#creativity sparks most at the moment you have the least time to indulge it | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

tickle-bugs · 4 years ago

Text

Rumor Has It

Summary: In the process of rediscovering her powers, Allison gets a tad carried away. Thankfully, her siblings are there to keep her in check.

Okay this is so self-indulgent but I’ve been wanting to write a fic about Allison’s powers for forever and I never got around to it. Don’t think too hard about the timeline on this one, I was going to end it with the dinner and then I realized I didn’t want to. Also, Lila is here because I love her.

SPOILERS FOR SEASON 2 AHEAD!!

Allison could confidently say she was the most patient of the Hargreeves siblings. With the boys, there was no contest—they were all volatile loose cannons with something to prove—and even Ben had fallen prey to the excess testosterone. Years of following Klaus around had brought back out Ben’s snarky side, which he had all-but-smothered in his younger years. A wise person would argue Vanya was patient, and their argument would have merit, but Vanya wasn’t so much patient as she was used to being forcibly subdued. She was kind and sweet, but she would never wait for anything again. She simply acted now. Allison could appreciate the sentiment, but that wasn’t how she operated—no matter how badly she wanted to.

She was always the moderator—the only one who could reign in six other unruly supers without losing a limb. So, when Reginald invited the seven of them to dinner, she had to call upon every ounce of her patience to keep from strangling one or all of them.

“I still say we kill him.” Diego stabbed a mango in the fruit bowl and pulled it towards himself. He started carefully peeling the skin, leaving the shavings in a little pile next to his plate.

“That solves nothing.” Allison sighed.

“It saves the president. I’d call that solving something.” Diego didn’t look up at her, but the aggressive way he sliced a huge chunk of skin off of the mango almost felt personal.

“I agree with Diego. I think it’d be fun.” Lila pulled Diego’s arm towards her so she could take a bite of the mango. He glared at her and she tweaked his nose, taking another large bite just to piss him off.

“See?” Diego gestured at Lila.

“No one is killing Dad. Let’s hear what he has to say, then we can figure out a plan.” Allison folded her hands on the table, relieved when everyone else seemed to be in agreement. Klaus handed her a tiki cup and she took a grateful sip. It’d been a while since she’d had a good piña colada.

“Why? This whole thing could be over so quickly!”

“Yes, it could, but it won’t be.” She gave him one of her patented fake smiles, taking a pointed sip of her colada.

“Why? Because you’re in charge? Because you’ve got this under control?” Diego scoffed. He offered Lila a piece of his mango before she could steal another bite.

“Oh boy, here we go.” Luther muttered.

“Do you want a drink? No? Well, I do. I’m gonna go get a drink.” Klaus stood and stumbled over to the bar, taking his second margarita of the night with him.

“What is that supposed to mean?” She crossed her arms.

“What authority do you really have, Allison?”

“I would say her powers are a pretty good authority. Plus, Allison’s a good leader.” Vanya piped up, smiling softly at her. Allison gave her hand a quick squeeze.

“Team Zero has no leaders. That’s the whole point.”

“Kinda hard to be Team Zero when you still want to be number one.” Five took an apple from the fruit bowl and took an innocent bite. Diego pushed his chair out, knife in hand, twirling it between his fingers.

“Diego, sit down! Now.” Allison didn’t stand. She wouldn’t sink to his level. Or, rise, rather.

“Make me.” Diego fixed Allison with a withering stare, but it paled in comparison to the one she gave him. In fact, she relished in the way he shivered when he met her eyes. Good. He should remember his place.

“Diego-” Luther tried, but one glare shut him down.

“Shut up. Allison, you want me to sit and behave? Make me.”

“Come on. Don’t do this,” Vanya whispered, trying to grab Diego’s knife hand. He simply flicked the knife behind his back and into his other hand. For a moment, it looked like Vanya’s pleading eyes would work, but Five chuckled and sealed the deal.

“Dinner and a show! Predictable as always.” Five folded his hands beneath his chin and stole a generous sip of Vanya’s cocktail.

“Shut up, twerp!” Diego pointed at him with the knife.

“Or else what? You’ll stab me?” Five was grinning now, goading Diego on purpose.

“Five!” Allison growled, and he rolled his eyes, falling quiet. At least he knew not to test her.

“Keep talking. Let’s find out.” Diego flipped the knife once, then twice, and each time it stayed in the air just a little too long.

“I’ve got ten bucks on Diego,” Lila said, kicking her feet up on the table. She took the liberty of finishing his mango for him, peeling away little bits of skin with her messy nails.

“Guys, stop it!” Vanya latched onto Diego’s arm, trying to force him down into his seat. He pulled away and she ended up jabbing his side. He flinched and glared at her, but did not budge. Allison’s lips quirked into a momentary smile.

“Allison,” Vanya said quietly, gesturing at the brewing fight. Allison rolled her eyes and threw up her hands.

“Okay! Just remember you asked for this!” Allison smirked, and the room suddenly felt a bit colder. She could feel everyone’s attention on her, but she had Diego’s eyes, and that was all she needed.

“I heard a rumor that you started tickling yourself.” Allison’s voice echoed through the room, the sound waves capturing her brother. Just before his eyes turned white, she could see the look of minute panic, that look of ‘oh shit’ that he always made before being put in his place. Allison smiled, curled her tongue against her teeth, and dropped the winning blow.

“Coochie coo, Diego.” She couldn’t help the giggle that bubbled out on the end of her sentence. Diego’s hands raised towards his body as if they didn’t belong to him, fingers wiggling in that way that had always ruined him as a kid—slow, methodical, and teasing. Both hands dug into his sides, just below his ribs, and he yelped, quickly consumed by his own high-pitched laughter. The sight was strange—90% of Diego was squirming up a storm trying to escape himself, but his arms and hands kept him pinned exactly where Allison wanted him.

“How does that work?” Lila laughed, unable to hide her snickers when Diego squealed. She fluttered her fingers over his neck and was delighted to find that he couldn’t fight back—what with his hands being so busy, and all.

“Her power shuts off the sense of self-awareness in the brain, I think. You can’t tickle yourself normally because the laughter is a panic response. Your brain knows it’s you, so you can’t make yourself laugh, unless you’re ridiculously ticklish, or something. Allison’s power is making Diego’s brain think his hands aren’t his, even though he knows they are. It’s really interesting, actually.” Vanya beamed, unable to resist poking him in the ribs a few times. He threw his head back in his chair and somehow found it in himself to giggle louder when his rumored hands found a home underneath his arms, drawing unbearable shapes and driving him up the wall. Everyone, excluding Diego, turned to stare at Vanya.

“What? I like science.” She shrugged.

“It is...creative, I’ll say.” Five crossed his arms, then uncrossed them, as if he didn’t trust his own hands.

“Yeah, I haven’t heard him laugh like that since we were kids. He still sounds like a kettle.” Klaus chuckled.

“Shut up, Klaus!” Diego squeaked out, tossing his head side to side. He puffed his cheeks out, trying to rein in his laughter, but it only lasted until his left hand hit that spot just above his top rib that made him fully cackle.

“Aww, this is cute.” Lila ruffled his hair, knowing full well she wouldn’t have gotten away with it had Diego not been testing the range of his vocal chords. Lila shot Allison a look she couldn’t quite read—something akin to a thoughtful expression, as if she was taking a mental note—and smiled.

“Diego? I think your legs could use some attention.” Allison watched with delight as Diego’s hands dove for his thighs. One hand started squeezing while the other wiggled up and down, and the rate at which he plummeted into desperate belly laughter was almost alarming. He twisted off of the chair and onto the floor, eyes screwed shut.

“Allison, stohop!” Diego squealed, absolutely hysterical. Jesus Christ, no one had ever been this ruthless with him before. Her powers were hitting spots he didn’t even know he had, and each fresh discovery sent him into a wave of overwhelming, giggly panic. Every time he tried to take command of his hands, something blocked him, like the wires in his brain weren’t quite connected.

“Nope! Not until you apologize for being an asshole. And agree to be nice.”

“I can’t—noho!” He arched his back and drummed his heels on the floor. Watching his own hands wreak havoc on his worst spot set off all kinds of butterflies in his stomach. His hands kept digging in infuriating patterns, completely overwhelming his nervous system with tickly sparks.

“Sure you can! It’s very easy.” Allison winked at him and he growled, but it dissolved very quickly into giggles.

“You’re all a bunch of children,” Five sighed.

“Five, why don’t you join him?” Allison asked sweetly, stirring her drink with the straw. Five’s look of confusion melted into a brief flicker of white eyes, and soon his cackles mingled with Diego’s rich laughter. He hit the floor much quicker than his brother, but that might’ve had something to do with his borrowed hands flying straight for his knees. Five squealed and kicked his legs, rolling around on the ground as he tried and failed to escape.

Watching Five and Diego writhe, so tangled in their laughter that they couldn’t threaten her if they wanted to, her heart skipped a few beats. Sure, the power was going to her head a bit, but it’s not like her brothers didn’t have it coming. She was doing a public service. Speaking of public service, Diego was starting to turn an interesting color.

“If I let you go, are you going to be nice tonight? I will embarrass you in front of dad, I don’t even care.”

“Y-Yes! Lemme goho!”

“Fine.” She waved a hand and Diego went limp. He lifted his hands to his face to muffle the last few giggles trickling from his lips. With some difficulty, he pulled himself to his feet, stumbling back into his chair with an arm wrapped around his torso. Sparing Diego brought a softness in Allison, and she smiled at Five.

“You can let your knees go. I always liked your giggles more anyway.” He disappeared in a flash of blue and reappeared behind her, arms outstretched and ready to strangle, but Allison sighed. He was so...predictable. A creature of unfortunate habit.

“I heard a rumor that you tickled your ribs silly.”

“Noho!” He hit the ground in seconds, tripping over his own feet as he went.

“Really?” She turned and arched a brow at him.

“I hate yohou!”

“You’re lucky I didn’t mention your hands.” She scoffed, then flinched when Five shrieked. One of his hands started going to town on the other, scratching so gently that Allison almost couldn’t believe how loud he was. He squirmed so violently that she was sure he’d’ve punched her if she’d been close enough.

“Oopsie.” She grimaced, biting her lip.

“Allison, hey.” Vanya smiled, obviously amused, but tilted her head towards the elevator. The up arrow was glowing red and, yeah, it was probably, regrettably, time to stop.

“You can stop, Five,” She murmured, and he wheezed, scrubbing his palms against his jacket to erase sensation. The feeling of the fibers sliding against his palms sent him into another flurry of giggles as he clenched his fists.

Some cruel, playful itch at the back of Allison’s mind had been thoroughly scratched—so much so that when Diego still took a jab at her for not using her powers, she made him punch himself instead of embarrassing him.

