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readychilledwine · 9 months ago

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The Prettiest Fuck You

Summary - After the birth of Rhysand and Feyre's 3rd child, Tamlin sends a coded message with the help of his mate

Warnings - slight jealously, mentions of breeding, little IC slander, Tamlin is in a goofy mood

Prompt Day 3 - Mate/Flower Language

A/N - just a short little silly for @tamlinweek I'm so excited for the masterlist for today to pop up. I'm going to eat it all up. I fell in love with the idea of a fuck you bouquet after several reddit posts and a few on here, and Tamlin would seriously love to send one. I just know it.

Tamlin Masterlist

You blinked at Tamlin as you looked over the list of flowers that he had given you. Fox glove, yellow roses and carnations, Cyprus, babies breath, and marigolds?

Insincerity, congratulations, disappointment, death, and jealousy? You put the list down on your work table, silently hoping it would somehow magically disappear under the thousands of stems and ribbons from all the arrangements you had worked in today. “Tamlin-”

“Just do it.” He tucked your hair behind your ear and kissed your nose, trying to convince you with that signature smile.

“Tam-” You wanted to object to what the bouquet said, even if you would be able to make it absolutely stunning.

“It's fine.” Both hands were on your face as he kissed you softly.

“Ta-”

“It will look beautiful. You make everything so beautiful, dearest.” You couldn't help the soft smile. His words were not a lie. You were the most sought-after florist to the 7 courts for a reason.

You shook it off, focuing again. “Tamlin, this is-”

“Perfect to congratulate them with!” He walked away from you, chuckling as he did. You had little choice. It was a done discussion.

Your mate wasn't a bitter male all the time. Life shined in those bright green eyes, and they were always full of wonder, amazement, love, joy. But the Lord and Lady of Night announcing the birth of their 3rd child and waiting for the praise and attention that was bound to come with it? That made Tamlin bitter, sick, angry.

He had been too stuck in himself, too trapped in years of trauma, to offer Feyre the life he had offered you. One safe from any duties you did not want. One safe from politics. One where you were free to give him a child at any point. One where a family was wanted, but in due time, instead of an expectation to prove your court was moving on.

You were not Tamlin's symbolic incubator. Your womb was not meant to be used to send a message. You were his wife, his love, the one he showered in red roses and baby's breath, a sign of his eternal love and devotion. You two would have children someday. You would have an army if he'd allow it. But for now, until this lingering bitterness passed, you two would just continue to learn and grow together.

You went back to the task at hand

Gathering the buds he had requested and inspecting each and every single one to ensure its perfection and beauty. If you were going to do this. You were going to do it so well that Rhysand would not come mist your mate and then trap you in that damned Stone City. Tamlin learned through you to speak through flowers when they were sent as gifts or placed in his home. He had learned to say congratulations, to say his sympathy, to say his love, to show support. He had learned a new form of expression through you, and as intricately laced and weaved the flowers he had picked into an arrangement, you realized you thought him too well.

The flowers were beautiful, varying shades of yellows, oranges, whites, reds, and you had mixed your favorite feather-like greens in. It seemed so innocent to anyone who didn't know what the flowers symbolized, the language they spoke. It said “Fuck you and die,” in the most beautiful way possible.

You signed as you picked the vase, enchanting everything to last and stamping the card with the sign of the Spring Court, a rose and thorns. You sent it, hugging yourself slightly before walking into your shared room. it was quiet behind that door, and when you opened it, you could not help but to smile.

Centered on your vanity sat a bouquet of White tulips, red roses, and red spider lily. You knew immediately who they were from, who had made the arrangement, and who may be missing her favorite flowers from her garden.

It was stunning. Shades of red and white mixed with greenery that it was so perfectly balanced. It was huge, occupying most of the corner it sat on. He had surrounded it with poetry and chocolates. "Tam," you took one of those soft roses in your hands, smelling that familiar scent and sighing so happily.

You jumped as arms went around your waist, and kiss was placed to the side of your head. “How did it turn out?” His voice was laced with pride over his own creation.

“Gorgeous. I wouldn't make it any other way. Regardless of what you wanted it to say.”

“Elain lives in Day now, right?” You hummed and nodded. “But she will come visit them, won't she?”

“Of course.”

“Perfect. Perfect. And how about your flowers? How did they turn out?” Your mate, so handsome and strong, tended to need those compliments, and you were eager to hand him praise.

You turned into him, pressing a soft kiss on his lips. “So beautiful. Thank you for including Spider Lilies. This has to be the most stunning arrangement you've made so far." You touched the spider lily, fingers lingering on the off shoots as you did.

“Growth and new beginnings,” he whispered the meaning to you and watched as you nodded, looking up at him through watering eyes.

“And purity and true love.”

“To symbolize us, y/n.”

“To symbolize us,” you repeated.

Rhysand placed the bouquet from Spring centered on his table. He always admired y/n's work. Yes, Elain did wonderful things with flowers, but centuries of practice and studying had allowed you to create masterpieces with the blink of an eye. He smiled before walking away. Leaving a stunned Elain and Lucien to silently laugh.

Her mate leaned into her ear, red hair falling over her shoulder. “He really out did himself with this one.”

Elain had tears forming, “She made it so beautiful.”

“Do we tell him?”

“No,” Elain fixed the flowers from where they had been resting on Rhysand's chest. “Let Tam have this. I have enjoyed him alive lately. His gardens are exquisite."

"You're exquisite," Lucien squeezed the now supple hips of his mate, loving their new plush. "We should really visit soon."

"We should."

General Taglist:

@hnyclover @glitterypirateduck @slytherinindisguise @mischiefmanagers @bloodicka @starsinyourseyes @the-sweet-psycho @mariahoedt @rinalouu @sarawritestories @starryhiraeth @starswholistenanddreamsanswered @cumuluscranium @loneliestluvr @eternallyelvish @azrielsmate3 @daughterofthemoons-stuff @meritxellao @aria-chikage @hungryforbatboys @lilah-asteria

#tamlinweek2024 #tamlinweek 2024 d3 #tamlin x reader #tamlin x you #tamlin x y/n #lucien x elain #elucien

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kanguin · 1 month ago

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You know it deeply saddens me how much of an echo chamber Terfs are in. I'll be on desktop and I'll go into the notes of a post, see a shit take from a blogger with a glowing red username, go to their blog, and it's just. 10-30% normal posts, the rest nonstop Terfarama going on. Click on one blog, and all of a sudden there's a free blacklist the more I scroll through. Like, idk, I do not understand people who can dedicate so much of their life and their free time to hating other people. I hate bigots of all varieties, from your common conservative to the libertarian horde to ecofascists to the common Acolyte of Rowling, but this is the first post I've independently made about them because, I don't know about you, as much as these people actively work to make my life and the lives of people I love miserable, I just generally do not want to think about them in my spare time? Idk, I like being happy, I struggle to be happy, so why would I spend so much of my time dwelling on how unhappy a group of people make me?

But idk, maybe they're just keeping themselves in a different environment than I am. I used to consider Tumblr hellish, but ever since I've started curating my dash through selective following and liberal blocking, it's just been so much more peaceful. I come here now to relax, to hear about global events, and to share interesting posts I find, be they fandom or science or what have you. Life in general is rough as it is, why would I ever want to spend more time dwelling on that reality when that doesn't change anything?

I honestly don't think terfs know nor care that all they're ever going to do is push people away, isolate themselves, alienate the world, and harm the people they care about. They're an interesting hate group, one that isn't solely a group in power at the top punching down, but one that is largely comprised of cis women who are scared and shaken by the pain and suffering inflicted upon them by misogynistic society. But fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, and hate leads to teaming up with all the other people who hate just as strongly as you to feel powerful. But that feeling of power is only ever going to be a feeling. Terfs neuter their capability to effect actual change because instead of actually going after men who abuse their power, instead of nurturing their communities to grow past the need for toxic masculinity and the degradation of women, they direct all of their focus on attacking trans women, policing other women, gaslighting trans men, pushing cis men as far away as possible, and throwing everyone else under the bus to get there.

This is such a stupid strategy that even if trans women were actually secretly men and bioessentialism was true, trans women still wouldn't be men with any actual power because they neither claim masculinity, act it out, benefit from it, nor are welcome among it. Cis men regularly attack and abuse trans women en mass, deny them human rights, and deny them positions of authority. It is so, so apparently clear that trans women are below cis men in the social pecking order, so even if someone is so wrapped up in 8th grade science class biology that they can't see trans women as women, it STILL wouldn't make sense to devote so much of your energy and hate toward a group of people who objectively do not hold any societal power over you instead of the ones that do.

I sincerely hope that this epidemic of faux-feminists who court neonazis when it's convenient for them becomes a footnote in the history book someday. Ace exclusionism was largely nipped in the bud years ago, though there still are some shitheads who've never left it, but I've seen hategroups come and go. This one has had staying power thanks to JKR and other prominent figures championing it alongside the global movement mobilizing against the increased rights of trans people, but it can't last forever. I hope all the blogs I've blocked so full of hate get deleted one day when their owners can't stomach the hate poured into them anymore. It probably won't happen, they'll probably still be here until the site goes under, but I still hope. Everyone is capable of change with the right incentives, so hopefully someday soon it will be more rewarding to love trans women than to hate them.

