#banned together: our fight for readers rights

[redgoldsparks]

I'm very happy that my Nib comic about book bans is going to be included in this new anthology edited by Ashley Hope Pérez coming March 2025 from Holiday House!

This bold collection of fiction, memoir, poetry, graphic narratives, essays, and other genres explores book bans through various lenses, and empowers teens to fight back. From moving personal accounts to clever comebacks aimed at censorship, fifteen authors and illustrators confront the high-stakes question of what is lost when books are kept from teens.

Contributors include Elana K. Arnold, Nikki Grimes, Ellen Hopkins, Kelly Jensen, Brendan Kiely, Maia Kobabe, Bill Konigsberg, Kyle Lukoff, MariNaomi, Trung Lê Nguyễn, Ashley Hope Pérez, Isabel Quintero, Traci Sorell, Robin Stevenson, and Padma Venkatraman; the collection is a star-studded must-read that packs strength and power into every last word.

Striking illustrations from Ignatz-nominated artist Debbie Fong pair perfectly with the searing, impactful narrative. Resources include tips from the Vandegrift Banned Book Club and other teen activists, as well as extensive recommended book lists, a How to Start Your Own Little Free Library flier, and more.

Preorder here

[cozage]

Omg what the heck 2k!?! I’m so happy for you like I remember when you started this blog some time ago, and you blew up fast 😭 also that era when you got shadow banned. I wanted to request the monster trio with option 1. So how about a meeting their S/O after the 2 year gap but they ended on argument so now what would they say after not seeing them for two years.

A/N:😭😭i forgot about the shadowbanned era omg. I almost stopped writing completely then. That was a CRAZY time. Thank you for reminding me of that LOL 

Characters: gn reader x Sanji, Zoro, Luffy Total word count: 750

A Postponed Apology

Sanji

“My love! You’re safe!” Sanji tackled you, both of you falling to the ground entangled in one another. 

He pushed back the hair from your face and covered you with kisses in between his words. “You’re here! I missed you so much!”

“Sanji,” you laughed, trying to push him off. “You’re smothering me!”

“I’ll smother you forever!” He pressed his head against your chest, humming pleasantly as he listened to your heartbeat. “I’ll never leave your side ever again!”

Your fingers ran through his hair as tears filled your eyes. You hadn’t expected this reunion to go so smoothly. You had expected Sanji to never speak to you again, maybe even come back with a new crew member recruit. You wouldn’t have blamed him, not after all the horrible things you said to him. 

“You’re not mad?” you whispered softly, afraid your voice would betray you. 

“Why would I be mad?” he asked, still listening to your heart beat in your chest. “I’m just grateful you’re okay.”

“But our fight…” Tears spilled out of the corner of your eyes and down your cheeks.

“Our fight?” he asked, clearly confused. He pulled his head away from your chest to look you in the eyes, and you could see his soul shatter at the fact he was making you cry. 

“Do you mean the one from two years ago?” he asked. “Darling, don’t even worry about that. All that matters is that we are here together now, and I’m never letting you go again.”

Zoro

It took your eyes a second to adjust to the darkened room, but Zoro’s voice rang out. 

“So, you’re the second one to arrive, huh?”

You hadn’t expected Zoro to be there. He was always getting so lost, you had assumed it would be anyone but him. 

“Nobody else is here yet?” you asked, joining him at the bar. 

“Just you and me.”

Silence filled the air, the heaviness of your last conversation still weighing on your shoulders. 

“Zoro-”

“Don’t apologize,” he said. “It was two years ago. It’s not a big deal.”

“No.” You shook your head, finally turning to look at him. “I should’ve never said those things. If I had known-”

“But you didn’t know.” He sighed, picking his beer up and taking a long drink. “Are you still upset about it? Do you even remember what we were fighting about?”

“Well no, but-”

“Then it doesn’t matter. We’re together now. Let’s make up for lost time instead, okay?”

You smiled, relieved at his words. He had never been one to hold a grudge. 

“Okay.”

Luffy

You kept your distance from Luffy until everyone went to sleep. It had been a long day full of emotions, and he was busy enough with his captain duties. The last thing you wanted to do was inconvenience him any further. 

“Sanji!” Luffy called, entering the kitchen. “I’m-oh! Hey!”

Your heart quickened at his voice. You weren’t ready to face him yet. Even if you knew you had to. 

“Hey Luffy,” you whispered. “Sanji went to bed, but he made this ice cream sundae. You want it?”

Luffy’s mouth grew into a big smile, his eyes growing wide. He grabbed a spoon and slid into the booth next to you. “You’re the best! You know that, right?” 

You gave an awkward laugh. “I guess we need to talk, huh?”

Luffy looked at you, a blank and confused look on his face. “Talk about what?”

It was hard to look at him, but you forced yourself to. “Our last conversation?”

He was trying to remember, you could see his brain going into overdrive as he recalled your last moments together on Sabaody. Finally, he shrugged and shoveled a scoop of ice cream into his mouth. 

“I don’t remember our last conversation,” he admitted. 

You raised an eyebrow. “The fight? Because if you want to break up-”

“Why would I want to break up with you?” Luffy asked. “That’s the last thing I want.”

“Well, I said some pretty harsh things, Lu.”

He knitted his eyebrows in concentration, trying to remember. For a minute you watched him, and you could’ve sworn steam was coming out of his ears. But he shook his head. “Sorry, I don't remember that at all.”

You laughed. You should be surprised or offended. But that was just Luffy. “So we’re good?” you asked.

“Of course,” he said, offering you a bite. “Why wouldn’t we be?”

[darnell-la]

𝗟𝗘𝗧 𝗚𝗢 𝗢𝗥 𝗬𝗢𝗨'𝗟𝗟 𝗛𝗨𝗥𝗧 𝗔𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥

pairing: traumatized & emotional!logan howlett x mutant close friend!reader

warnings: heavy drinking, growing close, therapist friend, emotions, nightmares, a lot of blood, panicking, near death, regeneration, confessions, kisses, realization, conclusion, etc.

summary: after an unexpected night, Logan realizes the danger he is for sticking to the past. he had to learn to let go of the evil that never was right for him.

note: this story has NO SMUT, but we got Logan who’s an emotional mess and breaks apart after injuring y/n on a mistake.

follow our Instagram @ darnell.la so we can start posting random videos, photos, edits, and memes of the people we write about!

———

When Jean died, y/n was the only one there for Logan. The x men couldn’t see the pain he was in, but she could. When she’d make her nightly routine to get water from the kitchen, he’d be down there passed out on one of the kitchen chairs, or drinking until he got to that point.

Y/n would pass by him for weeks. They soon became a couple of months, but after a while, she felt bad. He wasn’t keeping himself up and any time he spoke to the crew, he had an attitude and was drunk.

Charles had banned him on missions until he got sober, but that wasn’t happening any time soon.

It took a while for y/n to talk to Logan without him pushing her away. One night he was crying in the living, and she walked in.

The woman sat next to him and softly patted his knee, trying to do something to calm him down. Before she knew it, the man pulled her into a tight hug as he sobbed.

That night he poured his heart out to y/n. She had to tell him that what he did to Jean wasn’t his fault and it had to be done. She asked, “How do you think Scott felt when he thought she was gone?”

Logan knew Jean, but she was confused about why her death hit him so hard. He explained that everyone he cares for eventually dies. He said he was cursed.

For the past year, y/n has worked with Logan almost daily as a side therapist. Some days she’ll have to force him to talk while others, he comes to her.

They grew close, now fighting by each other’s side, rarely being seen without the other, having their drinking nights and sometimes falling asleep together on the couch.

Logan would be the first to wake up, so he’d carry the young woman to her bed. The first several times, he would leave to his own, then after, he’d stay and sleep on her sofa.

“Jean?” Logan asked as he turned around in his bed, seeing the woman he killed, lying next to him in a white nightgown. “Is that really you?” He asked as he sat up, hand instantly rubbing her cheek.

“Yes,” her voice seemed low as her eyes stared into his. “I-I’m sorry, Jean,” Logan’s eyes began to tear up. “Please stay. I promise I won’t hurt you or anyone else again,” he begged.

Jean leaned into the man’s ear with a slight smirk and blinked slowly. “Too late,” she said. Logan had felt his hand tingle. He was confused until he looked down, seeing his claws inside of the woman’s stomach.

“No, Jean!” He yelled. There was a huge poodle of blood. “Jean, please, no!” He pulled his claws away before pushing down on her stomach. “You were born to hurt people,” she spoke before her eyes darkened.

Logan hated her hateful words. After she came back the last time, she’s been hurtful.

Jean’s mouth opened, now screaming at Logan’s face, making him close his eyes. “Logan,” I voice called which seemed so far. “L-Logan,” y/n choked as her hand wrapped around his wrists tighter, trying to wake him up.

Logan’s eyes slowly opened, realizing he was in a dream. “Logan,” y/n could barely speak as the blood in her throat began to form. The man looked down seeing his class in her stomach.

“No,” he spoke low, not believing it at first until her fingers slowly slipped from his wrists. Y/n’s body leaned back, about to crash onto the floor until Logan held her up with his arms.

“No — Y/n I-“ his words got stuck in his throat. He’s never done this to anyone before, and that someone had to be y/n. “Y/n, stay up,” the man’s hands now pressed on her stomach.

“O-Okay,” she looked into the man’s eyes as she tried breathing. The blood made it hard, and he knew that. Logan looked around the room, looking at a place to place her so he could go run for help.

“C’mon,” Logan got up, carrying the girl in bridal style for only a few seconds until he laid her on her bed. He had fallen asleep on her sofa again. Now he was regretting showing this little detailed affection towards her. If he just left her downstairs and went to his own bed, this wouldn’t have happened.

“Fuck- Why did you come near me. You know how I can get,” scared tears started slipping down Logan’s cheeks. How could he do this? To her or all people. “W-Wanted to h-help,” y/n has never sounded worse in her life.

“Shit- I-I need to get help,” Logan said before yelling through the house for Storm and Hank. “Storm! Hank!” Logan ran downstairs since that’s where their rooms are at.

“God,” Hank yanked in annoyance as Storm rushed out of her room. “What’s wrong? What happened?” Storm asked, not too worried until he looked down at his fist. It was covered in blood along with a few splatters on his white tank top and thick blue jeans.

“What the hell happened!?” Hank’s body froze. “Y/n, she was- She came up to me while I was sleep a-and I had a dream. A-A very bad dream and I stuck Jean but when I woke up-“ he tried finishing.

“You stuck her,” Storm imagined. Storm remembers when he stuck Rachel on her shoulder, but it has to be worse if that much blood is on his hands and he’s shaking.

“You stuck Jean?” Hank asked as Storm and Logan began jogging back upstairs. “No! No, it was a dream. A very bad fucking dream,”

“Where is she? In your room? Why was she in your room?” Storm grabbed Logan’s door handle until he stopped her. “No, she’s in hers,” he said before taking a deep breath, admitting that he was in her room.

“What?” She asked as she sped over across the hall to hers. “A-After we pass out on the couch, I’m usually the one who wakes up first so I- I carry her to her bed and pass out on her sofa,”

Storm sped through y/n’s open room door and gasped at the sight of her. Her middle body was covered in blood and her head was tilted to the side with her eyes closed. She looked lifeless.

“N-No, no!” Logan ran over to her to put pressure on the wound. “I told you to put pressure on the wound, y/n!” He yelled as he used one hand to slap at her face, he she wouldn’t wake up.

“How bad does it look- Oh fuck,” Hank quickly ran over to y/n. The man pressed his two fingers on her neck to check for a pulse, and he got one. A very slow and weak pulse.

“She’s still alive, but she needs to go to the lab. Now!” Logan quickly picked Y/n up, now running through the mansion as kids came out of their rooms. “I’ll get the kids back to bed,” Storm stated back to do her job.

