratch X FtM Witch Reader 3/4)

Pairing: Nickolas Scratch x FtM! Reader Words: 1.1k+ Summary: Final ritual of Lupercalia, and it seems the the red riding hood is hunting the wolf. Notes: I have decided to continue this series because this story is in my Kinkmas 2020 Writing Challenge List and I decided to continue it. Also, I hope I don't give anybody dysphoria or anything, if I do then I deeply apologies. Also I hope there are no spelling errors or grammatical errors, if there are any, then please dm/inbox me and let me know what I need to fix.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 4

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After going to the Valentine’s Day dance at Baxter High, let’s just say it was very eventful. Long story short Nick and I ran into Amalia, his werewolf familiar, in the library at Baxter. Nick attempted to temporarily banished her successfully, and when she came back for him in the woods, he had no choice but to kill her. He was pretty emotionally destroyed about the whole situation, but he managed to cope with his loss and grieve her. I was there for him through every step, and once he was able to heal we had to continue the Lupercalia ritual.

“After the hunt, all I can say is poor Melvin doesn’t know what’s in store for him” Agatha says with a sinful chuckle as she pulls up her black stockings. Prudence laughs at the though of how pitiful she thought Melvin was before she contributed to Agatha’s degradation. I take glances at them as I clip together my own maroon cape and red stockings all while listening in on their conversation. “Can you imagine? A virgin, at his age? You’ll be gentle to him won’t you sister?” She questions to Agatha. “And afterwards Prudence, we’ll share him. It’s been a while since we’ve had a virgin.” They shiver with anticipation as they imagine dominating the poor boy.

“Sorry to crush your hopes sisters, but unfortunately for you I initiated Melvin the night of the Courting.” Dorcas chimes in with an ‘matter-of-fact’ tone. Prudence and Agatha question her on why she didn’t stay abstinent as required, but then again they should have known she was gonna go in for the kill. Dorcas asked if Prudence stayed abatement, but like she always says, “A girl doesn’t kiss and tell”

All three of them put their capes on as they head to the doors of the dormitory. Now you may be wondering why I’m in the girls dorm room. Well, since 99% of the guys in the boys dorm room have unbelievable toxic masculinity I didn’t feel comfortable being around them. So I was allowed to switch and stay with the girls, which they welcomed me with open arms, and since then, they played a part in helping me during my dysphoric breakdowns. Also, staying with the girls also allows me to be closer to my sister, Sabrina.

The trio turn to me and tease me about spending the night with Nick. “ Poor y/n, this is your first time spending the night with someone huh?” Dorcas says in a fake pitiful tone. Prudence chimes in after her, “You better prepare yourself because Nick can be a wild animal, and I know from personal experience when he was in an orgy with me~” she slyly says in an attempt to make me jealous.

“Honestly I don’t care how many people Nick slept with. That was way before we were ever in a relationship. Him sleeping around in the past is his business and has nothing to do with me.” I say as I stand my ground. Nick has been loyal to me since the beginning of our relationship, so whatever he did back then won’t make me jealous because I know for a fact I’m secure with him. I love the Weird Sisters with all of my heart, but sometimes they really get on my nerves when they do shit like this.

Prudence smirks in defeat and lets out a sigh. “Anyways..are you coming y/n?” She says. “In a minute-“ I respond pausing to look at myself in the mirror to make sure I look okay before I continue, “I still need to take my berries of phylaxis, then I will be ready to go”

—————-Later That Night————

The witches and the warlocks are gathered back in the woods. Everyone is radiating high levels of hormonal energy, the girls lusting after the boys and vice versa. The full moon is out, cascading us below it, illuminating our surroundings with a healthy light blue glow. Ambrose once again is leading everyone through the last ceremony of the ritual.

“Welcome to the final night of Lupercalia!” He shouts with authority as he stands on the dark mahogany wooden platform, as he speaks, you could see his breath in the cold air. “The hoods hunt wolves, witches hunt warlocks, and the outcome of the hunt shall determine the year ahead. Will it be bountiful or barren? Fruitful or fallow?” He says adding suspense. “Wolves are you ready!?” The warlocks howl in response to him before he blows the horn and send them on their way, running through the woods. Ambrose pauses for a few seconds to let the howling and energetic boys get a head start, then turns to our remaining group. “And hoods, are you ready!?” The girls and I also howl in response, causing him to blow the horn again signaling is to chase after the guys.

The girls and I start running into the dark foggy woods to chase after the boys, bobbing and weaving through the trees as we desperately try and catch our prey. Pools of red capes billowed behind as we ran through the woods, speeding up to the shouting grey furs. Once the hoods caught up to the boys, they pounced on their backs, some rolling around on the ground and falling on each other. I searched all around trying to find Nick as quick as I can and pounce on him to claim him as mine before anybody else tries to get to him before I do. I searched for him all around, but all I could see were witches pinning their claimed warlocks on the ground and on the trees.

More screaming echoes through the woods and the thrill heightened our senses as if this was a game of cat and mouse, in this case, hoods and wolves.

As I attempt to avoid hitting trees and rocks, I see Dorcas caught up to me, running along side me as she chases after Nick too. “Find someone else y/n, I don’t care who it is, or what the ritual said. I. Want. Nick.”

“Look Dorcas-“ I say trying to reason with here, but still paying attention to where I’m running. “-Stop trying to go after my boyfriend and just go be with Melvin!”

“Oh and also, you might want to watch where your running before you trip on something” But of course, she didn’t head my warning and refused to pay attention, which in turn made her trip over a rock and fall flat on her face.

I keep moving and ignore her failed attempts of calling my name for help to distract me. As I keep going I see what looks like a familiar bulky silhouette, dodging the trees left and right and trying not to bump into other people. I feel my feet automatically pick up speed as I get closer and closer to him, then I finally pounce on him, making us roll on the ground for a minute before we stop.

After a while I finally manage to pin him down on the soft grassy ground with a tight grip on his wrists as both of our chest heave up and down to catch our breath. Nick and I lock eyes as a smirk creep up onto his face before we both leaned in for a intimate kiss.

“Looks like little red riding hood caught the big bad wolf this time~”

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[ellewritesathing]

Ten Things    VII

Summary: If there’s one thing you have to know about Harvey Kinkle, it’s that he rarely thinks things through. So when he meets (and falls for) Sabrina Spellman on his first day of Baxter High and finds out that she can’t date anyone until her tempestuous sister does, it seems like the obvious solution is to get someone to date her so he can go out with Sabrina. A not so obvious choice for the challenge is Caliban, but, hey, it’s not like Harvey thought that far.

Masterlist Prev. | Part 7

Word-count: 3k+

A/N: before you read, i would just like to say, from the bottom of my heart, yikes 💕

For the most part, you rejected cultural, social, and gender norms - being raised by Zelda and growing up with Ambrose had pretty much insured your rebellious streak - but there was a part of you that had always wanted to go to prom. 

It was cheesy and lame, and a huge part of you still hated school dances thanks to Nick, but there was always a small, tiny part of you that craved the experience. You wanted to buy a tacky dress that you’d never wear again, dance with a high school sweetheart that would feature in all your stories, and just - for one night - be like everyone else. 

Now that you were sitting in the parking lot in a tacky dress you'd never wear again and staring at your reflection in the rearview mirror while you waited for your high school sweetheart, you were starting to have your doubts. 

Sure, Sabrina had helped you pick out a dress, Ambrose had done your makeup, and Hilda had twisted your hair into a style that made it seem far less unruly than it usually was, but that didn't change who you were underneath it all. You looked as close to perfect as you’d ever been on the surface, but underneath you just weren't sure if people like you got to be like everyone else. 

“Hey.” Sabrina reached over and touched your arm lightly. She looked as perfect as she always did, somehow more so with the annoyingly kind smile on her face. People like Sabrina were built to go to prom. “You okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” you lied with a smile. You twisted the bracelet that was just too big for your wrist. “Just wondering how Ambrose is coping with the tragic loss of his prom date.” 

Sabrina laughed, leaning back in her chair and tilting her head up to the roof. “I’m sure he’ll find some way to go on.” 

You gave her another smile and then the car fell into a familiar silence. It was slightly different than usual though. Ordinarily, it was because neither of you had anything to say; tonight, it was because you had too much to say. Anticipation and nervousness hung in the air. 

You looked up from your bracelet to find Sabrina watching Nick go into the school. With a sigh, you asked, “Did he ever tell you that we dated?” 

“What? No way!” Sabrina spun around to see if you were joking. Her surprise crushed any nervousness in the car. Her wide eyes narrowed as she took you in. “But you hate him.” 

“I didn’t always. I mean, he was so totally dreamy and, like, did you know he does modeling on the weekends?” Laughing off your impersonation of Sabrina’s cronies, you shook your head and picked at the details on your dress. “He was different back then. I was still figuring things out. We just kind of … made sense at the time.” 

“What happened?” Sabrina asked, concern taking over in the absence of surprise and suspicion. 

“Homecoming. He didn’t really respect that I wanted to take things slowly,” you said evenly. “It ended in this huge fight and he threatened to tell people we slept together anyway. I told him if he ever did that, I’d tell everyone that he made me wear his mother’s clothes first and that those swimsuit photos were, uh, very heavily edited.” 

Sabrina laughed and leaned back in her chair again. “Wow, you and Nick …” She let out a long breath and shook her head. Then she frowned and shuddered. “Gross.” 

It was your turn to laugh and sink into your chair. You grabbed hold of Sabrina’s hand and looked over at her. “Yeah, it is pretty gross.” 

The two of you were quiet again and anxiety filled up the space between you. Neither of you had ever been in this position before. Neither of you had ever been speechless before.

“Are you nervous?” Sabrina asked quietly. It felt like the slightest noise would shatter the air you breathed.

“A little,” you confessed. Light from one of the lamposts filtered through the windshield and hit your intertwined hands. It was hard to believe, when the two of you sat like this, that you hated one another six months ago. “I really like him, Brina.” 

“Me too.” 

“I keep feeling like I’m gonna mess it all up somehow.” 

“Me too.” 

You turned your head to look at her, maybe to tell her that she was crazy if she thought she could mess anything up or maybe to tell her to say something longer than two words, but you didn't get the chance to say anything or confess any more secrets.  

Caliban and Harvey knocked on yours and Sabrina’s windows with three quick blows and the two of you sprang apart. You cursed them out with some very descriptive and lengthy profanities, but unlocked the doors for them anyway. 

Instead of yelling, Sabrina laughed, stumbled out, and wrapped Harvey in a clumsy hug. 

While you were marveling at how easy it was for her to be, Caliban opened your door. He hung in the frame, the smell of ocean-scented shampoo and reckless ambition filled your lungs and washed away your anxieties. “You look lovely,” he said with a quiet smile. 

How you responded would define your night. Could you be like everyone else for a night or were you simply not built for that kind of easy lightness?

Deciding to leave the anger in the car for the night, you gave him a playful smile and tugged on the edges of his jacket. “You’re not so bad yourself, Sparky.” 

Before Caliban had the chance to respond, you smoothed your hand along his jacket and settled your fingers lightly on his neck. Your other hand held onto his shirt as you pressed a kiss to his lips. 

"I should get dressed up more often," Caliban murmured when you pulled away. You gave him another smile and he stepped back and held a hand out to help you out of the car. 

The two of you made your way into the school without a single witty one-liner escaping either of your lips. 

--- 

Harvey had heard of people who got quiet when they were nervous and about how, even when they felt like they were going to explode, they appeared cool and calm to the untrained eye. Unfortunately, he realized he would never be one of them. 

From the moment he and Caliban surprised the two of you in the parking lot and Sabrina nearly toppled him over with that hug, he had been unable to keep his mouth shut for more than thirty seconds.

It wasn’t like he wanted to make Sabrina’s ears bleed with bad jokes and unclever observations about the dance around them, or ramble on about his history assignment and how Theo finally worked up the courage to ask Robin to be his date. If he had it his way, he would be as charming and cavalier as Caliban was when he was with you. 

But he wasn’t. Harvey was anxious to every eye, trained or not.

Sabrina, thankfully, seemed to find it cute. She’d kiss him whenever he needed a distraction and even managed to convince him to dance. Granted, he would have done anything to make her smile but still. It’s not like he was any good at it. 

Harvey would step on her feet at times and go left when he was meant to go right, but Sabrina didn’t mind. She’d laugh and lead him in the direction. She was perfect. 

If all dances were like this, then Harvey was starting to think they might not be so bad, anxiety be damned. 

Looking over at you and Caliban, he figured you guys were thinking something similar. Caliban had given you his jacket and the two of you were holding onto one another and dancing in place. It was a very sweet scene, made funnier by the fact that Harvey knew the two of you were probably scheming something terrible instead of whispering ‘sweet nothings’ (as Ambrose called it). 

---

"You can't tell me you don't know any dances," Caliban said, an amused smile on his lips. "I've met your aunts and I don't believe they wouldn't teach you at least one formal dance."

"I know one," you said. Before he had the chance to ask which, you rushed to add, "But it's not really something you can break out at a school dance without looking like an asshole," you told him. 

Caliban laughed and shook his head at you. "I hate to break it to you, love, but everyone here already thinks we're assholes. So, just tell me what it is so we can stop swaying in place."

Begrudgingly, you dropped your gaze and mumbled something into Caliban's chest. 

"Sorry, what was that?" Caliban asked. 

You sighed and looked up at him. He could have sworn that you almost looked nervous. "Ambrose taught me to lindy hop before he figured out that Sabrina was a much more agreeable partner," you said. 

"The lindy hop," Caliban repeated. As he said it, an image of you and Amrose swirling around the living room with all the furniture shoved up against the walls popped into his head. It was sweet. "We could try it, if you want." 

"It's been years," you said quickly. "I- I don't even know if I still remember how to do it!"

Caliban knew that arguing would get him nowhere, so he let go of one of your hands and twirled you out instead. When you spun back into him, muscle memory had the two of you bouncing around and stepping in sync in no time. 

Soon, you were laughing and twirling and looking as carefree as Caliban had ever seen you. And then the first punch was thrown. 

---

Before all hell had broken loose, Harvey had spent his time talking nonstop and keeping an eye on you guys as well as watching over Nick. He’d been moping for most of the night, just drinking from a flask while some girls tried to flirt with him, but Harvey knew better than to underestimate him. Nick could be a loose cannon.

Although he stayed away for most of the night, Nick eventually got rowdy and staggered over. His speech wasn’t slurred but alcohol tinged every word. 

He pointed a very accusatory finger at Sabrina. “You’re supposed to be here with me,” Nick snarled.  

“I’m not supposed to do anything,” Sabrina said. “Nick, you should leave.” 

“What? Am I ruining your perfect night?” Nick looked over at Harvey. He wasn't sober enough to glare, so it was a sloppy, angry look. “You screwing the new kid now?” 

Harvey let go of Sabrina to take a step closer to Nick. “You are way, out of line, man. Just get out of here before I kick your ass.” 

“Oh, please. Save the knight in shining armor crap for someone who gives a shit.” 

Some other words were said, but they all led up to the same thing: Harvey punching Nick just above his jaw.

