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sandwicz · 2 years ago

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Mermay!!!

My contributions to mermay

Mermaid!kazuha x gn!reader

Cw: mentions of death, drowning, thriller-ish?, not proof-read, fluff

You've always been so curious about mermaids, yet will this one trip to the sea late at night satisfy your curiosity? Or will it make you regret ever coming at all and make you meet your doom?

Cw: mentions of death, drowning, thriller-ish?, not proof-read, fluff

I found no pics of mermaid kazuha so have this fanart of him i made instead

✧-------------------------------✧

You’re neither a fisherman nor a sailor, you're just someone whose home is near the ocean. Your house stood on a dock. It was relatively large for you and your family to live together. Your house is not far from civilization. Only a few distances apart, a distance that’s just a walk away.

As someone who grew up near the sea, you had a fascination with the ocean and its creatures. Especially about mermaids, who are said to live in the ocean. You had heard locals’ stories of the mermaid’s malicious intentions—how they would seduce sailors or fishermen and drag them down into the bottom of the sea to devour them in the end. This led to your curiosity growing even more. How do they look? What made them so seductive in a way that would lead people to their demise? How do their songs sound? Was it so beautiful that people could get hypnotized by it? The more people warn you about the ill-will of the mermaids, the more you long to see them, or at least catch a glimpse of them.

“Have you heard?” one of the older people said while you were spending time helping them with tasks, “Poor Hanaki’s dad went out to sea a few days ago for fishing and never returned.”

“Oh really?” Another elder said, “It must be because of those mermaids. Aiya, you should not fish at night these days. It’s too dangerous.” The elder proceeded to face you.

“(Name), please remember, do not go out to the sea at night, mermaids are wicked. Don’t fall for their charms… The next thing you know…you’ll…you’ll”

“Don’t worry, grannie,” you interrupted, eyes full of fondness, smiling at how much they care about you.

“I won’t.” You swallowed a bitter lie. You knew they cared a lot about you, and would be very sorrowful if you were to be gone, yet the feeling of curiosity ate you up inside. You’d rather meet your end than not know anything or see a mermaid at all.

You planned on sneaking out at night quietly and going to the sea to hopefully see the mermaid. You’ve rented a boat, which you’ll use to go to sea during nightfall. You waited a few days after that conversation, a little bitterness still remaining in your mouth.

You thought of tying yourself to the boat you’ve rented during your quest, in such a case that the mermaid will drag you down to the sea, the buoyancy of the boat might be able to help you stay afloat unconsciously, while you’re in a daze. Hopefully.

The night you’ve waited for finally arrived, and you quickly snuck out through your bedroom window while all your family members were still deep in their slumber. You brought your notebook with you, so you could at least take note of what happened or try to draw what the mermaids looked like. All the mermaids in the books you’ve read have no definite appearance—one looked like a half-human half-fish, the other looked like a sea cow, and many other various illustrations in the book left you even more confused. For once, if you can actually see them, you’re lucky, there might be a huge possibility that you won’t see a mermaid at all.

Out of excitement and a tint of fear, you warily got on the boat, tied your wrist tightly to it using a rope, and paddled your way out into the sea with two oars. A little lamp illuminated your boat and the ocean blue surrounding you.

You kept on rowing and rowing until you were far from the shore.

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

This is it. You've arrived, your plan to sneak out finally worked. You are now floating on the boat in the middle of the sea. The waves are calm. You are finally here! Congratulations!

...

Now what.

You pondered on the boat, you've only planned this far. Will you just sit idly? Will you just wait for a few minutes and then return? Should you go back after a few hours? Or should you go back when the sun has risen?

While in your pondering state, you suddenly caught a glimpse of something moving in the waves. White scales reflecting the moonlight—only a little part of it is shown over the surface, however, before quickly disappearing back into the water.

You swore you saw something in the water; it couldn't be your eyes playing tricks on you, right? That might be the mermaid you were seeking.

You look out of your boat to see a quick shadow underneath it; it's as if something had swum under it. Your heart beat out of your chest, and you couldn't contain your excitement. Finally, after all that anticipation, you might be able to see it.

You stuck your hand out of the boat into the water, hoping that the creature you saw just now would appear again. You let your hand rest idly until your hand suddenly touched something smooth in a glimpse. It must be it; you're so sure of it. This must be a mermaid.

You then got up from sitting down and perched yourself on the edge of the boat, ducking down near the water so you could see the mermaid. You looked down under the water, letting your head get closer to the surface of the water. When you did so, you suddenly saw eyes looking back at you.

You got so taken aback that you suddenly sat back on the boat out of instinct. After calming yourself down for a few seconds, you perch half your body on the edge of the boat again. There you see it—those eyes that spooked you. You stare at those eyes for a long time; how can you not?

Those eyes—those beautiful scarlet eyes—those radiant and stunning eyes. Those eyes reminded you of the sunset—a view from the mountains. The red sun that affected the clouds in such a way made the skies behind it beautiful gradients of red, orange, and yellow, with pink too. Eyes that you can simply drown in.

“H-Hello,” you whispered. You finally understood how some sailors could get hypnotized easily. They were so ethereal, after all.

The mermaid rose from its position to reveal its head above the surface of the water. You rose back and ended up with your knees on the boat and your hands on the edge of the ship instead of bowing down.

You finally got to see it—a mermaid’s feature. You noticed the mermaid’s platinum blonde hair with a red streak on it.

“H-hi,” you spoke again, still unable to process the fact that you just saw a mermaid,”c-can you understand me?”

The mermaid nodded. It held out its hand, expecting you to take it.

“U-uh, I can’t…”

The mermaid perked up and tilted its head sideways.

“I.. I can’t just go with you,” you continued, “I… I can’t. I’m sorry, I should return now.”

The mermaid stared at you.

“Thank you for this, but I should return now,” you said to the mermaid, hoping it would understand and let you go.

Unexpectedly, the mermaid closed its eyes and nodded. It returned to the waters and swam away, disappearing into the darkness.

You watched as the mermaid swam away…

What. was. that.

You saw it. You actually saw a mermaid and interacted with it. Now what. Do you just return home? Just like that? Tell everyone? Keep it a secret? You don’t know.

Oh, how you wish you could see it again.

You paddled your way back to the shore. It seemed like the skies were still dark. All of a sudden, something tilted your boat; luckily, you held on to it out of instinct. However, whatever tilted your boat knew how resilient you are, and tilted it again with full force, flipping the boat upside down.

Crap. The light in the boat was gone. You didn’t manage to see whatever tilted your boat. You are now alone in the darkness, with whatever is lurking in the water preying on your defenseless self. It is only a matter of a few seconds before it might strike you and end your life.

You quickly tried to tilt the boat again, pushing as hard as you could while anxiety was in your spine, urging you to be faster in whatever you were doing. Fear strikes you like lightning. You panicked. You tried to calm down, but it's hard to do so in your state. At this point, you just hoped that whatever was in the water would end you in a quick, painless way.

In your attempt to get above the surface of the water to be able to breathe while also trying to tilt your boat, something held a firm grasp on your ankle and tried to pull you down all of a sudden. You panicked even more. You tried to shake your ankle to be able to get yourself free, but whatever pulled your leg was strong and pulled you further. The only thing saving you was the rope you tied yourself to your boat with, which kept you from being pulled down easily. However, that wasn’t enough. The rope tied to the boat did keep you from being pulled down, but it couldn’t keep your body, or at least your head, above the water, which made you unable to breathe at all.

You thought of how this would not have happened if it weren’t for your dumb curiosity. You would be sleeping comfortably in your bed right now. You would’ve still been surrounded by the warmth of not only your family but also your community. You gave up and let your life end this way—drowned in the cold, dark sea. With no one witnessing your death and no one knowing where you went off, there was no one to hold you in your last moments.

You were about to close your eyes, accepting your tragic fate, when something suddenly carried you in a bridal-style manner. You were shocked; you were suddenly being carried by something, while water seemed to flow past your face in a quick manner. You also realized that the rope you attached to the boat was cut. Probably by this savior of yours. You tried to look at whoever saved you, but the water that flowed past your face blinded your vision; you could only see glimpses of shining white before closing your eyes to protect your eyes from the sea water.

Before you knew it, you were placed on a rock in the middle of the sea. You gasped, internally very relieved that you got to breathe air again. You coughed out the water from your lungs. You took quick breaths in and out until you finally calmed down.

After a few minutes, you finally looked at the thing that saved you, a little relieved that it still stayed after a few minutes. It may be dark, but luckily the sky was clear enough to be able to at least illuminate your savior, even if it was just a little.

You managed to make out its features as it sat on the same rock as you. Platinum blonde hair with a red streak. Scarlet-red eyes. And a white tail with red fins that reflected off the moonlight in a very ethereal way.

“You were that mermaid!” you gasped. You were shocked that your savior was the mermaid you met moments ago. You couldn’t believe it. Mermaids, who were known as evil, were known to kill fishermen, vicious predators. A mermaid… just saved you?

The mermaid looked at you curiously.

“T-thank you,” you said, “thank you so much for saving me back then. I would've—you know—died if you weren’t there to save me.”

The mermaid smiled back. It offered you something that seemed like something wrapped in kelp, urging you to eat it.

You looked at it, then you looked at the mermaid.

“You want me to eat… this?”

The mermaid nodded.

You were hesitant, obviously, but you’ve gained a little trust after this mermaid just saved your life. You took the pebble-sized thing wrapped in kelp and proceeded to eat it. It tasted salty and bitter, but you could endure it.

You looked at the mermaid again, giving it a questioning look about why it wanted you to eat the kelp-covered thing. It opened its mouth and spoke in a calming voice. You were shocked. It can talk? And you could understand it??

“That thing you just ate. It allows you to be able to understand me,” the mermaid said. “Are you okay? Are you feeling better now?” The mermaid questioned, raising his webbed hands and rested it upon your shoulder.

You’re a bit flustered by its gesture but covered it by nodding.

“Good,” he smiled, his eyes filled with softness and relief. He moved his hand up and rested his hand on your face, caressing your cheeks softly. After a few seconds, he finally retracted his hands slowly and spoke, a smile still etched on his face.

“We need to return you back home; the sea is not a safe place.”

“A-ah, right…”

“Is there something wrong?”

“Nope. Nothing at all.” (But there IS something wrong, you thought, ‘I don’t want to part from you…” You internally frowned. Being the mature person you are, you internally sighed and emotionally prepared yourself for departing with him.)

“However,” you continued, “do you happen to know what those things that dragged me down were?”

“Oh? Those things were actually… Mermaids too…” The mermaid sighed, “You cannot just think of mermaids as having one personality, as there are many different types of them. There are some who think of humans as prey too, or some who are hostile to other creatures, especially humans. Or some who are just fine with them, who wanted to help them, who are… curious about them, and who wanted to know them better.

“Ah… So, it’s the same as humans too, then,” you smiled.

“Same like… humans?”

“Yea! You can’t just assume all humans are evil, or all humans are kind, as there are many humans with different personalities and attitudes and different points of view on different things. I understand your kind’s hostility toward humans, though. We can be… terrible jerks.”

The mermaid chuckled (and how adorable the sound was), “I am sorry on behalf of my kind too. Who knew humans and mermaids could be so similar?”

“Haha yeah...” you replied, “Oh! I forgot! I never caught your name!”

“Kazuha. I go by many names yet, Kazuha... is what you can call me,” Kazuha smiled, “Pray tell, what name do they bestow upon this beautiful soul right in front of me?”

“(N-name).”

“Hmm. A beautiful name for a beautiful person, indeed.”

“You have a beautiful name yourself too, fitting for a charming person like you.”