She liked using her powers. The force with which they held her was sometimes scary, but for harmless instances like this? It was what she had been missing growing up. Everyone else got to mess around with their powers, but she was never really allowed to. Being the responsible and patient one meant being the buzzkill in her siblings’ eyes, and buzzkills didn’t often get roped into the intense, multi-floor, super-tickle-fights that had dominated what few happy memories that the Hargreeves had as children.

She started slow with reintroducing her powers, not wanting to overwhelm or scare anyone. She was still trying to get past the look on Patrick’s face when he’d caught her rumouring Claire. Allison knew her siblings would never look at her like that—in fact, they were the only people who ever wanted her to use her powers. She started with simple things: convincing Five to get some rest after refusing to sleep, ending an argument between Luther and Diego that was quickly spiraling out of control—even on Klaus, who would not stop fighting with Ben during the night. That last one wasn’t truly necessary, but the walls were thin and their rooms shared an unfortunate border.

“What color are you thinking?” Klaus dumped his armful of nail polish bottles onto her bed, just barely catching a few before they clattered to the floor.

“Yellow?” She gingerly picked one from the pile.

“I love it.” He beamed and took a seat in front of her, unscrewing the cap. The brightness and warmth of the polish made her smile. It was the color of her favorite dress from the decade they’d left behind—the dress that Raymond had always loved. Klaus took her foot and laid it on his leg, sticking his tongue out to concentrate.

Someone softly cleared their throat and the two of them looked up to see Vanya hovering in the doorway. Allison smiled and waved her in, and she plopped on the ground next to Klaus. Vanya leaned over to watch Klaus work.

“You like the color?” Allison asked. Things between them were still fragile.

“It’s lovely. Sissy’s favorite, actually.” Vanya smiled softly, fiddling with her shirt sleeves a bit, and Allison knew things were okay, for the time being.

Three pairs of stomping footsteps echoed down the hall and Allison looked up, catching her brothers lingering in the doorway, though seemingly not on purpose. Luther and Five had cornered a brooding Diego who looked like he was a few seconds away from impaling one or both of them.

“Diego, quit being such a grouch.” Luther shoved his shoulder lightly.

“Don’t tell me what to do.” Diego grumbled, arms crossed.

C’mon man, it’s been days. No one likes when you sulk around. Just lighten up a little.”

“Don’t tell me what to do.” Diego held a knife up to Luther’s throat.

“Five, a little help here?”

“Oh, I don’t care.” Five stuck his hands in his pockets and smiled.

“Diego. Dude.” Luther shook Diego’s shoulder again and he growled, grabbing Luther’s meaty hand and wrenching it backwards.

“I heard a rumor that Luther and Five tickled you until you admit defeat,” Allison piped up, giggling at the look of absolute betrayal on Diego’s face. Five cackled of his own volition, happy as a clam to have a reason to torment his brother.

“Allison, no!” He bolted, Five and Luther hot on his heels.

“Have fun!” She called after them.

“That was mean.” Klaus chided, wiggling his fingers over her sole. She squeaked and tried to pull away, but his grip was tight on her ankle.

“Klaus! I’m gonna mess up the polish!” She whined around a giggle, hiding her face in her hands.

“No you won’t. Just stay still.” Klaus chuckled, continuing to apply the polish with one hand. With the other, he kept scratching gently

“Yeah, Allison, just stay still.” Vanya took hold of Allison’s ankle and fluttered along her arch, taking note of which spots made her curl in on herself and paying them extra attention.

It was then that Allison decided they were no longer exempt from her wrath. Everyone was fair game now. Though, maybe she could show them a little mercy, since they definitely could be a lot meaner.

They only stopped once they made her squeal—Klaus scratched his nail repeatedly over her big toe until she nearly fell on the floor—and even after, they wouldn't stop teasing her about the noise she’d made. She filed away her large-scale revenge plan and settled for tickling them both once Klaus had finished her nails.

There was a lesson in quitting while you’re ahead, but, pinned to the couch and screaming, Allison was starting to think it had gone over her head.

It had started with Lila throwing a movie night—her way of apologizing for, well, everything without having to say the words. Lila had set up a sort of nest situation with pillows and blankets, allowing the siblings to choose their seats freely. Allison and Vanya snuggled on one end of the couch while Luther claimed the other, and the rest of them piled on one another in front of the couch. Lila laid with her head in Diego’s lap, and Klaus and Five were cozy next to them. They hadn’t existed this way in years. It would’ve been nice, had the tension not been so thick.

All of them were almost afraid to relax, as if they’d all simultaneously remembered how long it’d been since they’d properly been together as a family. Five looked like he would explode if anyone touched him, Diego was far too occupied with his box of Thin Mints, and Klaus’s knee was shaking far too much not to be distracting to everyone present.

A smile tugged at her lips. If any situation called for an intervention, it was this one. Possibly even more than her previous abuses of power.

“They need to lighten up, don’t you think?” Allison murmured, stealing a pretzel from the bag Vanya was holding.

“They are a bit..tense.” Vanya chuckled. Allison took the pretzels and set them safely aside before gesturing for her to lean close.

“I heard a rumor that you started messing with Klaus,” Allison whispered, munching on another pretzel. Vanya fixed her with a ‘really?’ face and she shrugged in apology. Vanya started nudging Klaus with her foot, waiting just long enough between gentle shoves that it was annoying. After about the eighth time, Klaus whirled around and grabbed Vanya’s ankle, skittering his fingers up her leg.

“Vanya!” He gasped in mock offense, spidering his nails in random circles. Vanya simply slid down the couch cushion like a pile of jello, the fight already drained from her body. Allison had been hoping for a more explosive reaction, but this would do as a start. She leaned forward and put a hand on Diego’s shoulder.

“I heard a rumor that you started a proper tickle fight.” She finished the command with a quick flutter at the back of his neck. Diego snatched her hand and yanked her forwards, using the change in momentum to grab her foot and go to town. She snorted and shoved at the back of his head, anything to get him to let go.

“Not with me! Nevermind, I heard a rumor you stole Five’s marshmallows.” She shoved him off of her and grinned when he immediately lunged for them. In that moment, Five was indistinguishable from a feral racoon as he dove for the treats. Lila managed to roll out of the way just before she was crushed.

“Give them back!” He screeched, reaching for the bag just out of his grip. Diego took advantage of his long arms and stretched as far away as possible.

“Nah, I don’t think so.” Diego dropped a marshmallow into his mouth, making direct eye contact as he chewed and swallowed. Five trembled with rage.

“You’re dead.” He pounced onto Diego who yelped before dissolving into frantic giggles, arms flailing about as he tried to dislodge Five. He squirmed right into Klaus, who took hold of his legs and dug in wherever he could reach. Vanya made a game of poking Diego’s stomach as many times as possible while dodging his hands. She could see the moment where her rumor dissolved, the four of them effortlessly carrying on the playfulness without aid.

Allison snuck a glance at Luther. He was still crushed into his corner of the couch, looking unbelievably uncomfortable but at least amused at the struggle going on beneath him. He deserved to smile as much as them.

“I heard a rumor-”

“That you were wildly ticklish, all over,” Lila said from behind her, and holy shit, when did she get there? Lila poked her side and a bright giggle bubbled out from her lips before she could stop it. Dread and anticipation tangled in her stomach. She’d never been that sensitive there before.

Uh oh.

“Lila, we can talk about this.” Allison raised her hands in surrender as Lila vaulted over the couch, straddling her before she could escape.

“That’s the problem, Allison. You’re still talking, not laughing.” Lila kneaded her thumbs into the sides of Allison’s stomach and she squealed, trying her damndest to grab the offending hands.

This was uncharted territory for her. She was used to teasy hands grabbing her neck or for roughhousing to turn into a mad grab for her feet. She knew exactly what it would feel like every time. This was technically the same, but radically different. Her body just didn’t know what to do. It was like being tickled for the first time ever, before her body knew what was going on. Every single part of her was sending up flares of tickly panic as she squirmed underneath Lila.

When someone—Klaus, judging by the cold shock of a few rings—grabbed hold of her feet, it dawned on her how what she’d put Diego through might’ve been a little mean.

“Lehet goho!”

“Hey, Allison? I think your legs could use some attention,” Diego said in an annoying mockery of her voice, but she was far too indisposed to reprimand him for it.

“I-” She started to plead, but verbal communication flew out the window entirely when Vanya started tickling lightly under her chin and down the column of her throat. It was so gentle and clearly loving, but the contrast between Vanya and the fiends going to town on the rest of her body only doubled her desperation to get away.

Diego hooked his fingers behind Allison’s knee and she nearly launched Lila across the room with how hard she thrashed. Her nervous system whited out for a minute as she squealed louder, doing everything she could to wrench her feet from Klaus’s grasp so she could kick Diego in the face.

“No! Stohop!” Great, she was snorting now.

“Uh-oh! Bad spot?” Klaus drawled, scribbling over her feet. Lila wormed her fingers into the crevices of Allison’s ribs, making sure to pinch and prod every so often, just to draw out little squeaks and hiccups. Diego found a spot on the side of her thigh where if he wiggled his fingers, Allison’s giggles would turn wheezy, and he was having far too much fun with it.

“Ihit tihickles!”

“Does it? Are you sure?” Lila vibrated a claw into Allison’s stomach and she threw her head back into the couch with a loud cackle. That was definitely new. Vanya giggled somewhere above her, dragging her fingers over the shells of her ears.

“Yes, oh my god-” She clamped her elbows to her sides when Lila tried to sneak her hands under her arms. Her brain sent out about fifty warning signals, essentially begging her not to let this happen, and while she had no clue where the knowledge had come from, she wasn’t about to question it.

“Alright, I’m sorry!” She tried to curl around Lila’s hands but that only made things worse.

“Damn straight.” Diego scoffed, (surprisingly) the first to let her go. After a few other quick pokes, the others released her, watching as she heaved in sweet oxygen. Every inch of her body was fizzling as she came down from her laughter. She covered her face, hiding her recovery, until two very mean hands darted into her exposed armpits. Allison bucked up hard, loud and bright laughter overcoming her as she thrashed on the couch. A few seconds felt like hours, and when Lila finally did stop, Allison wheezed before mustering the energy to glare.

“Lila!”

“Sorry! I just wanted to see what would happen.” She smiled, sheepish, but not at all apologetic.

“I hope I didn’t ruin movie night,” Allison murmured, looking up and around at her siblings.

“Au contraire! I think you made movie night. Everyone, grab your snacks. I want to see this kid fuck up some robbers.” Klaus started the movie without waiting for the others, earning groans of annoyance and panicked scrambling as everyone tried to find their seats. Lila stayed on the couch, pulling Allison’s legs across her lap, while Vanya adjusted so Allison’s head would be more comfy. Klaus laid across Diego’s back and Five propped his legs on top of them, popping marshmallows in his mouth like popcorn.