“Please, y/n, don’t do this to me, please,” Logan could feel his heart rate rise as her body felt slumped. She gave no sign of any form of life.

“Place her on here, quickly,” Hank tapped the medical bed, and Logan did as told. “I’m going to have to sedate her before I work on her — I don’t think you should be in here for this,” Hank suggested.

“Why not!? I did this to her, so f-fuck how I feel about seeing you cut her open. I’m the one that stabbed her!” Logan felt all different emotions. He couldn’t help it.

“It’s not for your sake, it’s for mine. She’s my friend too, and I want to concentrate and keep her alive,” Hank said. “No, no — I-I can’t leave her. I don’t want to leave her!”

Logan shook his head side from side, refusing to leave. He has nothing else to do. He’d only be somewhere stressed and waiting for Hank to come to him with bad news.

“Logan — I’ve got this. But I need my space,” Hank said low as he touched Logan’s shoulder to calm the man down who was looking down at y/n with tears. The white nightgown was soaked in blood. She was losing so much.

“I-I’ll be back, y/n. Please don’t do this time me,” Logan tightly gripped the unconscious girl's hand, raising it to his mouth before he gave her a peck.

“Did she make it? Is she alive!?” Logan quickly got up as the door to his lab opened. The man sat there all night. Hank slowly walked out of the lab without saying a word.

“What? What, is she- D-Did I kill her? Is she dead!?” Logan felt his heart sink as he kept walking towards the man. “No — She’s actually just fine,” Hank spoke as y/n walked through the lab doors.

She had a medical gown on and looked healthier than ever.

Logan ran over to the girl and picked her up to hug her tightly as he cried in her neck. “I’m so sorry!” He sobbed as his fingers gripped her body, not wanting to let her go.

“It’s not your fault, Logan. Things happen, and I don’t want to hear otherwise,” she said, seeing his mouth open to argue. “You saved my life. That’s all you need to think about,”

Logan was lost for words as he placed y/n down. He couldn’t argue, and she looked alive. She was alive.

The man grabbed the girl's face a bit rough as he pulled her into a long and passionate kiss that was followed with apologies. Y/n’s soft hands grabbed his cheeks as well, pulling him in closer.

“No thanks to me, I guess,” Hank said as the two laughed in between their kiss. “Thank you, Hank,” Y/n pulled away from Logan and looked at the man who barely had to do anything.

“I’m completely joking. I barely had to do anything anyways,” Hank said which confused Logan. “What are you talking about?” Logan asked as he placed his hand over y/n’s wounds that he couldn’t feel. He thought the gown was in the way until he lifted the gown up to see no marks. Just her in a pair of medical tights.

“She regenerates, Logan. Just like you! — So perfect for each other,” Hank rubbed his hands together in excitement. “It only took awhile I’m guessing because this was the first time her skin was broken that bad,”

“I’m so sorry about that, y/n,” Logan instantly felt bad again. “No apologizing. I’m here now,” y/n softly grabbed Logan’s face again. “With me,” he added before kissing her again, but this time more passionately.

After that day, Logan and y/n built their relationship. He wasn’t so sure at first, but he couldn’t ignore the feelings he had grown for her. All the times he wanted to tell her this wouldn’t work, those pretty eyes would make him forget was he was going to tell her.

Logan has only had one nightmare after the night he almost killed y/n. He was furious when he saw Jean. She killed Scott, she killed Charles and almost had y/n killed.

He soon realized that women were never for him. He just grew feelings from the competition between him and Scott, but now that he’s gone, Logan couldn’t forgive and forget what she’s done.

It took a while for Logan to let Y/n lay in the same bed as him, but after she snuck into his room one night and he woke up to her wrapped around him peacefully — he couldn’t deny it anymore.

[minimoxha]

Ready, Set, Love!

Starring: Satoru Gojo, Karma Akabane, Eren Yeager, Itadori Yuji, Izuku Mydoria, Y/n L/n.

Summary: Based in a society where marriage is now a hard ask to achieve. In which you, the reader are forced by your sister to join a game show in hopes to get married while you're in it to make money.

A/n: I KNOW THIS IS A CRAZY MIX BUT HEAR ME OUT. Abandoning prior lore these boys are (Not that traumatized) And they will be the options for you to marry. However, if you feel like anyone else should be in the show to replace some of the characters let me know.

There will be different games and different endings which means you all can vote on the dates and games and outcomes and kind of choose how the story goes, YAY! This was the prolouge so tune in next episode next week! :D

Enjoy,

“I understand what you’re saying Ms.L/n, truly.” My sister's principal started, giving me a look of pure pity as I just spilled my life to her like it was truly her problem that we couldn’t afford such a prestigious school. “However, we can’t keep her here. She is disruptive and abusive to our students and staff here. She has to leave.” Just fucking great, Jada. You had to be an argument brat all the damn time. 

“Do you know our other options?” I ask quietly. When Mrs.Langsy looked down at her computer, I made sure to send Jada a death stare. I was tired of switching schools because she couldn't keep herself together. And this time, I didn’t know how I was going to send her to school when the last option was a school for snotty rich kids that I definitely couldn’t afford the tuition for. “Public schools preferably?”

Mrs.Langsy sighed and finally stopped typing on her computer, giving me and Jada a sorry look. So, that was a no. 

“Jada has been banned from every public school in this part of the city. The other option would be to move or go to private school..” Mrs.Langsy whispered to me. I could feel my left eye twitching in anger She just had to do this now. “This is the brochure for the private school closest, Jularod, I send my own daughter there it is an amazing school.” I took the brochure and flipped though it before stopping and abruptly closing it when I saw the tuition price; 20 thousand a year? Was I paying for her college or was I paying for her to attend middle school?

“Thank you, Ms. Langsy. Have a good day.” I smiled to the principal even though I clearly have an attitude. I dragged jada out of the office before laying into her.

“How did you get suspended again? I thought we said no fighting?”

“She fucked around and found out! I don’t know what you want me to do.” Jada argued back as we walked to the car. “Just take me out of school, I’ll teach myself.” Jada was always stubborn, just like dad was. This however, was not the time to have an attitude. 

“Watch your mouth, Jada. You’ll learn when you're older than fighting wont just get you suspended but next time, It’ll get you in Jail.” I argue back. I sound like my mom. She would’ve been yelling at me for skipping class or something just as rebellious as Jada was doing years ago when I was her age. Years ago when she was alive. 

“Jada please, I work hard to make sure we have a roof and food. I just need you to behave for once. Can you do that?” My voice cracked at the end, I was trying my best to not cry while driving and crashing the car. If she had a better role model than me…maybe she would’ve been better behaved. 

Jada turned to me, worry coating her beautiful babydoll eyes. “I’ll do better, Y/n.” 

That was all I needed. 

Some type of Closure that she would be trying to end her nasty streak of fighting and being sneaky. I would do all that I could to trust that she would make the right decision. I just had to sit and trust her for once. 

“Let’s go out to dinner this time.”

“Yeah!”

                              —

Jada and I walked side by side, Ice cream in hand staying in sight of the huge tv located in the main part of (insert city in japan later).The broadcast of Ready, Set, Love, was starting to play; announcing all 100 contestants in a very slow, very painful manner. 

I had never been interested in shows like these, Reality tv mixed with dating and finding the true love of your life. Jada was though. 

In our house she had ran her allowance almost dry buying various merch from the many ads the boys had to advertise them

for them for the new season. My ears almost bled with how much she would tell me about these men she barely knew. And every night, without a doubt she’d be in one of their lives watching these men talk about their lives for no apparent reason. 

They were handsome, I couldn’t lie. But Couldn’t imagine being one of the girls to be on that show competing for a man. Had we really lost all decorum as women that we were so eager to be married that we’d do competitions for the chance to have one we wanted? 

“I hope you win.” Jada mumbled from beside me. I turned to her, confusion written all over my face.

“I didn’t enter, why would I win?”

“I entered you.” She confessed. My face was more confused than ever now.

It was nothing new that Jada was one of the sneakiest people I knew. If she wanted to hide something  and lie about something, she was going to do it. Gracefully, might I add. “Why would you do that? You know I don't like these stupid shows.” I ask her, finishing my ice cream with my mouth full of the dessert. “Its like a 0.1 chance that I’ll be picked out of 1 million girls.”

Jada turns to me, her face more serious than I had ever seen it. “I want to see you married, Y/n. I don’t want you to sit around and put your life to the side even when you deserve to live your life.” Tears filled her eyes as she took hold of my hand. Her palms were sweaty, she was nervous. 

My mouth opened so I could say something, something that would attempt to convince her that she was not a burden to me no matter what. I was cut off by the rather loud announcement of my full name coming from the direction of one of the screens that hung from the side of the building. As if on its own, my head flips back towards the tv seeing a horrible picture plastered on the screen, directly next to my name in big green letters. My mouth falls in shock. There  was absolutely no way I actually won. I didn’t even want to win but somehow out of millions of girls I was one of the starting 100? My head flips back to Jada who looked at me with a huge smile gaping her face.

“You won! You actually won” She shouts, voice like a kid in a candy store would be.

Yeah, I won. Holy shit.

[zaldritzosrose]

Ettore - Halloween Headcanons

The fifth in a little collection of Halloween Headcanons for our Ewanverse boys (missing a few as they're being involved elsewhere!) for Fan Frankentober, see @fandomeventcenter for all the other contributions and the event details! Masterlist for the event can be found here...

Headcanons below the cut!

CW: (Minors DNI) Mentions of dark thoughts, mentions of sexual activity, mentions of criminal activity, mentions of prison, mentions of past abuse, Ettore is a red flag in human form, mentions of reader (second person pronouns used), mentions of a toxic relationship, reader doesn't make Ettore better but also doesn't make him worse. (AU where Ettore doesn't go on the ship).

Seriously, these do get a little dark, but it is Ettore. All warnings apply.

As a teenager/young adult…

Ettore was nothing if not troubled.

It started out small. Stealing from the shop next to his flat, breaking into a couple of cars.

But it was only a matter of time before he escalated. Getting into fights in the pub, breaking into homes.

He soon spent more time in a cell than he did at home. But he didn’t care, not really.

It was the thrill he chased. The rush that made him want to do it again and again.

He’d seek out one-night stands when the crimes weren’t enough.

But even those weren’t enough. There was a darkness inside he needed to pull others into. Ettore didn’t know when it had started. The assaults, those women who became his unwilling victims.

But he was too far gone to care.

He took Halloween as a chance to commit more heinous acts.

When families were occupied, when people were drunk in bars across town, he’d strike. Breaking into homes, cornering defenceless and drunk women.

Halloween truly was a time of horror for him.

During the prison stint…

Halloween was on the backburner during Ettore’s stint in prison. But he missed the opportunities it brought.

But prison surprisingly brought along an opportunity for him to ‘try’ and better himself.

Therapy, ordered by the court. While it didn’t make him a good person, he learned to dealt with his violent urges with a little more control.

He would never lead a normal life, but he was less consumed by darkness.

And now…

He met you after he’d been released from prison.

The prison therapist had made a request that he continue to receive help even after his release.

And that’s where he met you.

He’d never really found out why you were in therapy, but he knew you were almost as messed up as he was. And he thrived on that.

So it wasn’t long before he began to seek you out. Ask to spend time with you after sessions.

You were as drawn to him as he was you.

Officially, you truly got together on Halloween, of all nights.

Neither of you were supposed to drink, but you had risked a night out in a bar.

A few drinks passed between you, lowering any inhibitions you both had.

You heard, whilst on the way back from the bathroom, about a late night showing of Scream at an outdoor theatre.

In reality, Ettore had no interest. But you wanted to, and he’d hate to admit it but he’d do anything to keep you close.

