#anyways hes green arrow always and forever to me <3< /div>
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"Hawke" is no more!
Edit from Green Arrow (2023) #13
#honestly forgot they were calling him his last name as a codename tbh#its just so dumb i think my brain blocked it out each time it happened#anyways hes green arrow always and forever to me <3#anyways made this bc i was bored and making transparents by hand seemed fun#probably will go back and mess around w the background more if i get bored again#like do a rainbow and then maybe an ace flag as a diff one#and was also maybe thinking of adding a bunch of low apacity connors from his solo run in the background at some point#but im feelin lazy rn so its just this for the moment#blah#connor hawke#dc comics#green arrow#comic edit#dc comic edit
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so about ollie accidentally giving hal the brokeback mountain experience⊠care to elaborate on that lmao?
I wanna preface by saying I have seen Brokeback Mountain and it was a beautifully tragic movie that made me cry and it deserves much more praise than it was ever given, and my comment is in no way meant to woobify everything that went on.
that being said, purely in the context of hal/ollie, I like to think at some point during the hard traveling heroes era roadtrip, hal and ollie hooked up once or twice or four or six times. maybe more. who knows.
ollie comes off to me as a man who'll say he's straight if asked but is actually a deeply deeply closeted bi man. it's a part of himself he's uncomfortable with and he largely ignores because by contrast he's EXTREMELY comfortable with the rest of himself. this comes from the 3-4 men he has such a weird emotionally tense relationships with over the course of the Grell run. he has a whole cruising outfit ready to go and everything in one arc. it's a pattern.
hal however is somewhat more at ease. sure he has a string of unsuccessful girlfriends that he can't seem to figure out why it won't ever work but it doesn't bother him TOO much other than feeling a little lost (that's canon at least!). if he's aware he's bi before the hard traveling days it's not an issue because growing up with two brothers he's more socially conditioned to not think about it/think more about women anyways.
THEN COMES THE FAMOUS ROAD TRIP.
ollie's unfaithful, we all know that, everyone in universe knows that, and his relationship with dinah doesn't even get serious until the end of it all anyways. at some point, it's easy enough for me to imagine ollie gets bored enough in between meetups with her that. well. hal's not too bad looking, is he.
long story short, ollie gives hal his bi awakening that irrevocably changes his life forever. writers during that era mention this longing hal has that makes him unable to hold down a job or stay in place for long, and maybe it's this longing that makes hal think ollie holds the answer to that.
so they sleep together a few times, and it always always means so much more to hal than it does ollie. even in canon it's pretty apparent hal holds their friendship in much higher regard than ollie ever does, such as in Action Comics Weekly #606 when hal asks for a place to stay and ollie very bluntly blows him off:
But! it was only ever a casual fling for ollie. the road-trip ends, hal goes back to being effectively homeless, and ollie goes back to dinah. ollie gets a job. a steady, successful one even. hal's lost again, stuck in that moment. forever stuck in that era to the point that when he's well and truly lost it as Parallax, it's the first thing he goes back to as shown in Green Arrow #96 when he's so desperate for any stability that he clings to what's clearly that last time he was happy and comfortable:
like, literally. to the point hal practically considers what he had with ollie on that road-trip home. clearly, whatever happened stuck with him, whereas ollie only ever did his best to forget.
so. ollie accidentally gave hal the brokeback mountain experience in giving him his bi awakening and then immediately pretending as though nothing ever happened. hal's stuck forever hoping for that closeness again and never gets it back. the hard traveling days are his brokeback mountain.
however, on their better moments, ollie does still call hal BABY like the good ol' days like in Cry for Justice #1 <3
edit: for other choice hal ollie insanity moments, check here
#god this post got long i hope it makes sense#ask#hal ollie#halollie#hal jordan/oliver queen#oliver queen/hal jordan#side note ME TOO WHAT TOO always kills me still
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Stalker Nagito Komaeda x Milf!Reader
this was requested via my twitter:
âHey! iâve seen your works and Iâm in love. Can I request smut where a stalker Nagito Komaeda becomes obsessed with a milf reader who moves into the neighborhood whoâs like a dom in bed and ya know just large bust and taller than him. Thank youuuđ€â
a/n: ofc. but I have my own idea of a dom which iâll use involving certain things (heed warnings)
warnings: he is so obviously a virgin in this, degradation, slight masochism, asphyxiation, spit, also Nagito calls the reader mommy (side note: nagito is in his early 20s in this, he lives alone. age of reader isnât specified BUT I say sheâs in her late 20s/early 30s)
âą âą âą
It was a bright day...which Nagito despised. It was summer. He hated the sun, hated the mosquitoes, and the unnecessary humidity. It was days like these he wishes he was back at his university dorm. The A/C, the tall tree covering his window and blocking the sun...it was perfect. Hell, he didnât even hate classes. Yet, he couldnât live in the dorms forever. When it came time to buy a home, he stupidly did so in fall, moved in during the winter.
Well, no shit the home seemed perfect then. It wasnât fucking summer. His A/C decided to break, his windows has a great view of the sun, and most of his friends were out of town (all except Hajime, but Hajime is fucking boring and a bummer). Nagito sat on his couch, watching reruns of old tv shows. He took a sip from his nearby glass (cold water), suddenly hearing sounds of what appeared to be a loading van. He looked outside his window.
A moving van?
Right, that one old man who lived there passed away. Freak accident, by the way. Oh well, may he rest in peace. Meanwhile, Nagito was being himself and trying to see who it was. Pretty much, the dude was being nosy. He saw another car pull up. That mustâve been the familyâs car. Out jumped 3 kids, what appeared to be 2 girls and 1 boy. An adult stepped out. Nagito decided heâd get a better look at the situation. He put on his shirt, black jeans, and his green hood.
He was âgoing for a walkâ.
Without being noticed, he made his way to the other side of the street. It was a woman, she was taking boxes out of the truck. The minute Nagito saw her it was if he was stricken by Cupidâs arrow. She was tall and beautiful. Her skin complimented her hair and her legs, he couldnât take his eyes off them. Her breasts...he needed to stopâ
âHi!â
She was in front of him, a warm and inviting smile on her face. âH-Hi,â he muttered. She didnât hear him well, so it helped that he waved. âIâm new in the neighborhood. We just moved in,â she added, putting the box down. She stuck her hand out, going for a handshake. He shook her hand, her warm hand against his cold ones. Why are his hands always cold? âI see,â he responded, getting his shit together,âIâm Nagito Komaeda. I live across the streetâ. She introduced herself and complimented his house.
âWhat a lovely home. I hope the neighborhood is just as lovelyâ
âIt should be. Itâs pretty quiet. Thereâs not many families here. Say, can I help you pack?â
âYouâre too sweet! Iâd really appreciate itâ
He helped take all the boxes in her home, helping load a couch too, and help with other large objects. They finished in 9 hours, taking a majority of the day. âThanks for helping out, Nagitoâ. She made a lemonade, handing him a glass.
âDonât mention it! Also, thank youâ
One of the kids ran in the living room where they sat on the couch. He gasped when he saw Nagito. âMommy! That man looks dead!!!â. Nagito smiled, but his mom was not amused. âMichael! Apologize..â. The kid kept smiling and said,âSorry!â. He ran to another room. âIâm so sorry,â she muttered. Nagito shook his head.
âHey, Iâm rather malnourishedâ
âHa. On an unrelated topic, are you hungry? I could make us somethingâ
âOh, I shouldnât linger any longer. I wouldnât want to disturb your husbandâ
She laughed. âI know you mean no harm, but Iâm not married,â she added. âOh,â Nagito muttered,âIâm sorry, I really didnât mean it in any wayâ. She shook her head and reassured him it was fine. âSit, Nagito,â she pulled out a chair,âIâm not letting you refuse having dinner with us. Especially since you were such helpâ. She rubbed his back before heading back into the kitchen to begin cooking.
She made him a bowl of pasta, adding chicken on the side. Nagito was quite happy. He hadnât eaten a good meal in so long. Her kids didnât eat at the table, but on the counter. Meanwhile, she ate with Nagito. Just as Nagito thought he couldnât grow fonder of her, he did just that. All she did was let him talk about himself.
âJesus, Iâm sorry about your parents? How are you keeping yourself afloat with university and expenses?â
âAcademic scholarshipsâ
âWow, youâre such a smart boyâ
The way she phrased it made him flustered. âThank you for the meal, maâam,â he muttered,âI havenât eaten like this in who knows how longâ. She smiled tenderly, picking up his empty plate. âSeconds?â. He shook his head.
âNo, thank you. Iâm already so fullâ
âIâm glad. You know, thereâs always a meal for you in store if you can do me a favorâ
âWhatâs that?â
âMy oldest daughter has her final test this week. You think you can help her study? Iâll make you a nice, warm meal every time you come overâ
Nagito thought about it. He would also have time around her. Plus, she wasnât a bad cook. âOf course, I look forward to it,â he told her. âLovelyâ. He got up and excused himself to go home. âIt was nice having you over, Nagito,â she said softly. He could tell she was getting sleepy. When people are tired, Nagito has noticed that their tone is rather sheepish. She walked him to the door, ruffling his hair playfully and he blushed. âGoodnight, neighborâ.
âGoodnight, youâ
Before he left, she stopped him and handed him a paper: (xxx) xxx-xxxx âĄ
âCall me when you get home so I have your number saved. Then, I can call you when my daughter, Vanessa, needs help. Take care, okay?â
He nodded.
She closed the door, his thoughts racing on his way home. He picked up some things about her, things she didnât even tell him. He went home and opened a notebook, writing all of it down. He called her and she answered, her voice as sweet as when he left (only sleepier). âHello?â. His breath was heavy without realizing it as he spoke. âH-Hey, you told me to call you,â he breathed,âItâs Nagito...Komaedaâ
âOh, hey, angel! Iâm not interrupting anything am I?â
âWhat? No, itâs all goodâ whyâd you think so?â
âYou sound like you need to catch your breath, but anyway, thanks for calling me. Iâve saved your number nowâ
âOh, great! Well, if thatâs all, Iâll let you go to bed nowâ
âIt was. Goodnight, Nagitoâ
âG-Goodnightâ
He hung up, flustered more than ever as he continued to jot down his thoughts on paper. The next day, he woke up at 6am to wait in his car. He knew what he was doing was wrong, but he couldnât help it. At around 7:41am, his front neighbor and kids headed for their car. Nagito, who had taken a light nap in the driverâs seat, was awoken by the car starting. He waited for the car to drive away just slightly past his house to start his own car, slowly tailing behind her.
He dropped her kids off at the nearby elementary. She got off, kissed them on their forehead (all minus the eldest, who walked swiftly through the gates). Seeing how she cared for them made Nagito feel bad, but all he did was brush that feeling off. Next, he followed her through her daily. As he did, his notes from last night echoed through his mind, adding new detail.
âShe works at an office not everyday She doesnât have allergies but is sensitive to dust Red seems to be her favorite color but always in a darker shade Her daughter is around 10 years old She isnât vegan but enjoys almond milk Maybe has an issues with abandonment but I canât assume that either She buys many apples but not the same amount of bananas at the store so maybe she only eats the bananasââ
Just more to add to his notebook.
He got home before she did, writing down what he had learned. His phone rang about an hour later of him getting home. He picked it up,âHello?â. âNagito, hi!â. It was her. He started having a mini-panic attack, because why would she be calling him? âH-Hey, how are you?â
âIâm doing alright. I was wondering if you could come over and tutor Vanessaâ
Oh, thank god.
âYes, of course. Iâll be down there right nowâ
âGreat. See you then!â
He was relieved, heading to her home happily. He knocked on the door. When she opened it, she did so with the same warm smile as yesterday. âThank you for coming over,â she said,âSheâs in her roomâ. Nagito nodded, freezing when she grabbed his hand and took him to the room. Her touch was so soft, noted. They got to the room, where a girl was reading a book on a desk. âNessa?â. The girl turned around.
âNagito is going to be here for a few hours to help you out with homework and studying. Heâs really smart, so pay attention and be respectfulâ
âOkay, momâ
She nodded, squeezing Nagitoâs shoulder before leaving. Nagito approached the girl, she took her things out. Before he could speak, she stopped him. âPlease donât call me âNessaâ,â she whispered,âItâs bad enough my mom does, but not you, Pleaseâ.
âDonât worry. I wasnât planning on referring to you at allâ
âBastardâ
âNessaâ
âI guess I walked right into that oneâ
Nagito laughed, grabbing a chair and sitting next to her. Her work wasnât what he expected. Is this what theyâre teaching kids now? He couldâve sworn he hadnât seen this type of stuff until he hit middle school. It wasnât anything he couldnât do, but damn. All in all, tutoring went well. Vanessa actually learned something today. âGood job!,â he said. âThank you,â she smiled and hugged him,âI felt so stupidâ.
âHey, its okay not to understand thingsâ
Her mom walked in. âDinnerâs readyâ. Vanessa got up and went to the kitchen. âHowâd it go?,â she asked Nagito. âWent well, she gets the math now,â he answered. She smiled, thanking him for his help and asking him to join them for dinner. Heâd be foolish not to, so he accepted the invite.
Fish tacos were served tonight with rice and beans, another lemonade made. It was different than anything Nagito had ever had, but that doesnât equate to bad. He actually enjoyed the meal. The kids sat at the main table today, much more respectful than yesterday. âMichael how was school?â. He put a thumbs up, getting back to eating. âAnd Adrianna?â. She looked up from her meal and shrugged. âWhatâs wrong?â.
âIâm tired, but class was okayâ
âOh, okay. When youâre done, just take a quick shower and get to bedâ
âThanksâ
Nagito thought it was endearing. Seeing how understanding and loving she was, it was refreshing. The kids all eventually left, Nagito finishing his meal. âDid you like it?â. He looked at her, nodding. âGreat! Seconds?â.
âFull again. I donât usually eat, but your food is always so goodâ
âOh, youâre just saying things...â
âNo, really! Thank youâ
He said his goodbyes to the family, walking back home. It was as if he was falling for this woman more and more everyday. He went to sleep, this time dreaming of her. He never dreams, but this time he dreamt she was on her knees for him. Then, nothing else. It was as if his dream teased him.
The next morning, he woke up to some knocking on the door. He looked at the time. 8:23am. He put on a pair of jeans and his shirt, walking to his door. He opened it and there she stood, wearing a black dress and red heels. He assumed she had work and needed a favor before going. âGood morning,â he said.
âWere you following me yesterday?â
Shit.
âI, uh...,â he didnât know what to answer. He was indeed following her yesterday. He also liked her, so if he straight up said that he was to following her, itâd ruin things. His face was glowing a shade of pink to a slight red as he thought of the right answer. He was still stumbling over his words. âI think itâs kinda cute,â she added. The fuck? âHuh?â. She pushed him inside the house, closing and locking the door behind him. âWhen a boy follows someone around, itâs because he wants something,â she added, but her tone was so sultry,âWell, Nagitoââ. She pushed him onto the couch, leaning in front of him with her hands on his chest.
ââWhat do you want?â
None of what was happening felt real. Nagito couldnât find the words to express what exactly he wanted. This was the first time heâd ever been in a situation like this, it wasnât a bad one either. He began to panic when she straddled him. âCould it be that you wanted me?,â she asked. He frantically nodded and she laughed as she locked her lips with his. He gasped against her lips, kissing back. She slowly trailed her kisses down to his neck, cupping his jaw while grinding on his lap. Nagito moaned, his shaky hands grabbing her ass. She grabbed his hands and put them away from her. âItâs cute that youâre getting this carried awayâ.
âIâm sorryâ
âNo time to apologize. Get on your knees for mommyâ
Nagito was about to lose his mind when she said that, but he obeyed. Her presence was domineering as he stood on his knees against his carpeted floor. She spread her legs, noticing Nagito desperately trying to get a look. Her red heel stopped him, stepping on his head lightly. âAm I teasing you?,â she asked,âItâs okay to be honestâ.
âY-You are, but its okay. I want to be teased by youâ
âYouâre adorable,â she took her heel off his head,âLetâs go to your roomâ.
He practically ran to his bed. He sat and waited patiently. She entered the room, heading to his bed. She began to take off his shirt, admiring his frame. She then unbuckled his belt and unzipped his jeans. He kicked them off and sat down. She sat next to him. âGive me your handsâ. She held them, frowning slightly. âBoo, theyâre so cold,â she teased,âIâll warm them up for youâ. Carefully, she grabbed his left hand, putting his middle and ring finger in her mouth. She licked to his fingertips, leaving him tense and speechless. She stopped and smiled at him.
âThis is your first time, isnât it?â
He nodded shyly. âDonât be shy,â she said,âIâm going to guide you, but Iâm also going to have my funâ. He gulped, nodded. She stood up and removed her dress. She wore a lacy black bra and panties. She brought his hands to her breasts, allowing him to fondle them. They were huge in his hands. âYou like them, baby?â. âY-Yes,â he muttered,âCan you, uh, take....the bra off?â. He was ashamed when asking, he felt desperate. She smiled and nodded, unhooking it and allowing the bra to fall to the ground. He gasped at the sight of her tits, grabbing them. She straddled him.
âDo you know what to do with them?â
He nodded, rubbing one and sucking the other. She moaned sweetly, grinding on his lap. He popped his mouth off them. That was when she took the opportunity to knock him onto the bed. She began to make out with him, shoving his tongue down her throat. They lay sideways. Her hand was on his neck, slightly choking him. He couldnât resist but try to grind on her lap. She laughed. âLook at you,â she mocked,âHumping my leg like a desperate little puppyâ. She didnât let him speak, sitting up and pushing him back down. âIâm going to give you what you want,â she whispered in his ear,âTake your cock outâ.
He was nervous as he did, hands shaky. She blushed a bit at his size. âItâs so big,â she said, straddling him,âIâm going to have my way with itâ. âPlease, do what you want to me,â he begged,âAbuse me, pleaseâ. She didnât speak, sinking down on it. Nagito gasped, she was extremely wet. She began to bring her hips up and land straight down on it, repeatedly. She put her hands around his throat, now being rougher. Nagito gasped for air, grabbing her hands.
That was a mistake.
âHands down,â she ordered, striking him across the face. âSorr-â. He was slapped once again. âOnly speak when youâre spoken toâ. He nodded as his stomach began to cave in. His cock twitched each time she slapped him, making her moan. She leaned forward, capturing his earlobe between her teeth. He winced, his hands tangling in the sheets. He felt as though his entire body was blushing.
âYouâre so sensitive thereâ
She teased him, kissing the skin and nibbling. His hips involuntarily snapped upward, making her whine. âYouâre so desperate, baby,â she laughed,âitâs so cuteâ. He could feel her warmth running along his cock. He bit into his hand, trying to stop himself from cumming inside her. It worked, but she didnât like him doing that. She grabbed his hands and kissed them.
âDonât hurt yourself, put them right hereâ
She placed them on her boobs. He watched them bounce up and down, grabbing them gently. His rather large hands seemed small on her tits. He was extremely flushed. He took them off her and placed them on her hips. âOpen your mouthâ. He lay back more and did as he was told. She leaned forward, grabbing his jaw again as she spit into it and kissed him. He moaned when she did, his urges getting the best to him and thrusting upward. He hit her cervix every time, causing her to produce the sweetest and sluttiest of moans. Her walls tightened around him and now he was whining. âAre you gonna cum, honeybun?,â she asked.
âY-Yes..â
âWhere do you wanna cum?â
âI wanna cum...everywhere. I want it. I want it so bad. I wanna cum inside and on your tits, on your ass, y-your face..mouth. Please let me cum, mommyâ
She motivated him, riding him harder. âCome on, Nagito,â she whispered,âCum for mommy. Cum all the way inside herâ. He lost his mind after that, groaning as he shot his load(s) inside her. He was still inside her as he tried catching his breath. She rubbed his chest, shushing him. âGood boy, you did so well,â she cooed,âSuch a good boy.â He was covering his face, embarrassed and still hard. âI wasnât too rough, was I?,â she asked. He shook his head, thinking,âNot rough enoughâ. He whined when she got off, revealing he was still erect. She noticed.
âYou wanna go again, baby? Kids donât leave school till 2:30. We have time for an extra fuckâ
âC-Can I?â
âYes, dummyâ
She let Nagito choose how to fuck her. He wanted missionary, mostly because he craved intimacy and she did not disappoint. She kissed and praised him, telling him he was good. She held onto him the whole time and cuddled him afterwards. Nagito felt so special, he felt loved. âI can come over when I donât have work,â she said,âWould you like that?â.
âIâd love that actuallyâ
âYou make me happy, Nagito. I could stay here and cuddle all dayâ
âI feel so luckyâ
He yawned, looking at the clock. âIts 10,â he told her. She nuzzled his chest, humming. âMmmm, letâs take a small nap,â she whispered,âOkay?â. âOkayâ. He kissed the top of her head and held her to him, slowly joining her in slumber.
#danganronpa#fanfic#danganronpa goodbye despair#smut#dr nagito#sdr2 nagito#nagito headcanons#nagito smut#nagito x reader#nagito komaeda#nagito komeada x reader#x reader#danganronpa nagito
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The Farmers Daughter            Daryl Dixon Smut 18+
Request: Hey i really love all your stories. Could you do one where, the reader is Hershel's daughter and she has just turned 21 and she has a massive crush on Daryl. She is tired of being babied by the entire family ( they won't let her out of prison gates cause she's young) so she asks to go on a run with Daryl as her 21st bday gift. On the run she kinda seduces him and smut ensues.
Also she has kinda tried to seduce him at the prison before too (just subtle hints)
Please please take my request đ„șđ„șđ„ș
Hey guys! Hereâs my first ever story written for a request! Hope you liked the way it turned out Anon! And i hope your all having a lovely day <3
Love Jen x
                          MasterlistÂ
You had to admit it was a beautiful day. Looking out across the prison yard, If you ignored the walkers groaning at the fences and well... the whole end of the world thing it might have been a perfect day. Everyone was feeling safe and relaxed for the first time in a long time and enjoying the day as you would have before the end.Â
Approaching your dad seeing the relaxed look on his face, Youâd thought this would be the perfect opportunity to ask him to let you go out on a run, You were the middle green daughter and he didnât let you forget it. It was so unfair! He always let Maggie and Beth do whatever they wanted but kept you close by at all times wanting to teach you all he could about medicine, Treating you like nothing more than a baby even though you had just turned 21.Â
As always when you asked to go with Daryl his face turned to stone. âYou know my feelings on this Y/N, Your much too young, Everyone has a job to do and yours is hereâÂ
âDad please! Iâve been training, I can take care of myself. You let Beth go! Sheâs younger than me! Stop treating me like a childâÂ
âY/N thatâs enough, I said noâÂ
Knowing you wouldnât get anything further out of him you stormed off it probably didnât help things that you were maybe acting like a bit of a child right now. But you couldnât help it, you were so mad! He had to know you were no longer a child. Most middle children get ignored but not you, He was more strict when it came to you, Babied you constantly. Even before the end Maggie and Beth loved it of course it meant they got away with more because he was always so focused on you.Â
Part of you understood why. There had been a nasty incident a few years back with a boy from school which ended in your dad having to pull a shot gun at him to get him to stay away from you. Smiling you remembered the prickâs probably dead now, Youâd definitely gotten the last laugh!
Ever since then Hershel had been extremely protective of you, Heâd let you attend self defence classes and even taught you to shoot, Which is why it was so mind boggling that he wouldnât let you do your part. You felt useless just sitting around all day reading old medical books and occasionally helping fix someone up.Â
You wanted more than anything to be out there, Pulling your weight helping feed this family! You needed to be out thereâŠ.With him.