A success, if ever there was one.

#my fics #tua #The Umbrella Academy #ticklish!allison #ticklish!diego #ticklish!five #Allison Hargreeves #vanya hargreeves #diego hargreeves #luther hargreeves #five hargreeves #klaus hargreeves #lila pitts #i bully diego bc i love him #this was terribly self indulgent and i got carried away but can you blame me #the hargreeves live in my head rent-free #also this is how i saw the dinner scene happening because they deserve happy memories together #anyway!!!#allison stans come get y'all juice

160 notes · View notes

transformer-imagines · 4 years ago

Text

Happy Together

No one asked for this, but I’m the one in control of the aux cord on this blog and I wanna indulge myself with some cute Dinobot shenanigans

Sludge (G1) x Bot!Reader (sfw)

2672 Words

Everyone and their creator knew that the Ark’s med bay was understaffed. Ratchet was the only one qualified enough to consider a doctor, so mechs tried to help out however they could. Being in the war for the better part of your life, you had picked up what medical knowledge you could in order to aid your comrades; you couldn’t offer much, but you tried to help Ratchet as much as you could. Normally this translated into running errands, taking basic vitals, or doing some patch work.

It was all hands on deck in the med bay today. A particularly nasty skirmish sent so many bots your way that anyone in non-critical condition was asked to sit on the floor. You were scurrying about between them, jotting down names and conditions on your datapad. Even the thick platted Dinobots hadn’t come out of the fight clean. The aspiring team medic, Swoop, was one of the few permitted a seat on an exam table, Wheeljack working to reattach his wing. He was the only Dinobot that you had ever really spoken to, being in and around the med bay so often. He was an excitable and enthusiastic young bot, not something anyone would be able to tell with the way his vocalizer was whining static.

His brothers had tried valiantly to remain with him in the med bay but were shooed out by Wheeljack; there were just too many injured bots for them to be taking up all that space. Only Sludge was allowed to stay, waiting to get patched up with the other mechs on the floor. You were saving him for last, not overly eager to face him; his intimidating size dwarfed most bots and the Dinobots weren’t well known for their friendly dispositions.

Eventually, you could put it off no longer. You tried your best to exude confidence and professionalism in your EM field as you approached. Sludge took notice, straightening up from tracing absentminded patterns on the floor panels to send a curious look your way. Oh Primus, he was sitting down and you barely even reached the top of his chassis.

“So, uh, you’re name’s Sludge, right? I’m Y/N.” He gave a hum in response, nodding his head in agreement that yes, his name was in fact Sludge. “Can you show me where you’re hurt?” He nodded again, moving his right pede out for you to inspect. What you could make out as his alt dino casing was shredded, jagged metal torn and fraying out from the wound.

“Right next to big explosion. Took out him Swoop. Lots of shrapnel, tore off wing and hit me in side.” He turned slightly and gestured to the kibble on his back. “More here.” You gestured for him to turn fully so you could inspect the damage as you jotted down his abridged account on your datapad. He was lucky his plating was so thick, as the force of the explosion probably would’ve hit major energon lines in any other bot. Most of his damage was superficial, deep as it was, though the shrapnel had managed to nick a few minor energon lines.

“There wouldn’t have been an explosion in the first place if it wasn’t for you ditzy dinos!” You finished jotting down the damage before looking sharply in the direction of the whiny outburst. Of course it was Huffer. “If you hadn’t given us away, none of us would be in here!”

“We’re all on the same team, Huffer,” you said with a wave of your servo. “So stop harassing patients or I’ll turn off your vocalizer.” A resounding laugh sounded from behind you.

“You must have a glitch in your memory core, Huffer,” said Hound. “The Dinobots gave us away by saving your tailpipe!”

“I could’ve taken care of it!”

You left the two to their bickering, patting your patient on his knee plating to get his attention. “You’re not too badly damaged. Since I got to you last for diagnostic, I’m gonna go ahead a patch you up first, okay?” You offered Sludge a kind smile, trying to provide better bedside manner than Huffer. He took it, returning your smile with one of his own and moving to expose the damage on his leg more as you fished around subspace for your welder and some titanium patches.

It certainly wasn’t the last time you saw Sludge. He had a knack for denting his plating, either over the course of sparing with his brothers or while out in the field. You would’ve thought that he’d just get Swoop to take care of it, but more and more frequently he would be stopping by the med bay; he said he liked how much quieter it was there than in the retrofitted cave the Dinobots had claimed as their own.

It was almost laughable how intimidating you found Sludge when you first met. He had a gentle spark, reserved and well-intentioned. Sure he didn’t have the fastest processor, but you couldn’t keep up with Perceptor either; and what was a smart mech worth if they weren’t also kind? You’d much rather spend time with Sludge than Shockwave. It didn’t hurt that he was a good listener, too. Despite what other Autobots might suggest, he had a good memory, asking for updates on personal projects that you had mentioned offhandedly the last time you saw him. And he had a creative mind! Swoop had been talking to you about how Sludge had recently taken up two-dimensional etching and drawing. And he had a handsome face, delicate touch when getting your attention, and –

Wait what? Hold on, were you…did you have a crush on Sludge? Oh Primus, this was just what you needed in the middle of a war. Still, you could do worse. And the spark wants what the spark wants… So what, maybe you did have a crush on him. You might as well try and see where it goes; in this war you had to make what joys you could.

“Is it just me or does Y/N look like they’re trying to court somebot?”

It was gossip time in the empty corridor, two mechs making good use of the late hour and lack of nearby audio receptors to concern themselves with the lives of others.

“You just noticed? Yea, I caught em in the wash polishing like it was going out of style,” Cliffjumper gave a short laugh at the memory. “You’da thunk I’d caught em sneaking extra rations with the way they bolted outta there.”

“Any ideas who the lucky mech is?” Powerglide didn’t give the minibot a moment to answer before continuing. “I overheard from Doc Ratch one of the Dinobots has got a lil crush; maybe we’ve got some love-birds on base?”

“Primus, I hope not. No one deserves to have a dumb dino on their tail; they’re so stupid and clumsy, they’d wind up melting the poor bot down! Honestly, I think Y/N deserves better than getting slagged by Slag.”

“You’re just jealous you aren’t getting any,” the plane sniped.

“Powerglide, I’m just a realist. I can’t help that your processor is full of that romantic scrap.”

“Cliffjumper, I can’t help that you have an incurably abrasive personality.” Powerglide gave the Porsche a hearty pat as he began walking further down the hall. “Come on, maybe we can get Ratch to fix that personality component of yours! Or at least we can sit down; my struts are killing me!”

“I do not have an abrasive personality, you silicon sanded showboat!”

Neither took notice of the saddened giant on the other side of the corridor, watching the retreating mechs from around the corner.

Sitting in one of the metal booths stuck to the far wall of the Rec Room, you found yourself thinking it all through. Lost in the swirling liquid of your energon cube, you wondered if you had been reading the situation wrong. You thought that Sludge had reciprocated your feelings, but he hadn’t really responded to your efforts. He never mimicked your attempts at posing or polishing. Maybe he was just unaware of Cybertronian flirting? It would make sense, as he was made on Earth, but even then you would’ve thought someone would take pity on him and explain your efforts. It wasn’t like you were being subtle, even in non-Cybertronian terms. You even got advice from Carly, trying to figure out how she’d won over someone as oblivious as Spike. You tried to be as obvious as possible, complimenting his skills and appearance and inviting him to recreational activities. But even then, he would look flustered and come up with some reason to turn you down. Maybe he was just trying to let you down on amicable terms, ignore your advances but maintain your acquaintanceship. Maybe he-

“Hi! Room here to sit?”

The scratchy voice startled you out of your reprieve; you must’ve really been in your own processor not to notice the dinobot flyer approaching.

“Oh, Swoop! Yeah, of course, take a seat,” you gestured across the table. It was almost humorous watching him try to squeeze himself into the clearly too small booth; being the smallest dinobot still made him one of the biggest Autobots. Finally situating himself, he flashed you a mischievous smirk and his optics flashed in mirth. “How’s it going?”

“Good! Had to get out of Dino Den, though; too loud for reading when Grimlock and Slag fighting.” He emphasized his point by producing an anatomical datapad and setting it on the table.

“Well that’s too bad,” you said. “How’s everyone else doing?”

“Him Snarl hog TV all day, watching Nurse Whitney.” His tone held a slight annoyance at the distraction it must’ve posed to his own studying; you knew he was quite fond of the show, and probably found it near impossible not to be watching it. His optics lit up in sudden remembrance, a squawk making its way past his vocalizer as he straightened his posture. “Sludge work on project! Big art project!”

“Oh?”

“Yes! It pretty, very pretty! Him Sludge good at art. Best Dinobot, maybe even best Autobot! And good at other things too!” Swoop emphasized his point by holding aloft a digit, helm held high with a self-assured expression. “Him strong, very strong! Last fight, him take out twenty, no, thirty Decepticons! Him good at keeping others safe, protecting. Oh, and him best fisher of Dinobots! Good provider! Patient and quiet and-”

“Wait, what’s fishing?”

“Fish earth animals, live in water. Humans and Dinobots like catching fish, very fun and -”

It was hard not to notice the lumbering form of Sludge entering the Rec behind the chatty Pteranodon. His sweeping optics seemed to stop in the direction of your booth (though you suppose it would be hard not to notice Swoop, what with his crest and loud voice), his optics seeming to blink out for a second. Swoop continued on, oblivious to his brother’s presence.

That is until Sludge began stomping his way over. You quickly grabbed onto the table, thankful that it was bolted into the wall as the ground shook under his weight. It wasn’t often you were reminded of his tremorous step, but it seemed that whatever had gotten under his plating was enough for him to have forgotten the virtue of gentle pedes. You didn’t expect to see his normally soft features so soured, mouth drawn into a tight line and optics darkened into a furrowed glare. With his massive stride, it didn’t take long before Sludge reached you. His servo came to rest behind Swoop, the back of the booth’s bench groaning under his weight as he leaned down, optic to optic with his brother.

“What you Swoop think you do?” His voice seemed edged with a nervous worry.

“Me just talking to Y/N,” Swoop answered, flashing the Brontosaurus the same mischievous smile he had given you earlier. “You know they want go fishing? Me say you should take them!”

“Yeah,” you interjected, ignoring the fact that you had never discussed joining the Dinobots on their fishing exploits. “I think it sounds like fun!” You couldn’t help the eagerness that steeped into your EM field, hopeful that you might finally get an opportunity to spend some true quality time with him outside of the occasional med bay visit.