That started a tradition. Every Halloween you two would pick an activity and spend the night having some spooky fun.

One year, it was a Haunted House – Ettore got a surprising thrill from chasing and scaring you (it soon turned into something a little more…x rated…but you didn’t mind that).

Another year, you both went to a scare maze. But you had a little surprise planned for Ettore.

You knew he enjoyed the thrill of a chase, and the kinkier side of your intimacies were enough to sate his urges.

So, you’d bought him a costume, fitting right into the theme of the scare maze. And you were more than willing to play his helpless victim.

(You did both get banned from the scare maze for…adult activities…but you had fun nonetheless).

When you’d, somehow, managed to make a few friends, you dragged Ettore back down to the local pub.

They had decided to throw a Halloween party and you had equipped you both with matching Ghostface masks.

As was usual, your night ended in a heated session of carnality. But you wouldn’t have it any other way.

Ettore, despite everything he once believed about himself, knew you were meant for him.

You didn’t make him better, but you made him whole.

And that was all he needed.

@legitalicat @thenameswinter99 @aemondsbabe @hoosbandewan

@anjelicawrites @aemondsbabygirl @sylasthegrim

@towriteloveontheirarms @thought--bubble @tumblin-theworldaway

@mysticalendings @arcielee @peachysunrize @multyfangirl

@blissfulphilospher @elaratyrell @kaelatargaryen @vhagar-balerion-meraxes

Please let me know if you want to be added/deleted!

[cherryxsapphic]

So, I have a request! (If you don’t like this request idea, you don’t have to write it!)

Marilyn x fem!(can be a student or a teacher)reader, where Marilyn is extremely overprotective over reader. R is used to her pritective nature, but it sometimes goes a bit too far, when Marilyn won’t let r hangout w her friends or go out in a certain outfit. Or when someone tries to hit on r, she would immediately come over and wrap her hand around r’s waist.

So basically just overprotective Marilyn, maybe some angst! You can choose how it goes!

Take your time <3

This is for the lovely @m1lflov3rrr I am dreadfully sorry that it took me literal months to even put this out, but I do hope you enjoy!!🍒

Also a special thanks to my pookie bear @h-doodles for helping me with this, I couldn't have done this without you!! 🥰

You were sitting down peacefully in the quad by yourself. Sandwich in hand as you jam out to some music blaring through your earbuds, bobbing your head slightly to the rhythm when you suddenly feel a sharp fingernail aggressively tapping your right shoulder. You jumped slightly at the sudden interruption, whipping your head towards the person in question, setting them with an annoyed look only to soften when you realized it was just Enid, Enid Sinclair, the local colorful werewolf. You take a moment to pause your music and pull out your earbuds, setting them down gently on the table alongside your forgotten sandwich. Spinning your body around the school bench, finally giving the very excited wolf your full attention, looking up at her from your seated position, you give her a sheepish smile before speaking.

“Sorry, Enid! I was so caught up in my music that I didn’t notice you there!”  

"I know, silly! You've been hard to see around these past few weeks, so I just HAD to come over."

"I got busy…" You fight to keep your blush down as you think of what, or more accurately, who exactly got you busy. "My schoolwork has been slipping, so I asked a few teachers for extra work." You say, to cover it up.

Enid nods, understanding. Being a student with academic achievements, she often saw you poring over textbooks in the library OR trailing after your teachers for extra lessons during your free time, orders from your strict parents who monitored your progress over your head. “Well,” she starts, clasping her hands together. “Me and the girls have missed you a lot, so I wondered if you were free tonight?”

Guilt seeps into your bones when you hear the hope in her tone. You have been neglecting your friends and a dark whisper inside your brain–

“I suppose I’ve pestered our teachers enough, and I just finished passing the latest exam, so… I guess I'm free." 

“Yayyy!!!” Enid does a little happy dance before lifting you for a hug. You shouldn’t be surprised by the excitable werewolf’s strength, but you gasp a bit anyway. “We’re going to a party in the woods tonight; you HAVE to come!" 

When she finally puts you down, you sigh and shake your head. “The woods? Enid, you know Weems banned us from going there, right?”

“Don’t worry; the party is located somewhere TOTALLY safe—”

“Hey, girlies!” you stifle a scream when a cold hand suddenly touches your back. “Finally caught us a live one, huh?”

“Haha, hilarious, Tanaka.” your tone dripping with sarcasm as you turn around to give the vampire a playful slap on the hand.

“Don’t start. You’re going to the party, and I’m going to your dorm later to ensure you’re dressed right.”

“I haven’t said yes yet!”

And here you are in your dorm room, contemplating your life choices before sighing, putting on something comfortable, and grabbing your comfort jacket that belongs to Marilyn. You put the coat to your nose and breathe in her wavering scent, wishing you were with her instead of going to this stupid forest party. Falling on your bed, you bend over clumsily, grabbing your shoes off the ground and putting them on as you were just finishing tying your shoes—

Yoko and the FUCKING Scooby gang burst into your room like a pile of rats searching for cheese. 

“Girliepop, you’re not wearing THAT to the party, right?” Yoko asked, looking you up and down.

While holding Mari's jacket, you looked down at your black jeans, red Converse, and a favorite baggy shirt. Then back to Yoko, who opened your closet and rifled through your clothes while Enid talked animatedly to a sulking Wednesday.

“What’s wrong with my outfit?”

Yoko pointedly looks at you and pulls out a short, skimpy dress. You blush as you remember Marilyn telling you it was a dress for her eyes only and that you would never wear it out. “You’re simply holding out on us, omg.”

"Yeah, the party's in the woods, so that's a hard NO on wearing that one!"

"Oh come on, what's the point of having that snack of a body if you aren't gonna use the right wrappers?"

"Listen, my tits spill out in one move in that one, and I'd rather die than return it to the store because of anxiety, so you can just. Pick another one… please?"

Yoko pouts but acquiesces to your pleading. Flipping through some more, she finds a similar-looking skimpy dress, but a little longer than you were confident you'd make out with your dignity half-intact.

"Here."

"Oooh!" Enid moves over, done pestering Wednesday for the moment, and oohs and ahs over the dress before starting again. "Pair it with the heeled boots, and wear tights if you're concerned about the cold."

"I mean. I'm bringing along this jacket, but why heeled boots—”

“Because we said so. Now hop to it.”

Throwing your hands up, you take the new outfit and walk to your bathroom to change. 

The party in the woods was in full swing, the rhythmic beat of music mingling with the laughter and chatter of the gathered crowd. Strings of fairy lights adorned the trees, casting a warm, enchanting glow over the makeshift dance floor. Enid, the excitable werewolf, led the charge in festivities, dragging you into the heart of the celebration.

As the night unfolded, the atmosphere grew electric, the energy contagious. You found yourself dancing with newfound friends, the pulsating music drowning out any lingering doubts. However, the borrowed outfit — a compromise between your comfort and the party's expectations — seemed to attract more attention than you anticipated.

Yoko, the lively vampire, strutted over, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Girl, you're the life of the party! Everyone's talking about that dress!"

You blushed, feeling both flattered and self-conscious. The beats throbbed louder, urging you to lose yourself in the music, and you obliged, dancing away the concerns that nagged at the edges of your mind.

But as the night wore on, a discordant note disrupted the harmony. The distant growls of the creature you encountered earlier echoed through the trees, casting a shadow over the revelry. The carefree atmosphere shifted, and hushed whispers spread through the crowd like wildfire.

Enid, always exuberant, tried to downplay the unease. "Guys, it's probably just some forest critter. Don't let it ruin the party!"

Yet, the anxiety lingered, and a subtle tension threaded its way through the crowd. The music played on, but the once carefree dancing took on a more cautious rhythm.

Suddenly, the distant growls escalated into a deafening roar, and panic rippled through the partygoers. People scattered in all directions, the fairy lights casting eerie shadows as they dashed for cover.

Enid grabbed your arm, eyes wide with fear. "We need to get back to the school—now!"

Chaos ensued as the revelry devolved into a frenzied scramble. The once lively dance floor transformed into a chaotic scene of stumbling figures, their laughter replaced by shouts of panic.

As you ran back toward the safety of Nevermore, you couldn't shake the feeling that the creature's pursuit was closing in. The enchanted woods, once a backdrop for joyous gatherings, now harbored an ominous threat.

The party had taken a turn no one expected, leaving a trail of chaos in its wake. In the midst of the pandemonium, you yearned for the familiar embrace of Marilyn's jacket, a reminder of comfort amid the unforeseen disaster that had unfolded in the enchanted night.

‘I’m going to die. I’m going to fucking die, and it’s MY fault.’ I scream inside my head while I dart left and right through the trees. Protip: do not wear heels when going into the woods. Scratch that. Trust no one except Mari. Everyone is dumb EXCEPT Mari, especially when they say the woods are safe, there is NO monster, and you’re going to have SUCH a good time.

I could’ve enjoyed a nice cuddling session with Mari if I just stayed in bed and waited for her like usual, but no. I had to let myself get guilted and dragged to this party in these stupid heels and dress, and now I’m being chased by a BEAST, and I don’t even have my phone to give Mommy my goodbyes!’ 

The monster roars somewhere closer behind me, and I feel like I will have a HEART ATTACK! But I'll be fine once I get to the school, and look, there's the Hogwarts-looking building right there. So I just keep running. Thinking I'll be okay, my dumbass trips over a branch, and suddenly, I just want to give up. I feel like those dumb girls in those low-budget horror films.

As you scramble to your feet, panic gripping you like a vice, you hear the menacing growls of the pursuing creature drawing near. Adrenaline courses through your veins as you sprint toward the safety of the school building, your heels abandoned in the unforgiving underbrush.

The imposing silhouette of Nevermore looms ahead, a beacon of hope in the darkness. The monster's roars reverberate through the trees, pushing you to run faster, your breaths coming in ragged gasps.

Just when you think the creature is on the verge of catching you, the school's entrance comes into view. You burst through the doors, heart pounding, and slam them shut behind you, momentarily cutting off the creature's menacing sounds.

Safe within the confines of the school, you lean against the door, catching your breath. The echo of your heartbeats seems to drown out the lingering fear. The school hallway stretches before you, the familiar surroundings offering a stark contrast to the perilous adventure you just survived.

As you compose yourself, you realize that the night took an unexpected turn, and your friends might not have been entirely truthful about the safety of the woods. Thoughts of Marilyn flood your mind, and a profound longing for the comfort of her presence washes over you.

You decide to retreat to the quietude of your dorm room, shedding the borrowed outfit and slipping into the familiar warmth of Marilyn's jacket. The scent provides solace, grounding you in the reality that, despite the night's chaos, you are safe within the walls of Nevermore.

Reflecting on the events, you vow to prioritize your own well-being and not succumb to peer pressure. As you drift into a contemplative state, you can't help but yearn for the simplicity of sharing a peaceful moment with Marilyn, free from the chaos that lurks beyond the safety of Nevermore's embrace. 

To be continued…

Sorry for the lack of Marilyn in this chapter but don't worry there will be more in part 2, if y'all want a part 2 you that is?? 🤭

Tags: @s1nful-sa1nt @sssappling2004 @marilynthornhill @proton-selfships @philip-15 @luucyyyy (and anyone else who wants to be tagged ♡)

[merakiui]

I just came across Boyfriend (yandere fem!riddle x reader) and gosh, that was sooooo good 🙈

Got me thinking what if the boyfriend wasn't Floyd but... Trey... and how would our cute Riddle react if instead of a guy she could hate freely, it had been her childhood friend the one that stole her beloved reader!