When Daryl had appeared on your familyâs farm that day on his motorbike, Your knees almost went weak. That was a man, He was sheer perfection. Unfortunately for you he was a bit of a standoffish man.Â
You tried for weeks to get his attention shyly moving closer to him whenever he was around, Whenever he even looked at you he caused the blush to rise in your cheeks.
When he had fallen onto his arrow you were there mopping his brow as he slept. Sadly when he woke he only gave you a grunt of acknowledgement. But still it was more than he had before.Â
Still you persisted, He had started warming up to you more since the trip to the prison. You were the one to make sure he ate and cleaned him up every time he managed to get another wound. It was slow going but before you knew it muttered thanks had turned into longer sentences from him.Â
He still wasnât much of a talker but at least he noticed you now. Not in the way you wanted him to but it was better than nothing.
You raised your hand in welcome to him as you saw him making his way across the yard to you.
âHershel say no?â He asked when he came and took a seat with you on the grass.Â
Nodding you sighed, pulling your knees to your ample chest. Nudging you slightly âYa donât wanna be out there anyway, Getâs too dangerousâÂ
Rolling your eyes âOh please not you too? How many times do i have to say i can handle myself! I just need a few hours out of here!â
An idea coming to your head you turned to him putting your hand on his shoulder, He froze slightly at this as he seemed to every time anyone touched him. Deciding to ignore it you turned his torso slightly to face yours.Â
âYou could convince him! You said yesterday there was a pharmacy not too far from here that looked untouched!âÂ
Shaking his head at you âNo Y/N I ainât goin against Hershel, Heâs a good manâÂ
âPlease Daryl, You could consider it a birthday gift to me? And i could be useful! I know what medicines to look out forâÂ
âWho said i was gonna get ya anything?â He grumbled. Moving closer to him and putting your hand on his chest.Â
âPlease Daryl, Heâll listen to youâ You purred hoping it came across sultry.Â
His eyes met yours very briefly, His eyes wide when he saw how close you were. Standing to his feet suddenly âAlright fine, If itâll get ya to quit harpin onâ
He turned leaving you on the grass before stalking off towards your dad. You waited there for what felt like forever watching the corner he had disappeared behind.Â
When he finally reappeared you got to your feet meeting him halfway.
âWell?â He gave you a short nod of confirmation. Jumping up at him excitedly you wrapped your arms around his neck. âThank you!!â He froze in place again before relaxing into your hug.Â
Patting your shoulder once âGo on then, Get ya stuff we leave in 10â As you pulled away you saw a slight smile on his lips before running back to the Cells to grab a bag. Packing two bottles of water and some protein bars leaving the rest empty to carry anything you might find. Slinging it over your shoulder before strapping your pistol to one side of your belt and your knife on the other.Â
Running back out you saw your dad waiting by the step. You almost knocked him off his crutches hugging him tightly
âThank you Daddyâ
He hugged you back âYou be safe Y/N Listen to everything Daryl tells you!â Pulling away from him you nodded gratefully.Â
âReady to go?â Smiling you turned and started to walk away. Hearing your dad call âTake care of my little girl Dixon!â Daryl just raised an arm in response before leading you over to the bike.Â
Swinging his leg over her motioned for you to do the same. Smiling happily you jumped on the back wrapping your arms firmly around his chest, Your fingers desperately wanting to touch all of him.Â
âYa donât need to hold on so tight!â He grumbled at you. âOh sorry!â You moved your hands slowly from his chest favouring every second until they were resting gently on his waist. As he pulled out of the main gate you put your chin on his shoulder grinning.
He hid the bike a few blocks away from the pharmacy before continuing on foot. On the way you only encountered one walker. Putting your hand on his arm as he raised his crossbow.Â
âLet me do itâ He nodded to you, letting you charge ahead with your knife drawn. Easily taking the walker down, Swiping the walkers feet from under it you plunged your knife into his head before turning back to Daryl âSee i can take care of myselfâ
Handing you a rag from his belt you cleaned the blood off your knife before handing it back to him.Â
âNever said you couldnât Y/Nâ he said before continuing on to the pharmacy. As you reached the shutters Daryl Raised one slightly looking underneath before knocking on the shutter a few times making a racket.
âDaryl! What are you doingâ You whispered urgently.Â
He put his finger to his mouth while he listened for a moment before pulling the shutter fully open stepping behind it motioning for you to follow. Stepping in you noticed the door to the pharmacy was still closed and your bodies were pressed tightly together.Â
Your breath was stuck in your chest, Your heart pounding as you felt his body on yours. He looked at you confused for a moment before moving his arms around you to the open shutter. Pulling it back down again, You felt as the muscles in his arms rolled down your entire body pulling the shutter. His head was at your crotch when you let in a sharp intake of breath as his head brushed you core.Â
He darted upwards to you again âYou ok Y/N? We can go back if ya scaredâ
His words snapping you out of it, You felt the blush rise in your face âmânot scaredâ
You were dying for him to kiss you, As you looked up you saw his lips were only inches from yours, Surely he had to feel this too? You closed your eyes inching closer till your lips were just about touching. You could feel his hot breath cascading over your lips. The world paused for a second while you waited to see if he would close the gap.Â
Clearing his throat âLooks empty, Letâs go inâ You opened your eyes as you heard the tinkle of the bell signalling the door had been opened. And just as quick as the moment had come it was gone.Â
You stood frozen at the door for a moment trying to gather your thoughts. Could he really not see what just being in close proximity to him did to her?Â
You walked after him further into the pharmacy jumping behind the desk âJackpot! This place is completely untouched!âÂ
âGrab what we need, Weâll come back for the rest with more peopleâÂ
You filled your bag as Daryl went around the aisles picking up other essentials.Â
You closed the pharmacy back up adding a lock to the shutter as you left, Hopefully no one else would stumble across it before you had a chance to come back.Â
Daryl agreed when you asked to walk back through the woods. It was far too hot to go all that way in the sun. It was still hot under the trees but at least you were being protected from the sun, Daryl stopped and waited for you as you dropped your bag pulling off the loose over shirt your father always made you wear.Â
You saw his eyes wander over you as it came over your head showing your curves to him for the first time in your tight white vest.Â
His eyes were dark, You couldnât tell if he was angry with you or if it was something else.Â
Looking away from him now âSorry, I just need some airâŠ.Wait whatâs that?â He darted forward pushing his body in front of you looking for danger.Â
Rolling your eyes you stepped around him picking up the bag and heading to the cabin you had seen. Stopping in the doorway you copied Darylâs previous actions knocking on the doorway.Â
All of a sudden his arms were around you lifting you from the ground pulling you inside the cabin, Closing the door behind you both his hand was over your mouth, His mouth to your ear âShh, Thereâs a herd bout 50, Donât think they saw usâÂ
As he put you gently back down you both made your way further into the cabin to check for threats, After searching the bedroom he pulled you inside before blocking the door with the set of drawers.Â
He made his way to the bed before lying down âmight as well make ourselves comfortable gonna be here awhileâ You sat on the bed not facing him for a moment before taking a deep breath and lying down on the bed.Â
You saw him looking at your chest before he sat back up âAlmost forgotâ He grabbed his bag. âHappy birthday 21 right?âÂ
Pulling out a bottle of whiskey and handing it to you. You looked at it nervously taking a deep breath and just going for it. You ripped the cork out taking a deep swig, Dropping the bottle back down you scrunched your nose a little in disgust
âWhat girl ya never had whiskey?âÂ
âNever had any alcohol, Dad never let us with him being in recovery and allâ You shrugged taking another pull on the bottle.Â
He snatched it from your hands then âDidnâ no it were your first. Ya canât drink it like water, Gotta take it slowâÂ
You chuckled slightly at his words laying back down on the bed with him following you.Â
âWhatâs so funny kid?âÂ
âDonât call me thatâ You said as your eyes narrowed.Â
He looked at you amused âItâs what ya areâÂ
Lurching forward you pressed your lips to his, feeling him freeze under you, You held your lips there urgently, Pulling your hands to his face and pulling it to yours. You pulled away slightly when he didnât return the kiss.
âI aint a kid, I saw the way you looked at me earlier. I know you know that tooâ You said breathlessly.Â
Looking down at your lips he replied âYa still Hershelâs Kid he wouldnâ like thisâ He ran his hand through his hair.
Feeling angry again Your hands were still on his face âDoes it look like i care what he thinks? Right now Daryl all I care about is this. Feeling you against me. I need it. Iâve needed it since the moment i saw youâÂ
His eyes darted up to yours seeing only the truth in your eyes. âKiss me DixonâÂ
His tongue licked his bottom lip slightly. Pushing your lips back to his you took his bottom lip in your mouth tugging on it slightly with your teeth.Â
You heard the low growl coming from his chest as you tugged harder.Â
âFuck itâ He muttered against your lips before flipping you onto your back kissing you back harshly.Â
You let a moan escape your lips as he settled over you arching into his chest, He nudged your knees apart before putting one hand behind your thigh and lifting it around his hips. The other hand was on your waist. Both hands kneading your skin harshly.Â
His hands felt like they were burning through your clothes. Your eyes rolled into the back of your head as he pushed his tongue into your mouth, Moaning again you ground your hips upwards desperate to feel his heat against yours.Â
He pulled away panting resting his forehead against yours.Â
âYou sure Y/Nâ Grinning at him you pulled your hands to the neck of your shirt ripping it open slightly.Â
âNever been so sure Darylâ His eyes watched growing darker, pulling his hands to the rip you had started already he ripped the shirt from you with ease, hands going to the front of your bra tearing that too.Â
You could feel his breath on your chest as he ducked down taking one of your nipples into your mouth and biting down on it. You moaned louder now reaching down, you pushed the vest from his shoulder before turning your attention to his shirt groaning as you realised you couldnât reach the hem to pull it up.Â
He chuckled watching you sitting up over you he pulled the shirt off himself. Glaring down at you now with his dark hungry eyes. Moving from you he stood next to the bed.Â
âTake em off...Nowâ His thick southern drawl made your already wet panties soak.Â
Your hand slowly went to the button on your jeans not wanting to take your eyes off him, His glare grew darker.
âYa aint fast enoughâ He lunged over you gripping the pants at your sides and tearing them down, You gasped now realising you were fully bare for him, His eyes met yours as you looked towards his pants, Your thighs rubbing together in delicious anticipation.Â
He untied the cord of material holding his pants up letting them drop to the ground.Â
Licking your lips you stared at his huge length. Walking over to you he pressed his cock to your lips gently.
âThis what you want?âÂ
âMmm yes please Darylâ You stuck your tongue out tasting the tip of him, God he tasted good. You opened your lips intending to wrap them around him, When you felt a hand in your hair pulling your head back.Â
âSay ya want my cock Y/N in that dirty little mouthâ Looking at his eyes now you could see he was serious.Â
Pushing him back from the bed you climbed off sinking to your knees in front of him.Â
âMmmm let me have your cock in my dirtyâŠ.littleâŠ.MouthâŠ..Please?â You breathed
His fingers caressed your face for a moment He murmured âBetter Y/NâŠ.Go on take what ya want girlâÂ
Reaching your hands up to his length you held it gleefully smiling as you brought it back to your mouth. Swirling your tongue around the tip you let your eyes fix on his again as you sunk him deep into your mouth, As it hit your throat you let it choke you slightly moaning around his length.Â
âShit Y/Nâ Daryl let his mouth drop open and his head hang backwards enjoying your lips around him, Putting his hands back in your hair he pushed you fully down his length until your lips met his pubic bone, You choked again, Breathing through your nose you held yourself on him getting used to the feeling of him stretching your throat.Â
Moaning on him again he pushed and pulled you over his cock until you felt it throbbing, Pulling you fully off him he looked back down at you wildly.Â
âShit, Ya too good at that. I almost -â You cut him off pulling him back into your mouth with determination bobbing faster over him until he fell over the edge spilling his huge load into your mouth. You heard him cry out your name whilst he fucked your face harder letting the last of his orgasm roll out.Â
Once he slowed you pulled him from your mouth swallowing before licking every inch of him clean drinking every drop like it was life or death.Â
He wrapped one hand around your throat now pulling you back up to him.Â
âGet back on the bed, Knees up legs wide. Nowâ He growled.Â
Still catching your breath you did as you were told. He kneeled on the bed between your legs rubbing his still hard cock up and down your folds. Grinning at you mischievously he pulled completely away, Watching you squirm from the lack of contact.Â
Leaning over your body he whispered in your earÂ
âYa aint ready for that...Not yet anywayâ He roughly pushed your chin upwards pushing your head back into the pillow.Â
Kissing his way down your neck he moved to your chest, Lifting your breast he sucked just underneath your nipple hard enough to leave his mark, Moving down your sternum he left three more identical marks from your breasts to your belly button. Marking you as his. As he reached your dripping heat you tried to grind up towards him.
Using his hand over your hips he held you down,Â
âYa gotta wait Y/N Youâll get it when im fucking readyâ He growled again before sinking his teeth into the inside of your thigh, You let out a loud mewl trying to stem the noise biting down on your forearm.Â
He bit harder now before letting go and glaring up at you, âDont ya dare stop it, I wanna hear yaâ
Panting for breath you looked down at him âBut the âŠ...Mmm shit...The walkers..will hear us!âÂ
âLet them fuckin hear, Iâll kill everyone of those dead bastards if they try to get between me and this sweet pussyâ He ran one finger softly down your folds to accentuate his point.Â
Moving your hand back down onto the bed you gripped the sheets with both hands as he sucked and bit the inside of both of your thighs leaving multiple love bites.Â
âPlease Daryl! I can...ntt take it anymoreâ
Seeing the need in your eyes he harshly took your clit in his mouth sucking and nibbling on it before moving his tongue down to your entrance, He lapped at the juices flowing out of you for a minute before replacing his tongue with his fingers, Pushing two inside he rocked them in and out of you bringing his lips back to your throbbing clit.Â
âGod Y/N you taste so fucking goodâ You could feel the pleasure building higher and your moans getting louder as you were rapidly reaching your high. You could feel your walls clenching on his fingers as he started moving quicker.Â
âAhhh, Shit Darylâ You screamed letting your high crash around you, You could feel him moaning into your clit as you screamed his name. Pushing another finger into you as you rode them blissfully feeling him stretch them inside you before pulling them out, Leaning back over you he pressed his fingers to your mouth.Â
âClean emâ You sucked on them happily feeling the slickness in your pussy coming back as it did every time you saw him.Â
Once he had deemed them clean enough he dropped his hand back to you.
âMmm ready for me again so soon?â You bit your lip gazing up at him with your best innocent face.Â
âSo ready baby, Please...Please fuck me Darylâ
âYa only needed to ask Y/Nâ He quickly pumped his cock a few times before pushing it slowly into you, Gasping a little in pain he stopped. âYou ok?âÂ
âYeahâŠ.Its just so fucking bigâ He grinned as he continued pushing into you until he reached his hilt grunting as he felt your walls moulding around him. Staying still for a moment he let you get used to his length. Pressing his lips back down to yours he tugged at your lower lip with his teeth parting your lips before diving back in with his tongue.Â
Your tongues danced together fighting for dominance, He moaned into your mouth as he started moving again slowly at first building his speed until he was pounding mercilessly into you.Â
Rolling back till he was sat back on his legs he pulled your legs over his shoulders gripping them tightly using them to drive himself even deeper and harder into you. Your hands wound your way into your own hair pulling at it gently letting the pleasure of his relentless pounding completely take control of your senses as you feel yourself letting go to him again.Â
You back arched high as you felt your high building.Â
Daryl let one hand fall to your aching clit rolling it with his fingers.Â
âThatâs it Y/N cum for me, Cum all over this cockâ He growled loudly. You felt him pulsing inside you and it sent you straight over the edge.Â
âFuckkkkk Daryl!!â You screamed bucking your hips against him as you rode out your high.Â
Daryl couldnât take it anymore watching you buck wildly against him screaming his name, He exploded thrusting deeper into you letting his hot cum wash over your walls.Â
He let go of your legs letting them crash to the sides of him, Your entire body was trembling now as he collapsed forward on top of you, Both gasping for air.Â
When he rolled off you, You looked him straight in the eyes âTold you i could be usefulâ You giggled.Â
âI think we may need to convince ya dad to let you on more of these runs Y/N. Very fucking usefulâ he said pushing his lips back to yours for a sweet kiss this time.Â
Putting his arm around your shoulders he pulled you to him letting your head lay on his chest. You could definitely get used to this.Â
You sighed before continuing in awe âHappy fucking birthday to meâÂ
He chuckled kissing your hair. You lay happily in his arms until the sun started to go down, Only breaking the happy stillness to let your lips meet lovingly.
Looking out the window he murmured âCâmon best be getting back. Dont need em sendin out a search party and findin us like thisâÂ
Groaning you let him pull you up, Both getting dressed. Daryl picked up your ruined shirt and bra stuffing them into his own bag with a wink, Thank god you had worn two shirts today. Daryl then pulled the draws away from the door running through the cabin to check it was still secure. You followed him out of the cabin and back to the bike.Â
Happily putting your arms around him and running your fingers across his chest, Enjoying the last moments of your freedom as he drove you back to the prison and through the gates.
You sisters came running to meet you as you returned checking you over before giving you hugs in turn, Maggie took a step back staring into your eyes for a moment before leaning back into you whispering so only you two could hear
âI see you got your birthday wish lil sisâ Your eyes went wide in panic, Grinning at you she whispered again. âI know the scent of cum when I smell it. Itâs all over your breath, That and you're definitely no longer wearing a braâÂ
You flushed embarrassed hoping no one else would notice looking back at her with a panicked whisper âDonât tell Daddy!â She nodded at you looking behind you to the guard tower âLooks like it's time for round twoâ She nodded towards Daryl who was standing there staring at you drinking you in with his eyes again.Â
âDonât worry ill cover for you, Just goâ She winked. Running over to the tower you slipped in closing the door as you felt his hand at your throat again.Â
âYa all mine now Y/Nâ
âSo you donât think Iâm a kid anymoreâ You asked playfully.Â
âNah, Your definitely all fucking womanâ He growled back before pulling you back into a room and fucking you till you were mewling all over again for him.
Taglist! :) Let me know if you want on or off it :)Â
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#daryl dixon fanfiction#daryl dixon x reader#daryl dixon smut#the walking dead daryl#daryl dixon#the walking dead fanfiction#the walking dead smut#the walking dead fandom#daryl dixon x you#daryl dixon x y/n#daryl dixon fandom#norman reedus smut#norman reedus#norman reedus fandom#daryl dixon fan fic#hotsmut#smut fanfiction
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3rd life Villain!Impulse perhaps? Reasoning because he's been so nice to all factions and appears very harmless...until he kills Tango in the firing squad scenario. Do with that as you will :3
honestly i think the villain 3rd Life AUs are some of my best writing. also iâm pretty sure iâm gonna end up writing everyone as a villain at some point lol (villains so far: Scar, Etho, Tango, Grian, Ren, Martyn, now Impulse. Joel too if you count that fic where he kills Jimmy)
âŠ
A feeling of dread hangs over Impulse as he makes his way up to Tangoâs base. Getting a private message from his best friend, simply saying âwe need to talkâ, has highly unsettled him. He has absolutely no idea what Tango could want to talk to him about.â
As he gets to the hill Tango calls home, he spots Tango himself standing at the top, arms folded, clearly watching him. A shiver running down his spine, Impulse slowly climbs up the hill. Tango watches him all the way.
Finally, he gets to the top. Keeping an eye on the sun, which must be about an hour away from setting, he gives his friend a wave. âHi, Tango. Whatâs⊠Whatâs going on?â
Tangoâs looking at him with a narrow-eyed expression of distrust. âI know your game, Impulse.â
âHuh?â Impulse blinks. Thatâs not what he was expecting. âWhat?â
âYour little game of pretending to be allies with everyone so nobody will ever turn against you. Etho, Dogwarts, the crastle folk. Youâve got them all wrapped round your little finger.â
Impulse frowns. âI donât know what youâre talking about.â
Tango rolls his eyes. âUh huh, âcourse you donât. You change the sheet music for everyone, donât you? Everyone believes theyâre the only one getting your support. Well, not me. I know what youâre up to and Iâm gonna make sure you stop getting away with it, starting today.â
As Tango turns to start walking away, Impulse grabs his wrist, stopping him from leaving. âPlease donât, Tango,â he says calmly.
Tango scoffs. âLet go of me, Impulse. Iâm gonna expose you whether you like it or not.â
Impulse hangs on to Tangoâs wrist. âIâm giving you one last chance to back down. Youâre red; if something happens to you, you wonât come back.â
âYouâre not gonna stop me,â Tango retorts. âI know you. Your niceness has always been your biggest weakness, and in this case, itâs gonna be your downfall.â
âYouâve misjudged me.â
Impulse abruptly seizes Tangoâs lapels and roughly swings him closer to the edge of the cliff, holding him dangerously close to the precipice. âIâll do anything to survive,â Impulse says coldly. âAnything.â
Tangoâs eyes widen with shock. âImpulse-!â
But Impulse shoves him off the top of the cliff.
He waits for a few seconds, listening to Tangoâs screams get quieter and quieter, until theyâre abruptly cut off.
Tango fell from a high place
Taking a deep breath, Impulse takes off running. He doesnât know if thereâs anyone nearby but he canât risk it. If anyone sees him here, heâs done for. Absolutely done for.
The chat is filling up with confused and concerned messages but it doesnât matter now. Tango is gone forever. Nobody ever needs to know what happened.
Impulse dashes back towards the wool castle but as he passes Tangoâs still-gushing lava minigame, he bumps into Etho, whoâs running the other way.
âImpulse!â Etho breathes. âGosh, you scared me. What happened?â
Despite internally panicking quite hard, Impulse manages to stammer, âI-I dunno, I was just going to Tangoâs base to talk to him when I saw the message. I thought he might have been somewhere around here but I couldnât find any dropped items or anything. He mustâve been somewhere else when he died.â
âTango doesnât just fall from a high place like that,â Etho says. âHeâs careful. Impulse, Iâm worried that someone might have murdered him.â
âWhat?!â Impulse gasps. âWho would do that?!â
âI donât know for sure, but my prime suspect is the crastle alliance. Bdubs had it out for Tango for some reason so Iâm sure he knows something.â
âOh noâŠâ Impulse stares at his friend with wide, innocent eyes. âBdubs wouldnât have taken TWO of Tangoâs lives⊠would he?â
Etho slowly shakes his head. âI donât know. I thought I knew our friends really well but lately, IâŠâ He sighs quietly. âLetâs just say I wouldnât put it past him. But itâs getting late; Iâll go talk to him tomorrow.â
He turns back towards the castle. âYou coming?â
âIâll be there later. Iâm just gonna go check on my villagers.â
âGotcha. And ImpulseâŠâ
Impulse pauses as Etho glances back at him. âThanks for being the only person on this server I can really trust.â
Impulse smiles back. âNo problem.â
âŠ
Under the cover of darkness, Impulse makes his way to the crastle. He can see Cleo up on the roof, aiming a crossbow at him, but thankfully, she lowers it when he gets close enough for her to see who he is.
Cleo and Bdubs let Impulse into the crastle. âWhatâs going on, Impulse?â Bdubs demands. âNobody seems to know what happened to Tango!â
âNobodyâs owning up to knowing, anyway,â Cleo adds. âI donât suppose you do?â
Impulse shakes his head. âIâve no idea. But Iâve heard rumours going round the server and I thought I should come to you directly to let you know.â
âLet us know what?â Bdubs says.