#kanguin original #trans #transgender #transfem #trans girl #trans woman

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milkdollie · 2 months ago

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hi!! i’ve just stumbled on your blog and i think im obsessed 🥰 i was wondering if you posted your regimen/routine & how you started self inducing anywhere (or if you’d be down to share!)! i desperately want to get started myself

Hello Hello!

So, initially I started by manually stimulating my breasts for 15 minutes every 3 to 4 hours. I was also taking 10 mg of domperidone 3x a day. I don't know if it helped but I'd often try to think milk-y thoughts, either by reading lactation themed content/information or just daydreaming about it. I would also do the manual stimulation at 3-4 am when id wake up nightly to go to the bathroom.

Around week 2 I upped my dom dose to 20 mg 3x a day and kept the stimulation the same.

Week three i added goats rue and blessed thistle supplements to my routine and by the end of week 4 I had added fenugreek and started using a manual pump rather than just my hands on the same schedule, this is also around the time I started producing.

I have since moved onto my electric pump and since the focus is producing more I prefer to pump every 2 hours for 20 minutes. This is a really tough schedule to keep so I don't always get to adhere to it but I try to do it at least 4x a day. Prior to my hiatus I still was not making much milk which is a little sad to me but I'm hoping to be a veritable milk machine someday!

#huc0w #inducing lactation #lactating kink #hucow training

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bcolfanfic · 6 months ago

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¹⁰⁾ a dingy truck stop after ten hours on the road

bucky x buck x josie road trip vibes

(-: had fun with this

/ / /

"Papa," Josie said, pushing her foot against the back of the passenger seat where John was sat. Gale looked in the rearview mirror, offering a gentle chiding for kicking the seat- his husband tilting his head back to look at her.

"Hm baby?"

"Why aren’t we goin’ to Wis-con-sin in an airplane?"

John hoped she never grew out of the way she sounded out long words. And shared her current sentiment.

He laughed lightly to himself, reaching across the console to massage the back of Gale’s neck. "That's a question for daddy to answer I think,"

"Because daddy is trying to save us some money."

John hummed- half because he found Gale’s playful indignant tone with him endearing, and half because he knew the real reason.

“She had a hard time on the plane last time, don’t wanna put her through that again.” He’d said across the kitchen table from him when they sat down to hash everything out.

And it wasn’t an off base assertion- their trip to New York six months ago had been somewhat of a disaster in regards to the travel aspect. He wasn’t exactly itching to relive it either- and dreaded seeing his daughter upset. But there was a flip side.

“So next time we go out east we’re gonna drive for two days?” John asked softly as he leaned back in his chair. “Gotta push her a little Gale, it’ll get better the more she does it.”

Gale chewed on his lip, digging the ball of his foot into the kitchen floor. “Only one day of drivin’ to get to Wisconsin.” He said after a minute, looking at something on his laptop. “And it’d be cheaper than three plane tickets.”

So John let him have this, under the agreement that he’d be quite a bit more hard pressed to road trip to New York.

Josie tossed the topic as quickly as she’d raised it, leaning forward to get as close to them as she could from her seat.

"Didja know I'm gonna be six soon?"

"I sure did,” Gale said, tapping his fingers on that steering wheel. “You makin' any big plans?"

"Mhm.” She replied, dropping back against her seat to look out the window. “Gonna go to coll-ege."

John didn’t know if he liked the sound of that so soon, and saw what looked like the same thought cross over Gale’s face. He chuckled, lifting his eyes towards her in the mirror.

"Already? What are you gonna study peanut?"

"Ummmm," Josie started, tilting her head. "Horses, and and rabbits, and birds,"

"You know Uncle Rosie knows a lot about birds, you should talk to him about that." John said, glancing back towards Gale- concerned when he noticed that he seemed deflated.

By the end of the hour the five-year-old had chatterboxed herself right to sleep, John reaching over to give Gale's thigh a little squeeze.

"You okay? We can switch off at the next rest stop,"

Gale didn’t say anything for a minute, taking a little breath in like he always did when he was trying not to cry.

"She's gonna go to college someday, gonna leave," He said, voice wobbly.

John moved his hand back to the nape of his neck, rubbing his thumb there in a circle.

”Well she's not goin' when she's six at least." He said lightly, his own emotions about the reality of what awaited them in about twelve years starting to coil in his throat.

Gale went quiet again, for so long that John moved his hand to reach forward and turn the radio back on.

Until Gale broke the silence.

"I want another one."

John stopped mid-motion, his eyes widening as he glanced at the small blue screen of the radio display. He leaned back slowly in his seat, feeling his husband's eyes on him.

"You do?"

Gale’s nod in affirmation answered that.

It wasn’t something John was opposed to- he’d had his own moments of thinking about it, and almost bringing it up to Gale himself.

There was just a piece to it all that he felt less certain about.

"You thinkin’ of doing it the same way as last time, or,” He started, and the way Gale’s eyes seemed to focus on the road ahead gave him a feeling as to where his answer was headed.

“I- y’ know, maybe I just,” He started. “We missed so much.”

And there it was- the same stipulation that kept John up at night if he let him.

On the one hand, embarrassingly, the thought of an infant- of being responsible for someone from scratch like that, terrified him.

But on the other, every little thing he realized they missed out on with Josie made his heart ache. Having about seven photos from the first four years of their daughter’s life just wasn’t how it was supposed to be- he thought on occasion.

Before he could find the words to respond to Gale they were pulling into a rest stop- and suddenly feeling suffocated in the car, John couldn't get out fast enough.

Opening the back door, he gently shook Josie's foot to rouse her from sleep. She groaned when she realized she was being woken up, moving away from him with a huff.

"I know sweetheart," He said softly, undoing her seatbelt and helping her down. "Go can right back to sleep in a minute."

The rest stop was dimly lit, the only source of light coming from the fluorescents that were on their last leg overhead. When Josie had washed her hands and they were about to head back out, she stopped- sleepy head drooping against the back of John's legs.

Obliging to her wordless ask- he scooped her up, pausing for a moment to brush the hair out of her face.

He ran the back of his hand along her cheek, it hitting him suddenly that she looked closer to her sixth birthday than she had before. Looked less like the little baby faced four-year-old that became his daughter overnight- and more like a big kid in a way that made a lump form in his throat.

When he made it back to the car with her Gale wasn’t in the driver's seat anymore. He was standing outside it, phone to his face- looking pale.

John got Josie back into her car seat and shut the door before circling back around the front of the car to him.

"Thank you Natalie- okay, John's here, I'm gonna call you back."

Natalie, John thought, and froze. The only Natalie they knew was their social worker from Josie's adoption.

"Why's Natalie calling?" He blurted out the second Gale hung up.

Dragging a hand over his face and pushing it through his hair, Gale tried to steady his breath. But his bottom lip trembled, John feeling more nauseas with every second that it took him to start talking.

When he finally did talk, the words that left his mouth made him sick all the same.

"Josie's mom had another baby- another one she can't keep."

"What?"

The utterance flew out of his mouth before he could form a more coherent response, and he felt his own eyes widen.

They'd never had any contact with the woman since her rights had been terminated by the time they were in Josie's life. The last they'd been told, over a year ago now, was that she was facing child neglect charges.

Despite his efforts to focus, he struggled to fully comprehend Gale's words as he continued to talk.

"Natalie said she called us first because we have Josie. The baby came early, he’s got- she said he’s stable now but-”

"We're turnin' around, right?"John interjected, feeling like it wasn't even a question he needed to ask given the conversation they'd been having all of ten fucking minutes ago.

Gale paused like he was waiting for John to take it back.

But when he didn't, he nodded- pinching the bridge of his nose as he did. "Yeah- yeah of course we're turning around."

#hiii sweet bby micah <3 #young vets au #buck x bucky #clegan #josie egan #micah egan

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mdzsxperience · 6 months ago

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☀︎ Lan Sizhui names etymology

Here's a complete post on the etymology of our lovely Sizuhi's various names. I've always appreciated how authors would give out names that fit their characters so well, which is why I chose to share this.

Both Lan Wangji & Wei Wuxian's are already up on my profile. ▷ MDZS Home Page

Birth Name - Lan/Wen Yuan

Lan 藍 (lán) – blue In Chinese, Lan 藍 is literally blue.

Wen 温 (wēn) – lukewarm

Yuan 愿 / 苑 (yuàn) 愿 – honest, hope/desire 苑 – park & emperor's garden

Sizhui’s other name bestowed by LWJ, Yuan (愿), means ‘hope’. Just like how he saw Weiying again shortly after meeting A-Yuan, maybe he’s also hoping for the moment that familiar voice will beckon his name once more. His name as a Wen is also Yuan, though written as 苑, meaning ‘emperor’s garden’. In the past, the imperial family built gardens for pleasure, to escape from the rigid rules and etiquette of the palace and worldly matters. It was also built to impress.

