#because for all of my we’re the struggling married couple of sisters

[itspileofgoodthings]

Nina and I are unfortunately like dynamite and gunpowder. something happens and we’re just like oh yeah? You wanna go? Let’s go! Meet me in the ring bitch!

[positivlyfocused]

An Ode To The Awesome Joy Clients Experience

Two recently new clients and their reactions to the Positively Focused Way are leaving me in awesome appreciation. They both show how effective the practice is.

Of course, my own experience shows this too, as does other client experiences. But these two are so emotionally expressive, I just loved hearing from them. Even when they were struggling. 

That’s right. Every client starts with struggle. That’s because all new clients start the practice by first realizing that their beliefs prevent a tremendous amount of joy that’s otherwise available. But in short order, they start figuring out how to soothe those beliefs. And when that happens, joy shows up in abundance.

Which is exactly what happened with these two clients. What happened after that was really satisfying. Satisfying for them, and for me. It’s also a testimonial about how powerful we all are as gods in human form.

Let’s check out what happened. But first some background.

Ripples run deep

The two new clients are married. The husband is the brother of a more seasoned client. Both new clients became clients after seeing shifts in the sister. Those same shifts caused the sister’s husband to become a client too.

This happens often. And, it’s a testament to the power of people when they tap into their Broader Perspective. Positive change — what I call expansion — shows up so powerfully, others in the clients’ lives can’t help but notice. Especially family members. Then those people want what the client is getting.

Ripples of expansion…I love that result!

It’s one thing to evangelize or proselytize. But that can only go so far and ultimately doesn’t work that well. The real test of a life way is how people respond to changes they see in the person. And people respond very well to changes in Positively Focused clients. Which explains why so many clients’ family members become clients too. They become clients because their relatives produce astounding results. So clients don’t need to say anything. They need only be.

And that’s the thing; being speaks more powerfully than words. So when clients change, it’s no wonder their husbands, wives, siblings and friends become clients too. 

Ripples from the Positively Focused Way run deep. Rather than reaching a lot of people in society — going wide, in other words — it affects society at the smallest level: individuals. But then it goes deep. It penetrates entire families too. And families are the Source from which society emerges. It makes sense then that the Positively Focused Way transforms society by transforming individuals who then transform their family.

Which brings us back to the couple in question.

The power of positive vibration 

The husband, who I’ll unimaginatively call Jon, started practicing after he contemplated suicide. Jon becoming a client was a direct manifestation of his sister (the seasoned client) creating her reality.

That’s right, clients not only learn how they create their reality, but they also learn how they create people in their reality too. The sister dreaded Jon taking his life. Rather than trying to do something to stop that, I suggested she “be” different about it. As a result, Jon came to his senses, then became a client.

The details of how that happened require knowing how the Universe works. But in shorthand, as I describe it to clients, Jon collapsed into his sister’s powerful vibrational focus in exactly the same way as photons do in the famous physics experiment where photons collapse into waves or particles depending on how an observer focuses their attention.

The Universe is consistent from top to bottom. Every part of it follows basic principles. “Every part of it” includes relationships between people. In every exchange with another, we’re either collapsing into the other’s vibrational momentum, or they’re collapsing into ours. Which outcome shows up depends on whose focus has the most momentum. And whose focus is more aligned with fast moving vibration. The fastest-moving vibration is always positive. And positive vibration enjoys inherently more powerful momentum.

Positive vibration so powerful, it can change another human being. This is what Jesus did when he cured the sick. His powerful focus only saw well versions of those people. And his focus was so dominant, the unwell person’s vibration had no choice but to collapse into Jesus’ more powerful focus of well being.

This is exactly what happened between Jon and his sister.

^^Jesus “curing” a leper. He cured the sick by causing a collapse of vibration. (By Unknown author – photo taken by Sibeaster, Public Domain)

Abundance is a given

Jon dramatically changed after becoming a client. So much so, his wife became a client too. Now these two people are extremely powerful. Together, when aligned, they are unstoppable. But when they focus that power on disempowering stores about themselves or each other, that power turns their lives into hell.

That’s what happened recently when I got a text from the wife, who I’ll more imaginatively call Alley.

In her text Alley complained bitterly about wanting to bail from society. She felt overworked, tired and tired of hearing everyone’s complaints. Little did she realize this is how someone feels when they don’t keep up with their abundance.

Abundance is the order of the Universe. Everything in it expresses itself along those lines. And since humans are powerful creators, no matter what they’re doing, in a little while what they’re doing will generate abundance.

“Doing” includes working a job. So when people complain about having too much to do at work, I often respond by asking “how does it feel being unable to keep up with your abundance?” For that’s what’s happening; the person focused so much on work, they’ve created abundance that looks like being overworked.

Rather than appreciating that, however, the vast majority of people are conditioned to complain about it. When they do that, they create even more abundance that looks like being overworked.

Then they need a vacation!

Holy Shit!

After a quick check-in via text message, Alley found her alignment. I don’t know what happened next. Presumably her husband found his alignment too. I presume that because in rapid succession I received a text from Alley, then one from Jon:

My response to Alley in that first exchange is important. In a little while, clients discover how “dark moments” signify an impending shift. They signify a moment just before a vibrational leap forward happens. Once a number of these happen, clients learn to appreciate rather than dread them, or feel they’re a struggle while in them.

That’s an important shift. Because when that happens, clients discover those special moments are HUGELY POSITIVE. They tell the client that they are on track, that all is going well, that their expansion is happening.

Most people, however, won’t interpret these moments this way. So they don’t make the connection between such experiences and experiences they’re wanting.

We don’t need long, intense negative experiences to enjoy hugely positive ones though. We can enjoy the latter from just a niggle of the former. That takes practice though. But the time put into practicing it is worth it, obviously.

Joy borne of eternity

Both Jon and Alley experienced what it’s like for every client who assiduously practices the Positively Focused Way. It doesn’t take long. Jon’s only got 11 weeks under his belt. Alley’s been at it for nine.

So it doesn’t take long before clients produce evidence the practice works. That’s why I offer a guarantee. Nearly every client gets results after the first session. The more they practice, the more profound and more abundant the evidence gets. Before long, clients start challenging long-held-limiting beliefs. Beliefs that had them to give up on their dreams and instead become “realistic”.

Then clients want to actualize their rediscovered dreams. That doesn’t happen over night though. But that’s no problem either because we’re all eternal. We have all the time in the world. And besides, fulfilled dreams aren’t the goal, although that’s what happens.

What is the goal is the joyful journey on the way to the fulfilled dreams. There will always be more dreams to fulfill than dreams that get fulfilled. We are eternal after all. And since our very existence gives birth to new desires/dreams, we’ll never ever get all those dreams fulfilled. That’s why the journey, the joyful journey, is the goal.

I like knowing that. So do my clients when they get it. It’s the awesome joy that burst forth from Jon and Alley. And I’m appreciating being a witness to their joyful expression.

[marriageadviceneeded]

My marriage is at a tipping point and I don’t know what to do. Here’s our full story.

“TL;DR - My wife and I have had ups and downs for years and a couple times she has threatened to leave. Even once admitting having feelings for someone she worked with briefly. We finally hit a breaking point this week where she’s saying really wants to be done and along with that came the admission that she is infatuated with a musician, whom we’ve seen perform a couple times and she’s barely met once. But so much so that she feels a connection and she might be in love. Like love at first sight with some random guitar player dude. We have 2 kids and I have no fucking idea what to do…because I love her more than life itself.”

Here’s goes the full story…and if any of you actually read all of this, thank you. I’m about to lay it all out. This is going to be very, very, very long.

My wife and I got married very young. I’m 35, she’s 33 and we’ve been married 13 years. This is because we both grew up in a fringe sect of Christianity that is strict and weird and almost cultish. Our parents and some family are still very involved in this church. We are not. We separated from it only a couple years into our marriage and we’re both so glad we did. But it’s never been easy. 

She’s always struggled with insecurities, even though she is gorgeous. Like unbiased, she is a very beautiful woman with a beautiful face and body and personality. She is much more confident now in her 30’s, but she has struggled with body dysmorphia among other things. She has a terrible guilt complex. Her parents were pretty overbearing and she’s a middle child and there’s just a lot of complex shit. In the midst of that is she’s never trusted me to be faithful to her. I’ve never cheated, never even flirted or taken interest in someone else. But at times she has been convinced otherwise and it has been a sore spot in our marriage. Probably because of her own insecurities and that being fueled by the revealing of many adults in her life who cheated. Like both her grandfathers, her mothers relationship with her oldest sisters father who cheated on my mother in law and left. And to top it off, her finding out my dad was cheating on my mom just months before we got married. Emotional issues.

Neither one of us finished college. I was doing trade work when we got married, she was in an stale office job. She hated it and went to part time work for a bakery just as I finally got a steady desk job in the (then recovering) Mortgage industry. But I’ve had a lot of ups and down in trying to build my career. We’ve never been financially stable, not even from the start. Money issues. 

A few years into our marriage, we couldn’t even afford our cheap apartment because she was working part time. We moved in with her aging grandmother with the idea that we could be there to help as caretakers and save money for a house. Instead, we got pregnant because my wife was restless. The pressures of our upbringing meant that we were both wired to think “get married young, have kids young” and if you’re not doing either of those things you’ve messed up somehow and you’re falling behind in life. She was obviously unhappy and not settled and looking back now I think she believed a baby would cement this idea of our happy life and our bonding and growing as a family. (Now I know she probably needed to separate or divorce so she could go be her own woman and fuck up and do whatever without the pressures of being a “good Christian wife”)

So we move out with no real plan or money because we need to make room for baby and we “can’t do that with her grandma around”. I had to start working evenings to even pull off the move. We have our first child and then all that implodes as she suffers from postpartum depression and I can’t make enough money to keep us afloat on my own and we end up back at grandmas. This time it’s just us because her grandma fell and was moved to a nursing home.

Another year and her grandma passes away and the family decides to sell the house. We’re still no better off so now we move in with her parents, in their basement. It was rough. Worst of all because my in laws bought a dog after my wife moved out but she is deathly allergic and has asthma. We had to deep clean the basement and run air purifiers 24/7 and she was on special medication that she hated. Oh and we had a 2 year old at the time and my wife still only worked part time at a grocery store.

One year of that was hell but we finally moved out because I was working 2 jobs again. Spent the next 2 years on our own in an apartment finally rebuilding our lives. We got pregnant again and everything was pretty good. Still a hard time with her postpartum depression but she actually got certified as a personal trainer during pregnancy and was taking on clients at a gym and really pursuing something she was passionate about while I kept grinding the 9-5 doing mortgages.

In the midst of all that chaos there were times where she’d blow up at me. Unhappy with our circumstances, unhappy with me. Wanting a more stable life and one filled with more romance and adventure. She blamed it on us getting married too young and rushing into things and how, in the end, even though we love each other and we have a strong friendship, we’re just “not meant to be”. Usually she would spring back from this after a couple days or a week and we’d soldier on. We show a lot of affection to each other. We’re both A+ parents who are very attentive and giving to our children. We laugh a lot and flirt and get along well. I always thought when she down like that it was just her getting in her own head or hormonal or whatever. I didn’t think she really “meant it” but rather she was unloading all her pent up frustration and expectations to just vent. And of course we’d argue and yell but it would come down to me fighting for her. Apologizing, trying harder, getting better at listening and helping and wooing her but also increasing my anxiety of feeling like I had to super husband and super dad all the time and any slip might mean I’m not good enough. And I’m terrified of losing her.

Aside, she has diagnosed anxiety and depression. Her grandmother and mother and her siblings all struggle with anxiety and depression. Her oldest sister deals with bipolar depression. My kids have noticeable anxiety. Whether learned or genetic, it’s very real and effects a lot of her life and day to day. She only a couple years ago started taking medication to help but she still refuses to go to therapy. With all we’ve been through and all the trauma of our upbringing and other things, I know she needs therapy and so do I, but she just won’t pursue it.

And of course, our financial struggles have always been a constant. We’re still getting there with our story.

She doesn’t stick with the personal training thing. Instead I continue to stick with mortgages and then get a part time gig leading music at a different church we were attending. A much less strict and more-so “normal” church. Yes, I’m a musician and so is my wife but those passions have been put aside for sometime because of the need to focus on young kids and provide for our family.

So 2 years on our own in an apartment leads to moving into a house. Still leasing but we’re really making progress now. 2 kids, new house in a great community. Work still has its ups and downs but even when one door closes another opens and I’m still carving out a career path in the mortgage industry. Then COVID hit. We’re all home. My oldest is doing virtual school. I’m working from home. My wife decides to go back to school for a couple semesters and I obviously stop leading music at the church. In fact by now we’ve washed our hands of “Christianity”. That was our last shot at making religion work for us.

That means back to one income. So I’m going grocery orders on the side and so is she while also doing school. It’s not great. Before COVID I was working a lot but I got to play music and be around people we liked and we had a community and I was making good money from both jobs combined.

Now it’s COVID time and we’re isolated and picking up a side hustle to make ends meet and we’re home all the time with 2 kids. 

I remember she snapped on me around Fathers Day 2020 and again around Christmas that year. I really thought we were done for then. Thankfully early 2021 she sought help and started a mild medication which has helped. And the world started opening up more and our oldest went back to school. Stuff was getting normal again and I thought we were pressing on and going to make this work.

Summer 2021 she decides to start a business, a bakery from home. It’s been tough but it’s been good. It doesn’t align with her personal training/fitness passion but she has always loved to bake and she’s good at it and enjoys it. We spent a lot of time and energy to get it off the ground and Spring 2022 launched into our local farmers market.

Summer 2021 I also switched career paths. A local friend who I had done some side work with, wanted me to join his remodeling business. Promised it would be a role that’s more so managing projects and working as the middle man between the contractors and the designers. I ended up just doing a lot of on site stuff from demo to painting to flooring, you name it. My wife supported to move and wanted me to take the offer because we liked these people and she knew I was growing tired of a desk job. I was going to make more money and have a company truck and she thought this was a turning point for us. Me in a new field and a new role and her building a bakery business from home.

Well, June 2022, I lost that job and since then my “friends” company has lost everyone on their team except a single designer. I saw the writing on the wall shortly after joining his company and realized he sold me on a lie. A lie in regards to what work I would be doing and how healthy the company was and that he could even run a business like this.

Frustratingly, I lost that job and that same month (after 3 years) we lost our home as our landlords did not offer us the option to renew our lease. 

2 years at the apartment, 3 years at the house…I thought we were getting somewhere…instead it all came crumbling down.

I tried going back to mortgages but last year every mortgage company was bleeding people. The opportunities were scarce and the competition for every opening was fierce. I applied and interviewed but got nowhere. Didn’t land another steady position until February 2023 at an insurance company making half of what I used to pre-COVID.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. July 2022 we move in with one of my wife’s sisters. Her sister has 2 kids and a busy life. It was awkward and temporary thankfully. We kept doing the farmers market and take on another market. Thinking, if nothing else, let’s keep her business afloat and try and build something.

By September we move in with her other sister who is married but no kids and has more space but we’re further away from our city and our friends and our customers than we ever thought reasonable. 

My oldest did a year of school here. We still live here. Me, my wife, 2 kids who will both be in school full time soon, my sister in law and her husband. We’ve been living like this for almost a year. Thankfully, this sister is my wife’s favorite and they’re best friends. Hell, she’s my best friend too. We’ve known each other for 20 years and all played in a band when together when we were young emo kids lol. Living here isn’t terrible because of the company, it’s terrible because we were supposed to be building our life onward and upward. Instead we’ve come crashing down. Somehow this past year has been harder than all the lows before and I’ve been more depressed than ever. So has she.

