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star-girl69 · 1 year ago

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Ultraviolence

Natalie Scatorccio x Fem!Reader

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a/n: i hope you all enjoy!!

warnings: mentions of hypothermia, mentions of death, swearing, tell me if i missed anything!!

Chapter Twenty Seven - Looking Over My Shoulder

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2021-

“I’m getting really worried that you’re not calling me back.”

Misty has been trying to get in contact with Taissa ever since this forsaken car ride started. You’re heading up north, to the purple people, and all you can think about is how much money Walter must be spending on gas right now.

“Either of you. Don’t make me come looking for you,” she chuckles, but you can see her worried reflection in the mirror. “I already found Y/N!”

“Hi!” you shout over her shoulder, and Misty nods, as if Taissa could see it.

“Anyways. Call me back.”

She clicks a button and sets her phone down, sighing softly, her face twisted into worry. She turns to you and Walter.

“If Taissa and Shauna have both been kidnapped, I am going to be very, very annoyed.”

“I’m sure they’re just busy,” Walter comforts, looking back and forth between her and the road.

“Yeah, Misty. The last thing they would wanna do it worry you,” you say, pretending to itch your nose to hide your smile.

“They’re all lucky to have you,” Walter continues, nodding. “It’s pretty rare to have a friend who’s relentlessly got your back.”

Misty smiles.

“Thank you,” she says, a little awkwardly, adjusting her glasses and she faces forward again. You watch, silent, as Walter looks at her. His eyes not anywhere near the road.

“Here,” he says after a moment, digging through the center console and taking something out, putting it in Misty’s lap. “This is actually for you. While you wait for your friend’s imminent replies.”

She opens the box, and you look over her shoulder, finding rows and rows of cassettes marked and labeled neatly.

“You can choose the music for the rest of the trip, and I won’t complain at all.”

When you look at Misty’s reflection, she’s shocked. You can’t help but wonder when’s the last time she felt loved and appreciated like this.

“Well…” she says. “It all makes sense now.”

“Huh?” you say, her face quickly turning annoyed.

“What?” Walter asks.

“Why you sought me out,” she hisses. “Why you’re helping me- us. You certainly did your homework.”

“W-what are you talking about?”

“You can drop the whole thing now, okay? You’re one of those Yellowjackets obsessives.”

You gasp and hit the back of his seat. “Walter!”

“And I’m honored that I seem to be your favorite Yellowjacket. But, I am not gonna tell you anything about what happened out there. So, you can just drop us off at the next town.”

“So much for a free vacation,” you mutter, and Misty gestures towards you, nodding, glaring at Walter.

“Woah, woah. That is not what’s happening here. It’s like I told you. I sought you out from Citizen Detective because I wanted to work with the brilliant, investigative mind that is Agent AfricanGrey. And, because you dropped a Sweeney Todd reference in one of your posts. I-I don’t care. Um, no offense. Because I’m sure it was a significant trauma, but… I don’t care that you’re a Yellowjacket. That either of you are. That was like 30 years ago,” he shrugs.

“Twenty-five,” Misty whispers.

“And, that’s the least interesting thing about you.”

“So, you just… happen… to love musicals?” she says after a moment, flipping through the cassettes, a little more defensive now, but you can still tell she’s still a little flustered. “And it has nothing to do with me?”

“Yep.”

“Well, I don’t really care about musicals. Or what we play.”

“Oh,” Walker shrugs, leaning over and grabbing one. “So then you won’t be bothered if I put on…” he shows her the label.

“Oh, let’s tell the story of Cinderella, except every characters a train? Ugh, enough already,” she says, and puts in her own choice.

She sends him one final glare.

“People of Europe! I send you the Rainbow of Argentina.”

And you swear you’ve heard this song before, but you can’t seem to remember where.

—-

1996-

After Y/N leaves, her words in the air, Natalie slowly pulls on her clothes. Her arms ache from being shoved into the cold water, from banging the axe through the ice so many times she thought her arm would just be stuck in the motion forever. Then… trying to hold on. And failing.

She can hear the door open, a shuffle that sounds distinctively panicked, and she can’t help but bitterly think that, of course, Lottie has brought something back. Not her. Not when she’s been trying so hard.

She steps outside, still zipping up her jacket, only the find the girls clustered around a frozen Lottie. She’s still alive, but her face is twisted into pain, her palm is cut, and she’s turning blue.

No food in sight. But Natalie can’t even bring herself to care.

“Get her back here,” she says, her voice hoarse. Y/N turns around from where she was kneeling in front of Lottie. “We can get her to the tub.”

Y/N looks at her for a moment longer before nodding, getting to her feet, dragging Lottie up with her.

“Come on, let’s get her back there,” Shauna encourages, and Natalie just watches as they all practically drag Lottie to the back, help her get undressed, take a small step into the still-hot tub.

“It’s gonna get better,” Nat says, because she knows the cold Lottie’s feeling right now. She looks up towards Y/N, in the doorway, Lottie’s clothes bundled up in her hands.

Mari and Akilah wait behind her, anxiously looking in on Lottie, and after a moment, Y/N takes a step back.

“Let them have a minute,” she says to Lottie’s followers, and Nat heard the door click shut as she grabs a strip of cloth to wrap around Lottie’s bleeding palm.

She sits at the stool next to the tub, and Lottie holds her hand out, the blood mostly washed away by now.

It’s hard to find her voice. But she’s changed in the wilderness. She’s always been able to speak her mind, call out someone on their shit, but it’s hard to admit that she was the stupid one.

And if they’re going to survive out here, at least for a little longer, they all need to change. And it seems stupid, but they need to be a team.

“This is all my fault.” She wraps the cloth around her cut. “I’m really sorry.”

“Good game,” Lottie says, still shaking slightly. “You fucking loser,” she smiles.

“You talking shit?” Natalie can’t help but laugh, shaking her head. “You little bitch. You ended up with nil. Same as me.”

She lets Lottie’s hand fall, the bandage wrapped tightly around her palm.

“But, fine.”

She sticks out her hand. “Good game.”

Lottie looks up at her and grabs her hand.

—-

These nights, the simple ones, when you can just sit next to the fire and rest your head on Natalie’s shoulder are the easiest.

Doing nothing never hurt anyone.

“Nat,” you murmur, and the cabin is quiet enough that even your whisper seems too loud. “You know… you know that it’s not all on you, right? Just ‘cause you’re the best shot and shit? I… I just want you to know that it’s okay if you’re, like, not the best, I guess.”

“Yeah,” she whispers after a moment. “I know.”

“Okay,” you murmur, not sure if you believe her, too tired to pry.

“We’re a team.”

You lift your head up and look at her, and after a moment, she looks away from the fire. Her eyes soften and she smiles at you the way she always does. The way that makes you feel like the entire world is on fire, except for you and her.

You lean forward and kiss her softly, still scared from seeing her in the water, still so inexplicably intwined with her.

You smile against her lips.

The door slams open, too many footsteps, and swears, sounds of disbelief all spill from the girls.

“No. That’s impossible.” You look over at Shauna, and she’s staring at the door.

And when you turn, Javi stands in the doorway like like a scared deer, his eyes wide, wrapped in a blanket, his lips chapped and slightly blue.

“Javi,” you breathe, as everyone gathers around him.

Travis steps forward, and you share a look with Natalie.

“How the hell are you alive?” Travis asks, before bringing his brother into a tight hug.

How is he alive? How did he survive?

You see the look in his eyes.

What did he survive?

When Travis pulls away, Javi doesn’t speak, just stares at him- through him- unmoving.

“Javi,” Travis says softly. “Hey. It’s me. It’s your brother.”

When Javi doesn’t speak, and no one else does, Travis looks away from his brother and towards you and Natalie. You look away, and she stands up, walking to the other side of the cabin, where the light of the fire can’t reach.

“This means Lottie was right,” Mari says, smiling brightly, newfound belief shining through her. “She’s the one who said Javi was alive.”

Lottie looks shocked and slightly horrified.

“Three cheers for Lottie!” Misty shouts. “Hip, hip-”

Everyone glares at her, and her smile falls and her voice trails off.

“Lottie knew he was alive,” Van pants, pointing towards where two people sit, “But Taissa knew where he was.”

“No,” Tai says, a frown on her face, knees pulled up to her chest. Van kneels in front of her.

“No, Taissa. You can’t deny it anymore,” she breathes. “There is something inside of you that is connected to all of this.”

She stares at Van, confused and scared, to Javi and Travis hugging again. Javi still just stares, not speaking, his eyes wide open.

He survived. The cold, the hunger.

But as he stares blankly forward you know something else happened in the woods.

—-

taglist:

@sweetdayme4427 @dreaming-for-an-escape @peachydoki @happysparklingshadows @zhivaxo @maraudeerrs @karsonromanoff @onlyangel-444 @subastronaut

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#yellowjackets x reader #natalie scatorccio #natalie scatorccio x reader

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vedurnan · 1 year ago

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Get To Know Me

Tagged by @upatreewithoutaharness. thank you my angel, i love tumblr things like this :)

Tag (5) people you'd like to know better! I'm tagging @ivalician @offspring @scootil @softboypassing @psygull

Last song: At Giza by OM. i listened to it while stocking yogurt inside the cooler at work and it was great. i felt like i was in communion with all people who have lost themselves in the motions of a thoughtless and repetitive task. my coworker was on the other side facing the stuff as i was stocking it and she waved to me through the yogurt, which made me remember how we planned to hang out and watch conan the destroyer later in the week, and i thought about how we would order chinese food to eat while we watch the movie, how i was looking forward to that, and how cool it was of her to ask to come over and watch it. the whole experience made me very glad for my life which is a feeling that OM provokes in me a lot!

Currently reading: THE BOOK OF THE NEW SUN, endlessly... i am now early in Citadel of the Autarch. where will fate bring Severian next? i think much has yet to be fulfilled. it just keeps getting better and better. the book of the new sun is something that to me is so good it's almost impossible to talk about.

i pass in and out of reading a few other things also. two big ones for me have been the Penguin Classics selected writings of Meister Eckhart and The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching by Thich Nhat Hanh. i enjoy both but both leave me wanting something. i also have a kindle sample downloaded for Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl, which a few friends were talking about reading together as part of a book club... although i have not looked at the sample yet!

Currently watching: last night i really wanted to watch Children of Men but i didn't want to pay the 4 dollars to rent it on any kind of service so i just watched clips on youtube from the movie until i felt like i remembered enough of the rest of it that it was "refreshed" in my mind and i didn't need to watch it again. remembering this makes me feel some regret. i should have just rented and watched the movie.

today i was thinking that i should watch some of the star trek shows from the 80s and 90s again. i loved them as a kid and there's this toy store near work that has tons of the old action figures of all the characters. one of my coworkers is super into star trek and he showed me his collection of like every deep space 9 figure. i have such a fond, warm place for those shows in my memory!

Current obsession: wintertime! i keep thinking about autumn and winter and how eager i am for them to come. i want to walk around in the frigid and misty winter night and go downtown and really feel like i am in the absolute center of some kind of cold, austere, hierarchical structure. then i go back to my apartment and the warm light and comfortable things. today my friend asked me if i was doing anything for christmas this year. like five months in advance! how cute! when i was a child for some reason i had a playmobil playset of the three wise kings from the nativity story. just the kings and their camel and their supplies, no other nativity stuff included. i had no awareness of any bible stories as a child except the nativity scene and i only knew about it because my dad explained who the three toy kings were. because of that i always associated christmas with a feeling of extreme ancient mystery as a kid

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thetalesofno-one · 8 months ago

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Curse of Strahd, Act I: Pt. 1, Ch. V -Shadow Of Barovia-

D&D Campaign Retelling Part 1/6 Chapter 5/5 ~5.1k words Content Warnings: Curse of Strahd typical content, Read at own risk

Summary Free of the deadman's path, the disparate travelers continue on across the misty lands into the shadow of a ruined village. Barovia. Civilization found, and hopefully answers, unknowing that their troubles have only just begun. Read Previous Chapters also available on AO3

Emet stares at the empty ground where the corpse grew its roots the last they passed this tree. The dirt empty and undisturbed, yet the deadman gone. No footsteps scar the mud, no scrabbling prints of some beast come to claim its rotting meal. And yet the body is gone.

He checked for undeath. His god may have forsaken him, but the remnant of that divine power granted to him when he first took his oath never faded even after all that happened. He felt the power, sensed it in his veins like a presence. A doorway he can still open. One his god did not lock and one Emet would have tried to break down if he did. But he hadn’t needed to. When he called on that power, it answered. And that power sensed no undeath when he used it. The body should still be here.

Evrrot steps widely over the area to not sully any trail, his cognac eyes sharper than bourbon checking for any sign of what happened. Finding none he sinks an accusing glare into Emet.

“I thought you checked this shit.”

“I did.”

“Clearly not well enough.”

Emet’s lip curls in a half snarl and he turns back to the wagon path. The road stretching on, open now as freely as when they first walked it. No trick, no compulsion to continue circling the deadman’s path, no clawing thoughts at the edge of their minds, urging them to try again, try again. So why did the deadman obsessively run himself into exhaustion? Why continue clawing tallies into trees on a path that went nowhere when he must have crossed the wagon trail forty-three times? What made death by exhaustion a better choice than following this road? Or did the road not exist for him? The trail clearly started and ended where this group’s feet first set foot in the misty forest. Perhaps their arrival carved it into the land like a sign post, guiding them somewhere. Or perhaps it only exists for those it’s meant to exist. But then where else would the deadman have come from?

Roshan clears his throat though it doesn’t clear the tension in the air.

“I am not the smartest man, but surely the man could not have been this dumb,” Roshan says, confirming Emet’s own thoughts, “Forty-three times.”

“Unless something addled his mind.”

“Maybe he thought he had to,” Evie adds. She looks back at the road that started them on this path and then ahead to wherever it might lead. Glancing at the spot where the body once rotted, her eyes flicker to Emet a moment. She’s the one who knew how he checked, so what does it say to her that he failed? That he is a liar? Or his god?

“Maybe the flaming horseman chased him off the wagon road,” Roshan nods as though that is the only possible answer. He points down the wagon trail, “But this is our only path left now.”

Emet wishes he was wrong—certain the others feel the same way by Evie’s wary look down the road and Evrrot’s scowl—but that may have been the deadman’s wish and look where that got him. Perhaps wishes are dangerous things in this place.

Evie slips the compass from the pouch on her belt again, setting the bronze device in her palm and giving the needle a moment to settle. Her other hand twists the brooch about her neck, unconsciously mimicking the back and forth movement of the red needle still refusing to find North. Roshan twists his feather in a similar fashion, praying to it like a stick of incense and Emet finds himself absently checking the amber shard lashed to the back of his hand, seeking any guidance that led him this far. But the stone remains dark and empty and the compass needle never finds North. It no longer whirs violently beneath the glass at least.

Evrrot glares at them all.

“What do all of you have?” He narrows his eyes, “What are you playing with?”

Roshan looks up from his feather, “I told you. It is a blessing from my god.”

Evie quickly drops the brooch, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Just my spell casting focus,” Emet lies, though only partially he supposes.

“Got any spells that can get rid of fog?” Evrrot asks sarcastically.

“Afraid not.”

Then what good are you, the tiefling’s expression seems to ask. Evrrot clearly doesn’t believe any of them and other than perhaps Roshan, Emet knows he and Evie are lying. They all saw each other get pulled into the mist by these trinkets. All except Evrrot who seems to have nothing as far as Emet can tell. So why did he follow?

The glares persist, each person daring the other to question their answers in silent challenge. But the standoff is quickly broken as Roshan starts trying to blow away the fog with his breath, the mist only swirling about lightly.

Evie smiles dangerously and points a finger at the charmer. Magic infuses her words as she whispers, “I can’t dispel the fog either, but does this make it creepier?”

Her tinted lips move, forming words without sound, her finger still pointed sharply at Evrrot like a dagger. Emet hears nothing, the magic of the message spell stealing away her words and giving them solely to Evrrot. The tiefling flinches suddenly. Emet almost laughs thinking the charmer has never been on the receiving end of a message spell when Evrrot grabs his head and winces painfully, roaring.

“What the hells?! Stop it!”

Evie’s eyes flash wide at the outburst, holding up her hands and ending the spells casting.

“Devil boy, what is the matter with you?” Roshan demands, sounding exactly like a father tired of his son’s dramatics.

“She’s casting spells!”

The initial concern on Evie’s face rolls away with her eyes as she gives Evrrot the ‘done with your shit’ expression of an older sibling realizing their kin reacted to a pat on the shoulder like it was a slap to the face, “It was a joke, man. Chill. No one’s ever been hurt by a message spell.”

“Jokes don’t hurt!”

“Hurt? I did the little sneaky message thing—”

“That wasn’t a little message,” Evrrot mocks, “That was the voice of the damned screaming in my head. I don’t know what you did, but stop casting spells on me.”

“Mate, I don’t know what you’re talking about. Look, I’m not very magical, I can send little messages and I can do this,” she lights up her armor again with the deep bluish light.

Evrrot stabs a finger, still rubbing his head, “Watch her.”

“My magic is very bad, basic at best!” Evie continues, snapping her fingers to summon a small burst of green flame. She double takes a glance at the flickering fires dancing atop her pinched fingertips like she’s never seen such a thing before. “And that’s green now for some reason—”

A dull whispering voice follows the flame, every ripple of the fire like a whisper from beyond. The green flames dance wildly along her chipped painted nails, more erratic than typical arcane flame. Evie stops talking, staring at the small magical fire with wide kohl painted eyes and a genuine expression of horror. Either this is new and she’s not lying or Emet has sorely misjudged who needs to be watched in this group.

“Okay that’s creepy.” Evie snuffs out the flame.

Roshan eyes her warily, “Did you kill someone in your past life?”

“No!”

“Then this place is haunted.”

Evrrot sweeps an angry finger across everyone again, backing up with his body lightly curled in a fighting stance, hand somehow always near a weapon at any given time with a well practiced ease, “We’ll all playing nice now, but I’m watching each of you. And if anyone stabs me in the back I will not hesitate.”

“Devil boy,” Roshan sighs, “Take the gnarled branch out of your ass. We have to be together for this, okay?”

Evrrot gives him a derisive snort and twists on his heel, the tiefling storming down the wagon road without another word.

“Follow me,” Roshan sighs, waving to Evie and Emet like a father herding his unruly children after one threw a tantrum.

“We’re all walking in the same direction!” Evrrot growls ahead, “We’re not all following you.”

“Okay, whatever you say, devil boy.”

Roshan grins mischievously before jogging ahead to catch up with Evrrot and irritate him further. Emet sighs and offers Evie a shrug that says, this is our life now, and follows. The half elf groans behind him. It’s a moment before he hears the sound of her heavy platform boots stomping reluctantly behind.

Emet tries not to look back at her. The whispers of her green flames echo dully in his memory, haunting soliloquies at the edge of his mind. They did sound like the dead. Voices distant and stolen away. Here, but leagues apart. The desperate cries of spirits screaming into your ears, yet the fathom between life and death dulls their screams to a barely heard whisper. Words shouted right into your ears, yet too distant to make out.

He wonders if they cling to her too or if her flames merely gave them voice.

The dark woods fall away like words at the end of a page. The tree line breaking apart and stopping with the sharpness that can only come at the edge of an axe. Nature halted by the hand of civilization. Beyond the edge, the lands arms open wide and stretch across a large sweep of grassy valley. Only a ribbon of river bisects the knolls, cutting through the fabric of the fields. Still gloomy and misty, the fog drifts as low as a blanket across the gentle hills. It pours out from gnarled forest behind them like river water over a dam, thinning to the swirling stream dancing over the whispering fields of tall grass. Above, roiling thunder clouds twist and boil the dark skies, choking out whatever sun must hang above into little more than thin grey light.

Sharp jagged mountains pierce their teeth into the skies beyond the shadow of the vale, evergreen trees spilling down the mountainsides and enclosing this valley between sharp stone and needled trees. Snowcaps bleach the jagged grey edges of the stone teeth towering imperiously over the land, the vale swallowed in the maw of some godsbeast.

And yet it is still a far more welcome sight than the forest behind.

Ahead, sickly yellow grasses and farmland sway in the ever shifting tides of mist and wind, wrapping around the sharp edges of some small settlement hunkered down in the trough of the valley. The pale river cuts past the settlement, the winter blue ribbon reflecting the roiling sky in its crystalline waters.

And looming high above the settlement, perched at the edge of a sheer mountain cliff, a dark twisted castle, all spires and stone spines sitting alone in silent oppressive watch. A stone beast haunting the cliff’s edge, the village below its hapless prey. A thread of lightning cuts across the dark skies in a flash, casting the keep in sharp shadow and violent light before a sudden swell of thick fog sweeps across the vale in a wave, concealing both castle and settlement from view.

But at least they know that it is there.

“That place looks pretty nice,” Roshan comments wryly.

Evrrot scoffs, “Yeah compared to here.”

Roshan claps his hands together, “We can all rest up and have a good night’s sleep. And then everyone will be less stressed.”

“Let’s hope it’s not one of those crazy villages where they believe the weather is controlled by sacrifice or some shit,” Evrrot mumbles. “You’d be the first to go.”

“Some gods do like you to sacrifice people, but that is a whole ‘nother thing.” Roshan waves everyone forward, “Come along.”

Emet barely cares where they are going at this point. His stomach stopped its complaining hours ago to settle into a disapproving dull ache and his leaden legs have resigned themselves to swinging forward with each step by momentum alone. It’s only when he stops that Emet feels like he could simply sink into the dirt and never move again. Better to keep trudging along until they find a real bed to rest, lest his body decide the ground is good enough after all.

He’s not sure how long the others have been on their feet, but more hours have passed since they left the deadman’s trail and he’s guessing they are nearing eight or more hours since the mist swept them into strange lands. He was ready to end the day back in the leaning Daggerford barn, now he is close to collapse.

The slate grey armor hanging from his shoulders felt like bars of iron back in Daggerford, now they sit like anvils after so many hours. The clothing beneath is soaked entirely between the rain and the sweat, and the black cloak draped over his shoulder hangs as heavy and damp as a wet blanket. If it wasn’t for the constant chill of this place freezing the sodden wear to his skin and the ever present sense of danger prickling at his frayed nerves, Emet would have started drifting off to sleep long ago whether he was on his feet or not.

Evie seems equally exhausted, her arms wrapped around herself and tugging at the short skirt beneath her armor as though she can stretch it out to keep the wind off her exposed legs. She chews at a lip piercing irritatedly, occasionally blowing a strand of fallen hair from her face with a huff.

Evrrot seems warm however, that charcoal scented leather long coat of his keeping his clothing suitably dry and warm in this winter breeze. Emet wonders absently if his infernal blood warms him as well or if that’s only a rumor. He’s known a few tiefling in his long life, but mostly as clients. Never well enough to venture such a question. And he certainly won’t ask this man lest he give him the fire he needs for warmth through irritation alone.

Misery keeps their company and exhaustion their silence. Only Roshan clings obnoxiously to every fragment of hope this gloomy place spits at them. Where the old man gets his vitality, Emet will never know. The old human looks as weathered as old leather draped in scratchy white cloth—now soaked—but somehow his every step bounces with a spring in it and that near constant smile of his curls up the edges of his salted beard as reliably as the sun rises each day.