Kazuha chuckled, if the night wasn’t so dark you would’ve seen the pink tint on his cheeks.

“We- You should go back. Like I said, the sea is not safe after all, especially at this time of the day.”

“Right…How am I supposed to go home? I think we lost my boat.”

Kazuha sighed, “True… We couldn’t return, however, as the tides were too strong for me to handle…”

There was a moment of silence between you two as you both pondered what to do.

“I can carry you again… We can wait until the tides have calmed down a bit and quickly swim to the shore.”

“Are you sure? I don’t want to trouble you even further.”

Kazuha chuckled, “Of course not. You didn’t inconvenience me at all, darling.”

(AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA THIS MAN WILL BE THE END OF MEEEEE)

“O-oh, then I’m fine with that idea,” you replied, feeling flustered, “What if I held on to you from behind instead?”

“Hm.. Alright. But please hang on tight. I would never want you to fall, my dear.”

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

Both of you waited until the tides had calmed down. While waiting, both of you conversed in conversations about several topics to pass the time. It started from questions regarding humans and mermaids, to personal topics about both of you.

You learned that he longed to become a human, to be able to see the wonders of the world he heard from other mermaids or humans he’s eavesdropped on. He wanted to wander the world, see its beautiful sights and views, and experience the thrills of the world. You could only smile at his dreams.

After a while, the tides had finally started to reduce their temper, and you started to get ready to go to the shore. Kazuha swam back towards the surface with you behind him, arms wrapped around his neck, careful not to choke or harm him. You could only try so hard to hide the rapid beating of your heart at being this close to him.

After a long while, you finally managed to return to the shore. Kazuha placed you on a dock. It was already dawn at that time, so you could already see Kazuha nicely in the dim lighting.

You laid on the edge of the dock, looking down, as Kazuha was looking up at you from the water.

You both smiled at each other. After a few seconds, you finally decided to leave, something inside you urged to quickly return to your home, not wanting your parents to notice you were gone.

A thought popped up in your head. You moved forward, reached your head down closer to Kazuha, and quickly pecked his forehead. You quickly stood up, very flustered and shouted,

“Thank you, Kazuha… Till we meet again! Love you!”

You ran back to your home and sneaked back into your room.

Meanwhile, Kazuha just froze on that spot, feeling very flustered as well.

His cheeks heated up at your actions. There was a warm spot on his forehead where your lips were, he touched his forehead and rested his hand there, smiling softly like an idiot.

“Till we meet again… (name)...”

A/n: Thank you so much for reading until the end! Hope you enjoyed it :) I'm working on my writing skills so if you have any criticisms, feel free to comment it.

again, thank you so much have a nice day/night :DDD

#genshin impact #kaedehara kazuha #genshin x reader #kazuha x reader #genshin #genshin fluff #genshin scenarios #kazuha genshin impact #kaedeharakazuha #kaedehara x you #kaedehara x reader #mermay #mermay 2023

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ti-girl1226 · 1 year ago

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yet another ask for people to write for me.

— <3 —— <3 —— <3 —— <3 —— <3 —— <3 —— <3

So… I just remembered more prompts I have mainly just platonic because that’s how I feel today. Also same thing as last prompt do tag me if you did something. Or link/comment title and website if you write a longer fic— <3 —— <3 —— <3 —— <3 —— <3 —— <3 —— <3 —— <3 —— <3 —

Batfam x reader (any gender)

so this is more of a fic idea but whatever. Also goes off of young justice time line for what happened to Jason Todd because I don’t like the whole Jason and Talia thing. Anyway the reader is a kid when the were put into the league of assassins to protect Damian and was trained alongside newly resurrected Jason Todd. During this time they grew close to Jason considered them to be like a dad and Jason considered them to be like his kid. When Jason left thought they left them behind with Damian this really affected him and made him feel extremely guilty for leaving but always thought that the reader would be fine with Damian. The thing is when Damian came to Gotham it really worried him so he tried looking for them and asked Damian about the reader but Damian didn’t know anything either. Around this time me members of the bat family start getting this feeling that there being watched But whenever they look around the can’t see anyone. What is this figure and why does it not seem to bother either Jason or Damian. Why does it almost feel familiar? (Ps if you don’t get it the figure is the reader also if you do this please don’t do any romance it’s not what it’s really intended for)

— <3 —— <3 —— <3 —— <3 —— <3 —— <3 —— <3 —— <3 —— <3 —

141 from cod x reader

I can’t put into words how happy I would be for any thing to be written where it’s just platonic for all of them but anyway I have more than one idea for this. — ° —— ° —— ° —— ° —— ° —— ° —— ° —— ° —— ° —— ° —— ° — One: although I love price as a dad I want one where price kinda ignored the reader as a kid because of the military and now both of them aren’t on speaking terms and haven’t for a while but on one mission the 141 teams up with another unit and there stands the reader at like 20 one of the higher officers of the unit. The thing is the reader changed their last name to be their mothers maiden name so no one knows that they’re related and the reader pretends that they don’t even know Price.

— ° —— ° —— ° —— ° —— ° —— ° —— ° —— ° —— ° —— ° —— ° — Two: the opposite basically of the last one where the reader was raised by price as he was a single dad. Reader was a chaotic child and was for many years undiagnosed with adhd. The reader still is somewhat wild but isn’t when it comes down to the military work they do. One day price and the readers unit get teamed together for a mission and they have to work together, hopefully it’s not to chaotic for price.

— ° —— ° —— ° —— ° —— ° —— ° —— ° —— ° —— ° —— ° —— ° — Thirdly: I’m aroace for the few people who are out there who want to know but I really want one where the reader is just oblivious to someone flirting and/or is really paranoid that someone is flirting with them because they couldn’t reciprocate their feelings. That it really I just really want a reader who is aroace with theses people. — <3 —— <3 —— <3 —— <3 —— <3 —— <3 —— <3 —— <3 —— <3 —

Last but not least, a weird request to many but I want any fanfic where its omegavers and the reader is either a teen who has yet to present or one where the reader has a condition where they just never present and are forever a pup. I keep seeing omegavers where it’s about the reader being an omega and stuff like that but I want just one where there a forever pup and try and hide it because they don’t want to be babied but it just makes them sick and sad, but they pretend that it doesn’t. They get fond out when one omega goes into heat but they keep babying and calling them pup. Also I don’t want it to be sexualized heat but more of I need everyone in the pack in my nest type heat. I really really want to say this again that if you do write something like this do not make it sexual please.

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mydarllinglover · 1 year ago

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Safehouse || Six

It was the last weekend before term. Harry had recovered, quicker than Draco, who "Coincidentally" took his bandages off the same weekend of the Quidditch match.

Draco, Theo and Blaise continued to taunt him ever since, when Ron finally had enough and threw a crocodiles heart at Draco's face in potions, therefore creating his new nickname from me "Crocface".

Lupin had dismissed Snapes set homework, and frankly I was pissed off.

"What?! Are you serious?!" I slammed my hands on the table, Theo laughing beside me. Turned out Hermione and I were the only ones who had actually done it and I made Lupin mark it anyway and say its for extra credit or something, he gave me five house points for it, probably out of pity.

The four of us, Draco, Blaise and Theo were sat in the three broomsticks each drinking a butterbeer.

I would still say we're not friends but I spent a lot of my time with them and I grew to accept their presence.

They were having a conversation about whatever as I focused on my parchment, scribbling random things down the list of my family members, trying to think about what Christmas presents I could get them, I was lucky enough to afford at least some what decent presents from my savings, saved up from my stay in France.

I had already got Mum and Dad some Sweets, Mum some more wool for her knitting and Dad a book about Muggle inventors. Percy some sophisticated novel, that I thought he might enjoy with some quills and inkpots, Charlie a pair of fireproof gloves, no doubt, if he even wore his they were probably tattered and ruined, Fred and George, i

I bought some random stuff from Zonkos and put them them in a bag, for each. Now all I had to buy for were Bill, Ron and Ginny.

I was going over things that Ron likes, and hopefully push him to talk to me, when speak of the devil, he, Harry and Hermione walked in.

"Was Ron carrying some bags?" I cut off the boys conversation when I pointed to the table Hermione and Harry were sat at, Ron had walked off to get drinks

"I don't know, I don't usually spend my time looking at Weasel" Draco drawled

"Quiet, crockface" I glared at him

"Where are you going?" Blaise asked me

"To see if Ron got me anything".

"Hey, 'Mione, Harry how nice to see you guys here" I grinned at them, then faltered "Wait- Har- how did you get here, I thought you wasn't allow- wow you learned how to apparate, thats impressive"

"you know thats exactly what Ron said" Hermione laughed

"No I didn't apparate" He rolled his eyes, then lifted a blank piece of parchment, like I was supposed to know what it did.

"Yeah, Harry, I know what that is, I have my own on my table, but that didn't get me here, I had to bloody walk in the snow" I pointed my thumb to the table I was previously sat at. Harry then went into a brief description of what it was and how Fred & George gave it to me

"How come Fred & George never gave it to me! I'm their sister!" I said

"He said that too"

"Anyways, the reason I'm here, you guys done your Christmas shopping yet, got some nice bits?" I asked them sweetly, discreetly trying to peer into the bags by the empty seat, guessing they were Ron's, apparently not too discreetly because Hermione caught on

"Keira, what are you doing? you can't look in that, you're ruining it"

"Hermione, you are so quick to assume the wor- wait he got me something?"

"Yes, why wouldn't he?" Harry asked

"I dont know, I just assumed cause he wasn't talking to me he wasn't going to bother" I shrugged my shoulders

"Oh, Keira, of course he would, you're still his Twin, and he love- Hey Ron!" I turned around, Ron was stood behind me with a tray full of Three butterbeers looking, not pleased

"Hi, Ron" I said

"Bye" He shrugged me off before side stepping me to put down the trays. Dropping my shoulders, I walked back to the table, Theo, Draco and Blaise's eyes on me

"Finally, you took blo- where are you going?" Theo asked as I started putting my cloak on

"I've got to finish shopping, where's my butterbeer? - Theo did you drink it?!" I snapped at him

"well you weren't going to drink it!"

"I was!"

"Was not!"

"Was too!"

"Will you both please shut up, you're doing my head in" Blaise told us, rubbing his temples

"whatever" I rolled my eyes and put my gloves on then grabbed my stuff "you guys going back to Hogwarts?" I asked them, when I noticed they had their winter clothes? back on

"No, Wealsey, we're coming with you, obviously" Malfoy rolled his eyes

"You don't have to-

"Shut up" he said.

We walked past Ron's table on the way out, I waved bye to them, Harry and Hermione only responding

"Bye Ron, I love you" I tried, but he just nodded and rolled his eyes, making me huff in frustration

Draco and Theo propped their hoods up and acted as if they were dementors until I smacked the back of their heads "Leave them alone, get a new joke" I rolled my eyes at their childish behaviour, them both giving me matching glares and rubbing their heads

"Ow, K, that hurt" Theo whined

"Good, that was the intention".

•

"Its so cold" I moaned for the eighth time, on our walk back to Hogwarts, I had finished all my Christmas shopping, even picking something up for Harry and Hermione and was now huddled under Theo's arm, gladly accepting the warmth it brought

"Thanks for another reminder, I was worried it was suddenly summer again and I hadn't noticed" Draco mocked.

I dropped my bags and walked out of Theo's embrace, squatting down quickly to roll up a snow ball then threw it with all my might at Draco's unsuspecting back.

Theo and Blaise burst out into laughter when Draco whipped around to glare daggers at me, then copying me by getting his own snowball, knowing what he was doing, I let out a squeal and ran behind Blaise to use him as a shield.