We have still found time to be intimate. To laugh and flirt and lean on each other and grow close and fight for us and our kids and try and rebuild our lives once again. Or so I thought until about a week ago. My wife hit me with it again, she’s not happy. She wants freedom. She’s not sure we were ever meant to be.

In April this year her and I went on a day date to a nearby big city. Good food, museum, exploring the city, a little shopping, and ending the night at a small jazz concert that was in a neighboring city on our way home. 

She loved it. I thought she loved the day we had together, and maybe she did. But the music really stirred her up. It’s a quarter that plays early 1900’s Parisian style jazz. They’re incredibly talented and just cool guys. Last week she wants to go see them again at another nearby city at a small club. I thought, yeah why not. We need another date night and their music was great.

That was last Wednesday. And after we left the club, we walked around town. She was quiet and cold. Odd considering that we usually still have a strong bond and we usually laugh together and enjoy each others company. Especially a night out with no kids and good music. I thought she’d be in a great mood but she was so heavy. Quiet the whole way home.

Fathers Day weekend wasn’t terrible but it wasn’t great. She was busy baking orders and again, had dropped a bomb on me that she doesn’t see us having a future. We saw her family and mine Sunday and we put on a good face, but it’s been bad these past 6-7 days.

Yesterday, Wednesday June 21st. She wants to go out alone. She wants to go back to the club but doesn’t want a date, she needs space.

She looked so fucking hot. Confident. Didn’t even wear a bra with her cute new top I paid for earlier that day when she wanted to do some shopping. Yes, that’s a big deal for my wife who for years (and sometimes still) struggles with insecurities. Her hair looked incredible and it was something new she’s never really done before. But she was going out alone. All dressed up for “just her”. She got a desert in the area and read a book she recently bought and made her way to be club around 8:45 pm. Band plays until 10.

I know this is true because she has a guilty complex like I said and she has a hard time being dishonest. She was keeping me updated on her whereabouts because she has anxiety and we like to check in with each other often.

But she left the club maybe 10:15 and for her text I knew something was up. I met her in the car outside when she got home because she asked me to come out and talk. There she admitted that ever since April when we first saw this band, she had become infatuated with the guitar player. She follows his Instagram and his stories and believes she has a real connection with him. She feels she owes it to herself to pursue this connection even if her turns her down. She might be “in love” she said and hasn’t felt this way about anyone since she first fell for me. I think this is fucking nuts but I played it soooo cool. I was patient and calm and let her express herself and tell me her feelings.

She got all dressed up and super hot for this random dude she doesn’t even know. She swears they haven’t messaged or communicated. She wasn’t physical with him at the club. She just introduced herself and even mentioned me, her husband, because he talked to us last week when we were there and he remembered us. He was giving out cards after their performance and she took one. She also gave him her email. 

You would have thought she slept with the whole band that night. Her guilt over this was tearing her apart. Just going to see him and giving out her email was basically her giving this guy the keys to her heart. Never have I seen her like this. I don’t understand it. Weirdly, he kind of looks like me. Not even better looking or in better shape. We could be related it’s so weird. But listening to her last night, it’s like he’s her new soulmate. 

She doesn’t know what to do. Our kids are young and fragile. It seems clear she doesn’t want to be with me. She wants to pursue this guy, but she still wants to be a mom too so she’s not just up and leaving.

Meanwhile we’re living with her sister and barely keeping our heads above water while I try and build a new career and she tries to grow a small business. 

It feels like nothing is working and I don’t know how we move forward or recover from this. I want her more than anything in the entire world. I’m infatuated with her. I think she’s gorgeous and sexy and smart and funny. I think she’s a great mom and a wonderful, caring, talented person. She has baggage, so do I, but I love her endlessly and am hopelessly committed to her. She thinks I’ll find someone who will love me better, but I don’t want that.

What am I missing? What do I do? She swears she’s not testing me. She’s not trying to get me to fight for her or change something. She honestly feels this way and I don’t get it. I’m lost and I’m sad and I’m angry and I’m losing my best friend and the love of my life. 

Thanks for reading this, it’s our life story and it’s a lot. Sorry for dumping it all but I never share with anyone and I wanted to get out as much as I could and provide as much context as possible because I need help. I need wisdom, encouragement, advice, honesty. I need something cause everything is going dark.

[creaturebehavior]

sometimes i remember my brother and i are going through the exact same thing and i feel sad for him but i feel relieved that i’m not the fuckup. i know that’s shitty but i’ve always been the fuckup of the family. but my poor brother, he never got to be the fuckup, you know? when the family places the “good kid” roll on you that can do just as much of a disservice cuz he’s had to hide his issues from the family for so long.

me and him are both depressed, not working, struggling with life, having a hard time figuring out how to get better, we had a really fucked up childhood and really fucked up genetics, we weren’t set up to thrive

i think he’s going through a tougher time than i am now. since i went back on a mood stabilizer i feel so much better.

god i hope me and him and be okay

it’s so wild to me sometimes how little our family is just because we’re all so estranged from each other. even seeing my moms extended family when i was a kid was always bizarre because the people in our family don’t know how to be a normal family, we’re not close to each other like that. every holiday together was like being with strangers. then after my grandma got divorced when i was a teenager half my family disappeared from my life forever as if they were never family.

my moms dad never used to talk to my mom until just a couple years ago. then she made me meet him and i’m like fuck you lol asshole. he’s always had a close relationship with her brother but would refuse to see or talk to my mom.

my dads mom disowned him and his sister won’t have a relationship with him either

me and my brother both aren’t going to have kids and it’s kind of wild that like this will be the end of our bloodline, you know? extended family whatever but our family is gonna all die out which is so strange to think about cuz when you’re little especially when you’re a little girl you’re told you’re gonna get married and have children. but me and my brother have been through so much fucked up stuff and have such fucked up genetics we know we can’t properly raise children and we wish our parents wouldn’t have procreated.

idk what i’m on about rn it’s just when i think of him and me sometimes and how bad we struggle after how we grew up and how we’re both a lot more mentally screwed up than we ever expected to be and how we both understand is has to end with us.

also, what’s unfortunate for our parents is that didnt raise us to be well enough to take care of them when they’re old. sometimes i think about what we’ll do when our parents can’t take care of themselves anymore and i’m like shit, they’re screwed. They raised two children who are unable to even take care of themselves or function normally. everybody got screwed over in this situation

[pqrachel]

Ulbo's Tale

(CW: Death) 4♣ / J♥: Ruins (Mostly rubble / You are surrounded) <Told to Correll during Act 2 Day 1 of the main story.>

Me and your father first met a bit after your mother left you both. He was struggling to support you alone and would constantly bring you with him to the guild hall and whichever member wasn’t on duty would watch you so he could go with Yeong and keep this city safe. More often than not I’d be the one to watch you, and I was one of the better babysitters of the group. Everyone else considered it a mundane task or something serious to make sure you were safe, but I tried my best to actually give you proper care and attention. Daryl was stressed for a while and though I think he noticed how much you initially took to me, he didn’t actually realize how much I liked him for a long time. I didn’t even know if he was into guys yet, let alone me. I took care of you for a couple months thinking about all the romantic ways I could finally ask him out, but one night we were in the guild hall watching you play and you were so tired and trying not to fall asleep, and you kept just waking up and eventually you fell asleep in your father’s lap and I just knew I wanted to be a part of both of your lives so I just asked him right then.

At first he hesitated, but he gave a simple yes and continued to hold you as you slept. I sat next to him and then he rested his head on my shoulder and we didn’t say anything for a while but we were together and that was enough to make me overjoyed.

Even though I had really strong feelings for him it took almost a year before I realized that he actually loved me the same way I loved him. I don’t mean to imply he made me feel unloved, but while we were dating the feelings always felt more one-sided. But I guess at some point it shifted in the other direction because he asked me to marry him. And I was the one caught off guard. I didn’t think we were there yet, but the look in his eyes reassured me and it was me who just gave the simple yes.

We started planning and eventually set a date for our marriage. Before that though Yeong had discovered a new set of ruins near the river that wasn’t there in the past. The majority of the guild was going to embark on a quest to explore it and your father didn’t make it out.

“Don’t give me that ‘he didn’t make it out' crap you always do,” I interject. “What really fucking happened in those ruins?”

Well you’re definitely mature enough now. You’ve been adventuring and you’ve seen how dangerous it can get out there, so I’ll tell you the story…

“Fucking finally!”

The guild sent 7 people to the ruins. It was Yeong, your father, me, Jannét’s sister Sköta, Vee’s mother Iyo, and 2 other newer recruits. Iyo and Yeong’s mounts took us safely to the river and across it and we finished the trek without issue. The ruins were massive, Sköta thought the ruins actually fell from the roomland above us. We went inside and explored in groups. I was with Iyo, Sköta, and one of the trainees. We found some insignificant treasure, plenty of markings of the ancients, and a bunch of other crap. But then we heard a massive crashing sound from outside, about ten seconds later another equally massive crash. Our group was running back to the entrance at this point thinking the ruins were collapsing. As we get back outside we see Yeong and your dad fighting 2 medium rooks. The trainee from their group was running towards us. Before he can tell us anything, we see a massive rook falling from above the rafters; it’s taller even than the ruins, and as it hits the ground the sound is louder than anything I’ve ever heard. Pieces break off of it and fly past us. Some break Yeong’s mount as they crash into it and the sides of the ruins. It goes quiet for a few seconds, the only sounds are Yeong and your father fighting the two medium rooks. Iyo and the two recruits run towards Iyo’s mount, but me and Sköta run to help Yeong and Daryl.

The rook Yeong is fighting goes down just as we’re arriving to help. Yeong sees us and quickly tells us the plan.

“We’ve only got one mount and 7 members so Iyo’s taking the recruits and they’re gonna get to safety and then Iyo’s coming back for the rest of us, but while that’s happening we’re gonna hold off these rooks as best we can. Ulbo go help Daryl, Sköta you’re with me.”

I don’t hesitate and I run to the other medium rook as fast as I can. I get to it, but don’t see Daryl anywhere, the rook seems distracted so I assume Daryl’s inside. I take my opportunity and start attacking the rook’s legs. I get a few good hits in and it stumbles. It takes a few more steps then stops. Its arms go to reach inside but there’s an explosion from within. The rook falls down and I immediately run inside to look for your father. As I’m searching I hear the massive rook stomping around fighting Yeong and Sköta, but I ignore it and keep looking. After a few rooms, I do find him. He’s on the floor covered in blood, stone shrapnel all over, but despite how bad he looks he smiles as he sees me. I get all hysterical trying to save him and stop the bleeding and he just tells me how much he loves me and how much he loves you. I’m sobbing at this point not wanting to accept this, I keep trying to save him, to do anything I can for him. I’m there for what seems like an eternity when Yeong pulls me out of the ruins. I refuse to leave without him, without my fiancée, so he helps me carry him out of the rookhusk and onto the mount. He’s unconscious by this point and even with Sköta trying to help we don’t ever get him conscious again. The journey back is incredibly slow with all 7 of us on one mount but we make it back and Yeong and I eventually have to bury him in our city’s graveyard ourselves.

Ulbo’s crying at this point in the story, “I know you were too young to remember your father but he was everything to me. We never got to have our marriage, but everyone in the town supported me adopting you after he passed. I’m sorry I never told you how he died, but it just hurts so much to think about and I didn’t want you feeling any of how I felt. And now you’re going off on your own and I worry about everything that can happen to you.”

“Dad, I love you and appreciate you so much. And I’ll be back to visit eventually. Me and Tic Tac are a great team, and there’s nothing in these roomlands that can stop us.”

[arielana]

Really, Michael?

A ficlet for Michael Guerin Week 2022, Day 1: “Is that how you wanted this to go?”

Very inspired by various “did you get probed”/“probe and tell” gifsets and the thought of Michael and Kyle as potential future brother-in-laws.

*

“Seriously Valenti, if I’d known the person you were making ’getting probed’ jokes about was my sister…” Michael takes a swig of his beer, very pleased with the scandalized tone he manages to pull off, and taking great joy in the way Kyle instantly turns beet red and starts to splutter, giving Michael a betrayed look. 

“What? That’s not what— I— I didn’t— You were the one who said—” His eyes flicker desperately between Michael and Isobel. “Is, I swear—”

It’s almost too easy. Valenti’s clearly let his guard down now that they’re practically brother-in-laws. This should teach him. Michael half turns towards the kitchen to hide a satisfied smirk as Kyle struggles to put a sentence together, but he’s of course immediately stopped in his tracks, deer in headlights-style, when he’s met by an unimpressed look from his husband, eyebrows arched, back from picking up the wine much quicker than Michael’s expected.

Damn.

Alex has certainly perfected his ’Really, Michael?’ expression, Michael notes, and he puts it to good use. If Michael thought he was well acquainted with the look before, it’s nothing compared to life as a married man. (Despite Michael generally being very well behaved, if he can say so himself.)

He tries to look innocent, shrugging lightly. What does Alex expect from him anyway?

He is being nice to Valenti. Like, whose idea was it to invite him and Isobel over tonight? It most definitely wasn’t Mr Alex ’Ugh, other people. Let’s just get takeout and watch a movie on our own’ Manes (Guerin he corrects himself, a pleased little shiver running through him. Each time.) 

Because really, Michael is making an effort—being a good brother, a good host—in fact, he’s making what he knows is one of Kyle’s favorite dishes tonight (and isn’t it crazy that he even knows that?) A little light teasing should definitely be allowed, just enough so that Kyle doesn’t get too comfortable. Michael’s had to listen to enough self-righteous lectures—ok, some pretty good advice as well, he has to admit—through the years. Michael should get to torment him just a little. It’s only fair.

Isobel huffs, and Michael turns back towards the living room.

“Oh sweetie,” she says airily, stroking Kyle’s arm, “don’t worry about him. You’re doing amazing.” She flicks her ponytail back, rolling her eyes. “He’s just sulking because he and Alex are a boring old married couple now. He wishes he could get a good probing.”

Michael hears Alex practically hiss behind him. 

Ignoring them, Isobel resolutely grabs Kyle's face with both hands and pulls him in for a kiss with way too much tongue for a dinner with family. Michael would never.

After a long minute, Isobel steps back with a pleased hum, lovingly patting Kyle on the cheek before releasing him. He takes a few wobbly steps backwards, clearing his throat and trying to regain his composure, while Isobel calmly smooths her hair back and checks her lipstick, after giving Michael a smug look.

Ok, well Michael should have seen that coming he guesses. Isobel refuses to be embarrassed by anything sex related. And he loves her for it.

“Is that how you wanted this to go?” Alex mutters grumpily as he comes to stand next to Michael. “We could have been cuddling on the sofa by now, instead we’re stuck watching your sister make out with Kyle, and being insulted in our own home. ’Boring’.” He spits out the word with as much disdain as possible. 

Michael just grins, not sorry in the slightest.  

First of all, he can’t think of anything better to do with the rest of his life than getting to be a boring old married couple with Alex. A dream come true, really.

And second, he knows exactly what happens when his husband’s competitive streak is activated, and there’s no way Alex will idly stand by and accept the implication that Kyle Valenti’s sex life is better than theirs.

Michael’s in for a wild night once the others have left, if he plays his cards right.

“It’s ok, honey.” He places a chaste kiss on Alex’s cheek, humming thoughtfully. “I guess it’s true what they say—the magic has to go eventually. Routine can be good too.”

The glint in Alex’s eyes tells him he knows exactly what Michael's up to, but also that it’s definitely working. Oh, it’s on.

[husbandohunter]

Dottore with short drabble “You only ever brought me pain and I’m sick of it.”

Something angsty pls? Thank you!

Tainted Glass [Dottore x Reader/Genshin Impact]

Synopsis: Can you escape the prison you made?