âThat Etho suspects you guys had something to do with Tangoâs death.â
âWhat?!â
Bdubs and Cleo exchange a shocked look.
âWhy would he think that?!â Bdubs snaps. âHe has no evidence!â
âThatâs why I thought I should come over and warn you,â says Impulse. âHeâs gonna come over here tomorrow to confront you about it.â
âOh gawshâŠâ Bdubs groans. âThanks for telling us.â
âOh, but this is just to give you some warning to prepare. You canât let Etho know I told you, okay? Otherwise he might not tell me other stuff that concerns you guys.â
âDonât worry, we wonât,â Cleo says. âIf weâre your secret girlfriend, does that mean Ethoâs your⊠uh⊠spouse?â
âI donât really have a singular âspouseâ,â responds Impulse, making air quotes over the word âspouseâ. âMore like the rest of the server is my âspouseâ and I canât let them know that I favour you over them.â
âRiiiight, gotcha. Guess youâd better head home before your âspouseâ misses you.â
Impulse nods. âYeah, I gotta go back to Etho. See you guys later.â
As he leaves the crastle and starts to head for home, he spots a figure watching him from next to one of Bdubsâs tall spruce trees. When the figure comes forward, Impulse recognises the person as Joel.
âHi,â he says, giving a friendly smile. Joel isnât one of his official allies at the moment but that doesnât mean he canât be nice to him. âWhatâs up?â
âI heard Tango died,â Joel says, eyes sparking with interest. âDo you know what happened?â
âNo, I donât. I just saw it in chat.â
âI think youâre lying.â
Impulse blinks. âWhat?â
Joel grins as he senses heâs caught Impulse off guard. âI said I think youâre lying. I think youâre manipulating everyone into believing youâre their friend when in actuality, you donât care about any of them. And I think you killed Tango when he confronted you about it. Am I wrong?â
Impulse stares at him, unable to say anything in his defence.
In the ensuing pause, Joel takes a sudden step towards Impulse, who backs up a few steps, his hand automatically flying to the hilt of his sword. But he pauses. He has to be extremely careful here; Bdubs and Cleo may be watching him. If they see him put a single foot wrong here, itâs over. He has to let Joel make the first move.
âWould you kill me?â says Joel challengingly. âWould you kill me as callously as you killed Tango?â
Impulse carefully turns his back to the crastle and narrows his eyes. âCome and find out. Or would you rather die stupidly and pointlessly because you forgot about FIRE DAMAGE?â
That does it. Impulse knew exactly how to rile Joel up and it works. Eyes flashing red, Joel growls and lashes out with his fist.
Impulse allows himself to be hit in the chin, narrowly avoiding biting his tongue. Joelâs second blow, this time to the stomach, winds him and causes him to drop to his knees, vulnerable. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees Joel drawing his sword. This is it; this is the moment. Either his position on the server will elevate⊠or he will simply die.
He holds his breath and squeezes his eyes shut.
âGET AWAY FROM HIM!â
An arrow flies out of nowhere and buries itself in Joelâs chest, causing him to stagger back a step. A split second later, a second arrow hits Joel in the neck, and thatâs all it takes.
SmallishBeans was shot by BdoubleO100
Impulse stares at the ground where Joel had landed, a second before he died. He canât believe his plan worked so well.
âImpulse, are you okay?â Bdubs appears at Impulseâs side, discarding his crossbow. âWhat happened?â
âHe⊠He was gonna kill me,â Impulse chokes out. This isnât entirely an act; Joelâs unexpected hit to his stomach has completely snatched the wind from his sails.
âWhy? Why did he wanna kill you?â
âDid he really need a reason?â Cleo says. âHe was red and Impulse is green. Nuff said.â
âWh-Whatever it was, you guys saved my life.â Impulse gives them a smile. âThanks. If Etho or anyone else asks what happened, you guys spotted me getting attacked by Joel on my way back from checking on my villagers. Okay?â
âOoh, good story,â Bdubs says approvingly. âBut are you sure youâre okay? Youâre not hurt, are you?â
âNo, no, Iâm fine. Thanks to you guys. I should probably head home, though.â
Bdubs pats him on the shoulder. âYeah, go get some rest. Thanks again for⊠um⊠coming past and not visiting.â
Impulse nods, knowing exactly what Bdubs means. âNo worries.â
âŠ
âJoel just attacked you?â Etho frowns. âWhy would he do that?â
âHe doesnât need a reason,â responds Impulse, recalling what Cleo said earlier. âHe was red. I guess he just saw an easy target and couldnât resist.â
âSo he attacked you on your way back from the villagers, huh. And youâre okay, right? Youâre not hurt.â
âNo, Iâm fine,â says Impulse. âA little shaken and tired from everything thatâs happened, though.â
âOh yeah, you should get some sleep.â Etho smiles at his friend. âSee you tomorrow.â
âNight, Etho.â
As Impulse gets into bed in his room, he canât help a small smile. He took a big risk today but it has really paid off. Getting rid of two red lifers in one day is enough of an accomplishment in of itself, but doing it without arousing suspicion on himself AND managing to turn Etho and Bdubs further against each other? Thatâs something he can be proud of.
All he needs to do now is make sure heâs in the right place at the right time for Ethoâs confrontation with Bdubs tomorrow and perhaps he can be there for another red life death. Bdubs may be one of his strongest allies but if Impulse sees a chance to get another player out of the game, wellâŠ
Heâs going to take it.
#3rd life smp#3rdlifesmp#impulsesv#etho#ethoslab#bdubs#bdoubleo100#zombiecleo#smallishbeans#tangotek#vaunnaâs requests
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Voice In My Head (Part 1)
Summary : This is the story about Ashley Ackles and how her life turned upside down.
Pairing : Jensen Ackles x Daughter Reader / Danneel Ackles x Daughter Reader
Warnings : Fluff, Angst, Eating Disorder, Self Inflicting Cuts, Self Hate, Attempted Suicide, Minor Drug Use.
Series Masterlist / Main Masterlist
Itâs hard to know where to begin telling you about this. I wonder if thereâs any such thing as beginnings.
3 MONTHS AGO...
At this point in Ashleyâs life everything had been normal. She was an A+ Grade student with a bright future ahead of her. She had her loving family surrounded around her and had good health. She had her 5 best friends Veronica, Selena, Bram (Abraham), Taylor and Matt (my boyfriend). She had been friends with Veronica and Selena since they were in kindergarten, she then met Bram in middle school then Taylor and Matt in High School and they six of them because the best of friends. They do everything together. They travel to school together every morning, go to the mall every Friday after school and talk about what friends usually talk about.
This is where our story starts. Ashley, Veronica and Selena were walking down the school hallway from just having gym class and was going to meet the boys for lunch. Once they get to the cafeteria they wait in line to get their food before going to find Matt, Taylor and Bram sitting at there normal table. I sit next to Matt and give him a quick kiss before starting my lunch. We were all eating and taking about the party that was happening on Saturday at Justinâs house. Justin is one of the school popular football players and always had parties whenever his parents went out of town for a weekend. Who knew this was going to be the downfall in Ashleyâs life, the moment that changed her life forever.
âSo whoâs driving who Saturday?â Matt says while drinking some of his water.
âI donât mind driving, itâs not like Iâm gonna drink anyway.â I say while biting into my chicken salad sandwich.
âThat makes sense too, you have 7 seats in your car.â Veronica said with a little laugh.
We spent the rest of lunch just talking and eating before finishing the rest of the day and heading home. Since tomorrow was the party we decided to skip the mall this week. Me and Matt went to my house today to do homework and watch TV. I pull my car into the driveway. Mums car wasnât there meaning she was picking my younger siblings up from school and dad was away at work filming, he was coming home for the weekend though. We get out of the car and head inside get some snacks and head up to my bedroom. We were sitting on my bed with our work spread around us.
âOk. What did you get for number 16?â Matt asked while fiddling with his pencil.
âWait. Thereâs no number 16â I say while going through my papers.
âHmmmm hmmmmâ Matt started humming, in the cute annoying way he always does.
âSTOP!â I say while pushing him a little.
âIâm just making sure your awake.â He said with a little smile forming on his lips.
âIâm awake, thereâs just something about studying in a bed.â I reply. Since when we normally study together were on the floor with pillows.
âWell I guess I shouldnât be complaining right. Iâm in bed with a smoking hot, intelligent girl.â Matt started off saying before I interrupted him saying âwomenâ which he corrects himself âwomenâ. Then I continue saying âand your on the bed, not in it.â I say with a little smile.
âAnd Iâm worried about mathâ Matt said.
We continued working for a little more, during that time mum had come home from picking up my younger siblings from school, and we had started working on the the subject we needed to get through, when I remembered something. I got off the bed Matt watching the walk across the room and going into my closet coming out with a black piece of fabric. I chucked them at him.
âYou left your boxers here Mondayâ. I say with a smile.
âOh no. I left them on purpose. You know to remind you of the wonderful night we had.â He said before grabbing my waist and kissing up my neck, which is when I begin to start giggling. Suddenly there was a knock on my bedroom door.
âCome inâ I spoke loudly trying to stop giggling.
âHello.â Mum said when she entered. âHowâs the studying goingâ she asked.
âItâs going well. Nearly doneâ I reply,
âGood. Matt you joining us for dinner tonight?â She asked.
âNo. Not tonight mum is making her famous spaghetti tonight.â He replied.
âOk, also remember you father will be home tonight. So we are having his favouriteâ he should be home around 7.â Mum said before leaving the room.
Matt ends up leaving around 6pm to head home. I packed up all my work and put it away before heading downstairs for the night to spend time with my family. We were all in the living room when we heard the front door open and close. Dad was home. He had just finished filming season 14 of his show and was finally on hiatus. While dad was putting his luggage on the floor we all got up and welcomed him home before having dinner.
âSo how was everyoneâs dayâ dad asked. Thatâs when Zepp, Arrow and JJ start telling three different stories at once.
âWow wow wow. Slooow down. One at a time. One at a time.â He interrupted. The one by one the all went through what happened to them. While this was happening I continued to eat my food, mums food is always delicious. Especially her spaghetti.
âAshley, what about you?â Dad asked before taking another mouthful of his dinner.
âNot much really. Went to my lessons. Had gym. Had lunch, we didnât go to the mall this week since thereâs a party tomorrow night and then Matt came over after school so we could study together.â I said.
âWhat party?â He replied.
âSome guy called Justin. Donât worry I wonât be drinking, Iâm driving us all there and then home. So all Iâm drinking is soda.â
âWell thatâs ok. Just make sure you get home at a reasonable hour please. I donât want to be up all night worrying because youâre not home.â Dad said while taking a forkful of his food.
âI promise Iâll be home before midnight.â I replied.
âThatâs all I ask.â He replied.
For the rest of the night we spend together as a family. We all relaxed in the living room watching movies and snacking on popcorn and different snacks. It was nice. We donât get to do this often since dad is away at work for too many months during the year. We all started to go to bed around 11pm, before I went to sleep I got my outfit ready for the party tomorrow night and went off to sleep.
BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP
I could hear the beeping of my alarm like it was in a tunnel getting louder and louder. Slowly I started to wake up, I reached out my arm and turned off my alarm and started to get out of bed. I put on my slippers and my dressing gown on and headed into the bathroom and started getting ready for the day ahead. Around 8am I was finished and made my way downstairs. While walking down the hallway of her house she could smell the sizzling delicious smell of bacon cooking coming from the kitchen. When the kitchen comes into view she see her dad and mum standing in the kitchen cooking breakfast together. I make my way over to the kitchen table and start to pour myself a glass of orange juice that was already on the table.
âMorning sweetie.â Mum said when she saw me walking across the room.
âMorning.â I say before drinking half of my glass.
âHow did you sleep last night?â Mum asked
âI had a good night sleep.â I replied.
We went along with our morning. Around 8pm I was all ready for the party and texted everyone I was ready and was about to leave to pick everybody up. I made my way downstairs and picked up my car keys from the bowl and walked into the living room.
âIâm about to leave. Iâll try and get home before midnight ok. Iâll text you when we leave the party so you donât have to worry ok.â I say from the doorway to my dad.
âThatâs ok sweetie. Weâre not going anywhere tonight so weâll be home.â He replied.
I got in my car, I collected everyone from their houses and made it to Justinâs house. I parked my car on his street and we all made our way inside.
âUm.. 11:45 at the car.â I say so we all agree on a time to head home.
âNow letâs have some fun.â Matt said while he came closer to me to give me a kiss under my ear, which caused me to giggle.
We all spent our night dancing around the backyard drinking. I only have 1 drink and stayed drinking cola and water for the rest of the night. The party was in full swing and everyone was drinking and dancing and were having a good time. It currently 11:45pm when we got in the car and left the party.
We all got in the car still laughing and having fun from the night that had just happened. I drove for about 10 minutes to Veronica house where I was dropping her off and Selena since she was staying over at her house next was Bram, then it was just Tyler, Matt and me. I was currently sitting at a red light singing along to the radio and just being our normal selves. After about 2 minutes light changed to green and I slowly started to move. When I reached the middle of the intersection of the road, out of the corner of my eye I could suddenly see bright white lights coming straight to us and hitting the car from the passenger side. The place were Matt was sitting. At first I didnât know what to do. Blood was coming down my head from where I hit it on my door window. Matt wasnât moving or talking and sight was getting shorter and shorter. The last thing I remember before I passed out was that I could see flashing lights and hear sirens.
Voices In My Head Taglist
@scatchia @spngirl05 @myopiamystical @dracosassismine @maia-skye @vicmc624 @blqcklust @cassiwalkinatural @ray-l-00@superspackles @mamanoota5 @bea789 @pooks06 @m1s10@youngnickeleggseagle @overthinkingsoulcat @kettnerjanea@vildemc @izzy0731 @blogaboutmylife2 @101stshippersquad@spnfamily-j2 @hgs2018 @desiredposion @weightlessdevil@alliedimlerr @lifeofanerd164 @hettolini @spneditsdestiel@smoothdogsgirl @weirdoforeves @lovingbrock @dannyo000@supergirl000983 @jensenandjaredsgirl0516 @sarsmilesah@thisshallbegrand @thehalediaries @generallyclumsyâ @hoboal87â @snowangle1994
#jensen ackles#jensen ackles fanfiction#jensen ackles rpf#jensen ackles fanfic#jensen ackles imagine#jensen ackles x reader#jensen x reader#jensen ackles x daughter reader#jensen ackles x daughter!reader#danneel ackles#danneel ackles fanfiction#danneel ackles imagine#danneel ackles rpf#danneel ackles x daughter!reader#danneel ackles x reader#danneel ackles x daughter reader#supernatural#supernatural fanfiction#supernatural rpf#spn rpf#voices in my head
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first of all, love your blog iâm a super big fan! second, can you please tell me how you made your icon? iâll love you forever!
thank you so much darling!! iâve never done an icon tutorial before, but iâll leave one below if anyone else is interestedÂ đ„° beware, itâs gonna be pretty long and image-heavy. unfortunately i canât show you how i made my exact icon, since the copy i have of it is on my unfortunately still broken hard drive, but the process i use is pretty much identical for all my icons!
Iâll be showing you how to make this icon:
PART 1: FINDING IMAGES
I find pretty much all my pictures on gettyimages! You can just google them if you want, but I find that getty has the best image quality and also a wide variety of photos. (Also, if youâre making an icon of Tito, as I am for this tutorial, google images will just result in a lot of pics of Tito side by side to Anna Kendrick, which is not ideal for an icon). If the watermark is in the way then I just use this website to remove it. It decreases the quality slightly, but when youâre just making icons itâs not a big deal since theyâre so small anyway.
Iâll be using this pic of Tito and I have already removed the watermark:

It can be kind of hard to find good pics of hockey players since they tend to make ridiculous faces constantly, so unless youâre making a Tyler Seguin icon (heâs always camera ready) it might take a few mins to find a good pic. I chose this one bc 1) I love Tito and 2) this isnât a super awkward pic, like itâs clearly between play so while heâs attentive he doesnât look strange and heâs not making a weird face.
PART 2: CUTTING OUT
I cut Tito out using the quick selection tool. Make sure to get all the little bits bc this tool can sometimes forget to highlight dark parts on their helmets or parts of letters or whatever, so just be observant.
I then right-click on my selection and click select and mask. This allows you to edit the selection and make the edges smoother and such. I pretty much just move the sliders around until I like the way the pic looks, thereâs not a trick to it. These are my settings for that:Â
So apply your settings and then right click on the picture and select layer via copy. This will leave an original layer so if you mess up you still have the original picture. So now the pic will look like this:
However, there are still some parts that I wanna touch up. To do this I just add a layer mask to the pic and I add a solid color layer beneath. The solid color layer just helps me see what Iâm doing a bit better, and I always use some pink/red variant bc thatâs just whatâs easiest for me. You could also always use the eraser tool instead of a layer mask, but I prefer a layer mask bc itâs not permanent.Â
So after adding the background layer, my pic looks like this:
and my layers look like this:
After making some small touch ups with the layer mask (mostly around the mouth & helmet strap), this is what it looks like:
PART 3: COLORING
The first thing I do is uncheck the pink layer. I donât remove it all together bc Iâll be using it as the background later, but I just donât want it to be visible right now. Then I add a curves layer. For this first curves layer I just select auto and let it do what it will.
Next I add a second curves layer. For this layer I use the white and black dropper tools to select the white-point and the black-point of the image. For the white point I select around his shoulder, and for the black-point I select the dark area of his hair.Â
Next I add a third curves layer. I know this seems excessive, but I use each of them for different things and I find them all helpful. For this curves layer I select the downward arrow that says RBG and I adjust the red, green, and blue curves. Just grab the middle of the curve and drag it in either direction. I tend to increase reds, decrease greens, and increase blues.Â
I know it looks like I did nothing but I promise I did! It also depends on the image, sometimes you donât really need to use this last layer but I always do the same steps while making icons so I just add it anyway.Â
Next I will add a levels layer. I just use the middle slider and increase it from somewhere between +1.05 and +1.15.Â
Next I add a selective color layer and go to the blacks, where I increase them somewhere between +5 and +15. This adds dimension where some of the other layers have taken it away.
Then I add a gradient map, set it to soft light, and put the opacity somewhere between 10-15%. This also adds some more dimension.
Now moving onto actually playing with the colors and not just brightening the image! First I add a selective color layer. I like to keep hockey players faces somewhat pinkish, bc they are exerting themselves so I think that looks most natural, but Titoâs face is a little too red for my liking here. I edit his face using the red, yellow, and magenta colors.
Next I add another selective color layer and edit the blues/cyans. I like to keep the layer where I edit their faces and the layer where I edit their jerseys separate, but this is just a personal preference, you could do it all on the same layer if you wanted.Â
One of my favorite âtricksâ when editing hockey jerseys, especially ones that have a lot of white, is to add a new layer, change the layer type to color, and use a white brush to color in areas that should have no color to them (ie. the white of the jersey, helmet, etc). I just think this makes the icon look more clean.
Thereâs not too much of a difference, but you can tell that the bottom right corner of his jersey is not so pink anymore, and the helmet strap is white instead of yellow, and I also colored in the visor, which will be important later.
Now Iâll show you a few final coloring steps that I do to make the image really pop, in my opinion!
First I add another new layer and I use the eyedropper tool to select a skin color from Titoâs face. I ended up choosing #f6b9b0 here. Then I color over his face with this color and set the layer type to color.
Now I know it looks weird, which is why I then change the opacity to somewhere between 10% and 20%.Â
This wasnât super necessary for this pic because Titoâs skin looks pretty good here, but it helps to even out the skin tone and bc I do it on other icons I thought I would show it here.
Next I add blush! I add a new layer, and same as I used the eyedropper tool to select a skin color, I focus in on either a pink part of Titoâs face or his lips to find a good color. I ended up selecting #e6687e.
I then lower the hardness of the brush to zero, and click twice on Titoâs cheek.
Obviously this looks weird, so I change the opacity of the layer to soft light to create a kind of glow.
Next I move on to lips. Now for most players I do this bc their lips look pale or weird or whatever, but Tito has the most luscious lips in the league and so I wouldnât normally do this for him specifically. However, since this is a tutorial Iâll show you anyway!
Exactly the same as the skin and the blush, I select a pink color from his lips. Here I used #df5c7c. Then I changed the layer to soft light and lowered the opacity to 50%.
Finally I added a vibrance layer to finish off my coloring!
(He looks a lot more red here than he does on photoshop, I promise.)
These are all my layers up to this point:
STEP 4: MAKING IT INTO AN ICON
Now we have a lovely edited picture of Tito, but we need to turn it into an icon! First I select all the layers Iâve shown above, right click, and select merge layers. This conglomerates all the layers into one layer, which is a lot easier to edit than like 12 different coloring layers.Â
Now I finally cut my icon into the shape I want it. I know a lot of people do this at the beginning, but I like to save it for the end since I like to see all my coloring on it first.
So I click on the cut tool and make sure that the ratio is a square, and I pretty much just move it around until I find a position that I think looks good.
Next I will be adding the background! I once again use the eyedropper tool to find an orange from the letters on his jersey, and I ended up with #f8791c. I change the color layer that I had at the beginning to that color instead of that random pink one, so then it looks like this:
This looks pretty flat, so I add a gradient fill layer (not a gradient map) over the background and set it to a black and white gradient. I then toggle the angle so that the light looks like itâs shinning onto his face.
Then change the layer to soft light, so the background looks like this:
One small touch that I think really helps to bring the icon and background together is to color the visor on the helmet. I use the eyedropper to select an orange right by that part of the helmet, color the visor, then change that layer to color. I also decreased the opacity slightly to make it blend in better.
Honestly you could leave it like this, but I donât really like square icons and so Iâm going to turn it into a fun circle! Here are a bunch of icon templates that I really love!
Imma use this one:
First I merge my layers together. I merge the top two layers into my icon and then the bottom two into my background. Iâll explain why later.
Then I change the image size to 250x250px. I know this is big for an icon, but I like to be able to see what Iâm doing. I also open the icon template above in photoshop and change itâs size to 250x250px. Add a layer mask to the background layer, and then copy the template over onto your icon.
Click on the template layer and click command + AÂ (Mac) or ctrl+AÂ (Windows) to select all, and then once that layer is selected press command/ctrl+C to copy it. Click on the white square of the layer mask and press alt.
Then press command/ctrl + V to paste the template in the layer mask.
Once youâve done that you can delete the extra template layer at the top. You should have something like this:
Now the reason that I keep the Tito and the background separate is because I like to move the person around within the icon and position them where I think looks best. If I merged all the layers together I wouldnât be able to do this, therefore I keep them separate.Â
To actually put Tito in the bounds of the icon (if that makes sense), just add a clipping mask. Now I click command/ctrl + T to move him where I want him, and I also resize him a little along the way.
This is just a little trick, but do you see that part of the circle under Titoâs shoulder that is orange but should be white? To fix that I just color in a little bit of white on the icon.
Ta da! No more weird orange bit! The final step is to convert for smart filters and smart sharpen.
And thatâs it!!! I know a lot of my icons come in different colors, but thatâs mostly just me playing around with a combination of selective color, hue/saturation, and layer masks to change the colors around and I donât think itâs super hard so Iâm not going to explain it here bc this is long enough!
You can find this icon and all my other icons here!
#asks#anon#icon tutorial#tutorial*#i hope this helped!#i know it's so so long lol#i just find visuals to be the best way of explaining things#lemme know if u have any other questions :))))
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to be human is a haunting, Part 1
A love story for Song Lan and Xiao Xingchen
In a modern world, in a modern city that still has need for cultivators, Song LanÂ
(war hero, rogue cultivator, orphan)
goes for a run in the park, kills a dankang, makes a friend, and meets a beautiful man with a dog, all before he has to go to therapy. It's the best day he's had in ten years.