Sludge seemed to soften a bit at your reply, gifting you with a gentle smile before his brow furrowed. His smile turned to a slight pout as his gaze drifted down, seeming to be a bit lost in thought. He exvented sharply, lugging Swoop out of his seat and maneuvering the now indignant mech around to carry him under one arm. Ignoring his squirming brother, he turned to you with a sad smile that he tried to mask with a projected air of confidence in his EM.

“Me Sludge think on it. Would be fun. Uh, him Ratchet ask to talk to him Swoop, so we see you Y/N later.” With the lame excuse, he turned to leave the Rec. With a loud squawk, Swoop made his opinion on the matter known.

“No! Him Sludge like Y/N! Like whole bunch!” That seemed to stop the brontosaurus dead in his tracks, grip loosened enough in shock that the loud flyer was able to transform out of his grasp. He seemed stuck in place as his processor caught up with the situation. In contrast, you and Swoop seemed to be a flurry of movement, standing up from your seat in the booth as the Pteranodon perched himself on the back of the bench.

“Really?” Your response, lackluster as it might’ve been, was all you could dumbly muster up at the revelation.

“Yes, him won’t shut up about it! ‘Oh, them Y/N so nice, very sweet. Pretty face, pretty smile. Feel like me Sludge melt when they look at me. So smart, so kind.’” Swoop’s impression left quite a bit to be desired, but that was the last thing on your mind, your gaze drifting to the gentle giant in question as you took in his words. Sludge had sheepishly turned halfway towards you, optics firmly locked to the ground and servos fiddling together nervously. “Us Dinobots try talk to him about anything, him always distracted or drawing you.” That seemed to catch Sludge’s full attention. “Him have big project now, draw y-” A large servo suddenly came to rest on the Pteranodon’s beak, clamping it shut before anything too embarrassing could be shared. You craned your helm up to look at Sludge, his cheek plating positively painted with the glow of his optics and lips drawn into a pout.

“Sludge, is that true? Do you really like me?” His optics bashfully locked on the ground again, answering you with a soft nod. He dared a glance at your face before averting his gaze again. “You know, I like you a lot too.” That seemed to win his attention, finally maintaining some real eye contact. He nodded again with a hum and you frowned. “You knew? Why didn’t you say anything?” That stung, knowing that he was aware of your advances all along and hadn’t done anything. Especially when he apparently liked you too.

He opened his mouth before closing it, brow furrowing. You gave him a moment to formulate his thoughts.

“You Y/N deserve better than Sludge.” He spoke slowly, thinking hard on his words. “Deserve someone smart and not clumsy or stumbly. Deserve someone not hurt you.” You frowned at that.

“Sludge, you are one of the gentlest mech’s I know. You haven’t hurt me yet and I don’t think you will,” you said, stepping closer to him. “And in any case, I think I would know better than anyone else what I deserve. I think I deserve to be happy and getting to spend time with you makes me happy. You make me happy. Do I make you happy?”

“Yes.”

“Then let’s be happy together.”

BONUS:

“SQUAWK! Let Swoop go! No want to see smooches!”

#transformers #maccadam #sludge #sludge x reader #cybertronian reader #dinobots #swoop #g1 #tf sludge #transformers imagines #oneshot #thinking about doing another one with slag #maybe make a little series for all the dinobots?#also still need to write that smut oneshot that's just a one night stand with astrotrain #the working title of this was himbosludge #I'm a morosexual and proud #in which reader is also a morosexual

100 notes · View notes

c-c-cherry · 4 years ago

Text

Things I think about when writing

Momther Cherry is currently fic-writing! I’m here as your designated parental figure to share with you some shit that I remind myself whenever I’m stuck!

I know some of y’all need to hear this. Yes, even you in the back. I know you’re forgetting at least ONE of these things right now.

-Your time will come. I know it seems hard when people post stuff and you’re scrolling through their comment section and see all this praise and love and then you realize that—shit— you haven’t posted in a week and your other stuff isn’t currently being loved as much in this very moment. We all do it. I do it all the time without thinking. Sometimes it can spark something that makes us want to do better, but sometimes it just makes us feel bitter and then we feel guilty for feeling bitter about it. Try to love what other people create without comparing it to your own. Trust me when I say that if you learn to love big, you’ll receive it back when the time comes.

-Not everything will work out as you want it. Sometimes posts flop. Sometimes there aren’t as many likes on it as there should be or as you want there to be. That’s fine. :) Let it go. You might feel discouraged because of how much work you put into it, but sometimes it just happens. Don’t let that stop you from doing what you love.

-Comments and kudos are not your only worth. Please don’t rate your self-worth based on others’ approval. You are your skills and passions are worth so much more than that. Trust me when I say that all of that stuff feels great. It feels amazing when people gratify your work, but don’t do it specifically for that. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, if you rely on approval and praise as your only fuel for creativity, you’ll fall hard once you hear an ounce of doubt or negativity.

-Think about what you want. I find myself staring at a blank doc for days because I keep overthinking everything I write. Would they like it? Does that sound too self-indulgent? Will anyone read it? Would this get me more attention over this? Channeling other suggestions and criticism into your work is a great thing to do, but in the end, the writing will always flow better if you actually want to write it. I’ve had to completely drop entire prompts before because of this issue, but I feel like its worth it in the end if I’m actually enjoying the writing process rather than catering specifically to other people’s wants! :)

-Don’t treat it like something academic. Are you defending your thesis statement? No, you’re writing a hurt/comfort fan fiction (or whatever the hell you’re writing currently). Before I post something, there’s always the fear in the back of my mind that someone is going to comment some long, judgemental paragraph on “what could be approved” in my writing. I can’t exactly say that this hasn’t happened before (because it probably definitely has lol) but sometimes I’ve just gotta step back and tell myself that this isn’t meant to be harshly judged, its meant to be read. Most people who read it will have nice things to say about it because that’s the purpose of reading and writing fics!

-There’s no race and no competition. Unless of course you’re participating in a challenge with a time limit, you don’t have to rush your stuff in worry that people will be angry if you don’t post or update. They’ll be happier in the end if you post something that you worked harder on or wrote when you were in the mood or mindset to do so. You don’t have to post just because everyone’s posting! There’s no comparing works and there’s no rush to please people!

-Taking a break is good. It’s inhuman to not get burnt out once in awhile. Take advantage of it and try doing something else until you want to write again. I always work on headcanons or watch ✨Gordon Ramsay✨ whenever I don’t wanna write. Try not to feel miserable about not constantly making content! Everyone needs a break.

-Negativity?? Never heard of her. I’m actually very lucky not to get a lot of negative comments on my stuff. Most of it are people who are angry/disappointed on how I ended The Storm or want me to write a sequel where certain characters get what they deserve. If you do get something inherently mean or rude, try not to let it get to you. Most of the time, its for no reason at all and the commenter is insecure. Maybe they’re just bitter??👀 Mmmm??👀👀👀 *cough cough see my very first jot*

God,,,y’all,,,this last one is the most important and literally goes for everything you’ll ever do:

-TAKE GODDAMN CARE OF YOURSELF!!!!!! Because of quarantine, I used to just—forget to eat all day because I was so sucked up in the writing void. I’d go to sleep at 6am, wake up at 2 or 3pm and wouldn’t eat anything until around 8 or 9pm because of schoolwork, write until it was 6am again and repeat. Yes, I updated a lot. Was it worth it?? Uhhhhhhh,,,,no??? I didn't do ANYTHING but write. People were happy for updates, sure, but if they knew that my dumbass was fucking myself over like that?? I get asks all the time being like “DRINK WATER SLEEP EAT PLEASE” and I’m always like “how the hell do they always know??”

Take care of yourselves first or else I’m gonna break into your home and make you drink water and eat chicken nuggets or like,,,vegan nuggets (even you vegans can’t escape my grasp)

Writing should be a positive or freeing experience! Whether its venting or creativity or any kind of expression, its very easy to get sucked up into a certain mindset that can negatively affect your process or inspiration. FEAR NOT, CHILDREN! If you try to consider the things I’ve told you while staring at that empty doc, just know that I’ll probably be doing the exact same thing right after I post this.

Happy fic-reading/writing!! <3

#jjba #fandoms #writing #writing advice #Cherry's advice that no one asked for #self care #fanfic #fanfiction #writing help #advice #ao3 #tumblr #positivity #you can tell im procrastinating #because I just wrote this fuckin thing instead of writing my fic lol

37 notes · View notes

thezodiaczone · 4 years ago

Text

Scorpio Compatibility

SCORPIO + ARIES (MARCH 21 - APRIL 19) Aries' ruler, passionate Mars, also wields minor command over Scorpio (whose main overlord is Pluto). Fierce physical attraction draws your signs together, but it's a game of sexual gunpowder and erotic explosives. Not that either of you is afraid of such things. No sign is as darkly intense as watery Scorpio. When mixed with Aries' concentrated fire-power, you stir up quite the hydroelectric charge. However, this match can only last if Scorpio has evolved from a ground-dwelling, vengeful scorpion into an elevated "eagle" state. Here's the fundamental challenge: Aries takes; withholding Scorpio takes away. When Aries reaches out his grasping hand, Scorpio's first instinct is to jump back, which wounds the sensitive Ram. Aries energy is consuming, which leaves Scorpio weak-kneed but scared. Aries will need to temper the raw desire, or at least mask it to avoid overwhelming Scorpio. Jealous Scorpio will need to stop Google-stalking Aries and hiring private detectives whenever the independent Ram goes out for a beer with friends. One way in which you're alike? You're both hyper-sensitized to abandonment, and may even shun each other in a self-protection paradox: "Go away before you leave me." (This tactic only guarantees another hot reunion tryst.) Selfishness can also be this couple's downfall. Scorpio is the sign that rules other people's resources—his karmic job is to create wealth from another man's pocket. Aries is simply born entitled. In a sense, you both live by the credo "What's mine is mine; what's yours is mine." Who will refill the coffers once you empty them?

SCORPIO + TAURUS (APRIL 20 - MAY 20) You're opposite signs who can fall into a real love-hate dynamic, mainly since you both like to run the show. Taurus is the bossy Bull, and Scorpio rules power and control. It's like two mafia kingpins trying to rule the same territory: it works as long as you're loyal, but cross each other and you're getting whacked. Differences can be a turn-on for some signs, but for this pair, they're often a deal breaker. Taurus and Scorpio are both "fixed" signs, gifted at perseverance and holding your ground, terrible at adapting to other people's personalities. This inflexibility can lead to serious power struggles and enmity that burns bright after the relationship ends. If ever a couple needed a prenup, it's you. Better yet, you'll need to be extremely self-aware and conscious of your personal power. If you can avoid arousing the sleeping dragon in each other, there's plenty of rich material here. You both love music, food and sensual delights. You're equally intense about your beliefs and passions, and sex is a lusty, no-holds-barred affair. You'll give each other the attentive listening both of you crave. The Bull's earthy nature can be grounding for watery Scorpio, whose emotions can warp his perspective. Practical Taurus will pull Scorpio out of depressive slumps, and Scorpio will help Taurus look below the surface to see hidden motivations and agendas. You're loyal and protective of each other, so stay off each other's sacred turf and respect your differences.