I think how this is juxtaposed against the Burial Mounds, an unliveable place that WWX and the Wens worked hard to make into not only a habitable but enjoyable living space, away from the perceptions and condemnation of the outside world. A little piece of heaven from the barbaric world, just like the imperial gardens. It was here that WWX found a sliver of hope – the author used 神清气爽 (‘refreshed, invigorated’) to describe his feelings after the Wens held a dinner to thank him. It was here that he began to question if walking on a ‘single-plank bridge to darkness’ will be dark after all. It was also here that he could focus on demonic cultivation and his inventions in peace, eventually becoming the revered Yiling Patriarch.

Courtesy Name - Lan Sizhui

Shizhui 思追 (sīzhuī) – to recollect and long for

Sizhui, his courtesy name or zi, derives from a rhyming couplet from the author Mo Xiang Tong Xiu herself. “思君不可追，念君何时归” (sī jūn bù kě zhuī, niàn jūn hé shí guī) translates to ‘yearning for but cannot chase after you, longing for someday when you will return’.

Let’s not forget that Sizhui is a love letter between LWJ and WWX. Aside from the pair of rabbits, perfume sachet, copies of Lan Sect scriptures and the Chinese peonies, Sizhui is the last ‘thing’ under LWJ’s protection who symbolises their shared memories, having been brought up for more than three years by WWX. Though Sizhui himself did not remember his life as a Wen after his illness, it’s inevitable that whenever LWJ looked at him, he would have been reminded of his mental turmoil during WWX’s seclusion at the Burial Mounds – his inability to stand by his side and yearning for bringing him back to the Cloud Recesses. Raising Sizhui as a lineal descendant was intentional – he could not save WWX but at least he could save his ‘son’.

Author Note: I am not an expert in Chinese at all, English isn't my native language either - I hope everything is correct.

▷ MDZS Home Page

[ completed ; 09/08/2024]

★ ⁺. ໒꒰ྀི｡- ˕ -｡꒱ྀི১ ૮꒰˶ᵔ ᗜ ᵔ˶꒱ა ˖⁺‧₊˚

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dolcid · 2 years ago

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Cute Little Ferret Boy ▪︎ Harry Potter

Pairing: Draco Malfoy x Harry's Twin Sister! Slytherin!Reader

Summary: When Draco is turned into a Ferret, his S/O is there to help him out.

Warnings: established relationship, tad bit of violence if you count Moody turning Draco into a ferret violence lol, canon divergence, bullying maybe? nothing else??? Idk, lmk if I'm missing anything

A/N: was inspired by this post lol

Sitting at a bench in the courtyard of Hogwarts, you were finishing up your charms homework. Draco was there too, sitting in a tree for merlin knows what. He always made sure he had an eye on you somehow. He'd never be too far away, as he wanted to be sure no one was messing with you. Since you were the twin of the famous Harry Potter, a lot of the students at hogwarts loved to tease you for it. Draco had been one of them too at a point in time, but once he realized you two had more in common than anyone he's ever met at the school, he fell in love. Apologizing for his actions, Draco was simply whipped by you. Now he was the one defending you from those teases, even from your brother and his friends. Harry may have been your twin, but that didn't mean you got along. Ever since you came to Hogwarts all the attention was on him, and he enjoyed it. Never once sparing you a glance. His ego was certainly fueled by the fact that he had friends, got good grades, was in Gryffindor, and wasn't affected by all the trauma you both shared. You were happy he wasn't affected by it like you were, but also envious of his ability to overcome it so easily. It wasn't that easy for you, which is why you were here now. In Slytherin, had no friends, struggled with all classes and was merely the "Girl Who Cried" most people didn't even bother to learn your name, only knowing you as Potter's twin sister. It was dreadful really. But Draco made up for the lack of normalcy you wanted. Needed. You'd pray that Harry would see you as a person someday too.

Shaking your head, you attempt to bring your thoughts back to the charms homework you were struggling with. But it was to no avail, you couldn't focus with so many students bristling about. And to make it worse, your brother and his friends just walked in. You visibly tense, not going unnoticed by Draco, who swiftly drops from the tree he was perched in and made his way over to you, not before motioning to his friends to watch your brother. He knew how you felt about Harry. How he never stood up for you like a sibling should. Placing a gentle hand on your shoulder, Draco smiles down at you gently.

"How's the homework coming along?" He asks, voice soft and friendly, a voice only you heard. You smiled up at him, sighing and placing your quill down.

"Could be better," you grovel, blowing a stray hair out of your face. Draco smirks, teasingly.

"I told you, you could ask me for help darling," he says, swiftly sliding into the seat beside you. You groan.

"I know, I just wanted to try on my own first." Draco rubs your lower back encouragedly.

"I'm proud of you for trying,"

As Draco places a gentle kiss to your temple, rustling is heard coming your way. You both look up to see Harry, looking awfully mad.

"Can I help you Potter?" Draco asked, his hand finding yours. You tensed once more, hating the feeling of Harry's eyes on you.

"Yeah, you can stay away from my sister!"

Oh boy you thought. Harry always made sure to harass Draco when he was with you, always putting on a show for the other mindless students that watched. He didn't care truly, you could tell by his eyes. He only wanted to provoke Draco, hoping he would do something stupid and get detention, or worse. Expelled.

You breathe in sharply, staring down at your homework as Draco rolls eyes pale eyes.

"Oh now you care?" Draco sighs audibly.

"We've been over this Potter, you can't make me stop seeing your sister. You're lucky to even call yourself her brother," Draco argued, his hand squeezing yours gently. Harry visibly grew angrier, causing both you and Draco to stand off the bench. This wasn't good...

Draco protectively pulled you against him, sneering at Harry as he got closer.

"Stay back if you know what's good for you, Potter." Draco threatened. Harry merely chuckled.

"If I did what was good for me, my sister would be out of the picture. She's merely a bother, a nobody," Harry spoke, a smirk present on his face.

The next few moments seemed to have stilled, as if somebody had casted a time slowing charm. Draco pulled out his wand, Harry following suit. You panicked and attempted to stop Draco, but before you could, a spell flew at Draco, seemingly turning him into the small white blonde ferret now on the ground beside you.

Suddenly professor Moody emerged from a corridor, his wand aimed at your boyfriend.

"Stop!" You tried to reason, but your wails were thrown to deaf ears. Harry smiled mischievously as Moody started to toss the ferret around in the air, nearly shoving him down his friends pants before you intervened.

"I said Stop!" You shouted, grabbing the ferret and the attention of everyone around you. You panicked again however, quickly turning on your heels and running into the castle, the ferret still in your arms. You made it to the slytherin common room before you attempted to catch your breath, hoping you were far away enough that no one had followed you. Your attention was soon turned to the small ferret in your arms, or more so your boyfriend. You sighed gently and held him close, apologizing to him softly. The ferret squeaked and seemingly understood you, his nose nuzzling into your cheek. You smiled and brushed your hand threw his hair.

"Let's hope this spell wears off soon hm?" You spoke, giggling as the ferret tickled your neck.

Entering the common room, you immediately went to Draco's dorm, as it was where you two would spend most of your time together. Mostly to keep out of the public's eye. It was basically your room at this point too, you slept there, kept clothes there, did homework there, etc. It was bigger than your actual dorm too so that was a plus.

Sitting on your shared bed, you set the ferret down gently, watching as he looked at you curiously. You hesitantly pull out your wand, looking it over before turning to him.

"I don't know if I can help you, I don't want to hurt you," the ferret squeaked, running into your lap.

"Is that a no?" You laughed.

"Maybe we should just wait it out, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if something bad happened to you." You spoke, shuddering at the thought. Staring at him fondly, you began to pet him again, finally being able to get a good look at him.

"I must say, you are awfully cute for a ferret," you tease, the ferret merely sighing in response. You giggle and continue to pet him, laying back onto the bed and lying him beside you, on your pillow.

"Why don't we just sleep it off? That'll certainly make it wear off sooner," the ferret seemed to agree, curling up on himself and nustling into your neck.

"I agree." You laugh, taking off your circular glasses and setting them on the dresser nearby.

"I love you Draco, have sweet little ferret dreams," you tease one last time, placing a soft kiss to his head.

When you awoke, it was dark out and the room was cold. You shivered, attempting to curl in on yourself but stopped when you felt a hand on your waist. Remembering the events from earlier, you rubbed the crust from your eyes and turned around, seeing a mop of blonde hair, and his familiar black and green robes. You breathed out a sigh of relief, thankful to see the spell had warn off. Even though Draco was still asleep, you couldn't help but wrap your arms around him, relieved to have his safe, warm, comforting presence back. He woke and automatically hugged back, as if his body knew what to do. He then stilled, flexing his hands. He opened his eyes and inspected himself, sighing in relief as well. Before you could say anything however, Draco had his lips on yours, scrambling any sort of thought you had. He pulled back and rested his forehead to yours.