Read more Kristina Writes Tiny Stories
Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3
Read over on AO3 instead
Title from molly ofgeographyâs song Runaway, Run
Rated E for Explicit sexy times, mild demon killing, and swearing.
Part 1
Song Lan wakes to the sound of screaming
âfamiliar
âtoo familiar
and he knows it is his own voice seconds
âlong seconds
before he can snap his mouth closed around the last trailing sob.
The thrum of the city leaks back in, pushing past the roaring in his ears, and reminds him to ground himself. The clean white walls of the stark room around him. The feel of the bed underneath him, the smell of lemon dryer sheets, the glow of the neon light across the street. All known. All safe. He skips the taste of morning breath.
If he could remember the nightmares, the exact details, maybe heâd tell his therapist. It would at least give them something to talk about instead of the silent hour he wastes twice a week now.
No. Thatâs a lie. He knows whatâs in them. He still wouldnât talk about it.
The clock by his bed claims itâs 5:04 am, a fairly reasonable time to be awake, so he gets up. May as well get his run over with.
âââââ
âDo you run every day,â Dr. Wen asks.
Song Lan nods.
Dr. Wen writes something down.
âDo you enjoy running?â Dr. Wen asks.
Song Lan nods.
Dr. Wen writes something down.
âWhy do you enjoy it?â Dr. Wen asks.
Song Lan shrugs.
Dr. Wen writes something down.
âââââ
Song Lan doesnât really enjoy running any more than he enjoys digesting food. But itâs too ingrained in him now, the rhythm of air and feet and arms. He couldnât stop if he wanted to. It is the anchor of his day.
Ten miles covers a lot of the city, and as familiar as it is, as long as heâs lived and run here, it looks different every morning, like noticing a light freckle on the back of his wrist. When itâs cloudless before dawn like today, he runs down the lakeshore path to watch the sunrise at the halfway mark. On cue, with all the fanfare and flourish of a seasoned professional, at 6:17 am, the sun erupts in yellow and pink over the horizon and turns the water to diamonds. It looks like magic every time.
This he loves and doesnât have to lie about.
Song Lan is two miles from his place, running through the park, when the skin on the back of his neck prickles, and he slows his pace. Is it a hundred yards away? Maybe closer? He opens his mind and sends out a questing wave of qi from his core. He doesnât know if he needs to draw the sword strapped to his back yet. Thereâs no one else around. Maybe whatever it is will just...mind its own business.
He doesnât hunt anymore, not actively, but he still runs with his sword. Itâs just habit, probably. He would feel incomplete without Fuxueâs weight between his shoulder blades. And even if he doesnât go looking for danger, danger is often waiting.
Without warning, an enormous dankang explodes from the bushes by the running path and careens toward him. The green pelt that had camouflaged it glows in the early morning light, and Song Lan is swinging Fuxue almost before the sword is even in his hand. The boar roars in a very un-pig-like way, and he idly wonders, as the blade cuts into the demonâs hide, what the taxonomic difference between dankang and pigs is. Are they different families? Orders? Or is there some divergence further back? It squeals in pain but doesnât give up the attack, changing direction mid-stride and flashing wicked yellow tusks at him.
It takes six strikes to kill the monster. He always counts. The counting, like the running, is an integral part of him. One downward hack. One thrust to the shoulder. One spinning jab in the dankangâs ribs. Two upward slashes. One strike in the throat and the beast is dead.
Song Lan texts the Nie cleanup crew his coordinates and takes a thin cloth from his pocket to wipe the blood off of Fuxue, dropping it on to the body when heâs done. Heâll clean the sword properly when he gets back.
âSix strikes,â a voice says from behind him, and he whirls, surprised to be surprised. âWas it luck, or are you really that good?â
Thereâs a man in a long trench coat standing on the path with a dog sitting next to him. The dog is one of those scruffy brown mutts that would be completely ordinary in every way except it looks far too clever to be a dog. It cocks its head and one floppy ear flips inside out.
The man is backlit by a golden ray of sun
ânot ordinary
âin no way ordinary
and Song Lan canât see his features clearly enough, not from this distance
âa hundred and thirty-three feet
âwind from the east
but it looks like he might be carrying a sword.
âââââ
Sometimes in therapy, Song Lan counts the holes in the acoustical ceiling tiles.
Sometimes he counts the colored pencils on Dr. Wenâs desk.
Sometimes he counts the number of times Dr. Wen spins his pen in his fingers, waiting for Song Lan to answer a question. Any question.
âââââ
Song Lan counts to seven before he answers, the numbers slowing his heartbeat.
âIt was one more than last time.â
The man laughs, a bright chime of bells that wrinkles his nose. The dog looks up at its master, and its mouth drops open in a doggy grin.
âClearly a failure, then. I hope the next time I see you, you will have improved.â
Song Lan is distracted by his voice, deeper than he expects, more musical than he expects, and heâs acutely disappointed when the man turns and walks away, the dog at his heels. Heâs almost overcome by the impulse to call the man back, just so he can see his face again, so he can decide if itâs real or not.
âIâm here every day at 7 am,â the man calls over his shoulder before he disappears around a corner. Or maybe he disappears into a beam of light. Song Lan can easily believe either.
He takes one step to follow, and then realizes what heâs doing. Itâs ridiculous. He takes a second step anyway. But a woman is suddenly at his elbow, handing him a clipboard, asking for his ID and signature. He has no idea how the cleaners got there so fast.
âI havenât seen a dankang in this park before, have you?â the woman asks.
Song Lan shakes his head.
âYeah, they usually prefer the suburbs. More hedge rows,â she says, and Song Lan isnât sure if this requires an answer, so he doesnât.
She takes the clipboard when heâs finished and peers at it. âOh, I should have known. Youâre the silent rogueânot technically a hunter, but still has more kills than most of the competitive cultivators? Wild!â
Silent rogue, he wonders. As opposed to what?
The woman hands him a card as her team finishes loading the demon into a step van.
âLuo Qingyang. Call me directly next time. I have an office competition to win.â She winks at him and saunters away.
By the time Song Lan gets to the corner where the man disappeared, thereâs only cars and pedestrians and noise, and itâs 7:30 am. He has somewhere to be at 9 am, and he doesnât want to be asked why heâs late.
âââââ
âDankang?â Dr. Wen asks.
Song Lanâs eyes flinch, glancing up in confusion.
âWell, that was almost an answer,â Dr. Wen says cheerfully.
Song Lan frowns.
âIf you want to know, youâre going to have to ask,â Dr. Wen says, eyebrows raised in what might almost be a challenge.
Song Lan doesnât care. He really doesnât.
âHow did you know?â his voice says anyway, low and soft. Maybe no one heard the question, and Song Lan can pretend it didnât happen.
To his credit, Dr. Wen doesnât gloat, but he smiles. Song Lan suspects heâs not going to be able to stay silent forever after all.
âââââ
Song Lan takes a shower after therapy, not only to wash the tattling green dankang fur out of his hair, but scalding enough to burn the words off his skin.
âIâm here every day at 7 am
Is he really going to feel like he is fluttering at the end of a rope for the next twenty hours
âtwenty hours and seventeen minutes
until tomorrowâs 7 am?
Evidently, yes. The shower doesnât shake the manâs voice loose from his thoughts. Neither does lunch, the library, an episode of a cooking show in a tent, weights, two more episodes of the showâwhatever a kouign amann is, he wants oneâand sixty pages of Dune. He doesnât even bother trying to work.
Song Lan makes a salad for dinner, neatly arranging paper-thin slices of carrot, cucumber, jicama, apple, and red onion on a bed of dark green leaves and half a chicken breast. He likes salads that are more toppings than lettuce, so he throws almond slivers and cranberries in his bowl too. âLove yourself enough to make a salad,â is practically the only thing heâs learned in therapy. Heâs not sure about loving himself, but heâs pretty fond of salad.
He takes his meds before bed, turns on the white noise, and for once, falls asleep before the world spins into a new day.
âââââ
âDo you blame yourself?â
Song Lan keeps on the blank face heâs so familiar with and stares over Dr. Wenâs shoulder at the photograph of three black cats sitting in a window.
âIf you donât blame yourself, who do you blame?â
Song Lan does not narrow his eyes. Or maybe he does, because Dr. Wen tips his head and gives him a piercing look.
âEven if youâd gotten there sooner, Song Lan, what could you have done? Tell me one thing you could have done.â Dr. Wen almost sounds like heâs pleading.
What I should have done, he thinks. Die with them, he thinks.
âââââ
The man is there at 7 am, sitting on a bench.
With the dog, who is also sitting on the bench.
And that face.
Oh, the face is worse, actually, because Song Lan can see it clearly now. The man smiles when he sees Song Lan, a curving, curling, invitation of a smile on a mouth that looks like a bow without an arrow. The angle of his cheekbones, the graceful lines that canât fairly be called anything as mundane as dimples, make Song Lan wonder if the rumors of fae in this country are true. The manâs eyes tip up at the corners when he notes Song Lanâs inspection of him, and Song Lan stops moving, maybe stops breathing.
The dog sticks its wet nose in Song Lanâs hand, and he jerks back, staring down at the animal. He doesnât like to be touched, even by animals, but he isnât angry, just surprised. Heâs just surprised. He canât understand why heâs just surprised.
âSheâs inviting you to sit,â the man says, laughter in his voice.
The dog snorts at Song Lan, a chuffing noise that sounds like she is laughing at him, too.
âIs she?â Song Lan asks, and the man grins
âan unfairly perfect expression of genes
and shakes his head.
âNo. But I am. Will you join us?â
Song Lan sits on the bench on the other side of the dog.
âA-Qing, get on the ground like a normal dog,â the man scolds.
The dog harrumphs but stands, delicately sets her front feet on the ground one at a time and stretches her long body the rest of the way, as slowly as caninely possible. Song Lan feels the corner of his mouth twitch.
âIâm Xingchen,â the man says, his lips shifting to a different kind of smile, a tip of the hat friendly smile.
He is wearing a white sweater, a white scarf, baggy white pants, and his name is stardust. Of course it is. Song Lan wonders if itâs a real name or one heâs invented.
âNo last name?â Song Lan asks, and the man laughs again. Song Lan canât imagine what it must be like to have so much laughter bottled inside him. Even before the war, before the massacre that took everything from him, laughter was a precious commodity, not something anyone would squander in the park on a cloudy day with a man like him.
âIf I tell you my last name, youâll think I made it up,â Xingchen says, and itâs so close to Song Lanâs thoughts, he tips his head, realizing belatedly that he looks like the dog when he does it.
Xingchenâs face shifts to mischief, and Song Lanâs mouth feels dry, chasing a mirage in the desert, only to discover itâs real. âYou tell me your first name, and Iâll tell you my last name,â Xingchen says.
âZichen,â Song Lan says immediately, without thinking, without the capacity for thought. He backpedals. âNo one calls me that anymore, though. Iâm just Song Lan.â
He has not been anyoneâs treasured child in three years. He only thinks of himself as the mist now. Itâs easier to be insubstantial, just passing through, nothing to see here.
âOh no, you must be Zichen. Precious child, treasured seed,â Xingchen says in a singsong voice like itâs a line from a song or a poem. âSong Zichen, Iâm Xiao Xingchen. Itâs a pleasure to meet you. Would you like to have breakfast? With us?â
Song Lan does think itâs a made up name now, but he could have said his name was Horsehead Nebula, and Song Lan would still say yes.
âYes, thank you.â
Xingchen stands and a-Qing, who had been laying on her back in the grass, snaps to attention, dashing over to lean against his left leg, looking up at him with clear adoration.
It hadnât been a sword.
It is a cane.
âWell?â Xingchen asks. âAre you coming? Iâll tell you about it on the way, if you like.â
Song Lan nods, and then answers out loud, in case the nod was stupid and thoughtless. âYes.â
âââââ
âDo you have friends?â Dr. Wen asks.
Song Lan frowns at the rude question, which inexplicably makes Dr. Wen grin.
âIâll take that as a no,â he says. âHow about this? Do you want friends, Song Lan?â
Song Lan doesnât give an answer, but Dr. Wen seems to think he sees one anyway.
âWell. What are you planning to do about that?â
âââââ
Xingchen says itâs not that interesting of a story. He is slowly going blind. There is nothing anyone can do, and everyone has tried. Surgery. Magic. Lasers. Everyone. Everything. He says a-Qing is helpful. He says he decided to learn to use the cane now, while he can still see a little. He says all of it like it doesnât matter, and it is Song Lan who is numb with the pain of a loss that isnât even his. That he didnât even know about until five minutes ago.
Oh, and Xingchen says he does have a sword, actually, but it seemed like bad manners to bring it on a first date
âfirst date
âimplying date
âimplying subsequent dates
even if he hadnât been entirely sure Song Lan would show up.
Breakfast is in a diner not much wider than a dead dankang, and they tuck into a booth in the back. A-Qing lays on Song Lanâs feet, and it still doesnât bother him. Sheâs warm, and he thinks he likes the way it feels when she rolls on her side and sighs.
They order pancakes and a poached egg for a-Qing. He tells Song Lan that a-Qing came from a local shelter because thereâs no requirement that service dogs be purebred, they just usually are. He says itâs just harder to pick mixed breed dogs who will be good service dogs, but he didnât pick a-Qing, she picked him.
âShe scaled an eight-foot chain link fence and sat at my heel as though sheâd been in service her whole life,â he says with a laugh, reaching his foot to poke a-Qing on the belly and accidentally brushing Song Lanâs leg.
It is a very good thing, Song Lan thinks, that he is accustomed to hiding his reaction to being touched because the feel of Xiao Xingchenâs foot rubbing against his leg makes him suddenly, painfully, embarrassingly hard, and he can vividly recall what it was like to be a teenager in want of a very large notebook to hold in front of himself.
Song Lan rarely eats food he doesnât make, even more rarely eats fluffy pancakes drenched in butter and syrup, and he has no idea why. They taste like heaven, and watching Xingchen eat is...an experience. He cuts his food precisely, examines every piece, and closes his eyes when he chews, as if each mouthful is a fine wine he plans to savor. He finishes in twenty bites.
âIs your name made up?â Song Lan finally canât resist asking, and Xingchen shrugs.
âArenât all names?â
Song Lan snorts, almost a laugh. âIs it the name you were born with?â
âNo one is born with a name, Zichen.â Xingchen sounds like he is very seriously and very patiently explaining why the sky is blue, and Song Lan wants to shake him.
But that makes Song Lan think about laying his fingers on Xingchenâs shoulders, caressing his skin, grazing his collarbone with his thumb, and he shudders, blinking for a heartbeat too long.
âIt is my real name,â Xingchen says softly, touching the back of Song Lanâs hand tentatively, as though he understands it might not be welcome. It aches like a spark from an autumn campfire. âMy mother is a bit of a hippie, and I was a beautiful baby.â
This time it is a laugh. A real laugh. He hasnât laughed in so long, he forgot what it would sound like, how it would feel to vibrate through his chest, how it could turn to tears. He covers his eyes with his hand
ânot the hand Xingchen is touching
and tries to turn back the choking gasp that catches in his throat and forces its way out.
Xingchen doesnât ask, just holds Song Lanâs hand and waits.
âYou are a beautiful adult,â Song Lan says, when he can swallow again, and Xingchen smiles.
âSo are you. Although, I have no idea what you looked like as a baby. This could be a recent development. Maybe you were hideously ugly a year ago.â
Now he sounds like heâs teasing, and Song Lan looks at him. Xingchenâs head is propped on one hand, and his expression is both curious and evaluating.
âWould you like to come home with me?â Xingchen asks, threading his fingers through Song Lanâs as though it is completely natural, and somehow, it is. His fingers fit perfectly into the spaces between Song Lanâs. The flames that spill from his fingertips into Song Lanâs arm and flow through his blood whisper the answer.
It is the easiest thing in the world to give them voice and say yes.
Read Part 2 Here
#the untamed#cql#mdzs#mo dao zu shi#songxiao#xiao xingchen#song lan#a qing#luo qingyang#wen ning#kristina writes tiny stories#this one is sort of medium sized#some serious stuff#but mostly cute songxiao#therapy dog#dog#moral of the story: therapy works
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Kiro Month, Day 20: Soulmate AU
Title: I Promise
Pairing: Kiro & MC (Emci)
Notes: The long-awaited (for me anyway) Soulmate AU day is finally upon us! Due to my current circumstances, I wrote this many days in advance. I feel bad for not being able to participate in my own event too much, but I told myself I'd definitely do this one no matter what, so I did!
Before you begin, a few things you need to know:
1. Despite the Soulmate AU title, this is a bit of an angst! Nothing too bad, but proceed with caution.
2. There are slight spoilers from Kiro's backstory with the MC (I think from chapter 10? I really don't remember tbh).
3. I mashed together 3 different Soulmate AUs into this! They are:
Your soulmate leaves colored footprints only visible to you (for this, I added a little twist where the color changes each day.)
Your soulmate's first name on your wrist.
Meter of how in danger your soulmate is, below their name on your arm.
With that said, I hope you enjoy!!
Tagging: @producer-miss-chips for the banner ^^
Kiro's POV:
I stared out the car window, lost in thought while Savin, who sat next to me, ratted off the day's schedule for the third time today. I sat up straighter when I caught sight of the neon pink footsteps on the sidewalk, leading up to a tall building.
So she works inside the LFG building, huh...
I rolled up my left sleeve and stared at the engraved name on my wrist: Emci. I slipped it up a little higher to reveal the semi-circle meter below it, going from green, to yellow, to red from left to right. Currently it was all the way in the green.
I learned the hard way a long time ago what that meter was for, and ever since then, I always prayed to never see it go that far into the red again...
"Kiro!"
Savin's yelling snapped me back to reality, and I quickly hid my arm underneath my sleeve once more. "Sorry, Savin. What did you say?"
He opened his mouth, only to shut it again. His expression conveyed annoyance through his furrowed eyebrows and the deep scowl etched onto his face. Finally, he spat, "You realize your monthly schedule right now is too busy to fit in chasing down your soulmate, right?"
My heart sank, and my shoulders sagged. "Yeah... I know." I had asked him about it not too long ago, and his simple response had been showing me this month's calendar and telling me to find some free time on it. Of course, there wasn't any, unless I was willing to sacrifice sleep for it â but with the way things were, I couldn't even afford to do that.
"Then let go of that fantasy. If you're that desperate, why don't you look her up on social media? Everyone has a Moments account."
I scoffed. "I only know her first name. Without her last name, it'll take forever to find her."
"Well, guess you'll have to wait until your schedule clears up," he said, typing something on his phone.
"Yeah, with you as my agent, that'll never happen," I muttered.
"Without me as your agent, you wouldn't be where you are today. Be thankful," he shot back.
I wanted to retort that I'd have been just as well off without his help, but seeing as it was difficult to go from nothing to something without a good agent, I bit my tongue instead.
I sighed, resuming my blank stare out the window as the car kept going, the LFG building long behind us.
~~~~~~~~
Four days after my argument with Savin, I managed to sneak out of an interview I really wasn't interested in, wearing a black hat and a dark gray hoodie for good measure.
As I mingled with the crowd, I caught a glimpse of a few seemingly painted footsteps on the sidewalk across the street. I smiled, and muttered to myself, "So, your footsteps are light blue today, huh?"
I headed for the crosswalk, fully intending on following her footsteps in hopes we'd be reunited today. As I began to cross the street, I decided, just out of curiosity, to check the meter on my arm; though I was sure it would still be in the green section.
I stopped dead in my tracks halfway across when I saw it, though.
The little arrow was in the yellow, slowly moving closer and closer to the red area.
My mind suddenly flashed back to several years ago: her screams echoing through the thin walls, while I was strapped to a cot, powerless to do anything while the meter stayed as far into the red as it could go â not to mention the countless experiments I was forced to endure as well...
When we were finally rescued from that hell hole, we were separated. "I promise I'll find you again! I'll protect you, I promise!" I cried as the police officers gently tugged me away.
No. I won't let that happen again.
I ran the rest of the way, shoving people out of my way once I was on the sidewalk, and they protested at my actions â but I couldn't care less if I was being rude. At that moment, the only thing that mattered to me was following those footsteps and fulfilling my promise.
The footsteps led me down an alleyway and through a rusty door. The room I stepped into was pitch-black, but the pale blue footsteps glowed, allowing me to continue following them without needing a light.
Heading down a set of stairs, I gasped when I reached the basement floor, which was dimly lit by a few spread out light bulbs. The footsteps on the floor here were splattered together, then drastically spaced â indicating a struggle had occurred before she was dragged off to the next room.
The meter on my arm now rested in the center of the red section.
I quickened my pace as much as I could without making too much noise. My hand reached out for the door knob in front of me, when...
"Nooooo!!"
A female's voice shrieked from a distance behind the door, and my blood ran cold. It took every ounce of will power to refrain from panicking and recklessly rushing in there, especially after glancing at my arm just in time to notice the arrow spike up as far into the red as it could go.
I managed to keep calm enough to enter the room, where the only light was coming from the far end of the room, behind a white curtain. I could see the shadows of two figures standing by what looked like a table, and another person writhing around wildly, seeming to be strapped to the table. Since the increased amount of panicked, struggling footsteps led all the way behind the curtain, my only guess could be that the person on the table was my one and only soulmate.
My hands balled into fists.
I won't let it happen again.
I quickly searched my surroundings for anything that could be used as a weapon or as a distraction, finding a hammer and a knife among a table of various tools and a fire hydrant behind a counter closer to the curtain. Clinging to the wall to stay shrouded in the dark, I slowly made my way to the fire hydrant.
"Please, stop," the girl begged, her weakened voice fueling me to move a little faster.
"Aww, doll, don't worry. It'll be a quick pinch, you won't even feel it!" A man cackled, and I could see one of the figures holding a syringe, moving it closer to the person on the table.
"No, please!"
Clank!
I finally reached the fire hydrant and tipped it over, causing it to lang loudly as it hit the stone floor and echoed.
The man with the syringe paused and pointed at his helper to investigate the sound as he continued what he was doing. I got into position as the other person, another man, emerged from behind the curtain. When he passed me, almost completely oblivious, I swiped my leg out and knocked him down just as the screaming began. Before the man could recover from his fall, I swung my hammer at his head, and he stopped moving. I couldn't care less whether I killed him or rendered him unconscious as I searched his motionless body and grabbed a gun.
I stood and aimed the gun carefully at the man's syringe hand, pulling the trigger when he removed the syringe and no longer had his hand near the girl, since I didn't want to risk accidentally hitting her. The man, startled and in pain, stumbled away from the table, clutching his bleeding hand. "W-who's there?!"
I pulled my hood up to hide my hair before stepping into view, aiming my gun at him. "That was a warning shot. If you value your life and know what's good for you, I suggest you leave before I decide to use you for target practice."
"Why youâ!"
He lunged for me, and I didn't hesitate in pulling the trigger again, and he fell at my feet. "I warned you," I muttered bitterly.
I traded the gun for the knife in my pocket, discarding it on the floor and facing the table. The Emci I saw laying there, struggling to stay conscious, looked mostly the same as I'd remembered her â only more mature and grown up, and, if possible, more beautiful. Her sleeves had been rolled up, and she had a small dot of blood and what looked like a yellowish substance on one arm, and on her other arm â her left, like mine â I could see her meter going down from red to yellow, and above it, I could make out my name engraved in cursive on her wrist: Kiro.
Using the knife, I cut her bindings and lifted her limp body in my arms. Carrying her while I followed the exit signs, she softly mumbled, "You came back..."