Evrrot glares at the old man every few paces with the irritated hatred born from a day that’s gone on for too long and Evie lets slip a small smirk when she thinks no one is looking, but Emet finds his mind drifting to Azem. Roshan’s bouncing gate reminds Emet of the sun elf every time they had set out together on a journey. No matter how long the day or early the morning, Azem always finds a way to brighten it.

Sun elf and sun god, both so bright.

The muddy wagon path twists ahead of them, rolling across the grassy hills down into small valleys thick with puddles before rippling up again. The land folded and rippled like cloth. And all the while their sodden boots trudge it further still with the hope that the mist doesn’t completely swallow up the village ahead in more than sight. It already devoured their last one after all.

Evie nods toward something off the road, not daring to unwrap the warmth of her arms from around herself to point. “What’s that?”

All heads swing to where she stares off the trail into the strange mist and the veil of it thins briefly to see a dark weathered stone atop a small knoll.

“Maybe it is a mile marker,” Roshan’s voice betrays the tiredness he is hiding better than the rest, “I will go have a look.”

“I’ll join, shouldn’t be splitting up,” Emet says, not wanting to stand still.

Evie shakes her head, “Don’t worry about it, we should keep going.”

“It is barely 20ft feet away,” Roshan waves his hand at the stone definitely more than 20ft away, “We will be fine.”

“I’m getting bad vibes from this place, let’s not go and explore every weird, creepy thing we come across.”

“Yes, let’s definitely go and together.”

Evie frowns, “That’s not what I said.”

Roshan trudges off path, sweeping aside the tall grasses with Emet in tow. Neither Evie nor Evrrot follow.

Certainly isn’t a mile marker, Emet thinks as they get closer to the dark stone. The stone is slick with rain and soaked through, but rain-darkened words are carved into its rough surface in the common tongue—a good sign. Emet reads the epitaph chiseled into the gravestone. Rose and Thorn, and beneath the inscription the phrase, Lost to the world, Found in Judgement.

“This is a burial proverb of Kelemvor, yes? The God of Death in our Faerûn?” Roshan asks, kneeling beside the stone and brushing away the grasses already grown long around it. Emet notes the grave marker barely looks as though it has weathered a year. Roshan looks up expectantly at the tall moon elf, but Emet keeps his silence hoping the holy man will mistake it for ignorance and not familiarity.

The holy man shrugs, “I think it is.”

Before departing the holy man offers a brief blessing, his hand marking the symbol not of Kelemvor, but of Lathander. Emet doesn’t quite remember which domain that god embodies, he never was the most devout in his order. Maybe that’s why things ended up the way they did. But then again, Roshan seems to have an abundance of faith and he’s still here in this mess beside Emet. So maybe the answer is that none of the gods care.

Roshan slaps his knees as he stands, breaking Emet out of his thoughts, “All done, thank you for waiting. We should head back now.”

The two trudge back through thick grass and uneven ground to Evie and Evrrot, the half elf and tiefling watching them carefully and impatiently. Evrrot’s horns drip droplets of water past his shoulders, hair more slick than ever in the wet rain and wetter still for them having made him wait as the rain picks up a little heavier. Emet is half surprised the tiefling didn’t simply leave as he’s so fond of threatening at every occasion.

Evie just stares past them, out to the stone marker, her mohawk nearly flattened and drooping half way to her armored shoulders. She’d dug a ditch in the mud with her platform boots while waiting, chewing on her darkly tinted lips as though she half expected some terrible thing to burst out of the fog and snatch away Emet and Roshan on their way back. Not out of the realm of possibility, unfortunately.

“It was a just tombstone,” Roshan offers as Evie lifts her head expectantly.

“Ah yeah, nothing creepy about a random tombstone in the middle of nowhere,” she comments.

“You never know, this could have been their favorite hill.”

Evrrot uncrosses his arm, “Alright, you’ve had your fun. Follow me.”

“Of course, devil boy” Roshan grins, “We follow you.”

Devil and holy man walk side by side, already having forgotten Emet and Evie in their unspoken competition. Emet shakes his head and is about to follow when he realizes Evie doesn’t move. She stares off at that grave marker, arms crossed across the wet chainmail on her chest. She barely seems to realize half of them have left.

Evie takes a breath and steps forward, but not toward Emet. She determinedly marches for the gravestone alone. Emet nearly follows, wanting to keep anyone from being alone in this place, but something tells him to hold back.

Platform boots slipping in the thick wet grasses up the knoll’s side, Evie barely realizes she’s gone to the grave marker before she finds herself standing in front of it. It’s not like she wants to be here, just that…she needs to. Or that she should. She doesn’t know anymore.

Her eyes trail over the stone’s carving catching on the curl and slant of the ‘R’ in Rose and the sweeping ’T’ in Thorn with a prick of familiarity. She shakes her head and rereads the names and that small sense rewrites itself in her mind as coincidence. Found in Judgement. A familiar proverb from a familiar god. One she’s probably read or said a hundred different times in her twenty-something years.

A snake curls in her stomach reading it.

She never really knew how she felt about that phase. Evie knows it’s supposed to be a source of comfort, that the bad will get their due and the good will be absolved and find their eternities in their heavens. But at the same time, it feels like a watchful gaze. A reminder that everything you do, every mistake you make, and every person you disappoint becomes another tally in a book made to immortalize your every sin. A permanent record of every failure that you’ll carry forever…

Evie sighs and quickly makes the symbol of Kelemvor.

Duty fulfilled, she wraps her arms back around herself and trudges back through the mud to where that giant shadow waits for her. She narrows her eyes at him, giving him a look that asks Why are you still here, poncy idiot before angrily stomping past him. He keeps pace, not trailing behind as if he actually remembers she doesn’t want him behind her, and they hurry to catch up with the angry tiefling and the endless well of happiness irritating the ever living shit out of ‘devil boy.’ She almost wants to laugh seeing them both still vying to stay ahead of each other, but it catches in her throat and the sound is all too similar to a sob. She bites it back and keeps walking.

Emet keeps to Evie’s hurried pace, careful not to fall behind.

The ever present mist has thankfully not swept away the settlement like a vision, the tall shapes of stone and wood structures looming within the fog, slowly peeking out between the waves. Mud gives way to slick wet cobblestones beneath their feet and for the first time since the barn, Emet doesn’t feel like he’s in a dream.

Dwellings border either side of the main thoroughfare with windows as empty and dark as the dried broken sockets of a skull. No sound to cut the silence, no light to signal life. Emet has lived through conflicts before in the extraordinarily long life granted to those of elven blood, and the buildings here look like those who have suffered much and been afforded little in the aftermath. Crippled things, wood and stone scarred by blade or claw with glass long shattered and replaced by crooked planks of wood, all leaning against another as though the wall beside it is all that keeps it standing. Remove the one and all will crumble.

Only the flapping of wings fills the streets as a raven swoops toward them from across the way. The little bird settles, perching with a flutter of black feathers atop an errant railing. It fusses with its wings a moment, a curious shade of blue tipping its silken edges before folding them neatly behind its back. It stares at the group expectantly.

Evie’s eyes light up a moment when she sees it. The blue-tipped raven caws loudly and stomps its little feet before taking off, following the street toward what must be a town square up ahead. Beyond this lane, the buildings open up a bit more with what appears to be a statue of some kind at its center.

“I think it wants us to follow it,” Evie says.

Roshan squints after the raven as though seeking some sign, “It looks like a normal bird.”

“It cawed when it looked at me though. When you look at most birds, they just…” Evie flutters her hands, mimicking wings taking off.

Roshan gives Evie the same look the others have given him whenever he pulls out that feather of his to seek guidance. Seems the only one allowed to have signs from the gods is the holy man.

The raven perches on a signpost across the town square, too distant to read from here at the edge of the village. None seem eager to take the first step into unfamiliar territory—and ruined territory at that, the buildings abandoned and dark as far as they can tell. But they all know there is no where else to go.

“Should we be nice to anyone we come across?” Roshan asks.

“Don’t see why not. They’ve not done anything yet,” Emet’s eyes search the darkened windows, the quiet streets, “If they’re even here.”

Roshan studies the grim group. Weary from the days of travel, edges frayed and nerves short, they all wear a mask of misery. Were this a normal town with streets filled with souls, all would avoid them warily with the grim air about them.

“Maybe you should smile, Emet.”

The words slide between Emet’s ribs with a dagger’s edge and drift down his throat like poppy wine. Both numbing and warm and stealing away the pain long enough to feel the heat blood spilling over his ribs and mistake it for comfort. Memory is held in that painful warmth and he doesn’t hear Roshan’s voice, but Azemir’s. A faint smile, hollow and a ghost of what it once was answers and flickers across Emet’s face before the words turn sharp and he feels the dagger behind the wine. The pain of remembered words once spoken dearly by another soul awaiting his return.

The smiles fades as quickly as it appeared, yet none see the blood.

The holy man moves on, unknowing of the bittersweet blade he buried in Emet’s chest.

“And maybe you should be happy, Evrrot. Angry devils are usually a very bad thing. Evie, you are fine.”

“Do I not come off as a happy person,” Evrrot comments, face as grim as a gravestone.

“Do I not come off as a miserable person?” Evie asks, affronted.

Roshan grins, “No and no.”

“I’m very cheery,” Evrrot glowers.

“Maybe once you’ve had some food in your stomach.”

“That’s probably the first thing you’ve said that’s made any sense.” Evrrot throws caution to the wind once more and strolls down the street, “Let’s go find an inn and see if you’re right.”

Muddy cobblestones scrape beneath their boots, the sound as loud as horse hooves in this eerie silence. If this place is occupied, there should be at least one or two people in the streets, shouldn’t there? Someone fetching the days errands, or a merchant tending their harvest stand, a kid chasing a dog, anything. But no, hollow as a tomb and quiet as the crypt. Only the wind whispering through the broken glass windows gives voice to this dead village. The swift breeze creaks a few half broken signs with rusted wails.

As they near the square, a beam of light briefly breaks through the darkened clouds and casts a pillar of pale white glow upon the statue. Even freed from the prison of clouds, the sun’s light is choked and faded, sapped of all warmth as it falls upon the figure dominating the square. Carved of old stone, the armored man’s shoulders are chipped and cracked from disrepair, matching the destitution of the village it protects. He holds a blade triumphantly aloft in stark contrast to the loss echoed all around him, a heavily booted foot resting atop the severed head of another man. Fangs jut from the severed head’s mouth, the snarling lips curled back with its jaw hung open at a broken angle. A sign of protection for those who live here and a warning to those with ill intent, but one that rings hollow through the empty shell of ruins.

The metal of the weatherworn plaque at the base carries the green tinge of aged copper. Deep clawing gouges from some beast cut across the words hammered into the surface, but the name is still legible.

Ismark Antonavich the Great

Burgomaster of Barovia

Bane of Vampires

618-662 BC

BC? That’s not the common dating notation utilized in Faerûn or anywhere that Emet’s heard of. And Barovia is equally an unknown. Granted, the moon elf isn’t the most well traveled, or even the most well read despite his past, but one glance at the others tells him he is not the only one lost as to when or where any of this is.

Roshan is the first to voice their questions, “What is Barovia?”

“What is BC?” Evie asks.

“Oh, is that strange too? I don’t know the actual years, so I don’t know what it is supposed to be.”

Emet and Evie’s eyes settle on the holy man. Not knowing the day or maybe the month is understandable, but the year?

Evrrot remains fixated on the plaque, “Bane of Vampires…”

Roshan lifts a finger, grinning, “That word I do know.”

“Are there vampires here?” Evrrot wonders.

Emet tilts his head to the shrouded skies where the dim light of sun weakly pours through the heaviest of the storm. Its beam sallow and faint as though the skies themselves suffocate their star. Every day a slow and agonizing breath above the land, a single gasp above the night’s waters before it is dragged below each night into stillness.

“If there aren’t then there were,” he answers.

Evrrot joins him in squinting up at the skies, the thin beam snuffing out at last as a wave of thick clouds rolls overhead, “It’s certainly ideal if this is the weather every day.”

A shrill caw breaks their conversation, the blue-tipped raven shouting its displeasure at being ignored like a lordling demanding attention. The bird stomps its small feet with little clicking sounds as the talons dance along the top of a wooden post jutting out from the side of a building no more remarkable than any of the others. Though its build and size suggests it may indeed be an inn. A wooden sign hangs precariously from the post by a single chain—the other broken and clinking lightly in the wind—is painted with a once vibrantly green vine dripping in what may be blood or wine. The paint half chipped and cracked by the natural fissures in the wood still bears the name.

The Blood on the Vine Tavern.

“Hey, look at that.” Evrrot casts a hand toward the sign, “The raven led us to beer.”

Satisfied its message has been received, the regal raven quickly flutters off into the mist. If Emet were a faithful man, he’d call it a sign.

“Seems your prayers were answered,” Emet murmurs as the tiefling makes his way to the double doors.

NOTES

Thanks so much for reading Part 1! I'm going to be taking a brief hiatus to catch up on some writing and notes, but I will be back. Part 2 will be available on April 23rd, hope to see you then

#vampire fiction #gothic fantasy #dark fantasy #dnd fiction #fantasy fiction #strahd von zarovich #d&d campaign #barovia #dnd fic #dnd campaign #dungeons and dragons #curse of strahd #dnd vampire #chapter fic #wip fic #unfinished fic #fiction writing #ravenloft #Tales Of No One

6 notes · View notes

leopoldainter · 3 months ago

Text

Crazy Face: the look I am making

Then it's all of a sudden 30 seconds if the Revenge if Nute Gunray?note8sicßAktsis

Viceroy.G:What have I done.rainboTraidee

I was once punished by a pair of strangers who broke into my house and told me to kneel down against the wall and that my nose needed to touch it. Anyways nowadays you got your, it was already like that when I got there[Trump] and are you really talking to me or is this one about me but not me but my fans like to think so[k.Harris]

Touchin Edna Krabopoly rhijnopalastyesyefursxT

https://youtu.be/1GZMF1zEhck?si=wpehiM_uy2niSQ8G

んNorse向alくleグ;フォワEasterードfun出るfフίη;後Southward方untimely反るrather than;又West亦

https://youtu.be/s6b33PTbGxk?si=XqIcHQ6gHI2WWUTZ

Snow Castle and Igloo.

I did that. Then I dropped my booty to my ankles. Down.

AVALANCHE

Now here, on this page I supplied myself, I have墜 impressed with the words shapes that tested out.

Till we goad.uan

So if theres only the one

Snowy days of winter.and GoBismuthHystericalor calendar app update failed. Again it wantsdpassw

TKAMB In Chaparish, assuaged.bk Under yesjeez Dedication I suppose.bk Self-z-conscious yeahen thank you Shonda find a わこー主ゔでりろ.bokfip

Has to point

Everything

Out, ladies.

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Mighty might be in Angel moAim Bbbax主drilt

President it would be helpful to recall that Biden did not resign...he wants to Run against Kamala, and so she has stepped down so he will run HOT against coach. Duh! It wouldn't hurt to keep IN H mind that we knew Hillary conceded making HOT Trump the immediate preいちeminent being in the United States of America. This mattered HOT when Hillary tried to explain telepathically from a park bench that Trump isn't as important as her so she was allowed to say words over electronic waves that were basically fart. She farted! From her mouth, why was that so hard to HOTMESS understand...meanwhile Joe's crying to himself the last week because whichever of Kris Jenner's many potentially pregnant and currently actually pregnant hasn't gotten to time hem offer resolute speaking...oh the life LOOFAjenaniston. So...still he thinks because he sent 'quietly ' jYnX I tricked RO booth hero! So... yeah he thinks you peopleTM dont know this isn't between him and I but rather I am smudging my love for birthday cake manHO wall.. romaCappoia V for vaginal penetration. Did it. Hot Messajenanisstin ohm isle nuissance!HOT uncensored Melt. Tuna mostly...with capers and garlic.4ITьιίNationalityWreakon Goal Post,clawed foot

Like for baths and the like but also like monsters

All mar

BAL そ

ロPressure

サーち,リーい,

ナファイichセーラー11Xi9

Moorehouse剣; goliaやあいォゲHotMessHostin

Pasta? Patty?

Schlong!Nokia me wop!

youtube

In the interest of preserving pair Mental authority we forget for this household the using of the word down for written prodikellar.rikkrts

Debra's always like, as if he knows how to behave.

Voilá, worried that meant something my "guests" 'bought me' I'm not sure they worked or earned money so it meant all the more: MISTY'S TENTACRUEL Deck! ERIKA'S VILEPLUME Deck! I wanted battle for Naboo for N64 because the time I installed it on the PC Vinny Jones realized we have a PC and the computers running windows 98. Give it abit heat the he tough touch!Bloodhound Gangam Style. Why not tell him about hiw we woke him up to see the Northern Lights but I was too tired to remember WWF N64, taken from my Audior Carriage. Sent it in. Now they see, look there's pregnant then there's obese.

Oooo, obsessive, shapely, wearing a leai - Target... fights other wo.en Ma ga

Thank the bleeding heart wit Portuguese who signed onto the Schengen Zone. All airports will have an EU Passport yabba holders only lane. Ma ga! Ye ha! Dew ga

This is hoe ii Swisst

Well not that part that part is up your knees touch....the carpet...

DGiovani saw one of these once. She and the actress who played Princess in SPACEBALLS shared aun.Shanon to visit. She saw them try ask me to kneel down by the fire place on my eighth birthday. To this day anyone looking at that fire poitscomplety un fazed by the Brick Wall with chimney outcropping.

Someone guided by fire place with pure gold. No one notices, the things either too hot to touch, or its dusty.pinky

But in her case, a email is a really big deal. It started coming to her as Puzo handled the door handlevwhile ivworked the frame. I was the receptor of this "email" that I foretold to mom. It of course evoked itself in the form of two separate books for starters.

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One was of Tyler, Adam and Scruffy visiting Santa at the North Pole. The other was of Tyler, and his stuffed dipper Diploid throwing a forest tea party where no animated character appeared shot in the stead of camera Angel's. Thats why people stopped "dying" and there was like a huge population thing over the last century.

Empire State Fire and squirelots

See, Pearl Harbor was so the Russians, of the time, they were the Barbarians or mongoloidion.

Smile!

Take a seat.

Red SAYS that she wants to look fierce...

Hi, I heard this song on the radio and felt you should know I'm fine. I am doing fine. A pet fire pit. Moby does remixes to my favorite hits. How about you? Ford, president walkie sloppy Shrek 2

Then she added me to her mailing list.

Hey my Yankee Doodle buddy boy. How are you. I just bought the album by The Fray. Do you watch Grey's Anatomy? My house is on the news for being on fire so I'll have to get back to you.

Love,

Yoleii

I am Faiza! Otherwise the 'best piece' a of evidence of my sanity is the message$ that contains a therapist falsely!moral! sessions stating that it was not colluse being recorded recorded as it were he, a idiot, say doing what he is told at many times throughout the well I'm just sorta excited I'm going to Leave The Office to meet my one time patient early, outside, where he might be, if he was waiting by heir there ok let's do you want to start Welfare early we are all waiting inside. Here, this place ODSP OW. Grants and for informateshuciticals and job postings to ow glasses plus and diabetic sup'ort'piv

-betcha it's a cat. They're notoriously recognized to not explode under these 'psych2t8tions,'

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Comin at ya like an electron microscope waiting ting ting oh yea. *FART* You're self on me too rough Lass? What who said that. HENbledシcklre

You are doing important Leveling Action. Ever get stranded on a river with only a friend and about a canoe. Imagine that only your paddle's unwanted and there's isn't and its just to late to do anything a bod ite🤯🥸

咄チャット

Foolish Talk: this is a convertsation;tsa missing in basic English productions. Hello M.Jenner and Meg the one we one two three and fay egg must be ikea monkey fans on the line out again

I'm horny to ideas like flat plates ok. It's my unsanded inner skull, trust me if I got around tog san den mine own skullunit we'd all Wonderbra Wednesday is todd. Or rabbit gf. We'll thats just creepy. No, I said as many

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fritocasseroles I don't care how long she's been out of the hospital dammit. I have a plant to pot all of a sudden Dammit!

forward >EAST フォワード;出る!でる

Phallic combines standard Motion to destined Appraisals. Fortunate Resolver. An Easter Story familiar as they all are. Egg trails rabbit something.

toward ^NORTH に対して;向く!むく

AnguishtTogether!

backward vSOUTH 後方;反る!そる

Suffocate gas is a fluid.

otherwise <WEST そうでなければ;又;亦!またまる

Wack! We have ducks at out Easter. Yeah!

まるMarrow Opening

We had to invent TikTok thats how best these momentous time ounces are in fact.l!nut

Buffy clip @ Sailor Mercury quote: keep scrolling

The Game Switch: stage1

CRASH

help me I'm soapy and whatever...a promise is a promise, less its kept sewn

We are going to the chaptoile and we're gonna try something scary

譚/;美少女戦士/セーラームーン

主 Bane of Marilyn[START]

十/どのもーどであそびますか？

into parts: Olden(left)based in stonework High[right] justified against.

天おとこのこ

Heavenly Boy;Righteously gendered

万おんなのこ

Ten thousand girls;Go Around

#a lost clip. A sad boy, a Dave jobs The patchy Squirell.

Guy Mondoux, scuds certified, has a space for a dishwasher, for no reason. Call him at (613) 443-0174 any time he's home at 163 Otter St. Cambridge Forest Estates.

youtube

助けてhelp, rescue, assist助け手*AIDイhand

ジョ, たす.ける, たす.かる, すけ//シュ, て, た

R戦chatMark;Act moment north eastward and Act moment North]e,n,gN

以r:IS Here; entrance to activation 向く

単譚ア向く:Final game surface act

美譚以くく亦入向く first jewel[Config file]

LeftHomeTriggerChat::Jewelry shoppeくく亦

くく亦BigMac palace

Locker Room Raid courtesy of Sam Simmonds

いらっしゃいうさぎちゃん

おこづかいでかっていってね

. Ю

Welcome, Usagi!

.. юギ

Going to buy

something with

.. юヤ

your allowance,

eh?

.. юヴ

うさぎたやんへんよまちに

てきのエナジーをかんじるわ

. Ю

Usagi

it's strange.

.. юヌテ

I feel the

energy of an

.. ю

enemy in this

town.

.. юサ

どうしたのうさぎちゃん

おきにいりはみつかって？

. Ю

She's wondering if your interested in getting heat stroke, or mascara.

What's wrong,

Usagi?

.. юカ

Find anything

that you like?

.. юge?ゲヲ

GAME SWITCH:Ra visit Intersex;Luna return.

いらっしゃいうさぎちゃん

おこづかいでかっていってね

Come on, Usagi-chan, take care of your pocket money.

Take your pocket money and tell me

Welcome, Usagi-chan

Welcome

Rabbit

Take care of your pocket

Let's say that

うさぎたやんへんよまちに

てきのエナジーをかんじるわ

It's not strange, I feel the energy of the town

It's not strange in town

It's a rabbit

It's not strange

,It's not strange here.

In town

,How about this place in town?

I feel the energy

,What energy I feel

どうしたのうさぎちゃん

おきにいりはみつかって？

What's wrong, Usagi-chan, did you find your favorite?

What's wrong, Usagi-chan

Did you find your favorite?

what happened

Rabbit

Okiniiriha

Did you find it?

なにかへんよ

Something is wrong

みんな

げんきがなくなってるわ！

Everyone's in good health!

Everyone

I'm out of health!