--- 

Though Harvey had a pretty decent left hook, Nicholas appeared to be a bit of scrapper, sloppy as he was. Caliban didn’t have the chance to say anything before you’d torn yourself away from him. Not a single beat was skipped before the two of you went to break up the fight. 

You’d pulled Harvey back at the same time that Caliban pulled Nick back by his wrist and pinned it behind his back. Caliban gave you his best smile - the two of you made a good team. 

“Oh, of course, you came to the rescue,” Nick spat, craning his neck to scowl at Caliban. “Caliban. What kind of name is that anyway? Actually, I don’t care. I want my money back.” 

Your hold on Harvey faltered. Both he and Sabrina were frozen next to you, and Caliban just knew you'd pieced it together. “Your money?” you asked.

“Awww, didn’t anyone tell you kitty cat?” Nick asked. He laughed as Caliban twisted his arm to make him shut up. “Your boy here is on my payroll. He only asked you out because my buddy Ben Franklin asked.”

Something inside you clicked, anger replacing the momentary shock, and Caliban knew there was no going back. You pushed Harvey away from you and scoffed. “Unbelievable.” 

“It’s not what you think,” Caliban rushed out. 

“Actually, it’s exactly what I think. Isn’t it, Nick? You wanted to go out with my sister and paid him to get me out of the way?” you asked. Your voice was shaking even though you were remarkably composed, but Caliban knew the rage that must have been under your skin. He’d never meant to hurt you but it was too late for that now.

“Exactly,” Nick said. 

You shook your head and stormed past them, knocking your shoulder into Caliban’s on your way out. Sabrina called out to you but you ignored her cries, Nick’s laughter, and everyone else. 

As much as Caliban wanted to punch Nick’s face in, he’d never forgive himself if he didn’t go after you. He shoved Nick down to the ground and raced after you.

---

You’d been angry before. Anger was when Sabrina borrowed your favorite shirt and ruined it, or when Billy said something ignorant and/or offensive. That's how you knew that this wasn’t anger. This was a blind fury mixed with hurt and betrayal, accompanied by some very stubborn tears. 

Your first instinct had been to hide in the bathroom and clean yourself up, but you ran the risk of someone finding you if you did that. So, instead, you made a b-line for your car. Harvey would take Sabrina home, and you were too pissed at both of them to care if he didn't, anyway. All you needed was to leave before you blew up. 

But Caliban wasn’t making your escape easy for you. He rushed after you and grabbed your hand just as you got to the sidewalk that led to the parking lot. “Look, I can explain-” 

“No!” You spun around and pushed him away from you. He looked hurt and confused but he had no right to be. He used you. He knew how you felt and he used you anyway. “I told you to tell me,” you said, hitting his chest weakly and struggling not to cry at the sight of him. Your voice shook. “I fucking told you and you just-” 

“I couldn’t tell you!” Caliban’s voice wasn’t shaking but it definitely wasn’t his usual cool tone. “I couldn’t, okay? I had feelings for you long before Nicholas was in the picture and-” 

“I don’t care! You lied to me, Caliban,” you said. You couldn’t yell at him anymore; it hurt too much. “I trusted you and you lied to me.”

Caliban couldn’t yell either. His voice was raw and shaking when he spoke again, but he reached out and touched your face gently before he tried. He wiped away one of your tears with his thumb. “I’m sorry.” 

“I hate you,” you lied, voice trembling. 

“I know.” Caliban's voice was quiet as he pulled his hand away. He hadn't looked away from you once. “I should go check on Harvey.” 

“Then leave.” 

Caliban gave you a solemn nod and turned to head back inside. The doors swung shut behind him and you started crying. Ugly, broken, and embarrassing sobs. When your hands went up to your face, you felt Caliban’s jacket brush your skin and your anger flared back up again. 

You ripped your hands away and tore the jacket off, throwing it to the ground as hard as you could. Something clinking inside caught your attention. Warily, you bent down and felt for whatever it was, eventually pulling out his car keys. 

You got to your feet and pointed the keys towards the parking lot. Somewhere in the distance, his car beeped and a terrible, impulsive idea started forming. 

---

There were a lot of things Sabrina could put up with, but Nick Scratch was not one of them. She picked him up off the floor after Caliban threw him down and then she punched him in the gut. It was a lot more painful than they made it look in the movies, but man, did it feel good. 

“That’s for breaking my sister’s heart,” she told him matter-of-factly. He was still in the process of recovering when she hit him again and burst a vein in his nose. “That’s for Harvey.” She kneed him in the one spot she knew he definitely didn’t want to be kneed. “And that’s for me.” 

Ignoring Nick's broken wails, Sabrina stormed out of the dance. She blew past Caliban and a dozen confused freshmen, and went to look for you. Your car was still in the lot but she couldn’t see you anywhere. She tried calling multiple times but there was never any answer. 

She’d just about given up when Harvey showed up, but then you picked up before he could say anything. 

“Oh, my god. Are you okay?” Sabrina rushed out, clutching Harvey’s hand. 

If there was one thing you hated, it was dumb questions. Your annoyance was evident when you snapped, “I’m just peachy.”

“Where are you?” Sabrina asked.

“Can you pick me up on the other side of the mines?” you asked. “Give me half an hour first.” 

“Anything you need,” Sabrina said. “I love you.”

“Yeah, I love you, too.”

Sabrina held onto the phone even after you’d hung up. She felt sick to her stomach at the thought of what you were going through. Because of her. Taking a deep breath, she let go of Harvey’s hand. “I need to go.” 

Harvey’s face was full of concern. “Can I come with you?”

“No. I need to talk to my sister,” she said. She leaned up and kissed his cheek. “Thank you. I had fun before …” 

Before she crushed you. 

Part 8

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[queenofthefallenangels]

Dean Ambrose x Reader

Rated M

Warnings: Smut, some bullying.

Requested by: Anonymous

A/N: Yes, this was meant for Valentine’s day, but I got busy and now all this stuff with Corona. It has been crazy. I hope you are all staying safe. I love you. 

From my love 💞💋: Hey, I know this is coming at an odd time with Valentine’s Day coming up, but things just aren't working out between us. I need time for myself. I hope you understand. 

A day before Valentine's day. This fuckin prick. I slammed my locker closed. Tears already in my eyes. I willed myself not to cry. I was in the makeup area surrounded by other females that would be nosy about why I was crying. I also hadn't exactly been honest either. Craig and I have been dating for six months secretly. He always said that someday he would tell everyone about us. We had met when I had some makeup looks at ESPN for Becky. He was one of the new sportscasters there. It seemed like love at first sight. Or so I thought. Maybe I should have known with all his secret-keeping that he had no interest in me. He just was looking for someone to mess around with. I felt so dumb. I just let him use me like that. I wanted someone like that to want me so bad I didn’t care about all the red flags that were flapping in my face. 

I slammed my hands hard against the table just ready to run, scream and lose control. I heard two chuckles from behind me. “Awe, is (Y/N) angry?” Dolph said in a teasing manner. 

“Don’t antagonize her, Dolph, “ Baron chuckled. “You might get the hulk to come out. HULK SMASH. It will be the first Earthquake in Florida history.” 

I rolled my eyes, “Do you have anything better than juvenile insults to throw my way?” I really wasn’t in the mood for them. They were always giving some stupid fat jokes. It was why I had to request HR, so they no longer were on my list to do makeup for. Luckily, I got them off, but that didn’t mean that they still didn’t come back and bug me from time to time. It was hard enough to work in a place surrounded by supermodels and not feel insecure. They never helped it at all.

“Aw, if it’s so juvenile, why did you have to run to HR and have us reported?” Baron asked his head tilting to the side. “Did we hurt your feelings? Good, because you don’t belong in our world.” Baron sneered. 

“Even our hair and make-up people need to meet the right standards and let's face it.” He looked me up and down.  “You don’t make the cut.” 

“There are tons of people like me here,” I said. My voice was so small that you could barely hear it.  

"Oh, but they are built like a steam engine while you are built like a dumpster full of trash." Dolph laughed. He high fived Baron so proud of his pun. I felt hot tears burn my eyelids. I begged them not to fall, but they did anyway. I could hear their laughter roar louder. I covered my face. I was a god damn adult and I was crying over something a high school bully would say. Why was I so upset? It didn’t help that I had just gotten dumped over the phone two minutes ago. 

"Hey!" A voice boomed from the other side of the hallway. All three of us snapped our heads towards where the voice had come from. It was to my shock, Dean Ambrose. Dean Ambrose and I have barely ever spoken a word to each other much less enough for him to feel the need to stick up for me. "Why don't you idiots go back to high school if you want to bully people? Or at least pick a fight with someone who can fight back." He said as he got inches from Baron's face. "You must have a tiny ass dick, Corbin." 

Baron glared at Dean. His eyes never left him. Dean held up his fingers with barely an inch between them. "Is this what it looks like?" He asked. Baron grumbled and pushed passed Dean, Dolph following quickly behind. I returned to my station trying to busy myself. I had still been crying a bit when I felt his hand on my shoulder. It was strong and solid. I felt so weak underneath it. The truth was, though we never had much communication, I desperately wanted to. I wanted it so bad that it held me back from it. I didn't want to sound stupid to him or trip over my own feet making me sound like a huge idiot to him. 

"Don't listen to those fools. He doesn't know how to talk to actual humans, just airheads with no substance, but appearance." Dean told me as he rubbed my back. I nodded his touch, melting me. "Hey, (Y/N), don’t let those idiots get it for you. They wouldn’t know what a good looking woman was unless it came wrapped in plastic. You are beautiful no matter what those idiots say.” 

“You are just saying that to make me feel better,” I said, still unable to look him in the eye. 

“Why would I just say something like that if I didn’t mean it? I mean it. I don’t go around trying to butter everyone up.” He said as he turned me towards him to face him. He put his finger under my chin causing me to look into his clear blue eyes. I was lost the second that our eyes met. I bit my lip as he moved a piece of my hair behind my ear. "You are so beautiful, they don't know how to handle it." I blushed deeply. This was definitely something I would have expected from the lunatic fringe. He was smooth, but not normally sweet like this. It felt genuine coming from him. He leaned in and his lips touched mine. I was surprised by how soft they were compared to his hands. His hands were always rough and calloused, but his lips were soft and warm. I was happy when his hands landed on my waist cause I was melting where I stood. He pressed my back against the cold wall as the kiss deepened. This kiss was never anything like when I kissed Craig or any guys for that matter. It was gentle, but at the same time rough. His hands moved up and down, as he felt every single curve. 

He broke the kiss as he moved his lips to my ear. “Come to my dressing room in a few minutes.” He whispered in my ear. His voice was deep and husky. I could feel him push his hard-on against me before he pulled off. He turned walking back towards where his dressing room was. My mind raced as he vanished out of sight. He shares his room with Seth and Roman...They might need to come in. But, what if he knew they wouldn’t be. The show didn’t start for another half an hour and I had most of my clients done which is why I had taken to my phone. The rest of my clients started after the start, so I had free time. Would this make Dean a rebound if I did this? I didn’t want to be that type of girl. Everything ran through my head, but my body was on autopilot. It went straight to the shield’s dressing room. I hadn't even finished playing out every single scenario in my head when my hand was already knocking on the door. 

Dean opened the door with a smile on his face. He pulled me in before he locked the door behind him. I bit my lip looking down. My heart was racing, it felt like my heart was going to fly out of my chest. I was close to aborting this whole thing. What was my body thinking when it took me here? 

I felt a finger go under my chin as he pushed up my face to look at me. “Everything okay, kitten?” He asked. 

“Yeah...I mean..I guess. I don’t generally do stuff like this.” I sputtered out. A blush deepened on my face. 

“Oh, I know. I wouldn’t have asked you otherwise.” His hand traveled down to my waist. “Truth is, I had my eye on you for some time now. Becky had warned me about your boyfriend, but-” 

“We broke up,” I said quickly, stopping him before he could speak anymore. His smile grew on his face as soon as the words left my mouth. 

“I figured something had to have happened. I saw you upset and was going to stop to talk to you until the two idiots got to you before me.” 

“Why did you kiss me if you didn’t know we broke up till now?” I asked him. 

He shrugged. “I took a chance. Honestly, I don’t care about some pretty boy reporter. You deserve better anyway.” I noticed as he got closer to my body, he was pushing me back towards the wall. 

“Like who?” I said rolling my eyes. I didn’t mean for it to come out rudely. I just want to make sure this wasn’t all a dream. There was no way Dean Ambrose could really like me, but every time I caught a glimpse of his eyes, I could see nothing, but softness. 

“Like me.” He said before pressing his lips back down on me. He pushed himself against me, closing the space between us and pressing my back hard against the wall. He grabbed my wrists and put my arms above my head. He held them there with one hand. “You got to stop doubting how amazing you are. I am going to prove it to you.” He said as he pushed my hair away from my neck. He turned his head as his lips went on my neck. His kisses were gentle at first, but as he got closer to my collarbone, he started to sink his teeth into my skin as he left little bites behind. I jumped once he hit my sweet spot, letting out a quiet moan. I could feel his grin against me. He opened his mouth and began to suck on that part of my neck. My knees felt weak. I tried to move my hands down, but he kept a firm grip on them. He used his other hand to go under my shirt. He moved over my skin. His fingertips felt like fire on. His hands moved to my breast as he cupped it roughly. He reached around and unsnapped my bra. I was surprised at how easily he did it. My mind was starting to fog as he pinched my nipple twisting it between his fingers. I moaned as my head flew back exposing more of my neck. He took advantage of it and began to kiss down my exposed cleavage. He pulled my shirt down further exposing more till they fell out. His lips moved down to my nipples as he wrapped his lips around the right one sucking on it. I could feel wetness start to build between my thighs. I rubbed them together trying to feel something. Dean Ambrose was going to be the death of me if he kept on teasing. I felt his hand finally let go of my wrists as he moved it between my legs rubbing it. I whimpered softly against his hand. His grin got bigger as he felt how wet I was. He took me off the wall and let me to the couch they had. He moved me against the arm bending me over. He pulled off my pants with one quick tug as he pulled them down. I felt nervous as he looked at my exposed backside. I knew I wasn’t perfect back there. I had stretch marks and cellulite back there. I was scared that might make him back out. It didn’t. He gave a quick smack to my ass before he grabbed it with his hand. “Fuck you are gorgeous.” He said as he pushed his finger through my folds before he got down on his knees. His tongue brushed on my thighs. He kissed up to my heated core. He laid his tongue flat as he licked up and down. I moaned loudly as I gripped onto the couch. He pushed my folds apart as he pushed his tongue inside exploring every inch. I moaned loudly. I was almost unable to contain myself. I knew these rooms weren’t soundproof though. I could easily be heard. Soon, I could care less about who heard, as I ground myself against his face and felt the prickle of his beard. That mixed with his tongue was sending me over the edge. I couldn’t help but want more. I wanted him inside me. I wanted to feel him stretching me. I looked back at him. His face soaked with my wetness. He pulled back, licking his lips. Lust clouding his blue eyes as he looked at me. He knew what I wanted. He didn’t have to ask. He got up from his knees and undid his jeans. I watched him the whole time as he pulled his pants and boxers down. His eyes never left mine as he stroked his already hard cock. I licked my lips when I saw how thick he was. He pushed the tip between my lips rubbing it up and down. He made sure it was well lubricated before he pushed it inside me. I closed my eyes as I stretched around him, hugging his cock tightly. I moaned as he started off at a slow pace. Once he could tell I was used to it, he pushed himself in and out. He smacked my ass as he went deeper with every thrust. It felt amazing. It wasn’t long until my pussy clenched tightly around him. I was milking his cock as my high came to life. He gripped onto my hair as he pulled it back causing my back to arch so he could push himself as deep as it could possibly go. I could feel the tip of his dick rubbing against my g-spot as I came around him. My toes curled as my juices spilled around him. He wasn’t fair behind me as he pulled out a spilled all over my back. I felt the warm ooze of him all over my back. He walked towards his gym bag as he grabbed a towel whipping me off. 