:O TREY...... omg poor Riddle... this is arguably much more difficult than boyfriend!Floyd because, by all counts, Trey is a genuinely good man. T_T she just can't win, can she? Having to hide her sexuality from her mother while fighting for her life to narrowly escape arranged marriages with men, having to watch you and Trey slowly fall in love while she's hopelessly pining from the sidelines because she's not sure if you like girls, and now it's been a few years and you and Trey are still together.

What's worse is that Riddle can't even find anything about Trey to hate or disapprove of because he comes from a good family and knows how to provide for you. He's truly husband material, and this is what she fears: you and Trey getting married because surely that's the next step, right? Meanwhile, Riddle's mother would sooner crucify you for stepping foot in her home and introducing yourself as her daughter's girlfriend. It's such a tough situation to navigate.

On one hand, she doesn't want to interfere in your relationship with Trey because this is her childhood friend, the guy who always looked out for her and stuck by her side even when her mother banned him (and Che'nya) from her house. Riddle doesn't want to lose her friend, but she also doesn't want to lose you either. She probably logics it out, assessing the risk in that classic Riddle Rosehearts way. She's so meticulous about it. Perhaps she eventually decides there's no point in trying to do something that may result in her losing both of her dear friends. So instead she'll just continue to love in silence, eyeing you like you're those forbidden strawberry tarts she could never have. And, in some ways, you are. She wants to be happy for you and Trey, but it's hard when she's spent so many years quietly obsessing over you.

It would be so much easier if Trey was someone she could dislike, but he's actually really good for you. How can she possibly handle that?

[strniohoeee]

Desolation

Pairings: Nick Sturniolo X Female Reader, friendship🥰includes Chris and Matt as well😋

Synopsis: After Y/N has a messy breakup with her boyfriend. Nick and his brothers are always there for her ready to kill for her🥹

Warnings⚠️: mentions of heartbreak, slight mention of abuse, but nothing crazy. The three boys ready to kill for Y/N. It’s just so cutesyyy and a little sad nothing crazy

Song for this imagine: The Worst by Jhené Aiko

And don’t take this personal, but you’re the worst, you know what you’ve done to me

I had been dating my current boyfriend since I was 17, and I’m 21 now, but lately we’ve been rocky, and not well for one another. Last year we were constantly on and off, something that pissed Nick off so much.

Flashback

“I’m not even sure what you see in him like he’s so fucking toxic, and literally hates us because we’re your guy friends” Nick would tell me in a fit of frustration as I would run into his arms crying over him breaking up with me.

“I know Nick, but I love him so much it hurts when he keeps playing this cat mouse game of wanting me then pushing me away” I would say wiping my tears

“He’s hurting you so fucking much you’re always sad, crying, never eating and your smile doesn’t shine the same anymore” Nick would tell me hugging me as I weeped

“God you’re right. I need to leave him, or figure this out” I would say

“I vote to leave him” Matt chimed in as he walked into the kitchen. I looked up and gave him a weak smile

“Like J Cole said you’re killing yourself to find a man that’ll kill for you” Chris added trying to lighten the mood

“Ew Chris shut the fuck up that was so embarrassing” Nick said giving him a dirty look

“Yeah that was really fucking gross” Matt said laughing at him

“Even though that was cringe I appreciate you trying to make me laugh” I told him as I laughed wiping my tears

Flashback over

That never would happen though. We would break up, I’d cry and say I’m leaving him, and then two days later we were back together like nothing happened. A pattern I know was pissing the triplets off, but he was my first everything I couldn’t leave him.

We were really good for three months, and then all of a sudden our issues came back. Constantly fighting, yelling, anxiety and trust issues came rushing back in.

I was so tired of having to tiptoe around him, scared that it would cause another crazy fight. He stopped coming over to the triplets house because Nick banned him after we got into yet another screaming match and he embarrassed me in front of them. Even after that I still stood with him like an absolute idiot, but man love will make you do crazy things.

I hadn’t seen my boyfriend for a few days, and I wanted to surprise him by taking him on a cute picnic at the park. It was what we did for our first date, so I thought this might make him reminisce and change how he was treating me. When we had good moments they were really great, and when they were bad they were really fucking bad. But I really wanted this date to help us fix our issues.

I had Ubered to the park because even though he agreed to the date he said he couldn’t pick me up. Which was weird, but I figured he was still mad at me over our argument.

The whole date he was being super dry and barely laughing at my usual jokes. He was constantly checking his phone, and when he was done answering his messages he would place his phone screen side down. Which was not his usual behavior, and this was giving me major anxiety, and I was starting to worry that he might be cheating on me.

“Why do you keep looking at your phone” I asked him eating a strawberry

“Can’t I look at my phone?” He said giving me a dirty look

“I mean you can, but I did this date for you, and you haven’t looked at me once, nor laughed at my jokes” I told him still looking at him

“No one told you to do this” he said nonchalantly

“What the fuck is really going on right now? Like I’m trying to fix our problems, and you’re being such a fucking dick” I told him starting to pack the food away

“There’s nothing wrong with our relationship, you just don’t know how to act, and you piss me off, so I get upset” he said looking down at his phone again

“Wow! You start about 85% of our arguments” I said laughing, hoping he was just joking with me, but to no surprise he’s still looking down at his phone texting someone

“I wouldn’t start them if you weren’t so fucking annoying” he said looking at me with a smug face

“You’re such a dick. I'M TRYING TO BE NICE” I told him getting a little loud, and he just ignores me looking down at his phone again

“Holy shit who the fuck are you texting” I said as i grabbed his phone, and looked down at the screen

Shelly💗👩🏼‍❤️‍💋‍👨🏻

I miss you so much when are you coming back?

Soon baby I’m just waiting for my homeboy to finish, so i can bring him home

My heart dropped to my stomach, and immediately I felt like throwing up reading these messages of him cheating on me. As tears welled in my eyes I looked up at him, and he seemed annoyed??

“What the fuck is this?” I said keeping my composure as my tears fell non stop

“Can’t you just mind your fucking business” he said snatching his phone away

“Mind my fucking business? I’m here trying to fix what we’ve had for four years, and you’re texting some other girl? And not only that but you’re lying to her! At least be a man and fucking own up to it. At least fucking break up with me, so you can be with her” I told him packing my purse up so I could leave

“Yeah I was planning and breaking up with you” he said still so calmly

“Yeah? And when were you going to do this? Whenever you want? Leave me stringing onto you, and having this false hope that we could actually work out” I told him as I wiped my tears.

“I was going to do it today” he said looking down

“Yeah sure you were. You’re such a fucking asshole” I said

“See! This is why I’m over you. You’re so fucking boring the same person since we were 17. You bring nothing good to me. I prayed day in and day out that you’d just leave me alone. Can’t you see my anger towards you I don’t love you anymore, and I haven’t loved you since we were 18” he said to me

“SO THEN WHY THE FUCK WOULD YOU KEEP ME STRINGING ALONG FOR SO MANY YEARS” I yelled at him not caring if someone looked over at us

“Calm down” he said looking me dead in my eyes

“Fuck you, don’t tell me to calm down you piece of shit” I told him standing up getting ready to walk away

“Yeah well fuck you too run away just like you always do” he said also standing up

“We’re done. Don’t ever call me. Don’t ever come looking for me. I fucking hate you” I said wiping my tears

“I’m good off you. You don’t come looking for me because I know you can’t live without me” he said laughing in my face

I picked up some fruits and threw them at him, but before I could stomp away he grabbed his cup of wine and threw it at me. Splashing my face and all down my white shirt. I just looked at him as my face dropped, I threw some fruits, and I get a half of a cup of wine thrown at me completely destroying my makeup and my white shirt

“Go run away you whore” he said as he threw the cup in my direction

“Fuck you” was all I could say. I walked past him and brush past him, and as I did that he grabbed my arm harshly and shoved me away from him. Causing me to loose my balance, but not enough to throw me down

I just looked back at him. Truly trying to comprehend that he just put his hands on me. Tears just ran down my face as I stormed off

I ordered an Uber and texted Nick

-hey can I come over?

-of courseeee we’re actually so bored just watching a movie in the living room, and we miss you 😚

I hearted the message, and as I locked my phone the Uber pulled up. I gave her the address and she drove me there. Every so often taking glances at me, but seeing I didn’t want to talk as I had my eyes closed trying to control myself from having a breakdown

After a 20 minute drive I was at the triplets house. I hopped out and took my phone out of my back pocket. Nick had texted me he left the door unlocked for me, so I went to the front door, opening it, and then locking it.

I walked up the stairs and when I turned into the living room Nick practically jumped off the couch

“What the actual fuck Y/N” he said standing up. I looked at him and started sobbing

“He fucking cheated on me” I said as Nick grabbed me and took me to sit on the couch with them

“HE DID WHAT?” Chris said also sitting up

“He…he was cheating on me, and we broke up. He told me I was fucking boring and he hasn’t loved me since we were 18, and that all I do is run away from my problems, and I’m a whore” I said ugly sobbing into Nicks arms

“I got so fucking pissed at him I threw some fruits at him, and then he threw his cup of wine all over me” I said looking down at my soaked shirt

“What a fucking dick. I’ll fucking kill him I fucking swear” Matt said starting to stand up in anger

“The whole date he was on his phone and wouldn’t let me see, and he told me he’s been planning to break up with me, and that he didn’t care about the date because it wouldn’t fix anything. I should’ve known because he didn’t even pick me up for the date” I said as I started to slow down my crying

“He didn’t pick you up?, Y/N why the fuck would you even waste your time trying to go on a date” Nick said rubbing my back

“Because I loved him. I wanted us to work out so badly he was my everything” I said looking at Nick

“You shouldn’t have to beg for someone’s love” Chris said looking at me with a weak smile

“I know, but I hoped he would see why he fell in love with me” I said, wiping my eyes. Nicks eyes traveled to my arms, and suddenly he grabs my arm and looks shocked and saddened

“What the fuck is this?” He said, looking at my arm. I looked down and saw fingerprints bruising my skin from where he grabbed me harshly

“He fucking grabbed me and shoved me when I went to walk past him” I said looking down

“He fucking put his hands on you” they all said in unison, and to this I nodded my head

“Y/N I will fucking beat his ass. I’ll knock him out and send him to the fucking hospital” Nick said standing up in anger

“He’s done stuff like this before! Whenever we would argue he would grab me and shove me sometimes to the ground and other times just a small shove” I said looking up at them

“Y/N, I’m going to fucking find him. I’m going. I’m going to bash his fucking teeth in” Chris said looking for his keys

“Guys no please calm down. I’m done I really need you guys here with me” I said looking at them again

“No man should ever put his hands on a woman especially a woman he loves” Matt said

“Well he doesn’t love me” I said

“Doesn’t matter” Nick said

“I know. I appreciate you guys so much. I love you guys, and I’m so sorry I didn’t leave him sooner. I’m so fucking sorry.”

“Don’t apologize. We love you so much, and we’ll do everything to get you to forget about him and feel better” Nick said

“Thank you guys” I said giving them a smile

“Would a kiss help” Matt asked giving puppy eyes

I laughed and shook my head yes. They all came in giving me a big group hug and kissing me on the cheek

“Go shower kid, so we can watch a movie and forget about that small dick loser” Nick said giving me one last tight hug

“Small dick loser is right” I said getting up, and we all laughed at that

I showered and changed into a pair of Nick's pajama pants and shirt. We all sat on the couch and decided to watch a comedy movie while eating some snacks. Occasionally they would throw in extra commentary to make me laugh.

“I love you guys so so much. You have no idea how much yall mean to me” I said looking at them

“We fucking love you too” Nick said giving me one big hug

“You’re gonna find a man that’ll kill for you” Chris said laughing

“Chris enough with that corny joke” I said laughing

“There goes that smileeeeee” he said teasing me

We ended the night just joking and watching movies till we all eventually fell asleep in Nicks room.