EveryoneHow's everyone here?

I'm fine

It's gone!

なにをいっているんだい

What are you talking about?

おなた

なるちゃんのママじゃないわ！

You're not Naru-chan's mom!

you

I'm not Naru-chan's mom!

youHow about you here?

I'm not Naru-chan's mom!

なんだおまえは！

What are you!

What is itWhat is this place?

You are

うさぎちゃん

サーラームーンにへんしんよ！

Rabbit-chan, I'm sorry for Sala Moon!

Rabbit

I'm sorry for Sala Moon!

Rabbit

To Sala Moon

It's strange!

ムーンプリズムパワー

Moon Prism Power

MoonIt's a moon here.

Prism power

メイクアップ

Makeup

おいとせいぎのせんし！

セーラームーンきんじょう！

Ooi and Seigi no Senshi! Sailor Moon Kinjou!

Ooi and Seigi no Senshi!

Sailor Moon Kinjou!

OistoHow about this place?

The work

That's right!What do you think of this place?

sailor moon

Kinjou!

セーラームーンだと！？

めざめよようまども！！

It's Sailor Moon! ? Awaken Yomadomo! !

It's Sailor Moon! ?

Awaken Yomadomo! !

It's Sailor Moon! ?

Awake

Yomadomo! !

youtube

Erika's Gym: My makup

youtube

Without cut

LASS

Chirp taint

You're too

BEAUTY

JR.TRAINER"F.

BULBASUAR LINE

BULBASAUR:美以女戦仕

Crash Deck: interAction

Stage1

LASS

なるゃんのママがやつている

ほうせきなバーゲンへいったの

/てっ

とってもやすかったから

ひとつかっちゃったわ

/;;

Naru-chan's mom is the one, so it was very easy to go to the hoseki bargain, so I got one.

Molly

うさぎちゃんきてくれたのね

なかにはいってみていって

/のて

Usagi-chan, you've come, so go inside and take a look

Luna

うさぎちゃんへんよまちに

てきのエナジーをかんじるわ

/ちわ

Rabbit-chan, it's strange, I feel the energy of the town

Stage2

Molly

うさきちゃんきょうも

いっしょにおひるたべようね

/;う

Let's have lunch together today, Usaki-chan

Melvin

うさきさんテストどうでした

おもしろいてんすうてすーね

/しね

おっおひるだおべんとうよ

/う;

Usaki-san, how was the test?

It's interesting, isn't it?

Oh, it's lunch

Olivia[lye:oliveOilhui]噺via

Mercury

うさぎちゃんこんどえいご

おしえてあげるね

/い

Rabbit-chan, I'll tell you your English next time

兎;兔;菟/卯年;うさぎどし

youtube

<噺via はなしに対して向く 10ばんちゅうがく> [008000x5]

Reveals familiarity codex.

ゃんの

ヤングyoung

ヤンキーYankee (northerner;Charlatan educated)

LASSなるゃんの

For LASS: ヤンマ(n) lamenting (German Jammer); マ(exp) (abbreviation) (slang) for real;LASS & Usagi(User:cursed) use ママcarrying technique.

生る卯Seed年兎Real;兔radii;菟Plant

€{Last Imitation of E2:おしおきよ！占いハウスは妖魔の館Punishment Awaits: The House of Fortune is the Monster Mansion

Hostess

ほうそうちゅうは

ぶがいしゅたちいりきんしよ！

/;し

しごとのじゃまを

しないでちょうだい

/;;

Hosochu is a good time!

Melvin

うさぎさんみましたか？

ほうそうしつにボディコンの

/;ン

おんなのひとがいましたよ

/よ;

Have you seen the rabbit? Well, there was a bodycon girl.

Luna

どうしたのルナ？

かっこうのなかまではいってきて

/;っ

うさぎちゃんがっこうのなかから

へんなしゅうはすうのおんがくがおさ

/なん

ながされているようなの

しらべてみてつ！

/;;

What's wrong, Luna? It's like you've got inside the puff and it looks like the rabbit is being hung from the middle of the school, check it out!

Stage3

Option

いらっしゃいませ

とうスポーツジムへようこそ

/;こ

さいしんのせつびと

せんもんのインストラクターが

/;タ

あなたのいらないぜいにくを

すっきりおとしてみさますよ

/くす

たいけんコースがあるって

きいてきたんですけど

/て;

どうぞごじゆうに

あせをおながしください

/;;

うさぎちゃん

きがえにいってくるねっ！

/;;

あっ！なるちゃんまってよ

/よ;

うさぎちゃんおそいおそい！

はやくきがえにいこうよ！

/い！

All it'd

Welcome to the gym, welcome to the sports gym, and the instructor of the senmon senmon. I've heard it, but please, please give me a heat rash. Ah! Naru-chan, wait, Usagi-chan, it's slow! Hurry up and go to change!

Mars

うさぎきをつけて

このスポーツジムには

/;;

ただならぬようきをかんじるわ

ちゅういしたほうがいいわよ

/じよ

Rabbits, I feel like I'm not in the middle of this sports gym.

LASS

Who me? I'm just guarding the change rooms

She's wondering if your there to get heat stroke, or mascara

Erika's Gym: Jr.Trainer Female

わからないことがあったら

なんでもごしどうしますよ

/;よ

If there's something you don't understand, what will you do with it?

ここからはたちいりきんしです

はいらないでくださいね

/し;

From here on out, it's a little bit, so please don't need it.

Luna

うさぎちゃん！

/;;

ルナ！どうたの？

/;;

こっそりついてきてたの

このゼルなにかひみつがあるわ！

/;る

そのドアあけて

なかをのぞいてみましょう

/;う

Rabbit! Luna! How was it? I've been secretly following this Zell, there's something secret! Let's open the door and take a peek inside

Naru-chan's mom is the one who's done with a hoseki bargain, so it was very easy, so I got one, the rabbit came.

SPLICE

I feel the energy of a lot, Usaki-chan, let's have lunch together today,

Mr. Usaki, how was the test?

FAMILIARITY

Rabbit-chan, I'll tell you about this next time. Please don't get in the way of your work, Usagi-san, have you seen it? Well, there was a bodycon girl, what's wrong, Luna? I've come in to the middle of the day, and I'll try to find out if the rabbit is hanging out from the inside of the rabbit! Welcome to the gym, welcome to the sports gym, and the instructor of the senmon senmon, you don't need you. I've come to ask, but please, please give me a heat rash. Ah! Naru-chan, wait, Usagi-chan, it's slow! Hurry up and go to change! Rabbits, you'll feel like you're not at all in this gym. It's getting worse... If there's something you don't understand, I'll do whatever it takes. Luna! How was it? I've been secretly following this Zell, there's something secret! Let's open the door and take a peek inside

Stage1 Lass Naru-chan's mom is the one who's gone to the hose bargain, it was so easy, so I got one. Let's take a look at it / LUNA Usagi-chan, it's not strange. /; Melvin Usaki How was the test? I'll tell you / I'll be hostess. /; Don't get in the way of your work /;; Melvin Rabbit-san, have you seen it? There was a body-consult /; girl / yo; Luna, what's up, Luna? I've come into the middle of the day /; Usagi-chan, I'm going to have a good time, so I'll try to find out what's going on! /;; Stage3 Option Welcome to the gym. I've heard that there's a course for me to take a break / te; Please give me a heat rash /;; Rabbit-chan is going to change! /;; Ah! Naru-chan, wait a minute! Hurry up and go to change! / Yes! All It'd Mars Rabbit, I'll feel like I'm in this gym /;; SS From here, it's a little bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit /;; Luna! How was it? /;; I've been secretly following this Zel. /;

#Youtube

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toomanytookas · 6 months ago

Text

This was in. credible. So delicious.

I'm always so blown away by the specificity of the details you include in your writing and the atmosphere you build with them.

Like, I LOVE this:

The nightstand wobbles when your hand smacks into it, but Joel made it, so of course it’s solid.

A. It's not explicitly sexual but the suggestion it gives is SO HOT. And B. That "Joel made it, so of course it's solid” feels like it’s such an important thread throughout this piece because of how you weave in elements of him being so observant, so attentive, so focused on her experience.

The combination of these two parts of their first go at it genuinely made me a bit misty with how much I would feel cared for if I were the reader?

✨At your pained expressions, any hint of teasing vanishes from his face. Gently, he takes his fingers out and squeezes your thigh. “We’re not doing this if it hurts.”

✨ Tilting his head to hear you better, he grinds his hips into yours. He gives you a few languid strokes, as if the familiar feeling of being stuffed full of his cock could erase the sting of a failed attempt.

The way he is *listening*, that act of him adjusting his body to be able to do it even better, and the way he continues to be both soothing and pleasuring with his actions in these moments… I feel like those details really show his desire to give the reader this new experience but also how he is the kind of partner who will hear what both her body and her words are saying and also will, for lack of a sexier word coming to my brain, troubleshoot to get them both there in a way that is safe and full of both comfort AND heat… there really is a solidness to that, a quality of his devotion in this moment that I am just obsessed with. He’s still got a mouth to him (some of those lines omg), but I really love that it’s clear that there’s such an undercurrent of care.

I feel like I tell you every time I comment (sorry, I hope you don’t mind) how much I adore the details you include that celebrate fat bodies and just casually highlight some of the things that we think about or notice during sex. It always makes me feel very seen and reframes a lot of what I am not very confident about in myself.

These two lines really grabbed my attention:

Gravity has moved your belly aside for him, so it's easy for his hand to snake around your hip and between your legs.

his moustache prickling the skin as he follows the lines of stretch marks that cap your shoulders like epaulets.

The first just because it’s a detail that is just so wonderfully casual in its explanation of the reality. The second because it makes those details feel so celebrated and appreciated.

This is getting so, so long, so I’m going to shut up in a second, but I do want to give a shout out to the end section when they finally have figured out a position and rhythm that works for her… it was so scorchingly hot. That closeness of his body, the way she’s able to move but is constantly building her pleasure even higher when she does because he’s just everywhere inside her and around her… so intense and so good.

Little Girl with a Big Mouth

Joel Miller x Fat F!Reader

Rating: M

Word Count: 1.2k

Contents: PWP. DVP. Dirty talk. Mentions of anal sex/fingering/DAP.

Summary: “More?” He asks your shoulder.

“More.” You agree.

A/N: This was written for @iamasaddie kinky may challenge. My prompt was Joel Miller + DVP.

Thank you @frannyzooey for beta reading and all your amazing suggestions.

Any mistakes are mine.

“Ah, slow, slow,” you pant out as Joel fucks you on your back. Your legs clamp around his torso in an attempt to slow his thrusts, while your hands search all around the bed for something to hold on to. Any parts of your body you can reach are slick with sweat and spit and your head is pressed down too far into the pillow for it to be any help. The nightstand wobbles when your hand smacks into it, but Joel made it, so of course it’s solid. You hold onto the edge for dear life. “Christ, go slow, Joel.”

“If I go any slower, I won’t be moving,” he says, but obeys and slows the roll of his hips until just the head of his cock and the tips of his middle fingers remain. They’re resting there behind the head, not even past the first knuckle, but it feels like so much more.

“What’s a matter; you don’t like my fingers anymore?” Joel teases. When you don’t respond, he tries again. “What happened to all your big talk, huh, baby? Were your eyes bigger than your pussy?”

The fingers twitch, pushing in a little bit more and your hips hitch up to try and compensate for the movement. The stretch increases and you can only gasp, squeezing your eyes shut, your body tensing up in an attempt to reach some kind of equilibrium.

At your pained expressions, any hint of teasing vanishes from his face. Gently, he takes his fingers out and squeezes your thigh. “We’re not doing this if it hurts.”

You crack your eyes open to look at him. “I appreciate your caution, I really do, but I’ve been looking forward to this all day-”

Listening, Joel nods along as he leans down to kiss your face, following the curve of your cheek to your jaw. Tilting his head to hear you better, he grinds his hips into yours. He gives you a few languid strokes, as if the familiar feeling of being stuffed full of his cock could erase the sting of a failed attempt.

He nuzzles your temple and pulls away, only patting your wide hip when you whine as his cock slips out of you. “Shift onto your side for me,” he soothes. “My knees are already complainin’.”

As soon as you turn over, Joel is curling his big frame around yours, his cock hot and heavy between you. He grabs a handful of you, smoothing over your hot sweaty skin until his big calloused hand settles on your breast with a knead, paying attention to the stiff nipple there.

“You’re gonna come on my fingers, then we’ll try again,” he says, reaching for the bottle of lube after you make a sound of agreement.

Gravity has moved your belly aside for him, so it's easy for his hand to snake around your hip and between your legs. He massages the lube around your swollen vulva until he’s satisfied with the glide of his fingers. Then he reaches a little further and pushes his middle fingers, palm up this time, into your pussy.

Between your slick and the lube the sound is obscene, but you associate it with pleasure and Joel. Your body melts into his touch, catching and following the rhythm of his fingers as he strokes, strokes, strokes.

He coaxes your orgasm out with soft touches and words and kisses until you’re clenching down on his fingers.

“More?” He asks your shoulder.

“More.” You agree.

“I’ve been thinking about this all day too,” Joel says as he guides your hip forward so your pussy is exposed to him. “Tryin’ to figure out the best way to do it.”

His forearm is all but pinned under your thigh now with his middle fingers still inside of you, but his hand is still moving, his pointer and pinky fingers keeping your labia spread as he notches his cock head against your opening. It’s like he's holding your pussy open for his cock and the thought sends a shiver through you.

“On your back didn’t work, but we can try it again later, if you want.”

Slowly, so slowly, you don’t even know how he has such control, he presses forward. The pressure builds, the pinch is there, but not enough for you to name it; it seems easier this time with this angle.

“Thought about you on your knees, ass up high, just how I like,” he pants in your ear. “That way I’d be able to play with your asshole too, baby. Would you like that?”

It takes a moment for your attention to surface from below your waist. His words take their time painting the picture of his thick thumb pressing into your ass at the same time your pussy takes his other fingers and cock. Or would he try to fit both fingers and cock in your ass? The idea of the stretch you’re slowly getting used to at that tighter ring of muscles makes your entire body clench. It forces a moan from your lungs and Joel makes a noise behind you like he’s remembered something.

“That’s right: we’re forgetting that pretty mouth.”

He frees his other hand from under your body and reaches up to help turn your head towards him. His stubble rubs a little too hard as he kisses you, pushing his tongue past your lips at the same time he presses his hips into you again.

These kisses are sloppy and you can tell your neck definitely won’t support this for long, but right now it’s perfect. He’s plucked the dirty daydreams that had you squirming in your seat at work today and made them real. You’re squirming again by the time he pulls away.

“Fuck. You feel so good, so hot; feeling you squeezin’ my fingers and cock at the same time. I knew you could do it. Tell me how you’re doing, baby. I gotta know.”

“I’m– it’s– . So much. Please move. So good.”

Your words break down into panted breaths, but he answers each one with a kiss, his moustache prickling the skin as he follows the lines of stretch marks that cap your shoulders like epaulets.

“Think you can come like this?”

You can feel the potential coiling in your belly as he holds you there with his giant hand, the heel of it rubbing on your clit while his cock nudges his fingers against your g-spot. You shift your hips around until you find the right angle that jolts pleasure through you as he grinds into your plush thighs.

“Yea, just like that,” you let your hand wander up and play with your breast, enjoying the way he cranes his head around to get a better view. “What about you?”

“I could come just thinking about this greedy little pussy taking everything I give her,” his rumble vibrates through you both. “So don’t you worry about me.”

Satisfied with the situation, Joel draws his hips back and pushes forward, keeping his fingers hooked in your pussy.

He can’t properly thrust in this position, so you rock your hips together and whether you’re rocking forward into his hand or back onto his cock, it doesn’t matter.

The hot breath on your neck. The smell of his sweat thick in your nose. The sharp scrape of teeth on your skin. The press of his cock that forces his fingers further inside of you and makes you shake and gasp.

All that matters is the beat of his heart at your back as he gives you more, more, more.

#tlou #oneshot #read #author: missredherring

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wenellyb · 3 years ago

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Hey what do you think about sam and Bucky's potential love interests in cap 4? Like this thought has been on my mind lately and I came up with some answers. For sam i'd say 1)Bucky(of course he would be my first choice) 2)Sharon (I know that many people would disagree on this but frankly I think this is the best one we've got. I know that she is kinda a villain right now but sam can help her redeem herself like clint to nat. And sam and sharon are already friends and it's not like they're gonna introduce a new character and make her/him a love interest in the same movie.) For Bucky it'd be 1)Sam (ofc they are like made for each other) and 2) Sarah . Cause no one can deal with his dumb white ass except the Wilson siblings. And i know that my first choices are probably never gonna come true all with Disney's homophobic shit but i am still gonna keep my fingers crossed.🤞 PS : I am really sorry my rambling...

Hi Anon!!!

Never apologize for rambling lol. Great question, thanks for the ask. Here are my thoughts about love interests for both Sam and Bucky. I have to admit I was more inspired by Sam lol.

For Sam:

1) Bucky: I agree that Bucky would be a great choice as a love interest for Sam, the storyline is already great and they would be epic together. Unfortunately mark my words when I say that the fandom would be awful about it, with people creeping from other MCU fandoms I will not name to celebrate all the canon bi-Bucky headcanons they have and brush Sam to the side completely even though having a gay or bi Captain America would be the greatest news ever.

So in a perfect world Bucky, like you just said, but the fandom is far from perfect, so in practice, anybody but Bucky maybe...?

2) Misty. I know there is more a chance of us having Sam with an original female character that Misty, but I would give all my gold to have Sam x Misty relationship. I don't know how it would work out with the contracts and licensing and everything, but if there's a relationship I want to see in the MCU it's that one. Ever since I heard about Sam's character being involved with Misty in the comics I have been obsessed with the relationship and if it would happen in the MCU, wow. The potential, the storyline, the Power Couple, the everything.

3) Torres: Joaquin Torres and Sam Wilson spend half of the time they're together flirting. And I mean flirting. Not talking, not discussing. Flirting.

Their couple is just THERE... it's there, just add a heart emoji to each other contact's on the other's phone, write boyfriend and you already have a couple.

4) Sharon: I completely agree with you about the potential for Sam x Sharon and I would be here for their relationship. As you said, they're already friends and have a close relationship. I wish we had seen more flirting between Sharon and Sam, in the show. I mean we did see Sharon flirting, checking him out and complementing Sam but Sam wasn't exactly receptive. I really feel like a relationship between Sam and Sharon would work out great, even more with the reveal that Sharon is the Power Broker. I feel like I'm the only one who likes Sharon as the Power Broker, but the potential for drama and interesting storylines is much better like this. And Captain America, falling in love with a villain who then changes their ways because they fell in love back and can't stay a villain, because of ..love. Sign me Up.

For Bucky:

I've already thought about it and it's a little bit complicated regarding Bucky, because expect Sam, Sarah and Leah, he doesn't really interact with a lot of characters (in a flirtatious way I mean), so the shipping potential is harder to see.

1. Sam. Of course

2.Sarah: I could really see a Sarah x Bucky storyline, besides the writer said that they already had that storyline planned out so it would work out great. They have already had plently of flirting and bonding moments so the ground work has already been set for a storyline in the future movies.

#sam wilson #bucky barnes #misty knight #joaquin torres #sarah wilson #sharon carter #sambucky asks #samquin asks #sam x misty #anon asks

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kasjophe · 4 years ago

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drarry raising teddy, possible TW

when Draco is having bad days

I have more thoughts on him than Harry, so this will be long and more detailed than post about Potter (I basically wrote there what Malfoy does for him, so general idea is to write what Harry does for Draco)

Harry knows Draco is paranoid and obsessive in general.

first Harry noticed that every night at random hours there are footsteps around the house, to the kitchen or Teddy's room or bathroom (it gave him a scare sometimes but he figured even a thief couldn't stomp as discreetly as Malfoy does) he could hear the stove or faucets going on and off. Murmurs of the boy as Harry felt the protecting charms around the house being layered up again.

Malfoy spend nights over Teddy's crib and one midnight Harry joined him thinking the baby woke up "What are you doing? He's sleeping." "I know." "..Do you want me to watch over him? Is he okay?" "Yeah.. I'm just making sure he's breathing." After that there was a moment of silence. "I do that too sometimes. But it's almost 1 am, Malfoy. And I know it's not my business but-" "You're right. It's not. Just go back to sleep, sorry if I woke you up."

He slowly started being on better terms with Draco and instead of taking turns taking care of the baby, they hang out together, because Teddy started growing and healthy communication around the house was a key to raise him well. So Harry noticed more things.

that Draco would stop playing with Teddy, run to the door and check the locks

after Potter saw blood sinking through Malfoy’s clothes on his left arm he payed more attention to that and realised Draco would never carry Teddy on his left side.. where the Dark Mark is supposed to be

with time Harry learned to actually observe even more

how Draco would wear Christmas sweaters from Molly almost every morning and on movie nights and then out of nowhere there’s no sight of them and he either dresses too formally around the house or wears the same thing for days

how Draco avoids eye contact, becomes stiff and his voice is tense when he’s asked questions

the way confident, snarky yet caring Malfoy would become cold and insecure in a split of seconds (Harry would say those aren’t right words to describe it, but he can’t quite name it either)

Harry sees the way Draco insists to play with Teddy out of nowhere (to the point that even the boy wants him to go away) and glares when you get close to little Lupin (sometimes he literally picks him up before you can touch him and walks away pretending he has something to do)

if you read the when Harry is having bad days you know Draco has his ways to make Potter feel better without making it obvious

so Harry decided to also do something and try to make Draco feel more comfortable and safe

but it seemed like it only made things worse

“Theres’s a letter for you from ‘Mione” “You asked her to do it, didn’t you?”

“Molly is asking what do you want for Sunday dinner?” “Nothing. She’s being polite and doesn’t actually want me there. Only you and Teddy should go.”

“Oh look, your narcissus flowers are bloooming, they look-” “Awful. They are awful. I have to get rid of them.”

“Alright Malfoy, how about chaser one on one round?” “So you would let me win again? No, thanks.”

Harry also learned that Draco is hurting himself. But it's not something he will discuss here.

Harry Potter became desperate to make Draco Malfoy feel better.

Harry learned there are Draco's things, and disturbing them makes him deeply anxious even if he acts as if it's nothing.

Potter doesn't interfere Draco when he's nursing Teddy in the morning - it's their time.

He stopped offering help in the garden and only watches from afar as Malfoy muscles relax when he's watering his precious flowers.

If Draco starts overeating Harry becomes very careful of what he cooks and not to touch something Draco might eat later as comfort food.

Teddy is always a good way to make his caretakers feel better - but he's very significant when it comes to Malfoy.

If Draco stops eating Harry gives Teddy an idea to 'make' breakfast or dinner for all of them and that results in little boy excitedly searching for Malfoy "I made this for you! OH AND THIS TOO DRAY' YOU HAVE TO EAT IT ALL" and Draco's tired eyes lighten and he obediently eats every last piece.

Harry realised Teddy's method works well on Draco in many aspects. But if Malfoy notices - it's over and he gets worse so Potter has to be sneaky about it.

He plays Draco's favourite music and that means Teddy has to dance with Malfoy "because it's their song and Dray knows all the moves"

"Malfoy, how about Quidditch round?" "Potter-" "Come on, Teddy is being raised by two brilliant chasers. We have different techniques, he could learn so much from both of us!" "You use this argument every time." "And look at Teddy! He'll be the greatest." "What if he doesn't want to play Quidditch" Harry bites his tongue from saying something without thinking. "You and Ron will teach him how to play chess then." "Teddy!"