"I promised I'd find you again, and I promise you, I will never leave your side ever again."
~~~~~~~~
The moment I rushed into the hospital, someone said, "Oh my God, is that Kiro?!"
"Yes, it's me, Kiro," I said, a bit irritated that that was the first thing they pointed out. "Now, can I please get some help over here?! My soulmate's life is on the line!"
Immediately, a few nurses hurried over, one calling for a doctor, and soon after, I was following as they led Emci to a room on an elevated stretcher. Before I could get through the door, a nurse stopped me, holding her hand up. "I understand she's your soulmate, but please wait in the lobby. The doctor can't be distracted while trying to treat her."
I sighed. "Fine, but what should I do in the meantime?"
"I'm sure your agent would like to know where you're at," she said before leaving to catch up with the others.
I dialed Savin's number, and he immediately picked up. "Kiro, where are you?!"
"I'm at the hospital," I said, walking outside.
"The hospital?!" Shuffling could be heard on the other end. "Are you okay?"
"Yes. I found my soulmate."
Savin paused before groaning, "Seriously, Kiro? This was an important interview, I can't believe youâ!"
"If I had listened to you, Emci would've been more hurt than she is now, or worse!" I cut him off, and he fell silent. "Look, I'll see you later and apologize. Just wanted to update you. Goodbye."
Hanging up, I walked back into the hospital just in time for the nurse from before to spot me as she entered the lobby. "Good news, Kiro, she's going to be okay." I let out a breath of relief I didn't know I'd been holding as she continued, "The doctor just needs to flush the chemicals out of her system. He wants to hold her here overnight to monitor her for a bit, just in case, but you're very lucky you brought her here when you did." She smiled. "Anyway, I'll come back in an hour to give you another update. Hopefully I can bring you back to see her by then, too."
I nodded, taking a seat and anxiously waiting for an hour to pass.
~~~~~~~~
Two hours later, Emci finally woke up.
"Kiro?" she asked, her voice shaking me awake as I was about to doze off. "Is it really you?"
I gently reached out for her hand. "Yes, it's me. I'm really here." I squeezed her hand, and she smiled.
"I was beginning to wonder what was taking you so long," she admitted, giggling â the melodic sound like music to my ears. "If you weren't such a popular public figure, I would've lost hope."
I chuckled "I know. I'm sorry, I got busy."
"Don't apologize." Her thumb softly caressed the back of my hand. "I'm just glad you're here now."
"I have so much I want to tell you," I said.
"Me too," she agreed, "but now is a bad time."
"Can I at least say one thing?"
"Of course." Her smile was like a ray of sunshine, brightening my mood instantly.
I leaned over and kissed her cheek. "I love you, Emci."
She giggled. "I know." Upon seeing my dejected pout, she laughed and added, "I love you too, Kiro."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
END.
#kiromonth#mlqc#mr love: queen's choice kiro#love and producer#mr love: queen's choice#mr love queen's choice#mlqc fanfic#mlqc fanfiction#mr love queen's choice kiro#mlqc kiro#otomebois-bb#otomebois-bb's writing
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Beta AU - Main story, Chapter 4, daily life (Part 2)
Note of the author: Ok uhhhhhh I didnât expect that shit to be that long so the daily life parts (normally â1 part = 1 dayâ) are going to be '2 parts = 1 dayâ.
Chapter 4: Dance, dance, hanged puppets - Daily life
Day 14 since the beginning of the game.
7:30 AM.
Shuichi woke up earlier than expected.
Not because he gave up on sleeping. He simply didn't feel like going back to sleep.
He rubbed his eyes and glanced at the grey card on the table, in the middle of the room.
The âSanzu keyâ as Monokuma called it.
What was he even planning?
The violinist took a shower, trying to forget about those worries for a while.
But he couldnât.
Monokumaâs motive always came the day after the new labs opened. This time they had a part of the motive, but the bear specified that the whole thing was not ready yet.
What did that even mean?
After his usual routine, he left his room. Surprisingly, Kirumi was leaning against a pillar, and Miu was laying on the ground, head resting on her arms, staring at the ceiling.
Ryoma was also there, fidgeting with his Sanzu key.
The others turned to Shuichi.
âGâmorning. Breakfast canceled, we stay here.â the street artist said with a hint of sarcasm.
He blinked. âWhatâs... Happening?â
Kirumi shrugged. âNo one knows. The dormitoriesâ door is locked, so we canât go out. Weâre locked here.â
... What? Was that the motive? Being quarantined in their rooms? That sounded like a bad joke.
âWe tried calling Monokuma and even the monokubs and no one came.â Ryoma explained.
That sounded fishy. Extremely fishy.
They could only wait.
Rantaro, Kiyo, and Tsumugi came out of their rooms one by one. The situation had to be explained each time.
...
8:00 AM.
The morning announcement rang, but the message was different.
âAll students are required to go out of their rooms, this is a direct order from the principal of the academy!â
Did Monokuma want them all at once? Usually, when an announcement was made they were all supposed to go to the gym. Why the dormitories this time?
Speaking of the devil, the bear and his cubs appeared before them.
âMy, my! Itâs as though almost everyone is here!â he cackled. âOnly Mr. grumps and Mr. gloomy are missing!â
Shuichi flinched at the nicknames.
The two cubs started their shenanigans that Shuichi didnât even bother listening to.
The only emotion he could feel when the monokubs appeared was a pure annoyance. Not even hatred. Pure annoyance.
He couldnât even bother being mad at them. It just felt like each time they visited them, his only desire was to see them disappear forever.
Minutes felt like hours, Shuichi silently praying for Kaito and Kokichi to just come out from their room already so the green and red bears would shut up.
Kaito was the first to come out, surprisingly. his appearance was less messy than yesterday.
Shuichi noticed him glancing at Miu, the latter avoiding his gaze.
He muttered a quiet âHey.â as he came down the stairs. The biker immediately separated himself from the group to lean against a pillar.
After another couple of minutes waiting for Kokichi, the boy opened his door, stumbling out of his room. He didn't seem to have slept well.
âNext time, do not come late to the principalâs announcement! Iâve waited way too long for you two to come out!â he raised his paws in the air, voice a bit too loud for the two who had woken up minutes ago.
âSo, what do you want from us this time?â Rantaro was straight to the point.
âSheesh, stop being so eager for the motive, I canât even prepare the surprise!â
So it was the motive.
âAnyway, let me present you the next motive, starting from today to the moment someone dies...â
â... The Sanzu garden!â
That raised more questions than answered them.
âAnd what is the âSanzu gardenâ?â Ryoma raised an eyebrow.
âTo put it simply, this entire academy was renovated just for you guys!â
Something that involved the whole academy?
âBefore explaining the motive, perhaps I should tell you a story passed through generations... Have any of you heard the legend of the Sanzu river?â
Tsumugi put a finger on her chin. âFrom what Iâve heard, the Sanzu River is a mythological river of the Buddhist religion. Souls joining the afterlife must pass the river by one of the three crossing points, depending on the actions they made in their life, also known as âkarmaâ.â
Kokichi visibly flinched at the explanation.
âGreat! I may also add that a cost is required to cross the river. Six mon to be specific.â the bear explained.
âIn other words, this academy has been transformed into a great garden! And the cost of living for another day must be paid! However, the cost isnât six mon like the legends told since we live in a modern society with better ways to pay your lovely headmaster!â
Kaito raised an eyebrow, arms crossed. âSo what, someone must kill within 24 hours so the others can live?â
âBetter! Thatâs where your Sanzu keys play their part! They serve as bank cards to pay your fee to live for the next 24 hours!â
âWh- bank cards??â Miu exclaimed, taking out the card.
âThere are two locks with your icons hidden in the academy, specific to each of you. You will have to activate the locks each day with your card keys to continue living. One lock must be activated between 8 AM and 3 PM, and the other between 3 PM and 10 PM. It doesnât matter in which order you activate the locks.â the bear explained as everyone listened carefully.
âAlso, do not even try to activate another personâs lock! This will not work in the slightest! And the locksâ placements will be different each day! They can be in the labs, common rooms, and even outside!â
Rantaro, who had sat down, joined his hands. âLet me get this straight. We have to use cards on locks two times a day and look around the academy to find them?â
âWhereâs the catch.â Ryoma bluntly asked. âThatâs way too easy. Thereâs a catch.â
The bear laughed. âPuhuhuhuhu... Iâm glad you asked! The catch is also the reason why we are meeting in the dormitories after all!â
This did not reassure Shuichi in the slightest.
âDid you know? The Sanzu river takes its name directly from the Japanese âSanâ, meaning âthreeâ and âZuâ, meaning âwayâ for our non-japanese audience!â
... What?
âThis garden has a similar mechanic! There are only three choices offered to those entering it!â
â... To die, to kill or to suffer.â
... Huh?
âThis academy is a garden of traps in every corner. Both outside and inside. From pitfalls to spears to arrows to spikes, everything is here to hurt you. But my favorite part is...â
â... Some rooms will lock themselves and whisper your worst fears to you.â
âOf course, none of the traps will actually kill you, that would be a shame if someone was accidentally killed!â
âBut I meticulously put everything in place so you guys could enjoy this academy of nightmares!â
Monokuma raised his paws in the air with excitement.
... This could not be real.
An academy of nightmares??
âThere is one zone that is free of danger, which is where weâre standing!â
âThe dorms are safe?â Kirumi raised an eyebrow.
âThaaaatâs right! The dormitories are the only place without any traps!â
Shuichi couldn't even say anything.
As if the academy wasn't already the place where they all had to kill each other, it just had to be trapped for the sole purpose of making them suffer?
What did whoever put them into the killing game even want from them?
If he even dared to ask Monokuma he would probably say "despair".
And at this point, is the truth even worth knowing?
Was there even an explanation of why they had to endure this?
"Of course it would take a loooong time to search through the whole academy for the locks, so I'm giving you one hint each day! They will be available on your monopads! How generous of me!"
Shuichi wanted to vomit.
This entire motive made no sense.
"That was all the explanations for the motive! Any questions?"
No one even dared to speak.
That was even worse than the last motive.
Even if he even managed to survive, what even would be the next motive?
"No? Then good luck! And don't forget..." the bear smiled.
"The garden will be shut down when a dead body gets discovered."
He left immediately after, the two remaining monokubs following behind.
Everyone stared at each other.
Rantaro slowly approached the door and opened it.
No traps were visible, but Shuichi knew the moment someone would set a foot outside a trap would activate.
"Give me a sec." Ryoma approached his dorm and entered the room.
About a minute later, he came out with a set of tennis balls, supposedly won at the monomono machine. He took a ball out and threw it outside.
... Nothing happened.
"Was Monokuma lying about the traps?" Shuichi raised an eyebrow.
"I think it just means that it's not a trap activated with a motion sensor. There's a possibility the trap is activated when you step foot on one of the path stones." Kirumi shook her head.
"Before we go head first and get us all killed how about we get organized? We know the dorms are the safe spot of the academy, so we'll likely spend most of our time here." Rantaro turned to the others.
"We'll still have to go outside to find the locks." Kiyo added. "We will have to think collectively or else we will not keep up for long."
Shuichi checked his monopad to see what the hints were.
Memories of lavender.
Senses and intuition ~ Follow your heart.
Of course it was going to be some kind of riddle that he didn't get.
"So? What's your plan, boss?" Ryoma asked Rantaro, hands in his pockets.
He pondered for a moment. "First off we should move as much food as we can to the dorms. It will be safer to eat here than in the dining hall."
Kirumi nodded. "Although for now, we should focus on searching at least one of our locks. We have a time limit for each of them."
"But... Do we separate or do we go in groups?" Miu asked.
Rantaro sat down to think. "There are nine of us. Since I think it's too dangerous to leave someone by themselves, I suggest we go by groups of 3 whenever we move from here."
"And our groups shouldn't change for the day so no one gets confused." Ryoma added.
... This clearly wasn't appreciated by some of them. Noticeably Kaito and Kokichi.
Tsumugi crossed her arms. "So? Who gets with who?"
"I suggest we separate Ryoma, you and I since we're probably the most qualified to detect the traps." Kirumi raised a hand. "One in each of the groups seems reasonable."
The prodigy nodded. "That is fair."
She took a few steps away, and so did Ryoma.
After some debating, the groups were made.
Rantaro, Ryoma, and Kaito were the first group.
Kirumi, Kokichi and Miu were the second.
And finally, Shuichi, Tsumugi, and Kiyo formed the last group.
"So now it's pretty much 'the first group finding all their morning locks gets the food'?" Tsumugi fiddled with her hair.
"For now, that is the plan. If we find each others' locks, we share the info however we can." Kiyo replied.
"Well, how do we even do that?" Miu tilted her head to the side. "If we're separated, we can't do anything."
Shuichi pondered. "The most we can do is yelling, I mean my hearing is pretty developed but there are limits to it..."
Ryoma fixed his beanie. "We'll only better our strategy if we face the danger at least once. Staying here won't do any good."
The others agreed.
The strategy was fixed.
The groups would go out one by one by intervals of five minutes to investigate where their lockers would be.
Kaito, Rantaro, and Ryoma left first. The others watched them go to see if everything was fine. They were walking slowly to make sure they didn't activate anything.
For now, everything seemed fine. But Shuichi preferred not to get his hopes up.
The two remaining groups talked about their riddles. They looked pretty strange.
"Hey, Kiyo... Do you have an idea of what my riddle could mean?" he asked the therapist.
"Let's see..." he took the violinist's monopad and read the two sentences. "I don't think your riddle is too far fetched. Does the color purple remind you of something nostalgic and positive?"
He pondered. "I... No, I don't think that's it."
Kiyo shook his head. "All theories could be right. Your riddle says to 'follow your heart'. Your answer could be right."
He looked at the tablet for a moment. "My... My cousin has lavender hair. And I do miss her."
Then it clicked. "Ah! My lab! That's where Miu made her portrait when we got the motive videos!"
Kiyo weakly smiled. "That sounds plausible. We will check your lab once we get to the main building."
Shuichi stared back at the tablet. "So was that the first or the second quote?"
The therapist shook his head. "I don't think one quote is for one lock. Both locks must be linked somehow."
"So the other lock is also hinted by the riddle?"
"I think so." Kiyo nodded. "Perhaps..."
He pointed at the second quote. "You found a potential solution with your intuition. So the second could be linked to your senses."
"My senses...? Something purple that could be linked to my senses?"
Hearing? No. His lab was already for one lock.
Taste? The only thing popping in his mind was that type of soda with a taste you could only describe as 'purple'. Which he didn't like in the slightest.
Touch? That would be unlikely...
Sight? Too vague...
Smell? That could be it since the riddle said 'lavender'. Perhaps...
"The wisterias from the courtyard? They're purple, right?" he raised an eyebrow.
"Does it remind you of something nostalgic?" Kiyo asked.
Shuichi weakly chuckled. "My cousin always had two long braids. Somehow it always reminded me of those flowers..."
Kiyo put a finger on his chin. "So both of your locks are related to one person. To me, we are on the right path."
Just as they stopped talking, Kirumi's group was prepared to go.
Well, Miu and Kirumi were prepared to go. Kokichi was barely keeping up.
The two girls made sure the smaller boy was following when they left, nervousness written all over their faces.
The three ones left in the dorms looked at each other.
"So, did you two find out where your locks could be?" the prodigy asked.
"I'm guessing one is in my lab, and the other should be at the pool." the therapist replied.
Tsumugi nodded. "Good, good. And you?" she turned to Shuichi.
"Oh, um... I think one is near the wisterias and the other should be in my lab as well..."
She frowned. "Three in a row."
"Huh?"
"All of us have a lock in our respective labs. I'm thinking Monokuma put them here as some sort of guide for the first day. The next days are probably going to get harder and harder."
... What did 'harder' mean?
"What about you, then?" Kiyo asked.
"One should be in my lab. The other in the library."
The therapist nodded. "I see. Do you have a strategy for which places we check?"
She started pacing around slowly. "We have both of them in the main building except Shuichi who has one in front of the dorms."
She stopped. "For now we are also requested to help to transport food to the dorms, but there's a possibility the other groups will be done with the locks before us. So I think we should go to the ones that are not in our labs." She narrowed her eyes. "Although for the next days we should find out the locks' locations before forming the groups."
They nodded.
Enough time had passed since the last group left, so they decided to go as well.
They reached the wisterias with no problem, and a black podium with an icon was indeed there.
Before they could go under the pergola, Tsumugi glanced at the structure. She took off her jacket and threw it on the table. Spikes suddenly rose from above, impaling the piece of cloth before it could reach the table.
"... We'll have to find ways to activate traps in advance. We won't use my jacket each time. The tennis balls were pretty effective." the prodigy picked up the jacket from the floor where it had fallen.
The three made their way to the podium, which had Shuichi's icon on it. A red LED was on, indicating that the violinist had not yet activated it.
After taking out the Sanzu key and approaching it to the icon, a small jingle rang, with the LED turning green.
At least the 'paying' process was easy.
"Next up is mine, at the pool." Kiyo turned to the two.
Surprisingly, their way to the main building was quite silent.Â
Perhaps the paths outside were never trapped, and it was only the main structures?
Kiyo carefully opened the door.
A black podium was right beside the deckchairs.
He glanced around to see if there were any traps, and carefully approached the podium. After the small jingle rang, he joined the others so they could move on.
Two out of three.
Something didn't feel right for Shuichi. That motive looked way too simple.
Would it be like Tsumugi said, that this was going to get harder and harder with time?
They left the pool and approached the door to the main building.
When they opened it, Shuichi took a step and immediately stopped when an arrow was shot right in front of his face.
"Ah!-"
He took a step backwards and touched the bridge of his nose.
Pecks of blood tainted his fingers.
"Are you okay, Shuichi?" Kiyo asked, worried.
He turned to the therapist. "I'm- I'm fine, this just surprised me. Perhaps we should crouch to pass this door."
He rubbed his nose with his wrist. The wound was pretty light, but it still stung.
The three made their way to the central hall, luckily not activating any more traps.
"Now let's go to the basement. Once we're done with the library we'll be free for now." Tsumugi declared.
They slowly went to the corridor leading to the stairs, until...
*click*
They stopped and looked at their feet.
Kiyo had just stepped onto a pressure plate.
Shuichi's heart skipped a beat when a wall of concrete came down from the ceiling behind them, crushing the grass on the floor.
Then another. And another.
They ran as fast as they could to the stairs, walls menacing to crush them if they were not fast enough.
The trio tripped, fell down the stairs and crashed against the wall.
"Ouch..."
"At least we're alive."
"Even though Monokuma said those traps were not going to kill us we almost ended up crushed."
"Could you two move? I can't breathe..."
"Tsumugi is on top of me, I cannot move either."
The prodigy stood up, brushing dust off her skirt. "I thought you two would be physically stronger than that."
Shuichi could barely mutter under Kiyo's weight. "Well, I'm a violinist, not a biker nor a soldier..."
The therapist stood up and helped Shuichi get on his feet.
Just as the three recovered from their fall, Rantaro's group appeared.
The medic blinked a few times in confusion. "Are you three okay?"
Shuichi rubbed the bridge of his nose to wipe off the rest of the blood from earlier. "We're fine. It could be worse."
Ryoma appeared from behind. "Tsumugi, there's a lock for you in the library. We deactivated the trap here so don't worry about anything."
"I guessed it from my riddle, but thank you."
Kaito was also there but did not seem to want to contribute to the conversation.
"Anyway, our group is done with the morning locks. We'll be getting the food." Rantaro cracked his knuckles.
Kiyo pondered. "Our group only has one more morning lock to activate. We'll be able to join you shortly."
"In that case, we should go to your lab, Rantaro." Ryoma crossed his arms. "We'll need medical supplies in case someone gets injured."
The medic nodded. "Sounds good. So you three can bring the food in the meantime?" he turned to Kiyo.
"Count on us."
The two groups separated. The concrete walls were gone- they were made to make them hurry, not to lock them in the basement, fortunately.
Just as Ryoma said, the trap was deactivated in the library. It seemed to have made some of the bookshelves fall. Tsumugi's lock was right in front of a table.
The jingle rang as she approached her key.
They left the basement to get to the dining hall. No one seemed to have gone there yet.
Shuichi approached the pantry but suddenly...
The floor disappeared beneath his feet.
Kiyo thankfully caught his arm before he could fall.
Don't look down don't look down don't look down don't look down-
"T-Thanks a lot, Kiyo..." he mumbled.
The two others helped him up.
He sat on the ground for a minute, trying to calm down.
How deep was that hole?
"Tch. I knew something would happen." Tsumugi quietly spat.
"Then why didn't you say anything?" Kiyo narrowed his eyes at her.
"Excuse me if I don't express every single intuition I have."
"We're in a situation where we could die instantly. Every single intuition could save a life."
"It could also make us paranoid for nothing. You should know as a therapist that paranoia could also kill us."
"I prefer to be paranoid over careless."
Shuichi knew that is he didn't stop them they could argue for hours.
"Guys! Please..." he stood up despite his feet trembling. "I'm fine. Let's just... Get the food."
The two exchanged glances and stepped in the pantry, avoiding the giant hole in the ground.
"We don't have a refrigerator in the dorms, so we'll have to take durable food." Tsumugi noted.
"We have access to drinkable water in the dorms, I don't think drinks will be necessary." Shuichi added.
Tsumugi looked around. "We don't have any bags. And my jacket is too small to make a substitute.
Shuichi thought back at when Himiko and Kokichi here going to the dorms using their jackets as bags for objects they won at the monomono machine. But...
The astronomer wasn't here anymore. He had to accept it.
He shook his head. "That's better than nothing. I still have my own just in case."
"And mine." Kiyo added.
"Also, perhaps we should take cutlery. To eat and to serve as a decoy for the traps." Tsumugi suggested.
The three started taking food. Mostly canned food since it was the safest option.
Shuichi had suggested taking rice and other starchy foods, but since there was no way to cook them in the dorms, the idea was rejected.
Shortly after, Kirumi, Miu, and Kokichi joined them.
"It's nice to take food that doesn't expire soon, but we should take food that doesn't take much space." Kirumi explained. "We will not go in this building too much, so we'll have to take as much as we possibly can."Â
Miu pondered for a second. "How about we use kitchen furniture to transport food? That's two in one!"
Tsumugi perked up. "I didn't think about that."
"However the kitchen furniture will be useless to us since we do not have anything to cook food." Kiyo advised.
"But that's still better than using our jackets to transport food... And perhaps we'll find a way to cook." Shuichi countered.
"Then the pots will be the best for both cooking and transport." Tsumugi declared.
The 6 of them took time to choose which food to take. Canned food, rice, noodles, dry food but also some fruits. They took enough cutlery for both the group and to use it as a trap decoy.
They left the dining hall with all the furniture.
Shuichi hoped they wouldn't have to run with that much in their hands.
Miu looked at the pot she was transporting, full of fruits. "We said we would take the pots but any idea on what to use to cook? We know there's no lighter or some kind of portable stove..."
Tsumugi pondered. "We have the candles on the fourth floor and wood in Angie's lab. But that will require maintenance."
"I believe there are tools to keep the fire alive in my lab since there is a fireplace. We should take a look this afternoon." Kiyo suggested.
"That sounds fair to m-" Tsumugi interrupted herself when she heard a click.
A series of needles was shot from the walls on the group, stabbing each of them in all places.
They ran as fast as they could to get out of the building. Shuichi is pretty sure some of the food fell on the floor, but now was not the time to retrieve it.
His cheeks hurt.
They pushed the door to get out of the building.