I loved these kids so much<3

The End🥰

I loved writing this! Can’t wait to write some more, and if you have any recommendations on what you’d want to see next lmk in the comments🫶🏽 thankssss

-J💅🏽

[heartfullofleeches]

Anon Asked: [Rookie cop and Spencer during his gang leader days- I need Spencer getting "caught" by rookie and flirting while getting handcuffed for the 10th time. I'm split whether I want an exasperated or oblivious thembo reader.]

(Reader is a bit of both. Brief blood mentions)

-

A disturbance call comes in.

It isn't from dispatch. It's not even from your radio. The call comes in directly from your phone from a number you know well by now. You could write a detailed map to the location right on the napkin carelessly cascaded on the top of your food. The mall on the otherside of town.

If you hurried, maybe you could finish your lunch on the way to the subject's house.

-

Pulling up to the scene, the subject sits on the curb outside the mall with his hands folded and eyes scanning the parking lot. He fixes his collar and scrapes specks of dried blood off his face as your patrol car rolls over the speed bump leading into the lot and rolls up to the curb. The security guard watching over him gives him the side eye, which only makes him smile more.

"This is the last time I'm doing this for you."

"You always say that, but I'm feelin a little lucky today."

You step out of the vehicle and approach the two. Spencer lights up like a Christmas tree despite the swelling on his left cheek.

"Well look who it is. The officer who sent in applications to the wrong place, when that pretty face could be on posters. What brings you to our part of town?"

You turn your focus to the guard. "What happened this time?"

"Same as usual. Fight broke out, other guys got away. This moron sat down in the food court and ordered a corndog before we pieced two and two together."

"Got you one too, but they wouldn't let me bring it with me. How about a movie this weekend to make up for it?"

"Got it. I assume the cameras are still out and there were few witnesses?"

"Like I said."

"Alright. I'll just take him home for now then. Next time would you just ban him or something?" You snag your cuffs from your belt and look over to Spencer. "Gonna make a run for it this time?"

He holds out his wrists. "Nah. I want spend as much time with you as I can, plus you have good taste in jewelry."

You help him to his feet and cuff his hands behind his back. As he stands, Spencer makes sure to slide up close to you as he can, damn near stealing each breath you exhale as his chest collided with your vest. You pay no mind as his head fall on your shoulder while you work on the restraints, having some difficulty due to not making him turn around. Why you did things that way is beyond you.

You walk him over to your car and put him in the back. Spencer's jovial expression tumbles as you head up front. "I can't join you up there?"

"Quiet." You pull out of the parking lot and back onto the main road, signal lights kept off as you head in the direction of his father's house. Hearing movement across the leather seats, you can feel his eyes drilling holes in the back of your head. That was his favorite thing to do with you. Stare. The first time you met he studied you for what felt like days, likely deciding on whether he'd throw the brick in his hand at you, or unbeknownst to you - if he had just fallen in love.

It makes you wonder how many slaps on the wrist you had given him. His sob stories about home and the good he was capable of always lead you to listening to your moral code rather than law's.Sure you were close in age, but you had so much more responsibility than him and he was still under your protection despite the trouble he's caused.

"I got a new address you can drop me off for next time. Just signed a lease for an apartment near dad's place. You looking to move anytime soon?"

You look at his bloody close from the mirror. "Are you hurt?"

Spencer's heartrate increases. Finally. "Didn't hear you properly, officer."

"Are. You. Hurt."

He bites the wall of his cheek. "Definitely."

You take a detour on a side road and reach into the glove compartment. Retrieving the first aid kit stashed away, you round to the back of the car and kneel to take care of Spencer's wounds as you open the door and he slides forward. His lip is split, mouth bloody, and the bruise on his cheek purplish. You dab some alchohol on some swabs and take his chin your head. The blood rushes to his head and other extremities.

"You're so reckless.." You gently pat his broken lip with the cotton. Spencer doesn't flinch from the burn. In fact, the sting makes the experience more thrilling. A small jolt of electricity to the already electrified hunger in his chest. Seeing his own blood on the swabs and the bloody fluid rolling onto your fingers has him fantasizing about just about gorgeous you'd look covered head to toe in it. Clean his wounds with your tongue and show off that stunning smile with red stained teeth. Settle down - common sense warns. He can't be getting so excited and you haven't had your first date yet.

You patch up his outer injuries with bandages and restart the commune to his house. You uncuff him and wait for him to walk up to the porch, but his lingering eyes tell you that he wants you to come with. Spencer wants to spend you off with a hug, a kiss - the keys to his heart and all his mortal possessions, but he settles for a handshake to be polite.

"Its been a pleasure, Y/n. I'd said I hope we could see each other in different situations and maybe in each others bedroom, but that's more of a promise."

"Right. I suppose be nice to see you anywhere other than the back of my car." Bye, Spencer."

You return to your car and turn on the radio as you climb behind the wheel, but something in your back pocket keeps you from sitting comfortably. It's a golden watch, a bee engraved on its frame. The horrible realization weights on you as a real call phones in. The fight wasn't just an excuse to see you -

It was only a distraction.

[mystar-girl57]

Heyo lovelies, take however long you want with this one, ik you're busy with everything but something just popped in my head and it's quite cute, how about Jake wants to impress the reader and wants to make up for the time he spent hating on her, so calls neteyam or lo'ak and asks them what our favourite dish is, all three of them are horrible at it but they still do it to make our day special, when the reader comes home after a long day with Ronal , she is suprised so see them all huddled up and is suspicious but then they bring out the creation, them just staring into her soul while she ate it, it wasn't the best but eats it anyways because they made it for her 🥹🥹😭😭❤️❤️❤️ okay this has me melting 🫠 hope you're doing well 💖

A/n: I love all these requests😭

Jake had a problem. Anyone could see it if they happened to walk into the Sully family’s Marui and saw him sitting hunched over trying to messily scale a fish. Did you even like this fish? Jake wondered as he threw the poorly done fish (which looked like it had been mauled rather than cleaned) into the wicker basket beside him.

Today was the one year anniversary of the two of you being properly mated before Ewya. One year since you had left your home in the forest, one year since fighting Quaritch, one year since losing your son. Jake was well aware that one year did not make up for the several years of damage he had inflicted on you but he was certainly trying his best.

Jake’s ears flicked up hearing footsteps come padding into the marui and he instantly turned around. To his relief it was Lo’ak instead of you and he looked just as surprised seeing his Dad turn to quick. Lo’ak’s eyes read the room, drifting across the scales scattered around Jake’s knees and landed on the basket of barely edible fish. “Y’know Mom said cleaning the fish was strictly her job right?” Lo’ak rhetorically asked. Of course his Dad knew, after what happened the night you and Ronal went out for the evening and Jake had tried to prepare fish, he had been banned from the kitchen for life.

Jake huffed shaking his head and turned back around to the basket. “I am well aware of that.” He stood up, holding the basket and went over near the makeshift counter he had put together for you to work, versus doing it outside (especially when it was raining). “I just-” Jake cut himself off pinching his bridge of his nose, his hand on his hip. “It’s been a year son.” He looked to Lo’ak, “And I want this to be special for your mom. After everything, its the least I can try to do.”

Lo’ak didn’t respond right away trying to decide what to do. But in the end he nodded some and made his way to the counter. “I think I know how to make this meal that Ronal makes for us sometimes. Tsireya explained it, Mom really likes it.” Jake looked down at Lo’ak in surprise, was he offering to help? They hadn’t done something father - son related since they left the forest.

“But. We’re gonna need to get new fish. Not even Lepay will want these.” Lo’ak deadpanned, dangling the barely meated fish in the air before its tail broke and it fell to the ground at their feet with a sickening ‘splat’

Eclipse had fallen by the time you had made it back home. You and Ronal had such a long day; between her giving you swimming and breathing lessons to diving for ingredients to restock on medicine, then Tsireya, Kiri, and Tuk came asking if they could have a sleepover and it was Tuk’s first one so you were already worrying about that. To say you were tired was an understatement. All you wanted right now was to nibble on some dinner, convince Lo’ak to go out with Aonung and Rotxo and have the evening to just you and Jake.

When you walked in you noticed Jake and Lo’ak standing near the kitchen with their backs to you. They spoke in quick but hushed tones making you raised a brow in suspicion. “Ahem.” You cleared your throat and they instantly turned around, their eyes wide as if they had just been caught red handed.

“You’re back!” Jake tried to enthusiastically say while not looking nervous. He stepped forward to you and Lo’ak moved over to cover up whatever it was that they were hiding. He came over to you and you shared a quick but sweet kiss. “Now,” you smiled looking up at him with a knowing look. “what did you and Lo’ak get into.” Staring down at you Jake could see it in your eyes, the way you smirked that he was hiding something.

He took a deep breath moving his hands up and down your biceps (a nervous habit he had developed.) “Well, today has been one year.” He began, “And when I was with the Sky People we have a tradition called anniversaries.” He tried to explain, using the English term since he didn’t know the na’vi. “It’s on different days for different peoples and couples and its to celebrate something special.” You nodded following along then looking back at him, moving your hands to his so he could squeeze them. “And what are we celebrating tonight?”

Jake bit his inner lip, amazed at how difficult it was for him to form the words to say to you. He felt like he was back in highschool trying to charm that cute redhead cheerleader that was in his trig class. Jake never was successful in asking her out.

“We are celebrating us.” He replied once he found the words, “Sorta like a wedding anniversary. Tonight it’s been a year since we made things official, survived everything with the sky people so I figured you deserved something special.” On cue Lo’ak turned back to the counter and picked up a tray with a pile of food adorning it. Carefully he came over to the dining area and set it down, surprisingly not dropping anything.

When you got closer and sat down beside Jake you realized they had replicated Ronal’s spicy soup and greenery noodles. At first glance it looked delicious, but the real test was to see how it tasted.

Jake and Lo’ak watched you expectantly as you took the first bite. It was different to say the least. The spices were a bit strong in the broth and the noodles were a bit bland but all and all it was edible. “It tastes wonderful.” You smiled. The father and son’s bodies visibly relaxed as they let out a chorus of “yes”s and did what Lo’ak called “bro’s celebration.” You couldn’t help but kindly roll your eyes at their antics. It was good to see them bonding. Lo’ak then came over and gave you a quick hug. “Have a good night mama.” He whispered before getting some of his stuff and jogging out the door.

You looked over at Jake who was now sat down. “Had something to Aonung.” He shrugged then took a bite of his soup. His ears went back at the taste. “Oh god.” He winced making you burst out laughing. “Why didn’t you say it was too strong.” Jake laughed painfully, downing his cup of water. “Because I did not want to hurt you and Lo’ak.” You replied honestly, taking another bite trying to not make a face. “Agh, no babe don’t eat that it’s awful.” Jake chuckled gently setting the bowl down in front of you.

After you had made an edible dinner for the two of you, you both ate then cleaned up feeling too exhausted to do anything else. Climbing in bed, Jake opened up the covers up for you to climb in rather than him just getting in bed and rolling over like he use to.

“That was really sweet of you to do Ma’Jake.” You whispered into his shoulder hugging him. “It’s the least I could do, after everything.” There was a hint of guilt in Jake’s tone and you squeezed him a bit.

You fell into a comfortable silenence, the waves crashing outside on the beach starting to lull you sleep.

“At least I didn’t try to serve that fish I tried to make.”

“You what.”

𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭

© 𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫-𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥𝟓𝟕 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐬

[gyftmas2024]

🎁Rules🎁

🎄Be respectful. No abusive behavior, harrassment, racist remarks, kink-shaming, ship-shaming, misgendering on purpose, fighting over canon interpretations, bullying of any kind will be tolerated. This is a happy event meant to bring the UT community together, not a playground to fight over beliefs. If you have a major problem with a participant over one or more of these issues, please DM a mod.