"No, Draco! please i'm sorry, It was an accident" I screamed When he raced around to reach me, dumping the snow ball on my head, Theo doubling over, holding his stomach and wiping tears away as he continued to laugh.

"Whats so funny Nott?!" I shouted at him before gathering another Snowball and chucking it at his face, Draco doing the same, that soon stopped him.

"Hey, not the face! This is war!" He let out a battle cry before we all broke off to throw snowballs at each other, running around and laughing like maniacs.

We soon all got tired and had enough, I dropped down to lie in the snow to calm my breathing.

After catching my breath, I spread my arms and legs side ways, back and forth to form a snow angel.

"Help me up" I outstretched my arms to Blaise when I was satisfied with it, and he did, grabbing my wrists to pull me out of my snow angel

"What is it?" Draco wrinkled his nose when we admired my work

"Its a snow angel, duh" I rolled my eyes

"By the size of you i would say more like an snow goblin- Ow, okay, sorry"

"You will be Nott!".

•

It was Christmas Day, knowing that the guys had left Hogwarts to spend the holidays at Draco's, I jumped out of bed, relieved to have a break from them all.

My eyes locked on the pile of presents, surprisingly a lot more than i expected.

I reached for the one from Mum first, tearing away the wrapping paper to pull out an knitted Green jumper with a grey K etched on the front and a handful of chocolate frogs, this was probably Mums way of saying she accepted that I was a Slytherin and loved me all the same, my heart felt warm with this and I quickly threw it on over my head, it being a bit baggy, just the way I liked it.

Then went about opening my other presents.

I had received presents from My siblings, Harry and Hermione.

Bill had got me some vinyls from some muggle bands that we both really liked, Charlie had got me an Book all about Magical Creatures, their habitats, facts, food and some of the pages even mentioned if you could keep them as pets or not, the best part was, it didn't try to tear you to shreds.

Percy had got a novel by one of his favourite wizard authors and a leaflet on Potential jobs to look into at the Ministry and the O.W.L.s you would need for them.

Fred and George had decided to team up by giving me a large bar of Honeydukes Chocolate.

From Ginny, She had got me some really nice tank tops, that without a doubt she had the intention of wearing.

Hermione had got me sugar quills and a box of chocolate frogs , Harry had got me a box of Honeydukes sweets and Ron had bought me a red hat with a gold bobble on the top.

I rolled my eyes,he was trying to dress me in Gryffindor colours even though I'm a Slytherin. Typical.

I was most surprised though, when I found I had a present each from Blaise, Draco and Theo.

Blaise had got me a Forrest Green diary, with New beautiful quills and ink pots, Theo had got me multiple pairs of Green and grey socks, all full of the sweets I pointed out I loved in Honeydukes, And Draco had got me the most beautiful silver necklace with a tiny snake pendent, a mini emerald as an eye that shone in the light. There was also a note in Blaises impeccably neat handwriting

Weasley,

We hope you like the gifts, Merry Christmas

From, Blaise Zabini, Draco Malfoy and Theodore Nott.

P.S The notebook was from me- Blaise, The Necklace from Draco and the socks were Theo.

I found myself smiling when I read the note, grateful that they even bothered to get me anything, but then gasped when I remembered that I hadn't even thought to get them something.

I rushed to grab a piece of parchment scribbling down in my new quills.

Guys, I am very thankful for my presents, but i'm pissed off! I didn't know we were exchanging gifts, now I have to go out of my way to get something for you lot, thanks a lot! and I noticed the theme of my gifts by the way, your not that sly. Keira x

I grimaced at my poor handwriting and actually taking notice of the messy scribble for the first time, wondering if I should even bother sending it and instead just thanking them when they got here.

Shaking my head and telling myself that I don't care for their opinions, I slipped it in an envelope then wrote out their names on the back of it.

I tided up the mess from my presents and let myself enjoy a few moments of peace, soaking up the fact that I had the dorm to myself.

I then got dressed, putting on a pair of the grey socks Theo had got me after emptying the sweets out, put the Necklace Draco got around my neck, picked up the Envelope and set off to the owls to send it off.

Walking into the the Great Hall at lunchtime I was surprised to see all of the house tables were moved to the walls and instead a single table stood down the middle of the room.

Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, Sprout and Flitwick as well as Mr Filch were there.

There was also a first year, the only other Slytherin, a fifth year, who completely blanked me when I greeted him in the Common room, and Harry, Ron and Hermione.

"Happy Christmas, Keira!" Hermione greeted me

"Merry Christmas Hermione, Merry Christmas Guys" I grinned at the three, sitting opposite them on the bench

"Happy Christmas Keira" Harry said

"Happy Christmas" Ron nodded at me, thats when I knew we would be alright. Maybe the gift worked.

Christmas lunch was spent with the four of us in conversations about our presents, Me laughing at Ron for having another Maroon Jumper, Harry's Firebolt and coming up with names of who had sent it, the new year and Hermione noticing my necklace and asking who had got me that, pulling Ron and Harry's attention to it.

After Ron and I were finally okay, I didn't have the heart to tell them who it was from, telling them it was just a friend from beauxbatons.

The highlight was watching McGonagall and Trelawney bicker and McGonagall mocking Trelawneys superstitions.

Throughout the rest of the holiday, I was actually quite bored, I dare say I missed the Three Slytherin boys... but... I wouldn't mind when they eventually got back.

I spent some of the time with Hermione in the library, who had explained her falling out with Ron and Harry about the Firebolt and how she had reported it to Professor McGonagall.

I tried my best to reassure her that she was only looking out for Harry and that they shouldn't really be mad that she was being cautious.

•

I was sat in the Slytherin Common room practising my handwriting in the diary Blaise had got me whilst snacking on the sweets I had received from Theo, when the three of them had walked in the day of their arrival.

Spotting me on the sofa they walk-swaggered over, Theo taking the seat next to me and throwing his arm over my shoulders, Blaise and Draco taking the opposite sofa.

"Weasley, how splendid it is to see you in the new year, Nineteen Ninety-four" Theo smirked

"Yes, and my birthdays in three months" I wiggled my eyebrows "shoot, I have no idea what to get Ron"

"get him a brain" Malfoy teased "Merlin knows he ne- Ow, ooh bertie botts bean"

"Speaking about presents ..." I slapped Theo's chest witch the back of my hand and threw two pillows, aiming for Draco and Blaises heads but unluckily they dodged

"Ow- K, what the hell?! Did you not like them?" Theo raised his brows

"No! of course I loved all of them, I said that in my letter, but I can't even get you idiots anything until we next go Hogsmeade" I complained

"Sorry, it was hard to read with your shitty handwri- Ow Zabini stop- Sorry" I grinned as Blaise elbowed Draco in the ribs for disrespecting my handwriting

"you dont have to get us anything, Weasley, we didn't tell you because we didn't want anything in return" Blaise told me

"Fine then, Butterbeers on me next time then" I rolled my eyes "How was your Christmases then?" I asked them, and Theo dived into the details of their Christmas at Malfoy Manor, Draco cutting him off occasionally when he missed out bits, I caught myself smiling and laughing along a lot throughout the explanations, and I knew Blaise had noticed as well, the way he was looking at me, as if like he knew how I was warming up to them.

•

"Ow"I yelped and dropped my pile of dry wood.

We were in Care of Magical creatures.

Due to how cold it was, Hagrid had provided a bonfire full of Salamanders, and were collecting dry wood and leaves

"Whats wrong?" Blaise, who was by my side asked me

"I got a splinter" I pouted and kicked the pile

"Seriously? all that fuss for a splinter, your such a baby" Malfoy rolled his eyes

"Hey! I'm older than you, and may I remind you who was crying and wailing on the ground "Its killed me, It's killed me" Hm? Malfoy?"

"I was not crying! and I got attacked by a Hippogriff!"

"Which was your own fault! I'll point out and you were being a tad dramatic, dont you think?"

"I was not" He shoved my shoulder, I went to shove his shoulder back but got a jab of pain in my index finger, where the splinter was, letting out a cry of pain

"Keira, whats wrong?" Hermione overheard and asked me, from where she was stood not with, but near Ron and Harry, possibly still not speaking, who were looking to see why I was hurt, glaring at the guys

"Piss off Mud-

"Malfoy! Dont you dare!" I glared at him and then kicked his shin hard "I got a splinter" I whined to Hermione

"Oh, well, come here, I can help" She waved me over, I stepped over my pile, blew a raspberry at Draco who was rubbing his shin with a scrunched up face.

I gave Hermione my hand with my finger straight, she examined my finger and delicately pulled out the splinter, me mumbling curses to the stupid wood "There you go" she let go of my finger.

"Thanks 'Mione!" I hugged her "And sorry about him, just ignore whatever he says, hes a tosser" I told her and she laughed

"It's fine, I'm aware" she replied, making me laugh.

•

When Blaise and Draco were at Quidditch Practises, preparing for their match against Ravenclaw, Theo forced me to sit in the stands and watch, but we spent most of it laughing and joking around or putting them off, which normally ended in Marcus Flint shouting at us and sending us back to the Castle, where we continued to joke about the look on all their faces how confused they were.

I was becoming very Fond of having Theo around the most and he was surely becoming my favourite person to be with.

Slytherin had managed to beat Ravenclaw, and I was surprised by myself at how I felt so proud that they did, and how Theo and I were probably the loudest cheerers.

Theo wrapped his arms around me and spun me around. But it wasn't awkward when he finally put me down, it just...felt natural, since they had got back from the Holidays I found that it just felt right, and natural for them to be around, I didn't know why but that thought scared me.

Sat in the The Great Hall for dinner, I was laughing along to something Theo had said, I looked over to see Ron moping, as usual, I looked to Harry who had caught my eye

"Whats wrong with him?" I mouthed to Harry

"Scabbers died" Harry mouthed back

"What?!" I burst out, dropping my fork

"Huh" Theo turned to looked at me

"What, Weasley?" Blaise asked, most likely seeing the shock on my face

Instead of replying, I ignored them and rushed up to go see My brother.

"Hey, Ron, how're you?" I asked, offering him a sympathetic smile when I reached his table. Not caring about the other's in the hall.

"Bloody brilliant, did you hear about scabbers?"

"Yeah, I'm sorry Ron, He was at a bloody brilliant age, especially for a rat, He was nearly as old as us"

"That's what I said!" Fred said

"Yeah, But thanks to Hermione's Mangey cat" he growled

"Wait Crookshanks did it?" I gasped

"Yes."

"Aw Ron, I'm sorry, R.I.P Scabbers" I hugged my brother, ruffled up his hair then walked back to my seat

"What happened with Weaslebee?" Draco asked

"I'm not telling you" I told him as i picked up my fork again

"Why not?" He pouted

"Because, I don't need the three of you using it against him and making jokes, He's really upset about it, and you'll make it worse, anyways, if he knew I told you he'd be mad at me".

•

"Please don't tell me we're going to the match today" I whined, on our walk to the Great Hall for breakfast

"Why wouldn't we?" Draco asked

"Oh I dont know, maybe because its not even your team playing" I crossed my arms

"Yes, But the competition is, and we have to scope them out, it helps see what we can do to beat them and work on in practise" Blaise said

"Oh, That makes sense, so then who do you hope will win?"

"Ravenclaw, obviously, you saw who their seeker is! I am very much Patriotic for my house but, damn im the biggest Cho Chang supporter" Theo sighed as he stared at Cho with a wistful look

"Thats just, that weirdos reason, our reason is because we want to defeat Gryffindor, so obviously we don't want them to win, not really fussed about the other houses" Blaise said

"Oh, Well Fred hopes that if they win against Ravenclaw then beat us they could win, but George said that thats a very sli-

"What the hell?!" Draco

"Malfoy! its rude to cut people off! as I was saying-

"How the Hell has Potter got a firebolt?!" Draco barked, I looked over to Harry and the other boys in our year who was helping him carry his Firebolt in, everyone in the Hall was gasping and talking about it.