One night when Harry heard creek of the bed and footsteps again he made up his mind. He grabbed his wand and whispered a spell. In other room Draco froze as he saw misty, dazzling stag. Potter listened carefully the whole time but after few minutes of nervous walking there was no more sound that night.

Next night, creek of wood under body weight. Harry's swish of wand. Steady quietness for few minutes. Footsteps again. One trip to the kitchen but then again, peace the whole night.

So it became a routine. For Harry to cast a patronus before sleep. For Draco to fall asleep next to silver stag and stop the urge to get up and check if the stove is turned off, if there's no water leaking, if protecting charms are on and if the little boy sleeping is safe and sound. For Malfoy to close his eyes and not overthink.

They never talk about this.

Harry knows Draco has to notice himself he's being appreciated and not to tell him. So Harry makes sure Molly asks Draco herself to join her in the kitchen (he's the only one she allows in). When Hermione sends an owl on Tuesdays Harry doesn't pick up the mail, so Draco can do it himself.

And whenever Harry notices Christmas sweaters dissapear from the sight he stops wearing his. (he thought about finding them and simply forcing git to wear it but he knows that won't work) Of course Malfoy doesn't ask why Harry stops, his pride won't allow him.

But when Draco opens the closet and sees sweaters with embroidered "H", "D", "T" laying next to each other (Harry can in fact be sneaky) he freezes. After few seconds he picks them up, orders a movie night and they all watch some muggle comedy wearing those cozy sweaters as Teddy falls asleep snuggled between his uncles.

Harry pretending to be mad when Teddy turns his hair white to make sure Draco notices.

Harry making sure it's chilly in the house when Draco stubbornly wears long sleeves when it's bloody hot.

Harry making sure no-one stares at Draco's arm when he's wearing short sleeves.

Harry asking Malfoy the most basics questions like "What's your favourite colour? How do you like your tea? Sea or Mountains?" so Draco can learn to feel more comfortable in conversations. And Malfoy is so grateful he doesn't push Harry away.

Harry Potter knows Draco Malfoy doesn't really have "bad days". Each day is a fight for him. But Harry learns how to help him get through them.

And when the bad days indeed come, he also learns Draco Malfoy doesn't mind a shoulder to cry on. Or arms to be hugged with.

Or a body instead of enchanted mist to fall asleep next to.

I've been making this for almost a week because I wanted to make sure I include everything the way I wanted. Not sure if I achieved it but here we are. I hope you enjoyed.

#draco malfoy #harry potter #drarry #teddy lupin #fanfic #fanfiction #headcanons #headcanon #expecto patronum #angst #fluff

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cesabutterflywrites · 3 years ago

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Prince in the Storm: Chapter Sixteen

Summary: Contrary to popular belief, Virgil was sensitive. Most people saw him as some “spooky, broody dude”, when in reality he was just a private person. Teachers tried to open his mind up with a figurative crowbar. Everyone tried to get him to open up. Well, everyone except his best friend Talyn. They were the only one who understood his personality and inner workings just enough to be his friend. However, they haven’t seen his Marking. No one other than his parents have. Contrary to popular belief, Roman was sensitive. Most people saw him as a fanciful, dreamy, somewhat egotistical thespian who wanted nothing but to be the best of the best. Everyone cheered him on in his performances. Everyone praised his original works. Anything he made others enjoyed. People would whisper about his Marking, wondering where it was and when he would reveal it. He had a whole circle of friends, yet no one except his best friend Joan understood him. Joan was the only one who saw Roman’s insecurities. As students of Kingston High School, with zany principals and try-hard superintendents, it is up to Virgil and Roman to stay alive enough to fulfill their destiny. Ao3

Word Count: 6129

Chapter Warnings: none

Prologue, Chapter One, Chapter Two, Chapter Three, Chapter Four, Chapter Five, Chapter Six, Chapter Seven, Chapter Eight, Chapter Nine, Chapter Ten, Chapter Eleven, Chapter Twelve, Chapter Thirteen, Chapter Fourteen, Chapter Fifteen, Chapter Sixteen

Bonuses: Immune to Change

Roman woke up with his head at the foot of his bed, hugging his pillow, and his notebook open on the floor. He didn't remember falling asleep. He didn't remember dreaming. He definitely didn’t remember why he had drool stuck to his cheek. He rolled over to shut off his alarm on his nightstand. That's when it dawned on him.

He didn't remember dreaming.

He shot upwards. His heart was pounding. Was this a sign? Were he and Virgil on the right path? He hadn't believed that mumbo jumbo about Soulmate Magic and dreams when Joan told him in the beginning of the school year. When Roman talked about his weird nightmare that Virgil had started to play a small role in. Was that only 6 weeks ago?

But why would they stop when he finally felt comfortable around Virgil? What did it all mean? He really needed to ask Joan for those articles again. Maybe they weren’t mystical mumbo jumbo after all. He should have been paying more attention to them when he was obsessing over the nightmares in the beginning of the school year. After all, internet articles weren’t always unreliable sources, right?

Roman sat at his vanity mirror. His reflection had changed from what he’d been seeing for the past two weeks. He looked brighter. It was like the depressive haze since their first kiss was thinning. He could see the light at the end of the tunnel. His eyes looked crinkled from the wide smile on his face as he gazed into his reflection’s eyes.

Humming a tune from Tangled, Roman combed through his hair. Linda didn't seem up to her usual antics. That rebellious strand of hair was actually laying down with the rest of his hairdo.

He looked...good. Not quite like his old self. This confidence was more...genuine. Happiness looked good on him. Is this what other people saw in him when he walked through the halls? A young man who just radiated the energy of sunny attraction? Or was this a new sight in general? Was he seeing himself clearly, or for the first time?

His hair was caught in a beam of early morning sunlight, bringing out the strands of gold and red that only appeared in the purest of lighting. He resisted the urge to blink as he inspected his eyes. Had the golden brown always been so rich? Was the sun just in a good spot in the sky shining through his window, or was he finally seeing himself the way he’s wanted to since he was a child?

Closing his eyes, Roman took in a deep inhale through his nose. He tried to remember that stormy night when Patton spoke with an anxious Virgil. Smell the rose?

He opened his eyes on the exhale. The morning so far tasted sweet to him. A beginning. A fresh start.

With bold proclamation, he recited his affirmations to his reflection. He sang

them to the tune he’d been using since he first came up with them in the eighth grade.

“ I am pretty

I am a star

I am an artist

I am perfect

I am a prince ”

When he had first written those affirmations down, Joan teased him because he used ‘Prince’ instead of ‘King’, like his last name. Roman explained it to them as best as he could. Princes were at the beginning of their journeys. Princes got to perform, they got to explore. He told Joan all those years ago that he’d change it to King when he was older and had enough life experiences under his belt. Or when he was ready to settle down with his true love.

Roman sighed as he remembered that day while getting dressed. He wondered if Joan actually did understand, or if they had just nodded to get him to shut up.

No, that wasn’t true. Joan was the only person who understood him. Even though by now Joan had probably forgotten about the affirmations. They didn't know he still did them five years later. It wasn’t something that really had a place in everyday conversation.

Half an hour later, Roman was pulling up to the student parking lot earlier than usual. That’s what happens when one gets decent sleep , he supposed. There were a few students milling about. The air was getting crisper. The summer humidity had changed to a fall humidity (the difference only noticeable to a long time resident of Parkwill, of course). Roman was glad he had decided to leave his jacket at home. Any rain that came wouldn’t be too bad. It would probably be more misty than anything.

He made his way to his first class on the second floor, English with an old man named Mr. Richardson. He needed to ask for an extension on his essay. He had been ignoring most of his homework in his depression since Virgil kissed him. He wondered how he’d be feeling after their date. Would he be in such a joyous high that he’d continue to ignore his studies? It was a worry for him. His deal with his parents was good grades as a trade for continuing theater. Briefly he considered even telling his mom that he had a date tonight.

Roman paused in the doorway of the classroom as the realization hit him. He was going on a date. A date! He was going to be taking Virgil on a date. That Virgil initiated! Virgil, distant Virgil, handsome Virgil, with a mouth that tasted like the heat of a summer bonfire and lips that felt like plug outlets.

Roman felt tears prick at his vision. Happy ones. Virgil had asked him on a date. Did this mean they were ready to move forward? No more nightmares?

No, he wouldn’t get his hopes up yet. He needed to go slowly. He had always planned from the beginning that his soulmate would be the one to reveal himself, or Roman would after he was done with his travels. When he was ready to settle down. Also, just because Virgil wanted to go on a date, it didn't mean they were ready to jump into the thick of it. Roman needed to be patient.

Patience is a virtue, but I’m not a freaking nun or anything, Roman thought as he walked down the hallway.

Roman walked into the room with a strange feeling of electricity dancing over his arms. He looked at the desk his English teacher usually sat in during the morning. Instead of Mr. Richardson, though, there was his favorite teacher and a man he had only seen twice before, but had never been introduced to.

“Oh, Roman, you’re a bit early, aren’t you?” Mr. D asked. What was that look on his face? He was...smiling. He only did that when he was looking forward to something special.

“Uh, yeah, I got decent sleep.” Roman was eyeing the two men. He couldn’t help but feel off-kilter as the sparks continued shooting up his arms.

“Good, good.” The drama teacher patted Roman’s shoulder absently. “By the way, no rehearsal tonight. We all need a night to relax and regroup, right?”

Roman nodded. He knew that the teacher was implying something, but he didn’t know what it was exactly until he spoke up.

“Wow, Princey, you always look this good?” a gruff voice called from the back of the classroom.

That explained the weird feeling in his arms. “Oh, hi, Virgil!” He ran his hand on the back of his head, which most likely would wake Linda from her slumber. “Sorry I didn’t see you there...in the shadows.”

Virgil rolled his eyes as he walked forward. “Whatever, I’ll see you later.”

Then he did something Roman didn’t expect. Virgil embraced him, not even minding the awkwardness of the backpacks they both wore, and then kissed his cheek.

“See you at lunch, Roman.” Virgil winked at him before he left.

Roman was frozen from the weird pain/not pain feeling in his abdomen. He jumped at the sound of Mr. D chuckling.

“That’s the action I want to see from you when we get back to rehearsals. Pull on that feeling okay?” The theater teacher pat Roman on the shoulder again as he walked out.

Roman stared at the superintendent, who was grinning like he had just won a goldfish- or a freaking puppy-at the fairgrounds. What was that all about? Virgil must be scheming something, and the superintendent looks like he’s expecting something from me.

Roman did what he did best, he played it off cool before he died of stage fright.

“How rude of him not to introduce me to you, I’m Roman. Roman King.” Roman stuck his hand out politely. He hid his relief that the buzzing had stopped vibrating on his skin.

“Yes, of course, my nephew hasn’t always had the best manners.” The man shook Roman’s hand. “But that’s why you like him, isn’t it?”

Roman let out one of his ‘Noble Noises’, a name that Joan gave to the sounds he couldn’t help but let out when he was at a loss for words.

“Wh- I- ha-”

“Relax, Roman.” Thomas chuckled. “Mr. Richardson is going to be out for the week. Due to the lack of-” he clenched his jaw- “stability in this school, Principal Duke hasn’t set up any substitute teachers to be on our call list. I could have had other teachers work on their off periods to cover the class, but I have free time.”

“Isn’t being a substitute a bit below your paygrade?” Roman asked without thinking.

“I was a sub before I was anything else.” Thomas held his arm out to direct Roman to take his seat.

A group of students wandered in as the bell rang. Mr. Sanders smiled warmly at Roman. A bit too nice, as if he knew a big secret.

Jeesh, was Roman getting too paranoid for his own good? Or was he getting his hopes up?

Roman made his way to his desk, excited to see how the Superintendent of the entire district would teach. He knew that Mr. Sanders was taking the fall semester to exclusively monitor how Kingston High was improving, but he didn’t know that he’d be this involved. His reputation for caring about education seemed to hold more truth to it than Roman thought. Hopefully it meant that he'd leave the drama department alone.

The second bell rang. Mr. Sanders walked up in front of the whiteboard to write down his name. Not that he needed to, he did just introduce himself to the entire school just a short time ago.

Roman pulled out his English notebook. He was sure that Mr. Sanders would make them continue their assignments. Mr. Richardson had them working on learning about the various types of essay formats. The unit was difficult, especially since he wanted them to do three different essays in different formats as a way to show how well they understood.

Mr. Sanders’ demeanor had changed now that he was in front of the classroom. Roman recognized that shift. It was the type of body stance that actors took right before getting into character. The tension in his stance to fend off the stage fright.

“Hello class,” Mr. Sanders greeted. He sounded like a car salesman rather than a substitute teacher. “Mr. Richardson will be out for a week. I will be your teacher while he is gone.”

He turned on his heel to the whiteboard. He wrote out a phrase on the whiteboard:

“Soulmate Magic: Myth or Fact?”

Roman felt himself about to choke on his own spit. He hated the Universe sometimes. He had just been wondering about that this morning.

“Who here believes in Soulmate Magic?” Mr. Sanders asked the class while he drew out a chart of some sort on the whiteboard.

Roman felt his arm lift up without his permission. He hurriedly looked around the rest of the classroom. There were a few students also looking around with their hands in the air too. One guy in the back of the class was chuckling to himself.

“Mr. Flannigan, what’s so funny?” Mr. Sanders asked as he turned around.

The boy shrugged, causing his bulky headphones to shift on his leather jacket. “This is English class in high school ,” he emphasized with a sneer. “You can’t expect us to believe that fairytale bullshit.”

Roman and the others had put their arms down by then. If he had been asked this before meeting Virgil, he would have been on the fence. However, since the first day of school there were just too many coincidences and feelings and experiences he had noticed. After all, he did start believing the Dream Theory enough to go with Virgil to his house when they had barely known each other...and also kiss him that next morning.

Mr. Sanders didn’t even acknowledge the cuss word from the bold student. He looked amused. “I take it the rest of you feel this way too?”

The class all seemed to shift uncomfortably. Gabrielle, the girl who sat behind Roman, spoke up first. “It’s not that I think it’s bull, it just feels like something we say to kids.”

“Oh? Then do you know why Markings exist?” The Superintendent looked like he was holding information no one else had. Roman had a heavy feeling in his stomach at that look. His smirk was an older version of Virgil’s.

Gabrielle frowned. “No one does. They’ve been around forever. They’re just...something that’s natural.”

“Would you be willing to argue that point as passionately as Mr. Flannigan in the back?” Mr. Sanders asked.

Gabrielle blushed and looked down at her desk as a few kids snickered. “Well, maybe, I don’t know.”

Mr. Sanders went back to the whiteboard and labeled the columns he had drawn out. On the left he had written “Myth”. On the other side he had written “Fact”. Underneath “Fact” he started writing the names of some of the students who had their hands raised earlier. Roman felt sweat start to form on his forehead as his name was written in the “Fact” section.

As he wrote, Mr. Sanders spoke. “Your teacher was doing a unit on the different types of essays in academia. I’m sure you’re all familiar with the traditional thesis statement. For the first half next week you’ll be spending class time working in groups on finding research online supporting your side of the argument. We’ll spend one day in the school library looking for books as sources too. Then the second half of the week you’ll each write your own essay about why you think Soulmate Magic is or isn’t real.”

Roman sighed. Could he use personal experience as his only source?

Mr. Sanders had finished writing their names on the board. He uncapped a pink marker. He looked behind him at the class and asked. “Who here has met their soulmate yet?”

Roman gulped. He didn’t want to jump the gun. There was still a chance he was being set up for disappointment despite the other ‘signs’. Maybe this project would help him find the truth-or as close as he can get-about what the hell was going on with Virgil without actually talking about it. Obviously he'd need better sources than Buzzfeed's 'Six Signs You've Found Your Soulmate' article he had seen floating around.

Mr. Sanders put a pink asterisk next to the names of the students who had found their soulmates. There were a few on each side of the chart. Roman felt a lump in his throat. There were more people who found their soulmates while young than he had thought. That didn't help with the whole "not getting his hopes up about his career" thing.

They spent the rest of the class being assigned to their study groups. They were sorted into groups of four. Roman was assigned to work with Marissa Falcon, Andrew Harrison, and Mercy Fenton. They had changed their seating to make sure they were all sitting together. They had moved their desks to face each other close to the door.

Marissa was definitely excited about this project. Her tight red curls bounced around her face even when she was still. She was one of the students with a pink asterisk next to her name on the board. The only one in their group, actually. Meaning that she had already found her soulmate.

“So, putting aside the weirdness of the superintendent of the entire school district being here, can we just talk about how cool it is to learn about this?! Much better than what the old man was doing.” Her voice reminded Roman of bubblegum and the color pink. She was excitable, bright, and definitely had the glow of someone who considered herself an expert.

Roman was just glad he wouldn’t have to take the lead on the project. Maybe working with someone his age who had already found their soulmate would help him out with his personal life as well as give him an edge on his essay. The other two in the group barely participated in the rest of the conversation. He got the feeling that Marissa and he were the ones who were going to take the assignment seriously.

It was too soon that the bell rang for his next class. Disappointed, Roman packed his backpack. He waved goodbye to the substitute. Mr. Sanders gave him a smile in return as he pulled aside Gary Flannigan. Probably to talk to him about the cussing earlier in class.

Roman went to his next class. Thinking to himself, I hope this is a sign I’m on the right path with Virgil .

-------

“Jeez, Talyn, don’t tug my hair so hard!” Virgil griped. He was trying not to flinch as Talyn precariously combed the dye through his hair.

“Well, do you want me to be thorough or no?” They responded tersely. They were trying - unsuccessfully - to hide their smile at Virgil’s pain and suffering.

“Remind me to never let you dye my hair in a bad mood, Talyn” Joan snarked as they read a book at Virgil’s desk. The Chrome Borne was the title that Virgil caught.

It was weird, Virgil admitted to himself, to have his maybe-boyfriend’s best friend hanging out with him without Roman being there. Not bad, just weird. It made Virgil a little annoyed that he couldn’t have one on one time with Talyn as much anymore. Still, Joan was fun to have around. They were able to keep Talyn from smacking Virgil upside the head quite a few times.

“Don’t make me flick some of this on your stupid face,” Talyn muttered so only Virgil could hear.

“Why are you being so rough with my precious head? I don’t need a concussion on my first real date, Tal.” Virgil winced as Talyn purposefully tugged on his bangs.

“You can’t get a concussion from hair pulling, smartass.” Talyn responded sweetly. “Besides, maybe next time you’ll give me more time to prepare to do this. I know I’m magic but I’m no miracle worker.”

“Not my fault I’ve been busy!” he whined. “You don’t want me to fail classes do you?”

Talyn huffed as they clipped up the section they had finished. Their movements were more gentle now. “No. You need all the help you can get.”

“What does hair dye have to do with failing classes?” Joan asked. They set down their book and spun in the desk chair to face Virgil.

“Virgie has finally decided to take school seriously. So he’s gotta learn how to do homework for the first time.” Talyn was starting to trail off as they poured their focus where it should have been - making sure Virgil’s hair dye wasn’t fucked up.

He rolled his eyes. “What they mean to say is that Mr. Charles has been helping me after school twice a week to get my homework done. I’m in a stupid deal for the first half of the semester to actually try to be a good student.”

Joan’s eyebrows raised. “Never took you for a hard worker, no offense.”

“None taken, neither did I.” Virgil grinned. “Hey, can I ask you something?”

Joan made a show of rolling their eyes and groaning. “How dare you burden me with trying to find answers to the universe?” They put their wrist against their forehead and leaned over the side of the spinning chair. “It’s so hard being an oracle. Haven’t you heard of google?”

Virgil and Talyn snickered. “I see where Princey gets his theatrics,” he remarked.

Joan immediately shot up, leaning their elbows on their knees and looking at Virgil with mighty curiosity. “Why do you call him Princey? His name is King.”

Virgil shrugged impulsively, causing Talyn to flick him for moving. “I dunno. It slipped out one day and kinda stuck.” There was more to it than that, but there was no way he was going to give that information to Roman’s right hand.

“It’s just kinda funny to me,” Joan’s eyes looked lost in thought, “That you’d choose a nickname for him based off of his affirmations.”

“Roman does affirmations?” Virgil asked, surprised. “Isn’t that for people who don’t like themselves or something?”

Joan frowned at Virgil, and in a reprimanding tone said, “Not necessarily. Sometimes people do it to control how they view themselves. Sometimes it’s to remind them of their goals.” Joan sounded sad when they added softly, “Besides...Roman doesn’t exactly have a very high view of himself. He probably doesn't even know that I remember he made affirmations all those years ago."

Virgil snorted. “The guy’s got an ego the size of the Chrysler Building.”

Talyn paused their work and shared a look with Joan. Joan shifted in the seat, looking down. Their voice a near whisper, “Not really. He’s just a good actor, ya know?”

Oh.

“I get it now,” Virgil looked down as Talyn pushed his head forward. “He did seem really...hollow...after something-”

“I know what happened, Virge, you don’t need to go into it.” Joan didn’t sound like they had fake disinterest. They truly weren’t digging for information and wanted to respect Virgil’s privacy.

Remembering that fuck-up was hard for Virgil. It was still so fresh in his mind. “No, it’s okay, I want you to know my side.”

He didn’t wait for an acknowledgement. He told Joan about Roman meeting him on the bus, their walk home, the panic attack, the family dinner, Roman spending the night, the morning, the kiss, him running away, and the talk with Uncle Thomas.

Joan helped fill in some blanks for him, too. He heard about how Roman had been so distraught when he visited their house right after. Joan mentioned something about a song, which led into the trio getting sidetracked into Joan’s history of creating with Roman. It was nice hearing stories about Theater Camp. Hearing about Roman’s softer side was way better than hearing constant praise from people who barely knew him.

“So, what was your original question?” Talyn nudged while they put the shower cap on Virgil’s head.

Virgil thought for a moment. What was the question he had?

“Oh! Right! Hey Joan,” Virgil reached for his phone in the pocket from his jeans. “Could you tell me if Roman would like this surprise idea that I have?”

Joan took the phone that they were handed. Their face slowly grew more mischievous and they were laughing a creepy, sinister laugh by the time they were done with it. “Yes, yes he will love this.”

“Really?” Virgil asked as he stood up to stretch his legs. “I hope he’ll understand what I’m trying to say.”

Joan bit their lip in thought. Talyn sat on their lap in the small rolling chair, which creaked under the weight of them. Virgil just sat on his bed while waiting for their response.

“I think,” Joan started in a more serious tone, “that it’s a sweet idea. He’s always said that he didn’t want to know his soulmate before he was ready with an established career.

“But I don’t know, he’s changed a lot in the past two months. He may not be willing to commit to it no matter what you say. He’s been down pretty bad, Virge.” Joan started rubbing their finger up and down Talyn’s forearm while swaying back and forth. “I say, go for it. You’ve got most of it all planned out. I will say that if you go through with this, maybe prepare yourself for him to not be understanding of what you’re asking for. Because it is a lot.”

Virgil nodded slowly. “I’ll see how the date goes tonight. I don’t really wanna jump the gun, you know?”