🎄Don’t start drama. If you have any kind of problem, be sure to DM a mod right away instead of starting an argument. This goes for personal beef with another participant, getting heated up about controversial opinions or headcanons, publically calling out someone’s behavior, etc…

🎄Don’t like, don’t read. This event will include all kinds of adult topics, from suggestive to NSFW to dark content, as well as any ship, including fontcest, frans, etc… Of course, we will do our best to make sure you’re paired up with an imp whose request you’ll be comfortable with!

🎄Communication is key to a great event. If you have any kind of problem related to the event, please don’t hesitate to send us an ask here, on or off anon, on any of our social media (Twitter, Bluesky), or to DM mod Cognito (@sin-cognito). We will do our best to reply and find a good solution as fast as we can. This goes for if you need more time to work on your gift and need an extension, if you have a major problem with your imp’s request/s, if there is a conflict between you and another participant…

🎄No spoiling the fun. Please don’t post your imp’s gift/s before December 25th (your timezone) on the Gyftmas discord server or any other social media site. Keep your imp’s name and request/s a secret until that date. If you need to ask your imp questions about their request/s and preferences, you can either do it on anon on tumblr, or ask a mod to contact your imp for you. Writers are allowed to have their fic/s be looked over by a beta reader, as long as the beta reader is not their imp and they won’t share the fic on the server or any other social media site.

🎄Be mindful of your imp’s request/s and their dislikes/triggers. This is a happy event, and the last thing we want is for a participant to be triggered by their gift, so be extra careful when making their gift/s. Once again, if you’re unsure of something, don’t hesitate to ask them in anon on tumblr, or to ask us mods to contact your imp for you. Better safe than sorry.

🎄Do not give unsolicited crit to your santa after receiving your gift/s. That is incredibly rude and will get you banned from future events. If there is an issue with your gift/s, please contact a mod.

[sednonamoris]

come all ye sinners

Pairing: John Marston x gn!reader

Summary: Driven from camp in the aftershocks of an earth-shattering shift in John and Abigail’s relationship, you find yourself in an unlikely situation with and even more unlikely ally. Is there a way forward?

Warnings: Gratuitous religious (Christian) imagery/blasphemy/etc., angst, alcohol abuse and intoxication (vague), strong language, lots of dialogue, extremely complicated feelings and situations lol

Word count: 2,464

A/N: AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!! that is all <3

Series masterlist • AO3

—

Your hands ache with the repetitive scrubbing motion as you clean years and years worth of grime off the headstone of Dear Albert C. His is only the latest; you’ve been at this all morning. It takes a few more minutes of scouring against slate to reveal the full inscription:

Dear Husband

ALBERT CALLOWAY

1816 - 1889

The one beside him is for Loving Mother and Wife, Catherine. The one next to her is Dear Departed Maggie. The whole churchyard is filled with graves just like these; epitaph after epitaph on faded stone. Loving Sister. Our Angel Departed. Thou art Gone but Remembered. Even half-eroded and covered in moss the love buried on these grounds threatens to overwhelm you. It makes you think of a different church with chipped white paint, of a different graveyard with different names carved carefully in stone. Your parents wasting side by side beneath the unforgiving red dirt of New Austin, where you haven’t paid pilgrimage in years uncounted. 

You’re sure that if you try to step foot in any chapel these days you’ll catch fire. Even the hallowed ground of this graveyard burns, but when the local Reverend asked for help you weren't exactly in a position to refuse. 

Early last week you rode into town, renting a room at the hotel and then drowning yourself in whiskey at the shittier of Valentine’s saloons. You just had to get away from camp. It was suffocating. Ever since Abigail pulled John aside— 

Well, it hasn’t been good. 

No one knows what it is she said, but everyone knows that they’re not together anymore - really and truly split apart - and neither one has spoken to you since. 

Even as you’d helped John pitch his own tent on the other side of yours he’d avoided your gaze, ignored your questions and your consolations entirely. When you’d tried to ask Abigail over dinner that night if she was alright her red-rimmed eyes looked everywhere but at you. The fire. Her stew. A patch of sky and sunset behind you. Normally Arthur, at least, would break down enough to tell you something, but he’s still out near Strawberry - murdering half a town with Micah, if the papers are true. 

But being ignored you could have handled. The pointed stares ranging between annoyance and pity were what drove you to leave without so much as a goodbye.

You didn’t run far - only Valentine. The whole town wishes it had been farther; you’ve made an ass of yourself here. Between the bar fights and public intoxication it’s a wonder the sheriff hasn’t just locked you up. After drowning yourself in whiskey and fighting half the other patrons you’re banned from Smithfield’s for at least a month, if not for life. The grocer at the general store will barely sell to you, and the only reason you haven’t been kicked out of your hotel room is that you paid cash upfront. 

Keane’s is your last refuge, the rickety old saloon beside the churchyard, which of course is how you got yourself into this latest predicament. You drank yourself under the table with the bar’s only other occupants last night. All the stories about Jim ‘Boy’ Calloway hardly do justice to the way that man drinks. His bespectacled friend ought to go down in the history books beside him, the way he kept pace. The three of you drank and drank and drank some more, weeping into your cups about lives gone by, until finally Ned had enough and closed the place down. Mindless with drink you’d stumbled out the doors and into the street and right into something. Someone.

You’d snapped instantly - slurred, really - like it wasn’t entirely your fault. 

“Apologies, my child,” a serene voice had said. 

“Ain’t nobody’s child no more.”

You’d shoved whoever it was out of the way with a snarl and promptly lost your balance, falling flat on your face and into the mud Valentine is so famous for. It’s hard to remember much after that. A voice calling out in concern. Gentle hands helping you up. A shoulder to lean on.

Then nothing.

You woke this morning to sunlight streaming in your eyes and a pounding headache. The room you were in was small and humble and entirely unfamiliar. It smelled of incense. Burnt-out candles. Hope, somehow.

“Oh, good,” an almost-familiar voice had called out, “you’re awake.” An older man of the cloth with kind brown eyes and a shock of white hair over a wise smile trundled into the little room with a mug of coffee and some bread. “I am Reverend Hampton. You were quite unwell last night, so I brought you here to recover.”

“Where the hell is here?”

He’d smiled at that like he was in on some joke you didn’t know about. “The House of God.”

“Oh, Jesus Christ.”

Your blasphemy had him laughing out loud, of all things, and once you fought to keep his proffered breakfast down he had asked, sweet as you please, if you could spare a few hours helping an old shepherd tend to his flock after you cleaned up. You thought maybe you’d be lighting candles for a service or hefting around pews he could no longer move, but since the sun peeked out from behind the Grizzlies’ distant peaks it’s just been you and a scrub brush and a bucket of murky water against the time and decay that has hidden Valentine’s past lives and lovers from view.  

—

You work well into the afternoon. There comes a point when your mind is quiet and your hands are raw, and that’s when Reverend Hampton finally reappears.

“So many names I have not seen in years,” he says, hands brushing over headstones like old friends. “Thank you, truly.” 

“I owed you after last night,” you grumble.

His easy praise makes your ears burn with shame, but he just gives you another one of those secret smiles. “God smiled upon me indeed when our paths crossed.”

“You’re about the only person to think so,” you huff out a disbelieving laugh. “Is that what you were doin’ outside a saloon at closing time? Looking for lost souls?” 

“I was trying to find Mickey, our resident vagrant. I had brought a blanket for him since the nights are still chilly, but…”

“But I ran into you instead,” you finish for him. “Sorry again.”

He waves your apology off with a weathered hand. “I have found that the people who need the most guidance are not the faces I see every Sunday at my pews. Charity sent me out of the church doors so late, but Providence brought me you.” 

“If your God sent me, he must not like you all that much.”

“I don’t know about that,” he laughs softly and takes a seat on the ground beside you, despite the ache it’s sure to cause his old bones, “but I do know He very much likes looking out for those in need.”

“No offense, Reverend, but what could I possibly need from you or Him?”

“A kind ear to listen, perhaps? Something is weighing you down. Where better than here to unburden yourself, with only me and the ghosts to listen?”

“I ain’t the confessing type.”

“It’s nothing so serious, I assure you. Think of it as a conversation between friends.”

You scoff, but it lacks your usual bite. “We ain’t friends, Reverend.”

His eyes sparkle with endless patience and good humor. “We could be.”

And so, in spite of everything, you start talking. 

All your troubles come tumbling out bit by bit. Each story is veiled behind the ambiguity of a killer on the run, and he’s certainly sharp enough to know you’re not the saving kind, but he listens like he cares. Like you really are friends. You tell him how John rescued you when you were just kids, and somewhere in between growing up you realized it would be you and him forever, ‘til the end of it all. How even after he left for a whole year you never once stopped believing that someday it’d be the two of you in twin graves with matching headstones just like the ones you lean against now. You try to explain the broken family he has with Abigail, now fractured further, and how it’s really your fault because you urged Arthur towards happiness even when you knew, deep down, no one would end up happy. How no one will talk to you and it’s just what you deserve but that doesn’t mean you can take it, so you tried to drink it all away and didn’t even get lucky enough to drown. 

Now here you are, run out of camp and proved right. Some ruined phantom haunting the life you almost had. Haven’t you just lived up to your name? And doesn’t it feel so good to be a harbinger of doom on the outside looking in, scribing the writing on the wall with your own blood?

You don’t even realize you’re crying by the end until the Reverend offers you an embroidered handkerchief from his breast pocket. The better part of the afternoon is gone now. Early evening sun does its best to warm you with the late spring grass. Birds sing sweetly overhead. The smile Reverend Hampton gives you is just as saccharine. 

“Sorry,” you croak. “Didn’t realize I’d be such a fuckin’ mess.” 

“It’s alright,” he says, still with that gentle smile. “Let it all go. You’ve held on so tight for so long. Let me be here to catch you today.” 

You’re not sure how long you sit there beside the now-clean graves of Valentine’s churchyard with the Reverend’s calming hand on your shoulder and his handkerchief in your hand. It takes several shuddering breaths before you come back to yourself. You rise slowly, extending a hand when he tries to do the same. He surprises you by going in for an embrace once he’s up, but where yesterday you pushed him away, today you pull him close.

“I don’t know how I’ll ever repay your kindness,” you say into his shoulder. “We both know I ain’t done much to deserve it.”

He pulls back to give you that bemused smile once more. “Kindness isn’t about deserving, dear child. Go in peace, and know you will always have a friend here. Always.”

You chance one last glance over your shoulder after saying your goodbyes. He waves serenely from the church steps, haloed by stained glass and goodness. For the first time in what feels like forever, your steps are light as you head towards home.  

—

If Karen is surprised to see you back she doesn’t say so, offering a dry salute from her post instead as you ride into camp. You tip your hat to her and smile as best you can past the nerves. The optimism only lasted as long as the churchyard was in view. 

You have to talk to John. Get him to talk to you - it’s all the same in the end. Just as terrifying any way you frame it.

Once you’ve dawdled as long as possible untacking and unpacking the little you’d brought to Valentine, you begin your search. He’s not in his tent. He’s never there this early in the evening, anyway, and though the thought crosses your mind that he might be away, the scowl on Abigail’s face across camp erases it. He isn’t occupying any of the logs around any of the campfires, even the one Javier strums tunelessly at. But just beyond it, leaning against a tree, you find him.

John says nothing as you approach. Doesn’t even look up from his book, though you know he knows you’re there. He looks like shit. His scars are fine - better, even, than when you left - but his skin is pale and the dark circles under his eyes are prominent. His hair falls in dark tangles around his face, and his brow is pinched like it gets when he’s worried or overthinking - or both. It’s hard not to stare at the razor edge his mouth cuts against the angles of his face. 

“Hey,” you say. It’s stupid and not enough, but at least he looks up at you. The lightning in his eyes - anger and hurt and flash floods - almost makes you wish he hadn’t.