“So, tomorrow is Valentine's day, how does a date sound?” He said once he had cleaned my back off and I was sitting on the couch.

I was still trying to catch my breath, but I nodded. “That sounds amazing.” 

[initiumseries]

CAOS Part 3 - review

Uh, okay, so I think by now, we all know this show is terrible. Netflix gives showrunners a lot of creative freedom, and I think, for better writers, you could get some really interesting content, but they just seem to keep giving these assholes who wrote the travesty called Riverdale, so many opportunities to make more shitty television, and I feel like they really deserve to be limited in their ability to create/write if not stopped completely and thrown into a well with Julie Plec.  Anyway, I’ll try to break this down as best as I can into different piles of shit and this will contain spoilers:

Characters

Prudence and Ambrose

So, to be really honest, I watch this show exclusively for Prudence and Ambrose. Because, well, look at them: 

I wish they had more chemistry because they are super hot together, and I still ship it. A young Black couple? On TV? In this sea of shitty interracial relationships? I’ll take it. Anyway, of course, the progression of their relationship is ridiculous and frustrating. Ambrose decides at the last minute, not to kill Father Blackwood because he has a weird time egg thing that they don’t really understand, also he has the twins under some weird mind control for no clear reason, so they stay their hands. It doesn’t make sense, but it becomes clear, Father Blackwood has an insane amount of plot armour and ultimately would have to serve as a vessel for Satan. Father Blackwood uses the manipulated mind of the other weird sister to sic her on the coven, and she ends up killing Dorkus, whom Prudence finds. She then blames Ambrose for not allowing her to kill FB, and they break up. Now...this would kinda make sense, if not for the fact that they trapped one of the pagan witches and forced her to change everyone back, but no one bothered to do anything about the mentally ill witch who you all strapped up for a reason? Lol ok. Seems like an oversight on your part Prudence, but...okay. Clearly manufactured breakups are exhausting, especially since [young] Black couples with no serious relationship dysfunction are now an endangered species. It’s also frustrating because we barely got to see them....*be* together, especially after they returned home. 

Nick & Sabrina

So, I know from the beginning, we were supposed to believe that Nick and Sabrina had that kind of, Bad Guy, seduces the girl Good Girl, luring her into the dark side, hot, intense, passionate relationship. But their lack of chemistry and really shitty acting just made them really dry (which I get into here). I don’t believe them, and I definitely don’t believe that Sabrina would, once again, break a shit ton of rules to get Nick back. I just don’t buy that they had that kind of an intense, desperately in love, kind relationship, because they do not look all that comfortable around each other, much less in love. 

I personally find Sabrina utterly unlikeable as a main character, largely because who IS she? She has no personality, she just does whatever the plot needs her to do in the moment, and the actress makes Sabrina appear smug and unremorseful while she fucks up everyone’s lives. There is a lot of exposition of everyone telling us she’s this power hungry, manipulative character, but we never see that. She just does stuff and everyone is all “Sabrina how could you?!” and there are never, ever any consequences. I would have liked to see her push so hard to get Nick back and the struggle being, sure she wants him back, but mostly she’s doing it because she can. But that’s not what happens. 

So Nick ends up in this weird drug addiction, alcohol, sex demon spiral because he has parts of Satan still in him and it all just falls so flat and lame, because this show is SO bad at pacing, and these actors suck, so nothing is believable. The idea of him scrubbing his club foot, having nightmares, suffering PTSD, is fine, the execution was trash. Nick sees Caliban and Sabrina have one interaction and he’s like WELL, GUESS I GOTTA CHEAT. And just ends up in some S&M situation with sex demons and heavily self medicating, but none of this has any weight, and we don’t really see him...spiralling. He just immediately resorts to these things and it has no real impact on anyone or even him really, and that’s it. 

Harvey and Roz

Uh, they’re probably the most confusing match here, because there is no lead up to their relationship, there’s not suggestion, there’s no pacing. Just BOOM, we’re into each other now. BOOM, Roz is the only sexually active person in her friend group (lol of course the Black girl is sexually active. Gotta maintain white innocence at all costs), so she’s just ready to jump Harvey’s bones any second now. So of course, the show punishes her by having the pagans turn her to stone. And as if that’s not bad enough...

Which I talk about here and here, because honestly I’m just sick of this show’s antiblackness.  Theo & that other guy

So I was watching this unfold like, yeeaahh, they’re gonna make the trans guy get with the enemy aren’t they? And yes, they did. Cool, they didn’t kill him off, but I’m still perplexed at how Theo isn’t even a little upset that this guy was basically sent to infiltrate his friend group and sat by while his people harmed Theo’s friends, and also...used him? Like...we just...are gonna...gloss over that because he changed his mind? Lol ok. Sure.

Mambo Marie and suddenly Zelda?

I...I mean her name is Mambo Marie. I love the idea of Black witches finding Black spirituality and magicks through Vodun and a Hatian Priestess. But they quickly undo that, by ensuring that Mambo Marie only teaches Prudence in the presence of these white witches. And we see her...doing...an African drum circle (eye roll), only to be interrupted by the High Priestess of White Feminism, Zelda Spellman. It quickly devolves into thinly veiled racism where Zelda doesn’t trust Marie because she’s Catholic (says the woman who worships Satan, has an anti Pope and prays to Lilith with the same prayer for Mary mother of Jesus? LOL. Not even unpacking the fact that Vodun is an African spirituality having 0 roots in catholicism WHITE WRITERS). Then suddenly, out of nowhere, Marie and Zelda are a thing for no reason? After the way Zelda treated her? Why did Marie even stay? This isn’t her problem. This is a white witch problem. Okay. That’s too much to unpack. 

Plot

So, my biggest problem with almost all Netflix English programming is that they are so obsessed with aesthetics, and don’t pay enough attention to actual character chemistry, plot, story flow, details, pacing etc. Like...things that actually make stories interesting to watch. So they slap all these people together and throw them into aesthetically pleasing backgrounds, shake it up with so much exposition that nothing actually happens, and are like BEHOLD A STORY. And CAOS is *especially* guilty for this.

First of all those musical breaks were annoying as fuck. Musicals serve 2 story functions: advancing the plot or telling a story. These musical numbers did neither and were honestly ridiculously gratuitous, highly annoying and totally pointless.

What time of year is this? Why are we having pep rallies and how the fuck and when did Sabrina and Roz join the cheeleading squad, and why?

for the aesthetics and not for any real plot reason. It just seems stupid because now I don’t know how much time has passed between Nick going to hell and this, because you’re all handling it like it’s been a few weeks and is still relatively fresh, but suddenly, Theo, Harvey and Roz are in a garage band? You’re a cheerleader? For what? Since when? Why? These choices introduce more questions than they answer and serve no narrative purpose. So much wasted time on shit that doesn’t matter. 

Sabrina is supposed to be fighting Caliban (who is literally the only person she has chemistry with on this show and they killed him bc ofc they did), for her seat on the throne, and yet the trials only seem to come up when it’s convenient, and also seem to be directly related to her dealings with her coven, which is also convenient.  I’m so confused about Satan. His powers come from being a celestial being, and so, because his coven mistreats him he’s like...lol okay, well fuck you guys and goes through all these convoluted small motions to greatly inconvenience them and withdraws his powers? This is so petty and pathetic. Also, what’s the point? He could just wipe them out and start over, instead of skulking around inside FB then suddenly decides to track down Lilith. Again, convoluted. This plot is all over the place. Why does Satan need Sabrina to be Queen of Hell in the first place? He seems perfectly healthy. Why can’t he just rule it? Like...that makes no sense. What is he gonna do? Retire? WHAT is going ON?

How did Sabrina come back in time to herself stuck in stone? Is that trip to Pontius Pilate (lol) supposed to have created a loophole for her to save herself and everyone? This is giving me hardcore Twilight Breaking Dawn vibes, where, the show finally, FINALLY gets interesting, there’s real stakes, shit is actually happening instead of everyone talking about things happening (Hilda ending up killing her fiance was literally the only time I felt something watching this show because it was genuinely sad, and well acted, and Hilda coming through with that doll at the end was pretty disturbing, I’ll give them that), and ofc, Sabrina goes back in time and undoes it all. Lol. Okay. God forbid there be real consequences to anything on this show.

Final thoughts

Once again, the white feminism runs high on this show. They treat this Black Vodun Priestess Marie, like garbage, allude to her “foreign” magic, but Marie is sitting here like “we’re not men, we’re women, let’s work together.” This is why I hate white writers writing for Black characters. Black characters should have Black motivations, and a Black Vodun Priestess, should know that white women and Black women do not have aligned motivations just because they share a gender. Once they started with the bullshit right from her arrival, she should have handed Prudence her card and peaced tf out. Instead she tolerates the isolation, ostracization and thinly veiled racism...and decides to stay, and help. WHY? Marie has gained nothing by sticking around helping these ungrateful ass witches. I honestly would have preferred Prudence asking her to stay to learn more about Vodun, and them building a mentor/mentee type of relationship, especially since Prudence was the one who invited her and stepped to Zelda to defend her. I want(ed) to see that relationship go somewhere. The deliberate denial of healthy Black female friendships on tv is frustrating.

 These witches finally finding their power in their ancestors and I donno, some female creator or whatever, reminds me of white women “finding” wicca and praying to “Gaia”, (reminds me of BTVS s4 when Willow joins the wicca group) which is basically what happened but lol okay whatever. I guess they aren’t satanic witches anymore. Lol, I love how Harvey and Roz and Theo are teenagers, human teenagers, who have lead largely normal teenage lives up until this point, but see their loved ones tortured, deformed or murdered in hell, with basically no residual issues, and are all like, YES, let’s roll up on these adults with shotguns and swords and kill the FUCK outta these people!! That absolutely sounds normal! Like...what? Lol. God this is just so bad.

Also, I’m so confused by this aesthetic choice for Sabrina as Queen of Hell. Like what the fuck. Why is she dressed like a Victorian era queen, with shoulder and a broken rib bodice? What?!

This show is truly awful, this season made no more sense than the last two and now that Prudence and Ambrose aren’t together, I might be done watching. 

-20/10

[demoncryptspanties]

Time After Time

Part 1

Masterlist

Ambrose Spellman x reader

A/N Okay so this is the first part to something I have been trying to finish for so long, I’m sorry it's so long after the second season came out but yeah. Here ya go, I guess. 

When you first met Ambrose, the moon was heavy in the sky. Stars making it seem like it was daylight, almost like a painting, as if someone had painted the sky. It felt like a dream. He wasn’t supposed to be there, he was in Spain, bearing witness to art and culture. Things he said later were incomparable. You were running, away from something, responsibility. It seemed like fate for the two of you to find yourself on that bridge. You were looking over the river, a hood pulled over your head. The community here were almost all witches and Warlocks. There were communities like this scattered across the world, little pockets of people just like you, hiding from humanity.

 You seemed to be seeing something in the water, at first you thought they were leaves until they started to glow. Fish glowing about as bright as the moon swimming in small circles. You were mesmerised for a second or two before you looked up realising that it wasn’t, you’re doing. A man stood at the other end of the bridge, a soft, welcoming smile on his face, his hand opened and faced towards the water.

“I hope you don’t mind. You just looked a little upset over something.” He called from his place, walking towards you.

“Not at all. Apparitions aren’t exactly my forte, I’ve never been able to do something so intricate.” You said an easy smile on your face. You felt safe, considering you had never met the guy and you were alone on a abridge at night in a town full of magic users.

“It’s easy really. You could probably do the same with a little practise. So, what exactly is your forte?” He was about an arm’s length away from you, the urge to move closer was there but you resisted it.

“Potions and healing. My parents think that with my ranking within the coven it would be best suited to serving the coven and eventual husband.” You don’t know why you felt so comfortable opening up to him, but you did.

“Is that why you’re here on a bridge at 3am.” He asked his soft smile never wavering.

“No that is because of the proposal that I just found out about.” You said finally facing him.

“Forgive me but I don’t see how that is much of a problem, should you not be happy.”

“Well yes, I suppose. It does help that he is somewhat attractive. He’s also supposed to be the next high priest of the coven but. I…don't really like him like that. At all. He’s great as a friend but marrying him, I could never.” You seemed in shock of how much you revealed to the stranger but at ease, once you had finished.

“You could always run” The look on his face was completely serious.

“No. I can’t. My sister got excommunicated, I’m all my family have left to restore the image. Besides, maybe I’ll feel different when he actually proposes.”

“Life is way too long for us to live life unhappily.” With how close the two of you were standing, anyone walking past would think you were lovers.

“That was rather philosophical to say at 3am.” You chuckled lightly.

“Perhaps but I’m not wrong. You should at least think about it” He moved away from you walking towards the opposite side of the bridge he entered from.

“You’re leaving without at least giving me your name.” You asked a confused expression following the man.

“Yes. I tell my philosophy and leave. It’s more mysterious this way. The town isn’t big perhaps we will see each other in daylight” He stopped to say.

“And if we do see each other, what is that. Fate” 

“Yes” You didn’t hear what he said after that if anything, but a soft smile fell upon your face anyways.

You hadn’t slept well, having so much to think about but the light woke you, coming through the thin curtains of the house you were staying at. The walls themselves were a light beige going well with the light blue curtains and door. 

You decided that since you only had 4 days here until you returned to England to start your writing course that you should explore the small town. The paintings were supposed to be magnificent here and the general atmosphere of the town had you wanting to explore. The market was not too far away from the home, a five-minute walk at most.

The snake that was previously wrapped around the bedpost moved itself to your wrist, adorning it like a set of bracelets. Head resting just above your wrist, her tongue long enough to swipe just past your fingers. She was a gift from a close friend of yours when you turned 9, you named her Selene. 

It was warmer than you anticipated, the close-toed shoes you wore seemed to be a mistake by the time you got to the market. It was bustling with what seemed like the whole town, people rushing to the stalls with fruits and meat. You walked quickly to the bakers stand you encountered on your first day, the smell of fresh bread seemed to be heightened by magic.

“Good morning Jacob, could I have the one with the seeds.” You asked a sweet smile on your face. You pulled out a few coins before a voice sounded behind you.

“So, it was you who the good bread was reserved for.” The voice was teasing and familiar.

“We both know that I had marginally better charm than you Angelica” You replied pulling her into a hug. “Is there a reason my favourite sister is in Spain”

“Well, there are perks of being excommunicated, such as being able to roam free. It has been a while though how have you been. Fill me in” She said paying for you and leading you away.