"Oh, McGonagall gave it back I guess- what, why are you looking at me like that"

"You knew?! You knew he had a Firebolt and you didn't even think to say anything?!" Draco said, he was pressing down on my shoulders as he shook me

"Woah stop- Ow Malfoy, your giving me a headache, yeah I knew, whats the big deal?"

"Firebolts are amazing, they only came out last year, and their insanely fast." Blaise told me

"Aw is Drakeykins going to cry to Daddy to buy him one?" Theo laughed at Draco and poked his cheek

"I'm going to go talk to him, you three stay here, I mean it!" I pointed a stern finger at them before I walked off to the Gryffindor table

"Hey Harry! So was your broom clear?" I asked him whilst Percy's girlfriend was holding his broom in awe

"Yeah, Its all good, nothing was on it" He grinned up at me

"Well still, its better to be on the safe side"

"Harry- make sure you win" Percy whispered when The girl walked off "I haven't got ten galleons. Yes, im coming, Penny!"

"Penny! thats it, i knew it started with a P" i snapped my fingers.

"Sure you can manage that broom, Potter" Draco had said from behind me, I twisted around to glare at him

"Yeah, reckon so" Harry replied, not giving him a piece of mind

"Got plenty of special features, Hasn't it? Shame it doesn't come with a parachute- in case you get too near a dementor"

"Pity you can't attach an extra arm to yours, Malfoy Then it could catch the Snitch for you" Harry said.

The Gryffindor team roared with laughter, me joining in before clapping a hand over my mouth when Draco's eyes glared daggers at me before he stomped off.

"Bye, Harry" I waved to him then rushed back to my table, Draco was huddled with Crabbe Goyle and Marcus Flint, discussing something.

"What did I say?!" I barked at Blaise and Theo when I sat back down

"What the hell did we do?!" Theo argued

"You could've stopped him! He just made a fool of himself and no doubt he will take it out on us" I crossed my arms

"What were we supposed to do, go "Here Draco, Draco, come here boy, thats a good spoilt brat, do you want a treat?" Theo exaggerated, patting his knees as if he were calling a dog.

"What do you thinks he's talking about with them?" I asked them as we looked over to Malfoy still huddled up, talking to the thuggish boys.

"Probably plotting revenge" Blaise said.

#theo nott x y/n #theodore nott x you #theodore nott #theodorenottsafehouse #theo nott #draco x female reader #draco #draco fanfiction #draco malfoy x reader #draco x reader #hermione granger #ron weasley #harry potter

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pisscreant · 1 year ago

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Hiatus Announcement

Hello, beloved followers and friends.

For the time being, I have to step away from Disco Elysium for a long while. I don't know how long I'll leave for. Hopefully just temporarily.

I have a very ill family member to focus on, and a resulting existential crisis to deal with.

I'll be okay! The best case scenario is that this hiatus will be long but temporary while I get my shit together. There's just a lot of shit to compress.

Soon, I'll make another separate post addressing what happens with my fics, ect. Then, I'll have to log out.

You have all been so lovely and welcoming towards me. These last few months have been the most fun I've ever had with any fandom.

Thank you all. Maybe one day I will return to your side. ❤️🫂

I might not have the energy or time to reply to anyone who reaches out on tumblr. If you want me, you can find me on the beach: [email protected]

Further explanation/overshare/traumadump under the cut. It's not essential and might be heavy if the topic of bereavement and impending loss is a trigger for you. I just wanted to put it out there for those who might Get It. Don't read if the idea makes you sad. (CW: terminal illness of a loved one)

There's really no nice way to say this, but I want to explain anyway: I've lost several family members to terminal illness over the years including my Dad less than 10 years ago. I deal with it badly every time. Now, yet another loved one has been diagnosed with something that has a poor prognosis.

Because of that, the nihilism of DE has become a bit Too Much for me to cope with for the moment. Finding this game's story changed me for the better. I don't regret falling in love with it, but its central themes are just hitting too close to home for me right now, and it's making my mental illness worse.

I've got enough very real past and impending loss to deal with. More doom on top of it isn't helping me at this stage. I've never found any silver lining or hope when I experience bereavement from terminal illness. The horror isn't an exercise in philosophy or scifi hypothetical that I can distance myself from. Mourning loved ones as I watched them die isn't a resolveable thing I can overcome. It doesn't go away.

I just keep going with it all still there, hope that this is the last loss, and try to control where I spend my energy and find my joy.

Once I get past a certain part of the grieving process, I desperately want to find comfort and entertainment in this story again. The sad thing is that I'm genuinely not sure when or if I can do that. I want to keep the possibility open. I have to wait and see how things play out and move forward in the meantime.

No matter what happens, I had fun. Love you guys!

#personal tag #terminal illness cw

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ot3 · 2 years ago

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hi miss ot3 im going through a dilemma and you seem really smart so id appreciate your opinion. i and some people i know are deciding on an important managerial position but the main candidate is completely unqualified for the role. i tried to suggest other candidates but the main reason theyre giving it to her is because shell feel bad otherwise. her partner is the main person supporting her and no one really wants to disagree with him because everyones friends. can i do anything or am i stuck?

well as a warning in advance im not qualified to answer this question At All on the grounds of anything but common sense. however with that caveat on the table i think you pretty obviously can't let this happen. i dont know entirely what you're working on here but i'm going to assume it is at least decently formal/official and of some consequence.

There's essentially no scenario in which hiring this woman doesn't blow up later, and if I had to guess it'd end up being much worse than whatever sort of blowout you stand to have with her and her boyfriend. For starters, whoever actually is qualified for this position that gets passed over will be rightfully bitter, if its someone you end up bringing on for this job/project at all. everyone having to work underneath her will be rightfully bitter, because there's nothing worse than having to take instructions from someone who doesn't know what theyre doing. in fact, id argue that you run a serious risk of your most competent workers walking out entirely, because the more skilled you are at something the more demeaning it is to be told to do it poorly, and the easier it is to find similar or better work/experience elsewhere.

It also threatens the integrity of whatever project you're working on that needs managing. managing is like a critical thing to Not Fuck Up if you want something done successfully and smoothly. i've actually got two very close family members who do project management for a living - my aunt who works for the bank of america, and my dad who works for the CDC - and it seems like the critical thing for managing people is to understand the collective skillset and capacity of your team well enough to let them do what they're good at. and frankly if this is a person who will make a big stink if theyre being told they don't have the skillset you're looking for, then this is probably something they lack the ability to do. Additionally, if someone is the kind of person who would make a huge stink about getting passed up for someone more qualified, they don't really seem like the kind of person you'd want to be working together with in the first place? it's just a one way ticket to having a subpar final product, if you're too afraid to critique them or their work for fear of backlash.

additionally if she really truly is incompetent, eventually at some point that will become so much of an issue that you can't keep her in this position anymore, which brings you back to square one. so really going through with this is just delaying and worsening the exact situation you're trying to avoid

if the other people who are making this decision with you agree that this woman is incompetent + want the work to succeed, then hopefully they'll come around to this line of reasoning. if they don't agree or aren't that invested in the final project, then it seems like you guys might have some irreconcilable differences regarding the subject in question.

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pregnant-and-addicted · 1 year ago

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~PLEASE FOLLOW ME TO SUPPORT ME AND TO STAY UPDATED WITH HOW MY CRISIS UNFOLDS! I WILL FOLLOW YOU BACK~

So basically, everything is as screwed up now as it could possibly be and at this rate I'm set to lose my son to CPS, but I'm not going to let that happen which means I'm going to have to take some drastic steps here in the next week, all while praying that I can stay out of preterm labor because I've begun having symptoms of upcoming labor and I've only got a mere 30ish days remaining. My methadone program has utterly refused to help out with getting me stabilized and off of the illicit substances, and today I put in one final attempt at getting them to help me via appealing to them one last time by asking that they please allow me to get my dosage raised high enough, to around 100mgs, that it will allow me to begin to rapidly and safely decrease my opioid dosage and achieve a clean test before I end up going into labor, but if this does not end up being possible, I have a small amount of Methadone that I've saved up to combine with the 65mgs that I'm currently on now, for the first three days, while discontinuing Fentanyl, and even though it still probably won't be enough and I will be experiencing some symptoms of withdrawal, I will just bite the bullet and put up with it. The one thing I'm waiting for is for a new RX of Xanax to go through either on the 14th or 19th, as I will need this medication, along with probably Gabapentin, which I'm pretty certain I can get a prescription for, I should be able to endure the withdrawal and succeed in achieving a clean test before having to go into labor... Fingers crossed. Hopefully though, I will find out on Monday though that my Methadone clinic is finally willing to take my circumstances seriously and begin allowing me a clinically relevant dose of Methadone on Monday. I am not hopeful nor expecting to receive anything from them though to be honest, but we will see what happens.

The other order of business is the state of affairs in my apartment, which I have let become an unbearably huge mess so extreme that you can barely even get my front door open at present! This will NEVER in a million years pass any kind of home inspection that may be required by CPS, let alone is there any space to build an area for the baby and get all the required necessities together. My mom is going to help me afford everything that I need for him, but first I've got to get this total mess cleaned up. I am committed to doing it and my baby's dad is living here with me and is equally committed to getting this mess fixed up... I'm beginning on this TONIGHT and I hope to finish it over this same night as its only 600sq ft in here, but achieving any success in this endeavor tonight will be a success as it may end up taking more than a day or two to get finished up. I have gotten it fixed up before in only a day's time for the purpose of a manager inspection. I need to get this done BEFORE having to go into withdrawal though or I will be too sick to get it done. So this must begin tonight! I will take before and after pictures at the beginning and end of this project...

I am absolutely COMMITTED to doing what I have to do to become part of the >1% of drug addicts who manage to do what everyone says isn't possible for them. I know everyone is expecting me to fail in my endeavor but I will prove them all wrong. I want to keep my son and be a good mother to him and I'll do whatever is necessary to make that happen.

If by some stroke of bad luck he does begin to come early and I end up with a positive test and CPS has to get involved, I have family members who are willing and capable of taking him for the time necessary that it would take to get their requirements completed and in that case I will go ahead with whatever I have to do to regain custody but I am keeping the faith that it won't come to that and that I've still got just barely enough time...

Pray for me and wish me luck, I am going to need it!

--Pregnant & Addicted

~PLEASE FOLLOW ME TO SUPPORT ME AND TO STAY UPDATED WITH HOW MY CRISIS UNFOLDS! I WILL FOLLOW YOU BACK~

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millenniallust4death · 6 months ago

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I’m deeply sorry to hear about your father’s passing from multiple myeloma. Having lost both my dad and my husband to this brutal disease, my heart truly goes out to you.

My husband, Martin, battled a particularly aggressive form of multiple myeloma that resisted all available treatments, surviving only 56 days after his diagnosis. He was part of a clinical trial organized by Myeloma Canada—MCRN-003 KCd, which involved carfilzomib, a protease inhibitor, aimed at treating refractory multiple myeloma. This experience is why I am dedicated to fundraising for Myeloma Canada. Despite its tiny size, this organization significantly supports research into clinical treatments, advocates for provincial government coverage of medications to ensure equal access for all Canadians, and provides essential support to patients and their caregivers.

Fundraising for Myeloma Canada is more than just raising money; it's about fostering awareness. Through my posts, many of my Internet stranger friends learn about this rare blood cancer for the first time. This awareness has enabled a few to recognize early symptoms in their family members, leading to early diagnoses and hopefully, more days with their loved ones.