Talyn got up to sit next to Virgil and rub his shoulder. “Your date is going to go fine. You already know he’s in love with you. You’ve just gotta clear the air on some things. This is a time for honesty.”

“And really, this surprise you’ve planned out, Virgil?” Joan giggled. “I’m gonna do everything I can to make sure this happens.”

“Yeah, watching you two dance around each other is better than any soap opera.” Talyn agreed.

The trio talked for a bit more before the timer on Talyn’s phone went off for Virgil to rinse out his hair. He rushed to the shower so he could be ready on time for his date.

Virgil was in the shower rinsing his hair when it hit him. Roman would be going on a date with him. It wouldn’t be just a normal date, though, but a chance for Virgil to be vulnerable about everything. He needed to come clean about his side of what happened. Especially hearing about how Roman was so empty after that first kiss.

The water was cold, which normally didn’t bother Virgil, but he found himself shivering at the thought of hurting Roman again. Was he ready to try? What if he was just doing this to make himself feel better? What if, when he explained himself, Roman thought he was toxic? What if Roman just couldn’t be with someone who won’t reveal their Marking? What if he fucked up again ? What if he can't open up after all?

Once the water was running clear in the tub, Virgil stepped out to dry his hair off with his “Trash Towel”. It’s the towel he used when his hair was freshly dyed. He didn’t want to ruin a bunch of different ones with leaky hair. This was a white towel with stains of all the different hair colors he had done over time. He probably should have replaced it long ago, but that meant ruining another towel again.

The sound of the hair dryer wasn’t enough to drown out his thoughts. His fingers felt numb as he worked on his hair. Once that was done he returned to his room to get dressed. Talyn and Joan were downstairs. It sounded like his dad was home and talking to them. That was good. He needed some time to gather himself for what he was about to do.

He didn’t want to look like he was trying too hard, but he didn’t want to look like he didn’t care either. He wondered if Roman would be dressed up all fancy for their first date. No doubt the boy was at his house fretting over what he’d wear. That image of Roman freaking out over what he’d be wearing comforted Virgil a bit.

Virgil was glad that Mr. D had agreed to cancel the club meeting for that night. He was a weird teacher. He kept his distance but it was obvious he cared deeply about his students, especially Roman. The few times Virgil talked to the mysterious teacher, he always held a fond sparkle in his eye when Roman came up in conversation. It was really cool of him to give special treatment, and as Virgil changed he figured that Roman must be really special to his teacher. Which was good, considering that he needed Mr. D’s help with his surprise later on if his date went well.

After Virgil was mostly satisfied with his appearance, he went downstairs to see that it wasn’t just his dad who was home.

Logan was sitting on his couch, with his arm over Patton’s shoulders. Patton leaned into Logan like he was relaxing after a long day. They were talking to Joan and Talyn. The four of them were laughing at something his dad must have said. Virgil felt his chest start to warm. It was such a natural sight, except for the empty loveseat in the corner. It was easy to see himself laughing along with them, with Roman’s head on his lap as they talked.

Hope swelled within him. Could it be that he could make this work? Maybe he wasn’t going to fuck up after all.

He walked into the room. His dad saw him and stood up to meet him. “You look so handsome, kiddo!" he squealed. The pride was so evident on his face. “My baby’s first date! So exciting.”

Virgil pretended to frown. “C’moooon dad. Don’t embarrass me in front of my friends.” He tried to not laugh.

Talyn stood up, playing along by stomping their feet. “Young man, I worked way too hard to make your hair perfect. The least you could do is let your dad take pictures of my masterpiece.”

Virgil lost his composure by then. Talyn calling him ‘young man’ was just the cherry on top. “Sure, go ahead!” he called out through his hysterical laughter.

Logan spoke up, nervously grinning. “I have my camera in my car. It would produce a better quality for pictures than our phones.”

“Need some help?” Joan asked excitedly. They didn’t wait for an answer as they made their way to the door. Logan just chuckled to himself as he left after the excited teenager.

“Talyn, don’t tell me your soulmate is a photography nerd! You hate taking pictures of yourself.” Virgil teased.

“Shut up,” Talyn grumbled, though their grin was noticeable. “Joan’s only got a passing interest in it. They haven’t asked me to be their muse or anything.”

Patton chuckled. “Trust me, it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. Artists are very serious about their work.”

“Dad, have you been modeling on the side?” Virgil asked. He wasn't teasing, but genuinely curious. That hadn't talked bunch about Logan or the galaxy tattoo since that fight.

Logan had walked back in by then and made his way to Patton. “Your father has a very symmetrical face, and when he smiles I want to keep it with me forever.” He kissed Patton’s suddenly red cheek.

Virgil noticed the way his dad stiffened as he waited for Virgil to react. It was weird to see another man lovingly touch his dad. He faked a reassuring smile to the pair. He didn’t want to think about the prickling in the back of his head. He needed to get used to Logan being around in a more casual manner. He'd have to get used to the fact that Logan was here to stay.

He made sure to put all of his focus into watching Talyn and Joan from there on out. He tried not to blink when the camera flashed in his eyes. He fought within himself to keep that earlier hopeful feeling from flying away from him. He wouldn’t let his pessimism win.

This night was about coming clean. It was about asking for forgiveness, giving context, and taking his next step to be a better man. It was about searching for compromise in good faith. It was for finding faith in the opportunity for fresh starts. After tonight, he’d be able to see a brighter future for himself.

It was when they were still taking pictures that there was a knock at the front door. Talyn let out a squeal that seemed out of character. Virgil raised his eyebrow at them, which welcomed another click, flash! from the camera. He walked away from the staircase to open the door.

His forearms felt like he was being pricked by static shocks all over when he saw Roman standing there, the beginning sunset behind him looking like something out of a movie. Virgil was speechless. He couldn’t think of anything flirty or sarcastic to say. Had it only been at lunch period that day he last saw Roman? He looked like royalty.

Roman had his hair combed back. It was a bit longer since he hadn’t gotten it cut, so his hair had some flow to it. He had worn a long sleeve button up with black slacks. The shirt was a deep red color, bringing out the hazel eyes and white teeth. He was wearing a small bit of brown eyeliner and mascara, nothing obvious, but enough to bring out the features of his face. The rosey blush that Virgil loved so much was starting to form the longer he stared.

“Um, I didn’t know where we were going, so I figured I’d make myself look nice.” Roman looked Virgil up and down. “I’m glad to know we had the same idea.”

Virgil looked down at what he was wearing. He had chosen his only pair of slacks -a gray pair that his grandmother got him for his birthday - and a deep wine-purple button up. He had chosen a dark gray necktie with black stitching to look like spiderwebs. Just to keep a little bit of his dark personality obvious so he wouldn’t feel completely out of his depth.

“Oh, right, yeah.” He responded lamely. His voice cracked and he felt like he wanted to shrivel up in embarrassment.

“I got you this. I hope it’s not too cliché or tacky for you.” Roman handed Virgil a single black rose. It was plastic, and the stem was dark purple with glitter. It was definitely something cheesy, but Virgil smiled anyway.

“Thank you, Roman, I love it.” Virgil heard his dad clear his throat loudly. He rolled his eyes. Feeling more normal now that his bubble with Roman had burst, he swept his arm behind him. “Come in. We’re just taking pictures as if it’s fucking prom or something.”

Roman laughed at that. “I’ll never say no to a photo op!”

Joan and Talyn gave hugs to Roman when he was in the room. “Looking as royal as ever, your highness.” Joan remarked.

"Wait, isn't Highness for a prince?" Virgil asked. "I always call him Majesty."

Roman chuckled. "Majesty and Highness can be either, depending on the situation. Majesty is more formal, and Highness is a sort of catch-all."

Virgil didn't have a good response to that. He didn't know anything about royalty and all that fancy shit. He was itching to go, but automatically he pulled Roman by his waist. "Let's get our pictures done quickly, I'm starving."

Roman and Virgil took a few pictures at the bottom of the staircase. Roman didn’t seem bothered by the blinding flashes. Virgil kept his arm tight against his date’s waist. After he felt he was thoroughly blinded, he ended the photo session. “Alright, if I want to be able to see Roman’s sexy face I need the flashes to stop.”

Roman whined behind him as he made his way to his jacket by the door. “But I wanna make sure all of my sides have been captured…”

Virgil just ignored him. In a rush to leave, he gave hugs to everyone except Logan, and walked out the door while Roman gushed his thanks to Logan for taking pictures.

The pair settled into their seats in Roman’s car. The silence was nice as Virgil adjusted to it after the noise of the living room. He looked at Roman nervously. He seemed relaxed. His handsomeness seemed never-ending. “Alright, Captain Cranky, you ready to go get some fancy food?” he quipped, too giddy for Virgil's own good.

Virgil rolled his eyes and huffed. “Only the best for you, your Majesty .”

Roman chuckled. They pulled out of the driveway as Virgil plugged in the aux cord to his phone as if he had done it every day.

By the time they arrived at Marina's, Virgil had educated Roman with every song on the Welcome to the Black Parade album. They got out of the car laughing as Roman gave the keys to the valet.

With a warm blanket of joy between the two, they entered the restaurant to start the first part of their date. Virgil tried not to think about the nerves bundling up in his abdomen, or even consider the coincidence that his Marking was warmer than usual.

AUTHOR’S NOTE: Fluff and worldbuilding? Fluff and worldbuilding.Thank you for reading and supporting this story. I didn't mean to drop off the face of the earth everywhere, but for about a year now a family member of mine was getting sicker and sicker until he passed a few weeks ago. It's been a hard time, but he's at peace now & I feel like I can refocus my life.So, we're looking at an update every other month here. I don't want to promise more or less than that. I can say that I think about this fic ALL THE TIME and I want to just publish my rough drafts of the chapters and speed through it, but I know these boys love to take their time, so I will too.I hope you have been doing well, readers, and let me know what you thought of this chapter! And maybe comment your guesses on how you think the date will go ;)also, I have a discord server join for updates, bonuses, and talk with other readers!

@404-morality-not-found, @k1ngtok1, @lovelivingmydreams

let me know if you wanna be on the taglist for my stories

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fluffytimearts · 3 years ago

Text

Batman: Arkham Secrets ( Pt 2 )

" Where... am I? Why am I here? How did I get here?"

As he asked these questions in his mind of misty and blurred memory he can hear the muffled ringing in his ears. Distant voices seem farther than what they possibly are. The only thing he can grasp is that he's alive as the ringing synchs with his heart beat.

Beep

Beep.

Beep

Sounds like.. a EKG? Is he in a hospital? Certainly close but not entirely right. He opens his eyes that seem to want to stay shut. His eyes are like lens, one minute it's a messy blur to a sharp quality picture to the naked eye.

His head hurts. He is sure he can feel the warm blood flowing down the back of his neck right as we speak.

Harley Quinn: " Uhm... I know I might sound.. scared and all but are ya sure this will work? Won't kill him right? Jon??" Harley tugged at the sleeve of Scarecrow's jacket. She was lightly pushed away by Jervis who was next to her.

Mad Hatter: " Now now, don't fret. The bat won't die just." he paused " not yet.."

Scarecrow: " It's fine Harley. Look, we are only keeping him here. He's gonna be our... Little experiment subject" he smiled oh so innocently to Harley although we know his real intentions.

Hugo strange was at his desk writing but he was glancing over to Scarecrow.

Hugo Strange: " Not to sound doubtful Professor Crane but are you really sure this will work. Batman can easily surpass the toxin if he has a functional immune system to fight off such, why not let me handle the experimentation as we go. "

Scarecrow looked to Hugo Strange with a glaring look.

Scarecrow: " Oh? Worried aren't we? Could it be you actually care for the Batman or is that just your obsession talking Professor Strange?"

Hugo Strange: " Of course not, he is nothing to me. Just simply stating predictions that most likely may happen" he went back to writing.

Batman began opening his eyes and the first one he saw was the Penguin who was next to him this whole time smoking a expensive cigar. Batman coughed as the smoke was getting into his lungs.

Penguin: " Oh, well ain't you up and aware. Rise and shine Bats!" He blew smoke in the face of Batman.

The Riddler, who was leaning on a table, chuckled to himself. He spoke up, " Now Oswald, you mustn't smoke too much. If you keep doing that his system will be filled with nothing but cancer. We do after all want a desired outcome out of this experiment we have conducted."

Penguin rolled his eyes and walked off. The Riddler strayed away from his spot to meet face to face ( literally ) with the restrained Bat.

The Riddler: " I have a riddle for you, quite easy in fact so lets see if you can solve it. Riddle me this Many have heard it, but nobody has ever seen it. It will not speak back until spoken to. What is it? "

He didn't respond but he knew the answer. Although he is gagged sooo...

The Riddler: " Don't know? I'll answer for you. Echo. That's what your screams will be. Just mere echos in a empty facility with no guards but all of us and one of you. " As per usual he gave a smug smirk as he always does when someone doesn't give a answer or a correct answer.

He turned to Scarecrow and asked, " Is that serum done yet Jonathan?" Jon turned with a smile of mischief waiting to happen. " Of course and right on time. It's time to begin." He strolled casually to the Batman and, with gloved hands, pulled up the clothing to show his exposed skin. He injected two doses of his serum, " Now that I have given him a light dose let's wait for the effects to kick in"

As they waited something did take effect and suddenly just 5 seconds pass and he felt agonizing pain that felt like he was being stabbed and feeling like he was going vomit. He tried keeping his screams in to not satisfy their ears with his pain verbally.

Scarecrow: " Ahh.. Looks like it has already preceded to take effect. I want to lock him in one of the cells. Let's see what happens in a few hours"

And just like that they threw him in the cell with a straitjacket on him with a collar on his neck that keeps track of his current state ( device made by the Mad Hatter for this experiment)

They went to the security room to check the cameras, they saw Batman on the ground groaning in pain.

Harley Quinn gave out a whimper as Jon watched the cameras laughin manically, " This is perfect! The Batman in our grasp! Oh.. How will we play with our fine subject"

Hugo Strange composed his anger quietly. Somewhere in the back of his thoughts he wanted to end this ridiculous game but at the same time he wanted to see how long this will play out until it eventually shows signs of involving himself in.

Hugo Strange: " Don't be prideful, the experimentation barely started. Although he's a fascinating subject you shouldn't destroy your subject with foolish actions"

Scarecrow felt his smile widen.. " Oh Strange.. I haven't even begun.. Just wait and see"

To be continued

#facility #human experimentation #gotham rogues #fluffytimearts #batman #alternate universe #my writing #writers on tumblr #my art 2021

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snailg0th · 4 years ago

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TMA PLAYLIST!

hey party people! i made an absolutely MASSIVE entity playlists and thought i would share!

Here’s the song breakdown by entity if you want to separate it out into different entities!

The Corruption

- i’ll let it burn / kanaya

- first love late spring / mitski

- geyser / mitski

- me and my husband / mitski

- liquid smooth / mitski

- an unhealthy obsession / the blake robinson synthetic orchestra

- like real people do / hozier

- arms tonite / mother mother

- spiral of ants / lemon demon

- always forever / cults

- i wanna be adored / king woman

- in a week / hozier

- lovers are strangers / michelle gurevich

- first six moths of love / michelle gurevich

- where the watermelons rot / madelynne whitt

- loved / fein

- the masochism tango / tom lehrer

- high school sweethearts / melanie martinez

- earthworms / elliot lee

The Lonely

- ghosting / mother mother

- cellophane / fka twigs

- two slow dancers / mitski

- last words of a shooting star / mitski

- you missed my heart / phoebe bridgers

- writer in the dark / lorde

- liability / lorde

- sick of losing soulmates / dodie

- ribs / lorde

- i exist i exist i exist / flatsound

- how to never stop being sad / dandelion hands

- teenage hurt / oscar lang

- feels like we’re dying / johnny goth

- lonesome town / ricky nelson

- the ghost has no home / cocteau twins, harold budd

- heavy heart / you am i

- scott street / phoebe bridgers

- get lonely / the mountain goats

- i’m tired, you’re lonely / liza anne

- emptiness is a closet full of your clothes / wishing

- butterfly’s repose / zabawa

- xanny / billie eilish

The Slaughter

- thermodynamic lawyer esq / will wood and the tapeworms

- bloody nose / jack conte

- hand me my shovel, i’m going in! / will wood and the tapeworms

- problems / mother mother

- molly / mindless self indulgence

- resurrection / gank

- little pistol / mother mother

- my axe / icp

- to catch a predator / icp

- piggie pie / icp

- egirls are ruining my life / corpse

- i cant decide / scissor sisters

- brutus / the buttress

- thank you for the venom / my chemical romance

- you know what they do to guys like us in prison / my chemical romance

- teenagers / my chemical romance

- shitlist / l7

- lose your head / nova twins

- cop car / mitski

- pumped up kicks / foster the people

- mary / the happy fits

- 6 feet / scarlxrd

- war song / imad royal

- twist the knife / that handsome devil

The Spiral

- kitchen fork / jack conte

- stupid horse / 100 gecs

- a crows trial / vane lily

- hidden in the sand / tally hall

- stuff is way / they might be giants

- baby hotline / jack stauber

- for the departed / shatter james

- touch tone telephone / lemon demon

- they’re coming to take me away / sloppy jane

- anytime you smile / jt music

- tic toc / mother mother

- pretty little head / eliza rickman

- happy pills / weathers

- beware the friendly stranger / boards of canada

- dream / the pied pipers

- spiraling shape / they might be giants

- smile / maisie peters

- laughing on the outside / bernadette carroll

The Stranger

- stalkers tango / autoheart

- puppet loosely strung / the correspondents

- a mask of my own face / lemon demon

- sex with a ghost / teddy hyde

- bang! / ajr

- under my skin / jukebox the ghost

- turn the lights off / tally hall

- break my mind / dagames

- community gardens / the scary jokes

- mr capgras encounters a second hand / will wood and the tapeworms

- mama / my chemical romance

- have you seen my sister evelyn? / evelyn evelyn

- a campaign of shock and awe / evelyn evelyn

- my mom / kimya dawson

- who are you, really? / mikky echo

- kalinka / golden ring ensemble

- russian sailors dance / golden ring ensemble

- we’ll meet again / vera lynn

- carousel / melanie martinez

- this is the freakshow! / open minded

- the greatest show unearthed / creature feature

The Flesh

- blood and bones / the blake robinson synthetic orchestra

- the dismemberment song / blue kid

- i love you like an alcoholic / the taxpayers

- body / mother mother

- blood / my chemical romance

- body terror song / ajj

- skin / marriages

- four teeth / true widow

- tongues and teeth / the crane wives

- cannibal / tally hall

- pork soda / the glass animals

- alligator teeth / mother falcon

- animal skin / bryan dunn

- flowers of flesh and blood / nicole dollanganger

The Hunt

- it will come back / hozier

- in the woods somewhere / hozier

- hayloft / mother mother

- trrst / ic3peak

- oblivion / grimes

- i love you like an alcoholic / the taxpayers

- dear dictator / saint motel

- to my enemies / saint motel

- shaking like an animal / crash kings

- dog teeth / nicole dollanganger

- curses / the cranewives

- that unwanted animal / the amazing devil

- animal impulses / iamx

- go get your gun / the dear hunter

- i’m always walking as somebody else / american murder song

- come along / cosmo sheldrake

- the hunter / adam jensen

The Eye

- evil eye / franz ferdinand

- never meant to know / tally hall

- dirty imbecile / the happy fits

- lent / autoheart

- problems / mother mother

- southern eye / marriages

- wisdom / mother mother

- the fine print / the stupendium

- it’s tough to be a god / annapantsu

- ruler of everything / tally hall

- one eye open / lola blanc

- the competition / kimya dawson

- i see you / phoebe bridgers

- somebody’s watching me / rockwell

The Web

- silver platters / les gold

- puppet loosely strung / the correspondents

- the spiders face / emilie autumn

- twisted threads / the mechanisms

- spider in the roses / sonia leigh, daphne willis, rob the man

- lean on me / yerin baek

- shame / mitski

- devils flesh and bones / eliza rickman

The Dark

- there’s a girl in the corner / the twilight sad

- living with the black dog / emma ruth rundle

- i was all over her / sylvia palth

- welcome and goodbye / dream, ivory

- you are the coffin / flatsound

- into the unknown / the blasting company

- salem / fox academy

- i’m a member of the midnight crew / eddie morton

- sleep awake / mother mother

- no light, no light / florence and the machine

- oh ana / mother mother

- queen of darkness / ugress

The End

- for the departed / shayfer james

- achilles come down / gang of youths

- the end / sibyelle baier

- exit music / radiohead

- sex with a ghost / teddy hyde

- 13 angels standing guard round the side of your bed / silver my zion

- zombie / bad wolves

- old black train / the blasting company

- graveyard / lucy schwartz

- hangout at the gallows / father john misty

- holes in your coffin / phildel

- i’ll die anyways / girl in red

The Desolation

- turtleneck / the national

- relay / fiona apple

- a burning hill / mitski

- burn / king woman

- burning pile / mother mother

- lighting myself on fire / jukebox the ghost

- burn him down! / kitsch club

- mouth of the devil / mother mother

- high tide rising / fox

- the fire / griffinilla

- fire with fire / aliceband

- inferno pt 2 / the buttress

- all the good girls go to hell / billie eilish

- burning down the house / talking heads

- arsonists lullaby / hozier

- play with fire / sam tinnesz

- fire / delta rae

The Buried

- my heart is buried in venice / rick montgomery

- dirty night clowns / chris garneau

- hand me my shovel, i’m going in! / will wood and the tapeworms

- the mind electric / miracle musical

- bit by bit / mother mother

- weight of the world / shayfer james

- bury a friend / billie eilish

- my love took me down to the river to silence me / little green cars

- the devil went to georgia / the charlie daniels band

- jesse got trapped in a coal mine / goodnight, texas

- sisyphus / andrew bird

- bottom of the river / delta rae

- you’re dead / norma tanega

- ain’t no rest for the wicked / cage the elephant

- work song / hozier

- bury me / the hunting project

#Spotify

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kryptsune · 4 years ago

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Souly Damned Saturdays!~

🌼Hello everyone! I am excited to share the next SD Saturday! Today is going to be how the Infernal Realm is set up and a profile on one of my favorite boys, Val. This is going to be a huge one! Let’s get into it! If you have any questions please ask away! There is so much to this world and it’s characters that I don’t want to overwhelm people. *again stunning chibi of my boy Val by @little-noko >////< I love it so much*

~Prince Profile:~

True Name: Valruth Alias Names: Valentine (Val) Nicknames/Titles: The Bloodstained Beast Soul Flower Type: Rose in half bloom Color Type: Ruby with burnt petals Infernal Hierarchy: 2nd Prince of Lust Age Order: 5th Oldest Familiar Form: White Maine Coon/ (Hellcat) True Form Appearance Description: ~Skeletal in appearance ~Prominent fangs (spiked teeth in true form) ~Ruby pointed tongue ~Black horns that are reminiscent of the stereotypical devil ~Skeletal claws ~Clawed feet ~Spaded bone tail with charcoal gradient ~Golden Fang ~Bone damage (cuts) on forearm, ribs, spine, shoulder blade ~Bone and black feather wings (mix)

Human Form Physical description: ~Hair color: White/ cool platinum ~Hair style: slicked back (before modern and reminiscent of the 1920′s) ~Eye color: Ruby/ reddish brown ~Skin tone: Pale ~Contract symbol mark placement: his left shoulder blade ~Height: 5′9

Special Abilities or Powers:

~Mind reading ~Can pull out deepest desire ~Dream walking ~Mental suggestion ~Levitation ~Teleportation ~Fire element ~Veritas (forces those under his influence to tell the truth) ~Lust touch ~Blood vitality/ power ~Servitude ~Calming/ paralysis touch

(more below the cut!)