"That's for saving me. Thank you darling,"

He kissed you once more, his hand pulling you by the waist, closer to him.

"You saved me too, thank you Draco. I love you."

A/N: soooooo what do you think? Lol. I always have a hard time writing x readers for some reason, but I actually had fun this time. Lmao. Reblogs appreciated, and please, let me know your thoughts! <3

#harry potter #harry potter universe #draco malfoy #draco malfoy x reader #harry potter's twin sister #twin sister reader #x reader #dolcid's writing #slytherin #slytherin reader #hp

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deadtired-highkeyenergetic · 4 days ago

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No One Else

This idea came to me whilst I was lying on my bed so here you Bucky fans go! You're welcome! Reader has fire powers in this fic and it's set in an AU where Bucky lives in the Avengers Tower + goes on missions with them.

Summary: Your marriage proposal to Bucky doesn't quite go how you expected it to...

"Can't believe we're actually doing Operation: Rescue the Genius Billionaire." You twirl the knife in your hand, sliding it into its sheath as you stand up, stretching.

"You're the one who volunteered for it. And then proceeded to volunteer me," Bucky snorts, double checking his rifle. "You only have yourself to blame for this."

"Hey, this means we'll probably get to share his black card. Think of all the expensive things we could buy!" You laugh. "Or at least I hope we'll be able to."

"Did you just sign us up for a dangerous mission with no guaranteed reward?" Bucky shakes his head, ruffling your hair. "If either of us die on this mission I'm blaming you."

"Good thing we're both pretty hard to kill." You flash him a grin, moving to the door of the plane. It's almost at your destination and adrenaline is coursing through your veins. Blue flames flicker at your fingertips, ready to be unleashed at a moment's notice. You can't recall the last time you felt this excited to go on a mission, maybe it's the fact that you've been partnered up with your favourite super soldier after what feels like forever, maybe it's the fact that Tony is going to owe you a big favour after this, or maybe it's the thrill of the fight to come.

"Fortunately." Bucky hums, walking over to stand next to you. "The amount of stupidity you bring along on missions would've killed a normal person at least a hundred times over."

"Hey I'm blaming the influence a certain idiot has on me. You know, the idiot currently standing in the same plane as me because he couldn't turn me down." You feel Bucky place his hand on your back, patting you a few times before adding a little more force as the door opens and sends you flying out of the plane. Thousands of feet in the air without a parachute. This bastard.

A long string of swear words flow from your lips, spoken in every language you can think of and you swear Bucky is laughing from up inside the plane. You can picture it clearly, his lips quirking upwards, the mirth in his ice blue eyes, the pat on the back he definitely gave himself before diving out of the plane.

Oh.

You twist your body so that you face upwards just in time to see a figure diving towards you. More curses spill forth as said figure wraps his arms around you, grinning as if the both of you aren't falling through the air with no parachute in sight.

"You know you're not that light, right?" You grunt, resisting the urge to bite him.

"Pure muscle and a metal arm, doll." He flashes you a smirk as you try to pry the super soldier off you to no avail.

"If we both go splat on the ground it's your fault."

"Then you're just going to have to ensure that doesn't happen, doll. I'm counting on you." You hate it when he says those four words. It always makes you fold and he knows it.

"You — You're going to be the death of me someday," you scowl. He only laughs, brown hair fluttering in the wind as you both plummet towards the ground and you feel your chest grow strangely warm. Your heart pounds against the ribs that cage it, stomach flipping when his eyes meet yours, his gaze soft and carefree. "Don't regret relying on me."

"Do I ever?" His thumb brushes over your skin, electricity crackling at the contact and you nearly lose concentration. You swallow, pushing his face away and he laughs again, the sound a beautiful melody to your ears. Shoving your bubbling feelings down, you focus on your descent towards the ground that is coming up to meet you rather fast.

"Hang on tight!" Gathering the flames within you, you push them outwards via your feet and shoot towards the warehouse where Tony is being kept, adrenaline causing your lips to curl upwards into a maniacal grin. Blue flames roar around the both of you, under your firm control and devour the roof of the warehouse before it can even touch either of you.

"Look who finally decided to show up." Tony smirks, watching you and Bucky land in a fiery blaze next to him. "And with such a fiery entrance too, what a show-off."

"You're welcome." You roll your eyes, meeting Bucky's gaze. He nods, and you conjure a ring of flames around the three of you, pushing it outwards as he lunges at the nearest kidnapper. A quick flick of the wrist from you burns through the ropes holding Tony hostage and you turn your attention to the fight happening in front of you.

Dodging the swing of an electrified baton, you slam your foot into your attacker's chest, sending him stumbling backwards. Fire daggers follow suit, flying in his direction and he slams into the wall, slumping to the floor. Whirling around, you fire a blast of flame at someone who was trying to ambush Bucky from behind and throw up a flame wall to give the super soldier a moment of respite. He shoots you a glance and gives a signal before jumping through the blue wall of fire, unloading his rifle's magazine into the unfortunate souls in front of him. A quick reload later he spins around, taking aim and fires another barrage but this time around his bullets are reinforced by your flames, piercing through the air at a startling speed and hitting their targets.

It doesn't take long for the kidnappers to fall to the combined might of you and the Winter Soldier. Before long there's only three beings left standing in the warehouse — you, Bucky and Tony.

"Go team," Tony cheers sarcastically, clapping as he makes his way over. "Didn't expect either of you, really."

"You're welcome. Now as for payment, I'll take your black card for at least one week with no spending limit —" You're cut off as Bucky shoves you aside.

"Ignore the idiot. A helicopter is on its way to pick us up, it'll be here in fifteen." Bucky ignores the punches you're landing on his right shoulder and ruffles your hair.

"I'm the idiot? When you jumped out of the plane without a parachute?" You yelp, dodging his attempts to further mess up your hair.

"I knew you'd catch me. That's called trust, not idiocy."

"It's called idiocy when you dive straight at me in midair!"

"I knew you'd be able to create an entrance into the warehouse, I simply tagged along so we'd get here faster."

"We could have died if I couldn't conjure enough flame to send us both flying here!"

"But we didn't."

"That doesn't mean you're not an idiot! It just means I'm powerful enough, you idiot!"

"Maybe the idiocy is contagious. I think you've spread it to me, doll." He laughs, leaning out of the way of your punch. "We can be idiots together!"

"I'm not an idiot!" You tackle him to the ground which only causes him to laugh harder. He effortlessly blocks your fists, ice blue eyes twinkling with mirth before flipping you over, trapping you underneath his bulk.

"Don't worry doll, being an idiot isn't always a bad thing —"

"Get off me you oaf!" You howl.

Tony sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. "The two of you argue like a married couple, just get married already and spare the rest of us."

Bucky blinks, staring at Tony while you push him off you, climbing to your feet.

"Yeah so when are we getting married?" You run your fingers through your hair, stretching. He stares at you blankly, mouth opening and closing. You see his throat bob, his metal fist clenching and unclenching — his usual signs of nervousness and feel your heart plummet. He doesn't say anything, not a single word falls from his snarky tongue. Your attention quickly shifts to the helicopter that has arrived just in time to prevent a lengthy period of awkward silence but the ride back to the Avengers Tower is filled with tension that makes even Tony uncomfortable.

Once the helicopter lands, Bucky doesn't even try to help you down. He simple leaves, walking straight to his room and locks the door without speaking a single word to you. You watch as he leaves, barely hearing Tony's passing apology through the ringing in your ears and feel a pit growing in your stomach.

Is this it? After all that time spent cultivating this relationship with Bucky that you love and cherish, this is how it ends?

After taking a much needed shower, you collapse onto your bed, staring up at the ceiling. Did you overstep? Had you read your relationship wrong? Curling underneath your blanket, you swallow the tears that threaten to spill over, fingernails digging into the flesh of your palm. You want nothing more than to take it all back, to preserve your relationship with Bucky. It brought you so much joy, happiness, even if sometimes you didn't act like it did. You had cherished all the time spent with him, whether it was fooling around or going on missions, the only thing that mattered was the fact that you had someone to tease, banter with, be yourself with.

"Y/N?" A voice sounds from outside your room door. Bucky. "May I come in?"

You pause, gripping the sheets. Your heart thunders, anxiety gnawing away at you but your hand finds its way to the door handle and pulls the door open anyways. The brunette shifts anxiously then pulls out a box of your favourite snacks, offering it to you.

"A peace offering?" He bites his lip, gaze flicking to everywhere but you.

"Sure." The word clogs up your throat and you take the box, stepping to the side to let him in. Closing the door behind you, you gesture to the bed. "You can take a seat there."

He nods, taking his usual spot on your bed and you take your seat next to him. He plays with the hem of his shirt, Adam's apple bobbing and exhales sharply. "Did you mean it? When you asked when we were getting married?"

You blink, mouth opening and closing before giving a nod. "I did."