I am so grateful that you are also looking to get involved and make a difference. My modest fundraising goal of $392 symbolizes the 56 days Martin fought multiplied by his 7 years gone. I wish with all of my wounded heart that I could have spent those 7 years with him.

This July, my mom and I are stepping up for a great cause! We're participating in the Multiple Myeloma March, organized by Myeloma Canada. We are committing to walking 200,000 steps around our charming (and often sweltering!) town of Wheatley, Ontario. We'd be thrilled if you would consider supporting our modest goal of raising $392. As a token of our appreciation, every donor will receive a special Martin and GSD postcard (if you feel comfortable sharing your address with me). Check out the donation link below —thank you for your generosity! ❤️

Donate: https://shorturl.at/u84HL

#multiple myeloma #multiple myeoma march #myeloma canada #thank you to everyone who has shared my post #i really appreciate it

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shepardsleftboob · 5 years ago

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It’s not fair that so many other young adults like me didn’t even get to experience adulthood before it was shoved on us at a young age because we were forced to help care for our parents. It makes me so mad that this country just doesn’t give a fuck about us. It’s not fucking fair that so many of us had our childhood ripped away because we had to step up and be the head of household after something happened to our parents. The inequality of this generation compared to the last is fucking glaring because so many of us are barely in our twenties before we have to become caretakers for our parents, who sometimes resent us for that in return.

Why the fuck is it ok in this “first world country” to just abandon families that had tragedies and hope the “lazy teenage millennials” would step up to the plate and somehow support the whole family when almost all the time all they can get is minimum wage jobs, in turn stealing their future with schooling away from them. How many fucking people does it take? I know so many, and we were all teenagers. We were fucking kids. Why the fuck is this ok? Why is it ok to shit on this generation and then ignore them when their working themselves towards mental and physical breakdowns just to keep their family safe and healthy and fed? Why is it ok to demand them to get a college education or to even fucking finish high school when no one was there to help them when their caretakers and guardians got disabled or died?

Why is it ok to forget about the kids who don’t have family and just have their single parents? Why is it ok to turn a blind eye while they struggle to choose to either focus on their future or throw it away to make sure they’re only family is ok? Why is this the world we live in and somehow people say this is the land of opportunities? No one gave us an oppurtunity.

#i worked since i was 15 climbing the ladder to try and become a groomer so i could support myself through hopefully college #and then my mom had a nervous breakdown and everything fell on me #no one helped me. my dad just shit on my mom for it and abandoned me while spending all kinds of money on frivilous shit for my brother #while i worked 14 hour days of nonstop physical jobs just to pay the bills #i didnt even have enough money to buy fast food #and then after saving and saving and sacrificing more and more of my mental health for 5 goddamn years #i try and persue my life and future with my girlfriend the only one that truly helped more than any so called family member #and the world goes to fucking shit and fucks up my life and no one cares #why do they do this to us and then expect us to be ok and somehow survive #this is torture. its torture having to choose between a future or your own mother #and at the end of it all i cant. i have to do both. and its tearing me apart and shredding my savings that i worked myself to the bone for #its not fair being able to see people go to college and have a family to come back to on breaks #its not fair for people like us to have to see the future that was stolen from us for shit that we couldnt have prevented #i hate this place i hate this country and the second i leave it forever will be the happiest day of my life

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4dtk · 4 years ago

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he's gone soft!

hi can u tell i love cats? and i also love hesitant cat owners who eventually warm up to their cats <3 got inspired by grumpy dads who eventually starts cuddling and cooing at the cats they adopted lol. also, adopt don't shop!

"you... you want what?" megumi asks, putting on his uniform as you scrolled aimlessly on your phone.

you were sure he heard you since he was just a metre away from you, but even you knew that the boy had hearing problems sometimes. you could listen to the pleads of his divine dogs at the mention of another pet, curling up to you as a way to win back your heart.

"can we get a cat?" you ask again hopefully, scratching at the white dog's ears as a way to calm their whining while he buttons his top. you're prepared for his reply, anyway, having asked him about this for the longest time.

he sighs, too used to the black and white fur decorating his already messy bed. plus, he wouldn't want to add another animal to the mix, knowing how much he adored his dogs.

with megumi's sigh and delayed answer that never came, you shook your head to your question, putting on a smile so you could head out to a mission without facing your feelings.

"it's okay, babe, i was just trying my luck," you kissed his cheek as you walk past, holding out a hand for him to take. megumi lets out another sigh before deactivating his divine dogs, taking your hand hesitantly as you met up with gojo-sensei just outside the campus.

the exorcising was an easy job since it involved several grade three curses and a terrified child. still, it was nothing uncommon to see in a place where kids willingly skip into abandoned scary buildings on a dare.

"come. let's go somewhere," megumi says out of the blue, dragging you by the hand once you bid goodbye to the kids. you had no idea where the destination lay, only getting grunts and hums from the boy whenever you questioned him of the sudden detour.

the meows coming from inside the building shocks you, instantly bringing a smile to your face as you peeked over the display shelves and products on sale. without much thought, you entered as quietly as you could, greeted by the friendly receptionist with a grin on her face.

"hi! how can we help?" you were so immersed in the cats playing around, as well as the several others in their cages, that you don't hear your boyfriend entering and muttering something that makes you drop your jaw even more.

"we'd like to adopt a cat, please," megumi nods, taking your hand once again as you do a speechless double-take to your boyfriend and back to the receptionist. your puzzled face was apparent, but you lose it all once you see the cats running around in the shelter while she finishes up a document on the computer. soon, she stands, guiding the two of you around the place as she points out some of the dashing felines they had rescued.

"hi! hello! what a handsome boy!" you switched to a baby voice as a cat came up to your hand at the entrance of the cage, rubbing against it affectionately.

megumi watched as you greeted the many different cats, giving them nicknames of your own while cooing or making faces at them. he could only smile gently, letting you pull him every time you saw another quote-unquote 'handsome lad'.

you sigh dreamily, staring at the many cats with love in your eyes, scanning over those you interacted with over the last half 'n hour. as megumi reaches forward to point at one, the receptionist interrupts as if she's just recalled something.

"crap, i forgot to show you our older cats. they're lovely, although they might be less active and would rather chill in the sun," she explains as she walks.

"we don't have many elderly cats here, but they deserve a life with loving owners such as yourself as much as the youngins in here," she smiles, scratching one behind the ear.

you smile in reply, reaching over to pet them carefully. so fragile and wise, but they still looked charming, save for the energetic bursts that the younger cats had.

one cat caught had your eye, despite its shyness and apprehensive nature. she warmed up to you in a heartbeat, claiming your hand as a safe space after a good sniff. she purrs in an instant, headbutting your hand repeatedly as a gesture of affection.

"oreo doesn't interact with our visitors much," she says, "is she the one?"

"oreo... because she's black and white?" megumi asks, not exactly impressed with the name.

"you got it."

"yes, her," you say, cooing yet again with a voice ten times higher than the one you use with his shikigami.

the boy doesn't comment, tugging on you before you could lose yourself in the cat's eyes any longer. with a last flying kiss, you depart from oreo with a grin on your face.

"now, have you taken care of cats before? i'm sure your boyfriend here has more experience with dogs than he does with cats," you look at her in surprise, giggling at the assumption she made.

"how'd you know that?"

"just a hunch." megumi grunts again at the observation, not denying it as you answer her question.

"i have- had a cat back home. i couldn't fathom death again, so i never adopted another one," you frown, signing the papers with ease as you multi-tasked, "but i mean, this man is pretty fetching and a keeper, so it'll be nice to care for a cat together."

the two of you joke like old friends as the raven-haired boy blushes at the compliment, squeezing your hand in response.

within a few minutes, oreo was under your care, completing the process with a few toys, a scratching post as well as some food for the black and white cat.

you spent the whole evening with the new family member in your and megumi's shared room, getting oreo warmed up to the new environment and getting her to do a few tricks. she tired out quickly, but you don't mind as you lay on the floor with her, completing homework like it was nothing.

you had to retire, sometime and somehow as megumi urged you to shower, assuring that oreo wouldn't go anywhere.

you kept the shower short, regardless, dressing back up in record speed before coming face to face with megumi stroking oreo's fur as she curls up on his lap. he mumbles to her, bouncing his legs lightly as the cat rests her head on his calves.

"i just wanted to see (y/n)'s smile, but i guess you're pretty cute too," the corners of megumi's lips turn up at the soft meow from oreo, bending down to kiss her on the head.

"careful, hotshot, i might get jealous," you say, startling the poor boy. oreo doesn't give a shit, snuggling further into the warmth of his legs as he's stuck in the position on the floor.

"are cats always this clingy?"

"oreo might've had a rough time at her previous home, so she's glad to have someone to curl up against. they usually take longer to warm up to new owners but... she's a wise soul!" you laugh, squatting down to peck megumi on the lips.

"thank you."

"for what?" megumi's hand naturally rests on your thigh as you sit down beside him, while your head find its spot on his shoulder.

"for adopting a cat. for giving oreo a home, even if you like dogs a bit more."

he hums, "i like all animals, but dogs on the scale are a little bit higher than everything else."

he turns to you, causing you to lift your head off of your resting place.

"but i think if my love likes cats then, i'm willing to bump it up the scale to match it with my love for dogs."

you shove him lightly, laughing softly at his attempts at flirting.

"did gojo-sensei ask you to say that?"

the answer is clear when he rolls his eyes with a blush on his pale cheeks, but engages you in a deep kiss either way, smiling and speaking through it.

"he did but, i think it's pretty true when it comes to you."

356 notes · View notes

mxliv-oftheendless · 2 years ago

Text

Demons, the Lady of Dreams, and Tripled Fees

Horrifying nightmares of his worst mistake haunting every attempt to fall asleep. A member of the royal family possessed by a demon. A graphic exorcism performed in the dead of night, where one of the people involved would not live to see the morning.

Y’know, just a normal Tuesday night in the life of Morpheus Constantine. Or at least, it started out that way.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

HELLO EVERYONE!!! I had this idea last weekend while I was working, of a role reversal AU where Morpheus is the Constantine and Johanna is Dream and got so fucking excited that the first thing I did upon coming home was run to my laptop and start writing. It is twelve pages long in my Google Doc, so let’s hope Tumblr isn’t a dick about letting the whole thing be in one post. I had so much fucking fun writing this, it was an absolute joy, so I hope you all enjoy it too! I’ve also posted it here to Ao3, so go give it a kudos if it’s not too much trouble. OH ALSO: Netflix didn’t put the Latin words Johanna says in the subtitles, so I had to write out the words as they sounded, so this Latin will probably be incredibly awful. But other than that, happy reading!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

It was storming by the time Morpheus arrived at the nightclub. The droplets made the neon lights of the sign gleam even more harshly. There seemed to be no sign of anyone there, but he could still feel what was inside. It was emanating from there, like the entire building was vibrating from a silent scream.

As the cab rolled away, Morpheus took out his phone and looked down at the lockscreen. The messages were still there, the same place they had been when they flashed across his screen an hour ago.

Morpheus its happening again You need to get over here i’m really really scared I’m with dad at leland city club PLEASE HURRY

Seemingly on cue, there was a loud rumble of thunder and a flash of lightning.

The capital letters reminded Morpheus he couldn’t waste any more time. He put his phone back in his coat pocket and went to open the door and head inside. He didn’t regret giving Jed his phone number, because someone had to be there for the poor boy besides his sister. But he was rather frustrated that Cori fucking Walker made Jed have to use it so much. Whatever. He would just fix this and go back home… and definitely take Jed and Rose with him.