SCORPIO + GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUNE 20) You live on completely different planes, which either turns you off or utterly fascinates you. Both of you are accustomed to reading people like flimsy comic books, then tossing them aside. Here, your X-ray vision fails to penetrate each other's psychic shields. Mutable Gemini is the shape-shifting Twin, home to a traveling cast of personalities. Intense Scorpio is shrouded in mystery and bottomless layers of complexity. Being baffled leaves you without the upper hand, but it also stokes your libido. You're piercingly smart signs who love a good puzzle—this is your romantic Rubik's cube. The challenge sets off sexual dynamite. You tease each other with cat-and-mouse evasions, neither of you making your attraction obvious. This prickles your insecurities, daring you to strive for the other's unbroken gaze. No two signs are as quietly obsessive as yours! There will be frustrating moments, too. You're both prone to depressive spells, and swing from giddiness to unreachable shutdown. Clever mind games edge on cruel or callow, breaking the trust that Scorpio needs. At times, airy Gemini may not be emotional or sensual enough for watery Scorpio; in turn, the Scorpion's emotional and physical passion can be overwhelming to Gemini. However, if you combine your strengths, you'll go far. Gemini is dilettante and a trivia collector who's always got a pocketful of creative ideas. Instinct-driven Scorpio rules details and research—this sign hones in like a laser and masters his chosen field. Whether it's starting a family or running a business, you can be an indefatigable team, with Gemini playing the rowdy ringmaster and Scorpio running the show from behind the scenes.

SCORPIO + CANCER (JUNE 21 - JULY 22) ♥♥♥♥ You're an ideal match, twin Water signs with deeply complementary natures. Highly suspicious and protective of your privacy, neither of you trusts easily. As a result, you intuitively trust each other. The good news is, you've bet on a winning sea-horse. These two signs can mate for life, and the emotional facets of your relationship deepen into an intimacy few couples reach. Romantic and sentimental occasions never go uncelebrated: birthdays, Valentine's Day, the five-month anniversary of the first time you said "I love you." Sex is a sacred, erotic act that can transport you on a one-way trip to Tantra-ville. You feel safe enough together to try anything. The challenge will be breaking the ice, since you both tend to clam up in a red-faced fluster or any icy aloofness around a new love interest. It helps to talk about music, books, films—anything but your feelings. Once you get past the awkward phase, it's smooth sailing. You genuinely enjoy each other's company, and like to do almost everything together. As parents, you're incredibly nurturing and hands-on, and may struggle to cut the cord when your kids reach adolescence. In fact, control is the big challenge for your signs. Jealous and possessive, you know how to avoid your mate's hot buttons—or to push them when you're feeling spiteful. (The Crab pinches and the Scorpion stings; both can wound the relationship fatally.) At times, Cancer's sulking seems childish to Scorpio, and Scorpio's sharp edges can maim the Crab's tender feelings. Fortunately, you know how to win your way back into each other's good graces once the moody spells pass.

SCORPIO + LEO (JULY 23 - AUGUST 22) This combustible combination drips with power plays, a white-hot dynamic you find infuriating and sexy in equal measure. In many ways, you're complete opposites. Secretive Scorpio is a private soul who rules the night. Leo is an exhibitionist ruled by the sun, and his piercing rays expose Scorpio's hidden shadows. Scorpio hates to feel this vulnerable—especially in public—yet, behind closed doors it can be thrilling. You're both passionate and imaginative in bed, with very little you won't try. As business partners and collaborators, you can make a dream team, too. You're both super intense, outdoing most people with your drive and focus. Leo plays the glamorous showstopper, and Scorpio acts as producer behind the scenes. (It worked for Leo Jennifer Lopez and Scorpio Diddy, who collaborated on her breakout album.) At least you don't compete for the spotlight, which can be a saving grace. But you'll struggle for the upper hand, since Scorpio likes to be in control and Leo is the bossy ruler of the jungle. Flirtatious, charismatic Leo can also spark Scorpio's jealous streak. Remember: darkness absorbs light. Leo must be careful not to get swept into Scorpio's powerful undertow and vengeful obsessions.

SCORPIO + VIRGO (AUGUST 23 - SEPTEMBER 22) ♥♥♥♥ Virgo and Scorpio are two of the zodiac's shrewdest signs. Your collective gaze misses nothing, and your conversations can be as hair-splitting as Freudian analysis. You're both insatiable when it comes to understanding the human soul, and examining your own neuroses can keep you busy for weeks. While your obsessive natures would drive other people mad, it only makes you more fascinated by each other. You're like two scientists in the lab of love, researching, analyzing, and measuring data. Moody and introverted, you both have spells where you crave total privacy, and you'll grant each other that space. You unconsciously absorb so much energy from your environments, and you need to clear yourselves on a regular basis. Nature is soothing—Scorpio is a Water sign, and Virgo is Earth—and you may enjoy a healthy or outdoorsy lifestyle. That can mean renting a private chalet on a pristine European lake, or devoting yourselves to raw food, vegetarianism, and yoga. Virgo is the zodiac's Virgin and Scorpio is the sex sign. In bed, Scorpio can be a bit too intense for earthy Virgo. You're both lusty sensualists, but if Scorpio breaks out the dungeon props and dominatrix gear, Virgo draws the line. The Virgin may indulge a fetish with strangers, but he keeps a strict boundary about how far he'll experiment with a partner. No matter. You're good friends and supportive partners who find beauty in the smallest details—the makings of a quality life commitment.

SCORPIO + LIBRA (SEPTEMBER 23 - OCTOBER 22) Libra is light and Scorpio rules darkness, but your searing sexual chemistry blazes through borders. As a couple, you're quick to bed and slow to wed. In many ways, the long prenuptial pas de deux is a mutual choice. Romantic Libra loves an extended courtship—long dinners, vacations and lavish gifts. Shrewd, suspicious Scorpio will subject Libra to a battery of character tests, gauging whether Libra can be trusted. Libra is an incurable dilettante whose surface skimming can feel lightweight beside Scorpio's obsessive, detail-focused nature. Because your temperaments are so different, your initial phase can be fraught with misunderstandings. Libra is an outgoing butterfly and an unrepentant flirt, provoking Scorpio's jealousy at every turn. Possessive Scorpio prefers passionate bedside confidentials to paparazzi and parties, but Libra quickly feels smothered without a social scene. To say you'll need compromise is an understatement. Combine your strengths, though, and you can also make a powerful society couple—with Scorpio dominating the world from behind the scenes, and Libra presiding as its lovely, doe-eyed diplomat.

SCORPIO + SCORPIO (OCTOBER 23 - NOVEMBER 21) We like this combination, for seldom can any other sign so skillfully navigate your unspoken power dynamics. Talk isn't just cheap between you; it's unnecessary. You understand each other's wiring based on pure primal instinct, much like a dog leaves his scent as a calling card. We forget that human beings are animals, an amnesia that plagues modern civilization. Yet, Scorpios know that the one you love might also become your prey (if you're hungry or threatened), or could attack you by night. Your ruler is Pluto, god of the underworld; learning your mate's shadow side is a prerequisite to trust. Scorpio is a master at subtle cues, emotional intelligence, and feeling your way through each other's dark depths as though reading Braille. When it's time to let the other be the Top, you submit, then artfully ease him down to the mat when it's time to rule again. Power glides into your gullets like oysters, every bit the aphrodisiac. In the bedroom, you sexy, spiritual stinger-tails make a Tantric twosome with a twist. There's a hint of force and a danger to all you do, even in the way you fiercely protect your children and property. The real threat of this relationship is to the outside world, for you make an invincible familia that could send Tony Soprano on the lam.

SCORPIO + SAGITTARIUS (NOVEMBER 22 - DECEMBER 21) Level with us: Would you really be interested in each other without the element of danger? There's always something that feels a little dirty here—and it's not because you share an aversion to showering (although the musky pheromones might play in…). Your combined willpower—enough to combust a small village—can yoke you together despite your own best interests. The issue is anatomical: Scorpio rules the crotch and Sagittarius rules the hips and thighs. From the waist down, a magnetic field pulls you into insatiable sexual attraction. Above the midsection, it's a love-hate drama as you battle for mental and emotional domination, one-upping and offending each other at every turn. You both love to have the last word, and deep down, you're pretty sure you're smarter than the rest of the population. As friends, this makes you smugly superior comrades, but in love, you tend to unleash your intellectual weapons on each other. Sag's sarcasm and Scorpio's acid-washed retorts will leave you both wounded and estranged. Yet, a good shag seems to erase your short-term memory between attacks. For best results, remain naked at all times, and only discuss problems in the afterglow. Grant each other your own turf and never cross the line of demarcation.

SCORPIO + CAPRICORN (DECEMBER 22 - JANUARY 19) ♥♥♥♥ If you were to sign a pre-nup, Schedule A must clearly designate who will play the "Top" and who will be the "Bottom." After your attorneys haggle over the prone position, you may just call off the engagement. An inability to reach settlement is likely for two uncompromising Alphas such as yourselves. Although your business-savvy signs can make quite the contemporary Napoleon and Josephine, LLC, there are terms that must be negotiated in advance. For one, you'll need to swear off secrecy—and that will be the true test of your relationship. Scorpio and Capricorn are masters of underhanded power plays that could topple this merger fast. Your first job: learn and practice direct communication ("whip me like THIS" or "no, darling, the leather corset, not the PVC"). Master it, and the rest is a cakewalk. You can lash each other to bedposts, tryst on the conference table in your glass-paned office tower, or earn your mile-high wings with nary a flight attendant knowing. The 2.5 kids you produce will have some interesting conception stories, that's for sure. Not that you'll ever tell. A little secrecy with the rest of the world is fine. Just make sure to erase those sex tapes before the housekeeper finds them.

SCORPIO + AQUARIUS (JANUARY 20 - FEBRUARY 18) Years after their modern-day Mrs. Robinson relationship ricocheted the term "cougar" into cliché-dom, the Scorpio-Aquarius pairing of Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher can still baffle the naked eye. Scorpio is an intense, seductive creature with ruthless ambition, eagle instincts and a complicated psyche. Aquarius is a silly prankster and a cold-souled nomad who avoids emotion, then releases it in embarrassing blurts of sloppy sentiment. You're certainly an odd couple, down to your values, style and interests. Then there's the power issue to settle. Scorpio wants ultimate control over everything, while rebel Aquarius chafes at any restraint. While Aquarius is happy to hand rulership of the household to Scorpio, any breach of personal freedom will be an instant deal-breaker. Possessive Scorpio must accept that Aquarius is a social creature with friends from all walks of life, and curb the jealousy. Aquarius will need to cut off a few friends (the ex you met at a strip club, the swingers "who are actually really cool") and adopt a few of Scorpio's interests, like Kaballah for Ashton. So where's the click? Different as you are, you both prefer a mate who's hard to figure out: it staves off boredom. To keep this strong, borrow each other's strengths. Aquarius needs Scorpio's depth, and Scorpio lightens up from Aquarius' outrageous jokes and impersonations.