(A twisted Cinderella story. The girl was covered in cinders because she was fatally addicted to drowning in flames.)

Warnings: angst, emotional abuse, violence, death

(A/n): To be honest anon, I didn’t know what the word ‘drabble’ means until I googled it. I uh...hope you don’t mind the length :> 

-----------------------

You fell back against the cold hard floor with your arms bent and head turned sideways. The stinging pain spreads across your cheek. It burns. But your mind was still trying to register what had just came into fruition. 

Why?

The thought was so foreign somehow as if you could hardly believe he was doing this. But then the scene plays in your head again. You froze, your gaze enlarged and clueless while staring at the pale ground as it slowly begins to darken in the seeping movement of his menacing, haunting shadow. 

"Insolent woman, you wretch!" He spat in a disgusted tone, "How dare you speak to me in such demanding manner? Have I already told you, only talk when you have something important to say?"

You didn't respond, rather you merely let the strands fall in front of your vision as you gingerly pressed your hand against the place where he hit you. 

I…don't quite understand…

Dottore glowers down at your hunched form. He was never a man known for the virtue of patience. This man, the one who calls him your husband, you learned a long time ago to not meet his eyes as they would signal a hint of dominance amidst his authority, especially during moments like these. You came to feel his eyes instead, they were usually intense and full of wrath, sometimes crazed and curious while looking at his finest creations. He always loved experimenting in his labratory. After all, it was the only thing that could truly make the madman smile.

What is it that I'm missing? Where did I go wrong?

And you would do anything to obtain at least a fraction of the love he had left in his heart. 

He marches onward with heavy footsteps, paying no mind to your well-being, "Tch get out of my sight. I don't have the time to entertain with anymore these theatrics."

At the sound of him leaving you darted your attention towards him, "Wait, come back. Come back, " you plea softly, "Hector…" But he ignores your call. The back of your fiance disappears behind the door and slams it with a resounding thud. He was gone. You couldn't save him.

"No," As a result, you burried your face into your palms and cried.

“I'm sorry.”

…

What is love?

Being raised in one of the most prestigious bloodlines of Fontaine, a life filled with riches since your parents were well known scholars throughout Teyvat, they provided you and your family with everything you needed. From exquisite dishes to priceless jewelry, yet even among those riches you never did find an answer to your question. They were tangibles and short-lasting, eventually leaving you with nothing until the glass of your heart was filled empty. They seemed to have cared more about their fortune along with the brightest child of their family line, your brother, a male heir, someone who fulfilled their expectations where you couldn't do so. And because he was able to give them what they wanted, he was loved.

I see, love is conditional.

Realizing that you possessed no talent to achieve what your brother had accomplished, you came to accept that you were undeserving of their love. Love was for the smart. Love was for the gifted.  Love was for everything you are not. There was no place for your kind and thus you locked yourself up in your bedroom chambers along with your fragile heart where no one would try to find you, picking up the books upon the shelves and getting lost in their fantasies. 

They told you many beautiful things about the world and many reasons why it was so tragic. Because they weren't real. The story begins with a princess who was a kind-hearted soul, deprived from the care of her evil stepmother and dreams of marrying a prince from a land far far away. They often end on a happily ever after with the princes finding her one true love. You've never seen anything like it. Where two people, despite the struggles they went through, loved each other unconditionally.

Unconditional love only exists in dreams.

Or so you thought to believe.

One day a man marched right at the doorsteps of your mansion. He was a student coming all the way from Sumeru Academia and had high hopes of building a business partnership with your father. The man was declined of course, you watched from the garden bushes as he was sent off back into his carriage. He stops abruptly and turns his head ajar to catch your figure, his inquisitive eyes were both striking and sharp. Like thorns of a rose that was ready to prick anyone who dares to come close. Even so, they made a very lasting impression.

Red eyes.

It was the first time that someone had looked your way.

Couple of months later, the government had arranged a grand ball where all nobles would gather and commit to building their social circle. Useless events. There was no reason for you to engage. While your parents were occupied with the latest gossips and your brother surrounded by fathers who were eager to marry their daughters to him, you snuck outside to the balcony and hid away from the crowd. Quiet at last. And as things should be. The moon was your only friend because she was just like you; half empty. Maybe that was why you still had a glimmer of hope for the other half to be filled. 

Part white, you inquired, pristine and untainted. From far away it looked similar to snow. 

"My, how pleasantly surprising."

While the other part was stained with black cinders.

You glanced over your shoulder to see a man leaning against the pillar. His mint coloured bangs were slicked back in a trendy fashion, complimenting the white suit he adorned himself with. The golden chains hanging around his ebony boots dangled and clanged with each step he took forward until the light finally reveals his face.

"You seem familiar," you say while squinting your eyes, "Are you the person my father rejected back in February?"

He quirks one brow and you were afraid if you had offended him. But before you could utter an apology, the man splits his lips into a toothy grin and bursts out into a maniac-like laughter. He was completely insane, you thought to yourself. Though he paid no mind to your discomfort and continued to dwell in his amusement, "Hahaha straightforward, I like it! So what if I am? Is it a requirement to be a noble for me to simply have a chat?"

"And if I may ask why?"

"Hmmm, why?" The man reaches for the balcony and presses his back there. He threw his head backward before drilling his ruby gaze into yours, "I too am not fond of annoying crowds. Those snobbish fools thinking they're above everyone else just because they have a couple of mora when that is all they are worth. It's almost too hilarious for my own good."

You could tell there was disdain in his tone. Mainly towards your father who were one of the many unkind nobles of Fontaine and was only liked because of his success. Gripping your hands upon the stone railings, you looked down at the distant trees below while the wind rustled them apart, "I can't deny that," you say dissapointedly, "It's common for nobles not to associate with lower classes as it could potentially ruin their image. Though I may not have been there but I'm sure you had much to offer in terms of your brilliance, erm, Mister…?"

"Hector," Hector placed a palm on his chest with a polite bow following suit, "Hector Dufour-Lapointé. It is a pleasure to make you an acquaintance Lady (Y/n)."

"You know my name?"

"How could I not?" Hector smirks lazily as he danced around you, "I saw you before hiding behind the rose bushes back in your estate. Quite curious why you didn't attempt to say hello."

He even remembers that too. You fiddled with the fabric of your dress, "My apologies. I'm not use to socializing so much."

“Is that so? I think you're not giving yourself enough credit," he complimented while shrugging, "This is much more entertaining than hanging in that insufferably crowded room, it was an unexpected occurence to meet you here of all places. However, I must say time can fly if I'm able to enjoy myself."

You shifted away from his stare, "You flatter me. We've only been talking for a few minutes."

"I have yet to realize it then" Hector's cheerfulness remains at stance despite your gloomy response. He leans forward like a curious child and tosses you a question, "Then allow me to ask, what brings you out here Lady (Y/n)? I don't see any reason when your family are such highly respected people of Fontaine." 

"I'm not like them!" You retort instantly, causing the man to glance at you with skepticism, "I mean, I have nothing to do with them and they have nothing to do with me. That's just how it is. They already have Clement after all…"

Why am I telling him this?

"Ah your brother I assume. Yes so I've heard much about his genius mind. There were a few instances where he and I collaborated at Sumeru Academia," Hector speaks as if regarding to his unpleasant memories, "Although he never said anything about having a sister."

"We're not that close. And I'm not very fond of him," you confessed bluntly.

"Neither am I," Hector agreed with a scowl, "He claims his position using the knowledge derived from history books but never tries to think beyond the norm. That ignorant mindset of his will surely be his downfall one day."

"Ignorance can lead to anyone's downfall. If they turn a blind eye to the truth, so much can be taken from them," you paused shortly from rambling too much, "That's what I read in books at least."

"As expected of your lineage," he sighs whimsically, "Such avid readers."

"Well my family prefers documents and research. I've gone through them too but I will always love reading fiction."

"Ha! Seems you really are trying to be different from the rest of your family."

Seconds turn to minutes and minutes to hours, you had already forgotten about the cold breeze despite your dress being less than ideal for the outdoors. The man, although he can be a little to blathering at times, was more than what seemed to be on the surface. At first you thought of him as someone here to take advantage of your relations to your father but he seemed so sincere when listening to your stories, so eager while expressing his thoughts and even made you laugh a couple of times. You didn't realize that the clock had already struck twelve as the guests were preparing to leave but you just weren't ready to do the same.

"Until next time (Y/n)," he takes your fingers and pressed a kiss on top of them, though you were more struck by how he addressed you without honorifics, "I look forward to speaking with you again."

A warm smile graces your lips as you cursty, "Likewise Hector. Thank you for listening to me. I know I must have taken a long time."

Hector sneered but you already learned that it was simply his way of expressing amusement, "Hardly. I was thoroughly entertained."

When your parents found out about your meeting with him, they made it clear that you would never see him again. Hector Dufour-Lapointé is what he calls himself but the real name behind this man was Hector Valliere who came from a village hidden in the west of Fontaine. Rumours said that he was chased out of his hometown by an angry mob, claiming him to be a madman conducting unethical experiments on humans. Shortly after his arrival in Sumeru, he abandoned his past identity and replaced it with a new one in order to enter the academy under legal supervision. Associating with a man of a suspicious reputation would only cause harm to your family's name. Though you could barely care much about their reputation. There was nothing for you to benefit from it.

Few weeks have passed and you evetually gave up on the thought of hearing from Hector. They were only fleeting moments, nothing more. Your routine would stay the same as you kept on plucking more books off the shelves, killing whatever time you had. However the activities you used to enjoy somehow lost it's flair and there would be a slight pain in your chest whenever you turn to a page with the princess as she is surrounded by her friends. What exactly changed? Your family still treated you the same. Did you suddenly grow bored from doing the same thing everyday? Why is it that you feel much more lonelier despite being alone for so long? It was hard to tell in a singular perspective. If only there was someone here to give you some insights on things you couldn't see…

A silver bird lands by your front window and you nearly fell out of your chair as it flapped their wings violently. A machine?! They dropped what seems to be an envelope within the thick bushes before taking off and buzzing into the evening sky. You switched off the lock and lifted the glass within a single movement, snatching the piece of paper so that the wind wouldn't blow it away. Hastily you opened it. Both curious and cautious of why would anyone send you mail in such a discreet approach.

Chère Mademoiselle (Y/n),

I can only imagine the shock of your expression once reading this letter. I'm only writing to you since I assume that your father had already told you those nasty rumours about my past. No matter. I trust that you have a good head on your shoulders to not prejudge people using such miniscule details. I wish to speak with you again. Unless you have other plans staying in that stuffy room of yours, meet me behind the clock tower at 11:00 p.m. Don't be late.

Bien à vous,

H.

"It really is him!" The happiness spreads all across your features as you clutched the letter to your chest. For some reason, your heart wouldn't stop racing. It was a simple yet thoughful action on his part but despite how short his greeting was, every word held the weight of a thousand sparks, "I…I can't stop smiling."

And without hesitation, you prepared to leave. No one noticed your absence.

-------

It was only halfway where you realized that Hector didn't give many details redgarding why he planned this sudden event. You caught sight of him standing under the roofs with his hands hidden behind his back. He had on his signature lopsided grin, brows uneven as he glanced at you casually.

"How very punctual, were you so eager that you couldn't wait?" He teases.

"I was surprised when your bird knocked upon my window," you inform, "Is it something urgent?"

"Not at all. I merely wanted to catch up with old times," Hector tilts forward to emphasize his suggestion, "Care to indulge me for a bit?"

You crossed your arms, "Then what is it that you're hiding behind your back?"

"Hmm?" He hums, "You mean this?"

"Ah!"

Roses. A bouquet of bright red flowers were presented to you, nicely wrapped in fabric. In the language of Fontaine, recieving them could mean multiple of things and you couldn't help but feel hesitant despite his thoughtful gesture, "Why are you giving me this?"

"Is it so wrong for me to be a gentleman? I thought it would be best to prepare you a gift after you put all that effort to come out in such a late hour," Hector mused to himself, "Especially when you had to make sure no prying eyes would catch us."

You let out a small laugh before accepting the bouquet, "I wouldn't go as far to say that."

"Oh?" Although it was hard to see, Hector managed to catch a glimpse of your flushed cheeks hidden behind the flowers. A darken smirk climbs onto his face at the inviting thought of what it could mean, "Tell me more."

The whole night you both spent walking around the empty plaza with only the stars as your guide. They paved a silver path reflected in the horizon above, free flowing like one of the many watercolour paintings hung in your chambers, uncertain where they may lead but you followed them regardless. If it weren't for Hector's inivtation you might have never known about the parts of your city due to the restricted lifestyle you lived. He listened to every one of them. The stories you had to tell when there was no one for you to talk to and the complaints about your brother whenever he wanted to snitch on your actions just to get the praise out of your father. You expressed your frustrations when speaking about your incompetences, joy after reading a good fairytale book written by your favourite author, there was so much to say that you were worried if Hector soon grew tired from them.

"Go on. I'm listening."

And your heart flutters again. Suddenly everything felt so light with each step you took, it was as if you walked across the stars in the sky rather than the heavy pavement of the ground you called your home. But even if happiness was a bliss, it tormented you. Because companionship made you realize how poor your were all along. That you had everything yet you had nothing, slowly withering away like the roses you held in your hand. Convinced that your existence was worth nothing more than nothing itself. Doomed to be dismissed and forgotten. Rotting away...Hector stays by your side as you cried softly into the night.

From a distance the bell rings and echoes just like the time before during Fontaine's grand ball. Hector shows you a secret route so that no one could find you.

"Will you write to me again?"

The request was so innocent, purely from genuine intentions and devoided of anything he had in mind. Hector would always laugh in these situations when things have gone unexpectedly yet pleasingly his way but held back knowing that it would be foolish to waste such a priceless opportunity. And so he gave you his smile, one full of secrets where you had mistakened it as a promise, "Of course my dear."

Every night you could no longer fall asleep since he had occupied your thoughts completely. Sometimes you'd dream of him and their tales would unfold similarly to the ones you have read. It gone to the point where the maids would have to wake you up during late afternoons due to the dramatic change in your sleep schedule. Though, you didn't care what they did to you. As long as no one found out about your secret rendezvous.

You never thought that there'd be a day where you would voluntarily give up reading your beloved fairytales. They were now replaced by a stash of his letters that have been accumulated over the past few months. You read them each day, pacing back and forth within the walls of your room, whispering his sentences as if he were the one saying them to you. He made you feel special. You were addicted to this feeling. Eventually you managed to memorize his words by heart. 

The pages of your diary were filled with notes. Like your very own  fairytale carved into reality. From the rose petal, now dried, to the hairpin he snatched from a distracted merchant and a single strand of his hair you found within your cloak after a warm embrace, all of these items, a remnant of the man you loved were taped up in these pages. Sometimes you could even feel his prescence because it was all you needed. It didn't matter if Clement threw insults about how worthless your existence was, your parents could lock you in this prison if they wanted to but they shall never take away Hector from you. Never. You swear it. He was your whole world and the prince who saved you from a life made of aching emptiness. You would do anything to keep him by your side. Anything to gain his affection.

Anything.

"I had a feeling that you were the culprit dear sister."

Your arms stutters as they clutched tightly on the scrolls you took off from the shelves. The light crept into the room like arms reaching out to clutch around your ankles, warning you for trespassing. You turned around dreadfully to see Clement pressing his shoulder against the doorframe with his arms folded and a wicked expression aimed at your pitiful state.

"Why…Why are you still awake?" You say in disbelief, "I thought everyone was asleep."

"Please. Not only are you shameless but hypocritical as well. You truly are a dissapointment to our family."

"Wait," taking a step forward, you stopped him before he makes his exit, "I'll put them back. Just don't tell father about this."