You spent the entire day catching up, although you see her about every month, since she wasn’t talking to your parents the night chatter and sneaking around in comparison to talking openly was exciting. She spoke of her travels and her pursuits. Hoping to spend the next few days with you.

The two of you explored the town, you looking over her head at times to see if you could catch the man from the bridge but you didn’t seem to. Taking his comment about fate to heart you guessed that you were not supposed to see him again and stopped looking. 

You were due to leave in the evening so you had about 5 hours before you should be at the docks. Your sister took you to a café near the house you were staying at. While sipping tea you decided to fill her in on the proposal

“Jude is supposed to propose to me after my course is finished.” You said interrupting her chatter about the weather in Paris.

“That is 3 years away you have time to prepare,” she said eyebrows furrowed.

“I don’t want to marry him, and 3 years is not that long for witches.” You took a deep breath and looked back at her.

“I suppose your right. If you want me to tell you to do it, I won’t. You know I cannot stand our parents. If you don’t want to marry him refuse.” Angelica moved her cup away from herself, shifting so her legs were crossed the other way.

“It isn’t that simple. They’ll disown me” You whispered the reality of it only hitting you now. 

“They did the same to me. It’s not so bad,” She had a reassuring smile on her face, but it offered you no comfort.

“I’ve just never been on my own like that before, at least I had them to fall back on. No money or place to stay. You were able to do it because you’re you. You’re brilliant and independent. I can’t. I am way to shy for that” She chuckled reaching out for your hand.

“You’ll be fine. If worst comes to worst, I’ll find you and take you with me.” Your eyes lit up at the assurance. You could say no, and it wouldn’t be the end of the world. 

She helped you take your things to docks and gave you a kiss and a wave as the boat drifted away, much like your anxieties for the coming years.

England itself was dirty and wet a lot less magical than was described to you. It was muddy and stank. It really did lack all the culture and feelings of the town in Spain, but this would be where you would spend the next three years, so you tried to suck it up and think of the upsides. That proved harder than you wanted.

By the time you got to the small cottage you would be staying at in the mainland, it was late. Late as in almost 3 days after you had arrived and also late in terms of the sky was already dark. Not quite pitch black but the want for a candle as you walked up the gravel steps made it seem later than it was. Selene was relaxed wrapped loosely on your upper arm shielded from both the cold weather and the dark sky and absent moon.

You gave two hesitant knocks on the door, waiting a full minute before hitting it again with a lot more ferocity than you anticipated. The door opened seconds later revealing a round-faced woman with a washrag on her shoulder.

“Oh, dear you must be Y/N, I’m Louise owner of the house but all the kids just call me mama” She ushered you in quickly closing the door behind you and muttering something under her breath. “You must be a little hungry, today's journey was pretty long, but first let me show you to your room.”

You heaved the trunk you had with you, seeing you struggle, Louise flicked her hand and the trunk started to float about two inches from the floor. “Thank you, um, Louise.”

“It’s no issue dear,” The stairs were immediately in front of you and you followed her up to the second floor. The landing revealed what seemed, you counted to be 6 doors, Louise walked confidently to the furthest one opening it and letting you through. The setup was almost identical to your room in Spain besides the colours of the room which were mostly mint and blues and greens to complement it.

“Each room has a bathroom; the rules are the same as my sisters in Spain so you should be familiar. The only difference is, of course, there are other children who go the school here. There are no set mealtimes but if I’m around you can always ask for a little something, I do love to cook. I’ll whip something up while you settle in. Oh, and another difference from Spain, there’s a curfew of midnight. Although this is witch country it’s not safe for anyone after that time, I hope you understand.” 

She didn’t go into more detail about the curfew but gave you a soft smile and left. You sighed gently pulling out your small number of belongings from your trunk. Although you liked to travel light there weren’t an abundance of outfits for this weather which you would have to rectify. A shopping trip would be ideal but without Angelica the idea of it made you shift uncomfortably.

Sensing your discomfort Selene came out from her place under your cloak and to the edge of your hand. You gave her a soft pat on the head and put her on the top of the open trunk. She looked back at you with a sense of wonder an innocence that could only be present in an animal. The little number of clothes you had were in a cupboard within the next half an hour.

You took a minute to appreciate the little pottering you did and sat down on the queen-sized bed in the middle of the room. The distant sound of rumbling pulled you out of your thoughts, walking downstairs the unmistakable smell of steak filled your nose eliciting a response from your stomach that even made you stop for a minute. 

Louise was in the kitchen, mixing a batter, humming a soft tune that made you feel at ease.

“You settle in alright dear,” being an empath, she was able to feel your presence as soon as you walked in.

“Yes, thank you. I’m sorry but can I serve myself a piece of that, it looks really good.” You were drawn to the table, feet moving at their own will.

“Yes, of course, that is why I made it.” Her response put you into action immediately, you had a plate made in under a minute, scoffing your food down way too fast. You made an effort to leave a small piece of steak for Selene that you would bring up later.

“The town looked nice when I went past.” You said in an attempt to make conversation.

“Yes, it does. Clara can take you around tomorrow. You were supposed to meet her today, but she got a little occupied somewhere, but she’ll be here tomorrow for breakfast. Clara is a year above but took the same classes so she can tell you about that as well.” The two of you settled into meaningless chatter until her cake was ready. Just like the steak, it was delicious, and you were not disappointed.

You still hadn’t seen anyone else who lived there but there was still 2 hours till curfew. You found out that as well as you and Clara, there were two other boys, Jacob and Tom, and another girl Lilac. Lilac was also a year older than you, taking marginally different classes than everyone else, Louise described her as a bit of a daredevil, she seemed likeable enough, but you, of course, would have to judge that.

Jacob was in his final year and wasn’t around much. Tom though was in the same year as you but stayed here through the summer. He again took different classes than you, except the conjuring course meaning you would see him there. Louise conveyed that he was a pretty quiet and shy, keeping to himself for the most part.

You retired to your room shortly after, seeing that Selene was missing and leaving the steak on the top of the bedside table. It seemed to be minutes after you changed and sat in bed, that you were out cold. The morning came too quickly for comfort, the stress of the journey catching up with you.

Groggily walking downstairs, you were met by Louise and a pretty black-haired girl who immediately introduced herself.

“I’m Clara, and you must be Y/N. after breakfast, Louise said that I should take you around town if you’re up for it.” Her energy made you smile, and you agreed. You made a cup of tea and ate a couple pieces of toast before putting your shoes and cloak on to leave. Selene was still missing but you paid no mind, she was rather independent when she didn’t want attention.

The two of you walked down the gravel path in what a silence until Clara cleared her throat lightly. “I heard you’re doing the writing course. You have the guest speaker this year, some prodigy who comes down every other year. He published a poetry book at 17.” 

You perked up at the mention of a prodigy, “Really, that ought to be interesting.” You settled into gentle chatter while she showed you around the town. You bought a few cloaks to wear and thicker clothing, as well as a pale blue dress for an occasion. By the end of the day, you had a heavy bag and a hungry stomach.

You two ate dinner together still engrossed in chatter, Selene appearing to steal a piece of meat and settled in your lap. 

“You know you aren’t allowed familiars in the academy, right?” Clara asked sipping on a cup of hot water.

“Yeah, I heard. Is there a particular reason why?”

“No, it’s just a common rule among schools for us. Perhaps because some people like you have snakes while others have mice and bugs. It’s easy to get eaten.” You shook your head in agreement and then said your goodbye retiring again to your room to lie in bed.

You took out the silver hand mirror gifted by your sister, your mothers face revealing itself after a moment.

“Hello, sweetheart. How are you it’s been a couple days, how was the journey?” She had a tight smile on her face, clearly, she was also going to pretend the argument didn’t happen.

“Fine, the journey was long but nothing a good night’s sleep couldn’t fix.” You didn’t give her the satisfaction of a smile, eyes frowning slightly.

“Right, that’s good.” She trailed off, unsure of what to say next. 

Your dad seemed to save the day, eyes lighting up when he saw you. “Sweetheart how are you. How is England, how was Spain.” You answered with a soft smile and a laugh. Your mother left the room with a scoff handing your father the mirror.

“It was great dad. You know there’s a famous writer who is speaking to us about the course. I also saw Angelica in Spain. Oh, and I had a really interesting conversation with this guy on a bridge.” His eyes lit up at your enthusiastic reply.

“Tell me about it.” You did, taking about an hour of conversation. You and your father had always been close, the events that he disagreed with making you two closer. Your mother had yet to tell him about the engagement, but you left that for her to do when she felt like it. By the time you had finished, you were truly ready to sleep with a small smile on your face. 

The next week passed quickly. You had small run-ins with everyone in the house, opting to spend a lot of time with Lilac as you two had gotten on well. Your conversations with Clara although polite felt a little forced after that day, something rubbed you up wrong about her. Tom and you only engaged in niceties, but he made an effort to smile when he saw you and he liked to feed Selene whenever he saw her. Jacob, on the other hand, was rather cold to you but Lilac assured you he was like that with everyone.

The first day at the school went as you would expect, the introducing of subject’s and classmates. Aside from the one class, you had with Tom you mostly kept to yourself. Perhaps it was the fact that you weren’t a local, but the others were rather cold towards you. Then again, they are Witches and Warlocks. The introduction to both writing and conjuring were interesting. Whereas the others you had previous experience in, conjuring ended with a slight mishap in demon handling resulting in a small issue with containment but a classmate of yours had fixed that quickly. 

The writing course was as you would expect from a mortal course. The only strange thing was those in attendance. There was another girl from conjuring and another from healing but other than that the room was filled with other Warlocks. Perhaps it was due to how mortal studies were optional but also that it wasn’t a traditional sort of mortal studies, that and female writers of fame were rare. 

The teacher outlined the course and how the week after, the guest speaker would give you some help and stick around for the month as he had studied here briefly. You were tasked with creating a piece for him to read and grade as a test of your abilities in technique. The eccentric nature of your teacher encouraged you further, writing ideas in the small notebook you had kept on you.

The best ideas you had been told by your father were those that had been closest to real life. So, you decide to draw on your experiences the most prominent in your mind being your meeting with the man on the bridge. You spent the week working on the poetry paying attention to the techniques your teacher kept talking about. By the next week, you were happy with it reading over it a final time to make sure it was perfect before school.

The day couldn’t have gone any slower lunch finally there where Lilac was waiting in the cafeteria. 

“So are you excited,” she asked a small smirk on her face. “I heard he’s hot.”

“Well yeah but that doesn’t matter he’s good which is what I actually care about. Professor Hunt refuses to tell us his name though. Off-topic but is that soot in your hair?” She laughed lightly, shaking the soot out of her hair.

“Yeah, there was a small hexing mishap. It’s fine - the fire was contained - for the most part.” Her eyes contained a glint of delight making you laugh shaking your head at her.

“Did you set that boy on fire.” Her eyes seemed to light up a huge smile gracing her face.

“Yes, but he has been tormenting me for a year. I mean the burns really aren’t bad. I promise.” You shook your head at her chewing on an apple you had. “So, what did you write for the class. What is it about, anything saucy?” She raised her eyebrows at you.

“No. it’s just about this guy that I met.” You smiled lightly.

“Oh, one week here and you have already developed a crush.” She laughed at you.

“Anyone here, Satan no. I had this conversation with a guy in Spain. I mean it really doesn’t matter I won’t see him again. He made little illusion fish it was cute okay. Stop looking at me like that.” One of her eyebrows were raised a smirk present on her face.

“Did you get his name?” 

“No, he refused to give it to me, saying that if we should ever meet again it shall be through fate,” you said with an exaggerated English accent.

“So, he is English then?” The smirk was still there it seemed to get more prominent the more you spoke.

“Well yeah. Did I not mention that?” You looked at her a little confused.

“No, what did he look like, maybe he goes here.”

You sighed deeply, “doubtful this is a big place and he didn’t seem like a student. Honestly, it's fine it was one conversation it really doesn’t mean anything.” 

“Well you never know, maybe it is fate.” You shut down the subject after that asking for the exact story of Lilacs hex ‘mishap’. Lunch seemed to end quicker than usual because before you knew it you were walking towards the classroom.

You entered a few minutes early, a couple students already there and some of the older students were waiting around, including Clara, you suppose to meet the guest. Even though there was a lot of talk about the guy the probability that half the people in this room would know he was, was minuscule. There were a number of writers in the community and age was also a funny number. 

You settled down on your desk making polite talk with Clara. The older students seemed to trickle out and were hanging around outside when your professor appeared the guest hot on his tale. You whispered a small “Judas priest” under your breath when you saw who it was. Yes, he did look marginally better in daylight. He had a soft smile on his face until he noticed you, the smile getting noticeably bigger. You were lucky your seat was at the back so no one could see your flustered state. 

“So, this is our guest today and well for the month, Ambrose Spellman. He’ll be a consultant for you students for a month, lucky you.” Your professor didn’t seem that enthusiastic about the situation.

“yes, that is correct. Well, I’m not sure how many of you know but I published a poetry book when I was 17, I studied at Oxford and then did a poetic history course here which is why professor Daniel seems so eager to have me here again.” There was a little chuckle that went along with that but in all honesty, you were much too anxious about the poem you wrote to notice.

“So, I hear you all wrote poetry today. Well as you share with your peers and your professor, I shall go around give pointers.” Your professor made a hand motion and the room began to murmur getting louder by the second.

Ambrose seemed to make a B-line for your desk, ending up in front of you before you had a chance to focus. “Hey.” He paused waiting for you to address him, but you were so lost in your own thoughts that you didn’t respond.

“Well now that you know my name, I suppose it’s only fair you tell me yours,” the smile on his face was sweet and inviting snapping you out of your dazed state.

“Yeah its, Y/N Y/L/N” You cleared your throat and tried to look anywhere else but him. A large portion of the room seemed to be focused on you making you squirm slightly.

“Well how about the poetry you wrote,” 

“I didn’t write one this week I forgot.” You refused to meet his eye even though he took up the better portion of your view.

“Yes, you have I can see it on the desk” He picked up the sheet of paper quickly before you could move to grab it. In fear of embarrassment, you looked down at your lap hoping he wouldn’t read it out loud but of course, you wouldn’t be so lucky.

It wasn’t the content you were afraid of, more of his reaction at who you were obviously talking about.

Perhaps it was the fish, glowing underneath the reflection of the moon,

Perhaps it was the moon itself, the soft glow highlighting the softness of his eyes,

Perhaps it was the smirk, the advice it gave, the dreams it gave me

Or maybe it was the promise of fate, that we would meet again.

“Was this about anyone in particular or what?” A teasing smirk was evident on his face. The students that were around you seemed interested and stopped talking though the rest of the class were eager to discuss their own writing.

“Just someone I met a while ago, I’m not sure who he is,” You had a soft smirk on your face, unaware of the stares the two of you were getting. 

“Is that right,” He paused for a moment before continuing, “Well I suppose I should get to the rest of the class, but here some pointers.” He took a pencil from your desk and sketched a few things onto your paper. From the angle, you couldn’t see what he wrote and so waited until he finished.