Shuichi heard a loud noise, of someone falling to the ground.
When he turned around, his eyes widened.
Miu was less covered than the majority of them. She only had a crop top and a short overall. The needles did much more damage on her than on the others.
She wasn't bleeding, but there were way too many of them, on her arms, legs, and even her face.
"Miu!!" he kneeled before her. "Are you feeling okay?"
"I-I'm fine. D-Don't worry about me." she stuttered.
Everyone took off the needles that stuck on their bodies, Shuichi helping Miu get hers off.
Kiyo helped her getting up. "Rantaro's group went on the third floor for medical supplies. He'll help you once they come back."
She weakly nodded.
Kirumi had taken Kiyo's pot so he could help Miu walk.
Fortunately, no more traps activated on their way to the dorms.
When they opened the door, they realized Rantaro's group was already there, organizing the medical supplies.
The medic rushed to the group. "Are you guys okay?"
"We activated a trap and Miu ended up getting more injured than us. She needs your help, Rantaro." Kiyo explained.
The group organized the food and cutlery, except for Miu and Rantaro, the latter disinfecting the former's wounds.
Kirumi prepared lunch with Ryoma since Miu was unable to do anything. Shuichi hadn't realized they took that long to activate a few locks and transport food. But at least they had enough for the day, and perhaps the day after if they managed to save enough.
For some reason, Rantaro, Ryoma, Kirumi, and Kokichi already seemed to be used to be light on food, considering how little they ate.
The group ate in silence on the floor of the dorms. Canned food was not the tastiest, especially considering what Kirumi and Miu could usually cook, but they didn't have a choice.
This motive was already starting to get the better of them. Would they even be able to continue like this for long? Long enough for Monokuma to perhaps get bored and stop the motive?
Since there wasn't much to do, everyone either stayed in their rooms or talked in the lobby.
Shuichi was already tired from the morning, so he laid on his bed for the time being.
They could only use the locks after 3 PM. Monokuma already knew they would be going to rush and unlock both if he didn't add the rule.
He thought about the situation. They were surprisingly organized.
Surprising...
Was it, though?
Their group had two soldiers, a mercenary, an intellectual genius, and a therapist to help them get organized.
They were teenagers more mature than any normal person their age.
A maturity that came from the harshness of their past.
The fact that they were able to get organized so well...
... That was definitely not surprising.
-
At around 2:50 PM, he left his room to join the others. (The others being: Kirumi and Rantaro).
He only noticed after that Ryoma was knocking on Tsumugi's door.
"Um... Is everything alright?" the violinist asked the two.
"Well, we're trying to think about how the traps work, and that's why we need Tsumugi." Kirumi explained.
Speaking of which, the prodigy joined them with Ryoma.
"We need your opinion on this, Tsumugi." Rantaro looked serious.
"I'm listening."
Kirumi crossed her arms. "We're saying that the more we are in a group, the higher are the chances of activating a trap, and possibly a huge one."
She pondered for a second. "From the traps we activated, I think that could be true. The needles were quite ferocious, even if they didn't look like it."
She perked up. "You're saying we should try to go individually and not by groups?"
Shuichi blinked. "Go individually? Isn't there a risk we could get injured without being able to be helped?"
Rantaro nervously bounced his leg. "I've inspected Miu's injuries earlier. This was not pretty to look at. I'm the only one who can treat serious wounds, so I have to admit going separately would be safer."
So the opposite strategy from earlier.
But if that was the best strategy, then it could be for the best.
...
Shuichi wished he could be as smart and strong as them.
-
At 3:00 PM, the others came out of their rooms.
After a short explanation, they decided to go by groups of two, even though they would separate at some point.
They also decided that those on the fourth floor would bring candles and wood, and Kiyo would get the tools for the fire.
Kirumi and Ryoma went first.
Then Rantaro and Kaito.
Tsumugi went alone.
Then it was Shuichi and Kiyo's turn. They wished Miu and Kokichi good luck and left.
"... I'm still nervous about this strategy." Shuichi admitted.
"For now it's for the best. This is the first day, we will decide which strategy is the best for tomorrow." Kiyo replied. "However we can go together with a distance between us so we do not activate unnecessary traps."
Shuichi smiled. "If it doesn't bother you of course."
"At the sole condition that you help me carry the tools from the fireplace."
He chuckled. "Alright. I accept."
They reached the building, and Shuichi crouched to enter the entrance hall. Perhaps the arrow trap wasn't there anymore, but he preferred not to take a risk.
The walk to the second floor was silent and surprisingly peaceful. They avoided a few traps in the corridors, going one after the other.
This strategy seemed to work.
The fewer people were together, the lower are the chances to activate a trap.
...
Monokuma wanted to separate them. Even Shuichi realized that.
The violinist entered his lab and activated the locker.
He sighed in relief. At least this was over for now.
Just as he stepped out of the lab, he joined back Kiyo, who was waiting for him near the stairs to the third floor.
"So, was your lock in your lab?" he asked.
"Yes, I managed to activate it." Shuichi nodded. "Thank you for helping me this morning."
The two made their way to the fifth floor.
...
This was too silent. Something was wrong.
"Are you coming, Shuichi?" Kiyo asked when he saw that Shuichi slowed down.
"Ah yes I'm..." he trailed off when he heard a faint noise. A voice?
He paused to focus.
"Shuichi?-"
"Shhh!" he raised a hand to ask him to be quiet.
There was a voice. It was definitely a voice.
Wait-
It was not a voice. It was several unfamiliar voices.
Kiyo raised an eyebrow.
...
Something wasn't right.
He walked down the upper set of stairs since the voices were definitely below them- on the fourth floor.
Kiyo followed him.
He could barely hear anything, but voices were coming from somewhere, he was sure of it.
"..."
"... -where... ... stops-"
"..."
"... Rats..."
"..."
"... Rats..."
"..."
"... Rats... Rats... Rats..."
Shuichi had a very bad feeling.
He stepped forward to go down the other set of stairs...
... But stopped when he heard a blood curling scream. Not a scream of pain. A scream of pure terror.
And by the pitch of the voice, it was...
"... Kokichi?" he instinctively muttered.
The violinist and the therapist exchanged quick glances.
Shuichi panicked.
He ran.
He didn't even care if a trap activated. He knew where the voices were from. Where the scream came from.
He ran through the fourth floor despite Kiyo telling him to stop.
The voices were louder and louder as he ran.
Some were talking and panicking. Some were repeating the same word over and over.
"Rats."
"They're everywhere- Someone just kill them!"
"Rats. Rats."
"Stay away from me!"
"Rats. Rats. Rats. Rats."
"God please have mercy on our souls- There's no God! We're going to die like rats!"
"Ratsratsratsratsratsratsratsrats"
"I- I think I'm infected too- STAY AWAY FROM ME!!"
"Ratsratsratsratsratsratsratsratsratsratsratsrats"
"WHAT DID WE DO TO DESERVE THIS??"
"Ratsratsratsratsratsratsratsratsratsratsratsratsratsratsratsratsratsratsrats-"
Suddenly the voices stopped all at once.
Shuichi entered the corridor leading to Kokichi's lab. A second door had shut down, eliminating every possibility of entering the lab.
"Kokichi!! Kokichi!!!!"
... Nothing.
Kiyo joined him, his monopad in hand. "Kokichi isn't the only one in here."
He looked at the therapist.
"Miu is here as well."
Shuichi kept slamming the door with his fist.
"Kokichi!! Miu!! Say something!!"
No one was answering. The second door was soundproofing the lab. Which was why the voices had 'stopped'.
They didn't stop, they were just contained in the lab.
Shuichi couldn't hear Miu and Kokichi, and neither of them could hear Shuichi banging at the door.
"Miu!! Kokichi!!!"
... This was hopeless.
He thought back at what Monokuma said earlier.
â... Some rooms will lock themselves to whisper your worst fears to you.â
That was what he meant.
He meant psychological torture.
Shuichi and Kiyo would only wait, powerless over the situation.
The violinist fell on his knees.
Just the thought made him want to puke.
Kokichi and Miu were stuck in a room made for psychological torture.
And they had no way of getting out.
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The Outliers - A Guild Wars Love Story
Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Â Chapters 10 and 11, Chapter 12, Chapter 13, Chapter 14, Chapter 15, Chapter 16 , Chapter 17, Chapter 18, Chapter 19
Chapter 20
One month had passed and Kaleb and Amalthia's passionate relationship continued unabated. Whenever either had the chance to steal away for a moment to see the other, they would do so. But on this night, the continuity in both of their lives would drastically change forever.
Under a moonlit pasture just outside of Claypool, Amalthia straddled atop her lover as the two began to work their bodies up to the moment of orgasmic ecstasy. Kaleb, meanwhile, held his essence for as long as he could until the moment was right.
"I can never get over just how not painful this is whenever we join as one," Amalthia said as she began riding him hard.
Kaleb breathed heavily while his member throbbed deeply inside his feline lover. "I just can't get over how warm and tight you are. In spite of our differences, our bodies match up so well. Proportionally, we are pretty close to being the same."
"True. I think this sort of thing would be a bit awkward if I were larger like most females of my kind. But even if we weren't, I would still be yours, Kaleb. You are my mate and my love," she said between intense yowls of ecstasy.
"The way you end your sentences in soft purring sounds just turns me on even more. I love you so much, Amalthia Steelblade!"
"And I love you too, Kaleb Grimwald. Ohh myyy..." Her body convulsed in sheer pleasure.
"Oh gods!!" Kaleb unloaded into her as the two of them groaned in orgasmic harmony.
After their intense lovemaking session was over, both got dressed then headed out to the waypoint that connected to Kessex Hills. Once there, Kaleb escorted Amalthia back to her loft above her father's butcher shop.
"When can I see you again?" Kaleb queried as he gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek.
Amalthia flicked her ears and replied; "tomorrow is going to be busy for me as my father wants me to cut up a large order for a business client. Perhaps the following day would be better since I'll pretty much have the whole day free."
"I would like that very much."
Once they arrived, she noticed that the downstairs lights were on. But she dismissed it as nothing unusual as her father would typically forget to turn them off.
As Amalthia walked up the staircase leading to her upstairs loft, Kaleb raised his hand to say goodbye. "See you in a couple of days and," saying in a much softer voice, "I love you!" before he began to turn around and depart.
She gave him a parting kiss in the wind before attempting to unlock the door. To her surprise, she found that the door would not open.
"Something's wrong with the damn lock. I can't get it to open," she growled as she shoved the key back into her coat pocket.
"Any possibility that your father's still up?" Kaleb asked just as he was about to leave.
"Doubtful. I've never seen him up this late at night. Anyway, this is starting to piss me off."
"Mind if I come in? I mean, none of the... you know... just figured I'd like to spend a little while longer with you, that is, if you don't mind."
"I would normally never say no, but we are going into the main house where my father resides. Remember, love, I haven't cleaned up yet and there is always a risk of our scents being picked up by him."
"But you said he's rarely up this late," Kaleb reminded her.
Amalthia relented. "Well, I suppose it will be okay. We just have to dash up to my room. No dilly dallying."
Kaleb nodded as she unlocked the main door to the butcher shop. Once they entered, she locked the door behind them as they started to head towards the spiral staircase. But as they did so, Amalthia caught wind of something that suddenly sent a chill to her very core.
"My. Oh my. What has my little cub and this mouse been doing together out so late?"
The lights from the butcher counter area flicked on revealing the form of Siri Blastfuse. Her snout immediately began to sniff the air as her face drew to a deep scowl.
"Mother?" Amalthia said in a shaky voice as their gazes met.
"What is that foul stench coming off you? It's also coming off of him as well. Nooo... this can't be?!"
Before she could react, her mother bounded towards her like a hungry cat about to pounce its prey. She briefly sniffed Kaleb's groin area as her murderous green eyes met his. Next, she shoved her snout into her daughter's crotch then withdrew and let out a horrific shriek.
"YOU FILTHY LITTLE SKRITT-FUCKING WHORE!!"
Siri brought her clawed right hand with full force against the left side of her daughter's upper neck causing four deep lacerations. She then turned her rage towards Kaleb who was too much in shock to react.
"You disgusting little squealer! I will rend parts off your body you don't even know you HAD!!" She lunged at him at full momentum, but was stopped short by Amalthia's quick reaction.
"Mother!! Don't you dare hurt him! I swear I'll kill you right here and now!" She bellowed as she reached for her sword.
Although much older and slower, Siri was still quick enough to blunt her daughter's attack. "Not if I kill you first, cub!"
Within moments, mother and daughter were in a deathwatch with claws and teeth flashing. Kaleb could only watch in horror as he saw the two charr tearing into each other like savage beasts.
Suddenly, and from out of nowhere, came a thunderous bellow that emanated from the hallway. When he heard it Kaleb snapped out of his state of shock.
"ENOUGH! NOT IN MY HOUSE!! Both of you - stand DOWN!" Ludrick roared as he lunged in on the melee using his good left foot.
Kaleb reached in to try and pull Amalthia off of her mother. But as he did, a massive clawed furred hand grabbed him by the throat then slammed him against the wall.
"You..."
For the first time in his life, Kaleb was terrified to his core as he looked to see the murderous eyes of none other than Ludrick himself. Gone, was the softhearted charr that he came to know and respect. What stood before him was the embodiment of hate itself.
"...aren't going ANYWHERE!"
Ludrick grasped hold of Siri's large cranial horn with his other paw then forced her onto the floor. "And you... I... am... not... through... with you... either, bitch!"
"SIRE! Please... don't hurt him!" Amalthia screamed as she tried to intervene.
Her father bellowed in rage. "Back off, cub! He has crossed the line. Both of you have."
"Ohh. They've done more than crossed it... they've..." Siri's words were cut short by a sharp twist of Lucrick's powerful arm.
"If I hear so much as a fart out of you, I'm going to snap your neck. You hear me?!"
For the first time in her life, Amalthia had never seen her father this angry. It was also the first time in her life that she was afraid - afraid of him.
"Please, sire. Father. I am the one who is to blame. Please, don't hurt Kaleb. He saved my life and... he is, your friend," she said as tears began streaming from her eyes.
Ludrick closed his eyes and bowed his head then eased his grip upon the young man. "Go to your room, Amalthia. Trust me for what I have to do."
Kaleb mustered enough nerve to speak. "I... it's okay, Ama. No matter what happens to me, just remember that nothing will ever change my feelings for you."
"Father. Promise me you won't kill him. If you do then you will lose a daughter as well. And I mean it too!" Amalthia snarled.
"Amalthia. Please trust me. Now go to your room. I will deal with this boy in the best way I see fit." He nodded to her with a much softer expression on his face.
"I love you, Kal. No matter what happens, you are my mate in body and heart," she said as she ran up the stairs crying.
Siri could no longer contain herself. "I might take you up on that offer of wanting to snap my neck in two, centurion. Otherwise I might just die from drowning in my own vomit."
Amalthia stepped down the stairs for a moment and commented; "make her wish come true, sire. You'll get no complaints from me."
"To your room and not another word, cub!" Her father bellowed as he turned toward Kaleb with a hateful glare.
"I trusted you. She trusted you. We both trusted you and this is how you repay us??? Did you think she was some exotic plaything that you could just manipulate for the purpose of satisfying your own lustful fantasies?"
Kaleb steeled his resolve then looked Ludrick in the eyes. "I would never have taken those arrows for a mere plaything, sir! I love your daughter more than life itself. A fact, I might add, that I've already demonstrated. So go ahead and kill me if you wish. But know this... Amalthia will never forgive you for being such a coward to face an obvious truth. And that truth is that love observes no boundaries regardless of kind."
Ludrick grimaced as he forced Kaleb towards the door while keeping him in a chokehold. "Do you delude yourself into believing that love alone will offer the happiness that either of you believes the other deserves? Listen to me, cub - no matter how much the two of you may love each other; the rest of the world will hate both of you because of that love. The oceans of blood spilt between our peoples for so many centuries can not so easily be forgotten."
"You fear change. Both you and Siri fear change. I honestly cannot believe that a relationship such as ours can be so unique. Surely, there has been a human and charr who have loved each other in such a manner, sometime in the past. Am I right?" Kaleb said as he suddenly felt noticeable quivering in Ludrick's hand.
The old charr flipped Siri on her backside by rapidly pulling her horn until she nearly fainted from the excruciating pain. He then pushed Kaleb out the door as he held him tightly by the throat.
"Such a thing cannot happen in our lifetime. Not without consequences. You have broken my trust by going back on your word. You crossed the line!"
"With all due respect, sir. You only imagine me agreeing to your terms. There was at no point that I ever agreed to 'not crossing the line' as you so aptly put it... sir."
In a fit of rage, Ludrick flung Kaleb hard against the ground nearly knocking the wind out of him. As the old charr stood over him, he stooped down and pointed his massive clawed finger just inches from his face and said in a gruff voice; "you are to never come near these premises again. If I so much as catch wind of your scent, I will tear your heart out myself. Now be gone and never return!"
Reeling from the shock, Kaleb staggered away from the shop, both his body and heart in tatters. From the distance, he could hear a long mournful yowl coming from Amalthia's loft.
Ludrick turned back towards the door all the while suppressing the immense pain that was bearing down on his already bleeding right foot. He saw Siri's lanky silhouette emerge from the shadows then bounded towards her, preventing her from leaving.
"This, this is complete madness. My own cub... doing that? And you... why didn't you just shred that disgusting piece of meat when you had the chance? But if you won't do it then perhaps the task must fall to me since you no longer seem to have the stomach for such things." Siri raged as she attempted to leave the shop.
"No! You stay! You stay until I'm finished telling you something, something I should have told you a long time ago," Ludrick said as he bowed his head.
"I'm in no mood to hear anymore of your rehashed war stories, you impotent old bag of piss. If I could get away with it, I would kill all of you if nothing more than to remove the blight that has already tarnished my reputation," Siri said in disgust.
"No one but those present even knows of this. So there's no need to worry about your precious reputation being defiled. But that human was right about one thing..."
"Oh. Do tell."
"It has happened before - intimate relationships between human and charr. And it's closer than you can imagine."
"I can imagine quite a bit. Try me!"
"I know the power that falling in love can have on someone... even if they are different species."
"You know nothing!" Siri spat.
"I do know because it once happened a long time ago... to me." Ludrick closed his eyes and remembered the face of a human woman he had loved so long ago. He clasped hold of a chain necklace that he had worn for many years and pulled out what appeared to be a pendant that was broken in half.
"Her name was Karla and she saved my life."
(All chapters have been posted to AO3. Chapter 20 is posted here.)
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Lost Horizon, Pt. 2
@scharoux is the sweetest and most patient soul for waiting so long for part two of this story - thank you, dear friend, for trusting me with Rhaella and her epic tale!
This long fic picks up almost directly where The Last Game last left off - with Rhaella pregnant and alone in a world where Solas has removed the Veil, despite her attempts to stop him.
My Ko-Fi || My Commissions
Part One of Lost Horizon can be found here
Other pieces about Rhaella I have written include:
1. All Things Green and Growing
2. The Long Road Back
3. The Turning of the Year
3. The Same Kind of Scar (contains explicit content)
4. World Without End (contains explicit content)
5. The Last Game Pt. 1, the Last Game Pt. 2, and the Last Game Pt. 3 (contains explicit content), and the Last Game Pt. 4
Pairing: Rhaella Lavellan x Solas, post-Trespasser
Rating: Teen for violence, references to sex
Warning: Directly referenced character death for a character from DAI, general references to death and destruction
********************************
Merrill and Rhaellaâs journey to Skyhold was slow. Isabelaâs ship carried them swift and true - that part wasnât the problem, even if the ship and all the crew seemed haunted, even if Rhaella could feel the absence of a woman she had never met as surely as she could feel the sea breeze - but once they were back on land, and traveling via horseback, her pregnancy proved a problem once more. She felt impossibly huge, her belly as big and round as the horseâs it seemed. Years of practice had made her a good rider, but the extra weight and the shift in her center of balance was even more pronounced now than it had been before, when she had ridden from Skyhold to Jader for her journey to Kirkwall.
The slow going meant she had plenty of time to take in how much had changed since that last journey, when she had been on her way to stop Solas. The burned out villages, and also the rapturous displays of light in the night sky - the dance of spirits thrilled to be free of the Veil. They rarely had to use a campfire for light, in fact. Wisps were drawn to them the way moths used to be. They frequently went to Rhaellaâs belly after floating near her head and Merrillâs.
At least youâll get beauty like this, little one.
Her magic surged towards each and every wisp when they came, but she tamped it down. Solas would know the feel of her magic, even across the distance, as surely as he would know the sound of her voice. They had not been pursued as far as they could tell, by people or by spirits, and she wanted to keep it that way. Merrill had known a draught to keep her from entering the Fade, which was their other means of concealment since theyâd left.
âPoor Feynriel,â Merrill said the first time she brewed it. âI wonder whatâs become of him in this world. If it makes more sense to him now, or less. Marethari made this for him while he was staying with the clan, and I learned it when we visited once. He was a Dreamer, so a draught like this didnât always work for him, but it will be good enough for you and I. It feels like a different life to remember those times, when he was one of my biggest worries..â
âIt does,â Rhaella said, even if she was only remembering a few weeks ago, when sheâd been on this road going in the opposite direction, convinced she could stop the tide of Solasâs power from sweeping through and changing everything.
Sometimes on that long slow journey she lay there and was convinced the baby would never be born. She would be trapped like this forever, huge and waiting, adrift. She wondered how many other pregnant mothers lay awake in Thedas staring at the same moons and feeling the same way. Theyâd conceived their children in one world, and they would be born into an alien one.
Rhaella was grateful for Merrillâs training as a First, and her involvement in Kirkwallâs alienage since then. She still knew enough about pregnancy and babies to act as a midwife. She seemed less puzzled than the other midwife about the size of Rhaellaâs belly, how it was bigger than they were expecting.
âSolas is not a small man,â she said with a shrug. âAs long as you feel well, and you can still feel your little one wriggling about in there, Iâm not worried.â
Solas is not a small man. The words sent a shiver of memory through Rhaella as she envisioned the days and nights that had led her to this moment. The size and weight of his body, how sheltered it made her feel, how whole. She pushed those thoughts away. She imagined, instead, a son that was as tall as him, who had only his kindness and not his narrowed vision, his pride. A son who reminded her of her own father.
I will love you no matter who you are, she promised anyway, feeling the child move.
The journey grew slower and more difficult as they climbed the mountain paths towards Skyhold. Rhaella struggled to lean far enough forward in the saddle to make her horse comfortable, so they had to walk the steepest parts of it. But, the feeling of being further from civilization, and the giddiness of having evaded Solas for nearly two weeks now, loosened their tongues a little, and Rhaella and Merrill were able to talk more freely. Merrill told stories of Hawke that she had not heard from Varric, and they shared their memories of growing up Dalish, compared notes on the Arlathvhens they had been to, speculated on whether or not they had ever met at one of them. It started to feel a little normal. Almost like Rhaella was back to being Inquisitor, and Merrill was one of her companions.Â
(It was probably a testament to how upside down things were now that Rhaella could think back to that time with fondness.)
Then they arrived at Skyhold, and all that warmth, all that strength sheâd built, drained away.
It was not so much that the building was different. Its ancient stone was largely unchanged. It had weathered the creation of the Veil, after all. It was not even the scorch marks all over the courtyard, or the charred ruins of the stables.
It was the sound of the empty hospital tents flapping in the breeze. Of wooden shutters banging listlessly against stone walls.
It was the total, absolute emptiness of the place that had become her home.
The castle stood, but the people were gone, and the emptiness of that threatened to swallow her whole.