But like your parents, your brother was unkind. Clement doubles over and hugs his torso, cackling through his teeth, "Is that how it is?" He swipes his arm up and you see a parchment paper held between his fingers. 

"No!"

"Ma chérie (Y/n). I must say all this tenacious effort of sneaking in my letters to your window is becoming more and more tiresome. But of course, you are an exception. I want the scrolls you've mentioned the other day at my lair tomorrow evening. Make sure no one discovers this. I'm counting on you. Cordialement! Hector."

"No…" you whispered, feeling the weight of the world fall upon your shoulders as it shattered apart. Hector. If possible, you hoped that the pieces could just crush you right then and there. Your knees felt weak and a fright takes over but despite your turmoil, Clement didn't show a shred of sympathy.

"So this is why you've been acting odd lately. Pathetic," he flaps the paper tauntingly in his grasp, "I can't decide if I should be impressed or baffled by your actions. A secret romance with a criminal and the bloodline of Fontaine's most respected government associates? Even though you've hit rock bottom, you still decided to dig deeper."

"Clement you don't understand!"  Stumbling upon your footsteps, you desperately tried to convey your predicament even if it meant feeding his ego, "Hector is not the man you think. He was shunned by the people of his hometown, treating him as if he were nothing. They…They ignored him! All this time he needed someone to recognize his brilliance, someone to understand." Shakily, you brought your tensed arms to your chest and screamed a silent whisper, "Someone to listen but no one did. He must have felt so alone…"

Clement flinches when you suddenly clutched onto his biceps. When he looked into your eyes, a shiver ran down his spine.

"Hector is counting on me. I'm the only one who can save him. No one else. He needs me Clement, he needs me!" 

"Tch."

An ear-splitting scream of his hand against your face echoes across the room. It knocked you out of your stance and you bumped into the table, grunting while the scrolls to tumbled to the floor.

"Crazy woman, I'm embarassed to be related to you!"

While you were still trying to regain your balance, your brother had already ran off. It wouldn't be long before he alerted your parents, the clock ticking away like sand until the final hour leaves you with nothing but an empty glass. 

"No," despair swallows the strength away from your legs and you crawled towards where he used to stand, "Don't take him away from me…I need him…"

I can't live without him.

I can't live without him.

I can't live without him.

Tears begin to form by the corners of your eyes as you clenched your teeth. This was no time to cry. Balling your fists, you sprinted out of the room, pushing whatever stood in your way as if you were running for your life. 

And if you considered everything else, it wasn't that far from the truth.

-------

"Hector! Hector are you there?" After arriving upon his house, you began knocking on his door aggressively. The lock clicks and you were greeted by an evidently annoyed man gnawing his teeth together.

"Tsk. There better be a good reason-"

"They're coming for us! We have to go. Now. Before it's too late. My father is probably already waking and making arrangements for you to-"

"Enough, I can't even catch what you're saying," He pinches the bridge of his nose while you were still stuck in a frenzy state. He takes a step back and opens the door wider, gesturing for you to come inside, "Get in already. I have a feeling that this will be a long night."

Hector observes intently at the words you tell him.

Not out of concern but akin to the way he watches the insects react when he exposes them to a different environment.

He was a scientist after all. A madman in which you deliberately fell in love with, so much to the point that he was able to feel pity for once. How you trusted him wholeheartedly with all of your vulnerabilities, emotions and secrets like handing him your parts just so he could put you back together again. Tinkering was always one of his favourite hobbies and he couldn't help but feel a twisted sense of pride at the thought of you being completely wrapped around his finger. 

Perhaps that was the reason why he loved you. Because he didn't love you. He loved you in parts.

"It was only a matter of time," Hector sighs. He sneaks his grasp into yours, knowing how much it affects you and puts on an invisible mask of deciet, "I already knew this day would happen long before anyone could have predicted it."

"You did?" With worried eyes you gazed at him, "What shall we do then?"

Knowing he hit the target, his lips begin to curl up towards his ears, showing his sharp white teeth that shone against the dim-litted room. Hector asks, "Do you love me?"

A silly question. You didn't hesitate to answer, "Of course I do. I've said it many times."

"Prove it to me," Forcing his forehead against yours, Hector commands in a dangerously low tone, "Kill your brother and only then you can truly be mine."

Your brain sutters, trying to absorb what he had just said. Kill? As in to take a life? It sounded wrong. But...was it wrong if the life belonged to someone who ruined yours?

Dumbfoundedly, you glanced into the bloody orbs of your lover, his black pupils thinning into knives while burning in the hellfire of his true colours. Hector runs a hand from the scalp of your hair, down to your cheek before gingerly sliding his fingers at your jawline. He pulled you close and whispered into your ear.

"Are you scared?"

Ah, this wasn't about your feelings. This was about him and your future and there could be no future you without him by your side.

You let your eyelids drop and leaned into his touch, "I could never be scared of you Hector. Whether it is within my power or not, I will make sure no one gets in our way. I swear it."

"Good," he continues to have you feed on his affection, "I knew I could count on you."

-----------

The news of your brother's death filled every headline Fontain had to offer. He was driven off a cliff while making a trip towards Sumeru. No one survived. The remains were so crushed to the point that authorities had trouble identifying their bodies. The only explanation they could come up with by observing the leftover tracks was that the horse must have gone out of control and ended up dragging the carriage along with it.

Ha. Serves him right.

Food poisoning. The vial Hector made was very effective. You made sure to bury it away from your mansion.

With no other choice, you became your family's next heir. Hector notifies you that he would be away for several months to solidify a unique connection with a man hailing from Snezhnaya. You didn't think he would arrive at your doorsteps with so much authority. Fatui soldiers followed from behind as the staff paved a way for them to enter. Your father was clearly displeased by his outrageous approach but he knew he was in no place to deny.

"Upon the agreement between Fontaine and Snezhnaya, Lady (Y/n) will become Harbinger Il Dottore's wife," the Duke announces, "This news will be publicly announced at the end of October."

Dottore? Is that what he calls himself?

As if claiming his victory, Dottore shoots your father a devilish smile. You could feel the dining table shake when he kept pressing his fist against the smooth surface, begrudingly congratulating you both for the new engagement. Your mother bursted into tears.

Was it worth it?

You watched both of your parents mourn silently in their own manner. Perfectly knowing that you were the main cause. But you weren't able to feel any sadness because in the end, you now had everything you've ever wanted. 

The inheritance.

Their attention.

But most of all, him.

And when you were convinced that this was your happily ever after, that fairytales were not just beautiful lies for the sake of comfort, you didn't realize  you were already living a life made of beautiful lies conjured by your own mind for the sake of your own comfort. 

"You're nothing without me."

Dried and calloused hands squeezed around your throat as you flailed your legs against the soft fabric of the carpet floor. He encases you in a straddling position, enjoying the sight of your tortured and clenched face. Hector…no, Dottore hated it when you disobeyed him. He despised it when his creations don't work the way he wanted them to and he had no use for things that are broken.

"G-hka--k..-"

"How many times do I have to remind you to not use my birthname. Do those ears of you even function properly? Or must I fix them myself?"

You gasped for air when he relaxed his grip. Vision a blur, you coughed a few times before he pulls your arm so that you lay flushed against his chest.

"Don't forget who saved you dear (Y/n). Because of me you were able to escape that miserable life you've despised for years. I expect the utmost gratitude on your part at all times, it is only fair that I punish you for not meeting my requirements, don't you agree?" Dottore lifts his hand up to pinch your cheeks, pulling your head to stare at your eyes, "After all, there is no one else in this world who can put up with you…but me."

His words were poison in which you drank like a woman starved. It made you feel numb to the pain the more you drowned in their alluring scent, the taste was sweet, a remedy for the bitterness of reality where the man of your dreams was nothing but a cruel monster. You came to believe that the reason why he treated you so harshly was because he was scared of losing you. You were caught in the trap of what seemed to be love and devotion when truly, you were just a toy to be used at a means end. He breaks you and he puts you back together, over and over again, filling in between the cracks formed in your glass heart with the phrases you loved to hear. Just like how he filled the other holes of your life where no one else did. You called it kindness. He saw it as entertainment.

Most people pay attention to the flower's beauty but they never acknowledge the thorns hidden beneath it's blossom.  That is why they bleed. They get hurt. Though, you didn't mind shedding blood if it was for his sake.

Because you would do anything for him.

You would do anything to bring back the memories of Hector Dufour-Lapointé and save him from the Harbinger that ruined his life. Your life. It wasn't his fault. You knew you could change him to what he was before because you were in love with him, that he might still in there. Somewhere.

Right?

…

Please come back.

Time continues to flow like the tears of your dying heart despite yearning for it to turn at the past. Dottore already left the room a long time ago but you didn't. Raising your head away from your hands, you peered at the door in front of you, begging desperately through a chanting record of despondence. 

Come back. Come back. Come back. Come back. Come back. Come back. Come back. Come back. Come back.

Images, they slipped through your fingers, slowly becoming more distant until your mind began to see them as illusions. Dreams. Things that were not real. Telling you that your life was a lie. 

"Come back to me…Hector."

Because the man you loved was withering in your memories and you couldn't do anything to save him.

A dry croak robbed you of your breath as you turned to look in the mirror.

Worthless. You were always worthless, it was what your parents told you since birth. It was what you became when he wasn't at your side because without him, your existence was worthless. You lied for him, you stole for him you, took a life for him. You destroyed yourself for him to point that it was hard to believe you were even looking at yourself.

Worthless. It's who I am.

And despite it all, you couldn't obtain his love.

(Crack).

Worthless things don’t deserved to be loved.

(Crack. Crack).

But what if it’s because I’m worthless, that he won’t love me back?

(Crack).

Your eyes jolted open, causing you to gasp sharply. When the sweet lies dispersed in your head and cleansed you of deceit, everything started to make sene. You came to realize why your wish was impossible all along.

Dottore...no, Hector, the reason wasn't because he didn't return your feelings. Neither was it due to the fact that he hurt you through his actions. Nor when he made you cry or scream for help before feeding you with more lies, thinking he would never hurt you again. It was none of those things.

It was because the man you loved this whole time was someone who could love no one but himself.

"Ha...haha," sucking in your breath, a sinister laugh escapes your mouth, "Hahahahahahaha.....!"

Everything was worthless.

You grabbed a nearby hairbrush and threw it at the mirror, watching yourself shatter into a million pieces.

There was only one thing left to do. 

------

"Ugh, where is it?!"

It was late into the night where every staff had gone to sleep. The Harbinger fumbles with his keys while standing at the door of his basement as he was too busy proceeding with his research rather than considering the thought of rest. Usually he acted upon them on his own will, performing various experiments for enjoyment. However, ever since the Snezhnayan court had requested him to look into the ancient arts of alchemy, Dottore was forced to carry it out before the deadline approached. Otherwise his position as Harbinger would be revoked.

"What a bunch of self-centered blockheads. Can't they understand that it take quality time to get quality results?"

Most of his important documents were stored on the otherside. Half of it came from his father-in-law's library. He had you to thank for that.

"Ah finally," he mutters, though still dissatisfied, "I should have a word with my butler for misplacing them."

Dottore shoves the key into the lock but instead of twisting the knob he noticed something strange. It was old and had yet to be fixed but somehow he didn't have any trouble adjusting his wrist. Then he saw there were a set of freshly made fingerprints upon the smooth metallic surface. However, the only person awake at this time would be him-

An intruder!

Dottore drops everything to the ground and yanks the door open. He skittered down the stone stairs while cursing under his breath. Using the delusion gifted by the Tsaritsa, the Harbinger activated his lazer-like pillars as he took advantage of their glow to light up the unlit room.

"What in the abyss...?!"

Except it wasn't dark.

"All of these scrolls, I recognize them," without sparing a single glance, you spoke nostalgically towards the bookshelves, "It brings me so much memories..."

Dottore clenches his teeth together as his eyes shone an angry red, you were holding a torch dangerously close to his hard-earned collection, "What do you think you're doing?!" He fumed, "Put that out, AT ONCE! Don't make me repeat myself!

"They're precious to you aren't they?" You finally shifted to face him, "More than me."

"What has gotten into you?" He was about to hurl at you until he saw your torch lowering, causing him to retreat. You were strangely noncholant and he couldn't help the feeling of disturbance. Accepting that he didn't have the upperhand, Dottore decided to use a different approach, "(Y/n)."

The sound of your name falls from his lips. You faltered.

"I'm sorry for what I have done. I know I was dishonourable to you, as your husband and lover, and that you didn't deserve to see me so aggressive. You have every right to express your anger, my dear. I was in the wrong."

It was only a mask. You knew it well. But seeing him with softened eyes and a tone so comforting, made you desperately wanting to run into his arms so he could wipe away your sorrows just like once upon a time. To live happily ever after.

Hector.

Dottore runs his fingers through his hairstrands in frustration and sighs, "However the Tsarista needed me to do something very important and I can't seem to fulfill her request no matter how hard I try. It angers me. If I don't finish this, there would be no place for us to stay."

"Hector..." you sniffled quietly. He looks so much like him right now.

"Can't you see I'm doing this for you?" He consoles, yet his weapons still remain, "I only intended to make you happy and there's nothing I won't do to achieve that. How about I show-"

"Enough."

Dottore froze upon your sudden command. He didn't sense a hint of subjugation and it seemed that you had perfect control of your emotions. How very inquisitive. Did you grow immune to the style of his voice? In such a short period of time? The facade he had on was now replaced with a growling animal-like expression. You looked at him dissapointedly. His Harbinger self returned. Hector was no more.

"Ha, you're the same as always. Even before the time you became a Harbinger. The same man that I fell in love with but it is me who will never be the same again," For a moment you averted your gaze as if trying hard to swallow your own words, "Remember when we first met at the balcony? That I told you my favourite books to read are fiction? I knew they weren't real but deep down, I wanted to believe in them anyways. And you know what? They did come true, to some degree..."

As the memories come flashing back, he defenselessly watches your expression contort from sadness to a calm contemplation and finally, enraged disgust, "But you only ever brought me pain and I'm sick of it!"

Swaying the torch to the side, Dottore flinches forward but he didn't dare to come close when your current state was unpredictable to him, "I JUST WANTED YOU TO LOVE ME," you wail, I just wanted to be loved, bringing a clawed hand against your forehead and trembling upon contact, "It's all that I ask for..."

Dottore narrowed his brows. Perhaps he may have gotten too far.

"But I know it's impossible. The world is a cruel place and there's no point in trying anymore. That is why I'm going to set us free."

"...What do you mean?"

You shut your eyes closed and tossed the flaming torch to the ground. A horrified expression takes over his features. It didn't take long for the fire to begin spreading amongst the room.

"NO!" Dottore yelled powerfully, he frantically darts his gaze at all directions as they continued to flicker and blend into his precious documents. You stood still and watched him grab the ones that were intact, savouring the most he could but they slip out of his arms every time he moved. Dottore glances behind him to see a rising cage of hellfire. Then he turns to you.

" 'Til death do us part!" you laughed maniacally.

The madman looked back with angry dismay, "You're out of your mind!"

Abandoning whatever he held in his hand, Dottore spins around towards the staircase. He covers his face with his sleeve and did whatever he could to prevent the fire from touching him. However, he accidentally stumbled on his footsteps and something fell off the heights, knocking him in the face. He grunts painfully.

"That will leave a scar," you smile while he clutches at his injury, "I can break you too.”

Just like how you broke me.

Knowing that you've managed to leave a mark of your existence on him in someway, you peacefully watched your lover wobble between the hell you created. But the hell you knew was not made of scorching heat and thundering flames. Hell was empty. Hell was a void. This feeling was far too gentle to be considered hell. If he can't return your love, then at least let these caging arms bask you in the warmth you’ve always desired.