He handed the piece back to you, everyone turning back to their own work waiting to see who he would go to next leaving him to give you a soft smile and a wink before moving to one of the other students.

You pulled the paper back to you, he had said ‘Short but sweet, impressive especially for a beginner. Maybe a little more emotion. Perhaps I could give you a few pointers over a meal. Meet you at the Library after last period.’ You smiled folding the piece of paper and putting it into your pocket. You carried on with the whatever your professor had asked you to do while watching Ambrose around the room.

[hazyheel]

Monday Night Raw 3/11/19 Review

The night started out with a classic Shield entrance through the crowd, although instead of the riot gear, the men came out in their new merch. Reigns said that if last night was his last match, he would be satisfied. They said that they all had business to take care of tonight. With that, Ambrose and Reigns left Rollins alone in the ring. He was quickly interrupted when Paul Heyman showed up. Rollins took the words out of Heyman’s mouth, saying that while Brock absolutely destroys guys that are his stature, smaller guys are his kryptonite. Heyman argued that Lesnar didn’t have time to prepare for those matches, pointing out that the matches were changed at the last minute. Heyman then showed a Lesnar hype package for some reason. At the end of the promo, Shelton Benjamin of all people attacks Rollins, hitting several German Suplexs and leaving.

Grade: A-. Really good promo, and I love the way they are building this story. The fact that they are acknowleding how good Lesnar works with smaller guys is a step in the right direction

With that, we went right into Benjamin vs. Rollins. Pretty slow match, surprisingly. But there was one point where Rollins went for a suicide dive, but Benjamin intercepted with a high knee. Heyman was on commentary, and he took a phone call, saying that it was Lesnar on the phone, and that he will be on Raw next week. Seth won with a Curb Stomp.

Grade: C-. I had high hopes for this match, but it really disappointed. They decided not to go all out for this match, so it was a bit boring. Right guy won.

Finn Balor came down to the ring as Rollins was leaving, getting in the ring for an Intercontinental Championship match against Bobby Lashley. For some reason, they just had Lashley’s face on the titantron during Balor’s entrance. On a completely unrelated note, apperently Renee Young is from Toronto, but isn’t a maple leafs fan. What a world we live in. Anyway, Lio Rush was not at ringside, apperently still recovering from some random hit from Braun Strowman last week. As Balor was about to hit Lashley with the Coup de Gras, Rush showed up at ringside, ringing the bell. Finn went for some sort of springboard move, but Lashley hit a spear for the win. Lashley is the new intercontinental Champion.

Grade: D. These guys just don’t have chemistry, not really. It’s only once in a blue moon that they put on a good match together. I didn’t want to see Balor lose the belt so soon, especially not to Lashley. Just not too enjoyable.

Backstage, Charly interviewed Baron Corbin about how he was a dick when Roman left to fight leukemia. He just said that he was gonna kick his ass, and that he had been carrying Raw.

Ronda Rousey came out to address her actions from last night. Ronda immediately heeled on the crowd, and honestly, she is kinda better at it than face promos, but it is still awkward. She said that she gave Becky Lynch the win last night so that she can embarass both of them, and that no one can stop her. Dana Brooke came out to interrupt, and I have no idea if she is face or heel. She acted face, and said that she won’t let Ronda keep disrespecting the company. She gave a whole speech, and all I could think about was how she was gonna get her ass kicked. Promo was decent though. She wanted a title shot, but Rousey just beat her up. 

Grade: D+. Just not worth having. I think that this could’ve been short and sweet, and we didn’t need an angle of her beating up a low card guy (this is coming from a guy that loves Dana Brooke for no reason at all.) Just keep it simple. Even not showing up would’ve been cool, we all know why she attacked Lynch last night, we didn’t need it spelled out for us. But either way, it was just unnecessary.

Next up, we had Bobby Roode and Chad Gable vs. Aleister Black and Ricochet. Contrary to the normal matches with Black and Ricochet, Black was the one who was selling most of the time. Roode and Gable hit an awesome neckbreaker/ german suplex combo. Match ended quickly after Black tagged in blind, and hitting Roode with a roundhouse kick, a knee and Black mass for the win. After the match, the Revival attacked Black and Ricochet.

Grade: C. It pains me to see a set of such awesome competitors get so overexposed so quickly. This feud should be awesome, but it just feels mundane now. People say it all the time, but the length of the show is really hurting feuds like this, where seeing Black and Ricochet all the time makes us think they aren’t as special. I hope they continue the feud into Wrestlemania, and they pull out all stops. But for now, they need to mix this feud up.

Then was a moment of Bliss, where Alexa was set to reveal who the host of Wrestlemania is. She revealed that she is the host of Wrestlemania. She left just as quickly as she showed up. Young and Graves were making a bunch of jokes on commentary. Graves obviously was thrilled. I’m not a huge fan of Bliss as host, I’m not really sure what she will do, but maybe it’ll be entertaining. I always thought of a comedic host, but we will see what she does. Backstage, Charly interviewed Braun Strowman about attacking Colin Jost last week. He said he didn’t really care if it was okay or not. Then a backstage aid told Strowman that his car was there, but Strowman didn’t know about it. I guess SNL, Colin Jost, bought him a car. In a card, Jost joked about Strowman destroying Vince’s limo, and how he got screwed out of a title shot. Strowman then destroyed the car. Strowman then tells the aid to tell Che and Jost that he will beat them up.

Then we had an Elias concert. He made fun of the city, and No Way Jose came out. Elias attacked him. and the rest of the conga line. Jose had new hair too! So yeah, this happened, not gonna grade it. They then showed the next inductees into the Hall of Fame: Harlem Heat. Definitely into that, Booker T is a 2 time hall of famer now, along with Shawn Michaels and Ric Flair. Lacey Evans came out, and walked over to the commentary desk, while Corey and Renee freaked out and Michael was thoroughly annoyed. She put a fan in Renee’s face. T’was humorous, and the best use of Lacey Evans yet, because she had a staredown with Nia Jax at the top of the ramp. It didn’t lead to anything, but at least it teased the possibility of Evans actually doing something. Progress?!?

So next up was Nia Jax vs. Natalya, after their confrontation last night. She said that she needed someone to have her back tonight, with Beth Phoenix coming out in her corner. The match lasted for a minute, and Beth Phoenix just caused a DQ. The heels retreated, but the Boss n’ Hug connection attacked them backstage.

Grade: D-. Kinda dumb of a segment, although it was cool to see Phoenix back. I just don’t see why Tamina and Jax need to still be in the title picture. They are bad, straight up! I wish they would just fade out of the division, and maybe Bayley and Banks take on a smackdown team. Or even Natalya and Phoenix. Anyone other than Tamina and Jax.

Next, we had the confrontation between Triple H and Batista. Batista came down to the ring dressed like a Hollywood asshole, and had security and I hate him with every bone in my body, so WWE is doing well with booking their heel. Batista was a little rusty on the promo, but he acted like a very tough, and calculating heel. He is fine with fighting Triple H, but on his own terms. He said tells Trips to give him what he wants, and Trips refuses. Trips called his security the “guardians of the independent scene.” Funny. Batista said that he left because Trips always looked down on him, and he wanted to get away. Batista said that the only reason Trips won’t give him the match is because he isn’t in control. The promo devolved into them just shouting at each other like children. The match was confirmed after a shouting match that went on for way too long. Batista’s only line was “give me what I want.” Batista said that this would be his last match, and he wants to end Triple H’s career too. Trips then said it was No Holds Barred.

Grade: D+. I was looking forward to this, but I didn’t like what happened. They ended up just yelling at each other, and it was annoying. Took way too long to get to the point. It would’ve gotten a lower grade, but I like the hint that this may end up a match for Triple H’s career. The No Holds Barred stip was a given, but I didn’t expect a career threatening match. I’m looking forward to it. But the actual segment started out strong, but quickly died a horrible, annoying death.

Kurt Angle was up next, out to address his career. He recapped his career, and put over Pittsburg. He announced that this will Wrestlemania will be his fairwell match. He then said that this would be his final match on Raw, against Apollo Crews. Huge honor for him. The two had a quick match, Angle winning with the Angle Slam.

Grade: C+. Good match, although it was short. More importantly, who will get Kurt Angle’s final match? My mind went to either Drew McIntyre or Roman Reigns. Either would be very good, but I think McIntyre deserves it, given that the two really made TNA together. But Reigns needs a match too. So this is definitely a story I’m looking forward to.

Next, we had Roman Reigns vs. Baron Corbin, but before we started Drew McIntyre attacked, and left him laying. Reigns fought back a bit, but ate a Claymore, and then a second into the ringpost. Rollins came out to check on him, and they sorta played up a concussion angle. Reigns refused medical attention, and waked out very slowly. It was on his own power, but Rollins helped him out a bit. Ambrose was pissed, and he told Trips that he wanted Drew McIntyre in a falls count anywhere match. They battled into the crowd, and Ambrose threw a little table at Mcintyre. At one point, McIntyre was lying down on a rolling case, and Dean pushed it into another equipment case. It didn’t look very good. McIntyre and Ambrose brawled on the announce table, before McIntyre hit a low blow, stabbed Ambrose in the head with a pencil, and then threw him into the LED boards. McIntyre got the win after hitting a Claymore while Ambrose’s head was in the railing.

Grade: C+. A medicore match to end out a mediocre night. The stipulation was kinda fresh, and Drew looked good, but the outcome was not in question. Kinda fun, but ulimately just being used to set up Reigns vs. McIntyre.

Overall Grade: D+

Pros: opening promo; Kurt Angle announcement; main event (kinda)

Cons: pointless Dana brooke beatdown; Intercontinental Championship match; Black and ricochet overexposure; Nia and Tamina still being relevant; triple h and batista “promo;” 

Commentary call of the night: Renee Young- “You’re excitement creeps me out.” Corey Graves “Well, uh, leave.”

[let-me-love-you-loki]

Hounds of Justice--Ch. 44

Chapter 44

           The wind nearly blew me over as I walked out of the back door of Black and Brave. The students had already gone to get some rest. Every single one of them had done a fantastic job. Sarah had made progress in getting over some of her fear, although it was going to take a while before she was truly what I would call fearless in the ring.

           Seth had given me the keys to his CUV so I could go back to the house. He’d decided to go check in on the place he owned were a number of the male student stayed when they were training at the school. I was tired anyway, so it didn’t bother me too much.

           I engaged the GPS with the address of the house, cursing under my breath that I still hadn’t mastered the route between Moline and Davenport. Halfway there, large flakes of snow started falling. They hit the ground and melted into the asphalt, glowing bright in the headlights before they disappeared. If the temperature dropped low enough, it would start to stick. God only knew how long it was going last.

           By the time I pulled into the garage, the grass was dusted with white. I dug my phone out of my bag. Waited for the line to connect.

           “Hey, babe,” Seth said on the other end.

           I tucked the phone between cheek and shoulder. “Hey. You might want to head back soon. It’s starting to snow.”

           He chuckled. “This isn’t snow, Llane. It’s powder.”

           “Well, powder can still be dangerous.”

           The sound of his voice muffled, as if he’d put his hand over the phone. When he came back, there was laughter in the background. “If it’ll make you feel better, I’ll come home.”

           I made a face as I turned on the coffee maker, needing something warm to drink. “I just don’t want you to get hurt trying to drive back after the roads freeze over.”

           “I’m on my way. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

           “Don’t rush!”

             I changed into a pair of flannel pants and a tank beneath an oversized sweater. Fleece socks kept my feet warm on the cold wood floors. I curled up on the sofa with a cup of coffee, flipping through channels with Prince and Kevin curled up on each side. Every now and then, I’d check my phone, starting to worry when ten minutes became fifteen and then twenty.

           When the garage door engaged nearly forty-five minutes after we talked, I was on edge with anxiety. Seth came in the side door, nose a little red from the cold and bundled in a hoodie and a jacket. He toed off his shoes by the door and grinned at me as he tossed a set of keys and his wallet on the counter.

           “Are you okay?” I asked breathlessly. Kevin stirred when I stood up but sank back down into his nap when he realized nothing exciting was happening.

           He smiled, tugged me into his arms. I craned my neck to look up at him. “Maybe the roads were worse than I thought.”

           I tried not to smirk. “Ah.”

           He rolled his eyes. His lips brushed my forehead. “You were right. I wouldn’t have wanted to drive in this after it freezes tonight.”

           Stunned. Uncertain that I’d heard properly. I blinked.

           Seth led me by the hand toward the sofa. He sat down just where it curved into its L shape and tugged me down beside him. I curled against him, my head resting on his shoulder as he enveloped me in warmth.

           “Besides,” he said with quiet tenderness, “Mom takes care of the bunkhouse anyway. I just wanted to see what kind of stuff those guys were doing.”

           I smiled as I threaded our fingers together. His lips brushed the top of my head. “You’d like to be here more often, wouldn’t you?”

           “Yeah. It’s hard enough just keeping up with all the stuff going on with my family when I’m on the road. If it wasn’t for Marek and the rest of them, I don’t think I could run the school.”

           Words rushed through my brain, cobbled themselves together into sentences. A wish turned to hope to desire in the depths of my heart.

           Quiet settled between us. I stayed there, my head on his shoulder, his arm curled around me, even after I felt the light rumbling of a snore go through his chest. A smile played on my lips.

           “It wouldn’t be so bad living in Iowa,” I whispered into the silence. Kevin rested his chin on my feet, almost agreeing with me.

             “So you two’ve figured your stuff out?” Dean asked as we warmed up in gorilla. Mixed Match Challenge went life on Facebook in just a few minutes, and our match was up first.

           “Some of it,” I replied. “He’s trying. That’s all I can ask.”

           A ghost of a smile settled on Dean’s lips. He glanced down at the tattoo on his left ring finger. It was a permanent reminder of his wedding band, even when it wasn’t physically there. “Sometimes that’s all you can do, dollface.”

           I rose up on my toes and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “I don’t know what I’d do without you, Dean.”

           He blushed and put his arm around my neck. “Be bored mad.”

           Roman stood just behind me, his radiant warmth spreading throughout my entire body. Seth was on my left, Dean on my right. Charlie stared into a camera just a few feet away, a microphone held in her hand.

           “Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome my guests at this time, The Shield.”

           She turned toward us, the camera following, shifting to fit all four of us into the shot. We gave our best unconcerned and aloof expressions. Seth and Dean had the Raw Tag Team titles around their waists. The Intercontinental title rested over Seth’s shoulder. Roman hoisted the Universal Championship into view.

           “You guys have dominated the Raw roster for weeks now. You three collectively,” she said, gesturing to the guys, “have every championship in the men’s division. Do you feel like you’ve become targets?”

           “You’re always a target when you’ve got gold, Charles,” Roman replied smoothly. “It means you’re the best and everyone wants to prove that they’re better than you.”

           “We’ve put in blood and sweat and blood and tears to get these titles. And anyone who wants to step up can come take their ass-whippin’,” Dean said ferociously.

           “While the three of you have been taking over the men’s division, Llane, you’ve been burning through the women. How does it feel to be the number one contender for the Raw Women’s Championship?”