SCORPIO + PISCES (FEBRUARY 19 - MARCH 20) ♥♥♥♥ You're both "spiritual beings having a human experience," Finding an equally sensitive, divinely connected soulmate feels like coming home. Scorpio and Pisces are compatible artistes who love music, drama and romance. Like a lighthouse for two ships adrift on the emotional high seas, your relationship is an anchor and a haven. However, it's not immune to the turbulence caused by your secretive, Water sign natures. Emotional withdrawal is a self-protective act you've both honed over the years, but this tactic backfires when used against each other. The trick is learning to catch a bad mood when it starts, then processing the feelings instead of lashing out. Once the righteous anger and wounded egos kick in, you're like two runaway trains waging a war of domination and submission. Scorpio control tussles with Pisces guilt, Scorpio withholding wrestles Pisces evasion, and so on. Yet, you both want the same thing: a partner who inspires absolute, unshakeable trust with a money-back guarantee. What you need to learn is how to give it before you get it. To adapt the saying, be the change you want to see in your partner. It will keep you together for lifetimes.

#scorpio #compatibility #astrology #zodiac #love #relationships #scorpio compatibility

48 notes · View notes

thelionshymnal · 4 years ago

Text

2020 Creator’s Self-Love Extravaganza

Boy howdy, but it has been a year. So much so that I felt the need to dig up this meme so I can lavish myself with a little TLC, ‘cause you know what? I deserve it! And so do you. This year has been tough, and even in the best of times it can be a real struggle to remember that, instead of being your own worst enemy, you should strive to be your best cheerleader. Remember to be kind instead of cruel, to forgive rather than condemn yourself. Creativity is hard, and it is always a journey, never a final destination, so let’s take a moment and sight-see where we’ve been this year, yeah???

Rules: It’s time to love yourselves! Choose your 5 favorite works (fics, art, edits, etc.) you’ve created this year and link them below to reflect on the amazing things you’ve brought into the world in 2020. If you don’t have five published works, that’s fine! Include ideas/drafts/whatever you like that you’ve worked on/thought about, and talk a little about them instead! Remember, this is all about self-love and positive enthusiasm, so fuck the rules if you need to. Have fun, and tag as many fellow creators as you like so they can share the love! <3

1) you are the light in my eyes [Kingdom Hearts - Kairi/Namine - Explicit] Look, sometimes I despair that I haven’t gotten any better at writing. That I have, in fact, lost whatever spark I had that made my writing worth reading. But that fic right there is a rewrite of a work I wrote in 2006, and while sure, there was a solid idea there in the original and an occasional phrase or way or wording that made me jealous of my past self, for the most part? It was a mess. And I didn’t really realize how bad it was until I reworked it all the way through. Writing is harder for me than it used to be, but that’s actually a good thing.

2) i want you to be happier [The Magicians - Quentin/Eliot - Mature] Okay, technically speaking I wrote most of this fic in 2019, but I finished it this year. And let me tell you, that’s only the second time I’ve finished a multi-part fic that wasn’t, like, 10k at the max! I am proud as fuck that I succeeded, especially because my main goal for getting back in fandom has been to learn how to finish things! I uncovered a lot about what I struggle with and why by completing this fic, and they were things I never could have learned if I hadn’t seen this fucker through to the end.

3) take your time [Katekyo Hitman Reborn - Reborn/Tsuna - Teen] I first started writing this fic in February, but very quickly wound up putting it on the back burner. I wasn’t sure what to do with it, and didn’t have any confidence in what I’d already written. Fast forward to May, when I’d spent several weeks genuinely contemplating giving up on writing entirely. What was the point, I wondered. I was never going to get better and I was certainly never going to be good enough. And you know what? That may be true, but thankfully I had a friend who told me I couldn’t quit, because they wanted to keep reading the stories I wrote. In a fit of ultimate fuck you to my own insecurities, I knuckled down and finished this gift fic for them. (’: It went places I didn’t expect, but I stuck with it long enough to call it complete, and while I still had zero confidence in how it had turned out, I posted it up anyway. Guess what? People like it! And even though I still struggle with confidence and will no doubt ask myself is this worth it? again and again, this fic was a good reminder that even if I’m not perfect, it doesn’t mean I have reason to quit.

4) #wannabe heroes r us - [Kingdom Hearts - Sora/Riku - Teen] Focus is one of those things I struggle with, just in case you weren’t aware. XD; This fic is on the list not just because I have loved the KH gang for...half my life? Or even because writing adorkable social media fic is pure mad fun! But because I’ve been taking measures to help my brain focus more, and it’s been interesting, to say the least. This is one of the first fics that I managed to actually go back to again and again, not because I was hyper-focusing, but because I chose to focus on it. I love it for itself, and I also love it for what that means for me.

5) my defeated heart (has got nothing to hide) - [Final Fantasy VII - Cloud/Reno - Mature] Y’know, I was gonna put a different one up that has another exhausting story about internal struggle. And like, this one had it’s own share of that! All I wanted was to write a damn pwp, but could I? NO. I started seven fucking fics, okay, I felt like screaming in outrage! But the long and short of it is that I just really like how this one came out, and that’s why it’s on this list. :D I’m going to tag less than I could because I trust you all to hit up the Usual Suspects lol, but also if you happen to see this then feel free to hijack it, tagged or not! And remember you def don’t need to do it how I did, okay? This is YOUR show! SO INDULGE IN THE SELF-LOVE, DO IT DO IT <3 @bubblesthemonsterartist @zacekova @hauntedfalcon @puppetmaster55 @beautiful-thensad-thensadder @ruleofexception @pink-contrail @rigb0ner @akai-vampire @countlessuntruths

#o boy #i hijacked the meme that went around in 2017 #with a few...colorful additions lmao #don't mind me #just getting some shit off my chest #and reminding myself that even amidst the shit #there's some GOOD shit too lolol #lion-chats #SO SELF INDULGENT LETS GOOO

7 notes · View notes

thegreenfairy13 · 5 years ago

Note

How about 3 for the whump prompt 😊 although characters are up to you.

Prompt: ‘Give me one good reason I shouldn’t splatter your brains on the floor.’ Well...as I’ve been Birds of Prey lately, I fell down the Zsaszmask (Victor Zsasz x Roman Sionis) hole and wrote a fic about their first encounter. I just love those two bastards! I hope you like it :)

Gotham’s Truths

Victor Zsasz always thought a first meeting says a lot about how a relationship is supposed to develop in the future. That firm belief turned out to be quite untrue when it comes to one Roman Sionis.

But then what does was Victor know? Most people would argue their first and last meeting with the infamous killer coincides.

That’s not to say those people wouldn’t leave a lasting impression - quite the contrary. But to leave an impression that isn’t quite as obvious, well, that honor had been up to Gotham’s newest candidate for the crown of the underbelly.

But we’ll start at the beginning, kay?

Motherfuckin fuckwit of a peacock, Victor thinks when first laying his eyes on the man currently dangling from the ceiling in some very private basement.

He spits on the floor, visibly disappointed by today’s task, and cracks his knuckles. This will be over embarrassingly soon. One good look at Sionis, the Black Mask, as he loves to call himself, has told him everything he needs to know.

The wanker is just pathetic! Who the fuck wears fuckin pastels? To a shoot-out of all things? An attempt to take down Sofia Gigante is not the fuckin Oscars. And if it were, Sionis would have earned himself a Razzy.

But then Zsasz didn’t expect much from him in the first place. The pathetic lil shit will break down within seconds, of that he’s certain. Stupid, boarding-school wimp, that one is. He’s probably lost the moment he enters a room without a drink to hold onto.

He spits out again, this time in disgust, and goes to work. Gigante wants Sionis to get sliced into tiny pieces and fed to her genetically modified koi-carps. No problemo!

Victor starts setting out his tools one by one. The hammer comes first. It’s decorated with one or two dried blood-stains.

He hates the blood, though. Personally, he prefers a clean, hygienic approach to work, yet his boss insists on some crude intimidation-techniques. Oh well, employee-protection isn’t something anyone gives much thought to in Gotham. The pincers are next, followed by a shiny, new set of scalpels.

The other man is meanwhile still dangling from the ceiling, looking at Victor’s devices. At this point, the assassin expects something like a horrified gasp, maybe an occasional cry of ‘you don’t have to do this’, or - at least - a sob.

What he gets, though, is a high-pitched whine. “Boooooooring”, Roman cries out, sounding like an annoyed little bitch about to find out her favorite lipstick is outta stock.

Now, that’s not an unheard-of approach, however, definitely a more unique one.

Turning around, Victor gives Roman a seemingly uninterested once-over. The other man rolls his eyes, and wiggling his upper body, he starts swinging as if he was on a playground.

The bastard even has the audacity to yawn.

Grinning ferociously, Victor decides he wants the smugness gone from the other one’s face. He raises his hammer, aims for the face, and finally elicits the cry he hoped for - unless in a decidedly different context.

Roman swings swiftly outta the way, furiously screaming, ‘not my face, not my face’ like that one hysterical chick who walked in on Victor while delivering a message to her now late husband.

“That face is worth more than all your ugly-ass teeth combined,” the man screeches, sounding every bit like an enraged banshee. “If I’m about to get murdered with a fuckin household-appliance, at least make sure that fuckin thing from the dollar store doesn’t come near my face.”

Roman glares down at Victor from below, which is in itself an achievement, not showing the slightest bit of fear, and yelling out orders. It’s so absurd the killer has to laugh. And not just that bemused bark he sometimes coughs out, no, an honest to God, pure, heartfelt roar that whips through his entire body.

Tilting his head to the side, he decides he’ll indulge his victim and see what else it has to offer. Tossing the hammer aside, he picks up the scalpel. Roman only rolls his eyes at him.

“What you gonna do?” he challenges. “Carve some patterns into my skin? Ask me some questions? Wait for me to cry and beg? Pah!”

“Well, that’s how those things usually work,” Victor confirms sensibly. He bends down until he’s at eye level with his prey, checking for those sweet, sweet signs of distress. Inhaling, he expects to smell that sour, musky scent of sweat that always indicates the beginning of his fun.

He smells nothing but a hint of chrysanthemum and vervain. Not that Victor knows that very moment what exactly he smells. He only knows it smells good.