Lifting your head, you looked towards the ceiling and closed your eyes.

Ah, this cannot be death.

[drummergirl231-2]

I’m really curious about what would be next for May and June.

Since the show is over, this ^ is technically all we’re going to get, but ya know... fanfiction brain.

I couldn’t help but notice while re-watching the finale that almost all the lines about wanting answers as to why they exist were given to May.

And almost all the lines about wanting family were given to June. 

In this way, they each embodied a different desire of Webby’s: to have answers about her origins, and to belong to a family. 

Further examples from May’s lines:

“If we learn everything about you, maybe we can figure out why F.O.W.L. made us!” “Webby, we’ll never get answers about who we are from those people, and neither will you.” “This is the only way to get answers. Director Buzzard left us behind and said if we brought him the Missing Mysteries, he’d tell us everything... the truth about us! Don’t you wanna to know?  “Your name is whatever he says it is because he created us all and we are THIS close to learning why!” “Focus! It’s almost over. We gotta keep these guys on lockdown so that we can win, and learn all our secrets, and then Heron and Buzzard will be so, so proud of us!” “That’s why we were made? So Bradford could find some dumb piece of paper and get rid of us?!”

Meanwhile, June’s lines revealed she’s far more family-oriented. 

“May says we’re not related to any of these people.”  “Come with us, sister! Please?” “WE WANTED YOU TO BE OUR SISTER! WHY’D YOU HAVE TO MAKE IT SO DIFFICULT?!?” “They’re so sweet! Family together, just like us!” “HI MOMMY!” “MOM! NOOO!”

Even in this moment when they shared one sentence, June’s half was focused on Heron - the only “mother,” she ever knew - being gone, and May’s half was about not knowing her purpose.

All that being said, it’d be fascinating to speculate how the two would adjust to being part of Clan McDuck. I think this moment could be a big hint.

June was so touched by Webby’s speech about family, and immediately smiled when Webby included her and May in her list of family members. Meanwhile, May still looked devastated.

At the end of the day, June will be getting what she craved most - a family that loves her. But May’s heart’s desire was to discover why she was created. The trouble is... she didn’t like what she found out. Who would? Her dream came true and it turned out to be a nightmare. 

This could make her cynical about June’s dream, as well. She may struggle with trust, and have a much harder time adjusting to life with a family... not that it’ll be easy for June, either. 

Despite appearing to be the same age as Webby, they were only created a few weeks or months prior and then artificially aged.

Their young chronological age, coupled with not being loved and nurtured at all, has left them immature for their physical age. 

For example, June deciding it was okay and even helpful to start wrecking Webby’s board, something she treasures and that she’s worked so hard on, without even asking, is something I would expect from a child 5-7 years old (based on my childhood experiences involving younger friends or playdates with no malicious intent thinking that cutting or ripping up my stuff was okay or helpful). 

In May and June, the brain development that occurs in children through nurture hasn’t happened. They haven’t been shown affection by those they consider their parents. They haven’t been taught right from wrong, or appropriate from inappropriate. They haven’t been disciplined in a healthy way when they do something bad. 

To sum up... they are both developmentally advanced, and developmentally delayed. Chronologically, they’re only a few weeks or months out from their conception. Physically, they’re 11 or 12. Emotionally, they’re about half that. 

I can definitely imagine them having some behavioral problems going forward, especially given the trauma they’ve both recently experienced, and the verbal and emotional abuse they received before that. 

These two are so lucky to be in Donald’s care, and I’m sure Daisy will love them, too. There’s just so much they’re going to have to get used to, and then once Donald and Daisy inevitably get married, they’ll have to adjust to that new situation, too. There are bound to be conflicts with the other children, and the adults might not always know the best thing to say or do to guide them or help them heal.

But gosh darn it, you know this fam is going to make it work and show these girls the love and devotion they need. And I’m sad we won’t get to see it, but we can imagine, at least.

[storiesforallfandoms]

disrespect ~ oberyn martell;game of thrones

word count: 1799

request?: no

description: the prince of dorne doesn’t take too kindly to people disrespecting his paramour, especially not lannisters

pairing: oberyn martell x female!reader

warnings: swearing

masterlist (one, two)

(Y/N) watched the buildings and the people of King’s Landing pass by as the carriage drew nearer to the palace. All eyes turned to watch them pass by, trying to sneak a peak at the latest guests for King Joffery’s wedding.

A warm hand on top of hers brought her back into the carriage, where the true royal guest everyone was excited to see smiled lovingly at her.

“You seem distracted my love,” he noted, bringing her hand to his lips.

“I was just watching the people of King’s Landing,” she responded. “They are...dirty looking.”

“The bastard king does not care for his people,” Oberyn responded. “If they are poor he has no use for them, so he lets them struggle and die as he pleases.”

(Y/N) winced. “These poor people.”

Oberyn squeezed her hand slightly. “The minute the wedding is over we will return home my love. Try not to despair for too long.”

(Y/N) chuckled humorlessly. “It is hard not to despair when I am dreading our arrival and introduction to the Lannisters. I have no doubts that they will make it known that I am unwelcome.”

“You have every right to be at this wedding. You are no less than I am.”

“I am a whore in royal clothing.”

“You are my wife. You are a royal lady, and you are much better than any Lannister could ever dream of being.”

(Y/N) smiled and leaned over to kiss her husband. He cupped her face with one hand, the other trailing up her skirt. Her legs opened instincitvely, allowing Oberyn’s hand to slip between them. Before they could go any further, the carriage came to a stop.

“We’re here, My Lord and Lady,” the coachman told them.

(Y/N) pouted as Oberyn took his hand away and fixed her skirt. He chuckled at her reaction. “We will finish this in private.”

They were approached by one of the King’s guards who then led them into the palace. King Joffery, his future wife, Margaery Tyrell, and his mother, Cersei Lannister, were all sat together in the throne room as Oberyn and (Y/N) entered.

“Your Grace,” the guard announced. “Prince Oberyn Martell of Dorne, and his wife, Lady (Y/N) Martell.”

Oberyn gave her hand a reassuring squeeze as he plastered the best fake smile he could muster on his face. “Your Grace.”

“I believe my invitation reached the wrong brother,” Joffery said, giving the two of them a sour look. “I invited Doran Martell, the true heir to the Dornish throne.”

“Do not be rude to our guests,” Margaery mumbled to the King. “Welcome Prince Oberyn and Lady (Y/N). We are glad to have you as our guests.”

(Y/N) tried not to make eye contact with Cersei, but it was hard when the queen was glaring daggers into her. It wasn’t hard to tell that she was only married into the royal life, not born into it, and anyone who was less than royal was scum in the eyes of the Lannisters.

As if noticing her discomfort (or Cersei’s glaring), Oberyn wrapped his arm around (Y/N)’s waist and held her tightly to him. "Do you mind showing us to our room? It has been a very long trip for the two of us.”

“Of course,” Margaery responded. She waved a hand for one of the guards to show the two of them out.

She’ll make a great queen, (Y/N) thought to herself.

The room that was provided for them was large and already lit by a fireplace. The bed was bigger than (Y/N) could ever imagine. She threw herself down onto the comfortable bedding, her aching muscles from the long journey feeling more relaxed than before.

“That went about as I expected,” she said. “I cannot wait until the wedding so we can go home.”

“It will come soon, my paramour,” Oberyn said, standing between her legs at the end of the bed. “Now that we are alone, shall we continue what we were doing earlier?”