“Hey.” His isn’t as nice. “Surprised you came back.”

You fold your arms. “Surprised you’re talkin’ to me again.”

“What the hell was I s’posed to say, huh?” And here is the anger he had muzzled a week ago. Here is the wounded animal lashing out teeth first; His lip is curled, snarling. “What do you want me to say? You told Arthur to— Abigail left me.” 

It’s worse, somehow, to face this quiet rage than the screaming match you sense itching beneath the surface of his skin. He wants to be angrier. Louder. Meaner. He doesn’t want another scene.

You haven’t forgotten that even blunted knives can kill.

“You think I don’t know that?” you say. “You think I don’t hate that? Look, if I could take it all back—” you cut yourself off with a frustrated growl. “I can’t take it back. Neither of us can.”

“So, what? I’m just supposed to forgive you?”

You can feel your eyes flash, affronted. Angry. Reverends are for forgiving. Saints and Christs and Gods. Neither of you is any one of those. There is no stained glass story painting your hurt in pretty colored shards over open doors and under tall steeples. There is no memorial of pain and sacrifice carved into any cathedrals. There is only you and him and this ugly, hurting thing between you. 

“No, you ass,” you seethe. “You can hold a grudge forever, all I care. Never forgive me! Hate me, even. But if you think you’re getting rid of me you’ve got another thing coming. I ain’t never leaving you, John Marston. Not ever.”

He opens his mouth to argue further, only for it to snap shut just as quick when he registers what you’ve said. You stand there like that for a long moment. Chests heaving. Eyes burning. Just staring at each other. 

“You’re a stubborn idiot,” he finally says, folding his arms and looking away.

You bark out half a laugh. “Takes one to know one.”

 The sharp steel of his earlier glare is tempered soft in the golden evening glow. Something like forgiveness hangs in the air between you, shimmering.

When you stick your hand out for him to shake he eyes you for only a brief, wary second before taking it. His grip is calloused and warm. Gone too soon. But it’s done, and if there’s such a thing as salvation, you think it must be this.

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

please support this blog

🦇 Payback's a Witch Book Review 🦇

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

❓ #QOTD What's something from your family history you're proud of?❓ 🦇 Emmy Harlow is a witch but not a very powerful one—in part because she hasn't been home to the magical town of Thistle Grove in years. When a spellcasting tournament approaches, tradition pulls Emmy back. On her first night home, Emmy runs into Talia Avramov—an all-around badass adept in the darker magical arts—who is fresh off a bad breakup...with the ex that encourages Emmy to leave in the first place. When she learns her best friend had her heart broken by the heir to the most powerful magical family in town as well, the three vow to take their revenge.

💜 Lana Harper's prose is enthralling from the get-go. If you're looking for some truly magical witch lit, this is it! Let's break it down. ⤵ ✨ Characters: Our FMC, though a witch, is human in her desire to break away from the small town she's always known, from a legacy that seems to be holding her back, to chart her own path. The surrounding characters create a cast BRIMMING with possibilities (as evident by the continuation of this series, which follows different couples). I'm also glad the payback plot, nor romance, eclipsed Emmy's character development. ✨ Plot and Pacing: This story is the perfect balance of plot and romance, which keeps the pacing moving forward without an exhausting lull. However, I would have enjoyed seeing more of the magic at play, namely between the competitions. Also, give me a "ladies ban together for revenge against an ex" plots any day. ✨ World-Building: Thistle Grove is, in itself, magic. Harper does a superb job at creating a cozy small town that doesn't RELY on magic to feel magical. I would have loved to learn more about each family's unique magic systems, but I'm sure the rest of the series delves into that. ✨ Romance: From the moment Emmy describes Talia's translucent gray eyes (which make her look like a tundra wolf), the swooning starts. The chemistry between them is palpable yet sweet. Though Talia has a bad-girl exterior, I love her heart of gold and warmth. ✨ Mystery/Suspense: I will say the "mystery" regarding the founding families is a bit obvious. Notetakers and writers have more power than history ever gives them credit for. ✨ Tone/Prose: Harper's prose gives this story its power. Though a light, playful read, the word choice is still detailed and captivating, drawing readers in to explore Thistle Grove and the secrets it keeps.

💙 Unfortunately the story is a little predictable, from Emmy's family secret to the competition. It's Emmy and Talia's fight that bothers me most, though. They both stepped into the relationship knowing neither was willing to change their minds (Emmy about leaving, Talia about staying), without leaving room for a mature conversation on the subject or compromise. The third-act breakup felt juvenile, especially when the resolution is so quick and easy. I also don't love a villain without purpose. The ex-boyfriend is entitled, yes, but what else? His characterization was a little two-dimensional, when there could have been a hint of the pressure he was under from his family to carry the mantel. What about the Blackmoore family's plot to steal business from the other families? There's more there, and I hope the rest of the series delves into it all.

🦇 Recommended to fans of John Tucker Must Die and Practical Magic.

✨ The Vibes ✨ 💜 Queer/Sapphic Rom-Com 🌙 Bisexual FMC 👻 Witch Lit 🍁 Small Town Romance 👻 Paranormal/Fantasy Romance 🌙 Magical Competition 💜 Part of a Series

💬 Quotes ❝ “I’m in, witches. Let’s run amok.” ❞ ❝ I shook my head, not trusting myself to speak. A dazzling smile streaked across her lips like a lightning bolt. ❞ ❝ The girl who embraced darkness, tended and cared for the phantoms that lived within it, while shedding such a scintillating light that it was damn near impossible to look away from her. ❞ ❝ "It’s like you fucked the sass right out of me.” ❞ ❝ “You, Emmeline Harlow,” she said, eyes locked on mine, “are so extremely fucking beautiful it hurts my soul.” ❞

[gyftmas2023]

🎄 Rules 🎄

🎁 Be respectful. No abusive behavior, harrassment, racist remarks, kink-shaming, ship-shaming, misgendering on purpose, fighting over canon interpretations, bullying of any kind will be tolerated. This is a happy event meant to bring the UT community together, not a playground to fight over beliefs. If you have a major problem with a participant over one or more of these issues, please DM a mod.

🎁 Don’t start drama. If you have any kind of problem, be sure to DM a mod right away instead of starting an argument. This goes for personal beef with another participant, getting heated up about controversial opinions or headcanons, publically calling out someone’s behavior, etc…

🎁 Don’t like, don’t read. This event will include all kinds of adult topics, from suggestive to NSFW to dark content, as well as any ship, including fontcest, frans, etc… Of course, we will do our best to make sure you’re paired up with an imp whose request you’ll be comfortable with!

🎁 Communication is key to a great event. If you have any kind of problem related to the event, please don’t hesitate to send us an ask here, on or off anon, or to DM this blog. We will do our best to reply and find a good solution as fast as we can. This goes for if you need more time to work on your gift and need an extension, if you have a major problem with your imp’s request/s, if there is a conflict between you and another participant…

🎁 No spoiling the fun. Please don’t post your imp’s gift/s before December 25th (your timezone) on the Gyftmas discord server or any other social media site. Keep your imp’s name and request/s a secret until that date. If you need to ask your imp questions about their request/s and preferences, you can either do it on anon on tumblr, or ask a mod to contact your imp for you. Writers are allowed to have their fic/s be looked over by a beta reader, as long as the beta reader is not their imp and they won’t share the fic on the server or any other social media site.

🎁 Be mindful of your imp’s request/s and their dislikes/triggers. This is a happy event, and the last thing we want is for a participant to be triggered by their gift, so be extra careful when making their gift/s. Once again, if you’re unsure of something, don’t hesitate to ask them in anon on tumblr, or to ask us mods to contact your imp for you. Better safe than sorry.

🎁 Do not give unsolicited crit to your santa after receiving your gift/s. That is incredibly rude and will get you banned from future events. If there is an issue with your gift/s, please contact a mod.

[dumbbitchenergy17]

Mimic Chapter 35

Holidays have arrived and a family reunion can never end well with both hurt in the end.

Words- 2213

Izuku Midoriya x Reader

Warnings: Injuries/violence, angst, just sad shit

Time moved on until it was mid-December and snow was gracing you all as the holidays got close. Your classmates were enjoying the few snow days you gained because of the weather and progress had been made your whole class had now their provisional licenses. The class moves with training with different heroes you all just returning from a Media exercise with Midnight and Mount. Lady. Excitement buzzed off all of you as the winter break loomed over you all.

“Did you guys hear the news?!” Kaminari says as you all were relaxing in the common area, you were scrolling through your phone leaning against Mina.

“What news?” Iida asks and Kaminari scrambles to grab the tv remote changing the channel to the news where it shows the news report of Deika City.

“A terrible tragedy unfolded in this once peaceful city. According to eyewitnesses, a group of 20 men and women with a particular grudge against heroes were the culprits. To conduct this premeditated attack the terrorists used false information to lure heroes just outside the city before commencing their assault. In the face of the sudden threat, the citizens of Deika banned together to fight back.” The news reporter explained showing videos of the fight occurring and when it showed the aerial view of the damage you couldn’t help but shiver at the destruction. There was a large crater right in the middle of the city and sections of the city were damaged as well.

“Woah that’s crazy,” Kirishima mumbles as the reporter continues on with the incident. It's crazy to think this insane fight happened while you all were enjoying your day unaware of any news.

The faint sound of cheers fills your head and you turn looking around but there was nothing just your classmates watching the news story.

“LIBERATION WARRIORS!” A voice cuts clear through your head and you flinch slightly Mina gives you a quick look before turning back to the news. Pushing yourself up you head to the elevator pressing the button feeling a heaviness in your chest as it travels to your floor.

“THE METAHUMAN LIBERATION ARMY IS REBORN!!” The same voice yells out and you stumble out of the elevator pushing yourself to your room, the lights almost blinding you and a ringing sensation in your head as you slam into your door. Struggling to open the door as your head screams in pain and the voice continues speaking.

“IN OUR QUEST TO ENLIGHTEN THE WORLD WITH DESTRO’S WILL…”

You slam the door open pushing through swinging it shut behind you when you look up finding yourself on a large stage looking down at what looks like hundreds of ordinary people. The bright lights directed at you makes you put a hand up to block it.

“BUT PLEASE UNDERSTAND I WAS BLIND TO THE TRUTH! BOUND BY MY BLOOD AND TRAPPED BY PRINCIPLES THAT IS, UNTIL THAT DAY I WITNESSED TRUE LIBERATION! HAVE I SURRENDERED? NO!!” A voice to your left yells out and you turn to see a finely dressed businessman sitting in a very mechanical chair yelling out to the crowd.

“I NOW SEE THAT TOMURA SHIGARAKI IS A TRUE LIBERATOR! IT IS OUT OF DEEP REVERENCE AND NECESSITY THAT I ABDICATE MY POSITION!” You freeze and just past the man speaking there he sat in some ridiculous chair. You almost didn’t recognize him his hair was white the same as yours.

“THE LIBERATION ARMY IS REVIVED…WITH TOMURA SHIGARAKI AS ITS GRAND COMMANDER! IN LIGHT OF OUR COMMITMENT TO WALK A MORE PROFOUND PATH OF LIBERATION…OUR LIBERATION ARMY AND THE LEAGUE OF VILLAINS WILL CONDUCT A MERGER UNDER A NEW NAME!! THE LEAGUE’S SPINNER AND I DEVISED THIS NAME TOGETHER. NOW TELL THEM WHAT IT IS…TOMURA SHIGARAKI!!” The man calls out and you look in shock as the rest of the League and what you assume are members of the original liberation come forward.