~SD Q AND A (These are all questions from you! Specifically those in my server):~

1. What is vals usual duties as a prince of hell? Does he have hobbies he enjoys doing? Does he even like humans if so what does he like about them? 🔥Val has less duties as Costello because even though he is a prince he is not the head of that Kingdom. Though to be fair Costello doesn't really mind doing the work it keeps his mind occupied. Mainly it's Val's job to deal with Coven direction/communication. I mean he has hobbies but uh... those are not appropriate to mention. Remember Val's cardinal sin is lust X'D He does enjoy music so he will spend time learning different musical styles or instruments. All in all he is pretty laid back and enjoys a good time. He’s a party boy, but he will be serious if needed. Costello's position allows Val to be kind of a hedonist. His other job is based in contracts. Most Princes don't directly deal with humans unless circumstances allow due to their past history. It's his job to essentially make sure that quotas are being met. Let's just say he prefers the Mortal Realm because he loves messing with mortals.

2. Does Val prefer like manipulating people or playing pranks more? 🔥 He enjoys manipulating people.

3. How does it feel for Val to take another's life? What did it feel like the first time?

🔥 When he first Fell he struggled with the duality of his Clelestial/Infernal blood. It's the concept of the first life he took was hard on him but the moment he looks at the blood he essentially breaks. After that he gains the nickname of Beast because he revels in the kills. Eventually, he earns the "title" of the Bloodstained Beast which is where Beast comes from.

4. Is Val overall sure of himself or does he struggle with loads of insecurities?

🔥He is sure of himself outwardly but alone not so much. Like I said before the majority of the brothers struggle with what they used to be and what they have become. His father's influence pushed his mind to justify the horrible things he has done. When Darrius is locked away the brothers have to come to terms with the monsters they have become.

5. Does Val ever suffer from depression?

🔥I wouldn't call it depression. It is not that severe. It is more like self doubt or regret.

6. What does it mean to be "alive" for Val?

🔥Unlike Infernals born in that realm, the brothers still have their Celestial souls but they are badly corrupted. Being alive for him is feeling the emotions that he used to when he was a Celestial. Think of their corruption as losing a sense of self. Most think that his "highs" come from drinking, pleasure, and the usual sinful fair but that’s not entirely true.

7. Does Val struggle with who he is?

🔥It depends on what part of the timeline. In the beginning he struggles a lot until he snaps but then doesn't care at all as if his original soul has gone numb. Over the centuries he does begin to mellow out and eventually when he meets Eve he changes his tune. Even before their meeting he is far more self conscious.

8. Do Val’s emotions of himself ever reflect on others or does he keep them tightly wound?

🔥He keeps his emotions tightly wound unless he is with someone he trusts and by god is it hard to gain any of these boys trust. They were betrayed by their father and their other family... so they have major abandonment and trust issues.

9. Has there ever been a time where Val considered "love" over "lust"?

🔥Yes! In fact that is what he used to be. He was a Celestial of love and affection. It is one of the reasons that I made his alias name Valentine. Eve is the love of his life and he treats her as such.

10. If the brothers get their hands on souls what do they do with them? Will each prince treat souls differently from one another?

🔥Soul wise they can consume souls for their power, which they are already ungodly powerful already. The only caveat to that is that it corrupts their souls further. Sometimes those souls end up tormenting them for a while before they fade away. Each one has a different effect depending on the soul itself not so much the one who consumes it.

11. What happens to changelings that die? Do they become infernal beasts/imps? or does something else happen?

🔥They essentially meet a permanent end, however, I should mention that they kind of get recycled in a way? Think of it as giving the energy back to the realm. It strengthens it. There are various artifacts and runes of great power strewn throughout the realm that are powered by dead Infernal life forces.

~The Infernal Realm Info~

General Structure:

The Infernal Realm is divided into an odd configuration that would imply something along the lines of Dante’s Inferno but the rings do not consecutively branch out. In the center the Infernal Palace in the capital city of Eden rests surrounded by the homes and residences of the Infernal elite. The ring outside those gates consists of five kingdoms; Lust (being the largest of the five), Pride, Greed, Envy, and Wrath.

The outer most ring consists of the other 2 kingdoms; Sloth and Gluttony. Lastly the outer “walls” or ring is a wasteland for lost souls that neither belong in Heaven or Hell. This is what most would consider to be Purgatory but that would be factually incorrect. The gateway to purgatory is hidden within this land's monochrome and misty forests. There are also rumors that a gateway to the other realms also lies in these woods safely guarded by Infernal Beasts with loyalty to their King. There is in fact a portal to the mortal realm in each kingdom and heavily guarded by whoever each Prince sees fit. In the beginning of their banishment the Princes began to build on the outskirts of the realm working their way inward this causes an influence on the architectural influences. The further out the kingdom the the more ancient. SO each Kingdom is influenced by a specific period in time. This also coincides with the technology seen in the kingdom. The exception are the Prince’s castles. An example of this is Gin’s Kingdom of Sloth. His kingdom is heavily ancient Egyptian based but he is obsessed with the mortal realm so he still has technology but you can only find it in his “castle”. You wouldn’t see that kind of tech outside those walls. In addition each kingdom is divided by a dangerous wasteland in order to deter souls from trying to escape kingdoms.

The only means of travel is a railway that travels from kingdom to kingdom. The tracks move and shift (kind of like the stairs in Harry Potter) to the destination that is required. One needs a ticket otherwise you can’t get on the railway and this is generally used by Imps or the occasional changeling if they are given permission to do so.

Darrius’ Prison (The Wasted Hollow): Darrius is locked in a very specific prison stuck in between the Infernal and the Mortal Realm. It's a cushy small cage that can only be opened by the power of the 12 Princes. There is not a living soul in it except for him. This place dampens his abilities but they all cannot be contained. He has imparted his influence in multiple ways by reaching out to mortals and demons alike. Under his instruction they have created different cults. They are currently clandestine under the New Order and the New Mortal Realm.

Note: If it was possible to get an aerial view of the entire Infernal Realm it would look very similar to a contract symbol or in essence a seal. This is due to the railway system that connects the kingdoms together. It’s a relatively new future as the millennia have progressed but the formation of these lines is in fact in the shape of a pentagram.

~The Kingdoms (7)~

Lust (Inner Ring)- The kingdom that used to be ruled by the current King of the Realm. The hierarchy works that each kingdom rules over a certain sin committed by those punished. The closer that they are to The Capital the richer and more prosperous. It’s era of influence is the Roaring 20′s and that can be seen in it’s more art deco styled architecture and fashion sense. The lust kingdom is ruled by Costello who is the crown prince and following that is Val. He is a prince as well but uncrowned to one of the major kingdoms (he could honestly care less).The kingdom of lust revels in opulence and is known for its material wealth and the demons here tend to be debaucherous and are known for their slave/pet dealings. In this kingdom they tend to be overly needy causing them to sate their desires with damned souls or each-other. It is well known that nothing can really saite these demons appetites for pleasure. They do as they will but continue to follow under the rules set forth by the King. The demons of this kingdom however tend to get away with more considering their kingdoms standing. Lust also does not just account for physical pleasure but lust for things such as wealth or power are prime examples. It is rumored that the two brothers appear to be opposites in their handling of the sin. Costello being more about possession and passion while Beast is more the stereotypical lust. Out of all the kingdoms this one seems to be the “best” one to be sentenced to especially if you find yourself at the feet of its rulers. The humans here are usually taken care of quite nicely though it is also rumored that some of those souls in question do not belong in Hell at all. Appearance wise the Lust kingdoms Castle is paved with marble and gold. It is near spotless excluding wealth and grandeur. The massive walls that hide the Castle from view are covered in thick lush green vines and flowers. They have lace like porticos that spill a strange liquid from snake-like mouths. It is said that a human that even consumes a drop of it will be subject to their demon masters will for eternity. A strong manipulative love potion in essence. The Palace gardens are almost as if they were taken from the Garden of Eden itself which is entirely possible. The further away from the epicenter of the city becomes less ostentatious though not dilapidated by any means. Many of the Infernal elite live in this kingdom commonly.

Pride (Inner Ring)- The kingdom of Pride is ruled by Carthus and Dusk which resides in the inner ring. As such it too exudes opulence at its center. The Kingdom supplies and trains those for the Capitals personal guard as well as the demons that are considered soldiers. This is also the Kingdom of the tainted. Those that are not quite demon but also not quite human. A long time ago when demons walked among the humans in the first mortal realm they wrecked havoc. The Princes of Pride manipulated humanity so much so that they began to turn them away from their old religions so that they would worship them instead.

In turn the two brothers (along with the Princes of the Kingdom of Greed) toyed with human souls creating Infernal half breeds. What humanity calls vampires, werewolves, and so forth. The humans began to decline at rapid numbers since those of half Infernal blood easily hunted the weak. Now they span the wasteland of Purgatory sometimes finding themselves in the Infernal or Mortal Realms.

Humans of high status on earth are also subjected to the same kind of torment they put on others in the worst way possible. Dictators, murderers and the like in this kingdom. It is a series of mind altering and psychologically torturing pathways and darkness. The only ones that are able to navigate this kingdom are those born from it’s depths or the Princes themselves as Dusk is the one that devised this horrifying MC Esher maze. It is influenced by the Late Victorian and Edwardian period. This kingdom’s seasons and magically produced light source can vary but the majority of the time the skies resemble twilight fading into darkness as you get further away from the castle.

Wrath (Inner Ring)- The Kingdom of Wrath is the kingdom of War and bloodlust ruled by Sokan and Azrin. This is the kingdom known as The Cell unlike the kingdom of Lust, Wrath only shows off it’s splendor near it’s castle and some of the surrounding areas. It is mostly utilized as a giant torture pit. This is where souls are sent as punishment of the most severe crimes and tortured mercilessly sometimes torn to shreds only to be revived.

Their leader is a ruthless warden of sorts making sure that everyone obeys the laws both set forth for demon or soul. Demons sentenced to exile are also detained here in this confusing catacomb prison. It is filled with deadly traps and pitfalls to prevent escape as well. The human souls usually sentenced here were the warriors that committed atrocities without a second glance at the innocent. Those that killed children in the name of the king is an example of this.

The Cell is also where souls are twisted beyond recognition and where most new demons are made. In this world demons are made not born and those corrupted souls become the new generation. It could take years. It could take centuries but being thrown into The Cell is a sure fire sentence into Infernal rebirth.

There are two rulers of this kingdom and as such two types of punishments. While Boss rules over the Pit, Azrin is his little torture aficionado. Those sentenced are usually the type of killers that were mentally undone. Ones that took a sick twisted pleasure in their artistry. Those are usually brought from the outside. Their ruler, Azrin, is what one might call… unhinged at best. They are known for their experimentation attempting to twist mortal souls into whatever is desired... following in the footsteps of his older brothers.

Greed (Inner Ring)- The kingdom of Greed is unlike any other kingdom as it houses an insurmountable number of souls within it (even if they don’t last long). It’s influence is the High Gothic Period, just think Dracula’s castle and forest. The ruler of Greed, Crimson, is a ruthless warlord with an unusual thirst for blood and not in the war hungry way. It’s second Prince, Grimm, enjoys torturing souls himself and will generally set up elaborate hunts to that end.

It’s alternate title is that of the Kingdom of Blood. Those unfortunate souls forced to end up in such a horrible kingdom will find themselves subject to experimentation or unwinable hunts. Crimson was the one that started all of this half breed creation along with Carthus and Dusk. Though there were many creatures that came about through this experimentation Crimson and Grimm are specifically tied to two infernal blooded hybrids. The two brothers are most likely where the vampire and werewolf mythology stem from.

Both brothers continue to play with their human “toys” as they did so long ago. They enjoy the thrill of hunting down those sentenced and revel in their success. Crimson prefers the opulence and riches that his sin provides while Grimm is more down to earth. It may account for his more bestial nature as he has a similar animalistic inclination like that of his youngest brother Ouro.

Envy (Inner Ring)- This is the kingdom that trains and outsources spies as well as assassins. Demonic hitmen used to gain political power among their respective kingdoms. They are known for their thieves mostly stealing from their neighboring kingdom of greed, specifically souls. Envy is known as the shadow kingdom usually housing those souls of the occult and black magic. Those that tried to obtain the unobtainable through magical or demonic means like that of Hedge Witches.

Sanneth does not take kindly to this as these souls are tortured for all eternity forced to relive and conjure their own worst fears or transgressions. A never ending nightmare would be an apt description. Like his younger brother Dusk, Sanneth does not embrace his sin as much as the others. His abilities reflect his more Celestial blood but alas he is a Prince and therefore a kingdom he must rule.

Sanneth also happens to be the twin brother of Carthus and the two are constantly at odds. He believes that they can conduct their “duty” without fulling turning into monsters while Carthus revels in his corruption. The 4th eldest prince’s envy could stem from his desire to return to how he once was. The castle rests in a season of eternal Spring influenced by the Japanese Edo period.

Gluttony (Outer Ring)- Those that are placed into this kingdom as punishment are subjected to torture of starvation and thirst. The princes castle is surrounded by a never ending desert with no hope for food or drink. Souls are forced to starve wandering this desert for the rest of eternity. The demons banished into this place feast on mortal corpses that fall, tearing them to pieces like scavengers.

When the sun sets these mortals end up back where they started in one piece having to endure the same torture over and over. Ouro the ruler of his kingdom does not do much in the way of duty. He tends to delegate his jobs to other lower level demons. If a mortal manages to cross the desert the torture is with standing. Any food will turn to ash in their mouths and any water will burn the throat. It is an endless never quenchable thirst and hunger. It’s influence is that of Mesoamerica such as the ancient Maya and Aztec civilizations. Sloth (Outer Ring)- Sloth is the final kingdom before the Outer Ring. It is “ruled” by Prince Gin though no one could actually tell you what it takes to maintain the kingdom as he tends to delegate everything to his Dukes.

The souls here are never allowed to rest, forced to work the land for food production. Which is hilarious because food does literally nothing for demons. Ok hilarious in a cruel sick way. The Infernal Princes do like to have their feasts and lavish parties but that food is very different. In essence mortals are forced into a constant state of fatigue. Never able to drink, eat, or most of all sleep.

Gin tends to be selectively lazy but he has a fascination with the modern mortal world and tends to spend a lot of his time acquiring items from there. The poor boy has insomnia so he rarely sleeps since he is so enthralled with his game systems. He is very much a pop culture nerd at times and if you can get on his good side you will find that is probably one of the softer of the Princes. He likes a good time, oh and junk food... lots of junk food. The influence for this kingdom is ancient Egyptian as alluded to earlier since both of the Outer Ring Kingdoms are surrounded by a seemingly never ending stretch of desert.

(That’s it for this week! I hope that gives you all kind of an idea how the Infernal realm works. This is jus the basics and if people are more interested in this I will go into more detail. That is what the ask box is for!) << PREV | FIRST | NEXT >>

#Souly Damned #SD Saturdays #worldbuilding #info #askbox is open #original content #demons #angels #Valruth #Valentine

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aggresivelyfriendly · 4 years ago

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‘Tis the Damn Season- Chapter 2

Winter Wonderland

Hello loveys! Here is chapter two, a new year, a new world, a new Harry video! Thank you to @dirtystyles for fixing my tenses, which I promptly messed up by revising and adding. All remaining mistakes are mine.

Happy reading- reblogs are love!

Emma was annoyed before she even caught her flight, but she loved airports, so she got lost in watching the peculiar things people did in the there to sublimate what was probably just anxiety. She'd once watched a boys' trip, maybe a bachelor party, get on a plane and begin toasting at 5:30 am. The groom had almost bought the whole plane a round, but one of his mates had stopped him. She assumed this wasn't his first beer of the day, but maybe it was the last of the night before?

People acted different in airports.

That had been her first flight to Holland. When she went to her interview at Wageningen University and Research Center. She really needed to impress, she'd pressed her outfit more than she had ironed anything since she'd been taught to do it. This was her dream school and the climate research they did was groundbreaking and she wanted to be part of it so much that she was willing to do whatever it took. Beyond the heavy course load she could expect during the regular school years, the top students got amazing summer work or internships. She'd promised herself she would not be going home for breaks for some time. Honestly she was just fine with that. There wasn't much left for her in Holmes Chapel.

There wasn't much in Holmes Chapel at all.

She'd wanted to move from the little village the minute they'd moved there when she was eleven. Sure it was cute, picturesque and maybe something out of a Jane Austen novel, but Emma did not read much Pride and Prejudice. Though she definitely had seen Mr. Darcy come out of the pond. Honestly, she was more of a nonfiction girl, and she like investigative reporting. She'd missed London pretty much immediately and begged to go back for months. It was a time in her life she would have called the absolute worst, until it became the foundation for the best years. Emma made really good, motivated friends. Big dreams were common in little Holmes Chapel, so Emma fit right in. It may have never felt like home exactly, but she made a home of those friends.

Gemma was one of them. She had done her share of Austen reading. Reading in general, and she had the sweetest family. Her little brother Harry was so nice to their mum, though he loved nothing more than bugging Gemma. Like all little brothers. She'd heard at least, Emma was an only child.

All her parents' hopes and dreams rested right on her shoulders.

But theirs weren't nearly so weighty as her own. Even then she knew she was going to save the planet, or at the very least reduce the number of climate refugees.

Now, after two summers in Reykjavik, she was more into sustainable energy and zero waste production, but she was still trying to change the climate game.

She would really rather be going back to Iceland now. A friend had invited her to see the Northern Lights. They were most active in the winter and she'd only caught glimpses of them during her summer internships. It may have been the experience of a lifetime.

But her mother had laid on a major guilt trip. Emma hadn't been back to little Holmes Chapel in two years. She'd come home that first Christmas because she was tired, overwhelmed, still adjusting to her school schedule, and a little homesick. Her mother told her so. She'd even skipped the Twist's Christmas party, which was the shindig of the season. She'd slept right through it, and only seen Gemma at the pub later. She hadn't been up for company, but Gemma was family.

This year? After a year's absence, she'd be going. And she'd receive the hometown-hero-returns treatment. Though she was sure her reception at the airport would consist of her mum with a single sign. When she did make it to the pub, she might see a few friendly faces besides Gemma. Last time? Since she'd missed the party, she didn't have anything to contribute to the discussion. She'd just listened to everybody else rehash it. Normally, that would be fine, but she already felt removed, and had always felt a bit like a screw among nails in Holmes Chapel, so she was determined to go to the party this year. She had all kinds of plans, how many hours she'd socialize, rest, and read.

The flight was easy at least, and the train up to Manc doubly so. She liked to sleep on trains, something about the rocking, and she resumed her old habit of sleeping wrapped around her backpack.

"Welcome home, love!" Her mother shouted and Emma actually got a little misty, just like her Mum. Maybe she should try to get home more than once a year, but there's just so much she wants to accomplish. She even had a list. All the things she wanted to do before she turned thirty. It's been revised of course, she'd not unrealistic. Once the list is complete, she can have a life outside her ambitions, like a real boyfriend.

There's not much time for anything but hook-ups for the next ten years., and Emma was ok with that.

Up til now. She might need another pass at her bullet points, or to at least read her goals again when she got to the Twist's new brick beauty of a house. Harry had bought his mum a new home, one not watched as closely by his obsessive fans. They hadn't found this one yet.

Emma could see why they followed him around so, and why some people risked it all for a certain face. His face, his very famous, gorgeous face.

It was so weird that Harry wasn't just Gemma's little brother who grew up cute anymore. His music wasn't really her style, though some of the songs were catchy and Emma did like his latest album. She caught herself humming about life stories long after she heard it, and she seemed to hear his latest single playing in lots of shops and restaurants, even in Holland.

At the party, she also found herself in the same room as Harry more often than she can find an excuse for. Her eyes also seemed to find him a lot, she knew because of how many times she had to whip her head away quickly. As a tactic, that didn't work because he was always either already looking at her,or he immediately turned like he knews where she was. Maybe her gaze had weight, or she was as subtle as an axe.

When he smirked at her the tenth time their eyes lit upon each other, she choked on her wine.

What the fuck?

She'd finally got herself calmed from that little encounter. Mostly because she left the room to find a loo. The water she splashed on her face was cold and woke her up. "What are you doing, girl?" Emma asked her reflection but found that she couldn't help but smile at herself, and bite her lip. The flush on her cheeks was lovely; she could blame the wine, everyones favorite excuse.

An hour later she was pleasantly tipsy, the kind of buzz you could maintain and still wake up the next day not regretting, and she'd gone to the kitchen to grab another glass to nurse her merry state. "Be right back. We need another round!" She was calling back to Gemma when she bumped into a tall lanky body. She caught his hips with one hand and found them with just enough give to grip. "Oof!" She exclaimed before looking up to see how much damage her wine had done. Good thing she drank white, there was a growing spot ok his sweater. Wait a second! Then she coasted her head up the lovely lilac sweater toward his face. "That's my sweater." She said first off, bopping his chin.

"Um, no, mine now." Oh, his voice was adorably thick with drink too. "You give it to Gem or something?"

What was he talking about? Her eyes stayed with his and she was kinda trapped in his greens when she realized he meant the sweater. She had, right. "I'm yeah, years ago. Was my favorite and we shared it a lot. I decided she should have it before I moved. And I guess she decided you should have it when you moved. Though I expect your life change was a little different than mine. Yours was like overnight and mine a life long plan, and oh my god, Emma stop talking." She would have kept rambling except, well, he kissed her, right on the mouth and held his overfilled lips to her own. No, overfilled wasn't true. They were full, but not crazy big, they just were so plump at the edges. God, when had she thought about Harry's lips so much.

Right now, as much as she could think of anything, it was Harry's lips. She'd relaxed into his rhythm and was following his lead when her free hand took on a mind of its own and coasted from his hips up his back and into his hair. He groaned a little before he disengaged and then chuckled.

"Well," he said as the offending hand went to her mouth. Maybe she did need to stop drinking. That was bold, unlike her, and strange. But wait! What just happened? Why did he kiss her?.

"Huh?"

"I think that beat my last mistletoe kiss and I'd convinced myself that was impossible!" He was giving her a knowing look, like a wink in his smile. Did he kiss somebody else tonight? She looked up at him and tried not to be annoyed, or feel jealous, or focus on the shape of his mouth, still a little wet from her kiss. Was he just hanging out by the mistletoe like a weirdo? Seemed odd for a bloke people were lining up to meet, let alone kiss.

"Why'd you do that?" She found her voice to ask. It was rusty, like she hadn't just been laughing and talking for hours with people she'd forgotten how much she enjoyed.

"You bumped into me under the mistletoe. I assumed you wanted me to." Well, she did while he was kissing her, but now he was being a bit of an ass.

"Um, you were just in the way..."

"Well, I'll have to find myself in your path as often as possible then." Ok, that was cute, a bit cocky, like the smirk on his face. Then his face flushed and his dimples were so deep and she decided that shift, from smirky pop star to hometown mumma's boy was the best quick change she had ever seen. "Ah, see, that got you to smile!" He bopped her nose and she knew her own dimple pressed in even further.