The words come out as a whisper, your chest constricting and tears begin to blur your vision. "I'm sorry I —"

"No, you didn't do anything wrong." Bucky reaches over, taking your hand in his. "It's just…are you sure about it? I'm not someone you should be stuck with for the rest of your life. You deserve someone better, someone who can give you the life you deserve, the family you seek. I can't give you any of that."

"So who do you think can?" You squeeze his hand, looking him in the eye. "Tony? Steve?"

"Tony would be a pretty good choice. He's handsome, rich, can take care of you —"

"Yeah sure Tony is handsome. But he's not the one I call handsome, is he?" You lean in. "You're the one I call handsome."

"That — that's because —" His cheeks redden and he looks away, embarrassed.

"You're the one I want, not Tony, not Steve, not anyone else. I know what I'm getting into, proposing to you but I want this. I've never been more sure of anything in my life, I know I want you in my life forever, to be by my side forever, to intertwine my fate with yours and be yours as much as you are mine. I know the burdens you carry, you know the burdens I carry, and I'm willing to help you shoulder yours, if you will let me." You gently turn his face towards you, earnestly looking into his ice blue eyes. He locks gazes with you and you see the tears that have started to form.

"Will you?"

He blinks and tears start to flow down his cheeks. You simply continue to hold onto his hand and feel him squeeze yours.

"If you will have me."

You beam, pulling him in for a kiss that he returns with a hungry desperation and feel his metal arm wrap around you.

"Of course I will," you whisper breathlessly, breaking the kiss for air. "I love you, James."

"I love you too, Y/N." He cups your cheek with both hands, metal and flesh thumb brushing over your skin then presses his forehead against yours, closing his eyes.

"This wasn't how I expected my proposal to go, really. I had something way better planned out but Tony had to just go and ruin it." You chuckle softly and he smiles.

"You can propose to me again, doll. I don't mind."

"I'd quite like to get married, thank you very much handsome." You boop him on the nose, laughing at the way he wrinkles it immediately.

"So, Tony's black card?" He queries, ruffling your hair.

"Of course. We're going to put the wedding tab on him, on top of a few other valuable items as payment for rescuing him. He can't say no, not after he told us to get married." You grin, swatting his hand away before your hair can get messed up even further. "I can't wait to choose all the most expensive options."

Bucky huffs in amusement, catching your hand and presses a kiss to your palm. "I can't wait to get married to you. You're the only one for me, no one else."

"You're the only one for me," you echo, smiling. "No one else."

#marvel #mcu #marvel x reader #mcu x reader #mcu bucky #bucky #bucky barnes #winter soldier #bucky x reader #bucky barnes x reader #winter soldier x reader #bucky fluff #slight bucky angst #marvel x you #mcu x you #bucky x you

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casinoroyale · 1 year ago

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Hi everyone!! Theseus cquackity viceduo zombur revivebur here.

This blog has seen several hiatuses (my bad seriously my bad), and bouts of irregular posting. So I'm sure people who regularly check it have noticed that we (Fiona @quackbur and I) haven't been posting daily anymore and haven't for a bit now. So below the cut I'm gonna talk more about that, and our plans for this blog going forward

For starters, I love roleplaying on this blog so much, as does my cohost Fiona @quackbur. Fiona has done so, so much writing for this and I feel kind of bad for taking her credit over the past two or so years, so props to her for being such a good sport and for everything she's done. This blog wouldn't exist without the shared passion she had for it.

To get sappy, I love the friends I've made in bedrockverse, they remain some of my best and closest companions. I would not trade the times I've spent with them for the world. Beau, Holly & co, Met & Co, and Thunderbottles are some of the loveliest, most supportive, and insanely talented people I have ever had the pleasure of writing with and meeting.

This includes people who aren't part of the bedrockverse that I've written with!! Shoutout to Javi anonymous-jey casino-duckling, TGM the-g-m duckofthelaw, and AD anonymous-dentist therealnoodleman. It was so much fun bringing all the quackverses together, and I respect all of you so much as writers.

AND that also includes EVERYONE who has interacted with her!!!!!!!!!! Everyone who has sent asks (thank you so much, sorry we're terrible at replying), reblogged threads, commented, posted/liveblogged, DREW FAN ART (BLOWS OUR MINDS. THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH INCREDIBLE ART CREATED, WE CANNOT THANK ALL OF YOU ENOUGH), even just liked a thread, thank you. Seriously, it has meant a lot to us to be part of this community, and have so many people enjoy this blog. Insert Pitbull image happy you enjoyed.

So, going forward it would make us really happy if you all pictured casinoroyale as happy. He has songbird-sunrise, goofygoop, and a nation full of citizens that she loves. She babysits for tubbolul and latenightmining, and terrorizes rp!emduo not infrequently. All we really wanted was to bring c!quackity to a happy place and I feel we've done that. Of course he still has shit days, as a ptsd baddie, but the good days are more common. And if we never get to it (though I hope someday we do, maybe in the form of a collaborative one-shot or fic) know that casinoroyale and songbird-sunrise DO eventually get [REDACTED]. And one of them DOES get [REDACTED]. That was always the plan! Yay! [REDACTED]!

Not to say that we don't have more arcs planned for this blog, because we do! I just don't know when/if/how they'll ever get written, especially because a lot of my friends have moved on from their rp blogs as well. But I really do still feel happy with where he's at and happy with everything I've done. This is a project I'm really, really proud of and I will always look back on fondly.

None of this means that I'm not interested in c!Quackity or DSMP as a whole anymore, either. Actually that couldn't be further from the truth. But now I'd like to be able to focus on fics, and other forms of writing, which I've been doing more recently :D actually, you can read a short one shot I posted for exile's anniversary HERE

If you've made it this far into this long, sappy post, THANKS!!!!!! The TLDR; this blog is on an indefinite hiatus, and won't be returning to its formal glory, and that's okay. We had a really good run. Now, off we go to other things

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samsheughan · 4 months ago

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Confession I guess?

I figured it's time I was honest with y'all. (below the cut; feel free to skip if it's not your preferred cuppa)

I know I don't owe anyone an explanation of any kind, but as I've always said and stood by, I hold what audience I have with the highest regard and respect and I feel y'all deserve more from me than just the occasional "thanks for reading!" you know?

That being said, I want to let everyone know that, it's official: I am writing an original novel that I do plan to have published as soon as possible. I am planning on this novel being a trilogy of sorts, so there will be multiple books coming from me! :D

I have been writing fanfiction since I was 12 years old. What started on a floppy disk has flourished into a passion that I will always be proud of and grateful for. Writing fanfiction has spared my life more than once, and in the process of writing fanfiction, I have made friends that I know I will have for the rest of my life. I am so SO so grateful to y'all.

However, as time has gone on, and especially in the last few years or so, writing fanfiction felt more like an obligation rather than the hobby it's supposed to be. And that's no fun. But trying to bridge the gap between fanfiction and actual fiction (aka, the kind you can get paid for) has also been a struggle. I had a hard time trying to detach the ideas I had for fics from their respective fandoms and convert them into something that could be an original novel.

I have tried to adapt some of my more popular fanfiction stories into original ones, but a lot of the fandoms I've been in just don't make that an easy prospect (even my Modern AUs are hard to adapt since what makes them Modern AUs is deeply embedded in their respective fandom). But lately, the fog from that cloud seems to have lifted, and I am currently working on the manuscript for my very first novel!

All that aside, you might be wondering: "but Liz! You promised us you'd finished your fic! You promised, you promised, you promised!!" And you're right. I did promise. A promise I still intend to fulfill. I am a woman of my word. Sutures will be finished.

Someday.

But the timeline for that finale is now offcially on an indefinite hiatus. I could wake up tomorrow morning and finish it all and then post it that evening. Or it could be 10 years before I'm able to get back to it. Who can say? I sure as hell cannot. And while I hope I won't have to make y'all wait that long, like Claire, I have a glass face and cannot lie. But I also have to live in reality: I am my family's primary breadwinner. We are all disabled in some form and I am no longer capable of working outside our home. Wolf hasn't been for some time, so us staying home with The Pup just makes more sense now that we have officially pulled him from public school to homeschool him ourselves. Doing something working from home is now my chief focus, and I have to do what I need to do to facilitate that. We are good for the time being though (so much so that I closed the gfm I started a few months ago, so thank you to everyone who helped us out in our time of need 💜)

It has been a lifelong dream of mine to become a published author. A writer of love stories, in every romance genre I can get my wee fingers on! xD I am now in a position to chase that exact dream, and I cannot wait to be able to share what I've been doing!

To the Outlander fandom: my heart is yours from the moment I saw y'all. You've held my spirit with your two hands, and kept it safe (hey, jammf would be proud of me for channeling him here, be quiet :P) I have had many ups and downs with fandoms but I am eternally grateful for the love and appreciation this fandom has showered me with and I hope y'all will continue to stick around to see what else I got up my sleeve!