“The Paranormal Liberation Front. We removed the ‘Villain’ part and expanded on the concept of liberation. I appoint the nine individuals you see here as my lieutenants, who will each be forming teams suited to their separate needs.” Tenko says, “Hmph that name’s just decoration. Kinda like this thing here…” He pulls off the hand covering his face and where you stand you can see bandages covering his face, “We’re gonna do whatever we want!”

The crowd screams in joy and horror runs through you. This wasn’t just a small band of villains trying to take down the Symbol of Peace it was now an army and they were going to do things much worse.

You quickly follow after them as they head through a tunnel. Tenko has a large coat with a fur collar almost reminding you of Overhaul, as he walks with a crutch and leg brace on his left leg.

“Splendidly done, sir! Something to drink perhaps?” The man rubs his hands together, was he ass-kissing your brother?

“Get lost,” Tenko growls and the man quickly speeds away on his chair/bike thing.

“Tenko…” Your voice rings out through the tunnel and you see him freeze in place as well as the other League members and they turn to see you standing in the hall.

They quickly pull out weapons and pointed at you as you keep staring at the back of your brother’s back. “How did you get in here!” Compress says. “Let me cut her Tomura,” Toga says her blade ready for blood but you ignore them.

“Look at me Tenko.” You say and he shuffles to turn around and he looks at you through the hand covering his face, he looked like he was barely able to hold himself up. The disgust was clear on your face what he was doing…he was only going to get himself and a lot of people killed.

“You shouldn’t be here.” He says and you scoff glaring at him.

“Why? Thought I would be dead…you seemed content finishing me off with that Nomu of yours.” You spat and you could see the frustration through the hand on his face. “I won’t let you hurt people..”

“You wouldn’t be able to stop them all by yourself.” He says and you tilt your head.

“You sure about that?” It was a blur before Tenko hits the wall your hand holding his up by the neck and the few League members let out shouts.

His hand instinctively closes on your wrist all five fingers but nothing happens to look back at you, your hair is floating in the air eyes red making the two of you identical. Your hand squeezes tighter and his breath hitches and red sparks appear from your hand.

“Remember which one of us has the better quirk Tenko.” You spat and he can’t help but shiver to see the bloodlust in your eyes. Even the League hesitates they had seen you as this scared little girl but at this moment. You were exactly like All For One. You see movement from behind you and you barely glance at them, “Take another step and I’ll snap his neck. I could level this whole building without lifting a finger. Turns out that bastard All For One has some use.” You say and the tension in the tunnel is tense as your brother stares down at you and the League watches to see your next move. You drop him and he hits the floor his hand clutching his throat and rubbing the soreness. Your hair falls back to your shoulders the power of All Of One settling back inside you.

“You’re more powerful than Tomura…take his quirk as your own. Lead the Liberation, Shimura…lead them to your claim.” His voice is crisp a sadistic grin on his face looking down at his sad successor finding enjoyment toying with the two of you.

“I could take your quirk right now if I wanted to…I already did it with Overhaul and this itch won’t leave because of it,” You squat down to his level and pull the hand off his face the bandages cover him but your gaze pierces through him. “He keeps telling me to take One For All, claim it as my own. That it’s my right. So I think our stories got messed up Tenko.”

You say standing up and dropping the hand back into his clutches, “If you were meant to be All For One’s successor…why I am the one that has both One For All and All For One.” Tenko springs forward his hand going to make contact with your chest but it goes through and you step back looking down at him.

“Don’t do something stupid Tenko…because you won’t win. I won’t let you.” You say.

“I’ll kill you then.” He spits glaring up at you with hatred beyond anything you’ve seen and at that moment you knew there would be no turning back. No time to rekindle and become brother and sister again, this was the point of no return. And Tenko…no Shigaraki has fulled crossed it leaving you behind.

“Goodbye Shigaraki.” You say and you see no remorse in his eyes and it was clear his plan to destroy the world was set and even you wouldn’t be able to change that.

Turning around you find yourself back in your room, the coldness in the room and your heart apparent. Something wet slides down your face and quickly wiping your cheek you see it’s your tears. When had you started crying? You both made your choice and it wasn’t meant for either of you to be happy together.

His hand was rough in texture as he traces the features on your face-scanning you over during the attack on U.A when you first met. Your first moment reunited after years apart.

Seeing each other again at the mall his touch is gentle not touching you with all five fingers like before. His hand pushes a strand of hair back watching your face as you watch him, “You keep changing Y/n…”

“Don’t go...Please don’t leave me..” He begs you and a small part of you tells you to stay but you knew you couldn’t. The air cold on your skin as holding his face with the hand covering it. And you left him running to the safety of the heroes during Kamino.

Memories of the two of you as children the wonder in your eyes as you took in everything Tenko said, “When we get older we can become heroes, we’ll be a brother-sister duo and save people.”

“I promise I’ll keep you safe.”

His hands held your fragile body as you begged him to stop following All For One plan, “Please you have to believe me! You can stop all of this. We can be together if you stop. Don't do this.” You clutch his coat as he looks conflicted, “Let me see you…we can figure this out together.”

“No, it’s not! You’re not supposed to die! You aren’t allowed to die!” His cries on that highway after the raid. Your hand reaches out cupping his face and making contact with him he shivers at the cold feeling of your palm. “Tenko…I forgive you.”

But in those moments of kindness and warmth he changed, he wasn’t the same anymore, rougher…crueler, he had changed becoming less of Tenko Shimura and more of Tomura Shigaraki.

“Liar! You’re here to tell those heroes what my plans are? You’re no better than those heroes, Master was right about you!” He spat at you his hand pinning you to the metal bar choking you but still keeping a finger away from you. At that instant, you hadn’t fully seen the rage in his eyes, and the way he tighten his grasp sucking the air out of you. Holding back from finishing you off.

“Tenko.” He says and you keep moving away from him and anger consumes him, “You call me Tenko, that’s my name! Not Shigaraki only Tenko! Say it!” His voice gets harsher coming after you.

“SAY IT!”

The hatred in his eyes and the venom dripping from his mouth as you stood in that tunnel, “I’ll kill you then.” At that moment he didn’t care if you were his only sibling left he would kill you just like he did to your family. You had lost him.

The ground was rough under you as you gasp for air your tears flooding your eyes. Crying into your hands you didn’t feel the arms wrapped around you and comforting words whispered to you. You lost everyone. Your mother..your father…your grandparents...Nana…Hana…and now.

“Tenko?” A child calls out seeing the boy with his back towards you as you stand there with a child beside you. The younger version of himself with his black hair and grey eyes looks back looking at the younger version of you your hair black and e/c eyes. Tenko looks at you before turning to disappear and you see your younger self gone leaving you and this older man. His hair was long and white dressed in the clothes of a liberation leader…of a villain.

“Tenko.” It’s silent before not even a glance back and walks away the shadows eating him up leaving you alone forever.

Goodbye Y/n.

[mariacallous]

On Thursday, November 30, the Russian Supreme Court will consider a request from the Justice Ministry to ban the “international LGBT movement” as an “extremist” organization. Exactly what constitutes this “movement” is unclear — it was invented by ministry officials. But the absurdity of the case shouldn’t overshadow the danger it poses: the court’s decision could lead to millions of queer people being declared illegal. We asked our readers to share the realities of life as an LGBTQ+ person in Russia, how they view the authorities’ new initiative, and what advice they have to offer to other members of their community. We’ve translated some of the most notable responses we received and are publishing them below.

Irina

Yekaterinburg

My girlfriend and I have been together for 20 years now, and for the last ten of those years, we’ve been unable not only to hold hands but even just to fix each other’s hair or wipe a smudge off one another’s faces — for fear of attracting unwanted attention.

After my father found out I was a lesbian, he didn’t speak to me for 11 years — right up until his death. My mom condemns and refuses to accept me. My neighbors have called me a faggot and a dyke. Because I spent my childhood and adolescence in a sort of cocoon, it was very painful when I came out. So I can imagine what’s about to happen; we’ve already gone through it and survived it.

[Right now,] it’s better to direct one’s energy at preventing Putin from getting reelected. Then we can fight for whatever rights we want. The Putin regime persecutes all types of “otherness.” Until there’s regime change, there’s no point in whining about it.

The gradual stigmatization of LGBTQ+ people in Russia was always going to lead to something like a ban of the LGBTQ movement as “extremist.” I’m not surprised; I’ve already stopped rolling my eyes at the absurdity of the laws our government enacts.

Ayur

Moscow

I’m 33. It's funny that the so-called Supreme Court is recognizing me as an “extremist” on my birthday, November 30.

After [the start of] the [full-scale] war, I started thinking more often about how I’d like to have children, thinking about what kind of parent I’d be. It seems that from an early age, so many gay men put an internal block on thinking about it because it’s less traumatic that way.

This year, my grandmother routinely asked me if I had a girlfriend, because “it’s time to start having [kids],” otherwise “when the kids go to college, you’ll be an old man.” The conversation weighed heavily on me. I thought that people who are childless for medical reasons must feel similar emotions when they’re asked: “So, when are you having kids?” Realizing I’m essentially childless in my current circumstances, even though I’m healthy, became really distressing.

[The prospective "LGBT movement" ban] is a hybrid replacement for Article 121 of the Soviet Criminal Code. The idea is that any mention of LGBTQ+ people should disappear from the public sphere, although physical elimination isn’t implied. Although I was expecting something like this, I’m deeply hurt. It’s humiliating and scary. 

Vladislav

St. Petersburg

I’m someone you could say is openly gay: I don’t explicitly tell people about my sexuality, but it’s not a secret to anyone. I wear a woman’s earring on my right ear, I have effeminate mannerisms, and my political views are liberal. I believe it’s extremely important not to hide one’s orientation. The best way to dismantle stigmas is for people to come out. It’s practically impossible to force someone to change their views by forcing the opposite view on them, but it’s possible to be oneself, live openly, and not demand anything from anyone. And that’s when things are normalized and people get used to it.

When I learned about the Justice Ministry’s initiative, I started crying. “Extremist” status will make any openness illegal and will put our community in an even more vulnerable position. In situations like this, it’s more important than ever to come together and support each other. Together, we’ll get through this. But as for me personally, even after the LGBTQ+ community is criminalized, I’m not going to try any harder to hide my orientation. Sure, rainbow symbols might disappear from my social media, but I won’t take my earring out and I won’t act more masculine. I definitely won’t stop going on dates. Fortunately, they’re not reinstating Article 121 of the Criminal Code of the USSR (which banned homosexuality among men). I’m soberly assessing the risks.

Yelena

Rostov-on-Don

I’m an educated, well-read person. I left Russia, and I’m not going back. I could have done some good in my native country, I could have helped people, made their lives better. But no. I miss home, but I no longer have a home there.

People don’t choose their sexual orientation. If that were possible, would a gay person who was unfortunate enough to have been born in the Caucasus really choose to remain gay? I didn’t choose to be a lesbian, just like I didn’t choose my eye color. Persecuting LGBTQ+ people is just as illogical as persecuting redheads. Which might just happen soon: judging by everything going on, Russia hasn’t left the Middle Ages.

I’ve been through a lot of terrible things in my life. How many times have people offered to rape you so you’ll become a “normal woman?” Is that what you want for your children? For people to offer to rape them to make them “normal?” And if it is, do you seriously believe that’s normal?

We’re first on the [Russian authorities’] list. When we’re gone, they’ll come for you. Because an unhappy country always needs an internal enemy, a traitor, a spy, who can be hated and who has to be fought against. After we’re gone, that enemy will be you.

Sasha

Tomsk

It feels like my whole life has been in spite of, not thanks to, circumstances. It’s as if everyone wants you, your thoughts and emotions, to never have existed. They burn you out using every trick in the book. I think they’re well aware of how this affects people, particularly children and teenagers.

But I still want to love and will love. I want to be happy and I will be happy. Despite everything, I exist. We exist.