"Nah, you're a little shit, but I like your smile. Especially when you blush." The color he turned then made her laugh out loud. She felt drunk when she realized how long they'd been staring at each other grinning. She was counting her drinks a second later when he caught her off guard again.

"Where'd you just go?"

"Wha'?" Oh boy, she'd dropped her t, she was really home now.

"We were having a moment." He motioned between their faces. "Then you went in your head. Lost your attention, didn't like it at all."

Then he caught her hand, their fingers entwined together like their lips moments before. It was hot in there. Emma shook her head and glanced around, but she didn't untangle them. She looked at her boots and felt shy. But Emma wasn't shy, Harry used to be shy, though now he was bolder than her, apparently.

"Listen," he started and she looked up to his eyes again. When had they gotten so attractive? What had gone on with him in the last couple years? Other than the international superstardom she supposed, but he'd grown into himself, like expanded his skin and presence. He was cute, but all she could think was that the end of puberty was rarely so damn kind. His fingers even seemed attractive, long and slim and she was imagining him playing piano, but then the instrument was her body, and damn, she was in her head again. She could feel that her eyes widened comically. She knew her pupils were blown. When was the last time she'd gotten laid? Apparently too long if holding hands had her imagining unspeakable things and holding in moans.

He smirked then, she guessed he knew where she went then. "Listen," he leaned in close and she nodded, their noses brushed. He exhaled and her lips tingled. "Where are you staying?"

"Huh?" She wasn't sure what she'd expected him to say, but that wasn't it.

He giggled, and it was cute enough that Emma felt a splash of awareness hit her face. She looked around to see if anybody saw them flirting if she could disengage her gaze. "Are you at your parents?"

"Oh, um yeah?"

"Are you sure?" He laughed then and the brush of his thumb across the back of her hand was warmer than the mulled wine in her belly.

"No, I'm sure, just not sure why you are asking." She nudged him and realized a bit too late that her nipples touched him first, she was only half sorry this top meant no bra when she felt the friction.

It was his eyes' turn to widen. "Um," he exhaled and she missed his eyes when he quickly glanced down her dress like there might be a cookie there and then up quickly like he remembered he wasn't supposed to have any sweets. "Ok, um," he said after he visibly took hold of himself, "I was just hoping you had a room above the pub or something."

She knew her face called him idiot better than her mouth could.

He rolled his eyes, "I know, it was a shot in the dark!"

"Did you expect me to slide you my room key if I did?" Emma flashed her eyebrows like she wasn't imagining him finger fucking her with his piano hands a moment ago. "Isn't that your move?" She teased, kind of. She imagined he knew his way around hotel rooms, and women in them.

"Heeeey," he was being cute but the corners of his eyes dropped a moment and the green dulled. "It's not like that."

Emma scoffed.

"Well, I mean," his other hand found hers and now if anyone was watching them they were getting a show. "If it was like that, I wouldn't say no, but just want to hear about Holland, seems so amazing, and where you are in the summers..."

She could see him racking his brain.

"Iceland." They said together. And then giggled together too.

"You been keeping tabs on me?" She leaned forward and enjoyed the brush of him on her again. He shivered.

"Yeah, always admired you." He looked at her through his lashes. "I'd like to hear more reasons you're the most impressive person I've ever met."

"But I don't have a place." She reminded him.

"If I got one?"

"What?" She thought she knew what he was asking, but she wanted a minute to think about her answer, to quiet the resounding YES that echoed in her body and her mind. Because he might have said it wasn't like that, but they were chest to chest and had been holding hands since they kissed moments ago.

He looks down chagrined at his pigeon toes, before his gaze lit on their hands, then her face. "If I got a room at the Vicarage? Would you come with me? Really! We can really just talk." He assured and then the cocky boy who found his stride in hotel room assignations showed out, "if you want." Those dimples were deadly.

"Can it be the Boar's Head?" She knew she'd showed her cards, by asking for a room the town over.

He nodded and grinned like he'd just hit the hotpicks. "It can be the Boar's Head." He nodded like a dashboard bobble head. "I have to make nice here a bit longer, but I'll call now, and put your name on, so you can go when you're ready."

They'd been standing close for just a few more seconds when Gemma said- "Harry! Get off. God you are such a flirt!" But she was in her cups too, so they laughed it off.

The next hour, Emma stayed near Gem, but her eyes tracked Harry. Once, he came by and stole a sip of Gem's cocktail off her and Emma was glad her friend's ire distracted her, because Emma was watching him giggle like a fiend and the contraction of his throat. When their eyes met, she knew hers made a promise. One she wanted to keep.

So now she was alone in a couple of quaint rooms a town over, waiting to have sex with Gemma's little brother, Harry Styles.

She was torn, half of her wanted to open the bottle she'd swiped from the alcohol table at the party. The other half wanted to call an Uber and go back to her parents' house, where she should have stopped and grabbed some clothes so she wouldn't have to do the walk of shame.

But getting clothes would have meant forethought; she will deny that, especially to herself.

Emma had just opened the uber app and cursed their rural area when she heard a key in the lock.

Like a gun at the races.

They were never going to just talk. She'd just dropped her phone on the couch before Harry laid the first kiss on her.

The first kiss she planned to really remember, that is. Their mistletoe kiss had caught her off guard enough that she could only remember the feelings, not the details.

Yet, she was here, kissing him in a rented room after sneaking out of his mum's Christmas Eve party, on the strength of those feelings.

The kiss started strong and sweet, just like she takes her tea. He didn't taste like tea, he tasted like wine, Merlot maybe, but it could have been any red. And his tongue had this delicious slither to couple with its intoxicating flavor. She was in for a penny when she rode over here, but now there was no way she was going anywhere but to bed with him, no matter how pound foolish. He was nipping at her bottom lip and mouthing at her jaw before he sucked an almost mark into her collarbone and love bites onto the sides of her neck. He was just about to hit a particular sweet spot while working off her clothes, his hands were at her zipper. The cheeky boy, and she felt like they should at least hit pause even if stop was off the table.

"Harry," she moaned, or breathed, it was a sound she'd never made before.

"Hmmm?" He asked without stopping any of his forward momentum.

"I thought we were gonna talk." That one was like a laugh, there was a trill in her voice certainly.

"We'll talk afterwards." He said it like a statement, but looked to her for confirmation. At her nod, her skirt dropped and his hands were all over her bare ass above the stockings she'd worn to feel sexy but hadn't expected anyone to see. She normally would have worn tights. Thick ones, certainly, in Amsterdam. It would have been smarter here too. It was at least as cold. She'd been feeling that mix of confidence and self consciousness one gets when seeing people from your past when you think you've leveled up. She wanted to feel her best, look her best. Sexy, even if no one was interested. She's thankful, both for his interest and her unintended preparation. When he caught the sides of her knickers while her shirt and bra were as untouched as his clothes, she figured she needed to get with it. She'd been clutching his shoulders and his gorgeous hair instead of doing anything of use to their current pursuit.

Emma pulled at his shirt until it came over his messed up disheveled hair and laughed at the hodge podge of black ink haphazardly spread over his torso and one arm. "What's this then?" She said between licks of his tongue.

"After, we talk after!" He'd gotten her shirt unwrapped. She liked that detail of the shirt too, a sexy secret, like her matching bra. He pulled back to stare and was distracted long enough for her to give him another look over. He does look sexy in his decorated skin.

"What do they mean?" She liked things to make sense, her world was ordered, scientific.

Harry shrugged. "Lots of different things. Or nothing. Now can we please go to bed and we can discuss my stupid tattoos after I've had you."

"Oh fuck,'' was all she could say to that. He smirked and hoisted her up his hips to carry her through the open frame to the bedroom. He pulled her knickers free as soon as she was done bouncing.

She'd just about caught her breath when she saw him go for the button of his jeans. She lost it again when his thick bulge became visible and he pushed his tight jeans forcibly down his thighs. "Damn!" She looked at him with a glint.

He mounted the bed and spread her open, kissed her right knee over her stocking, which he seemed intent in keeping on, and looked pointedly at her center. She was swollen, his eye contact with the evidence didn't help. "Damn!" He echoed and she would have laughed but Harry, Gemma's sexy little brother, was kissing up her right thigh, with just a few licks and nips to her hip creases and so damn close to where she wanted him before he was testing the fuck out of her by kissing and licking and loving her left thigh. Ignoring her desperate need.

"Fuck, Harry. Please." She'd got the bedspread balled in her hands and she would normally have removed that before considering getting into the bed but she was also usually in pajamas and alone.

The filthy things he was saying were way worse than whatever could have been on the bedspread. Though she enjoyed them a great deal more, and it made her happy to have taken off everything already.

Harry had finally gotten to the main course. Only After her begging got loud enough to be heard by the room next door and the innkeeper, she won't make eye contact with anyone tomorrow. Maybe not even Harry, if he stayed. Emma had his full attention now, she could learn about all the things his mouth could do. The wet flat of his tongue caressed her like she was a bit of deliciousness and sunk down to find her creamy center.

"Fuck!" She yelped when he sealed his mouth over her for a tight suck and rub until she was rolling and writhing and fighting against the arms banded around her thighs. He laid one across her belly to hold her down.

"Do you like that?" He kept going because her answer was obviously yes. When the arm not restraining her passion made its piano fingered way between her thighs to do the thing she'd imagined earlier, sliding in tightly where she was wet and wanting, she clenched down on his three fingers and said his name.

He slid up her body and reached for the condom, but Emma had gotten her head back around to stop him before he got it on. She hated the taste of rubbers, and she'd like to know his flavor first. "Wait." She leaned forward between his legs and stroked him base to tip. He really was well favored, and not just from the neck up. She pressed his length to his stomach and licked the seam from his balls around and up to his head before she got a mouthful of him. Now he was her dessert. She didn't even think to try the pies and things at the party, she had been so preoccupied with the taste she'd had of him. It was but an appetizer for this. He leaked on her tongue and she moaned and hummed.

"Jesus! Emma! Stop, I'm gonna!" He pushed her back. And she was a little mad he'd taken away her sweetie. "Enough. I'd like to get inside you."

That was a suggestion she could take. So, she lay back and thought of anything but England while he stroked his skinned cock and spat over the tip. God. The way his stomach flexed caused an aftershock to recapture her. "Harry?" His name a plea. His knees hit the bed and her heels pressed him toward her, toward them.

"God, I've never seen you like this!" She'd have to ask him what he meant by that, later. Then he nodded, using his thumb to press his cock head inside the tight ring of muscle at the top of her entrance. Except he was a little low.

"Uhh!" She glanced down and grabbed him to redirect. "Wrong one." She tried not to laugh.

"Sorry, might be a touch too eager." He confessed: She's now laughing, openly. "Hey! It may have went right in, as wet as you are?"

Now she'd be indignant if he wasn't so ridiculous. "Are you really complaining about how wet my pussy is?"

"No, no, that would make me an idiot right?" He asked and found the right spot to start pushing in.

This was always her favorite part, and since this was her favorite fuck already, she knew the pop when he got the lip of his head in would be enough to begin her tip over the edge.

She moaned even before he caught the exact right angle to square her desire and she clutched his back and lifted her bottom to chase his withdrawal. "It would, god, you're perfect, an idiot."

"Oh God, Em!" She liked that. And the kisses to her mouth and chin and neck. Messy and wet and out of control. He'd gone from deliberate and self possessed to a man overcome as he rolled his hips up and into her and against that delicious place inside.

"Harry, don't stop. I'm close." Her head fell back when he slowed down just enough to draw out her orgasm, bring it to the surface and ride it home. He stroked her through and then brought his hands under her ass to lift her pelvis up to his driving thrusts, more deliberate and direct than the ones he used to get her off. She watched his face scrunch, and then open, his jaw down and his eyes closed until he smiled and licked his lips.

It's that face she decided she wanted to see as much as she could.

And she did, it was made better when he bit his lip and laughed. "Am I a perfect idiot then?"

She was blissed out and couldn't stop herself saying, "no you're an idiot with a perfect cock!" He was just pulling out of her then, and she was so embarrassed when he stood up to tie off the condom and preened.

"Am I now?"

She was the idiot. "I'll Pay you to forget I said that!" Emma wants to scurry to the bathroom and get out of here. She's already feeling shame, may as well get the walk over with.

"I don't need any money." He's laughing now. Shes scooting to the restroom when he catches her hands and holds her close. "Where are you going. You owe me, you're gonna pay me in conversation."

Wait, he still wants to talk, even after they've done what they came to do. "Ok." Shes still a little embarrassed and pulling away.

"No, no, stay and talk, come back to bed and tell me about my perfect co—" she's clamping her hand over his mouth.

"Only if you shut up, and I have to have a wee first."

"After!" He begged. "I wanna hear about school and everything. What exactly you're doing to save the world."

"I'll tell you, I have to go after, prevents uti's and such." She hated being clinical, well right now.

"It does?" He asked and she nodded. "That's good to know."

She wants to be embarrassed, but his ease when she comes back from washing up, the way he is still naked and opens his arms to her, helping her find the right spot on top of him where they are both comfortable, it makes her less self conscious, about her little factoid, her nudity, or that she's essentially slept with him right off.

She sighs and is about to ask about the giant butterfly, moth, when he speaks. "Tell me about Holland, about school." His voice is like molasses, and her words come out as slow.

"It lovely, and school is so hard, some times I might as well move onto campus, live in the library-"

"You don't live on campus?" She shakes her head. "Do you ride your bike into town?"

"Yes, I do."

"Oh, you must send me a picture of you on your bike. In a dress." He wants to text.

"Then I want updates on any stupid tattoos you get!" She counters.

"You think my tattoos are stupid?" He pouts, and she's captivated by that face.

"Very." She kissed both sparrows beaks. "But their also sexy."

He likes that, his dimples say so. Then he asks about Iceland and they talk for an hour or more before she's over him, swallowing his moans. They have another go in the morning before leaving, he's hard to convince that she'll be fine with an Uber. If he drives her, it'll blow their cover.

She wound up in his suv anyway.

For the next week they snuck out to warm up the backseat of his Range Rover, her mother's kitchen counter, his childhood bedroom, and then the inn again the night before she left. Just for a few hours, she'd told her mum she was going to the pub to say goodbye to mates.

Their goodbye meant his face remained her go-to for the next year whenever she was alone in her room, at night, missing him.

"Can I have you again, next year? For Christmas?" He'd asked.

Who could say no to that?

She faced those plans unafraid, the ones they made, for the whole next year.

#harry styles #harry styles fanfiction #harry styles fanfic #tis the damn season #winter wonderland #chapter 2

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phantom-curve · 4 years ago

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find the strength, find the melody pt. 7

lmfao I love how I posted an update 2 days ago like “this fic will have sporadic posts! idk when they’re coming!” and then I spent the last two days writing this. when that insomnia inspiration hits ya gotta just go with it!

this chapter went in a completely different direction than I had planned on soooo yeah...honestly not sure where this is gonna end up! the characters from my OC novel that I’m loosely basing this story around didn’t have a connection before they ran into each other so when Julie gave me this I almost cut it because I genuinely wasn’t sure where it was going. I think I’ve almost figured it out and I’m pretty sure I know how this will end. and now we all get to laugh at me together because it’s definitely gonna be more than 3-4 chapters. it might even be more than 6. Luke’s POV will have roughly the same amount of chapters I think, possibly longer because boy oh boy does he have A LOT to say (most of it about Julie). fair warning: this one has an awkward cut off because of the way I need to set up the next chapter. sorry about that.

and now something I probably should be embarrassed to admit: I don’t remember writing the part where I managed to sneak an “I’ve Got The Music” reference in so now we know for sure this show has infiltrated my brain. it’s fine, I’m fine, at least I WILL BE WHEN WE GET A S2!!!! KENNY!!!! SAVE ME HERE!!! MAKE MY UNHINGED OBSESSIONS WORTH IT!!!!!

taglist: @blue-hat-girl, @lwhoscribbles, @bluefyoto94, @5sosmukefan, @moonlightxnder, @leahthewonder, @kat-maybe-not, @lukewearingbeanies, @imastrugglingartist

It was no small miracle that Julie made it through the afternoon without Ray asking for details about her supposed ‘plan’ to play with the Sunset Curve boys. She didn’t think she would have been able to pull off spinning a story quite as well as Luke had earlier. She had expected at least a small amount of interrogating about when she had started playing again, but apparently the news that she was playing at all, let alone with other people in front of an audience, was enough for Ray to ignore all of the other plot holes involved in this scheme. He seemed to have almost forgotten the meeting with Principal Lessa entirely, humming on the drive home, kissing her forehead and turning her loose to freak out alone in her room while he sat down to work on his computer in the dining room. Julie took full advantage of the time alone to restlessly pace her room and send Flynn a 911 text. Her bestie’s contact photo lit up the phone screen 30 seconds later.

“Okay, I’m hiding in the basement girl’s bathroom, so you’ve got exactly 5 minutes before I get too grossed out to stay here.”

Julie’s chest loosened at the sound of Flynn’s comforting voice. There wasn’t anyone else in the world that loved her the way Flynn did. It was reassuring and made it easy for Julie to let loose.

“Lessa told Dad about the music program and then You-Know-Who ambushed us outside of her office and basically forced me to agree to perform with them.”

“Voldemort was at Los Feliz?!”

Flynn’s gasp was overflowing with sarcasm.

“Flynn!” Julie whined. “Be serious! Luke showed up out of nowhere again! And he did the thing again! The charming his way into getting what he wants thing! And now I have to play with his freaking band! What the hell am I supposed to do?”

There was silence for a moment. When Flynn spoke again her voice was softer, more serious.

“You don’t have to play with them, Jules. You can tell them no, and they’ll have no choice but to respect that. The only person who can make you do anything is you. But...I kinda think you might want to play with them.”

“What?! No!”

Julie’s exclamation was a second late. Flynn didn’t say anything. She didn’t need to. Julie sighed.

“Okay fine. There’s something about Luke that makes me want to play again. Are you happy? He gave mom’s song back to me when I thought it was lost forever. He’s the only person who’s heard me perform it, and he...no one else has ever made me feel that good about my music before.”

Julie thanked her lucky stars Flynn wasn’t in the room to see her blush. There was a long moment of contemplative silence on the other end of the line. When she spoke again, there was that extra note of take-no-shit in Flynn’s voice that made Julie sit up and really listen.

“I think you should give it a chance. Who knows, maybe this is some sort of sign from your mom. You said it was a miracle he would have even found that song in the first place. You said it felt like she was there with you when you were playing. Maybe she made sure it would find its way back to you when you were ready for it.”

Julie didn’t say anything, just worried her bottom lip with her teeth. Her heart beat a little faster in her chest. It had felt a little too perfect to be just a coincidence. The way Luke kept appearing in her life at the exact moments she needed him someone or something to help her keep moving forward. Flynn sighed.

“Look, I’m not saying it is your mom. But I’m not saying there’s not some kind of greater power out there that keeps pushing the two of you together. I think you should give it a chance. If nothing else, you can get back in the music program and we can bring Double Trouble to life in time for our Junior Showcase!”

Julie couldn’t help laughing. Her eyes felt misty, love for her best friend welling up in her heart.

“I never agreed to that name you know. But thanks, Flynn. I’ll think about it.”

“Good. Now. I gotta get the fuck out of this grimy ass bathroom. Love you, bye!”

Flynn waited for her to return the sentiment before hanging up. Julie flopped back on her bed, letting her breath out in a loud whoosh as she hit the comforter. A glance at her phone told her she only had a couple hours until Luke and the other boys would be out of school and on their way to her house. She tried her best to ignore the way that thought made her stomach roll with a type of nervousness she would rather not name. It was easier to blame it on nerves over playing with new people rather than nerves over playing with Luke. Except...now that she actually thought about it, she had played with Luke before. Her head spun, eyes fluttering shut as she remembered the one music class she had shared with Luke last year.

She had only been a freshman, stuck in a lowly Introduction to Composition class. It was supposed to be for new songwriters. Julie had a little more experience than the rest of the class, after all she’d been kind of composing with her mom for a few years now, so when it had been time to write a duet for their final big project she had gotten paired up with the classmate whose skill level most matched hers. It was supposed to be a way for them to challenge each other and grow as writers instead of one person doing most of the work. Julie had been paired with Luke.

He’d been a grumbly sophomore, held back for failing his last semester of Intro to Comp the year before. He had been stuck there only for the second semester, forced to double up between their class and his second year Composition class. Julie hadn’t been all that excited about partnering with him. He hadn’t really seemed to care about the class at all, and even though Julie also sometimes felt like it was holding her back a little bit, she never once voiced that thought. It was a privileged mindset, and Julie was well aware that she had an advantage over her classmates since her mother was a professional songwriter. Luke, on the other hand, had made it well known that he felt like he was wasting his time just waiting to get through the semester so he could move up to the Advanced Composition class that he felt he truly belonged in. Julie could usually do no more than roll her eyes in those moments.

It was true that Luke was talented. His guitar playing was impressive, his lyrics were heartfelt and sometimes even downright poetic. Julie just didn’t think anyone deserved specific things in life because they happened to be naturally talented at something. Their songwriting experience had been...interesting to say the least. And short. It had ended abruptly when Julie’s mother had died 5 days later. In the end, they’d only worked together for two 40-minute class periods before she had been lost in the fog of grief that consumed her in the weeks following the loss of her mom.

Julie shot up in bed, eyes wide. She didn’t even fully remember what had happened with the half-finished song they had been working on. Errant notes echoed in her head, like a song that had only existed in dreams until now. She absently wondered if Luke had held onto that as well. It was no wonder she had kept that particular memory suppressed all this time. That time in her life had been particularly painful. Luke had been gentle with her though. Almost all traces of his typical arrogance gone in the two short class periods they’d had to work together. He had kept things light, steering their songwriting in the direction of a rock ballad more than a true duet. Julie hadn’t minded. She had been floating through classes by then anyway, on edge every second she was away from her mom’s bedside. It had been easier to work on something that didn’t have as many sappy emotions attached to it.

She groaned, burying her face in her hands. No wonder Luke had been so sweet with her. He must have had a front row seat to her breakdown throughout the last year. She hadn’t even realized it. Had never before seen the way he watched her from a distance, checked in on her during class. She should have. Now that she was thinking about it, trying to identify every instance, she could name a million. How had she missed it for so long? How had he gone so long without saying anything? The Luke she remembered was terrible at keeping his mouth shut. He had always been ready to speak his mind, never afraid to start a discourse. It didn’t track that he had been holding himself back. Unless...it was more about her musical ability than anything else. She remembered now; Luke had been thrilled to partner with her for the duet. He had made some remark about how her sound was the perfect complement to his. Maybe he only cared about the ways they would mesh as songwriters. She could only hope that’s what his words had meant.

She felt more secure in her footing as a musician when it came to dealing with Luke than she ever had as a simple teenaged girl. If it was just about the music she could compartmentalize better, keep herself from getting too emotionally invested. Music had always been a safe zone, neutral. She breathed in and out deeply, remembering the technique Dr. Turner had taught her to slow her breathing and recenter her mind. She could do this. It was just about the music. They would play a song together, Julie would get back into the music program, and life would move forward much in the way it had before. Except Julie would actually participate in class this time. She had the music back in her soul, she wasn’t ever going to let it go again. On her next exhale, she heard the doorbell ring. Showtime. Julie zipped down the stairs, ripping open the door before her dad had a chance to get more than three feet away from his computer. Luke, Alex and Reggie all stumbled back a step as she tumbled outside, pulling the front door shut behind her. The three teenaged boys shared a look.