She should have been wise enough to expect this, to know that things would not be as she left them, that she would not return home to rally the people sheâd left behind to some sort of unlikely victory. She had not heard from any of her forces in the weeks sheâd been in Kirkwall. Sheâd hoped that was because Solas was intercepting their messages, that against all odds, there was still a home to come back to, a chance to set things right. Still, the blow of the silence struck her as true as any kick or punch ever had.
Then there was a high, hollow sound - a call, almost like that of a birdâs - but bigger, and then louder, like a trumpet, coming from the lower courtyard, and the sudden movement of a big brown blur -
âThistle!â Rhaella called, and her hart galloped to her, drawing up short when he reached her, and then snuffling her with his warm, soft nose, whining again in his throat. She rested her forehead against his, breathed in the warm, woodsy smell of his hide. She scratched the place behind his ears that always made him stamp his feet with delight.
âHello, friend,â Merrill said, approaching. âYouâre a delight! I havenât seen a hart like this in a long time.â
âHe has been my constant companion for years now. I canât even tell you how good it feels to see that he is okay.â Rhaella leaned her head against Thistleâs again and took another calming breath. She did not need to jump straight to despair. She had not even gone inside the keep yet. Who knew who else she would find, or what signs would be left behind - maybe everyone had moved somewhere else, or gone out into the world to help make a difference -
She wasnât sure whether to feel reassured or afraid when the first arrow flew and landed at her feet.
Merrillâs hand flung out instantly, as if to shield her, and Rhaellaâs magic crackled beneath her skin, longing to cast a barrier. She had to actively work not to cast the barrier without the Veil in the way, and it made her grind her teeth. Her son kicked wildly in her stomach at the sensation of the caged magic.
âItâs okay,â Rhaella called out when the urge to cast her spell passed. She looked in the direction the arrow had come from - the old tavern. She started in that direction, brushing off Merrillâs arm. âItâs me, itâs Rhaella.â
Another arrow flew, this one passing over her shoulder, so close that Rhaella could hear the pitch-perfect whine as it cleaved the air by her ear. Thistle snorted and stamped behind her, spooked, and Merrill took her staff off her back. The third arrow struck the barrier that Merrill cast, splintering into a shower of wooden shards, but Rhaella had seen where it was headed. Straight for her head.
Then Rhaella saw her, in the upper window of the tavern, leaning out now, bow in hand. Sera.
âSera!â She called, waving her arms, walking closer. Surely it was an accident. Surely Sera had not actually meant to aim for a killing blow. âSera, itâs just me.â
âYes,â Sera said, nocking another arrow, half-drawing back the string. She stepped out onto the roof of the tavern. Her skin was even paler than usual, but her eyes were rimmed as red as the plaidweave armor she wore. âWho the fuck do you think I have been waiting for?â
Rhaellaâs heart sank.
âSera -â
âTheyâre all dead!â Sera shouted, the tears coming now. âAll of them! Every person that mattered to me is gone now. Every person who trusted you to lead us. They all paid the price, and for what? So you could get a good shag with a man who never really loved you? And you didnât even have to see it, did you, oh high and mighty Inquisitor? No, you got to be somewhere far away when it all came crashing down, all the fire and magic and shite, all the screaming and the dying. But I didnât get that. I had to be here. I had to see it happen. I had to watch and even when I shut my eyes I had to listen. Dâyou know what it sounded like when your precious Commander died?â
Cullen.
No, not Cullen.
He was many things - not all of them good - but Rhaella prayed in that moment to the gods she didnât believe in that Sera was lying.
âDâyou know what it was like for him when all that bloody magic came rushing back, after all those years heâd worked to stop taking that Maker forsaken lyrium? I bet you didnât even think about it when you went rushing back to your arse-wiping Dread Wolf. About how he would fucking scream -â
âStop!â
Rhaella was aware that Merrill had shouted the word, that Sera was still talking, but the sounds were distant, covered up by a roaring as real as the sound of an ocean storm, of an earthquake. She couldnât breathe. She couldnât even think beyond the roaring sound. It was only the kicking and rolling of her child within her womb that brought her back to the surface.
âYou donât understand,â Merrill was saying. âRhaella went to Kirkwall to stop him. She tried her best. She never stopped trying. She fought him until the very last moment, but there was nothing anyone could do. He was too strong for anyone but another of his own kind. And Rhaella didnât stop there. She has been aiding the wounded ever since then, and once she had her first opportunity to flee from Solas, she did. How do you think she ended up here?â
âIt doesnât make a difference,â Sera said, and there was a sudden wave of magical heat rolling off of her, sparks at her fingertips. âShite!âÂ
She threw down her bow and Rhaella could see the trembling in her fingers. Sera had never wanted this, and now she was cursed with it. Magic.
Rhaella opened her mouth but no words came out. Her chest felt like it was caving in. Like all of Seraâs words had lodged there, true as arrows, true as morning sun.
âPlease, believe us,â Merrill was pleading. âNeither of us wanted this. Weâre trying to make our way in this world, the same as you.â
Sera shook her head once, viciously, and picked up her bow. She nocked the arrow again and started to draw it back. Rhaella realized that her hands were over her belly, feeling it warm and tight as a drum, but her magic was not seething inside her this time. She was making no real move to defend herself. Merrill grounded herself, started gathering the energy for a barrier. Then Sera lowered her bow.
âGet whatever supplies you need to get somewhere else. And then get gone.â Her eyes bored into Rhaellaâs. âIf I ever see you again, I will kill you.â
Then she disappeared back into the shadows of the tavern.
Rhaella felt rooted to the ground where she stood. Like she might never move from this spot again.
It was one thing to see the devastation of Kirkwall - a city that was not a part of her, another vein through which her own heartâs blood flowed - it was another to stand here in Skyhold and witness the magnitude of her failure. To hear those words of accusation dropped not from the mouth of a stranger but from a friend.
Cullen.
âRhaella. Rhaella. Come on, love. I donât think we want to stay here long.â
Merrill was using the same voice that Rhaella herself used to gentle Thistle when he was spooked. Her hands were on Rhaellaâs shoulders, guiding. Their steps towards the keep were slow. Thistle whined, high and loud and mournful. Rhaella wondered what stories he would share of the day the Veil fell, if he could speak.
She tried not to study Skyhold as they walked through it. Tried not to see the blood or the winding patterns of lighting etched into wood and stone, the overturned tables, the shattered glasses. The kitchen was ripped apart but there was still food enough in the storeroom beyond it, and she and Merrill filled their packs with as much of it as they could reasonably carry. Rhaella felt the burden of her pregnancy all over again, how she would need more food than she ever had before on the road.
âIs there anything else you want to get?â Merrill asked when they were done there.
Rhaella nodded, and went wordlessly towards the long staircase that led to her chambers. Merrill did not follow. She was grateful for that.
Her chambers were exactly as she had left them. That was the most eerie part of all. She was not the same woman she was the last time she slept here. Her bedroom should have reflected that. But everything was in its place - each pillow on the bed, each paper on her desk. She picked up her field journal, which sheâd left behind in her haste to get to Kirkwall. Then she saw the one thing that was out of place. A letter in an envelope, right in the center of her desk.
Rhaella
It was Cullenâs handwriting.
Dâyou know what it sounded like when your precious Commander died?
Rhaella tucked the letter quickly into her bag. She couldnât read it. Not now. Maybe not ever.
Merrill had distributed everything they gathered between Thistle and their other two horses by the time Rhaella returned. After a brief discussion, they agreed that they would keep both horses, using one for supplies and if one of their other mounts got tired.
âSo where do we go now?â Merrill asked, her eyes shifting towards the tavern and then back to Rhaella.
âThe Emerald Graves,â Rhaella said. âIt has plenty of resources, plenty of places to hide, and it isnât terribly far from here.â
âI have always wanted to see them,â Merrill said. âAll those tombs of the elves who came before us, who fought for our people.â
Rhaella half wondered if the tombs had broken open when the Veil fell - if those elves had stepped out to a brave new world where their people had both won and lost.Â
She cast one glance back at Skyhold as they rode through its gate. The towers and battlements sheâd come to know as home. It was lost to her now, like so many things were. Another ghost of her own, standing stark and sad against the blue mountain sky.
She took a deep breath and rode on.
*
They rode until nightfall, back down the same road theyâd taken up the mountain, until Rhaellaâs lower back ached so badly that they could not continue. She warmed damp cloths on a stone over the fire that Merrill built and then had Merill place them where it ached. Sheâd never wished so desperately for a bed in her life as she did in that moment, lying there on her side on the nest of blankets theyâd arranged, unable to curl up into a ball or lie on her stomach, anything to relieve the pain.
âWarn me if it gets more intense,â Merrill said. âSometimes thatâs how it goes for women - the start of labor, that is.â
Rhaella felt a surge of panic and joy alike. Would tonight be the night she met her son, the person that made all of this worth it? The reason she continued putting one foot in front of the other on this road that had no real destination yet. At least not one she could see or count on. But the pain in her back did subside eventually. There was a new chill in the air by that point, a wind coming down off the mountains that made them both shiver. Rhaella looked to the saddlebags theyâd removed from their pack horse, hoping for another blanket - and spied something familiar sticking out of one of the ones Merrill had packed. Red and fur-lined.
Cullenâs cloak.
She rose, went to it, pulled it out, half-hoping she was wrong. She wasnât. Sheâd have known it anywhere, and of course Merrill would not have. Sheâd just seen something warm that might help them on their journey, and not another dagger aimed directly at Rhaellaâs heart.
Merrill was a few paces away, standing watch since they didnât want to risk setting wards. Rhaella went to her bag and pulled out the letter sheâd found on her desk, the tears already rising in her throat, the guilt already swimming in her stomach. She found a tree that she could sit against, looking away from Merrill, and eased herself to the ground, cloak and letter clutched in one hand.
She read.
Rhaella,
I am never going to see you again.
That's the worst part of this. It isn't the pain or the screaming or the uncertainty. It's knowing I will never see your face or hear your voice again.
My hand is shaking. I hope you can read this if you find it. When you find it. I refuse to believe that you did not survive this. You and the baby - you have to survive. I have to believe this was all worth something, and if the two of you are still out there, it was.
You are the most incredible woman I have ever known, Rhaella. Your quiet strength - I know it will see you through. I have watched you move mountains and I know you will move them again and again.
(I hope this all makes sense. I was never good at words, and my hand is shaking, and everything hurts -)
I wish I could be there to see you move those mountains. To see your baby. The baby I thought of as ours no matter what. I understand that what we had was never going to be real. I am at peace with that. I would have given you everything nonetheless, Rhaella. You and the baby deserved that and I would have been whatever you needed me to be. If - if this isn't the end - if I can withstand this - if we are both alive - I will still give you everything. Not because I want you to wake up one day and love me. But because you deserve that as my friend.
Whatever happens - when you find this - I want you to know that I believe in you. I wish I had words good enough to express it. I don't. I believe in you the same way I believe in the Maker and his Bride. Maybe that is the closest I can come to explaining it. I believe in you, and if anyone can stop Solas, it is you.Â
If I die today, I die with nothing but faith and devotion in my heart. It was how I always wanted to go, Rhaella. It's okay. I am at peace.
Yours always,
Cullen
She was crying before she finished the third paragraph, of course. Deep, wracking sobs that hollowed out her chest, carved up her ribs, scratched up her throat. They were animal sounds. She wasn't sure how long they went on. It seemed there was no beginning or end to her grief as she thought of everything Sera said, how she'd sacrificed everything for a man who never really loved or deserved her. Were they both right? Was that really the source of her weakness? Had there been some final part of her strength locked behind a door with Solas's name written on it, where she hid all the memories that were good? Had that been the strength she would have needed that day in Kirkwall?
Rhaella cried into the folds of Cullen's cloak, her mind a maze of questions with no answers, and grieved.
*
Solas generally prided himself on being the master of his emotions. Controlling them, subduing them, and, when all else failed, simply hiding them away.
He did not bother hiding his frustration when he returned from his fight with the Evanuris.
He came into his Kirkwall base of operations and threw down the helm he'd been wearing, reveling in the loud sound of metal striking wood as it hit the table. Maybe if he did that over and over again he could drown out the sound of his failure - of half of the Evanuris's forces escaping into eluvians and shattering them as they left. He'd wanted to pull them out, root and stem, to be done with all of this, to focus on what came next - rebuilding, helping those that remained find peace and meaning in the new world he'd made. Helping himself find peace with what he'd done. Finding time to mourn the friends he had lost (sacrificed).
Mending things with Rhaella.
"We have not been able to trace them yet," Abelas said, calm and even, but with a hesitance that Solas noted at once.
"What else?" He barked. He'd tried not to be the kind of Commander who yelled unless it was truly what the situation warranted. Then again, he'd tried a lot of things. And yet here he was again, with nothing but ash and loneliness to show for it.
"Rhaella and Merrill are gone."
Abelas said it swiftly and calmly, with the precision of a surgeon making his first cut.
Solas felt the air leave the room.
He felt his power leach into the vacuum it left behind.
Raw mana, undirected, uncontained, filling up every object and person around him, lighting up the room with a blue glow, filling it with a subtle roar. He felt his advisors shield themselves in barriers, as if he would attack them. Perhaps he would. (He would not.)
Solas took a breath and drew his mana back in.
âWhen?â
âNot long after you did as far as we can tell,â Abelas said. Another surgeonâs cut.
âTogether.â
âPresumably, yes.â
âWhere?â
âUnknown. We have not been able to track them via traditional or arcane means, though perhaps you will have greater success with the latter. You know Rhaella better than any of us, after all.â
For a moment, Solas considered letting her go. It would be kinder in the long run. Heâd told her that once, when he was a stronger man. But he still had dried blood under his fingernails, the screams of the dying in his ears. He still had unfinished business, and people who would seek to hurt Rhaella and his child.Â
(The child, the child, the child, he could hardly bring himself to think the word at first but now it was ringing through his mind like a struck bell, an endless echo. He might not get to meet his child if he could not find her, and perhaps that was what he deserved -)
He had to find her to protect her. To tell her one last time that he was sorry. If she went her own way then - if they went their own way then - he would just have to find a way to endure.
Var lath vir suledin, she had said to him the day he took the Anchor and her arm. Perhaps that was when she was a stronger woman. Perhaps he had broken them both.
âWe leave for Skyhold at dawn,â he said. He turned on his heel and left. He had enough control, enough composure, not to spill his tears before them. He waited until he was in Rhaellaâs room, surrounded by the smell of her, to do that.Â
He would endure, he told himself over and over again. He would endure. He simply wasnât sure what it would cost.
#beach writes#beach does commissions#scharoux#rhaella lavellan#rhaella x solas#lost horizon#character death#angst#...like all the angst
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Heart-In-A-Box
I could get used to this, instead of saying hello, i just AHOY here and AHOY there. ANYWAYS. This is for everyone who didnât get a Valentines Day gift or donât have a Valentine AT ALL. Donât worry though, I have some Spidey Spice Doritios and a small thing of Ben & Jerrys if you wanna share with me. I KNOW, I WAS ALONE ON VALENTINES DAY. (Donât rub it in, Iâm emotional :( Iâll change my mind.)
However, I did get a nice smelling bottle of Sea Scrub peel off mask. Now Iâll smell like Ariel!!! :D
I also got a red Birds Of Prey shirt and some small cookie biscuits. BUT.Â
I just wanted to make this imagine for everyone who didnât get the Valentines Day that they wanted, and of course because of the title: ITâS A DADDY PATRICK IMAGINE!!! Brace yourselves! This may get a little bit spoopy!!!
â
IMAGINE #2
Title: Heart-In-A-Box
Pairing: Patrick Hockstetter x Reader
Word Count:Â
Theme: Valentineâs Day.
For: Anyone who had a sucky Valentineâs Day, but for this imagine, Iâll put my name: Jae. (You donât have to put up with my name :) Do what you want! You do you honey!!)
Warnings(?): Anatomy (guts, body parts, blood, etc.) A butchery, Just blood. IMAGINE WILL PROBABLY BE THE CRINGIEST YOUâVE EVER READ IN YOUR LIFE.
Scene: Reader is having a terrible Valentineâs Day. Nobody has given them a Valentine so theyâre feeling left out, resulting in them to focus on schoolwork. On a field trip to the local museum for a science class, Reader slowly starts receiving Valentineâs gifts from a green eyed admirer.Â
PLAYLIST:Â
1. Love Hurts by Nazareth
2. Every Breath You Take by The Police
3. Black Hole Sun by Soundgarden
â
The sound of other students in the hallways of Derry High annoyed Jae.
It was the dreaded day; Valentine's Day.
Pink, white and red littered the entire school and it made her sick. What a way to rub in the pain that she was gonna be YET AGAIN alone on Valentine's Day.
Students, mostly pathetic little middle schoolers wore dumb pink and red outfits as they scurried around, giving each other bouquets of flowers, boxes of chocolates, and cringeworthy love letters.It seemed that someone, probably someone from the student body or arts committee wanted to make Valentine's Day this year special, hence why everyone was wearing either pink or red. Some idiots even came dressed as angels, pretending to shoot people with arrows.
It was disgusting.

Jae was probably the only girl wearing a different colour. As she walked over to her locker, students stared at her and snickered.
"Looks like she has no Valentine." "She'll be a loner forever!" "Happy Valentine's Day Jae!" "What a LOSER." "Don't you mean LOVER?"
She barged through the laughing students, shoving a making out couple off her locker. After opening her locker and scrunching up some hurtful Valentine's Day cards from some neanderthal jocks and prissy skanks, Jae grabbed what she needed for the field trip to the museum. Her anatomy class was going to the museum as a part of an assignment on individual parts of the body.
Jae couldn't wait to get to the museum. As well as getting away from all these morons, it was no secret that Jae took a close interest into anatomy class. Her father was a butcher and her mother was a nurse so it wasn't her first time seeing blood and guts, whether it was a bonus help that she learnt about the nifty things that went on inside the human body, much to the other students' horror and disgust.
"So," An obnoxious voice rang in her ear followed by a loud POP!, "who ripped your heart out?" Greta smirked as she leaned against Jae's locker. Jae rolled her eyes, out of all the days that she didn't want to be tormented, today took the angel cake.
Enough was enough. Jae turned to Greta with a fake sad expression.
"You. When I saw you making out with Sally Mueller in the bathroom," she fake sobbed, "it broke my heart in two. How could you Greta?!"
Gasps erupted throughout the hallway followed by mean and taunting chants of "Greta likes girls." With an angry huff, Greta stormed off with all the attention now focused on her.
Jae's anatomy classmate, Beverly Marsh approached her locker in the direction of where Greta charged from. "Jeez, didn't know you and Greta were-"
"I'm not. I just got sick of her. Thought I might do some rumour spreading of my own. Anyways," Jae changed the subject onto the exciting excursion ahead, "what's your project about?"
"Feet and legs and what makes them work."
Jae nodded, not wanting to continue the discussion, due to her bored and slightly irritated tone. "You?"
"The heart." Jae responds, rolling her eyes at the ironic theme. Beverly gave a small smile before looking behind her. Her face dropped, scurrying off with a quick; "See you on the bus."
Instead of the cliche turn around, Jae shrugged before following Bev out to the bus where her anatomy class were waiting.
If only she did turn would she have met her green eyed admirer that would soon spoil her silly in the weirdest of ways.
---
After the lame presentation which was both interesting yet extremely irrelevant to Jae, the anatomy teacher granted the class permission to do individual exploring, where the students could either get something to eat or explore other parts of the exhibit.
Jae had her eye on the heart exhibit; it was a maze where there were info cards, hanging and touchable props and video diagrams on all walls. It looked like fun.
So, being a lone ranger, Jae headed directly to the heart maze. But she wasn't the only one.
It seemed that a certain someone had his green predatory eyes for Jae. Patrick Hockstetter was fascinated by her. He followed her around town and the idea that she was working on the anatomy of the heart made him fall for her. He loved that she liked what people would call macabre, he loved that she had an IDGAF attitude yet how devoted she was to her anatomy class. He loved that she was an all out badass.
And don't get him started on her beauty. She was SO MUCH prettier than the other girls of Derry. Her hair was so shiny and when he sometimes stepped behind her at the cafeteria and managed to smell her hair, her hair smelt like strawberries and cream and her skin smelt like the seaside.
He always thought of himself as a smooth operator, yet when it came to Jae, he couldn't muster up the balls to ask her out.
Patrick Hockstetter the chicken.
He didn't like the idea of that going around especially in front of his crush.
So since Valentine's Day was today, it was his chance.
He stood a decent feet away and got out the crumpled love note he was gonna pass to her on the bus. In his neatest writing, which was still messy, he wrote;
"WILL YOU BE THE FIRE TO MY LOINS? LOVE P.H"
As disgusting and cringy as it sounded, Patrick tried to be poetic and literate as he had caught Jae reading the novel "Lolita" on regular basis when the teacher forced him to go into the library instead of loitering with the other members of the Bowers Gang behind the gym. Wrapped in the paper was a small animal heart; in particular a chicken heart.
He clenched the paper, trying not to rip it or squish the heart. Patrick wasn't gonna chicken out now.
He scrunched it up and flung it at her. It hit her, the heart fell out of the paper and splatted on the floor and as she turned around, he disappeared into the other entry of the maze.
---
When she got to the heart of the maze, her eyes bulged as she saw a giant squishy heart in the centre that could be touched. She loved the idea of an interactive model. She pulled out her polaroid camera and took a photo of the model as she had been doing so through the maze.
When she checked the picture she noticed a tall figure in the background but it was blurry so she couldn't determine who it was. Right next to the model was an info card, basically explaining the model was a photo opportunity and that it instructed kids to not climb on the model. There were two small plates; one with another heart; this time a dog heart and the other plate with a small heart cake, there was a note attached that said; "Dissect me? P.H"

This was the second note that she had received from 'P.H'. It was probably some stupid jock playing a prank on her. She knelt down at the little block with the info card nailed to it, grabbing her pocket knife and visciously stabbed it, noticing jam bleeding out of it. There was no way she wasn't ruining the dog heart.
"What is it with people today?" She yells, "Why me of all people to prank on Valentine's Day?! I bet you this is how you're gonna get me! You're gonna jump out and say; 'Ha Ha! Just kidding ya!' Well i'm not as dumb as you think, so knock it off!!!"
Patrick was watching the whole sight, obviously amused and a little hurt that she thought he was messing her over. Patrick crouched down next to her, coughing to get her attention. As soon as she looked at him, she pieced everything together;
PH=Patrick Hockstetter. The hearts= Rumors of him kidnapping and killing animals.
When she turned to him, he sat down beside her and pulled out a small heart shaped box. He really wanted to give her this gift but wasn't sure how she'd react to seeing the gift. "I got this," He rasped as he held out the box, "for you."

Cautiously, she took the red box and lifted the lid. Inside was a heart. She picked it up to check if it was real. It was. It was bigger than the dog heart. His next two words made her slightly shudder.
"It's Human."
"Patrick, How'd you get it?" Jae asked, raising an eyebrow. On the inside she felt weak.
Instead of answering her, he lunged at her, planting his lips on hers. His lips were a bit slimy and chapped and although he did have a bit of bad breath but it didn't matter. Jae may or may not have had an attraction to him due to his mystery. She really liked him but everyone always kept her away from him. This was a dream come true.