He takes a better look at that skin the other man is so obviously very fond of, takes in the line of a strong jaw-line, pliant lips, fine lines from smiling too often around his eyes, and decides that, yes, that face is indeed a wonderful canvas. Too bad there won’t be much left of it once he’s done.

Under different circumstances, he’d probably fuck the guy first and kill him later - but this is about business, not his personal pleasure.

Roman, stop calling him Roman, Victor chides, tries suppressing a wheeze. Ah yes, he almost forgot, his ribs are already broken. The other man bares his teeth, pulls a grimace that somewhat resembles a grin, yet Victor knows the signs - he’s merely trying to mask his pain.

Grabbing his chin, he turns the man, forces him to study him as well. Roman scoffs. “Pathetic,” is his verdict. “Look what you’ve become,” he grumbles.

“And that would be?” Victor snaps back before he can stop himself.

“You used to be an artist!” Roman exclaims so violently the chains holding him up, start to rattle precariously. “The Da Vinci of murder you used to be! A Salvador Dali with a knife, and now? All you come up with is dangling me from the ceiling and showing me this crap.”

Victor snarls, gives him a good shove in return, and turns back to his tools.

“Hey, how does it feel to live your life like a chained pit bull?” Roman howls instead. “Every day you get up, torture a bit, but where’s the passion? The spark? The creativity?” Victor is sure if he could, he’d gesticulate wildly.

“Trust me, creativity will be the last thing on your mind once I’m done with you,” he snaps back.

Roman clicks his tongue, yet refuses to acknowledge that statement. “When was the last time you truly had fun?” he asks instead, managing to look smug even in his predicament. “When was the last time someone really let you loose, mm?”

Arching an eyebrow at his captive, Victor licks his lips. What a shame, truly, he thinks. He should have been given a chance to bang that vocal, little slut before cutting his throat.

Roman smirks knowingly, and for a moment, Victor is baffled.

“You said that out loud,” he sing-songs, as a strand of his hair loosens, elegantly framing his face. “Look,” he continues, still grinning knowingly. “I have an offer for you - you can either work for me, or kill me off and file for unemployment in about….” Roman wiggles his head from side to side, seemingly counting, when a loud bang jolts through the basement.

“Well, I guess now,” he finishes, unfazed.

Tilting his head, Victor considers the offer. It sounds suspiciously like Gigante is no more, and besides, he has never been especially good all on his own, without anyone to point him in the right direction. On the other hand, it’s been a long time since he enjoyed true freedom.

But then he hasn’t met anyone who has the ability to humor him in an even longer time.

Nodding to himself, Victor makes a decision.

Yet before he can touch the chain, Roman stops him. “One thing though,” he declares sternly. “I demand absolute loyalty.”

Victor sighs and pushes a button, releasing him. If there’s even one thing he’s better at than killing people, it’s serving people.

Roman jumps to his feet almost immediately. “Eww,” he says. Wrinkling his nose in disgust as he wipes some grime from his suit before slapping Victor’s face with his palm outstretched, like a little girl. It stings viciously, though.

Surprised, Victor looks up.

“No more ruining my suits,” Romans orders angrily. “And now,” he continues, putting his arm around Victor’s shoulders as if they’d been friends forever. “Do you know how to make shrinking heads?”

Baffled, the assassin follows his new boss out of the basement, slowly realizing this had been the first and last time he had the upper hand in his relationship with Roman Sionis.

Nobody in Gotham dares to tell him that is untrue, though.

But then it’s Gotham - and she has her own truths.

#zsaszmask #justsimplymeagain

30 notes · View notes

bread-elf · 4 years ago

Text

DWC 2020 - Day 12

Lore Disclaimer: This story involves taking place sometime during what’s referred to as the Long Vigil, a point in time between the War of the Satyr and the War of the Shifting Sands, roughly 8k years apart or so. There is a wide berth of the Kaldorei just remaining vigilant and waiting for the Legion’s return in this time, and so plenty of room for made up adventures. However in this story there are creatures that are not formally introduced to the story of Warcraft until the Third War, so any lore fanatics should take that as a precaution and are encouraged to enjoy this piece as just an exercise of creative writing. Some contents may not be suitable to some readers, viewer discretion is advised.

Escape

The Long Vigil - Age 2000s

Jiroki didn’t know where in the world she is, but she wanted nothing more for it to end. Once more she stared up at the ceiling of her cage made of strong kelp rope, swaying softly in the breeze as did her hair. No, not the breeze, the waves. The water had become like air.

She had stopped counting after 875 days, and it must have been so many months since. This had all started out as a simple voyage, younger elves wanting to venture out into the sea and travel far down south and see what the world had to offer. But the fates dedicated to be cruel to such young blood, encountering a menace that she had never even dreamed up of.

“Ugh, I hear them coming…” To her left sat Mytindia’s cell. Once the female had a pixie cut of blue hair, now it had grown past her shoulders.

“It’s just feeding time. They shouldn’t be putting us to work so soon.” To Jiroki’s left sat Fellor’s cell, a young man with sky blue hair pulled back into a bun. Many others are trapped such as these three, all Night Elves that had journeyed together on the same boat. Two years could pass by in a blink of an eye to someone with immortality, but stuck in a scenario like this…