(Y/N) smiled and quickly pulled her husband down on top of her, causing him to laugh as well as he pressed his lips against hers.

~~~~~~

The next day, when the sun was high in the sky and warming the land, Oberyn decided to take (Y/N) for a walk around the palace. It had been so many years since he had been in King’s Landing, back when his sister Elia was married to Rhaegar Targaryen, but he could still remember the beauty of the place as if it were yesterday.

(Y/N) loved to see the beauty in places. Before catching Oberyn’s attention, she was stuck in the filthy whore house that barley let her see the outside world. Oberyn had the utmost respect for women who were only able to sell their bodies as a means to get by, but he had no respect for the men who treated their prostitutes so poorly. Now that he had (Y/N), he intended to show her every beauty that the world had to offer.

“This place is beautiful,” (Y/N) breathed as they walked through a beautiful flower garden.

Oberyn smiled at her and paused for a moment to pick one of the flowers from the ground. “A beautiful flower for my beautiful flower.”

Blush creeped across (Y/N)’s face as he placed the flower gently into her hair. “You could get in trouble for that.”

“I could get in trouble for many things, but still I do as I wish.”

(Y/N) smiled brightly at her husband and kissed him. He wrapped his arms around her, wanting nothing more than to just hold her forever.

“Ah, my apologies.”

The couple pulled apart to see a very familiar face entering the garden - that of Jaime Lannister, the King’s uncle and Cersei’s twin brother. Oberyn tightened his hold on (Y/N)’s waist as he regarded the Kingslayer.

“I was not aware anyone else was out here,” Jaime said as he approached the two lovers.

“We were just passing through,” Oberyn said. “I was showing my beautiful wife the sights of your lovely land.”

Jaime glanced at (Y/N) for a moment before smiling at the two of them. “You must be Prince Oberyn of Dorne. It is nice to finally meet you.”

Oberyn begrudgingly shook Jaime’s hand, keeping one arm firmly wrapped around (Y/N) still.

“I do not believe I have heard of you,” Jaime said to (Y/N). “You are Prince Oberyn’s wife? How long have you two been wed?”

“Over a year now,” Oberyn responded instead.

Jaime shot the man a look. “I believe I asked your wife that question.”

(Y/N) felt nervous in that moment, but managed to make her voice even enough to respond, “We have been wed over a year. We celebrated our anniversary just before we left for King’s Landing, actually.”

“What family are you from, if you do not mind me asking.”

The grip on her waist tightened. (Y/N)’s back straightened as she responded, “Before I married Oberyn, I was a Sand.”

Jaime’s head tilted, but he didn’t look as condescending as his sister. “That...that is the name of the bastard children in Dorne, is it not?”

(Y/N) nodded. She wanted to shy away behind Oberyn, but she knew the only way to beat a Lannister was to hold your pride no matter how much they tried to rip you down. “It is. I am unsure as to who my true parents are. I was delivered to the steps of a religious building and left to be raised by others. I was originally raised by the priest, but eventually they brought me elsewhere for the remainder of my childhood.”

The genuine look of sadness on Jaime’s face shocked both Oberyn and (Y/N). “I am so sorry, my lady. Were you raised by a kind person at least?”

“Well...kind of. I was....I was raised in by the owner of a brothel until I was old enough to work there myself. He gave me the option, luckily enough, but I was raised to think it was the only job I could ever possibly have.” She turned and smiled at Oberyn. “That is how I met my love.”

Oberyn smiled back at her and kissed her cheek. “I was taken by her the moment I saw her. I knew I had to make her mine.”

The memories of the day that (Y/N) first saw Oberyn flooded her mind. She thought he would just be another customer, but by the end of their session she realized he meant the sweet nothings he was whispering in her ear.

“Oh, I guess that is where I recognize you from.”

Oberyn’s head spun so quickly to glare at Jaime. “I am sorry, what did you say?”

The sly look on Jaime’s face was a direct mirror of Cersei’s, and (Y/N) felt her heart drop to her stomach as he spoke. “Your wife, she looked familiar. I could not quite place it, but now I realize it is because I just did not recognize her with her clothes on.”

Oberyn tried to advance on Jaime, but (Y/N) took hold of his arm and held him back. “Don’t, my love, he is not worth it.”

“Yes, Prince Oberyn, I am not worth it. Take it from your wife, she would know.”

Oberyn’s face turned blood red and (Y/N) had to physically pull him away before he could strangle Jaime. The Kingslayer was still calling profanities to try and rile Oberyn up.

(Y/N) took him back into the palace, cupping his face to make him look at her. “Oberyn, my love, calm down please.”

“Fucking Lannisters,” he hissed. “They think they can get away with everything! They think they can insult my wife like that.”

“Oberyn,” (Y/N) repeated, her voice softer this time. He looked at her and his face also softened. Oberyn loved the way she could always make him calm down so quickly. “It is nothing I have not heard before.”

“But coming from his mouth...” Oberyn said, his eyes darting to where they had left Jaime for just a moment.

“Means nothing,” (Y/N) finished. “He can try to degrade me all he wants, but at the end of the day I am still the whore that married a prince. I was chosen to be brought into this life, unlike them who were brought into it at birth, and I still have more class than that whole family combined.”

Oberyn smiled at his wife and kissed her passionately. “I love you more than anything.”

“And I love you more than the world, my love.”

[bts-reveries]

expect the unexpected | 3

“Minseok! Soojin! Time to go!” you yell, checking your phone for the time. With three kids, it’s always a struggle in the morning. But you all manage to get things done and going. 

You turn your head to see if the kids were coming out of their rooms yet but the first one you saw out was your youngest son. He smiled up at you right when he saw you looking and you laughed, pointing behind him.

“Can you call your brother and sister please? They’re going to be late for school.” Haneul turns around and runs to his brother’s room and yells ‘mommy says wet’s go!’ and then runs across to the other room to yell the same thing to his sister. Who you hear scream ‘I’M COMING!’ 

“Are you ready?” Jin says, walking up behind you. You both had a free morning so the two of you decided to take Haneul out on a little date while his older siblings were in school. You haven’t asked him where he wanted to go, but knowing your son, his ideal date would be auntie Sohyun’s bakery and the playground. It’s all a three ish year old wants. 

“I’ve been since 6:30,” you replied. “KIDS LET’S GO,” you yell one more time. Now the two finally came running to the front door with their backpacks on. 

“Got everything?” Jin asks. 

“Yes!” Soojin yells, grabbing the door knob and walking out, followed by her older brother.

“Yeah we got everything,” Minseok replies. Haneul watches the two walk away and looks up at you.

“Where’s mine,” he says in a little voice, patting his shoulders. 

“You’ll grow broad shoulders like mine when you’re older,” Jin says, “let’s go, Minseok and Soojin are going to be late.” Both you and Haneul held the same expression as you frowned up at him.

“Honey, he’s talking about his backpack,” you tell him, pointing to Haneul’s backpack that was hung up by the door.

“I knew that!.. I was just--,” Jin replies, grabbing the bag and handing it to his son, “here.”

-

“Be good like always, we’ll see you later okay?” you tell your kids as you drop them off. 

Minseok and Soojin give you and Jin a kiss before getting out of the van. 

“Bye bye,” Haneul waves, Soojin and Minseok hug and kiss him goodbye too. 

You lowered down the window and yelled, “Love you!” as they walk away from the van.

“Love you too!” They yelled back, waving at you and Jin. Jin leans over you and yells out your open window.

“SOOJIN-AH MAKE SURE YOU STAY AWAY FROM BOYS!” Jin yells. Your eyes widen and you push Jin away. 

“Shh--”

“REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED TO HANA--”

“JIN!”

“I only like Yeonjun oppa!” Soojin yells back. Jin’s eyes widens.

“YAH!”

“Uncle secretary strikes again,” you laugh. “Calm down and let’s go, Haneul’s getting hungry.”

“That’s it, I’m grounding her until she’s married.”

“You’re letting her get married?” You ask. “I’m surprised you’re even going to let her date.”

“She can date.”

“And when will that start?”

“After she’s married of course.”

Haneul tilts his head. “What?”

-

“Auntie Sohu!” Haneul yells as soon as Jin opens the door to the very iconic, 24/7 Heaven. 

“Oh Haneul you’re back!” Sohyun happily says, stepping out of the counter to greet you three. 

She kneels down to Haneul’s level and he runs to give her a hug.

“I have money,” your son says with a smug smile, slightly pulling away from Sohyun to show her his ₩10,000. Sohyun laughs, standing up straight. 

“Wow! Go ahead and get whatever you want then,” she says, Haneul immediately runs off, grabbing a tray from the counter. 

It was a bit high for him but with some tippy toeing and a few jumps, he was able to grab one on his own. 

“Wah, I wonder where he gets that appetite from,” Jin says, shaking his head. You look at him, furrowing your brows as you see him with a tray of his own, already piled on with a few pastries.

“When did you get that we just got here?” you ask. Sohyun laughs, walking away from the two of you and following Haneul. 

“Is there anything special you want Haneul-ah~” she asks, bending down to Haneul’s height as he looked through the glass case filled with pretty and cute cakes. 

Your son smiles and points to a chocolate cake.

“Haneul I don’t think your money can pay for a whole cake, maybe just a slice?” you say, walking up to him.

“Just one?” he asks you, looking up at you with those puppy eyes. You smirk, reaching out to ruffle his hair.

“Those eyes don’t work on me any more buddy, your siblings overused that already.” He pouts, turning back to the cake.

“Just a wittle one please,” he tells Sohyun. She laughs, getting up to go get his little request.

“You got it,” she says.

“Is Yoongi in the back?” Jin asks, putting his tray on the counter, ready to pay. Sohyun shakes his head.

“He’s at his studio. He might be busy for a while, rumor has it, he has a popular celebrity that came by the other day that wants to work with him… but you didn’t hear that from me,” she winks. You put your hand over your mouth.

“Omo.. is it someone we know?” You ask. Sohyun, disappears behind the counter to get the cake slice for Haneul.

“Yeah I want to know too,” Jin says, you both wait for Sohyun to answer. She laughs when she turns around and faces you two, seeing your dumbfounded expressions. 

“I would love to tell you,” she says and you both lean in to hear what she says next. “But that jerk won’t tell me either,” she rolls her eyes slightly. “All he told me was that he won’t be working as often in the bakery because of it.”

“Aww,” you pout, “that’s so cool though, imagine being surrounded by a celebrity all the time?” Jin frowns down at you.

“What?” 

“Nothing,” he replies, “so is it just you right now?” The bakery wasn’t empty, but it wasn’t busy either. So you weren’t too surprised that it’s just Sohyun working this morning. As of now, it’s just your family, a couple sitting by the window, and a couple of university students. 

“No, Rina is in the kitchen and Taehyung should be coming in soon,” she says. 

“Oh Rina is here?” you say happily, stretching your head to the side. Sohyun smiles at you nodding. 

“Auntie my cakkee~” Haneul whines, placing his tray on the counter as well. You and Jin got caught up with your friend that you forgot why you were there in the first place.

“Oh, sorry baby,” you say sheepishly. Jin bends down to pick him up, having him sit on his hip.

“You have your money?” Jin asks, looking at his son and brushing his hair back. Haneul digs into his pocket, taking out his money, waving it around.

“Let me just ring this up,” Sohyun says, she then looks up at you, “do you want anything Yn?” 

“Oh, yeah, just a mocha latte please,” you say, your best friend nods, punching in the numbers. 

While Jin and Haneul pay for their food, Rina comes out from the kitchen and instantly lights up when she sees you three. 

“Auntie Rin!” Haneul yells, pointing at Rina.

“Hi buddy! Are you having a date with mommy and daddy?” Rina asks. Haneul nods his head, smiling at her.

“Hey, can you make a mocha latte for Yn?” Sohyun asks as she packs the food into boxes. 

“Sure thing, what size?”

“Just a regular,” Sohyun responds, handing you the box full of the pastries your boys chose.

“Thank you~”

-

The three of you were now at the playground at the kids’ favorite park, the one by the bakery. You and Jin sat on the bench, eating croissants and drinking coffee while Haneul made friends on the playground. 

“Can I have a bite?” You ask your husband, already opening your mouth. He brings a hand up to brush your hair away, before giving you a bite of his croissant. 

“You literally have one for yourself in your hand,” he says, as you take two big bites of his. 

“But yours is ham and cheese, mine is chocolate,” you say, mouth full. 

“After 18 years of being together, you’d think I’d learn to buy two of each,” he says, eating the rest of his food. You crinkle your nose.

“Saying the years make us sound so old. Our dating anniversary is a whole adult,” you say, eyes widening. Jin laughs at you, turning to grab a napkin. 

“Well I just like to remind myself that we started dating young and that we have a three year old to not make it seem like we’re so old,” he says, putting a hand on your chin and wiping the sides of your mouth. “I feel like I have another child,” he mumbles. You frown at him pushing his hand away.

“Says you.”

“Daddy!” Haneul calls as he runs to the two of you. It looked like his friends had left with their parents already. Jin dusts off his hands and wipes his mouth as he gets up from his seat.

“What is it buddy?” he says as he picks up Haneul when he gets to him. 

“Swings!” He says, pointing to the empty swing set. 

“Okay, let’s go.”

As the boys left for the swings, you got up to throw all your trash away so you could join them.

Jin puts Haneul on one swing as you come running to sit on the other.

“Push us,” you say, looking up at him with a big smile. 

“Yeah yeah yeah!” Haneul yells, kicking his feet. 

“Okaay~” Jin says, walking up behind you and pushing you off of the swing.

“Jin!” you yell as you stumble onto the floor. He doesn’t help you but instead walks over to Haneul and does the same. 

“Hey!” he says, pouting and you don’t know if he’s about to laugh or cry. 

“Yah, you said to push you so I did!” Jin says, backing away as he says this. You go over to Haneul and help him up.

“Let’s chase daddy,” you whisper to him. Haneul’s pout turns upwards into a mischievous little smile.

“What?” Jin says, looking at his youngest.

“IMMA GET YOU,” Haneul yells before sprinting off, you run after and the two of you start chasing Jin around the playground.

“Yah, you really think you can get me,” Jin laughs, running faster around the slides and jungle gym. Physically, yes, he’s much taller, has longer legs than the two of you, but was he smarter?

As Jin runs away from Haneul, you run the opposite direction to meet him at the other side as you three are just running in circles. 

He wasn’t even looking forward, but laughing as Haneul tried to catch him with his little legs.

You managed to get in front of him without him seeing and you immediately wrap your arms around his torso, pushing your weight against him and bringing him down.

“Mommy got you!” Haneul laughs. Pointing at Jin as he caught up.

“What should his punishment be Haneul?” You ask, sitting on top of your husband. The whole scenery actually was quite strange now that you think about it. You were sitting on top of your husband… near a slide of the children’s playground… asking your three year old for punishment ideas.

Let’s just say good thing the other kids left and it was just you three at the moment.

“Tickle tickle?” Haneul says, his knee bent as he slowly walks towards his dad. Hands up and fingers wiggling. 

“Y-yah, don’t get close to me,” Jin says, squirming beneath you. You laugh at Haneul as he creeps closer toward his dad.

“Tickletickletickle,” your son mumbles, tickling his dad’s sides. While Jin is distracted, you slip a hand into his pocket and take his wallet.

“Haneul quick, take this and run!” You say, handing the wallet to your son. You watch Jin’s eyes widen and he pushes you off as soon as Haneul runs off, screaming with his dad’s wallet.

“YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH” Jin yells, running after Haneul. You sit there on the floor laughing as you watch them run off, knowing darn well that Haneul was running towards the bakery. 

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

expect the unexpected

♡ part three: tickle tickle? ♡ 

pairings: ceo, dad!jin x interior designer, mom!reader

a/n: sorry for the super late update! still struggling in school lol, this update has helped me destress tho?

taglist: @silentlyimpractical @jillianmarie @waddlebby @cecedrake2217 @ddofa @samros95 @sope-and-shine @joonjoonsmiles @codeinebelle @aianloveseven @chamchamcham @princessjazzyjazz @notvantaes @casspirit0705 @ramyagovindraj @brinnalaine @ephyra1230 @betysotelo18 @thoughtfultaledreamer @salty-for-suga @cosmicdaylight @dreamcatcherjiah @kookoo-kachoo @nightapple4jk  @josierosie @jayhope88 @butterflylion @hobiismyhopeu @momma-said-that-it-was-oke @shinyplaidbagellamp @catspancake  @somewhereofftheglobe @strawberryforever25 @rjsmochii @prdshobi @beeeb05 @eatjeanjin @taekookcaneatme @Cheeely14 @kookietsukkie @anpanman-sonyeondan @glitteringcoffeefreak @chocobetterknot @alpaca1612 @ohmy-fandoms @liljooniecutie @Jikachoo @preciouschimine @fan-ati--c @Joondala @httpmuffin @dammit-jjk @jikooksgirl19

TAGLIST IS CLOSED!

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[shades-of-stony]

Post CA:CW Fix It Stony Fanfics

Making Amends by TheseStoriesAreWrittenOnMyHeart

Summary: Everything about them happened in seconds. Their first meeting was quick, with Tony landing next to the Captain, each man giving a curt nod and name in greeting. Their argument on the hellicarrier took mere seconds to escalate. Until Steve was goading Tony into putting on the suit and going a few rounds and Tony not so subtly reminding Steve that he wasn’t afraid to hit an old man. It was only seconds of staring at Tony on that New York City Street, his arc reactor dark, no rise and fall of his chest, for Steve to know that inside the tin can, was a good man. Then Ultron happened, and it took seconds for their world to change, seconds for Steve to throw his shield at Tony and for the billionaire to send a repulsor blast back. They went from laughing and relaxing to standing on an edge thousands of feet above solid ground. And now…now everything’s changed. And all it took was a combination of seconds; of decisions made, actions performed and words spoken that they couldn’t get back. Just a few ticks of the clock for their world to shatter.

It’ll take more than that to make things right.

Note: This one deals with amending the accords. It is about how the avengers pick up after the civil war and how they learn to be friends again. It is an incredibly detailed and well written piece! Also, NO TEAM CAP OR TEAM IRON MAN BASHING. I was only supposed to re-read a few chapters to recall the story and give a few-word review but I ended up re-reading the whole goddamn thing. It’s a masterpiece. 

maybe love is the reason why (we're seeing it eye to eye) by parkrstark

Summary: "I'm sorry. Repeat that again." Tony leaned forward in his seat from across the table. He even stuck a finger in his ear as if he was cleaning it out. "I don't think I heard you right."

Fury rolled his eyes-- or well, eye. "You and Rogers need to go undercover as a married couple in a community out on Long Island."

--

After Civil War, Tony and Steve are sent on an undercover mission as a couple to try and find Hydra informants. Somehow, they end up with Peter as their undercover son who decides to play matchmaker even if the two of them are doing their best to ignore their feelings after Siberia.

Note: My latest Fix It read! It just completed today. This fic is a phenomenal read, with its fake relationship, superfamily, undercover, and sexual tension elements! A definite 1000/10!

and this is the map of my heart by CydSA

Summary: The Avengers are splintered - spread out across the world.

There are many things to regret. The biggest one is what could have been.