"Pat," She asked when they departed from their soft kiss,
"Where'd the human heart come from?â
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With Love and No Regretsđ 2

Pairing: ??? x Reader, Taehyung x Reader (this chapter)
Genre: Angst, Handwritten!AU, inspired by TATBILB
Summary: Seven stories, seven regrets, seven letters⊠to all the boys you may or may not still think aboutâŠ
Word Count:Â 2.8k
Parts: Prologue // 1 // 1.5 // 2 // 2.5 // 3 //Â
Warnings: none
A/N: hands up if you remember your first crush ever đâ
Fifth grade mightâve been your prime. You were a whopping ten years old, all the kindergarteners looked up to you as their senior, multiple boys in your class had their eye on you, and you developed your first crush. His name was Kim Taehyung.
Unlike Jungkook who you had met in kindergarten, the existence of Kim Taehyung was unknown to you until fifth grade came around. And boy did he hit you like a truck.
Taehyung was cute. Perhaps one of the cutest boys in your class, up there with Kim Namjoon and Jung Hoseok. And sure, you wouldâve loved for fate aka your teacher to seat you right next to him for the entire school year. But the truth is, fate wasnât always so kind. Because Taehyung always somehow ended up on the opposite side of the room from you.
But why leave everything up to fate? You werenât that passive when it came to loveâat least not at age ten. So you found another way to connect with the boy.
One stormy October morning, you discovered a common interest between Taehyung and yourself. Rainy days were always your favorite because your class was blessed with some free time in the schoolâs computer lab during recess. After all, you were the type that opted to stay behind a screen instead of facing things head on.
âAhin, how are you level 77 already?â you asked your best friend as you glanced back and forth between her level 77 mage and your level 32 bandit on the computer screen. Her character had a lot more swag with the sunglasses and shit compared to your basic ass character with the default clothes.
âThatâs because my screen time isnât limited to one hour a day like you,â Ahin shrugged. âAt this rate, youâll be a noob forever, Y/N. Taehyungâs gonna over-level you soon.â
âTaehyung plays StapleMory, too?â You were intrigued because StapleMory was already your favorite MMORPG, but with the addition of a cute boy thrown into the mix, youâd have to beg your mother for an extra hour of play time.
âYeah, he started playing a few weeks ago and heâs only a few levels behind you.â
âWhatâs his username? I wanna add him to my friend list.â
âWhy? Are you in love with him or something?â
âWhat? No, of course not.â You didnât have a crush on him just yet. You didnât even know what a crush felt like.
âWell I donât know his username either,â Ahin said. âI just heard him talking about it with Hoseok. Try asking them instead.â
Youâd only made the smallest of small talk with Taehyung in the first month back from summer break, so you didnât know him well enough to casually start a conversation with him at recess without it feeling a little forced. On the other hand, you did have an already established acquaintance with Hoseok thanks to summer school a few years back.
You peered down at the pair of boys several computers down from where you sat, locked onto your target, and rolled your chair over in that direction. When you caught a glimpse of familiar character sprites on their screens, you knew what to do.
âYou play StapleMory, too, Hoseok?â The character on his screen was a heavily armored warrior holding a long blue spear.
âY-you play too, Y/N?â He looked shocked. Shocked but not upset. Though maybe if you both had put two and two together sooner, you couldâve advanced your acquaintanceship with him beyond summer school.
âYeah, and Ahin plays too.â
âI play too,â Taehyung jumped in. Contrary to his natural handsomeness, his character was on the ugly side equipped with a bow and arrows. âWell I just started, so Iâm only level 30.â
âOh, so youâre still just a noob,â you laughed as if being two levels higher than him was anything to boast about.
âWell what level are you then?â
âHigher than you.â You really should not have had that smug look on your face, but you did.
Taehyung narrowed his eyes at you. It was a challenge. âWhatâs your username? Iâll add you.â
âYoungHinata.â
âIs that some kind of Naruto reference or something?â
âYeah, duh.â You didnât know. It wasnât your username.
After typing the username in, Taehyungâs jaw dropped. âLevel 77? Thatâs⊠impressive. You already have your third job advancement?â
You wanted to psych him out a little, not impress him. Clearly that didnât work out, so you abort. âNah, Iâm just kidding. Thatâs Ahinâs character.â
âHaha very funny. I guess Iâll add her then, not you.â Taehyung sent Ahin a virtual friend request right in front of your eyes. âUnless you wanna tell me your username.â
Were you feeling threatened? No. But did you want Taehyung to be your friend? Yes.
âItâs⊠TacoCat98.â You admit you were self-conscious about the name, and you wouldâve picked something a little wittier like TacoBelle if youâd known youâd be playing with a cute boy. But nobody couldâve predicted that.
âSeriously?â Taehyung laughed at your username as he typed it in. He had no right to clown you when his own username was something as simple Vante, and you totally did not get the reference if there was one. And he only stopped laughing once he saw your character. âYou called me a noob when youâre only like two levels above me? Noob.â
âIt doesnât matter! Iâm still higher than you, so ha!â You got the last laugh, but not the last say.
âNot for long, Y/N⊠Not for long.â The confidence in Taehyungâs voice was admirable with a hint of flirtiness, but you wouldnât let him get the best of you. Or so you thought.
-
It had quickly become a regular thing for you to hop online after school with either Ahin, Hoseok and Taehyung, or just Taehyung. Your mother was pleasantly surprised to see you zipping through your homework with newfound motivation, and she even granted you an extra hour of screen time to reward your excelling academics. Little did she know that your motivation had everything to do with a boy.
With that valuable extra hour of play time, you did everything in your power to stay ahead of Taehyung. You grinded, took on quests, asked Ahin for advice on the best equips and places to train, and you did so without a minute to waste. The only time you took a break from leveling up your character was when a certain notification popped up on your screen.
[Vante has logged in!]
[Vante sent you a message!]
Vante: hi Y/N >:)
TacoCat98: why r u sending me a mean face? :P
Vante: freedom of speech?
TacoCat98: ok?
Vante: come train with me :(
TacoCat98: where r u now?
Vante: where the fire boars are
TacoCat98: kk
You mightâve been in the middle of a jump quest that youâd have to restart later, but you were willing to forfeit some good EXP in exchange for time with Taehyung. The two of you were close enough in level where itâd be mutually beneficial to train together on the same map anyway. So you hustled over to the fire boars.
As soon as you walked through the portal to where Taehyung said he was, you witnessed a hoard of flaming pigs chasing an ugly green-haired archer. Rather than extending a hand to help the boy out of danger, you take pleasure in watching him struggle to find safety on a nearby platform.
âwhy didnt u help me????â A speech bubble appeared over Taehyungâs character. âi almost died!!â
âi didnt wanna kiss you,â you typed, with a very embarrassing typo. âi meant KS you⊠not kiss you lolâ
âr u sure that was a typo?â Taehyung changed his characterâs facial expression to a hmm face.
âKISS wouldnt have made sense in that context!!â K.S. was the abbreviation of kill steal, which was when someone (often a noob like Taehyung) is trying to kill a monster but then a higher level player passes by and instantly kills the monster as a form of mockery. Kiss, on the other hand, meant something very different.
ârightâŠâ
âRIGHT.â You made your character flail around in the air like a kid having a tantrum before jumping down to release all your awkward energy out on the fire boars. âcan we just train now??â
You sent Taehyung a request to join your party, and he accepted it, but he remained right where he was instead of joining you on the battle grounds.
âor we could just talk,â he typed. That not only surprised you, but also meant something to you. It meant heâd rather spend time chatting with you over leveling up his character. You were more important to him than the game itself.
You jumped back up to the safe platform and faced Taehyungâs character. âwe could.â
You didn't know if he was just luring you away from training so he could sneak past you in levels as soon as you logged off, but maybe it didnât matter. You only had two hours a day to do whatever you wanted on the computer, and Taehyung was what made your time feel well-spent.
And if he ended up surpassing you in levels as a result of that, youâd lose bragging rights and that hold over him, but something in you wanted to believe he wouldnât leave your noob ass behind.
-
For a solid year, you never grew bored of Taehyung and his antics. Even in the classroom, it became apparent that you two were no strangers. You teased him about his new haircuts, he teased you by shouting âTacoCat98â across the school yard, and you both exchanged ugly faces as you passed by each othersâ desks. All of that was innocent and cute, though the more intimate stuff remained online.
You canât remember the exact moment you first acknowledged your feelings for Taehyung because it was your very first crush and you had no way of recognizing the signs. For a while, you assumed your first crush would be Namjoon because he had all the stunning physical qualities you thought you wanted in a boyfriend. But with Taehyung, it was something else that you couldnât quite comprehend. All you knew was that he made your day a little brighter. And you found yourself thinking about him. A lot.
But nothing couldâve made you realize your crush more than when he asked you about it right after graduation.
Vante: hey
TacoCat98: hey
Vante: do you like anyone?
It was your chanceâthe golden opportunity. You wanted to scream âYES, ITâS YOUâ through your computer. But on the off chance that he didnât feel the same way, you wanted to save yourself from a potential rejection. You told yourself youâd only confess to him if you felt 100% confident that he felt the same way. Despite having a gut feeling that that mightâve been the case, you needed more answers.
TacoCat98: lol why r u asking?
Vante: bc u know how my group of guys had a talk after the grad ceremony?
TacoCat98: umm no? and yall arent âguysâ yet btw. youre still boys lolol
Vante: whatever -_-
Vante: anyway
Vante: the BOYS had a talk about who we liked in our class
Vante: so i know who likes u
Someone liked you? That was definitely news to you. No one (to your knowledge) ever had a crush on you in your ten years of life. Naturally, you were curious as a kitten as to who it was, and if it was in fact Taehyung himself. Or maybe he was just bluffing. If that were the case, you were going to bluff back.
TacoCat98: well i know who likes u too :P
Vante: who?
For some reason, your dumbass didnât anticipate him asking you to spill the tea. Especially not when you were alluding to your own crush on him.
TacoCat98: u tell me first and then ill tell u
Because how romantic would that be if the feeling was mutual and realized on the online platform where it had all begun to bloom?
Vante: hoseok
TacoCat98: wat
Vante: hoseok said he likes u
Vante: ok next
You needed a long minute to comprehend what had happened. Hoseok liked you? Hoseok? Hoseok didnât even know you the way Taehyung did. You rarely even spoke to him outside of when heâd play StapleMory with you and Taehyung. So how was it possible for Jung Hoseok to develop a crush on you out of nothing? Spoiler alert: It wasnât possible. But you didnât know that at the time.
Vante: so⊠who likes me?
An idiot liked Taehyung. And that idiot was you. But after he didnât confess to you like you had hoped, there was no way youâd confess either.
TacoCat98: actually i promised to keep that a secret
Vante: but u said u would tell me >:(
TacoCat98: well im srry!!
TacoCat98: itâs not like you were sharing your OWN crush, so why r u so mad lol
TacoCat98: hoseok probably wanted to keep that a secret but u told me anyway
Vante: true
Vante: dont tell him i told u >.<
TacoCat98: ok i wont
Vante: good
Vante: now back to the original question⊠tell me who u like
TacoCat98: i dont like anyone lol
Vante: seriouslyâŠ
TacoCat98: really i dont lol
Vante: everyone has a crush
TacoCat98: and your crush is�
Vante: ahin
He typed it without hesitation, not a sliver of doubt. He confidently told you about his crush on your best friend as if that information wasnât going to get back to her. Maybe he intended for you to tell Ahin so he wouldnât have to confess himself. Or maybe he just wanted to make you jealous. The latter was what he accomplished.
As a friend, you loved Ahin and envied her for how easily she got along with the boys in your class. Just as her StapleMory character outshined yours, she had the same effect at school. It honestly didnât surprise you that Taehyung chose her over you. You had just hoped and envisioned that this time it was you.
TacoCat98: AHIN!!! can i tell u something?
YoungHinata: sure lol
TacoCat98: i like tae
YoungHinata: omg
YoungHinata: really????
YoungHinata: u should tell him!!
YoungHinata: he always acts like he likes u too
TacoCat98: i dont think he likes me like that
YoungHinata: y tho???
TacoCat98: i just have a feeling :(
YoungHinata: well youll never know for sure unless u confess to him
TacoCat98: nah im fine with him never knowing
TacoCat98: i just wanted to get it off my chest so i told u instead of him lol
-
After elementary school ended and middle school started, you were more thankful than ever that you and Taehyung had established an online friendship. You wouldnât have otherwise known he attended the same middle school because you had zero classes with him in sixth grade and literally never saw him on campus. You owed a lot to the online platform for all the opportunities it provided you with in chatting with your crush. At the same time, a relationship built upon online engagements had its limits.
[Vante has logged in!]
TacoCat98: hihihi
Vante: i havent seen your face around these parts in a while
TacoCat98: blame my teachers >:(
TacoCat98: more hw = less staplemory
Vante: same
Vante: dont u think itâs weird tho
TacoCat98: whats weird?
Vante: how we talk on here but not irl
TacoCat98: i guess we never see each other at school anymore
There were a million better ways to respond to Taehyungâs comment, but thatâs how you chose to respond. You had every opportunity to say, âhey letâs meet up at lunch tomorrowâ or âwanna get milk tea after school?â But you were too dense to realize what he wanted out of that conversation. You took it more as a subtle breakup like âwe canât be friends anymore because things are awkward now irl.â After all, you were on the wrong side of an unrequited love, and it was almost inevitable that heâd develop other crushes on his new classmates who outclassed you.
It was only after you both quit StapleMory later that year and left your friendship to die in cyberspace that you heard a rumor floating around regarding you and Taehyung. One of your new middle school friends said Taehyung had asked her if it was true that you had a crush on him.
How did Taehyung know about that? And why did he even care? He was supposed to like Ahin. He told you himself that he liked Ahin. If you were his crush, he wouldâve told you. He shouldâve told you. Because you were fully convinced he no longer cared about his little gamer friend when there were plenty of prettier kids to pursue. And whether or not it was the truth, you took it to heart, despite all the other signs that had said otherwise.
So, no. The rumor wasn't true. You didnât have a crush on him. Not anymore.
#bts scenarios#bts fanfic#bts imagines#bts angst#taehyung x reader#taehyung fanfic#bts x reader#taehyung#v#bts#bangtan#with love and no regrets
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â¶Â - anonymous said :Â how would hope rank the avengers, from favorite to least favorite , and why ?
   ok , first of all this is gonna be an assessment strictly about the mcu avengers bc i am only just starting my comic journey & i already know her opinions are veeeerrrry different about their 616 counterparts . . . also if i did both versions this would be even longer than it already is . these are also only her baseline thoughts - which can & will change with time , relationship development with these characters , & character development on her own part ! i havenât rly gotten to officially plot out any threads with these characters yet   ( though i would LOVE to ) & am reserving adding interactions to her canon for future mains / as i see fit .Â
   basically iâm saying - plot with me , change her mind !Â
1. đđđđđđđ đđđđđđđ this comes as no surprise . these two share a lot of the same values - from what hope can tell from afar , at least . she has a deep respect for his selflessness & bravery - especially considering the kind of person she tries to be ! as a first impression , heâs the avenger sheâd trust the most in times of trouble , hands down .Â
2. đđđđđ đđđđđ hope really doesnât know much about her - i mean , she knows just as much as any random citizen . what hope does know is that she kind of has a thing for any woman who could kick her ass , so - yup . 10 / 10 . although if it ever comes to actually meeting her ? intimidated af - at least at first , but that says more about hopeâs insecurities than anything else . . .Â
3. đđđđ ok hope just thinks he seems like a chill & fun dude , honestly ? plus like - literal god of thunder ? wild . high key if they hung out it would be some chaotically wholesome content . hope probably has the least formed opinion about him , but on attitude alone he ranks pretty highly .Â
4. đđđđđđđ huge disclaimer - her opinion of 616 hawkeye would rank so much more highly than this but the mcu did what they did & iâm forever bitter about it ANYWAY - she has a certain level of respect for all of them , to an extent , & he definetely has it for defending the earth w/ nothing but a bow & arrow & his wits . thatâs pretty badass . in other news fuck that r.enn.er guy amiright . yes that goes for sc.ar jo too . . . iâll stop complaining about shitty casting decisions now .Â
5. đđđ đđđđ i mean she definitely knows next to nothing about bruce banner so thereâs not really much to go off of here . she really doesnât have an opinion beyond â oh giant green rage monster ? this is the real world iâm livinâ in , huh .â fairly neutral to wariness ? would respect the hell out of bruce though , based on scientific merits alone .Â
6. đđđđ đđđ hope has always been a little miffed by hubris & tony stark recieves no exception to this rule - plus her base opinion is formed solely through the media , so can you really blame her ? ofc thereâs a level of respect there - she has respect for everyone . . . but she really hasnât seen anything to like , personality-wise at least . heâs kind of a symbol , less of a person . so though he ranks the lowest , her opinion on him is the most easily shifted . . . in either direction , unfortunately .
   oh boy well , there you go . a very shallow baseline - bc honestly hope really tries not to form opinions of people before actually meeting them properly . but thatâs the tea , thatâs the scoop . oh , & as a side note - she prefers the little guys . she respects the hell out of daredevil & spidey - probably more than the bigger names in the hero game .Â
đđđđđđđđđ đđđđđ đđđđ ( always accepting ! )Â
#anonymous#â¶ MAKE MY MESSES MATTER MAKE THIS CHAOS COUNTâ¶ ( marvel )#â¶ ORDER UP ! â¶ ( answered )#â¶ ( this got so long oh my god )Â â¶#â¶ IâM QUITE SMALL AND I NEVER HAVE IT ALL TOGETHER â¶ ( headcanon )
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Fabulous Olicity Fanfic Friday - May 17th, 2019

Happy Friday! So this is my attempt to both thank awesome fanfic writers for their amazing work and offer my recommendations to anyone who is interested. Here are the fantastic fanfic stories I read this week! They are posted in the order I read them. This and all previous Fabulous Olicity Fanfic posts can be found on my blog.
Wait, You Think It's Better Than Mine? by @christinabeggs - Felicity has a sweet tooth https://archiveofourown.org/works/11970201
You're Gonna Pay for That @laxit21 - Oliver and Felicity get into a waterballoon fight. https://laxit21.tumblr.com/post/184786825644/youre-gonna-pay-for-that
Follow the Leader by @bokayjunkie - âI feel really special that you all want to spend time with me today. I honestly donât know what I did to deserve this attention.â Everyone wants to have lunch with Felicity. Who will she choose? https://archiveofourown.org/works/12012663
Time for a Story multi-chapter WIP by @smkkbert - This fic shows Olicity and their life as a (married) couple with family. Although Olicity (and their kids) are the protagonists, other characters of Arrow and Flash make appearances. YOU NEED THIS STORY IN YOUR LIFE. https://archiveofourown.org/works/3912157/chapters/8757172
Love By Contradiction multi-chapter WIP by @pimsiepim - When Felicity meets Oliver, itâs anything but romantic. Taking her best friendâs spot at a speed-dating event wasnât exactly how she had pictured spending her Friday night. Meeting said best friendâs soulmate? Even less expected. And even though Felicity never really believed in that silly prediction a fortune teller made ten years ago, the occasion is just too good to pass up. Alena is stuck in a toxic relationship and maybe what she needs to finally get over her ex⊠is to get underneath someone else. Mission âGet-Alena-And-Oliver-Togetherâ is on the way, and Felicity will stop at nothing to make sure her best friend gets her happily ever after. Nothing. Not even Alenaâs lack of interest, or Oliverâs weird tendency to ask Felicity out on fake dates. The plan is perfect, the execution flawless... except for one small detail: itâs not Alena whoâs starting to fall for the guy... https://archiveofourown.org/works/18550876/chapters/43969807
We Need to Talk by @smoaking-greenarrow - Oliver and Felicity fight after Oliver punches her boss https://smoaking-greenarrow.tumblr.com/post/165101221814/hey-for-the-prompts-69-we-need-to-talk
Modern Romance by @bokayjunkie - âHi everyone, Felicity here, back with another video! Itâs been awhile since Iâve given you a life update and I figured why not combine this with a Q&A!" https://archiveofourown.org/works/11956233
The Fan multi-chapter WIP by @leuska - For the past couple of months, Felicity Smoak, previous child star known to the world through her alter ego Lisy the Tech Whiz, who ended her career and her growing popularity at the age of thirteen rather abruptly, has sporadically received disturbing notes and gifts in her mail. Police believe the notes to be just little tokens of appreciation by a former fan. Despite having left the spotlight over a decade ago and living in anonymity since, the fan mail keeps coming, increasing in frequency as well as intensity. Thelast drop is when Felicity receives another letter with a love note. A scary, ominous note. A note written in human blood.FBI director Amanda Waller tasks her best Agent to the case. Oliver Queen, a criminal profiler, is currently working on a special task force formed between SCPD and FBI to catch a man dubbed the Start City Slasher, who has murdered at least three young women in the past nine months. Agent Queen is not thrilled with the prospect of holding a former princessâ hand through her problem with a simple stalker while a serial killer is still at large. However, once meeting her, Oliver finds there is nothing easy or simple about Felicity Smoak as their worlds start to intertwine. https://archiveofourown.org/works/17726573/chapters/41820368
Dark Delusions multi-chapter WIP by @missyriver - Oliver was the love of her life and it was time to remind him that she was his. https://archiveofourown.org/works/12032928/chapters/27239901
My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark multi-chapter WIP by @tangled23works - This is a collection of scenes I've written but will probably never have the time to publish as part of a larger fic. Sometimes, there are stories that need to be told no matter how short they are. Anyway, each chapter is inspired by a song. https://archiveofourown.org/works/18804658/chapters/44618395
Blush by @dmichellewrites - Read a Blush magazine exclusive with Felicity Queen as she chats about work, marriage, motherhood, beauty, and more. https://archiveofourown.org/works/12034233
Somewhere in the Middle of Nowhere multi-chapter Complete by Bichwhwifi - Oliver's car breaks down in the middle of nowhere and stumbles upon an MIT graduate that makes him ask why she would live in the middle of nowhere. https://archiveofourown.org/works/12043362/chapters/27268404
The Voyage to You multi-chapter WIP by @obibalwin - Felicity Smoak didnât want a complicated life. She enjoyed helping people as a nurse at Starling City General Hospital and spending time with her best friend Sara. When a John Doe arrives on the fifth floor of thehospital, she finds herself being dragged into a world of mysterious oaths and visions. The only thing she can hope is to stay strong enough to resist the man who has traveled to find her. https://archiveofourown.org/works/16596788/chapters/38895977
Providence multi-chapter WIP by @so-caffeinated - Will Queen has struggled in silence in the year since he was shot. But when a shadowy crime lord known as Domino targets the only woman Willâs ever truly loved, fate forces him to confront his demons in ways he never could have imagined⊠Whether he wants to or not. Amelia Prescott has fought to take control of her life since learning two years ago that her personal and professional worlds were manipulated by others. But nothing can prepare her for just how hard she'll have to fight to set her own course, especially when her heart belongs to a damaged man and a crime lord threatens her every professional move... And her life. Destiny brings them together, but as chaos reigns and personal demons haunt Will and Amelia both, it may also threaten to tear them apart. https://archiveofourown.org/works/17919056/chapters/42308753
Pieces of Always multi-chapter WIP by @so-caffeinated and @dust2dust34 - Life continues after Forever is Composed of Nows. Ongoing non-linear collection of family moments for the Queens. http://archiveofourown.org/works/8220479/chapters/18840356
P.S. Hong Kong: Was it Real?!? multi-chapter WIP by @cruzrogue for Olicity trope-tastic award: Fake Marriage - This is off season 3 Flashbacks. When Tommy goes to Hong Kong he doesnât go alone he takes his friend Felicity as the best information system being to help him locate Oliver Queen. Tommy may leave empty handed but Felicity gets to be a bride⊠https://archiveofourown.org/works/15025697/chapters/34832747
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