Sure enough, the nightclub atrium was completely empty. It was completely dark, save the neon light fixtures that were blinking weakly. The energy he had felt outside was even stronger now, enough that it vibrated through his body. The hairs on his neck and arms stood up and, despite the amount of years he’d been doing this, a chill ran down his spine. Because bright light was bursting between the cracks of the doors in front of him. That had to be where it was.

Morpheus swallowed to harden his resolve and stepped towards the doors. He was seriously debating just finding Jed and Rose and leaving, letting their father deal with the mess he had undoubtedly made. But no, he couldn’t do that. That would make the mess even worse.

He reached for the door handle, ready to throw it open. He would deal with this as quickly as possible. Hopefully it wasn’t too powerful a demon…

“Morpheus!”

Morpheus whirled around and saw Jed hurrying towards him from where he’d hidden in the bathroom. “Jed!” He rushed towards him and knelt down, relieved to see that Jed looked unharmed besides the incredibly frightened look on his face. “I came as soon as you texted. What happened?”

“We have to go!” Jed grabbed his arm and tried to drag him away. “We have to get out of here!”

“And we will,” Morpheus said calmly as he stopped the boy. “Just tell me what’s happened.”

Jed looked at him fearfully. “... He said it was an accident. Like when Mom died.”

God fucking dammit. A part of him had really been hoping someone else had done this. He bit back his frustrated sigh and instead asked, “Where is your sister?”

“S-She’s not here. She’s sleeping over at Judy’s house.”

Well, at least that was a good thing. One less Walker to worry about. “Good.” He straightened up and looked at Jed pointedly. “Now where is your father?”

Jed turned and pointed to a door off to the side. Morpheus strode towards the door, hearing Jed’s quicker footsteps hurry after him. He was going to give Walker the ass-kicking of his miserable life when this was over.

The door ended up leading to a backstage area of the club, which turned out to be far less destroyed than the rest of the place. And among the strewn about instruments, containers, shot glasses, and alcohol bottles was Cori Walker, passed out on a pentagram drawn on the floor in white chalk.

This time Morpheus did sigh in frustration and marched over to stand over the constant source of disaster and despair… and the pentagram he was lying on top of. “Walker!” he barked.

A book lying on the floor by Walker’s head caught his eye, specifically it’s title of SATANIC RITUALS displayed on the cover. He angrily snatched it up and smacked Walker across the head with it. “Hey! Walker!”

He hit him again, and this time the man startled awake. He looked around, then turned to look up and found Morpheus glaring down at him. He simply gave him an unconcerned grin, like a sheepish child caught with his hands in the cookie jar. “Hello, Morpheus,”

“What the fuck did you do?” Morpheus growled.

“We were just havin’ some fun,” Walker insisted.

“Some fun?” Morpheus brandished the book cover at him. “Summoning demons is having some fun?” Walker simply shrugged sheepishly and he forced himself to not hit him with the book again. “Who is “we”? Where are they?”

“They must still be inside,”

“Inside the club?”

“Yeah… You don’t wanna go in there, man.”

Morpheus scowled down at what surely had to be the bane of his entire existence. “No. No, I do not. But someone has to clean up your mess.”

He threw the book back down on the floor and straightened back up to head back into the atrium. Jed moved to join him. “I’ll come with you,” he insisted.

Morpheus stopped and put a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “You’re safer in here with your father, Jed, shocking as it may seem.” He squeezed Jed’s shoulder comfortingly. “Stay here. I’ll be right back.”

Jed still looked unsure, but nodded hesitantly. “C-Can I go with you when you leave?”

Morpheus couldn’t help his small affectionate smile. “Of course you can. We’ll go home, get some sleep, then call your sister in the morning. In the meantime, stay here. All right?”

“Okay,” Jed nodded. “Be careful.”

“I will, Jed,”

With that, he left the room and strode purposefully across the atrium towards the doors. They were shaking now, holding surprisingly well against the demonic force inside. Whatever demon was in there was most likely feeding on Walker’s friends, too busy snacking to leave. Oh well. If they were friends with Walker then their deaths probably weren’t that great a loss.

Morpheus suddenly found himself inside a long, dark hallway. Did his surroundings suddenly change or had it always been a hallway? He couldn’t remember now. He slowly, hesitantly lifted his hand to turn the doorknob and open the door. But something inside him was telling him to run, to turn around, grab Jed, and leave.

Turn back now. This can’t happen again. You can’t let this happen the way it did again.

But before he could seriously think about it, his hand was on the doorknob, and the door was swinging open.

An explosion of light blinded him. The heat of flames hit his face. Unholy screams and wails overwhelmed his hearing. Then something grabbed hold of his foot and yanked him into the room.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Morpheus snapped awake and sucked in a deep breath. He could feel his heart racing as his eyes adjusted and he tried to see where he was.

“Alright, bruv. We’re here.”

He wasn’t back at the nightclub, facing a demon with Jed waiting for him to take him away. He was in a cab, completely alone. And Jed…

Morpheus tried to ignore the stab of guilt that went through him. “Sorry,” he said absentmindedly as he fumbled for his seatbelt. “It’s been a long day.”

“My day’s just gettin’ started,” the cab driver sighed tiredly.

“I have a feeling mine is as well,” Morpheus muttered. He pulled out his wallet and took out his credit card to pay the fare, then got out of the cab.

The cool night air hit his face and he breathed it in to clear his head. He looked up at the looming cathedral as the cab drove away behind him and shoved his hands in his coat pockets. He wondered if his work would feel more important if he had gotten more sleep, but as it was, he just wanted to get it over with and go home. Just home, not back to bed–he knew he wouldn’t be able to fall back asleep. The memory of that nightclub and what happened to Jed haunted him at night. The shadows on his walls seemed to taunt him with his guilt, whispering “Your fault,” over and over. The daytime wasn’t much better–waking hours spent wondering if Rose would pick up this time if he called… not that she ever did.

Morpheus took another deep breath of the crisp air. He had to focus. He couldn’t change what happened, nor could he make Rose hate him any less. But he could do this. He could do this job. It was why he was called. So with that, he began to walk towards the steps of the cathedral.

“Morpheus Constantine!”

The voice behind him made him freeze. He turned around and couldn’t help smiling wryly as he walked towards the man dressed like G. K. Chesterton standing under the streetlight.

“It’s rather late to be going to church, dear boy,” the man said cheerfully. “Even if you’ve dressed up quite well for it. Is that a new black coat?”

“What are you doing here, Gilbert?” Morpheus asked in amusement.

“Oh, the same as you, I expect,” Gilbert replied, eagerly shifting the hat and cane he had tucked under one arm. “She’s coming, isn’t she?”

“Who?”

“Oh, you surely must know who! Lady Johanna.” At Morpheus’s confused blinking, Gilbert went on. “The Lady of Dreams. The Oneiromancer. You know, the Sandman!”

“The Sandman,” Morpheus repeated, wondering if Gilbert had another screw loose. “The woman who puts little children to sleep? She’s only a fairy tale, Gilbert.”

“Oh, she is no fairy tale, dear boy. She’s back, and she wants her sand.”

Morpheus just smiled amusedly. Yeah, right. “Thanks for letting me know. But I’m late for work.”

He nodded goodbye to Gilbert, then turned to head towards the cathedral steps. “Take my word for it, dear boy, she has returned!” Gilbert called after him. “I know! I am two hundred and eighty years old, and I know!”

Morpheus couldn’t help laughing quietly and turned to briefly wave at Gilbert. Crazy old man…

“Constantine.”

He turned and abruptly stopped again (how many times would this happen tonight?). This time he had been stopped by a woman, who had appeared out of nowhere on the steps in front of him. She looked about the same age as him and had long brown hair. She had a fancy white trench coat over a black turtleneck, dark pants, and black combat boots. And strangest of all, she was looking at him like she knew him… even though Morpheus was sure he had never seen her before in his life.

Morpheus scrutinized her, trying to remember if he had ever met her before. “Do I know you?” he asked aloud.

“We’ve got business, you and I,” was the woman’s response.

Business? What business? He was certain he’d never met her before.

He glanced at the cathedral and looked back at her. “With all due respect, you’ll have to wait. I have business with God first.”

The woman said nothing as he walked up the steps past her and towards the church. But he could feel her eyes on his back, watching him. He had half a mind to turn and yell at her to fuck off. But it was far too late and he was far too tired of life to deal with anything besides the job he had to do. So he ignored her stare and walked up the rest of the steps to shove open the cathedral door.

The sound of his boots against the floor echoed through the vast, empty hall as he entered, looking around for any sign of life amongst the many candles. “Lucienne?” he called out, hearing his voice carry.

Almost in answer, Lucienne’s shaved head poked out behind a corner and she smiled happily upon seeing him. “Oh good, you’re here,”

“Not a favor,” he reminded her as he made his way up the small set of steps to her. “I’m getting paid or I’m going back to bed.” He decided not to mention that going back to bed would probably involve watching crap reality shows on Netflix instead of actually sleeping.

“And I’m sure you won’t accept “the honor of doing a service to devout followers of God” as payment?” Lucienne drawled as they walked through the vast chamber.

Morpheus chuckled wryly. “I never do. So tell me, why have I been summoned this time?”

“The usual reason. There is a soul in need of your help.”

“Who is it?”

Strangely, Lucienne paused before saying, “Oh… does it really matter?”

She sounded far too casual. Morpheus gave her a suspicious look.

“If I double your fee?”

He stopped walking and stared expectantly at her.

“Triple it?”

Tempting… but he still wanted to know.

Lucienne sighed. “Let’s just say, her family has means,”

Oh, not this shit again…

Morpheus sighed. “If her family is in any way royal, the answer is no. I’m done with that.”

“I know, but none of them know she’s here,” Lucienne argued.

“Who is it, the princess?”

“I can neither confirm nor deny. She came here about an hour ago, demanding that I marry her and her boyfriend before the palace and the press find out.”

Morpheus frowned. “Why? Who does she want to marry?”

Lucienne looked like she was biting back a laugh. “Kevin Brody,”

He blinked at her. “The football player?” Lucienne nodded. “Perhaps she is possessed, then. She could do far better.”

“I don’t follow sports, so I really can’t say,”

What was this, a bad romance novel? “Lucienne, just because a Goldsmith-educated princess wants to marry a subpar football player–”

“It’s not just that,”

“–does not mean she needs an exorcism.”

“It’s not just that,” Lucienne repeated with a sigh, pushing her glasses up her nose. “Just talk to her, and you’ll understand.”

“It’s far too risky with royals,” Morpheus argued. “If this goes wrong, there will be a dead princess, a demon running riot, and no one to…”

“Let me go! FUCK OFF!!”

Morpheus trailed off at the echoing screaming and turned to look in the direction it came from. “... Well shit,” he couldn’t help saying.

“Told you,” Lucienne muttered.

“Is that her?”

“Can you not smell the sulfur?”

He could, actually. But he’d gotten so used to it by now he hadn’t noticed it at first.

Morpheus paused, weighing his options. Either he went in there and tried to exorcize a member of royalty who potentially didn’t need an exorcism… or he could go back home and fight off sleep, just so he wouldn’t have to relive the memory of that godforsaken nightclub again.

He sighed. “Where is she?”

Lucienne smiled happily and they resumed their walk. “In my office. You’ll need this,” she handed him her Rituale Romanum, “and should I get holy water as well?”

“No, I don’t think so,” Morpheus hummed, thinking about what to do. “I cannot burst in speaking in Latin… Has she been restrained? Is that why she sounds like that?”

“She sounds like that because she’s been possessed by a demon,” Lucienne huffed.

“We could tie her up,” Morpheus said thoughtfully. He had half a mind to continue the joke, just to see how scandalized Lucienne would get. “Do you think she would enjoy that?”