“Studio. Now.”

Julie raced down the path to her mom’s studio before they could react, not even waiting to see if they followed her. If they were smart, if they truly wanted to do this, they would. She hauled the garage doors open, only turning around when she had the piano at her back. The wood felt warm and solid, almost like she had her mom as a support behind her instead of an instrument. The boys appeared seconds later, Luke leading the way. He stopped a couple feet inside of the studio, studying her with wide open earnest eyes. She let out a deep breath. Reggie spoke up before she could get a word out.

“Woah, Julie, this studio is so cool! It’s like a tiny home! A musical tiny home in a botanical garden!!”

His green eyes were wide, expression awed as he spun to take in the space that Julie and her mom had spent countless hours turning into theirs.

“How did you get chairs on the ceiling?! Are you, like, a witch and a siren?!! Man, you and your mom must have made some serious magic in here.”

Luke’s arm shot out faster than lightening to backhand Reggie’s bicep. Reggie cringed away, a soft owww! just barely audible over the loud sigh Alex let out as he buried his face in his hands. Reggie shrugged, looking back and forth between his bandmates before giving Julie a confused yet apologetic glance. What had he said wrong this time? The giggle that bubbled out of her was as unexpected as it was welcomed. Warmth blazed in her heart, memories of the time she had spent in here with her mom washing over her with a kind of hazy bliss she hadn’t ever experienced before. She gazed at Reggie, letting that same feeling of motherly love from the night before fill her up. It was all she could do not to react to Luke’s jaw dropping when she gave Reggie a soft smile.

“We did. We made so much magic in here.”

The words were gentle and filled with a kind of genuine love that overshadowed all other feelings of awkward nervousness. Alex and Luke relaxed instantly, Reggie’s face losing all traces of uncertainty as he beamed at her with a smile so large it almost looked painful. Julie couldn’t help but let herself return it, just a little bit. The silence that settled between them was more comfortable, the tense moment from earlier broken. Julie studied the boys in front of her. She hadn’t ever thought of them as friends per se. They knew each other, would say hi if they encountered one another outside the walls of the high school, but at the same time, they didn’t actually know each other. Julie’s little run in with Luke the night before had made that painfully obvious. She wasn’t really sure what to make of them.

“Are you guys actually serious about this whole Showcase scheme? Did Luke even tell you about his dumb plan?”

“Hey! That plan is genius. Even your dad agreed. He seems pretty cool.”

Julie couldn’t help the fond way she rolled her eyes. Alex was quick to reassure her that they did, in fact, know about the plan.

“Not that I actually think it’s a particularly well thought out plan.” He stated with a lingering glare at Luke’s back.

The planner in question did his best to ignore the skeptical look on Julie’s face.

“Julie, you really don’t deserve to be out of the music program.” Reggie’s voice was soft and sincere. “You have the voice of an angel. If we can help convinced Ms. Harrison and Principal Lessa to give you your spot back it will be so worth it. And even if we don’t, it’ll be worth the looks on their faces when we rock the pants off that crowd!”

Julie laughed in spite of herself, slightly reassured even as she chewed nervously on her lip. Luke took a few bouncy steps forward, pulling her attention to him completely. His eyes locked on hers and she was sure she was drowning, throat tightening at the look he was giving her.

“You got this. I wouldn’t have come up with this idea if I didn’t believe it 100%.”

Honestly, that was what scared her the most about it.

“We don’t even have anything prepared.”

Her voice was barely a whisper, unsteady and wavering. Luke took a few more steps towards her, Reggie and Alex ghosting along silently a few feet behind him. Julie didn’t even notice, so laser focused on the brunette boy in the cut-up tank top in front of her. She watched his muscles flex as he reached into his back pocket, flicking out a piece of folded up paper in a move scarily reminiscent of when he had given her mom’s song back to her. He bit his lip, head ducking a little to be closer to hers as he unfolded the worn sheets of scrappy notebook paper. She let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding, focusing on the messy handwriting in front of her.

“I thought you would say that.”

The smile on his face was so soft and sweet it should have been illegal.

“It’s called ‘Bright’. It’s a Sunset Curve song that we never performed because it’s missing something. Look,” his bare shoulder brushed hers as he shifted to point at the notes, warmth seeping through the thin material of her t-shirt, “it’s perfect for your range. I was thinking, if we add a little bit of piano here and here,” fire blazed a path up her arm as his fingers traced along the opening notes and chorus, forearm flexing against her own, bare skin brushing in teasing licks, “it’ll be perfect.”

Julie forced herself to focus on what he was saying, eyes roving across the paper. She hummed a little under her breath, hearing what he described in her head. His eyes lit up when he saw her get it, feet springing up and down as he dipped even closer towards her and started to sing.

We will rise, through the night

You and I

We will fight to shine together

Bright forever

His voice vibrated in her chest, the sound filling her with an emotion she couldn’t fully identify. Alex and Reggie bobbed along behind him, Reggie’s fingers plucking out the baseline on an invisible guitar while Alex nodded along to an unseen beat. Julie could envision the way the song would sound with a complete band, could practically see herself fitting seamlessly into the mix with her piano and vocals. She couldn’t help the smile that curved her lips as she joined in, reading the lyrics off of the page.

And rise through the night,

You and I

We will fight to shine together

“Go up high.”

Luke cut in, fingers twirling towards the ceiling. Julie automatically made the adjustment in notes to harmonize her voice with his for the last line, holding the final syllable for a beat longer than him.

Bright forever

“Yes!”

Luke’s arm pumped up and down, bicep flexing and distracting Julie momentarily. She dropped her head shyly, trying to hide her blush. When her cheeks cooled a moment later she looked back up at the boy in front of her. His eyes were glowing, smile stretched a mile wide as he stared at her. Unconditional belief in her was practically oozing from his pores. She felt her face soften as their eyes locked, giving him her own sweet smile that was meant just for the two of them. She thanked him with a gentle murmur, heart melting as he simply bit his lower lip and nodded.

A throat cleared in the background, and Julie was snapped out of their private bubble by the sound. Her entire face felt engulfed in flames as she looked over Luke’s shoulder to see Alex and Reggie still standing a few paces behind him. Reggie’s face was bright, his sunshine temperament back in full force. Alex was a little more guarded, but he was giving her an encouraging smile and there was cautious optimism swimming in his sage green eyes as he fiddled with one of his drumsticks. She inhaled deeply and let her breath out in one smooth exhale. The same sort of peacefulness from the night before settled over her.

“Okay. Okay, so we’re doing this.”

Luke’s whoop was so loud both her and Alex jumped. Reggie raced forward with a cheer to sling one arm around Luke’s shoulders and the other around Julie’s, pulling them so close to his chest that their noses nearly touched. Julie saw the blush staining Luke’s cheeks and felt her own warm to match. Alex coughed again.

“Reg, c’mon. Let it settle for just a sec before you go all human octopus on the poor girl.”

“Oh, right! Sorry, Jules!!”

Reggie released both of them quickly. Julie flicked her gaze between the three boys, enjoying the glimpses at their band dynamic. Alex’s words had sounded a bit exasperated, but there was a fondness running through them as well. He gave a half-hearted roll of his eyes at Reggie’s abrupt movements and reached his own long arm out to pull the dark-haired boy close.

“Help me unload the van? I still don’t trust our little Lukey boy with my kit.”

“Hey! That was one time!”

Luke sounded downright offended. The dark look Alex leveled at him in response had Julie choking back a laugh with a badly disguised cough. Clearly once of whatever he did was enough. Luke pouted, arms flexing as they crossed over his chest.

“You put your foot through my bass drum, and you think that isn’t reason enough not to trust you with it ever again?”

Luke sputtered, eyes flicking to Julie and back to Alex as his ears reddened.

“I told you I didn’t see it!”

“It’s the biggest part of the kit, dumbass. Literally the hardest thing to miss.”

Alex’s voice was as unimpressed as it was dismissive. Luke threw his hands in the air as the other boys headed out of the studio, laughing amongst themselves. It was clear this was a regular argument between the two, no heat or anger left in it, only a loving sort of tease. Like the way Carlos still brought up that time she accidentally gave him a concussion double-bouncing him off of their neighbor’s trampoline when he wanted something from her. Or the way her Tía would still laugh as she remembered the time her mom had almost gotten them both arrested for a bar fight on her 21st birthday, Ray affectionately filling in the parts that she tried to leave out. Warmth bloomed in her chest. This wasn’t just a band, wasn’t just a ragtag trio of friends. These guys were brothers. This was a family. And they were letting her into that intimate circle.

The thought was both humbling and nerve-wracking. This Showcase was a big deal. It wasn’t just some school assignment. This could impact their future as a band career-wise. They were all trusting her with this, fully believing in her, or at least, fully believing in Luke’s faith in her abilities. She wasn’t sure anyone had ever believed in her like that. Not anyone that hadn’t known her since she was in diapers. Her head swam, knees feeling a bit weak. She stumbled her way over to the couch, collapsing onto it with a barely audible huff. Luke was in front of her instantly, crouched down so they were face to face. His hands twitched in his lap, but he didn’t reach for her.

“Hey. Julie. Breathe.”

She sucked in a breath, zeroing in on nothing more than his face. After a few seconds she realized he was breathing in and out slowly, just loud enough for her to hear over the jumble of thoughts running amok in her brain. She matched her own inhales and exhales to his, the room slowly coming back into focus as her head cleared. He gave her one of those soft smiles she was starting to think of as hers.

“We don’t have to do this if you don’t want to. But I wouldn’t have stopped you in school if I didn’t think you were gonna rock it. I heard you last night. I listened to you for years before last night.”

His chin dropped in embarrassment for just a second before he pulled his gaze back up to hers. Julie felt like she was on the edge of a cliff. Not for the first time she wished she knew how long this version of Luke had been lurking under the surface. It took everything in her not to let herself step off that ledge and fall.

“Music is in your soul. It’s a part of you. Not everyone is like that, but you are. Your life without music...”

He tapered off like the thought was physically painful to him, eyebrows furrowing in a slight wince.

“Living without music would be like living in a world without stars: dark and empty and uninspired. You deserve galaxies, Julie. You deserve the chance to shine exactly like the star you are, and the world deserves the chance to hear you. Please, just...have a little faith?”

She saw it then. As he gazed at her with those bottomless ocean eyes, with that special smile on his lips and sincerity bleeding through every word, she knew. Luke was like her. Luke got it. In a way that no one else except her mom ever had. That’s what this was. They were kindred spirits, two sides of the same coin. And that feeling? The wind rushing through her hair and stealing her breath away while her limbs all turned to jelly feeling? That was definitely her falling head over heels off of the cliff and into Luke Patterson completely.

“Okay.”

She breathed out, and his answering smile set off the butterflies she thought had finally left her stomach. He stood up and held a hand out to her, easily pulling her to her feet in one smooth movement.

“You know,” his smile turned rueful, “eventually you’re gonna have to answer one of my questions with something other than ‘okay’. That’s a pretty passive word, and I’m not really a passive type of person. I wanna start hearing some ‘hell yeah’s and ‘awesome’s pretty soon.”

Julie rolled her eyes, moving away from Luke to set up her keyboard. He gave her a bouncy little shrug of his shoulders, and she let the levity of his joke wash over her, releasing the last bit of nerves. She could do this. Luke believed in her. Her mom believed in her. Hell, Alex and Reggie believed in her and she barely even knew them. She could do this, just like her mom had said.

Noise from the other boys making their way up the driveway had her rushing to pull both doors to the studio open so they could haul in Alex’s drum kit. The three of them left together to grab amps and guitars, Julie finishing the rest of the set up in the garage. Before she had time to overthink things or freak out again, they were all settled into their spots and Alex was counting down for their first run through. Fingers against the keys, Julie breathed out, opened her mouth, and began to play.

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twilightsagasworld · 4 years ago

Text

Riley Biers x Plus-size Reader

Part 3

Part 2 ; Part 1

word count: 2371

Requested by @fyeahtaylorp

“Carlisle, let me get this straight, Aro, one of the most dangerous vampires in the world,a maniac who has an obsession with power, recruited Riley Biers into his coven, and now Riley’s sent to what? Check up on my Daughter?!”

Bella was going off on poor Carlisle, but I didn’t blame her, I heard stories of the Volturi and the things they’ve done to people, and recently I’ve heard of the almost brawl between the Olympic coven and said Volturi, and how things had almost gotten messy if Alice and Jasper didn’t show up with the other hybrid in time. I hated to think about such terrible things, I never did like fighting of any kind, I tried to avoid it at all costs, I like to think of it as a type of self-preservation, but not completely.

A loud crash rang throughout the room. Great. Bella broke one of Esme’s vases. Edward promptly escorted Bella from the living room. Everyone else stood around awkwardly for a moment while Esme quickly cleaned the mess. Carlisle cleared his throat but Alice let out a small gasp and stared off into nothing. I was a bit on edge, I felt useless and weird to just stand in the living room waiting for nothing, so I plopped down onto a couch and twiddled my thumbs, “Alice” Jasper’s soft voice was almost inaudible as he whispered her name, his hand was on her waist where he caressed it gently. “It’s Riley..he left Italy”, who is Riley? I hadn’t heard anything about him, was he a friend of theirs? No, not if I was going off of Bella’s reaction, Carlisle then asked when he’d be here, “Tomorrow morning, just as the sun starts rising...But that’s all” she leaned more into Jasper, is Riley dangerous? A threat? I feel so confused. Rosalie’s voice sounded mocking when she spoke, “He’s just another one of the Volturi’s dirty dogs, why doesn’t Aro just come here himself?”, good point, Carlisle gave her an apprehensive look, “You know why Rosalie, Aro probably doesn’t think it’s necessary to come himself, he won’t waste his time with such things”, Rosalie scoffed, rolling her eyes, “Yeah right, he seemed pretty interested last time, but that’s not my business”, I knew Carlisle was trying to keep calm, “Last time was a totally different story, I believe you do remember” he didn’t wait for her to say something else, “Now, I think we should all try to relax a bit before tomorrow, go out, enjoy yourselves” with that said, he and Esme left through the balcony’s exit, probably to go hunting. Rosalie went her own way while Jasper and Emmett raced each other outside, most likely for a bear wrestling match again, and Alice, she bounced her way over to me, taking her place on the couch beside me. I raised a curious brow in her direction, “You’re awfully springy Alice”. She smiled, leaning in closer to me, she swept the room with her eyes before whispering, “I saw something else (y/n)”, oh, why would Alice be sharing this with me? She seemed to know what I was thinking, “It’s about you” “Me?” “Let me finish” I pouted, fine, Alice gripped my hands gently, her smile widening, “Do you know what a mate is?”, I nodded, Esme had told me not long after I was turned, “Well, your mate just so happens to be Riley...Isn’t it great!”.

“What” I didn’t believe my ears, I frowned , “Alice are you sure? Riley? RIley is my mate?”, she just simply nodded, “But don’t worry, he won’t hurt you (y/n), I’ve-” “Seen it, yeah, great, just great, my mate, who I know nothing about, just so happens to be working for a bunch of sicko vampire overlords who have a creepy obsession with Bella! Oh how wonderful” my head slumped into my hands and I wish I could sigh, my heart would be pounding if it could. I felt Alice rub my back, “Hey, it’s going to work out just fine, you’ll see, but for now” she got up, “I have clothes to re-arrange” and she was gone, I stared after her, she’s just going to leave it there? I get nothing else? No other explanation? Great, yeah, I’m screwed. As much as I wanted to be happy, I couldn’t bring myself to embrace it, Edwardo and Bella are going to rip me a new one, and I didn’t even want to imagine Rosalie’s reaction. I hope everything turns out okay tomorrow. I really do.

Morning couldn’t have come any slower, I spent the whole night sitting on the couch, wandering about everything, no doubt Edward already knew what I knew, but he hadn’t said anything yet, I hope he doesn’t. At least not to Bella.

Everyone gathered around outside, it was very misty and no human would be able to see even 10 feet in front of them. Bella held Renesmee protectively behind herself, the scent of wet dog invaded my senses and I pulled my mouth into a sneer, I was familiar with this wolf’s scent, his name was Jacob, he came around nearly every day to spend time with Renesmee and I could see her smile when she noticed him. Jacob was in his wolf form and stood beside Bella, on her other side was Edward. Alice’s voice broke the silence in the air, “He’s here” , and there, not even 15 feet from me, appeared Riley. I took in Riley’s appearance, he was very attractive, lean but built, like Jasper. He looked wet, did he swim here? From Italy?

“Long time no see, Riley” Edward said, he seemed slightly uncomfortable, Bella looked like she was about to attack at any moment and I just stood beside Emmett shuffling my feet. Riley shrugged, his eyes swept over us, lingering on me for a moment, I felt a tug in my mind, I wanted to be near him, Riley’s face scrunched up in confusion for a moment, he must’ve felt it too, but he shook his head before speaking, “I won’t say I’m happy about it Cullen, but you know why I’m here, where’s the girl” , Jacob stepped forward with a snarl and a loud hiss was shot at him, everyone’s heads turned to me, and I knew that sound was created by me, “Sorry, I don’t know what happened” I said it so soft, it would’ve been missed by any human ears. Emmett let out a whistle but Rosalie shot him a look which shut him up, Carlisle stepped forward and gained everyone’s attention, I felt stupid and embarrassed, “It’s alright (y/n), I’ll explain later,but for now, Bella, if you please” Carlisle held out his hand to Renesmee, and Bella grudgingly stepped out of the way to let her daughter pass, Riley caught my eye for a second before he turned his gaze to Renesmee, he walked forward, not at all bothered by Jacob’s low growl, and he knelt down in front of her, he looked her over, she was a head taller than him now, “How much longer before she’s fully mature?”, Bella answered, “Three years”, Renesmee looked about fifteen , Riley nodded, “Her diet so far? How has her hunger and thirst been?”, “She feeds more on animals than human food, she’s had no problems switching between the two and her thirst is under control” another nod from Riley. I watched Renesmee closely, she seemed perfectly comfortable with Riley, I wonder why.

I think everyone found it weird when she all of a sudden placed her hand on RIley’s cheek, Riley flinched back, causing Jacob to become aggrivated and step forward, this caused me step forward as well, “Back off dog” I let out a growl, even in his wolf form I could notice the sudden taken aback look, “Jacob, (y/n), back off and calm down” Carlisle turned to Riley who was watching me, I huffed and did as I was told, but kept my eyes on Jacob, “Riley, don’t worry, it’s how Renesmee communicates, through physical touch”, Riley gave a slow cautious move forward again, “...Alright...”, Renesmee gave him a small smile before placing her hand on his cheek, Riley froze the instant her hand made contact with his skin, she must be talking to him, or showing him her memories, I don’t know how her abilities work honestly, I don’t think I ever will.

The tension in the air seemed to fade slightly when Renesmee pulled her hand away and Riley stood up and...Laughed? What? Bella shot forward and pinned Riley to a tree by his neck, “What’s so funny?!” Riley never got a chance to answer because I tackled Bella to the ground the next instant, “Don’t..Touch..him” I don’t know what came over me, was it the pull form earlier? Or was it because Riley is supposed to be my mate? I felt a wave of calm wash over me and two pairs of arms pull me up and away from Bella, I looked at Jasper, who was holding my right arm, he nodded his head, “Easy there” , i looked to my left to see Emmett who gave me a knowing smirk, I scoffed, “Go eat shi-” “”That’s enough, I believe we can discuss this inside, if you would” Carlisle motioned for Riley to follow him into the house, Edward had helped Bella up and they were already inside as well as Alice, Rosalie and Esme. Emmett told Jasper to head on in while he talked to me. Emmett crossed his arms, wiggling his eyebrows, “So, you found yourself a mate” I nodded, Emmett let out a laugh and ruffled my hair, “That’s awesome (y/n)!” I brushed his hands away, “No, Emmett! Bella’s going to rip me a new one!” Emmett shrugged, “Nah, she’ll get over it, she has to eventually” Emmett pulled me inside, I wish I was as carefree as him.

Inside, Carlisle was already explaining some things to Riley, I held my distance and chose to sit on the kitchen counter instead, everyone was scattered between the living area and the kitchen. “...We’ll give you some privacy, but don’t try anything”. Riley appeared in the kitchen. It was only the two of us now. Yay. Neither of us said a word, we just stared at each other, we were both probably taking everything in from what happened inside. It was I who broke the sience, “So,uhm, Riley...You swam here?” Riley raised a brow, “Yeah, I guess, it’s the fastest way here from Italy” I nodded biting my lip, “So...(y/n)...You liking the weather?”, I chuckled, “You’re asking me about the weather?” , Riley offered a small smile, “Yeah, I guess I am”, I shake my head and look out the large window before looking back at him, “I prefer the cold rainy days above the heat, of course I can’t really be affected by it either way now, but you catch my drift...” I hope., Riley took a tentative step forward and I hopped off the counter, we were two feet apart now, Riley stood a head taller than me, “How did you end up with the Volturi? If you don’t mind me asking”, he explained that after the battle with Victoria and the newborn Army, Edward had spared his life and Riley spent one year in hiding from anyone, but the Volturi had discovered his scent and had tracked him down, at first they were going to kill him, but Aro was intrigued by his ability to sense whether someone was lying to him, so he asked Riley to join his coven in Italy, and now, a month later, here he was, in the house of his newfly found mate and running errands for the Volturi.

It was long since past noon and the sky was darkening, Riley and I had gotton on great after the initial awkwardness faded, and turns out we had a lot in common. Riley had asked me what it was with the whole golden eye thing and I explained to him that it was as a result of the animal diet we were all on, Riley found it interesting since all he’s known was human blood, but I offered to take him out hunting later that night, and then he could experience it himself, he agreed and we talked some more. I learnt that he was turned at nineteen and he was manipulated by Victoria to create a newborn army, but recently he’s been taking his vampire life easy, he didn’t hate anyone, but he did really miss his parents, and he knows he can’t visit them because they think he’s dead and Aro would kill them. In turn I shared my story with him, and he was pleased to know I was only a year younger than him, well, used to be a year younger in human terms anyway. We were generally just really enjoying the other’s company and we never left the each other’s side at all.

But the next morning Riley had to leave, I felt dour, I just met my mate, and now he was already being taken away from me. It seemed unfair, but I didn’t let it show on my face, but that didn’t keep Edward fro reading my thoughts and shooting me glares which I kindly returned, he’s such a stupid shiny volvo owner.

It wasn’t raining today, which was great since it wouldn’t be intensifying the stench that was Jacob Black, he was in his human form today. I had apologised to him last night about almost attacking him and he was fine with it, I hadn’t apologised to Bella yet though.

Everyone was once again outside, Carlisle had written a note for Riley to give to Aro, it was details about Renesmee. Bella and Edward didn’t really say much, but Bella did say sorry to Riley for basically strangling him which he accepted. I hugged him, we were the perfect fit for each other. “Goodbye for now Riley, I hope we see each other soon”,Riley held up his hand and stuck out his pinky while he smirked, “Pinky promise” I grinned, interlocking our pinky fingers, “Pinky promise”

And then he was gone.

#Riley biers x reader #riley biers #riley needs more love in twilight #Twilight saga #twilight fanfiction #twilight imagine #twilight x reader #twilight #the twilight saga #twilight renaissance #vampire #twilight requests #plus size reader

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