Stay tuned! Good shit is coming xx

#elizabeth has a thing to say #irl shit #personal shit #fandom shit #outlander fandom #fandom life #original fiction coming soon!#I hope y'all like it 🥹

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b1xi · 4 months ago

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𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘬𝘰𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥

Glenn rhee x reader

Word count: 6987

Warninig: Blood, deaths, violence, bad words, use of weapons

Previous Chapter /Next chapter

You let out a low groan, rubbing your eyes with fatigue as you tried to shake off the sleep. The pain in your back was intense, a result of an uncomfortable night. The rain that had relentlessly fallen the night before had turned the floor of the tent into cold, wet mud, and the constant patter of drops against the canvas roof had kept you awake. However, to your relief, Alice hadn't been disturbed by the noise. She was still sleeping peacefully on your chest, her small body curled up against you in the sling that held her.

You got up carefully, trying not to wake her while adjusting the sling to ensure she remained secure. With one hand, you gathered your hair into an improvised bun, the mess reflecting how exhausted you felt.

As you stepped outside the tent, the cool morning air greeted you. "Good morning," you greeted Rick, who was emerging from the tent he shared with Lori and Carl. He nodded in your direction, responding with a smile. Everyone was tired, but the dawn always brought a slight sense of relief.

Your gaze swept over the camp, looking for something to focus on, some purpose to distract you from the weariness. It was then that your eyes landed on Glenn, watching Morales and Jim, the three of them focused on the red sports car they had recovered the day before.

You moved a little closer, observing the scene unfolding in front of you. You couldn’t help but notice the look of disappointment on Glenn’s face as the other two men, Morales and Jim, dismantled important parts from the sports car. They were removing pieces to use for Dale’s RV, something necessary but clearly bothering Glenn. Rick also approached, instantly picking up on his friend’s dismay.

“They're like vultures,” Glenn muttered, his tone laden with sarcasm and frustration as he watched Morales effortlessly pull one of the car’s tires off. “Go ahead, take it all apart.”

The weight of disappointment was evident, and though he tried to mask it with humor, it wasn’t hard to see that he felt defeated.

Dale, aware of the situation, tried to ease things. “We need the fuel for the generators,” he explained in his slow, measured tone, giving Glenn a light pat on the shoulder to emphasize the need to prioritize the group’s well-being. “Without power, we won’t have light. I’m sorry, Glenn.”

“We can get another one,” you said softly, hoping to offer some comfort. Your tone was calm, almost hopeful. Glenn, with a small, forced smile, nodded, acknowledging the attempt to cheer him up.

Rick, always pragmatic, tried to lighten the situation with his own touch of optimism. “She’s right,” he said, looking at Glenn firmly. “Maybe we’ll steal another one someday. You never know what we’ll run into.”

He gave him a few pats on the back before moving on. You stayed by Glenn’s side for a few more moments, sharing the silence.

Glenn, breaking the quiet, finally turned to you, his gaze soft but curious. “Did you sleep well?” he asked, his eyes searching yours as if, for a moment, he wanted to set his mind away from the car problems and focus on something simpler—on you.

You shrugged, trying to soften the response you knew you’d give. “I tried, but last night’s rain made it hard to rest. Alice, luckily, didn’t seem to notice,” you said, with a small smile as you glanced down at the little one, who was still sleeping peacefully in the sling.

Glenn nodded slowly, his eyes settling on the baby before a warm, genuine smile formed on his face. “I see,” he replied, his tone low and comforting. Tenderly, he let his finger brush against Alice’s tiny hand.

Alice’s little hand stirred under Glenn’s gentle touch, and both of you shared a fleeting smile, the kind that comes from a moment of calm amid the chaos. However, the tranquility shattered in an instant when a piercing scream broke through the silence that had covered the camp like a fragile layer of security. Immediately, everyone turned toward the source of the sound, their bodies tense and alert.

“Stay here,” Glenn said firmly, his gaze filled with worry before rushing to follow the rest of the group. His departure left a void around you, but you didn’t move immediately. You were used to those kinds of orders, yet the uncertainty grew in your chest.

Before you could decide whether to follow him or not, you felt a firm hand on your arm. It was Dale, coming down from the RV, his usual serious expression now more urgent. “Stay,” he ordered, his voice harsher than usual, while adjusting his grip on the axe he was holding. Without another word, he headed toward where the others were already gathering.

“Shit,” you muttered under your breath, frustrated but with no alternatives. Slowly, you began walking toward where Andrea and Amy were standing, watching from a distance. Their faces reflected the same unease you were feeling.

When you arrived, you joined them, and from that vantage point, you could see how the situation was unfolding. Carl, Sophia, and Morales' kids were crying, their small figures trembling as they clung to their mothers’ clothes. The women comforted them as best they could, though their own eyes were filled with terror. Meanwhile, the men of the camp formed a circle, weapons in hand, surrounding something you couldn’t quite see from your position.

The unmistakable sound of a growl confirmed your suspicions: a walker. How the hell had one of them gotten inside the camp? The mere fact that one of those things had crossed the barriers they believed to be safe made your stomach churn. You pressed your lips together, wishing you could see better, wishing you could do something more than just watch. But for now, all you could do was wait and trust that the others would take care of the threat.

Then, a familiar sensation interrupted your thoughts. Alice was starting to stir in the sling, and a look of discomfort appeared on her little face, accompanied by an unmistakable smell. A smell that, in any other situation, would have made you laugh, but now only drew a resigned sigh from you.

“Ugh, Alice...” you muttered, grimacing as you shook your head slightly. You knew what was coming, and though you couldn’t blame her—she was just a baby, after all—the task ahead wasn’t pleasant. “Again? Really?”

You looked around with a mix of frustration and resignation, as if the chaos outside and the chaos of changing a diaper were part of the same endless nightmare. But there was no choice. Even though the world around you was falling apart, even though the dead walked among the living, life carried on with its small needs, even in the apocalypse. Alice needed to be taken care of, and you were all she had at that moment.

You quickly searched for a spot where you could take care of the situation, finding a small corner far enough from the central tension of the camp. You carefully knelt down, unfastening the sling and placing Alice on an improvised blanket you carried in your backpack.

"Alright, ready," you whispered with a smile as you finished settling her, gently brushing her soft brown hair. Her little hands moved restlessly, and with a loving gesture, you held her face to look at her. "Are you hungry? Let’s get your bottle ready," you said in a soft tone.

Immersed in that small, private world you had created with Alice, you didn’t pay attention to what was happening just a few meters away. You didn’t bother to look when the shouting grew louder, nor when the sound of a fight began to echo through the camp. You already knew, almost without having to see it, that Rick and Daryl were clashing. Daryl had been beside himself since finding out what happened to Merle, furious that they had left him behind in the city, handcuffed to a pipe on that rooftop. What he wasn’t sharing was the reason: deep down, you believed Merle deserved it. After all, he was a dangerous idiot, and you could still feel the faint sting on your cheek, the ghost of the slap he’d given you before they left him behind.

Rick, as always, had given in to Lori’s insistence, who had practically demanded that he promise Daryl they would go back to Atlanta to search for Merle. It was a near-suicidal mission, and most of the group knew it. But, as expected, some reluctantly offered their help, knowing that refusing wouldn’t change anything. Glenn was one of them, and that stirred a pang of frustration and worry in you. You knew he couldn’t say no, that his nature made him too noble to refuse Rick, even if it meant putting his life in danger.

You walked over to Glenn, who had his back to you, focused on packing a few things into his bag: a water bottle, a flashlight, basic but essential items for such a risky mission. You watched in silence for a moment, feeling the weight of worry pressing on your chest. You knew that, even though he didn’t want to, Glenn always ended up volunteering in situations like this. He couldn’t help it; his nobility and sense of responsibility pushed him to put himself in danger time and time again.

“You couldn’t say no,” you finally said, breaking the silence as you stepped closer to him.

Glenn turned to look at you, with an expression that confirmed what you already knew: he was exhausted, not just physically, but emotionally. The burden of always being the one who helps, the one who sacrifices, was starting to weigh on him. His eyes, though filled with determination, showed a shadow of defeat, as if deep down, he knew what you feared.

You sighed, and almost without realizing it, you murmured to yourself, "My sweet boy can’t say no."

You instantly scolded yourself for what you had said. Not because you didn’t feel it, but because you didn’t want those emotions to get in the way at that moment. There was too much at stake. But despite your best efforts, the affection you felt for Glenn was evident in every word you spoke.

"You know you don’t have to do this," you said louder, stepping closer to him and placing a gentle hand on his arm. "Rick can find another way, you don’t have to put yourself in danger every time someone asks you to."

Glenn gave a small smile, a mix of resignation and sadness. "I’d like to stay, believe me," he said, his voice soft but hesitant. "But I already promised Rick I would go." His attempt to justify his decision only heightened the frustration you felt. Seeing the frown on your face and the anger in your expression, he tried to sound more convincing, though you knew even he doubted his own words.

"Don’t worry," he continued, softening his tone and meeting your gaze. "I’ll be fine. We’ve done this before, remember? It won’t be any different."