Sure enough, she stopped and looked at him like he’d just told her he didn’t care for The Godfather. “She is British royalty!”

“We don’t have to drug her,” Morpheus insisted, trying not to laugh at her face. “It would all be very consensual.”

Lucienne looked like she wanted to smack him upside the head. “Have you got any other ideas?”

Morpheus looked in the direction of where the princess was still screaming. Then an idea popped into his head. “I do.” He turned to Lucienne. “But I’m going to need your clothes.”

A few minutes and a decision to not remark to Lucienne how they somehow were the same size later, Morpheus stood, fully clad as a vicar, in front of the princess and the football player. After getting a good look at him, he stood by what he said before–the princess could definitely do better. Both of them were so eager to get married as quickly as possible that neither of them noticed that the vicar performing the ceremony had messy, unkempt hair and eyeliner.

He could smell the sulfur in the room (it was so strong he was sure he’d have to put his clothes through the wash to get the rotten egg smell out), and could feel the presence of something unholy. The problem was, he couldn’t tell where it was coming from. He was pretty certain it was coming from the princess, since Lucienne was rarely wrong about who she thought was possessed. But still, he didn’t like any kind of uncertainty.

“Do you, Princess, take this–”

“I do.”

Morpheus trailed off at the slightly rude interruption. But the princess, clad in a simple yet becoming white dress, simply stared back at him with hardened resolve.

Kevin Brody, being the second-tier football player he was, seemed less certain, glancing at his fiance hesitantly. “Wait–babe, are you absolutely sure you wanna do this?”

The princess turned to him, and Morpheus half-wondered if she would ask if she fucking stuttered. “I said “I do” because I do, Kevin.”

“No, I mean… Are you sure you don’t want a big royal-wedding-of-the-century-type wedding? With, like, the queen and photographers and stuff?”

Oh dear, trouble in paradise already. If it turned out there was no demon, Morpheus may be convinced to get a social media account just to see how this marriage played out.

The princess’s face softened into what had to be the most loving, adoring look Morpheus had ever seen. If not for the circumstances, he would’ve admitted it was genuinely sweet. “I just want you,” she told him.

Ew. Definitely the plot of a bad romance novel… not that he read those.

Her words seemed to persuade him, and they both turned back to him. “Let’s get on with it, please,” the princess said politely.

Morpheus nodded slightly. “And do you, Kevin–”

He heard a cracking noise, then Kevin Brody yelped. “Ow! Yeah! Yeah, I do.”

“Wonderful. Then repeat after me. Da locum derisimae.”

“Da locum derisimae.”

“Da locum empi isimae.”

“Da locum empi–”

Kevin Brody suddenly stopped and hunched over, coughing loudly. Both the princess and Morpheus’s heads immediately turned towards him as he cleared his throat and straightened up, trying to laugh it off. “Sorry,” he chuckled awkwardly. “Been fasting. Just in case there were photographers. You know what I’m sayin’?” The princess looked like she very much did not know what he was saying, and his awkward grin faded. “Doesn’t matter.”

She gave him what looked like a warning glare and turned back to Morpheus. “Keep going,” she demanded.

Morpheus, however, wasn’t looking at her. He was studying Kevin Brody suspiciously. Maybe he’d been right all along, and the princess wasn’t possessed at all… but someone in this room still was. “Da locum christo…”

“Da locum christ–” Kevin Brody doubled over again, this time looking like he’d been about to throw up. He held up a hand desperately. “Sorry, can we–”

Morpheus kept chanting, the words coming rapidly. “Vonelium venistido perebustubis,”

Kevin Brody grabbed his throat and doubled over in pain, actually gagging this time. The princess just looked at him, aghast. “Are you going to be sick?! Kevin! Are you going to be sick during our wedding?!”

Morpheus just studied him and went on. “Quotis boliavit quam regnum tuom destrucit.”

The princess kept looking back and forth between him and her fiance, who had been sent down to his knees. “Kevin!”

Kevin Brody gagged… and then a green hand with black nails slowly slithered out of his mouth.

Oh shit. “Quivit emigavit, evasa tuem eripulit!”

And Kevin Brody, or at least his body, was rocketed to its feet and its head was thrown back as a green arm and hand burst out of the mouth. The demon inside growled, the sound booming through the cathedral, as the hand clawed at the air. Then another green hand slowly appeared, then an arm, tearing through the mouth and face as it fought its way out of its constricting vessel. Then both hands reached back to grab the top of the head, and tore the body in half. What used to be subpar football star Kevin Brody exploded in a mess of blood, bones, and flesh. In the body’s place stood a huge, hulking demon. He had green skin, pointed ears, spikes of purple-gray hair atop his head, completely black eyes, and a darker green vest and pants. The demon exhaled with an enraged snarl and stood to his full height, towering over the princess and Morpheus’s heads.

Morpheus’s mouth dropped open in surprise as he vaguely registered the princess bursting into terrified tears. Wow. He really hadn’t seen that coming. Lucienne had been convinced the princess was possessed, not the footballer, and she was never wrong. That’s a twist.

Speaking of whom… “Lucienne!” he called, not taking his eyes off the demon. The demon glared right back at him as his arms and legs slowly cracked and snapped back into place.

Footsteps echoed, then Lucienne appeared, clutching his coat around her. She froze in shock upon seeing the demon. “You won’t believe this,” Morpheus said to her, “but you were wrong about who was possessed.”

“Oh dear,” was all Lucienne responded with.

Morpheus glanced at the princess, who had backed away in terror and had her hands over her mouth to conceal her hysterical sobs. “Get her out of here.”

Lucienne nodded and went to place her hands gently on the distraught princess’s shoulders and hurry her out of the hall. “Come along, dear. There we go. Come with me.”

The demon’s head and body turned and he seemed to be watching as Lucienne and the princess left the room. He let out a growl of frustration. Morpheus didn’t want to find out if that meant he was going to attack them, so he began to chant again, stepping down to the floor. “Visitas vasuomos dominae. Habitatione istum et omnis–”

“You… talk too much,” the demon snarled as he turned around to face him. “Especially for a little twink in eyeliner.”

Morpheus chose to ignore the very original insult he had never heard before. “If you tell me your name, I’ll stop,” he retorted.

“Now why would I do that,” the demon said, advancing on him with a very lecherous smile, “when there’s far more enjoyable ways to make you stop?”

“His name is Choronzon.”

Morpheus whipped around and found the woman from outside in the white trench coat standing behind him. Her chin was raised regally and she gazed at the demon—Choronzon, apparently—with a very intent look, like she wanted something from him. “A Duke of Hell,” she finished.

The green-skinned demon grinned at her. “Surprised you remember me, Lady Johanna,” he sneered mockingly, “after your little vacation away.”

The woman simply smiled dryly at him. “Nice to see you too, Choronzon,” she said mildly sarcastically.

Morpheus, who had backed away a few steps, turned to look again at the woman, this time remembering what Gilbert had said to him. “Lady Johanna?” he repeated to himself, astonished. He couldn’t believe it…

Choronzon apparently heard him. “It is indeed, little twink. Though she looks a bit different without her helm.” He grinned at her. “Now where do you think that could be?”

“I’m guessing it’s in Hell with the demon it was traded to,” Lady Johanna shot back.

“Yeah, but which demon? Gimme the princess and I might be willin’ to tell you.”

Fuck this. Morpheus was out of patience. He wasn’t sure what the hell was going on here between these two primordial beings, but he was past the point of caring. It was far too late for this shit. So he grabbed his crucifix out of his boot, held it out towards Choronzon, and began to chant again. “Exis ergo, Choronzon!”

A panicked look appeared on Lady Johanna’s face. “Wait!”

Flames began to appear around Choronzon’s feet with a blast of heat as Morpheus kept chanting. Choronzon yelled in surprise and fear as tendrils of flames wrapped around his arms and pulled him down.

“ALRIGHT FINE!” he yelled, whipping his head around to Lady Johanna. “I’ll tell you where your fucking helm is. Just don’t send me back!”

“Erventis tutis suom memuoquis–”

“Constantine!” Lady Johanna yelled, running down the steps. “Stop!”

“–engentium Choronzon! Visitas vasuomos dominae!”

“I SAID STOP!” Lady Johanna screamed as a portal opened below Choronzon’s feet and he was slowly sucked down. “STOP!”

“DREAM OF THE ENDLESS COMMANDS YOU!” Choronzon roared at Morpheus as he finished his chant.

“Make like a good demon and fuck off back to Hell!” Morpheus shot back.

The floor rumbled under his feet and flames appeared between the stones. Ash and flame shot up and twisted around Choronzon’s body, consuming his form, until with one last despairing roar, the demon was dragged back down to Hell.

Morpheus slowly lowered his crucifix as the embers blinked out, and finally turned his eyes to look at the woman across from the mess of soot on the floor. Lady Johanna looked down at the place Choronzon had just disappeared from, then slowly lifted her head to give him a mortified look.

“Do you have any idea what you’ve just done?” she asked him.

With a flourish, Morpheus snapped the Rituale Romanum shut. “I do,” he replied, finally allowing himself to smile in satisfaction. “I have just tripled my fee.”

Then he turned on his heel and strode away. Tonight was turning out to be pretty okay after all. “Lucienne? Will I be invoicing the Church of England or Buckingham Palace for this?”

#the sandman #the sandman netflix #sandman #sandman on netflix #sandman fanfiction #role reversal au #morpheus #dream of the endless #johanna constantine #cw noncanonical character death #i seriously had so much fun writing this #jed i'm so sorry i did that to you sweetie #yeah sorry again about the latin #i tried using google translate but that wasn't much help so #hope you enjoyed!#fanfiction #my writing #thanks for reading!

8 notes · View notes

infernalrevenge · 3 years ago

Note

HCs abt an S/O of Lady D's who's struggling to get her daughters' approval? It's rarely addressed in fanfics, but y'all.. becoming a stepparent is a hard and frustrating journey, especially when mama and kids have such tight bonds. Makes small wins feel so rewarding, tho! What are your thoughts on that? How would D react, how would she help? (or make it harder, in true possessive Mother Hen™ fashion..) Which flybaby would warm up to S/O first? How would S/O try to win each of them over, etc..?

Oooh this is a really cool thought! Not that I have a lot of experience with stepparents but yeah, changes and adjustments in family dynamics like that can't be easy. I think I'm gonna have some fun with this.

When the Dimitrescu sisters found out you were the human dating their mother, at first they were mostly indifferent. Not like it's their business as to who Alcina gets it on with anyway (and they could also be thinking you would quickly turn to lunch if you fuck up badly enough, in which case they would gladly join her in the feast.)

They might quip with you sometimes, but for the most part, you're left alone.

But when they realized you were here to stay and might become a parental figure in their life... oh boy.

You're telling them they have to answer to you now? A mere mortal? On what grounds? Just because you have sex with their mom? They think the fuck not.

Hell, they're individually old enough to be your parent, so truly... what the fuck?

(Part of that fear of you joining the family may come from thinking that Alcina now has someone else to preoccupy herself with, so there's less time for them. Perhaps even less love for them. They can't have that. That can't happen.)

As for your partner's reaction? She's kind of torn. On one hand, she understands how her daughters feel about having a new family member suddenly join the dynamic -- someone they barely know relative to each other. You could have been around for a few years, but they've been all together for more than half a century, and they're doing just fine.

On the other, she wants to see you all getting along. She loves you and wants you to be a part of her life, and of course she also loves her daughters with all her heart.

She's not really sure what to do, so she kind of... ends up not doing anything.

But she is curious as to what you'll do about the situation though, since the sisters would hardly make it a secret that your presence is an annoyance at best, completely unwanted and unwelcome at worst.