Tony refuses to have any more regrets. Steve realizes that perhaps he made the wrong choice.

It starts from here....

Note: Here is some sweet, sweet, Civil War Fix It. It dwells deep into the Accords, how Tony fixes it, and the downfall of Ross. 

floating point exception by ooka

There is something, he knows, to see a man as mortal. To see his fault lines and jagged edges instead of the smooth surface they present. Most people don’t like the illusion, whether it be good or not. They don’t want people like him to be human.

But that’s what he is, under the suit and the smile and the sunglasses. Under the bravo and the quick grins. He’s just a man, trying to hide his broken pieces, the dents in his heart, the washed out color of his soul. He’s just a man, trying to solve problems and make the world better. That’s why he’s Ironman, just a man in a suit. Nothing extra.

The place where the arc reactor used to rest in his chest aches so fiercely for a moment that Tony can’t breathe.

He takes in a few breaths and does what Tony does best - pushes it down and goes to work.

(Tony, after the Civil War. Post CA:CW)

Note: A 150k+ fanfic that is centered on Tony, his issues, and his struggles. PREPARE TO CRY.

Not Enough Scotch for this Matchmaking Scheme by desolateice:

Summary:  After Civil War and a lot of healing the Avengers are fed up with the stubborn silence between Steve and Tony and try to take things in their own hands.

Note: A Fix It where the ‘kids’ play matchmaker to bring their fighting ‘parents’ back together! 

Never Eye To Eye by vorkosigan for mrsgingles

Summary: After the Civli War, the Avengers were back together.

How is everything going, Tony? Pepper had asked in her email. It's fine (Tony had written back). I'm fighting with Steve all the time. Everything is going to hell. I'm okay (you know I'm always okay).

(Or: How Tony and Steve learned to be a bit gentler with each other)

Note: A 26k+ fic where Steve and Tony learned how to be friends again, and more. It deals with the struggles and frustrations they had just to salvage their friendship.  

Fly One More Time (Alternately Titled--The Phoenix) by RavenLost2187

Summary: Steve couldn't see them before.

But then he woke up and there they were.

There's a small problem though.

One of his teammates doesn't have wings like he should.

And that's Tony Stark

Note: Some winged fics anyone? This has a bit of a Team as Family element and not to mention that glorious Civil War fix it theme! 

What it’s worth by masterlokisev159

Summary:  Tony's scent is off. Wanda realizes why.

Note: Here is a Hurt and Comfort fic for you with a dash ABO elements in it! 

Sunrise Over the End of the World by Sapphic_Futurist

Summary: When Dr. Strange arrives at an Accords Committee Meeting and warns of the coming of an alien megalomaniac set on destroying the world, the Rogues are pardoned and Tony finds himself exactly where he never wanted to be. Back at the Compound with Steve, who still can't take a hint and won't leave him alone.

--

In which Tony is broken and Steve finds redemption.

Note: A Bad case of Tony acting like nothing happened and doing his goddamn best to avoid Steve. It’ll work all out in the end. Well, it will get worst first before that though.. 

We stand together (or not at all) by Jana_C

Summary:  It’s so easy to hate this man, so painfully easy. He’s the embodiment of rich, white male privilege. He’s irritatingly arrogant, and he doesn’t always think before acting, and even when he does, he manages to twist his logic around and shape it into something that will always benefit him, and yet, here he is, building the guy who killed his parents an arm, without having been asked; working his way through diplomacy and politics, even though he hates it with every fiber of his being, just so he can correct the mistakes all of them made. She watches him go and sighs, small and tired, before texting a single line to Steve. Get ready to come home.

Note: Anyone up for some Tony Whump and Appreciation fanfic? 

You Don’t Only Get One Shot by janonny

Summary: In which Tony voluntarily carries a tracker around, and learns how to talk to Steve all over again in-between and during kidnapping attempts.

“Leave you alone for two months, and you have an operation all set up to track wayward Hydra cells and rescue innocent billionaires,” Tony said, his tone skating the line of annoyance and admiration.

Note: a dose of Stalkerish!Steve (but not in an entirely creepy way because he just wants to keep Tony safe dammit). 

You've Got A Sister Now by ZaraMelMercury

Summary: It's been a year since the events of the Avengers' Civil War. Tony Stark is trying to pick up the pieces of his life, while juggling his work, his remaining friendships, getting therapy sessions for Rhodey and dealing with government politics, as well as the Accords.

It is a bit rough, but he's got Pepper (always a steady rock by his side), Rhodey, Happy and the Kid- Peter Parker. Tony would never admit to it up front and center, but you could always catch a proud look on the man's face whenever the young Spiderling was mentioned!

Life seemed to be looking up...

Except for one, minor detail:

Steve Rogers.

The hope for one reconciliation, surprisingly, led to another!

A new bond that would form that Tony would ultimately always be thankful for.

"Oh, I wanna take it back!... " "No, no, no, you can't retract it!"

Who would've thought it?

Tony Stark has a sister looking out for him, after all.

Note: Here are some Tony and Nat friendship for you! This one isn’t exactly a solid fix it but one with a more of hopeful ending. 

The Bro Code by Sullen

Summary: In a world where the Winter Soldier is found years earlier and is named Tony’s godfather, Zemo plays a different R-rated video and Siberia goes a little differently.Or –Steve breaks the bro code.

Note: This is just too cute and wholesome not to include. 

WIP

Used to be Mine by Fangirlingmanaged

Tony can't even recognize himself nowadays.

Note: This one certainly deserves a place at the heavy angst category because that’s what it is. HEAVY ANGST AND HEARTBREAK.

[redxblueihateloveyou]

Hey i really love your blog!!! I just plucked the courage to actually send u an ask fhdjhd but GOSH i love your video edits and your gifs and your meta article posts, you're so articulate and you can explain/describe moments in a way that makes me go "oh wow, i cant believe i haven't seen it that way before!!" Haha ANYWAYS i'm just here to say that i completely agree with what all u said, Free creators might do a lil fanservice here and there for the 25 ships that exists within the fandom's circle, but rinharu's storyline is clearly the most romantic one! And i'd argue it's the one closest to being canon esp after part 1, i mean the fact that they put such an explosive emotional outburst right at the end of the second to the last movie means a lot. It's like reinforcing the fact that this series has always been about them, and everything that has happened only happened either because they met or they grew appart and miss eachother. I kinda feel like maybe.. juust maayyybe there's a chance KA wants to make the ship canon, since it's the last movie and they want to end it on a highnote maybe (bcs honestly i think the only reason they've been holding back is purely bcs of the merch sales, since they don't have a problem showing a wholesome lesbian love story in kobayashi maid dragon) butt i could be wrong, maybe i'm just overly optimistic and delusional, they could somehow ruin it and give an ending that panders to all the ships again 😅🥲, but at least there's a clear-cut guarantee that part 2 would dedicate a large portion of it fixing rin and haru's fight!!! Oohh how can i wait another 6 months now!!😭😭 (sorry for the long ask btw!! 🙏🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️)

OMG thank you so so much!! For watching my vids too! ❤️❤️❤️ It really means a lot to me! Ahhhh wow, thats the longest ask I've ever recieved! 😍 I'm trying to explain myself so hard lol I'm glad its appreciated, bc sometimes I'm like "I don't fucking know how to say this" xD

Well, you know me, I only care for one ship, which is the only one with confirmed info that they're both actually gay and have mutual feelings for each other. There are some other ships in free! I'm fine with (those do not include Rin or Haru in them xD), but I just mostly don't care, bc after reading all the stuff, you can see that in some of those to one the other one is actually like his second option, which I just do not like. Others I just don't even see, bc again to me who witnessed great close male friendships and having two sisters who I'm very close to, I just do not see anything romantic in that.

It's not just Free! tbh, it's like any sports anime these days. They see two guys walking together, it's a ship. And like no one cares if they're just bros. Like I'd get i they did some fanservice fanservice, but like I never saw anyone in Free! crossing the line the way rinharu do. I can without thinking much name you 10 rh moments that no matter how hard you think can't be explain as being bros, but can't name one when it comes to others. I just find some ppl shipping everyone with everyone weird sometimes. It's like western fans see like some eastern actors or singers slap each other ass lovingly and they're like "oh they're fucking" I'm like "yeah, ofc all 500 of them, you're absolutely right". And Free! doesn't do anything even like that, I just do not get sometimes like what moment even brought on some ships. I'm genuinely confused. Albert and Haru? You fucking fell from a sakura tree or smth? I'm...

I'm especially confused when it comes to guys, whose character type is who I call "I only want this one and if I can't have it, then I'm ok" xD. It just always surprised me, when they try to pair up them with someone else, it's like a complete ooc.

I'm also not into this whole "well, if there are gays in this anime, than everyone there is gay". I'm like... huh. It's like with KNB and MDZS I had same feeling. It's like you have already couples there who are canon/borderline canon, why do you need another 10 who don't even interact or just don't even go there? I'm always so confused in those situations. Or like wangxian is married and some are like "no, I actually don't like it, let me write a fic when they're with other ppl". Lan Zhan... being in love or having sex with someone else? Yeah, that's not Lan Zhan, dude, you're writing about someone else. Might as well change the name at this point.

But last time I went to twitter someone had a thread about how if they make s4 of Free! they should mainly explore there Momo's angst (and no, it wasn't a joke), so I'm already like, I'm just.. nothing will surprise me no more. But I'm forever gonna be confused.

Yeah, I eel you about "going there". I mean seeing part of it, it just kinda cemented my confusion, bc I do not get how it can be considered platonic. We were just discussing since yesterday with @freeseafirefly how I now even more perplexed and do not understand how they will resolve it without going into relationship territory. It's just our point here is that like... no one forced them to go there (I mean its not like this whole fandom has some wild expectations or anything already), we were waiting or our usual friendship and swimming and maybe tiny conflict about struggles of pro-careers and some usual rh implications (maybe all the rh gay in dramas as always). Not some pure fanfiction coming to life here haha.

Like why I'm laughing is bc I twice used in my "fics" bringing up him leaving Haru as a force to push the confession, bc there's no way if he adresses this it won't lead to this. And now we not only have this (bc Haru just basically layed it out there), but an actual scene of him playing on their feelings for each other and a literal image of Rin leaving and "taking Haru's heart with him" to the point when he's for the first time in his life openly crying on the ground. And it's not like this scene can be interpreted as anything else, the whole fandom talks same, bc the whole fight was just about them, what Haru said was just about them, there's a literal boom of his heart getting out of his chest, before he falls and now he's heartless.

So our question is like... why go there?

It's like some say that they might still resolve it with "they're special to each other" and swimming, but still like we already knew that, there was no reason to go that far is what I'm saying. And to think that it was planned since forever giving the clues is like... ???

The whole spoon theme also throw me on the loop because like, lets be honest, it's wedding themed. And that part of the interview about part 2 there also made me go...?????? Because I mean, huh?

This is just all in all very interesting turn of events to say the least. I do not see the point of all of this if its not what I think it is, esp after seeing tweets like "even I see a rh wedding and I'm mh T_T". It's just all very unsubtle, that's why we're confused.

Like who knows, maybe we'll really by some magic turn of events get lucky and they really decided that since its the ending, it's okay to go for it. But I also don't wanna to hype myself much, I'm already really happy with it, just bc again, this scene already proves all of my points.

And yeah, I'm sure they'll pander to everyone, bc it's the end and etc and we have to handle everything on the good note and there's a whole line of ppl who's obsessed with us, esp with Haru xD, but like bromance pandering and romance pandering are different things, you know *wiggles eyebrows* and u know who always gets the second one.

[phoebehalliwell]

on the subject of crackships.

in a prue lives, phoebeleo piperkyle pruecole paigeandy au (in which paige meets them in s1) how do u see it playing out and ALSO. do u see them all having kids still. this is so random i am so sorry (also i don't mean they have to be set from the get go and never get w anyone else but these would hypothetically be endgame)

i mean with phoebeleo like hard yes like in s2 when they're watching the baby at the end everyone's like phoebe ik you're gonna be a great mom you're gonna have like a million and one kids like mark my words and phoebe's real smitten about it like wow u really think you : ) i'd like to. guess i should probably find a guy first tho huh. but if that guy's already there bc it's leo and he's been here since season one i think they are easily first to have kids and first to get a full power of three the other three is definitely like another can of worms bc like.

okay so for paigeandy obvi we're starting andy's an old childhood friend of the halliwell's for the sake of cleanliness did not date any of them (if we're going messy tho dated prue hooked up once or twice with phoebe (not while dating prue, but neither of them ever mentioned it around prue bc well. yikes.) And piper had a major crush on andy for like. a decade. from ages 13 to 23) and he's a cop and does. stuff idk helps people and this lands him frequently in bed with social services which is. consistently. a pain in the ass. and he doesn't try to hold it against them bc they're clearly understaffed underpaid there's a lot to do but um jesus. and everyone in the precinct Hates having to go over there to do stuff bc you're just standing in the lobby drinking bad coffee for fifty minutes before you can even get a word in with the work and unlucky andy he drew the short straw ends up at social services and who should he meet there if not this gorgeous but really scatterbrained berkeley grad with a mouth like a sailor and a heart of gold and now um there's no need to draw straws at the station because andy straight up volunteers to go to social services just to see paige which she notices of course because like. were you jinxed or something? cursed? i've never known someone to draw the short straw so many times. and andy's like no i just um. like being hands on with my work i don't like leaving up to some dumb rookie with bad luck and paige is like oh don't worry i promise it is still being left to some dumb rookie with bad luck i mean i am right here blah blah blah banter conversation hint at a tragic backstory give it half a season and then it's official bf/gf shit and as far as charmed goes it's a prophecy about four sisters and the halliwells are like phew. dodged a bullet there lmao. until they do something only charmed ones could do and they're like Wait. Fuck. Is There A Fourth Sister Out There? so they find paige within the first hmm ten episodes or so.

so since we have both s1 phoebeleo and paigeandy i'd say they'd be on the fastest track but i feel like paige does have a lot more issues when it comes to getting married and having kids than phoebe does regardless i think by s4 they're married on track to have kids with pruecole we're doing the s3 introduction and the enemies to lovers arc we seal that with either a wedding at the very end of s4 or at the very beginning of s5 however kids is like. like they both want kids but prue has daddy issues and cole has mommy issues not to mention the charmed one/demon hybrid so they need to do some soul searching on that one. prue's probably pregnant by the end of s5 and has her baby halfway thru s6. paige may or may not have had kids at this point if they did they were kind of a whoopsies baby but she and andy r embracing it with open arms.

piperkyle imo is peak in a divorce/widower era it's been pitched like piperkyle au where he's not fucking insane piperkyle au where she's not brokenhearted piperkyle au where they're both normal happy people who then meet but like. nah. the appeal of them to me really is being the broken fucked up human being and feeling like you're kinda just gonna stay broken and fucked up bc you had your shot and you blew it so now you're here get used to it and then to have someone to meet someone who sees you so genuinely as you are that at first it's disgusting leave me alone i hate you but out of that just honest sight grows familiarity and comfort and before you even realized it happened love and jfc i'm in love with them???? but you realize that you're always happier when they're around you want to stay by their side and you don't even have to wonder if they feel the same because you just know they do because you Know each other and you don't have to wait for them to turn and run once they see who you really are because they know who you are they've known from the start saw the ugly the broken and vile and looked past that and saw the beauty and genuine love underneath like 🗣‼🗣‼🗣‼🗣‼. piperkyle consistently makes me insane. So. in order to hit this. we're bringing in dan. that's right, from season two to six (maybe just five but i'd like to have the pruecole arc wrapped up in a nice bow by the time we open up the next enemies to lovers) piper and dan give a relationship the old college try going from the honeymoon phase to the cringe failmarriage stage until it's eventually just time to call it quits like you literally can't move forward. so because of the delayed start piperkyle would def be the last to have kids but because this is a long slowburn full of character development and just like. vulnerable bonding moments i think that once they go official as a couple wedding and kids are not far off on the horizon i think if we close out a season (a hypothetical 9 or 10) with them getting together for the first time then we gotta burn some miles on the freak out denial stage because i always think that's funny that'll last half a season? maybe a third. and then by the end of the season we're looking at a wedding. by the end of the following season they def have a kid

superlatives!

most fashionable couple: pruecole

most likely to name their kids after dead relatives: piperkyle

most likely to break p tradition: paigeandy

most chill about dating a charmed one: phoebeleo (andy kyle & cole would all be way too willing to throw themselves into danger, leo trusts phoebe's foresight and knows when he needs to sit on the sidelines. it is a lesson all the other men still struggle with)

bonus round!

best bromance: 1st place: leoandy 2nd place: leocole 3rd place: colekyle

[sour-mochii]

Comfort

It was like a wake up call for everyone. Reminding them of the one thing they had seemed to forget.

Death can happen in an instant.

"Are you coming to the South Pole with me?" Tenzin asked. "No, you should be with your family." Lin said. "I know. That's why I asked." Tenzin sat down next to her.

"My father meant as much to you as he did to me. You shouldn't be alone. We're having a family dinner to celebrate his life. Firelord Zuko and Izumi will be there. Please come with me, Lin." He said.

Lin sighed and stood up. She got her shoes and coat on and headed for the door. "Are we going to the south or not?" She looked back at Tenzin, who was still sitting on heir couch. He gave her a smile and followed her out the door.

"Mother, it's nice to see you." Tenzin hugged Katara tightly. "Lin, I was hoping you'd come." Katara said.