           The truth was that it felt euphoric. It was something I never thought I would see this early in my career, but I knew that wasn’t something I could say. So instead I shrugged, tried to look more confident than I felt.

           “I earned it, Charlie. I beat some of the most talented women in this business, and I think that’s a pretty good indicator of what I can do.” I glanced at Dean. “With these three at my back, there’s nothing I can’t do.”

           “Oh really?” A voice came from just behind Charlie.

           The camera backed up, made room for a new arrival. Ronda. She was in her usual backstage gear—boots, leggings, her own tee-shirt, and Piper’s jacket. The Women’s title was draped over her shoulder.

           “You’ve spent more time in the ring with Dean Ambrose than by yourself,” Ronda spat. “There are half a dozen women on the Raw roster better than you.”

           “And I beat every one that stepped in front of me,” I retorted, stepping away from the others. My heart raced in my chest. I knew her reputation—both from MMA and from the people she’d faced in the WWE ring. “The only one I haven’t beat is you, and that’s just because you’ve been too scared to step into the ring with me.”

           The bravado in my words surprised even me. I fought the urge to swallow, to look nervous.

           Ronda moved closer, going toe to toe with me. “The only thing I’m scared of, little girl, is how I’m going to explain ripping your arms out of their sockets.”

           I gave her a smirk of my own, cracking my knuckles like Dean did during promos. “Just remember, Ronda… when you get in the ring with me, you get in the ring with a big dog, with a lunatic, and someone who will burn everything you love to ashes. You might be the baddest woman on the planet, but I’m the most fearless.”

           A second ticked by. I grinned. “Believe that.”

Tag List

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[ktrsvo]

infinity plus one (2.9k) alternate universe - soulmates

Peter whispers, “I’ll never not choose you, Lara Jean.”

the movie called me, and i could not resist

Lara Jean grows up believing that the sentence on her wrist is supposed to mean something.

Six words. Nineteen letters. There is no one like you.

All her life, she is told that birthmark words are words she’s supposed to hear from her soulmate. Something exclusive, grand, and romantic. Magical, in the way hearing classical music on a moonlit night is supposed to feel. Like you’re more than part of the universe, like you actually encompass the entity itself. All the stars, planets, suns, revolving infinitely around the earth.

Or, at least that’s what romance novels say.

But here’s the thing: the sentence on her skin is nothing extraordinary. It could come from anyone, anytime. Some people, she’s heard, have beautiful words, and there are Lara Jean’s, as plain as they come. There is no one like you. Fate’s way of handing out poetic irony right there.

Margot won’t tell her what her sentence is. The response is always the same: “just flowery nonsense”, each and every time.

Lara Jean’s kind of jealous, really.

But not everyone has words. There are those with images, too. Almost the same as tattoos, but ultimately with more meaningful permanence. Delicate roses done in pale pink filigree, to name a few. The unfurled wings of a raven, spread out in midnight-blue ink. Sea shells on a tangle of anemones, pearl-white and ornate.

They beat what she has, any day.

Admittedly, it’s a pretty vain wish, to have stars instead of an unkempt scrawl. But that’s precisely the point: if she’s going to meet her soulmate, it might as well be a memorable affair. Not - whatever this is.

Oh, well. You can’t have everything in life.

✧･ﾟ: *

She thinks it’s Josh for a good two weeks.

It starts when she falls off her bike one day. They’re riding around the neighbourhood, the warm afternoon light luminous against their skin, their backs, when Lara Jean comes across a rock and skids to the side. She isn’t wearing any kind of protective gear, so that earns her a few scrapes.

The sight of the gashes gets Josh into the Worried Mode immediately. That sort of state is usually reserved for Margot - Margot being Margot and all - but Josh can be just as bad, sometimes. So there they are, crouched on the sidewalk, Josh carefully examining the afflicted areas, Lara Jean sticking her tongue out all the while.

“Hey, I’m fine. Promise,” she insists, pushing away at his hand because it’s the truth.

Josh raises an eyebrow. There’s an amused twinkle in his eyes that makes her breath catch for the briefest millisecond. Or two. “Uh, hello. You can’t ride in your condition,” he says. “What if you like accidentally trip again? Or something? Margot would kill me.”

“Nice to know that your own welfare is all that you care about.” Lara Jean snorts. Then, she moves to get to her feet, but the effort makes her wince, and it isn’t lost on Josh.

So before Josh can speak up, Lara Jean is hopping onto her bike again and racing down the sidewalk. It is quick to become a game, the two of them speeding along the streets, the balmy summer hair whipping through their hair.

They stop once they reach the front of Lara Jean’s house, and Josh practically throws himself onto the grass.

“Seriously?” she says, poking at his leg with a foot. “C’mon, lazy bones. We still have that tree-climbing to do.”

Josh rolls onto his side. He curls into himself, pretending to sleep. “Get yourself patched up first.”

“That can wait.” Lara Jean lets out a laugh. And then, she stretches out a hand. “Josh. Please. Get up.”

For a moment, it looks as if he isn’t about to listen to her, but then his fingers wrap around her own wrist, his lips quirked up into a smile. And for some reason Lara Jean’s heart, that - that traitor, starts stuttering at this, Josh’s hand now slipping into her own, his mouth curled in a crescent moon shape, his voice honey-sweet in her ears.

“There is no one like you, is there, Lara Jean?” he says, and maybe he means it to come off as teasing, but it isn’t, not really.

Those six words, six syllables, and still the world turns. Staying firmly in its tracks.

The now dying light haloes the brown of Josh’s hair, illuminating the lighter hues, like the golden threads of a tapestry. It’s you, Lara Jean thinks dimly. Definitely you. But it does not feel like it is.

(He is not, Lara Jean realizes not long after. When she discovers the mark on his skin does not match hers in the slightest. Not a sentence, but an image. A whorl of powder-blue, twined along the slender arch of his collarbone.

✧･ﾟ: *

There’s Kenny from camp. John Ambrose from Model UN. But it is neither of them, like Josh.

Kenny, she finds out the hard way, after he says the words on her wrist without knowing of their existence. And it’s funny, how a sentence that once meant so much could turn out insignificant in the end.

“You know, Lara Jean, I actually know who my soulmate is,” Kenny says to her as they’re swinging their legs over a ledge, unaware that her heart is sinking, sinking, sinking. “It’s this girl back at home. She’s really pretty, you know. Brown hair, green eyes. Freckles all over her face. I think I’m in love with her. And I think she loves me, too.” He says this so seriously, so solemnly, Lara Jean forgets her disappointment and hopes it’s true, for both their sakes.

When you’re eleven, you don’t really know what love is. Not the kind where your family or friends are involved, but the kind that makes your heart race, palms sweat, knees buckle. Lara Jean would know; she got over Josh point five seconds after the crushing realization. So, Lara Jean and Kenny? Not meant to be?

Cool.

Camp is the last time Lara Jean sees Kenny, anyway. Cutting a languid, loose-limbed figure against the noonday sun, tanned from exposure.

✧･ﾟ: *

John Ambrose is a little more complicated. They get to know each other well during the MUN meetings, and Lara Jean ends up liking him so much it’s harder to accept the reality.

Smart, handsome, soft-spoken John Ambrose, with those bright blue eyes of his that remind her of oceans where they’re at their deepest. Rich sapphire. Deep, deep blue.

For a while, she is sure that John Ambrose likes her back. That maybe, just maybe, he is the one meant for her. So when a stroke of fortune gets him to utter the cursed words, during a conversation about political warfare, she’s touched that he seems to mean it, that he truly thinks she is clever and capable and bright, but there’s something missing from the picture, one that she cannot name for the life of her.

Sure, John Ambrose does like her. In the way she has been hoping for.

It is not a dream come true, however. Whatever they have between them ends where it starts - never mutually acknowledged - because, number one, they’re kids, and, number two, she figures out it’s not John Ambrose her heart has been searching for.

When John Ambrose moves to a new school by the end of the year, that’s quick to become history, and strangely enough Lara Jean feels an odd sense of closure.

✧･ﾟ: *

Seventh grade comes along and brings with it Peter Kavinsky.

This one is easy: the only real event that comes up between them is a single kiss during a game of Spin the Bottle. That’s pretty much it. Plus, there’s the matter of Gen being crazy wild for him, convinced they’re meant to be together, forever and ever, so ....

Good for Gen. Whatever.

Still it does not stop Peter from stealing looks at her on occasion. And she notices this, alright. Hard not to.

✧･ﾟ: *

Lucas James happens before Lara Jean has the sense to finally draw the line somewhere.

She’s not sure how it begins. Her, eyeing Lucas James from afar, pulse racing, cheeks warming. Maybe it was the smile. Or that amazing sense of humour. But it was the dance, really, that sealed the deal, the two of them swaying under the blue-purple lights, rendered aglow. Him whispering the words so many before him had once told her.

However, they don’t last long, her feelings for him. It is the start of something new, until one day it isn’t: “Hey, Lara Jean, I think - I think I’m into guys.”

That day, Lara Jean looks him in the eye. And gives him a big smile.

It may not have worked out, but at least she found a friend.

Five boys later, and clearly the soulmate search isn’t really working out.

Perhaps it’s time to set it aside. For now, at least.

✧･ﾟ: *

Eleventh grade arrives, and by that point Lara Jean isn’t really looking for a somebody, anymore. It gets pushed to the sidelines, wondering about her soulmate, because there are better goals to have at the present moment than trying to find the One. She’s got years ahead of her. A lifetime, to be exact. And if that still isn’t enough, then that’s that, she supposes.

If it isn’t meant to be, then it isn’t meant to be. No use trying to wish the unachievable into existence.

And then Kavinsky happens - again.

Peter Kavinsky. Kavinsky, with that lazy, crooked smirk, and those piercing dark eyes that have always seemed to smolder with all types of belly-burning promises. And Lara Jean has seen them in action - the effect potent up-close and just as strong even from afar.

A butterfly’s touch to the wrist turned searing by the low burn of that steady gaze.

Lara Jean should be immune to this. This being boys like him, too cheeky, too charming for their own good - nothing but trouble.

And she is, so to speak. Immune.

She’s seen him in classrooms, hallways, and parking lots. With his arm slung over a pretty girl’s shoulders. His laugh infectious when he leans down to whisper into her ear. His smile loose and coy. Incandescent at the seams. This part is where the appeal’s lost on her, even though yeah, he is hot.

No, that’s not it. Because what Lara Jean has always been drawn to is that Peter, for all that boys like him should stand for (as dictated by those silly ninety-nine cent finds at discount bookstores), is actually really, really nice. Like, he’s been this way since middle school, and maybe Lara Jean’s being judgemental, but she’d been at least thirty percent sure that he’d change, transform into someone annoying and pseudo-debonair. Typical jock attitude.

It’s nice that she got that assumption wrong.

So, back to the topic of soulmates. And how Kavinsky fits in.

It’s stupid, thinking about those things on the same page, much less the same line. It’s Kavinsky’s fault, honestly, that he had to choose sitting right next to her - out of all people - in Lit class, and then proceeding to give her that annoyingly gorgeous Peter Kavinsky grin.

While saying, in his most serene voice, “Looks like we’re stuck together, Lara Jean. We’re officially partners-in-crime now, right?”

There was a cough in the background - Gen’s irritation, at the sight of them side by side - and then Lara Jean’s small smile directed towards him, amused.

That’s how it started. Lara Jean falling against her better wishes.

And the dangerous part is, there now seems to be no end in sight.

✧･ﾟ: *

It takes Peter Kavinsky driving her to school, swapping silly notes and hanging out at cafes with her, to get her to arrive at a realization.

That he feels so, so different from the others. Josh, Kenny, John Ambrose, and Lucas James, that it honestly kind of startles her in its novelty. The slow and tender way he’s steadily infiltrating her thoughts and the spaces in between. The limbo between rest and wakefulness, and that dream-state of barely-there consciousness.

Peter’s just a hard-to-forget afterthought in her reality, solid only when he’s around in her presence, until one day he isn’t, slowly easing himself into a position of significance in her life, no longer white noise.

He is there at school, and now in her dreams as well. Boy running. Boy chasing. Always, always after her, through dew-soaked meadows of green gilded by sunrise.

✧･ﾟ: *

“Lara Jean,” Peter says with a grin, settling down onto the spot next to her and then knocking their knees together.

“I’m waiting for Chris,” Lara Jean says, putting aside her book.

His mouth curls in amused suspicion. “No, you’re not.”

A sigh. “No, I’m not.” She looks into his eyes, and there are lights flickering in them from the lamps lining the street, and she thinks she can hear her heartbeat, there behind her ribcage. “Don’t you have someone else to annoy, Peter? Why always me?”

“That’s because there is no one like you, Covey,” Peter says, and the mark on her wrist burns, but Lara Jean just looks away.

✧･ﾟ: *

At school, they tell you how stars are born, the ones high up in space. The process takes place inside molecular clouds called nebulae, where dense regions start forming, and then collapsing under their own gravitational force. Once that happens, a real star is born after the resulting protostar at the centre undergoes fusion.

That’s the simplified step-by-step. Minus the technicalities.

It’s hard to explain Lara Jean’s reasoning, why she thinks that might be how love develops, too. But she’s always had a thing for reconciling completely unrelated topics with each other; that’s the beauty of metaphor. It doesn’t have to make sense, so long as it moves you.

So picture this: a nebula. A cloud of dust and gas. Confusion. Feelings. All sorts of happy but irritating things.

And then next, gravity compressing the cloud. There’s pressure building, and the temperature going up.

The centre gets hotter and hotter, and then a fusion reaction takes place. And there you have it: a star. Love burning, burning, burning.

✧･ﾟ: *

Lara Jean takes to distancing herself, but it’s hard, because it’s Peter, and giving in is so much easier, so she stops, and just goes along with it, lets herself think about Peter in all the ways she’s wanted to.

Holding his hand. Looking into his eyes. Pressing her palm to his heart.

Peter saying, “Lara Jean,” when he means something else, and Lara Jean saying, “Peter,” when she means, “I feel the same way.”

And then there comes a time when Peter tells her he’s known who his soulmate is for a while now, and Lara Jean’s heart sinks because she thought he was genuinely hers, but she doesn’t let her disappointment show; she only smiles and says, “Good for you.”

“Don’t you want to guess?” Peter says, and Lara Jean shakes her head, trying for another smile.

“No, not really.”

✧･ﾟ: *

She finds out that Kitty has been keeping Peter’s notes, and she’s only annoyed for a moment, until she goes through some of the papers herself.

You looked so pretty today, Lara Jean. Math class, fifth period.

Did you know that you have hair the colour of midnight. Seriously. I’m not saying this only to be poetic. World History, third period.

And then, There is no one like you, Lara Jean Song-Covey -

Wait. Wait.

Lara Jean pauses. Scrunches her eyebrows. Then she pulls down her bracelet, compares the note’s handwriting to the one etched on her wrist.

Same letters. Same scrawl. A hundred percent match.

A small smile blossoms on her face.

✧･ﾟ: *

They meet up after school, when the sky is a thousand different shades of languid rose-gold. Peter is waiting for her on the bleachers, hair windswept, mouth pulled up in a large grin, and there’s Lara Jean moving next to him, her heart refusing to settle, still.