Bela, surprisingly, might be the hardest to win over. You would think that, as the eldest, she should be the one to lead by example and be the mature one. Plus, she's always looking for her mother's approval, so approving of you may get her on her good side (and yours.)

But she's very opposed to change, especially one that affects her life this much when it's not her choice.

She lets Cassandra and Daniela get away with pulling harmless pranks on you to get under your skin, or make Alcina mad at you. She pretends to not have a direct hand in them and would passive-aggressively remark on whatever they did.

Oh, your clothes were misplaced and looking for new ones made you late to a date with the Lady? "None of them were very nice anyway. This is doing you a favor."

You found dog poop under your bed and now you reek? "I don't smell that much of a difference."

Getting doused in sticky honey and molasses somehow? "At least Mother has a reason to think you're sweet now."

They would never do anything to hurt you, not unless they want to incur their mother's wrath or sadness, just... little things (hopefully enough to get you to leave.)

But luckily, if you're a patient and persistent person, they (ever so) slowly warm up to you in different ways.

The most important thing to remember is that they're different people despite having a lot of things in common, so your manner of approaching them will have to vary for each sister.

Daniela might be the easiest to win over, such a sociable little fly. She might try to be standoffish at first, but if you bring up a book series that she enjoys reading as a topic for conversation, she can and will keep you there for hours talking about the characters, dissecting certain themes, and explaining her theories of the inner machinations of the plot.

If you actually start reading it upon her recommendation, she becomes ecstatic. Finally, someone other than her sisters she can explain these theories to! And someone who can actually relate and add on to them!

Eventually, she'll come to realize that having you around won't mean the end of their family. It just means they're getting more out of it -- a new member to love, and one who loves them.

Cassandra might be a little territorial about her current interests, so you'll have to take on a different approach.

Maybe try introducing her to something that peripherally matches what she likes now. She seems to really like hunting and torture to take her aggression out on, so uh... maybe try martial arts?

It would be more fun if it was something the both of you were new at, so you could bond over attempting to do things together. Nothing says "I want to get to know my stepdaughter better" like letting her throw you to the mat and laugh in excitement when she gets the technique right.

She is still very stubborn though, so she may take a while to fully convince. Even when it seems like you're on her good side, there's a tiny bit of denial. But she'll come around, no matter how reluctant.

Finally, as for Bela, she just needs to see that, though most of her family now genuinely likes you, that it doesn't have to change a thing about how they feel about her either. They're not going to abandon her or anything that drastic just because someone new has entered their lives.

Seeing her sisters approve of you can be jarring, no matter how long or gradual the process may have been. Like, weren't they switching out your shampoos and putting snakes in your closet last year? Why is everyone buddy buddy now? (Why are they leaving her behind?)

She'll start to act bitter toward everyone, feeling like she's been betrayed and shut herself away. She doesn't even want to see her own mother anymore.

But eventually, you have to talk to Alcina to do something too -- she could see you were making an effort, but she's not making it clear to her daughters what exactly was happening. She should be the first to approach Bela regarding the subject, along with her sisters.

You may need some time alone with her as well to drive the point home too. Having more people in the family doesn't mean less love, but in fact it means more, because now you're there to care for her too.

And she has to admit that seeing her mother care for you, having her sisters like you, it didn't really feel like they were any different towards her. They were more insistent in getting her to spend time with you, sure, but other than that... things were mostly the same.

The acceptance may be begrudging at first, but when she actually gets used to this new norm, she'll come around.

If you want to bond with her, you can teach her something. She likes learning new things, and she'll start to warm up to you more if she has reason to keep going to you to get this new information.

It can be anything -- music, arts, sports, cooking, you name it. Even introducing her to new technology will help get on her good side. You'd be surprised at how quickly she gets into it that you start to wonder why it was so hard to get her to like you in the first place.

Also, just talk to her. As a person, as your new daughter, whatever. Just acknowledge her and be honest. She appreciates the little things.

All in all, it's going to be tough. The journey will have its ups and downs, and not everything is going to be smooth sailing. Communication is key, though, as with any sort of relationship. Let the girls know you care for them just as much as you love and care for their mother. In a way, that's all they really want.

But they're not calling you "mom/dad/parental unit". First name basis with a stepparent (affectionate) all the way.

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even-after-a-millennia · 3 years ago

Text

The Freeman's and Firsts

My first fic for @nilefreemanweek2021 and the prompt Nile Freeman + First(s)! You can read it below or over on my ao3 account here. Nile-centric | Rated G | ~1.7k Enjoy!

Nile jerked awake, her eyes opening and lungs heaving. She forced her body to remain still, to not jolt upright. She instinctively started taking deeper breaths, trying to calm her racing heart. After six months of immortality and the dreams that came with being connected to Quynh, she had gotten better at moderating her body’s reactions to her nightmares.

It was her mind that would not calm.

With a sigh, she eased herself out of bed. Joe and Nicky were sleeping in the bed opposite her, Andy unconscious closer to the wall in Nile’s bed. The safehouse was small, but it had a balcony, and suddenly that was the only place that Nile wanted to be.

She snuck out of the bedroom and across the living room, doing her best to keep quiet on the creaking floorboards. The door to the balcony squeaked as she opened it and she winced, stopping it for a moment and listening.

There were no noises that indicated she had woken anyone, so she slipped out the small gap she had created and into the cold night air beyond.

The balcony wasn’t much, but it did boast a few chairs and a rickety table whose screws could probably use a tightening. Nile sank into one of the chairs and pulled her feet onto the seat with her. The sun was just an idea on the horizon, barely a faint glow of orange to be seen, and the early morning air was cold against her skin.

She needed that. Needed the cold to ground her where she was, in a safehouse with her fellow immortals. Not the heat of Afghanistan, the warmth of the floor under her as her blood soaked into the rug.

She continued to breathe, holding her breath for seven counts before she released it. Slowly, her body calmed. And all she suddenly felt was exhaustion.

The sky was slowly brightening, reds bleeding into the black and blue of night. She tried to catalog the colors, so that she could recreate the moment some time later on canvas. But her mind pulled her back to her dream no matter how many times she tried to redirect it.

The door squeaked but Nile didn’t turn to see who it was. Any of her family would be a welcome distraction at the moment, but she felt a pang of guilt at waking any of them.

A blanket settled around her shoulders and a cup of hot coffee materialized before her.

“Two sugars and a splash of milk,” Nicky’s soft voice said.

Just how she liked it.

She turned to him as she took the mug from his hand. He looked barely awake, his eyes slightly puffy with sleep still. But he had taken the time to make coffee for her, get a blanket.

She swallowed, slightly undone with affection for him. “Thank you, Nicky.”

“Prego,” he replied, sinking into the closest chair to hers.

“I hope I didn’t wake you,” she said, cuddling the warm cup close to her. Between that and the blanket, she was feeling warmer, but luckily, no memories tried to upset the moment.

He shook his head. “Many nights, I try to wake to check on the room. Usually, I can drift back off quickly. But when you were not there, I worried. We have seen our share of bad nights. They are easier when not alone.”

Nile sniffed, then reasoned that the steam from her coffee had made her nose run. She nodded, taking a sip.

“Would you like to talk about it?” he asked, staring at the burgeoning sun.

Maybe it was because he wasn’t looking at her, that she was able to speak.

“When my dad died, I missed school for a few days. Even when I got back, I wasn’t really there. My grades suffered and I ended up in my guidance counselor’s office. She said something to me that I will never forget. Well, hopefully,” she said drily, remembering the vastness of time available to her.

“She said that after something traumatic happens, like losing a family member, you go through a year of firsts. Big ones, like the first holidays without them. Small ones, like the first time you want to call them, only remember they aren’t there to pick up. A whole year of constantly remembering that your life is irrevocably changed.”

She sipped the coffee and let the warm run down her throat, savoring the feeling of its heat in her stomach.

“That first year was so hard, I wasn’t sure we would all get through it. But we did. Even after that year came big moments, though, times I thought my dad would be there for. Prom, graduation. Birthdays. And I realized that it wasn’t just firsts. It was those moments when all you want is your family surrounding you. And suddenly, there was this gaping hole where he was supposed to be. To take pictures of me and my prom date. To cheer as I walked across the graduate stage.”

Nile pulled the blanket closer around her and surreptitiously wiped her eyes with the corner of it.

The first glimpse of the sun broke over them, illuminating Nicky’s face. His eyes were more open, more awake now as he looked at her. His brow was lowered, not in anger but in concentration, as if every word that came out of her mouth had weight and importance.

Like he was trying to understand her more than anything else in that moment.

She smiled a bit at him even as he got blurry behind the tears in her eyes.

“This whole experience reminds me of that. I am suddenly the gaping hole in my mom and my brother’s lives. I should be there for birthdays and big moments and small ones. And I’m here, knowing what that feels like, knowing I’m responsible for them feeling that way, and not fixing it. I don’t even know if there is a way how. And it overwhelms me sometimes.”

Nicky nodded, looking back at the sun.

It was halfway visible now, harder to look at in its brightness.

“Were there good firsts in that year?” Nicky asked.

Nile considered. That time felt hazy and endless in her mind, a place that she only visited in her darkest moments.

“A bunch of ladies from our church would make us a hotdish every week, so that we would have guaranteed meals. I didn’t want to see tater tot hotdish again in my lifetime until I was eighteen. I finally made us spaghetti one night just to be able to have something different. It was the first night my mom laughed since my dad’s death, once I explained why I had done it,” she finally said.

Nicky snorted a laugh. She grinned faintly back at him.

“Miss Temple from down the street came with her son, who was about my age, and he and my brother Jordan played basketball on the sidewalk as she, my mom, and I sat in the grass and she did our nails. She worked at the salon my mom went to. It was just before the funeral. We both had beautiful nails for the service. I kept looking down at them while people were talking. They made me want to paint. It was the first time I had thought about art since we found out he was gone.”

Miss Temple had been adamant about not using black nail polish. She had painted Nile’s nails blue and her mother’s purple, both so dark they looked black until they hit the light. Nile remembered using the lights in the church to illuminate the color of her nails, to show herself they weren’t just black. That there was still color, even as her father was being put into the ground.

“A girl at my school had lost her mom the year before. Cancer. She ended up sitting next to me at lunch my first day back. We hadn’t talked much before, but everyone else was avoiding talking to me. I was sitting by myself and suddenly, she set down her tray next to me and started talking about what I had missed in the class we shared. I think she knew that I needed to not talk about my dad,” Nile admitted. “She made me laugh, catching me up on all the shit that had gone on while I was gone. Some stupid story, but it was funny enough to get a laugh out of me. Another first.”

“There’s more, but those stand out. Little kindnesses. Little moments.”

Nicky nodded. “A few centuries into my immortality, it surprised me how many of those little moments were still present in my memories. The first time Yusuf and I broke bread together without bickering. The first time I slept through the night without memories haunting me. The first time a child looked at me and smiled, rather than shrinking away. They add up in such a way that makes the awful moments fade slightly. Balance. I am glad of them. It would be a much more miserable existence without them.”

It was Nile’s turn to nod.

She let her mind wander back on her life since she had gained immortality. Yes, there were awful moments of death and violence and loss. But there was the first time she had disarmed Andy and the proud look in her eyes as Nile whooped in victory. The first time she and Joe had painted together, music playing in the background as they lost themselves in colors. The first time that Nicky had made her coffee just how she liked it, though he had never asked.

So many little moments that added up to so much.

The sun began to warm her as she sat there in silence with Nicky, mind finally settled into the moment filled with coffee, companionship, and, finally, contentment. There were still many firsts to come, but she knew that she wouldn’t have to face them alone.

#nile freeman #nileweek2021 #nicolò di genova #aka nicky #fanfic #my fic

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