Lin gave a sheepish smile, turning her attention to the brown haired girl behind Katara. Kya was standing over the sink scrubbing a plate with a rag. More than likely dishes from breakfast this morning. "I didn't know you'd be here, Kya." Tenzin said. "Why wouldn't I be?" Kya asked.

Tenzin shrugged his shoulders. "Just figured you'd be too busy traveling." He said, a hint of annoyance in his voice.

"Been here since dad died." Kya said under her breath.

"Come on, lets go sit." Tenzin placed a hand on Lin's lower back, leading her into the living room.

Wanting to avoid the awkward silence between her and her own fiance, she caught Katara's shoulder passing by. "Do you need any help cooking?" Lin asked. "Thank you so much, Lin." Katara said.

Lin followed her into the kitchen.

"Don't worry about those, dear, it's just a couple plates. I'll get them later." Katara placed a hand on Kya's shoulder. Kya sat the dish back down in the sink and dried her hands off with a towel.

"Hey." Lin said with a smile. Kya nodded and pushed past her, leaving Lin without a response.

"Don't mind her. It's been a rough few weeks since Aang's passing." Katara said. "I.. uh, I'm sorry." Lin said. "It's alright." Katara put her hands on Lin's shoulders and smiled at her. "Let's start cooking." She said.

Everyone was around the table, filling their plates and talking.

"There they were.. the troops we had been looking for for weeks! I ran to go save them, then out of no where... three saber-tooth moose lions came running towards me! I threw one over my shoulder, I tackled one to the ground, then, just as I was about to be eaten alive, I swung a hard left hook and-" "Bumi, please!" Tenzin interrupted him.

"Can't we just have one normal dinner without you're crazy made up stories?" Tenzin said. Lin tensed up at this sudden urge of annoyance.

Bumi crossed his arms. "This isn't just some normal dinner, Tenzin. I apologize for trying to lighten up the mood a bit." He said.

Tenzin sunk back in his chair. "Guy's please. Stop arguing and get over yourselves. You're causing a scene." Kya said.

Tenzin scoffed a bit. "Yeah, like you have room to talk about causing a scene." He said under his breath. Lin hit him in the arm.

"What?" Kya glared at him.

"Kids, please. Can we please enjoy this dinner." Katara said. Tenzin, Kya, and Bumi all exchanged sorrowful looks at each other. "Yes, mother." Tenzin said.

"Yeah."

"Sorry, Mom."

Tenzin paused before taking another bite of his food. "Wheres Firelord Zuko? And Izumi?" He asked.

"I'm not sure, if I'm being honest. The only guess I have is that the storm was too much for Druk to fly through, and they couldn't get a messenger hawk out." Katara spoke softly. "Well, Oogie flew in just fine?" Tenzin said.

"Not every flying animal has a coat of fur thicker than the walls of Ba Sing Se, Tenzin." Lin said. She heard a small chuckle and looked up to see Kya with a smirk on her lips.

Tenzin didn't respond to Lin's comment, instead picking up his fork and shoving it into his mouth.

Kya was back in the kitchen, hunched over the sink, with a plate in her hand. "Here, let me help." Lin grabbed a spare dish cloth and stood next to Kya. She picked up a bowl and started cleaning it.

"You don't have to help. I can do it." Kya said. "I know you can." Lin said as she continued to clean the dishes they used for dinner.

The silence between them was never awkward. It was almost blissful knowing they didn't have to drag on some meaningless conversation just to enjoy each others company. Lin was grateful to have something with Kya that she didn't have with Tenzin.

"Oh, there you are, Lin." Lin sighed at the silence being broken. "Don't bother with those, Kya will get them." He sat down at the island.

Kya furrowed her eyebrows at Tenzins comment.

"So, what did you mean about me causing a scene?" Kya asked. "I'm not starting an argument with you, Kya." Tenzin said. "Doesn't have to be one." Kya said.

Tenzin ignored her. "Lin, I wanted to talk to you about something." He said.

Lin finished rinsing a dish before leaving Kyas side.

"What is it?" Lin leaned against the island, Tenzin taking her hand in his.

"I think.. with my dads passing, maybe we should start thinking about kids." Tenzin said.

"Woah, hold on. Slow down, Tenzin. We- we're not even married yet!" Lin pulled away from him and stood up straight.

"Yes, I know, but, Lin-" "If Lin doesn't want to have kids right now, you can't make her, Tenzin." Kya interrupted him.

Tenzin furrowed his eyebrows at his sister, who was still facing the dishes. "Stay out of this, Kya." He said.

"Tenzin I'm not ready for kids." Lin said. "Lin, the future of the airbenders-" "No, no don't do that." Kya dropped the dishes in her hand, and turned around with her hands on her hips. "Don't sit here and tell her the future of the airbenders is our responsibility like you always do." She mocked her brother. "Don't try to guilt trip her into having your kids." Kya said.

"This! This, Kya, is what I was talking about at dinner! No matter what's going on, even if it doesn't involve you, you always have to cause a scene! Just stay out of it, it's not like you have any understanding of responsibilities anyways." Tenzin said angrily.

Kya stared at Tenzin in disbelief. "I don't know anything about responsibilities?" Kya said.

"No, you don't. Because you decided to run away from everything and everyone the second you turned nineteen. You're so worried about travelling the world and 'finding yourself' when what you need to do is find a place and settle down. Stop acting like a teenager, Kya, grow up!" Tenzin said.

"I have been here for a month taking care of mom because you and Bumi had 'too much going on' to come see your own mother after dad just died!" Kya said.

Tenzin rolled his eyes at her. "Oh wow, Kya is actually sticking around! Kya is actually taking on some respons-"

"Would both of you shut the fuck up before Katara hears you yelling like fucking idiots!?" Lin stopped the argument.

Kya walked out of the kitchen. "Yeah, go ahead and run, it's what you're best at-" "Tenzin." Lin snapped her head to look at him.

They heard the door slam shut. Lin gave Tenzin a glare that made him sink into his seat before she walked away.

Lin followed Kya outside. "Kya, stop!" She said. "Come on, this storm is really bad!" She tried to stop her. Lin could barely see Kya, so she focused on following her footprints in the snow.

"Leave me alone, Lin." Kya yelled back to her. She was struggling to walk through the two feet of snow below her, eventually falling to her knees, and covering her face with her hands.

Lin ran up, pulling her in. "I'm here, Kya." Lin said in her ear. "I've been trying so hard to keep myself busy, to keep from thinking about it, but i'm so burnt out." Kya cried.

"I've been there for everyone. I've put my whole life behind to come to the south and take care of my mother. I'm comforting my family in the best way I possibly can, but," Kya said. "Where's my support? Where is my help? Who is telling me that it's okay to be sad?" She cried.

"I miss him too. Where's my comfort, Lin?" Kya said.

Lin looked down at her frantically, not entirely sure how to help. How would she help?

She hugged Kya tighter. "I'm here for you, Kya. I'll always be here for you." She whispered.

After a couple minutes of sitting there, not speaking, Kya broke the silence. "Go inside, Lin. You're in a tank top." Kya's voice was quiet and raspy. "Not unless you're going with me." Lin said.

Lin may have been cold, but she was nothing if not stubborn.

Kya took a couple deep breaths before she stood up. "You're lucky I care about your well-being, Beifong." Kya huffed. Lin stood up, and Kya started walking towards her moms hut.

"Kya, wait." Lin grabbed her hand to stop her. "I'm not good at the whole comfort thing, but I'm here for you. And I care about you a lot." Lin scratched the back of her head nervously.

Lin was pulled into a hug. "Thank you, Lin." Kya said quietly. She pulled back a bit to look Lin in the eyes, and she smiled. "Tenzin is.. really lucky to have you." Kya said. Lin felt like her heart stopped for a second.

"Huh, yeah." Lin let out a nervous chuckle. She almost forgot about Tenzin with Kya standing there in front of her.

Lin looked past her and saw a large figure landing in front of the hut. "Come on, it looks like Lord Zuko and Izumi made it." Lin smiled. Kya smiled back and wrapped her arm around Lin's while they walked back.

[airyairyaucontraire]

Mildly intense conversation with my sister in the car on the way back from brunch about how she thinks (semi hopes?) that now our mother is retired it probably won’t be long until they separate or divorce. I think they’re probably just going to stay married because they have been for 47 years and nothing much is going to change in terms of our father’s limitations or our mother’s tolerance of them. We talked about how growing up with their marriage - although I hasten to add it isn’t abusive or high-conflict, it just isn’t particularly affectionate and he’s very self-centred - may be something to do with why we’re both single and unlikely ever to have a serious relationship, since we didn’t really have a model of what it’s like to have a husband who’s reliable and helpful and appears to be in love with you. (I am just thinking about it now and legit cannot remember seeing them kiss each other.) I don’t know how much that accounts for since it’s not as if we’ve had relationships that haven’t worked out, there’s just never been much activity on that front - she’s had a couple of boyfriends who fizzled out, I’ve never had anyone.

Yeah talks with my sister on the way back from our rare social engagements tend to go like this. It arose partly from a friend saying, at the end of her tether with her antivax BIL who abuses her sister who keeps going back to him because she confuses drama and toxicity with passion and romance (all that “struggle love” bullcrap), that she kind of wishes he’d catch it again (he gave it to her sister and both their young children, the baby girl had to go to hospital in an ambulance - she’s okay now!) and die. So we were talking about what people’s marriages and LTRs are like and what people put up with! It was a bit “Kids, could you lighten up a little?” but we were simultaneously the kids and Marge up front.

Everything is so weird all the time.

[melanielocke]

You'll be in my Heart

Alastair has been sleeping poorly, so when he's awake at night and the babies start crying, he might as well get up and sing them back to sleep.

Song is You'll be in my Heart from Tarzan

I did a lot of research into a baby's development and how to feed your child in the 1900s for this

Taglist: @nott-the-best @foxglove-airmid @alastair-esfandiyar-carstairs1 @justanormaldemon @styxdrawings @ipromiseiwillwrite @a-dream-dirty-and-bruised

Alastair had been a poor sleeper for as long as he could remember. In between nightmares, irregular patrols and struggling to feel safe enough to asleep, it wasn’t that uncommon for him to lie awake at night, unable to go back to sleep. He’d found few remedies so far. Thomas could help him through the nightmares, but he wasn’t here tonight. Thomas had started looking for an apartment of his own, and Alastair had considered moving in with him when he found one, but he did worry it might be a bit soon in their relationship. At the very least, Thomas’ own apartment would give them some much needed privacy.

But there was one more reason Alastair would rather stay here for now. His mother had given birth a couple of weeks ago, and to everyone’s surprise she had twins. A boy and a girl. After fighting over baby names for months with Cordelia, the three of them had settled on Rostam and Shadi, choosing Persian names for the babies rather than English ones. Shadi was a sound sleeper so far, didn’t cry often. Rostam on the other hand, kept his mother awake at night. She was getting exhausted, Alastair could tell, and so he’d promised he would get up when the babies cried. Now his mother only had to wake up every three hours to feed the babies since he couldn’t do that and his mother didn’t trust any of the alternatives for breast milk.

The soft crying didn’t surprise him anymore at this point. The babies would get louder as they grew, and Alastair hoped he’d be able to take that. Loud noises were always something he’d struggled with. It was one of the reasons why he’d chosen spears as his primary weapon, it meant he could keep a bit more distance from the demons. But even if it was difficult, he’d be there. He’d always be there for his little brother and sister.

He got out of bed and to the nursery. It was Rostam, as it usually was. He was fairly certain his mother had fed the babies less than an hour ago, he’d been awake then too, so that wasn’t it. Of course, sometimes babies just needed to be held and Rostam loved the warmth and safety of Alastair’s arms.

His nightshirt was unbuttoned at the top, leaving some skin bare. His mother had told him babies like to make skin contact and that it helped with the bonding. Alastair knew he could not quite be a father, but he was the closest thing the babies would have to a father. He was determined not to disappoint, but had to admit he was scared. What if he wasn’t be enough? What if he was just like his father?

Alastair took Rostam out of the baby bed and gently rocked him. He was still crying, but he was getting softer. The way the babies cried often made him want to drop whatever he was doing and rush to them and hold them until they were alright. But what calmed the twins the most was when he sang to them.

Alastair hadn’t sung in years. He’d loved to sing and play the piano when he was a child, but at some point he’d lost that joy and playing had become too painful, too overwhelming, reminding him of the childhood he’d lost. Rostam and Shadi had brought back his love for music, and he and Thomas had written a lullaby together. Alastair truly did not understand why Thomas was so shy about the songs he wrote, they were marvelous.

Rostam did not stop crying, and Shadi had woken up as well. Alastair hoped his singing wouldn’t wake his mother, or Cordelia, but at this point it was the only thing that would help Rostam calm down.

Come stop your crying it will be alright. Just take my hand hold it tight. I will protect you from all around you. I will be here, don't you cry .

Rostam stopped crying, and stared at him with his big dark eyes. Both the babies had them, a trait they shared with Cordelia and Alastair, but with neither of their parents. Alastair had hated those eyes on himself, once. He’d wished he had blue eyes like his father, or even the light brown eyes his mother had. But now he was glad the babies looked like him and Cordelia, like their mother. They were perfect, and beautiful, and didn’t resemble their father much at all. And Alastair knew it was cruel to think such things, but he truly believed the babies were lucky their father was gone.

Even if Alastair was still struggling to come to term with the loss. Thomas was right, it was much harder to lose someone you were on bad terms with. It took his chance to find closure. Alastair knew there was no way he could have made things right with his father, there were things that could not be forgiven, but he wished he could have confronted him. He would have lashed out at his father, he would have shown him, this is what you made me. He would finally have confronted him with the damage he’d done. And now he never could.

For one so small you seem so strong. My arms will hold you keep you safe and warm. This bond between us can't be broken. I will be here don't you cry.

Rostam really was small. Alastair did not have much experience with babies, he didn’t remember Cordelia being a baby and had only seen other people’s babies in passing. He’d been surprised how small the newborns were, even if they weren’t premature. According to brother Zachariah, or Jem, as he’d been trying to call him, that was not so common for twins, and Sona was very lucky to have gotten through her pregnancy so well. Still, having the babies had been hard on her and she needed to rest as much as she could.

'Cause you'll be in my heart Yes, you'll be in my heart From this day on Now and forever more

You'll be in my heart No matter what they say You'll be here in my heart, always

‘Alastair, is that you?’

Alastair would recognize his sister’s voice anywhere. Cordelia had moved back in after coming home from Paris. She and James were separating, and the enchanted bracelet James had worn was a decent enough reason to separate without ruining her reputation. Both Cordelia and James needed time, and as far as Alastair was concerned, seventeen was far too young to be married. Not that he knew what the right age was. He would never be married, after all. It had become easier for his mother to accept that now that she knew he liked men. Before, she’d doubted his insistence, worrying that he isolated himself too much and would be unhappy, but now she knew he wasn’t alone at all, he had Thomas. He finally had friends, a partner who loved him and treated him well, and a closer bond with his family than he’d had in a long time.

‘Rostam was crying,’ Alastair said. ‘I was awake anyway.’

Cordelia came to sit down next to him, and took Shadi, who was also awake and had begun sobbing softly, out of her bed. That was the difficult thing with twins, you had to divide your attention, and although Shadi was generally quieter than her brother, she didn’t like it when he got all the attention.

‘I never thought much about having babies on my own,’ Cordelia said. ‘But we’ll probably have our hands full with these two for the coming years. ’

‘No regrets about leaving James?’ Alastair asked.

‘I loved him so much,’ Cordelia said. ‘Knowing he didn’t feel the same way. And I know now that it was because of the bracelet and everything that he was so cold. But Paris did give me some distance, some time to sort everything out. As you said, unrequited love doesn’t last forever. Besides, I think I like someone else now.’

Alastair looked at her. ‘Please, please tell me it’s not Matthew Fairchild.’

‘It’s not Matthew,’ Cordelia said, gently rocking Shadi in her arms. ‘It’s Lucie. I’m not sure exactly what’s going with her and Jesse. He’s still figuring out this whole being alive thing, and Lucie thinks maybe a friendship would be better for them than romance, especially so young.’

‘Really? Well, it would be an improvement,’ Alastair said, turning to the baby in his arms. ‘Wouldn’t it, moosh moosh-am?’

Little mouse. Alastair had taken to calling the twins that. It was what Cordelia called her sword, but it was far more fitting for the babies.

‘Don’t involve Rostam in this,’ Cordelia said.

‘He’s three weeks old. He doesn’t understand a word I’m saying,’ Alastair.

‘I’m glad to hear you singing again,’ Cordelia said, changing the subject. ‘I missed that.’

‘Me too,’ Alastair said. ‘For so long, I just couldn’t, knowing it wasn’t like it used to be. Knowing I’d be mocked for singing. But the babies should get to go to sleep with a lullaby, shouldn’t they? Thomas helped me write this one.’

‘Can you sing some more?’ Cordelia asked.

‘Thomas did write a second part, but he’s not so sure about it yet.’

Why can't they understand the way we feel They just don't trust what they can't explain. I know we're different but deep inside us We're not that different at all And you'll be in my heart Yes, you'll be in my heart From this day on Now and forever more

‘That was beautiful. Perhaps Thomas is insecure about the second part because it also describes how he feels about you,’ Cordelia said. ‘Oh look, Shadi’s asleep again.’

‘Rostam too. Let’s put them to bed before they wake up again.’

Alastair and Cordelia put the babies back in their beds, tucking them under the blankets. In some months, they would be putting some toys and stuffed animals with them, but at three weeks they were still a bit to young. Alastair had done a lot of research about a baby’s development and apparently babies couldn’t grip anything until they were about three months.

‘Sorry I woke you up,’ Alastair said.

‘You haven’t been sleeping at all, have you?’ Cordelia asked.

‘It remains a struggle,’ Alastair said. ‘Thomas is sleeping over tomorrow night. Usually that helps me feel safe enough to sleep. I’m getting better, Layla. I’ve been speaking to brother- to Jem. I’ll be alright.’

‘You’re singing again,’ Cordelia said. ‘That’s a good sign. I’m glad to be back home. Even if the babies keep everyone up at night.’

‘They’re probably going to get worse,’ Alastair said. ‘They’re not yet old enough to scream very loud.’

‘I guess then my sleep schedule can match yours,’ Cordelia said. ‘Make sure to take enough breaks, go to Kamala or the Lightwoods when you want to. We can handle the babies.’

‘I will,’ Alastair said. ‘Good night, Layla joon.’

‘Good night, dâdâsh,’ Cordelia said. ‘If the babies wake again, I’ll go. Please get some sleep.’