“I got your note,” Peter says, and Lara Jean feels full of this: the timbre of his voice, the deep amber flecks in his eyes, the soft, gentle glow of sunlight against his hair.

He shows her his wrist, and there it is: I know it’s you, Peter Kavinsky, done in the soulmate mark equivalent of glittering blue gel pen.

Wait. “But - but I gave you that note two hours ago,” Lara Jean says. “How did you know it was me before then? Like, you told me way back when that you already had an idea.”

“I think I dreamt you,” Peter says, and when Lara Jean laughs, tells him to be serious, he just says, “Honestly, I did. Like, I think that my heart’s internal compass was just pointing at you this whole time. That, and I really wanted it to be the case.”

“You … did?” Lara Jean’s breath hitches. Halts entirely.

The fading sun turns his skin luminous and orange-warm, and when Peter whispers, “I’ll never not choose you, Lara Jean,” before leaning down to kiss her, nothing magical happens, and even though it isn’t like what the movies say, it’s even better because it’s real, all of it.

Peter’s mouth against hers, her hand pressed flush against his chest, and the unspoken I’m falling for you in between.

The world is already painted in the colours of a sunset when Peter reaches up to cup her jaw and kiss her more deeply, so really, that’s all the magic that she needs.

[wrestlinghasmelike-blog]

Monday Night Raw December 4th, 2017 Review

Hello everyone! I apologize for being absent these past few weeks. I was house-sitting again and had no connection and I wasn’t able to catch Smackdown or NXT throughout the week. I’m hoping this week that I can post on every show, but my plans are always changing. Buuuut, I’m here for Raw tonight, and I’m excited to keep this blog going!\

Please feel free to leave me some feedback on how you think these reviews are going! Do you like them? Do you not? Let me know! Please also share these with your friends or reblog this so your Tumblr friends can see! Thanks so much! 

Opening segment- Kurt, Jordan, and Reigns

I think it was a smart move to start the show with Kurt. Usually, shows in LA are good ones and have a lot of star power mixed in. What I immediately don’t understand, is why is Kurt announcing the challenger for the IC title match if it’s designed to be an open challenge? That was the assumption that I was under, anyway. Aaaaannnd here comes Jason Jordan, who is very clearly not the favorite anywhere he goes. This crowd really did not like him, and they made it known that they did not wanna see Roman fight him for the IC title. The thing I will say that I like about Jordan, is that he’s very good at showing emotion, either when he’s on the mic or when he’s having a match. That is something that other wrestlers need to work on, and I think Jordan is ahead of the pack when it comes to that. Roman came out shortly after this, and again we had a mixed reaction from the crowd. Are people starting to warm up to Roman as the IC Champ? I appreciate Roman as “the fighting champ” because it’s something that’s been missing from Raw in a long time. The most recent title change we’ve seen is the tag titles, and it feels like those are the ones that change the most. Roman said he wanted Joe to fight him tonight, but again, if it’s an open challenge, then why is it being announced? Roman’s reaction to Joe’s music was great, and it was very “oh shit not this guy”. And everyone loves Joe it’s great! This was an awkward transition to get Jordan v. Roman, but does this mean Roman will be fighting twice tonight?

Jason Jordan vs. Roman Reigns

This was an okay match, certainly better than I expected, but still an okay match. I liked that Joe was watching at the top of the ramp and didn’t interfere until the end of the match. I could really feel Roman’s anger through the screen, which I appreciate, and the way he threw Jordan head-first into the barricade and the stairs was a good way to show that. In the beginning, there was a lot of fighting happening outside of the ring, which made sense if Roman was fighting twice in the night and didn’t wanna have him take too many bumps, but this turned into a legit match! Jordan is a powerhouse for sure, and I like that he can hold his own against Roman and carry him across the ring multiple times, and catch him mid-air. Roman had a nice big boot and was on the offence again, but then Jordan came in with a nice dropkick to knock Reigns down again. This match had three commercial breaks and I think it got more time than it deserved, but it had a semi-good finish, and a pretty good northern lights suplex from Jordan WITH a sell for his knee. Roman picked up the win, and of course, Joe attacked him and let Roman know that he was next in line. Again, this match got more time than it deserved, but I think that this showed me Jason’s ability up against someone like Roman, who impressed me for the second week in a row.

Paige vs. Sasha Banks

Okay, this match had a lot of problems, to be honest. There were some pretty big flubs, unfortunately. Myself and the crowd included were hyped to see Paige back in the WWE ring after more than a year, and she really hasn’t lost a step! From beginning to end, however, this match had problems. First of all, Sasha had a really shitty looking Lou Thesz press, and I wish the women’s division would scrap that move entirely because it is such a “Diva’s” move. We had Michael Cole being a dick on commentary to the women, especially Alexa, who barely got a word in it seemed like. The match was lacking the energy it needed all throughout. The sunset flip powerbomb that tried to happen but ended with Sasha falling from the top rope right on her neck was the huge turn in the match where everything was being flubbed. Paige either slipped or just didn’t have her footing, but Sasha was totally unprotected on the whole spot. I liked that this match was longer than normal! It deserved to have the time it did, but I wish we saw more. Paige won, and the other members of Absolution attacked Sasha. How predictable.

Cruiserweight Fatal Four Way

WOW! THIS WAS THE SECOND WEEK IN A ROW THAT THIS DIVISION HAS BLOWN ME AWAY! This was a fantastic match! It had good spots, great mind-blowing moments, and fantastic wrestling all throughout! I didn’t know that Gulak doesn’t wear kneepads in the ring; it’s very awkward. Ali and Alexander had a lot of great sequences in this match, and they were the ones who really made this match as great as it was. Ali had that springboard Spanish fly from the ropes and everyone was into it! The commercial break hit and I was so disappointed that I had to wait for this match to continue. There were a couple of moments where I couldn’t process what happened but I was so amazed and glued to the screen and I couldn’t comprehend what happened. Gulak ended up as the winner, which was kind of like, “oh okay sure” since there were so many great moments in the match that he wasn’t part of, but congrats to him! I hope the Cruiserweights can impress me for a third week in a row!

Elias, Braun Strowman and Kane

Ok, is anyone surprised at what happened here? I didn’t expect Braun to go against Elias because I jumped when his music cut, but this little bit was a waste of time. It was an even bigger waste when Kane didn’t even show up, but he cut a pre-filmed promo. Nothing more disappointing than that. 

Asuka vs. Alicia Fox

Ugh, I wish Asuka was in a real storyline right now because she deserves that. This wasn’t much of a match, but it was great to have Alicia get some air, but she got beat up by Absolution, which was very predictable. I hope both of these women get a decent storyline soon.

Finn Balor vs. Bo Dallas

DOES ANYONE ELSE NOTICE HOW HAPPY AND SMILEY FINN IS TONIGHT WOWZA THAT'S A BOY AND A HALF! He looked so happy walking through the backstage and throughout his entire entrance! He has a good spot in the show tonight and I’m so happy about that. I actually didn’t know that this was a thing? The one thing I really like about Bo is his selling ability. He’s so funny when he overexaggerates his moves. To be perfectly honest with you, this match did not have a lot of high moments. It was mostly Bo on the offensive and Finn getting held down...again. I do have one problem with Finn, and this is something I noticed when he was in Japan too, but he always gives away the next move with his eyes. Bo had him in the armbar, and Finn was selling it and struggling, but then he looked at something, and I immediately knew something was about to change, and it did. I’m glad Finn got the W here of course, but more because he’s been getting beat down this past couple of weeks by Joe and Kane. Hopefully, this turns the momentum for him around for my boy and leads to something big for him.

Tag Team Title Match: The Bar vs. Rollins/Ambrose

Ok, after this run, I really hope that someone else gets a shot at the titles. That would be nice, right? This match started off with Dean, and it was just so low energy and not exciting at all, but then Seth came in and it really picked up! They went into the commercial break with no hype whatsoever, which is unfortunate for a title match. After the commercial break wasn’t that much better. A big boot by Cesaro keeps Dean away from the match, and at this point, it’s hard to find the exciting parts of this match, so I just want someone to get the pin and call it quits for this feud already. I will say that all of these competitors have given their all in these matches and PPV matches over the past few months and I thank them for that. Dean does bring the energy up when he gets tagged back in, but it dies so fast for me. This doesn’t feel like a title match, it feels like a regular match. Seth and Sheamus had a nice false finish with the Falcon Arrow, but I feel like nothing is happening. The crowd is into it at least, which is great. A DQ win is shitty, but thank god. Oh wait Kurt is out?? It’s restarting the match?? Lol does the show still have time? OH SAMOA JOE! I DID NOT EXPECT THAT! Oh, but I expected Roman to come out at some point. Oh, The Bar still won. Alright. Thanks for saving the match Joe! Let’s get new challengers for the titles now please!

I thought this Raw was not on the same level as I thought last week’s show was at, but I still had fun watching it. I think the Cruiserweights get my match of the night vote! That was still awesome and mind-blowing. I’m glad Finn was here of course! 

I promise I will try harder to post again this week for Smackdown and NXT, and I’m hoping I can get those out! Thanks, and stay tuned!

-Casey

[closetofanxiety]

Show review: THE ULTIMATE THRILL RIDE

Epic clashes on the grandest stage of them all! Surprise returns from beloved figures! Title changes! And VIDEO PACKAGE AFTER VIDEO PACKAGE AFTER VIDEO PACKAGE! Let’s look back at Wrestlemania 33: Orlando Furioso!

Neville def. Austin Aries via pinfall

I didn’t see this match. I missed most of the pre-show, to be honest. I really watched too much wrestling over the long weekend. I went for a walk instead, actually three separate walks on Sunday. It’s the first nice day we’ve had all year here in southern New England, and I took full advantage of it. I mean, it fucking snowed on Friday and Saturday. So, anyway, Neville won. The cruiserweight division is full of talented men with almost zero connection to the audience. It’s only a matter of time before there’s another Swoggle winning the title and it gets retired again. There will be a lot of blame to hand out then, but I’ll blame Vince. It’s usually a safe bet.

Mojo Rawley wins the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal

Rawley joins Cesaro, Big Show, and Baron Corbin in the winners’ circle of this particular honor, although unlike them, he needed an assist from New England Patriots tight end and human game of beer pong Rob Gronkowski in order to win. I missed almost all of this, because after my third walk of the day I went to Starbucks. You have to give yourself little gifts. It helps keep you normal. That’s my advice, although why anyone would take life advice from me is a mystery. I mean, I’m not living in a refrigerator carton or anything, but I’m exactly the kind of person who might as well not exist at all. Much like this battle royal, in fact, crowded as it was with wrestlers for whom no storyline or narrative currently exists: Sami Zayn and Dolph Ziggler tossed in among lower-midcard-for-lifers like Curtis Axel and Epico. What a fate. What a bleak way to further the preshow, which is really just “the show” when you think about it. 

Dean Ambrose (c) defeats Baron Corbin via pinfall to retain the WWE Intercontinental Championship

I did watch this perfectly serviceable matchup that wouldn’t have looked out of place in the first hour of a fair-to-middling Smackdown episode. The Intercontinental Championship is almost an insult at this point. The WWE giving you this belt is like your boss putting you on a performance improvement plan at work. It’s to “enhance your capabilities” but it’s like a dunce cap. This was defended on the pre-show, on free TV: the USA Network broadcast it before the start of Wrestlemania proper. Honestly, Epico had a less humiliating day. Rating: Two Ultimate Thrill Rides.

AJ Styles defeats Shane McMahon via pinfall

This was a pretty good match, I guess, although the thing I liked best was the ref bump: AJ Styles really looked like he kicked Mike Chioda square in the fucking head. That was beautiful. Occasionally you’ll see a ref bump where the official basically gets lightly jostled and then pretends to be out cold for two minutes, but this was a ref bump you could put your full faith and credit in. Good ref bump. Anyway, a good match. I saw people online saying “Match of the Year,” which I guess is indicative of the environment of Plaudit Inflation in which we’re currently living. This will almost certainly be the best match of the year to feature Shane McMahon. But I’m tired of the McMahon family in general, and sick of seeing them on TV. AJ Styles should have been in the main event, not the curtain-jerker. Still. At least they haven’t put the Intercontinental Championship on him yet. Kiss of death. Rating: Three Ultimate Thrill Rides.

Kevin Owens defeats Chris Jericho (c) by pinfall to win the United States Championship

A solid match here, although it lacked the raw emotion of Owens’ best matches, and the extra spark of brutality you’d expect from a match that was ostensibly the culmination of a bitter falling out between two “best friends.” This story was all about the buildup, with the blowoff leaving a little something to be desired. A fine match, though, perfectly acceptable as a Raw main event. If that’s damning with faint praise, it’s because I expect a lot from these guys, who are two of the very best. This was better than Jericho’s lackluster match with AJ Styles at last year’s Wrestlemania. Faint praise again, I guess. Rating: Two and a half Ultimate Thrill Rides.

Fatal Four-Way Elimination Match: Bayley (c) defeats Nia Jax, Charlotte Flair, and Sasha Banks to retain the Raw Women’s Championship

They got rid of Nia early, which was crucial. Nia can’t do very much inside a wrestling ring. From that point, the big expectation was for Sasha Banks to turn heel and betray her weird hug-prone friend Bayley, a possibility they had been advancing on commentary for weeks, but it didn’t happen. Instead, Charlotte pinned Sasha, somewhat unexpectedly, sucking the air out of the arena. Bayley won with a flying elbow from the top rope in tribute to Macho Man. I buy that Sasha was a huge Eddie Guerrero fan as a kid, but Bayley’s supposed childhood love of Randy Savage is puzzling to me. She was born in 1989, how much Macho Madness was there really from the mid-1990s onward? Were there a lot of kids in like the year 2000 saying “I want to be just like ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage”? Maybe there were. I was not a kid by then, so I didn’t spend a lot of time talking to kids about their favorite wrestlers. But when I was a kid I liked Savage a lot. I seem to have wandered from this match, which had its moments but was kind of lackluster. Rating: Two Ultimate Thrill Rides.

Fatal Four-Way Ladders Match: The Hardy Boys defeat The Club (c), Enzo Amore & Big Cass, and Sheamus and Cesaro to win the Raw Tag Team Championships

Big surprise return from Team Extreme! Listen, I’m never going to adopt the WWE spelling convention that insists we identify them as the Hardy “Boyz.” First of all, the mid-1990s are over. Second of all, they are grizzled middle-aged men. It was fun to see them back. Genuine pop from everyone watching at my house. I’m not sure how much of the “Broken” gimmick they’re going to be able to do; Kevin Dunn hurriedly cut the cameras away from Matt as he was doing the “delete” thing, but that could be standard Kevin Dunn incompetence. Anyway, this match was fun, with a truly insane Jeff Hardy Swanton Bomb from the top of the ladder capping it off. Astonishing to think they had a ladder match for the Ring of Honor tag team belts just the night before this. Them North Carolina boys are tough, I’ll tell you what. I have gripes and grimaces to share about this kind of thing overall, but for now it’s fun to see these dudes back in the WWE for the first time since 2009. And I’m relieved Enzo and Cass didn’t win the titles. God, I am tired of them. Rating: Three and a half Ultimate Thrill Rides. 