"I’ll come back," Glenn insisted, with a firmness meant to reassure you. His eyes locked onto yours, as if he wanted his words to sink into every last one of your doubts. "I’ll be okay, I promise. I won’t keep doing these things if I know they make you feel like this."

"Glenn Rhee, don’t play with me," you responded in a softer tone, though still carrying a hint of disbelief. What he said comforted you, though a part of you remained skeptical. You hadn’t noticed how close you were now. Barely a foot of space separated your bodies, the tension palpable in the air, vibrating between the two of you.

"I never would," Glenn murmured, his voice low and sincere, filled with an unspoken promise. The silence that followed was intense, charged with something you couldn’t quite describe, a mix of worry and something deeper you didn’t dare name. The world around you seemed to shrink to that small shared space, until Rick’s voice broke the bubble that had formed.

"Glenn!" Rick’s shout snapped him out of the trance. Glenn pulled away, a bit reluctantly, letting out one last sigh before turning back to you.

"Take care," he said quickly, throwing you one last affectionate look before heading toward Rick and the rest of the group waiting for him.

You watched him walk away, feeling a strange emptiness in your chest. You couldn’t help but worry, but you forced yourself to trust his words. You sighed again and looked around, searching for Alice, who was in Amy’s arms. The blonde was gently rocking her while the baby played with her hair, smiling innocently.

“Y/N!” Jacqui’s voice called you from a distance as she and the other women headed toward the quarry. “We’re going to wash some clothes, do you want to join us?”

“Sure, give me a moment, I’ll catch up,” you replied with a smile, feeling grateful for the distraction. Gently, you took Alice from Amy’s arms, making sure she was comfortable in her carrier before stepping into your tent. You quickly searched for your dirty clothes and Alice’s. Then, after a brief moment of reflection, you decided you could also take a couple of Glenn’s items. You didn’t think he would mind, and after all, the poor guy already smelled.

You sat on a dry rock next to the water source, beginning to separate the clothes you would wash first. You were so focused on scrubbing the dirty garments that you barely paid attention to the conversation forming among the other women. The effort felt exhausting; you weren’t used to handwashing, and household chores had never been your strong suit, considering the long hours you used to spend at work. An internal laugh made you think, I’m definitely not wife material.

“I’m seriously starting to doubt that this is fun,” Andrea commented, holding a basket of clothes next to Jacqui, her eyes filled with frustration.

“Why do we have to do the maid’s work?” Jacqui complained, indignantly.

“It’s not that hard to understand,” you replied without looking up, your hands submerging another garment in the soapy bucket of water. “The men are so stupid they can’t even take care of themselves.”

Andrea’s dry laugh and Jacqui’s nod confirmed that you weren’t the only one sharing that sentiment.

“Didn’t you hear? The world has ended,” Amy chimed in with a touch of sarcasm, her expression ironic as she shook out a wet garment.

Before you could respond, you felt Carol’s gaze on you, her soft voice breaking your concentration. “Are you okay?” she asked, noticing the frown you had been wearing without realizing it. Her tone was warm, filled with that maternal concern she usually showed everyone.

You shook your head lightly and wiped your forehead, which was starting to glisten with a layer of sweat under the relentless sun. “Yeah, I’m fine,” you replied with a smile that tried to seem casual. “Just battling this stain,” you added with a light laugh, rubbing your hands on your waist while glancing quickly at Alice, who was still playing peacefully on the blanket.

Amy, who hadn’t stopped watching you, let out a comment laden with complicity, glancing sideways at her sister before smiling. “He’ll be fine, he’ll come back,” she said in a tone meant to be reassuring but that held a spark of mischief. It took you a moment to process what she was talking about until you realized she was referring to Glenn. Just thinking of him made the heat of the sun feel trivial compared to the blush that started creeping up your cheeks.

“I’m not worried,” you blurted out without thinking too much, even though you knew it was a blatant lie. You weren’t sure why you denied it so firmly, but the idea of everyone noticing how much you cared about Glenn made you feel vulnerable, as if you were somehow exposing a part of yourself that you had kept locked away.

“Sure, sure,” Jacqui replied, her tone clearly indicating that she didn’t believe you at all. “But I saw you arguing with him before he decided to head back to the city. You looked more than just concerned.”

“We were just talking,” you insisted, scrubbing one of Glenn’s shirts between your hands harder than necessary, as if that could erase both the conversation and the feelings you were trying to hide.

“You talk too closely to be just friends,” Carol teased, a mischievous smile forming on her face.

“Wow, I didn’t expect that comment from you,” you shot back with a smile, trying to divert the topic. Then, in a playful gesture, you splashed a bit of water at her. “We’re just friends, nothing more,” you added, though the word “friends” tasted bitter in your mouth. The relationship between you and Glenn had become trapped in that label, and it was starting to smell like something unresolved, something neither of you was ready to confront.

“I miss my washing machine,” Carol sighed, exhausted, letting a wet shirt drop onto the pile of clothes.

“I miss my Mercedes and the GPS navigation,” Andrea commented as she meticulously brushed the clothes spread over her lap. Her tone was light, but the gleam in her eyes showed a palpable nostalgia.

“And I miss my double-filter coffee maker,” Jacqui added with a smile, “with the built-in grinder, of course.”

“My computer… and text messages,” Amy interjected, frowning as she helplessly regarded the garment she had been scrubbing for what felt like an eternity.

“I miss my air conditioning and a decent bed,” you sighed emphatically. You weren’t lying; your back was a battlefield of cramps, and the relentless heat made every day feel longer than the last. It was incredible how the basics had become luxuries.

The conversation took an unexpected turn when Andrea, without warning, blurted out, “I miss my vibrator.”

The silence that followed was brief but palpable, before everyone exchanged surprised glances and then burst into laughter.

“So do I,” Carol added casually, which unleashed even more laughter, this time louder and more liberating. It was a moment of respite amidst the storm, a small flicker of humanity in a world that tried to steal it from you every day.

The atmosphere turned dense in an instant when Ed, with his cigarette hanging from his lips, approached the group. The environment, which had just moments ago been filled with laughter, was now heavy with palpable discomfort. Quick glances were exchanged among the women; the tension was evident.

“What’s so funny?” he asked in his brusque tone, his gaze heavy with disdain as he exhaled a cloud of smoke. Carol flinched slightly, and the discomfort on her face was impossible to ignore.

“We were just sharing war stories, Ed,” Andrea joked, trying to dissipate the tension. Though her words had a light tone, it was easy to see how tense she was. Carol, for her part, seemed increasingly uncomfortable, her posture shrinking with each passing second.

“Is there a problem, Ed?” Andrea’s patience was starting to wear thin, her tone sharper, almost defiant.

“It’s none of your business,” Ed replied with disdain, pulling the cigarette from his mouth and looking at her coldly. “You should focus on your work. This isn’t a comedy club.”

The coldness of his words ignited a spark within you, and before you could stop yourself, you retorted, “You’d better focus on shutting your mouth or I’ll kick your fat ass.” Your words came out with more venom than you intended, but you didn’t regret it. You held your gaze steady on him, challenging him to say more.

Seizing your intervention, Andrea stood up and walked toward Ed with a wet piece of clothing in her hand. “Listen, if you don’t like how we wash the clothes, then go wash them yourself.” She thrust the garment toward him with evident disdain, but Ed, instead of taking it, roughly tossed it aside.

“It’s not my job,” he replied, unfazed, taking another drag of his cigarette as if nothing had happened.

“Andrea, don’t do it,” Amy tried to intervene, her voice filled with concern.

“What is your job, Ed?” Andrea shot back, her patience exhausted. “Sitting on your ass and smoking cigarettes?”

Ed’s face twisted into a sneer of contempt. “I don’t have to listen to a stuck-up, arrogant bitch,” he responded aggressively. Then, his gaze turned toward Carol, who remained motionless, fear reflected in her eyes. “You, come with me,” he ordered in a rude tone, raising his voice. Carol hesitated, but fear paralyzed her.

You couldn’t just stand by. You stepped closer to her, gently taking her wrist in an attempt to stop her. “You don’t have to go anywhere, Carol.”

“Leave her alone, Ed,” Andrea interjected, placing herself between them.

Ed ignored the challenge. “That’s none of your business. Come with me!” His voice rose even further, and the tension in the air became almost unbearable.

Carol looked at you, her face pale and her eyes filled with unshed tears. “Please, Y/N, it doesn’t matter,” she whispered, her voice so fragile that you felt your heart break a little. You understood her fear. It was a cycle she couldn’t escape from alone.

Ed turned to Andrea, his face filled with fury. “Don’t think I won’t hit you too, just because you’re a college bitch.”

Andrea looked at him, offended, but before she could respond, Jacqui intervened, crossing her arms firmly. “Are you going to bruise your wife again, Ed?” Her voice resonated with authority. “We saw it. We know what you do.”

That was enough to unleash chaos. In a matter of seconds, everything turned into a struggle. Ed, in his frustration, slapped Carol when they tried to stop him. It all happened so quickly that you could barely react, but before things escalated further, Shane appeared out of nowhere. He grabbed Ed by the shirt, lifting him with a strength that seemed almost superhuman, and threw him to the ground.