John Cena and Nikki Bella defeat the Miz and Maryse via pinfall

This was a weirdly lowkey match, most of it focused on the Miz working over Cena with brawling-type offense, until the Queen of Strong Style Nikki Bella got the hot tag AND CLEANED FUCKING HOUSE, hitting a sick tope suicida on the Miz and whaling on Maryse. Maryse basically did nothing in this match. Mike Chioda took more bumps than Maryse during Wrestlemania. Anyway, the real winners of this match were you and I, because we got to see John Cena propose to Nikki Bella (he used her real name, EXPOSING THE BUSINESS!!!) in the ring. Cena actually sounded like a human being during this segment; it was very sweet and came across well. Some people booed. You’re going to boo love, my friends? If so, for what will you cheer? Rating: Three Ultimate Thrill Rides for the match, Seven Ultimate Thrill Rides for the proposal.

Non-Sanctioned Match: Seth Rollins defeats Triple H via pinfall

I love a good non-sanctioned match. What a weird holdover term from the territory days. What body are we to believe “sanctions” matches, and is it different from the body that permits a “non-sanctioned” match to be televised to a worldwide audience? This was also very old school in terms of the match itself, which was focused almost entirely on Seth Rollins’ ailing knee. The crowd was very quiet for this perhaps, despite the insistence of Jim Cornette et al, people don’t really want to watch old-school wrestling matches in 2017. It was OK, but it felt very slow. Rollins won, which was the right decision. Stephanie got knocked through a table, prompting the biggest pop of the match. The best part for me was Triple H’s hilarious entrance, where he came down the ramp AS A BAD-ASS BIKER ON HIS BAD-ASS THREE-WHEELED MOTORCYCLE surrounded by indie wrestlers dressed as highway patrolmen, also riding motorcycles. One of the great visual flourishes of the territory days was the spectacle of the hated villain being led to the ring by a phalanx of stone-faced Southern cops protecting the wrestler from enraged fans, a scene that sent the unmistakable message This Is For Real (even though it was obviously not), one of those sweaty, smoky aspects of wrestling that’s lost forever. Triple H, weirdly sentimental about wrestling history, tried to revive that aura of county civic center danger, and it came across like a campy musical version of “CHIPs.” I loved it. Rating: Two and a half Ultimate Thrill Rides. 

Randy Orton defeats Bray Wyatt (c) via pinfall to win the WWE Championship

I had been pretty excited for this match, but it felt weirdly truncated, with a truly abrupt finish. They were running long (the goddamn show ended at midnight) so maybe these guys were told to keep it short. One thing that kept happening is that every time Bray would do his Exorcist bend-over-backwards thing, the lights would dim and images of giant worms, maggots, and cockroaches would appear on the ring canvas, apparently because Bray was possessed by his late sister, Abigail. “He’s channeling the full power of Sister Abigail now!” JBL yelled, referring to an imaginary ghost. Even the power of an imaginary ghost was not enough to prevent Randy Orton from hitting his finisher “out of nowhere,” but actually out of somewhere: out of the midst of a rushed, unsatisfying match. Rating: Two Ultimate Thrill Rides.

Brock Lesnar defeats Goldberg (c) via pinfall to win the Universal Championship

This was a fucking blast. I was a total skeptic coming into this, but they did it just right: five minutes of these two big boys pulling out the crowd-pleasingest parts of their arsenals, German suplay after German suplay after German suplay from Brock, verses spear upon spear from Big Bill. It was like watching two rhinoceroses collide on the savanna and fight over rights to a watering hole. Magnificent and brutal. Big Bill threw himself around that ring with abandon, including maybe the best “Oops I missed the spear now I’m hitting the ring post” spot I’ve ever seen on a WWE show. Good for Big Bill. Good for Bork, who is now the indifferent holder of a championship belt. This was fun. I have not liked much of the Goldberg stuff, but this was fun. Rating: Four Ultimate Thrill Rides.

Naomi defeats Alexa Bliss (c), Carmella w/James Ellsworth, Becky Lynch, Mickie James, and Natalya to win the Smackdown Women’s Championship

This was in the Death Spot between the Bork-Bill showdown and the main event, and the crowd was not overly hyped. There was also an abortive Pittbull concert at some point. Maybe prior to Bork-Bill? Anyway, this match was kind of a cluster, with a lot of disconnected action and a vibe of being made up on the fly. My favorite part was when Becky Lynch - sporting truly abominable dreadlocks for some reason - hit Ellsworth with an exploder suplex. The rest was meh. Mickie James had #Problematic ring gear, unless she’s Native American (she may be). Alexa Bliss was good in her role as despicable brat-fetish heel. Naomi, the hometown girl, won via submission. Rating: Two Ultimate Thrill Rides. 

Main Event: Roman Reigns defeats the Undertaker via pinfall

Maybe the best part of this match is that they brought Jim Ross down to do commentary on it, indicating it was almost certainly the last Undertaker match. The match itself was about as good as it was going to be: Roman is a really good wrestler, but the Undertaker is 52 years old and long past the point of keeping up in a wrestling ring. He tried hard. Lots of kickouts of finishers, etc. The drama felt forced, honestly, as did the whole buildup, like at some point in February they just decided they were going to have the Undertaker fight Reigns and then even later said, “Hey, this is it for ol’ Taker.” After he lost, Taker took an extended curtain call, which was nice. I have never been a fan of the Undertaker as a performer, but his popularity and contributions are undeniable. Rating: Two Ultimate Thrill Rides.

[hazyheel]

Monday Night Raw 4/8/19 Review

We started the night with our new Universal Champion, Seth Rollins, who got just about the loudest burn it down I’ve ever heard. He was showered with you deserve it chants, answering that the WWE in general deserves it. Rollins said that he feels like crap today from the beatdown. He referenced his low blow as questionable tactics, but said that Lesnar would’ve done the same. But then Kofi Kingston and the new Day came out. They all joked around for a while, until Kofi challenged Rollins to a winner take all match tonight. Seth accepted, and the match was booked for the main event.

Grade: B. A simple promo segment, and everyone in it had good chemistry and were quite funny. And it was an exciting main event to book, especially right after Wrestlemania.

Then we had a Raw Tag Team Championship match, a repeat from Wrestlemania, Zack Ryder and Kurt Hawkins vs. The Revival. It was similar to their match on the pre show, even with Hawkins feigning a leg injury to grab a roll up for a near fall. The Revival continued their hard hitting strategy, even hitting a sort of knee drop and burning hammer combo for a near fall. In the finish, Hawkins got a blind tag, and the Revival nailed Ryder with a shatter machine, only for Hawkins to roll up Dawson for the win once again.

Grade: C-. The commercial break really hurt this match, as it immensly disrupted the flow of the match. Without the fun idea of Hawkins getting his first win, this match suffered, especially for its lack of time. These teams can put on a good match, but not with this little time. Love Ryder and Hawkins, and I hope that they end up as good champions.

Baron Corbin was out next for a promo about his match with Angle last night. He basically dueled with the crowd through the entire promo, before saying that he deserved a medal. Kurt Angle then came out, kinda ruining the fact that I cried at his retirement last night. Angle acted like he was gonna wish him luck, but quickly hit an angle slam, locked in an ankle lock, to a huge pop. However, Lars Sullivan then finally made his debut, hitting Angle with the freak accident in an awesome debut.

Grade: B-. I was a lot more critical of this segment until Lars Sullivan came out. I was into that debut, we got Angle to put over two up and comers as he left

Now I don’t know what happened to set up this match, other than the vague idea that Alexa Bliss made fun of Bayley for losing last night, but the two had an interesting match. Bayley showed a much more vicious side, attempting to cheat at one point and also nailed a sunset flip powerbomb into the corner. However, Bliss quickly won with a DDT.

Grade: B-. Pretty good match, nothing more to say about that.

Next up, Becky Lynch came out to address her win from last night, looking very happy with her two belts. She received you deserve it chants. She couldn’t even get a word in as the crowd drowned her out with various cheers. She said that she will always find a way to win, no matter what the odds are, prompting “your the man,” from the crowd. She said that she would take down any challengers that came for her, prompting a Lacey Evans to do a catwalk. Except this time, she took a look at Lynch’s belts. Evans then finally did a wrestle, hitting her straight in the face, before the two brawl. It was a wild fight up the ramp, with Lynch coming out on top, probably because Evans was fighting in heels and a dress. 

Grade: B+. This was going to get a worse grade if it had just been the promo, because Lynch’s scripting has gone downhill since she was actually written as a face. But Lacey’s attack was actually great, and the brawl was very very fun. I am into Evans being the next challenger for the belts, whatever capacity that may be in. Hell, if they are willing to slow burn this, then Lacy could even beat Lynch for them. As along as they build her up first.

Backstage, Charly asked Rollins why he accepted the champion vs. champion challenge. Rollins said that while he is into the challenge, it was disrespectful for Kofi to invade Raw like that. This is his show, and he will defend its honor. He then said that B+ wouldn’t get the job done, so Kingston has to bring his A game. Awesome promo.

Then we had a tag match, Ricochet and Aleister Black vs. Bobby Roode and Chad Gable. Unfortunately, Black’s bored thing that picks him up didn’t work, but he waited for a good music cue to actually stand. The teams had a fast paced match, with each team understanding their rolls very well. While the teams clearly weren’t attempting to have a classic in the ring, they still did quite well. The fans were very hot for this match as well. Towards the end of the match, Gable bent the rules a bit as the ref was distracted and he pushed Ricochet off the top rope in an odd heel move. Roode and Gable then hit the moonsualt neckbreaker combo, before Black broke it up. Roode and Black fought outside the ring as Ricochet nailed a codebreaker for the win. It seemed like that would be in, but Roode landed a cheapshot to Ricochet. Seems like that was a heel turn, or possibly just teasing it for later on.

Grade: B-. Good match, but a very odd finish. I get having Black and Ricochet win, but when Roode and Gable attacked, I got confused. Black and Ricochet attacked the Revival after their matches all the time, but got no booing. So is that a heel move, or isn’t it? Just odd. Very good match though.

Backstage, Elias played guitar in a dressing room, before addressing the crowd about Cena’s burial last night. He said that he has a musical number for the night, which is fun. But he said that he would murder anyone who tried to interrupt him. I’m exaggerating, but if I got interrupted as much as him, then I’d probably kill someone too. After a commercial break, there was the weirdest promo for a debut ever, with a small bird thing in a box either laughing or coughing or some combination of both. The only thing I think it could be is the Gobbledegooker’s kid or something. I have no clue.

Then, Dean Ambrose had his final WWE match. It was him against Bobby Lashley, who said that he would take care of Renee while Ambrose was gone. Ambrose then attacked him all over ringside, even hitting a Dirty Deeds on the stage. He then destroyed the announce table, without even looking at Renee so that was weird. He then ate a spear from Lashley before being thrown through the table. Renee sat at his side while doctors ran over. The crowd chanted thank you ambrose, as he lie in pain. 

Grade: C-. Underwhelming segment, but they have been burying the guy for months, so I understand. But I liked having Renee actually involved in a story. Fun times, and I wish Ambrose the best in his career. Wherever you go, ROH, AEW, CZW or elsewhere, you will always be special in our hearts. Thank you Dean, hope to see you or Jon Moxley soon.

Mojo Rawley continued his weird promos, now with odd blue veins coming from his eye. Don’t know what that is about, but I don’t really care.

Out came Sami Zayn, returning from injury and immediately tripped. It was endearing. I love him, glad to see him get a face reaction upon his return. They even did the Ole chants, which was a fun throwback. He cut a promo, just being happy and so fun. I was smiling ear to ear. I really really like face Sami. Sami asked for a match, and new Intercontinental Champion Finn Balor responded. He made this a title match, and the crowd was thrilled to hear that. In the match, Zayn was not taking the match too seriously, but he did get some good offense in. As the match wore on, Zayn began to take the match more and more seriously, hitting some pretty violent strikes while Balor was in the ropes. Finn nearly hit Coup de Gras, but Zayn dodged and got a rollup. He hit the exploder suplex into the corner, but missed the helluva kick and ate a coup de gras in his return. After the match, Zayn soaked up some applause, and cut another promo. He was pretty gassed, and he made a very odd heel turn. He ripped into the crowd, saying that they made the WWE toxic. He then said that we only get enjoyment out of being critics, which felt oddly personal. It was really weird to be called out for being too judgmental as I reviewed his heel turn. But anyway, he took shots a the crowd, and told everyone to go to hell.

Grade: B. Pretty good match. Loved to see Sami back in the ring, and even though he lost, I am sure he will get back on track sooner rather than later. I am looking forward to seeing what they do with him in the coming weeks, and I hope that he wins a belt. Although, I think that he should be a babyface before he gets it. He is a much better face, and I was bummed when he turned heel. And he hurt my feelings, so that sucked :(. Leave me alone, Sami. Let me wallow in my self pity, and judge you for being a asshole without any repercussions. I hide behind a keyboard for a reason, dick. It’s because I am scared of the truth that I don’t have any real talent. This grade got away from me a bit. Good match, upsetting turn.

Backstage, a new interviewer named Sarah talked to Dana Brooke, who said that she was in the running to fight Becky, sooner rather than later. Very clunky promo, but I love her so it is okay.

Then Elias’ concert, where he immediately fired back at John Cena, saying that he is garbage and riding Elias’ coattails. He then tried to rap, which was funny. He was very bland when delivering not great lines, and it was enjoyable. He then said that he would kill anyone who interrupted him, and Undertaker came out! This was a surprise, I assumed that he had retired for good this time. But he got a big pop. Elias tried to stand up to the deadman. but he got beat up with a chokeslam and tombstone.

Grade: B-. I have softened on these types of segments happening to Elias, because his role is not one that can really be damaged with losses. He will eventually get a midcard title, and getting beat up by the Undertaker isn’t going to hurt that. And it was fun to see him again.

And in the main event, Seth Rollins and Kofi Kingston faced off in a winner take all match. The two squared off with various holds and armbars and such, just feeling each other out in the beginning. After coming back from commercial, the two champions began heavy chops against one another. At one point, Kofi had thrown Rollins off the top rope to the outside, and was about to go for some sort of flying move, but the Bar attacked instead. So, the match changed to a tag match, and I was much less excited. So was the crowd, who chanted bullshit. The Bar destroyed both champions, beating them down until Kingston got the hot tag. The Bar still got a lot of offense in, but Kingston and Rollins stood tall after a Curb stomp to Cesaro.

Grade: C+. This match was supposed to be epic, but quickly became just another tag match. So it begs the question, why advertise the first match? Just book this one and be done with it. If you don’t get our hopes up, we won’t boo as much. 

Overall Grade: C+. Even though there was nothing particularly terrible, there wasn’t a lot of surprises for a post mania raw. So that makes it suffer a bit.

Pros: Lars Sullivan Debut; Lacey Evans finally did something; Black and Ricochet vs. Roode and Gable; Sami Zayn return; Undertaker beatdown

Cons: Sami Zayn heel turn; straight up lied about the main event; underwhelming matches; 

And before I stop the review, I am going to give one last goodbye to Dean Ambrose. You will be missed.