“If you ever touch your wife, your daughter, or anyone in this camp again, I won’t hold back, you hear me?” Shane’s voice was a palpable threat as his fist collided repeatedly with Ed’s face. Blood and blows filled the air, and Ed’s body lay on the ground, bloodied and defeated.

The crowd fell silent, except for Carol’s sobs. Shane stood up, breathing heavily, and shot one last warning glance at Ed.

After all the commotion, you returned to the camp with heavy steps. The air felt denser than usual, but you tried to shake off the bad taste of what had happened. As you hung the wet clothes on the line, you made sure the wind wouldn’t carry them away.

When you finished, you headed to your tent, relieved to escape the lingering tension in the camp. You sighed as you picked up Alice in your arms. “Alright, little one, you’re going to have to learn to walk soon. You’re getting heavier every day,” you joked, stretching your sore back from the day’s work.

Alice, with her little bright eyes filled with determination, tried to stand up. She leaned against your legs, her tiny hands gripping your pants, but after a wobble, she ended up sitting back down on the ground. You let out a soft laugh at the sight of her; her surprised expression was adorable.

“It’s okay, sweetie, we’ll try again,” you said gently, leaning down to help her up once more. You took her small hands and patiently guided her, holding her steady as she attempted to straighten up on her wobbly feet. Her little eyes sparkled with concentration, her lips pursed in an expression that, despite her young age, conveyed a mix of frustration and determination.

“That’s it, come on... slowly,” you murmured as she, with your support, managed to stand for a few seconds. You felt her strength, small but growing, as she tried to take a step. Every advancement, no matter how minor, filled you with pride. But on her second step, her legs buckled again, and she fell gently onto her bottom, this time letting out a light giggle that was contagious.

–––––––––––––––––––––

The cold night air seeped between your bare arms, prickling your skin as you stared restlessly at the embers of the fire. The wind played with your hair, a dark strand tickling your cheek before you brushed it away with a distracted gesture. Your leg wouldn’t stop bouncing, reflecting the agitation you felt deep within. Glenn and the others had not returned yet, and the weight of uncertainty was consuming you.

You tried to calm yourself, but negative thoughts relentlessly assailed your mind, showing you a myriad of scenarios in which things could go wrong. Each image was worse than the last, each one a reminder of how fragile the lives of those you loved had become. You hugged yourself, trying to protect not only from the cold but from the storm of emotions attacking you from within. Alice wasn’t with you; she had fallen asleep much earlier than usual, and Dale, in a kind gesture, had allowed you to lay her down in the RV for her safety, so you could get close if anything happened.

You let the conversations around the fire wash over you, although you didn’t participate much. You had never been one to talk a lot, and even less so now. You preferred to listen, to observe. It was something you did better than speaking: reading between the lines, understanding without needing to say too much.

“Where are you going?” you heard Andrea ask, her tone casual but filled with curiosity. Amy, her sister, had quietly gotten up.

“I have to go to the bathroom,” the young blonde replied softly, with a shy smile. “Gosh, a girl tries to be discreet…” she chided her sister with a hint of embarrassment as she made her way toward the RV.

Not long passed before a blood-curdling scream shattered the tranquility of the camp. The conversation halted abruptly, and everyone turned toward the source of the sound. What you saw paralyzed your heart: a walker had caught Amy and was sinking its teeth into her arm, eliciting screams of pain that seemed to echo throughout the camp. Chaos erupted like a storm. More walkers emerged from the shadows, moving slowly but with an insatiable hunger. Panic spread among everyone. Mothers instinctively shielded their children, while the others hurried to grab any weapon they had on hand to defend themselves.

Shane, with the skill of a soldier, began to shoot, taking down one walker after another that approached dangerously. Your heart raced wildly. You cursed yourself for leaving your weapon inside the tent. As you tried to back away to safety, you tripped over a rock and fell backward. The gravel scraped your skin, but you had no time to worry about the pain. One of the walkers lunged at you, and in a desperate move, you grabbed a wooden stick and drove it into its head, watching as the lifeless body fell beside you.

You breathed heavily as you got back up, the only thought in your mind being Alice. You had to reach her; you had to make sure she was safe. You fought your way through the chaos, taking down two walkers that were too close to the vehicle’s door. The dark blood of one splattered your neck, and the disgust almost made you vomit, but there was no time for that. You stopped abruptly when your eyes met a horrifying scene: another walker had reached Amy and was viciously biting her neck. Blood gushed out, splattering the ground and clothes, as Amy fell to the ground.

Andrea screamed heartbreakingly, unable to process what was happening as she held the bleeding body of her sister. The sound of Alice’s cries grew louder, increasingly desperate, and your ears began to buzz. It felt like everything slowed down, each second weighing like an eternity. Your instinct screamed at you to run to your baby, to protect her at any cost, but the horror of what you were witnessing kept you anchored in place, as if your body couldn’t move.

A scream jolted you from your reverie. "Watch out!" The warning came just in time. As you turned, a walker lunged at you, its empty eyes and decaying flesh hanging from its face. Instinct took over; you gripped the wooden stick with both hands, even as splinters dug painfully into your skin. You didn’t think, you just acted. The blow was brutal, striking directly at the walker’s head. You felt the resistance of the rotting flesh give way as the wood pierced through the skull. The body collapsed at your feet, and for a moment, everything seemed to freeze.

Without wasting any more time, you ran toward the RV. The interior was dark, but you didn’t stop. You knew exactly where you had to go. You walked quickly to the small room at the back, your heart pounding so hard it felt like it would explode in your chest. With trembling hands, you pushed aside the curtain, revealing Alice. Her face was red, drenched in tears, and her arms reached out to you as soon as she saw you.

You scooped her up in your arms with a tenderness that contradicted the chaos outside. Your body shook, adrenaline and fear battling for control, but you sank to the floor, leaning your back against the wall, trying to find a breath amid the panic. Alice continued to cry, her small body shaking with sobs, and everything in you wanted to calm her, to protect her from this terrifying world that had become more dangerous with every passing second.

“Shh… I’m here, sweetheart, mommy’s here,” you whispered as you cradled her against your chest. The words slipped from your lips, automatic, a desperate attempt to soothe her, to soothe yourself. “Everything will be alright, baby. Everything will be alright.” But the sounds of screams and gunfire outside made it hard to believe. You knew the words were empty in that moment, but you repeated them, hoping they could offer some comfort, if not for her, at least for you.

The cries of Andrea, the thunder of Shane’s gunfire, and the growls of walkers continued to echo, but in that small corner of the RV, you tried to create a bubble of calm for Alice. You pressed her small body against yours, the warmth of her soft skin offering you a small ray of hope amid the despair. You couldn’t lose control, not when she needed you so much.

Tears began to fall uncontrollably, hot and heavy, as fear consumed you completely. Each sob was a reflection of the desperation you were trying to hold at bay, but you couldn’t anymore. Everything was crumbling around you. You didn’t know to whom you were praying, whether to some god that could still hear you or simply to hope itself, but you wanted the horror to end. You were so scared, so exhausted, that the simple act of breathing felt like an impossible task.

Gradually, the sounds from outside began to fade, the noise of the struggle transforming into the crunch of footsteps on the ground. Footsteps you didn’t recognize. Your heart raced again, and your mind imagined the worst: maybe everyone was dead, and you were the only survivor, doomed to face the world alone with Alice in your arms.

Your body tensed as you heard someone approaching the RV. The small room, which just minutes before had been a refuge, now felt like a death trap. You desperately searched for something to defend yourself with, anything that could help you protect Alice. But there was nothing. You were helpless, alone, and fear surged over you once more.

Suddenly, a figure appeared in the doorway, and for a moment, your soul seemed to leave your body. But then you saw clearly: it was Glenn. It was him, and his gaze reflected both relief and concern.

“Are you okay? Were you bitten?” His voice was filled with urgency as he knelt in front of you, his hands searching for your face, touching it gently. His thumb wiped away a tear rolling down your cheek, his gesture so full of tenderness that it broke the last barrier you had built to keep yourself strong.

“Please respond… talk to me,” he insisted, his voice nearly breaking. His eyes searched yours desperately, trying to ensure that you were truly alright.

You couldn’t speak. The words lodged in your throat, choked by fear and relief. All you could do was nod weakly before collapsing into his arms. You surrendered to his embrace like a frightened child, your body shaking uncontrollably as you sobbed against his chest. Glenn held you tightly, as if he were the only thing keeping you connected to reality amid the nightmare.

"I'm here. You're safe," he whispered softly as he held you tighter, his arms wrapping around your body with a care that almost made you crumble further. His warmth, his presence, provided you with a small anchor in the chaos. Though the world remained a terrifying place, in that moment, in Glenn's arms, you found a glimmer of safety.

As Alice, in your arms, slowly calmed down, her breathing syncing with yours, you realized that, at least for now, you had survived.

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