Hearing the fins of one of their prison guards, Jiroki sits herself up, brushing her hair out of the way to glance outside of her cage. These… Things she had never seen before. A humanoid figure with the tail of a snake, fins protruding from the back and having large frills around the face. Yet as Jiroki had been their prisoner this long already, they eerily started to remind her of her own kind. A male, having a more reptilian face and large brutish frills, and one who had been in charge of bringing their meals for a while now, swam up to their area to give them their first meal of the day. Only being fed some sort of seafood; different fish, oysters, shrimp, sometimes barnacles, it changed depending on the season, and whether or not there was punishment. And to go along with it, some sort of kelp mush with every meal. When she first had been served this mush she tried it and hated it, refusing to eat more of it and many other meals as a means to starve herself, protesting her capture and becoming defiant. But she had learned the hard way that mush had some sort of highly addictive properties mixed in with it, and it was only just a day later before she felt the first cravings. She couldn’t last through the second day. Trapped by the addictive nourishment and the spells made constant to keep the night elves breathing underwater, it had resulted in many failed attempts of escape. Many had died from when they had started, there only being five remaining, the other two across the way of the three, another young woman and young man, San’ra Mosswind and Kaenul Greenstar. The humanoid-fish swims by, sliding food into each of the cells. Today it was freshly killed crabs along with the kelp, and after it gives a gurgle of reverberated sounds from its throat, communicating with the prisoners. There were so many of these creatures, but only a few of them could actually communicate in the same tongue as the Kaldorei. Yet besides that, over the years the prisoners had begun to understand certain tones and social cues the creatures gave for specific things, and this was one of them. “Ugh, I knew it.” Mytindia sighs out in complaint, cracking open her crab. “We just found those ruins, of course they’re going to make us work extra.” “It’ll be fine. At least we’re not traveling again.” Fellor tries to play devil’s advocate. Jiroki agreed silently, traveling in these waters was the worst, especially since they weren’t made for it. Falling behind and being a burden had resulted in the execution of a few of their comrades; if you couldn’t prove your worth, the creatures didn’t hesitate to kill you. Survival of the fittest fitting too well in this scenario, they were the last of their crew, and they were in the best shape of their life having to constantly swim. But that didn’t help any when it came to their captors. “This sucks.” Jiroki grumbles, eating at the kelp first. She had got used to the taste; in fact, it tasted delicious now. Hearing a shift in the water she turns her head to towards Fellor, who gave her a sad smile. “Just hang in there.” And his words reassure her, feeling a bit of a spark. As of late he had become most of her inspiration, her thrive to continue on. One day they’ll get out of this, they just have to be patient. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jiroki swam through the rubble of ruins, looking for ancient artifacts. During their imprisonment they swam from ruin to ruin, ancient landscapes deep beneath the waves from what she assumed had been before the Sundering, and they looked to be of her ancestors. She had no idea why these sea creatures had an interest in her people’s relics, but it gave hope that perhaps they still lingered near Kalimdor. Though in which direction it laid, she had no idea. “Sssspread out sssslackersss.” One of the most foul beings she’s ever met spoke, some sort of Overseer in charge of their parties proceedings as they hunt relics. She did not know where found relics were taken too, at times a group of these creatures whisking them away to far and unknown waters, and she did not want to know. “There issss much to collect here!” And she loathed the way she spoke. “Myti, help me?” Fellor asks as he swims by an overturned pillar, blocking an entrance to a crumbed structure. “There might be something in here…” Fellor and Mytindia always worked well together, quick to understand each other’s actions without much communication. Wordlessly she swims up and begins to assist, and from there they carefully scour the structure while he keeps the pillar at bay. San’ra and Kaenul split off in their own ways, and not wanting the attention of the Overseer Jiroki swims off too. When they hunted through relics there were not as easily watched; it wasn’t necessary, if one tried to escape the creatures could easily outswim them, that or cut off their spell of air supply and watch in amusement as they struggled to the surface and eventually drown. It had been done, and Jiroki had no intentions of repeating that same mistake. In hindsight of everything, she enjoyed searching through ruins. Having a first hand glimpse as her ancestor’s passed, when her people thrived. She had accepted her wanderlust from wanting to go out on this damned voyage in the first place, but she would give anything to return home. At least she had a moment of respite from the fiendish creatures, keeping idle to herself as she just focuses on her task. More times than not she tried to make some sort of weapon, but she couldn’t make use of anything she found. Plenty of rusted over weapons, but they were either too heavy or she could barely lift it as the rust and coral life attached pricked roughly as her already waterlogged hands. She had been too stubborn to learn more weaponry use from her Min’da and she woefully regretted it with each passing day. She spotted some sort of structure akin to a gazebo amongst a seascape of what could have once belonged to a posh noble, beautiful statues of the former Queen of the Night Elf empire and tall buildings, parts of its walls standing. Swimming downward she decided to indulge in the sights of the gazebo, gazing at the garden of sea life that overtook the area, sun rays from high up above shining down. Never had she thought to see a sight such as this, and only just a handful of individuals to share it with. But it wasn’t worth her capture, not in the slightest. Something shifted to the side, feeling the slight pulse of water and seeing the way the sand churned, and she became alert. Plenty of times some sort of predator would become curious and lurk towards the odd scent of hot blood this deep in waters, Jiroki herself having more than a few scraps with a few during her imprisonment, but all she had to do was swim back towards the Overseer as fast as she can and hope to get noticed in time for assistance. Though the captors were cruel, they still made sure their livestock survived. In the shadows of the ruins something stirred in the sands, something large. Starting to wade backwards in the water to hide more behind the gazebo she contemplates fleeing, but she pauses as she sees the strange creature. Bigger than her and with a blue shell it reminded her of a lobster, and suddenly she recognized it. A Makrura, much like ones she had seen before off the coast of Feralas, curious creatures that mostly kept to themselves. Her people hunt them on occasion where she first tried some, but also had been fed some from her captors as a reward treat. The sea creatures she had been enslaved by had a great disdain for creatures not of their own kind, and the Makrura were no exception. A thought crossed her mind to lure the creature back to the Overseer, and perhaps she could eat something better… Or… She stayed afloat, watching the creature, and it watched her in turn. They had a bit of an intelligence, and she didn’t know how far that went. She swam to the other side of the gazebo and continued to stare, and it simply followed her with its gaze. The Makrura extendends some of its long pincers and steps forward a few steps, slow and careful, and she had a strange sense it was gauging her. Jiroki inch back a bit in caution, unsure what intentions it had, but it stopped the moment she did. Its pinchers were shut down, but as it extends one massive claw forward it drops something, and begins to step back. With a confused and skeptical expression Jiroki remains where she hid, and the being left for different waters. Whatever it had dropped it glimmered in the fading sunlight, and she looked around the area before coming closer to investigate. A small figurine of some sort; no, not just any, she could feel power thrumming from it. The figurine had a likeness to the former Queen, who had long perished in the Sundering, but some sort of magic had been imbedded to it. Jiroki always had a bit of a sense when it came to magic, but it was forbidden in her culture, and thus learned nothing of it. But in this very moment, for the first time she was glad for it. Gingerly picking it up she looks it over, it nearly unscathed from time and water wear, but something else glitters in the sand beneath it. Looking down, she nearly loses her breath. A large fishing hook, the tip sharp to the point. Reaching over with a finger Jiroki lightly taps her finger to it, and immediately she feels a pinch, followed by small clouds of red filling the water around her finger. Pulling it from the sands she marvels at it for a moment. This surely had to be a hook meant for large fish, just the curve of it alone could fit the palm of her alone. A neat little find, she had not seen something from land so well intact since her journey, not even amongst shipwrecks she had been made to go through, everything always having been waterlogged. The Overseer most likely wouldn’t let her have this, he let them keep no personal belongings- unless. Unless… The idea sprung to mind, and her hands began to shake as she stared at the hook. If she could sneak this past the Overseer, perhaps she can use it to help cut the bindings of the cages and free everyone. To damn with the kelp, with that Makrura being so close there had to be land nearby… Lifting her head she looks towards where she had seen the creature, then back down to the idol in her possession. That thing had left these things for her, there was no other logical explanation, and it seemed too coincidental for it to be sheer luck. A weapon, an item to distract the Overseer. Whatever the reason though, this could be it. Though much of her clothing had become worn to the water, she still is moderately covered. The wrappings she used to keep her breast in place had not failed her yet, and there in her bosom she hid the hook. She had no alternatives, and she could feel the hook threatening to dig deep into her skin at even the slightest of a wrong move. Adjusting it more than once to make sure it would not compromise her, she swam back to where the Overseer resided, carrying the figurine. The Overseer noticed her approach swiftly, no doubt having sensed the magic she carried with her, she noticed these creatures had an affinity towards it. Yet he waited as she came up, his slanted eyes boring an intense gaze at her until she presented the idol. He takes it gingerly, as if the artifact had such a deep and precious meaning to him, and he gives harsh orders in hisses and snarls towards other of the fish men nearby. Then reverted his attention back in the direction the others scoured. “RETURN!” Either his magics empowered his voice or these creatures were just that capable of speaking so clearly in the water, but either way his voice booms across the seascape, and immediately the others stopped what they were doing and did as ordered. San’ra came with some tattered remains of scrolls, Kaenul with nothing. Fellor and Mytindia found bits of treasure of jewelry, but they all came back confused as the call to return had come far earlier than before. “A great find hassss been made!” The Overseer held up the figurine, and Jiroki thought she could barely see the magic pulsing from it. Whether the others could, she had no idea, and still had no intentions of sharing her secret. “We sssselebrate! Resssst, and a good meal. Come.” He turns and begins to swim off, already in a hurry as he clutches his prize, but some of the other creatures linger nearby as they wait for the prisoners to move. One comes up and takes the items found from the others, and starts to roughly push them back towards the designated camp area. Still confused, the others begin to swim, as does Jiroki, but Fellor comes to swim beside her. “Great job, Jiroki!” He says with a bright smile, making her heart leap more than it already was doing, and he reaches to hold her hand as they swim back. “It’ll be so great to sleep in! Though I have a feeling that they’ll push us hard again afterwards…” “Fellor, I have something to tell you later.” Jiroki had become fairly familiar with who could speak in their tongue and who couldn’t amongst their captors, and she saw none of those faces around them now. “This is it.” Fellor looks a bit befuddled, but one of the guards gives a nasty hiss, one that indicates too much chatter is going on. They both become silent, but he nods, and she waits for the right time to tell him. The sea creatures had their own form of revelry where they all lingered about, though the prisoners were always kept separated from them. That being said, they still had guards come and do their watch to keep an eye on the prisoners, and as promised a decent meal of tasty fish and clams to fill them up, along with the typical kelp meant to sate their addiction. Jiroki had managed to share her findings and show the hook before any of the guards could notice, and everyone suddenly was on the same page. This is it. There was only one hour of a gap when no one had duty to watch them, a time when the elves were in their deepest of sleeps. But it was still a while before it came, so they had to enjoy their meal and make it like usual. However, Jiroki only eats a bit of the kelp to appease the usual guard that brings their meal, being sure to stash the rest where the hook hid the moment his back turned. “It’s hard to imagine.” Fellor spoke in a hush voice, leaning against the side of the cage next to Jiroki’s. The guards switched their arrangements from time to time when they would move, but Fellor had always ended up beside Jiroki each time, and she felt they had a bond as they would whisper stories and share thoughts in the night when there was nothing to do. “I almost don’t want to risk it, it seems so unreal, but… Better late than never, I suppose.” “Mhm.” Jiroki leaned back as well, the kelp of their cages waning slightly to their weight, but they could never tear it. But even so, she could feel him leaning against her back. “I’d rather die than stay like this. This isn’t a life worth living.” “I get what you mean. Well, we set out on this together. It’s still so strange with that Makrura though…” She had shared that bit as well, as much as she could with the others at least, but with him beside her she was able to indulge in deeper details. “It’s like it knew. You think it’s watching us from out there? Like it knows we’re prisoners?” “Maybe.” Her head tilts to glance out into the ocean, though nothing out of the ordinary stood out, at least no lobster men staring at them. “Who knows. But I think Mother Moon finally heard our prayers from so deep below.” “No kidding, we better pray fervently before we start.” Jiroki feels him shift, sitting up and no longer leaning against her. “How is Myti doing?” “Oh? She seems anxious, but I think she’s excited.” Glancing at Mytindia from the other end, who currently laid down on the sea bank, appearing to be resting. But she could see the way her fist clenched and unclenched repeatedly. More than once he asked of her, they were close friends after all, but they could only speak so loudly to one another before the guards hushed them. “We probably should feign sleep soon, the others are starting to. We’ll need our strength.” “Yea, you’re right.” Laying himself down Fellor rests one arm under his head, trying to relax. “I’m so nervous, this is going to feel like hours.” He gives a bit of a nervous chuckle, turning his head to give him his bright smile. “Want to hold hands again?” “Please…” So little comfort could be found, but they had found a bit in each other, even just a simple touch of their hands both set her heart aflame and eased her greatest anxieties. Laying on her side to face him she sticks her hand out, and he does so in kind with his free hand, and their fingers laced together. After having been infatuated with the same man for so long at her home, she never thought she’d find someone else who put her at such ease, and yet Fellor did just that. Perhaps, if they made it out of this successfully, something more could bloom from this. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The hour was nigh, and Jiroki never felt her heart pound in her chest so fast. But she kept her eyes shut and forced her breathing and muscles to remain calm, knowing fully well the guards that remained. It felt like it was taking longer than usual, and she almost dared to think that their plans would be ruined and there’d be no chance of escape tonight. But, when she least expected it, she could hear the shift in the water as they began to swim away, and it took every fiber in her being to remain in her feigned sleep to give time for them to truly be far enough. “We’re good!” Keanul whispered, and everyone sprang up, all eyes on Jiroki now as she wrestled the hook carefully out of her bindings. “Goddess, I hope this works…” Myti breathed quietly, and Jiroki began to cut at the kelp. Hooks definitely were not designed to cut things, but if it could pierce through the flesh of sharks, it surely could work on this kelp. A few awkward fumbles and slips as Jiroki tries to angle it just right to get at the kelp, she almost loses face as her brain moves a thousand times faster than her hands. But it begins to give, and she stretches it far enough to slip through. Blood pounding in her ears she works on Fellor’s cage next, and after he’s freed they both move to Myti’s, then San’ra, then Keanul. Suddenly they were free, something they had not experienced for a while, and they all were almost dumbfounded that this was actually happening. But Fellor keeps a level head. “Come on, follow me!” He whispers quickly and swims off, and everyone follows. They could still hear the revelry of the sea creatures as they gloated over the magical artifact, never knowing why they needed such things and what for. But no one cared, this is it. Carefully they swam, not wanting to churn up the currents too much, going behind corals and rocks that could help obscure their view. The urge to swim away as fast as possible was so strong, but Jiroki knew that would just alert the captors of their escape, and this could genuinely work. For a time they swam away carefully at a steady pace, low and amongst the seascape without startling the ground. Elune rose high in the night, the dark waters nearly pitch black, but thankfully they could all still see in these depths. Truly she blessed her children this night. After a time, when they had gone quite a bit away from the campsite, they swam up, needing to get their bearings. They surfaced and breathed in fresh air for the first time in those over 865 days, soon to be over 866 for certain, but right away they began coughing up water from their lungs. Nearly losing their strength from that alone, but they found the spells still lingered on them as the captors remained unaware of their escape, and they could breathe both air and water, for now. “There!” San’ra calls out, pouting. They follow their gaze and there’s the faintest outline of land, a large one. Too far away to tell where it was, but that didn’t matter. “Ok, we can do this, come in!” Fellor dives back into the water and the others follow, and the five move like a pack of dolphins as they swim for their lives. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jiroki’s body aches so badly, it felt like they had swam for hours, but it couldn’t have been, the spell still lingered. The spell helped with their movement in water as well, and it was only thanks to that that they could cover so much ground. They didn’t surface once to check how far away the land mass was, any inch further away from those devils of the sea was a blessing to cherish, and they had no intentions of stopping in the direction they were going. Suddenly, the air is stolen from Jiroki’s lungs, and she feels the weight of water in her lungs as the water suddenly feels like it’s crushing her. She could no longer breath, and she barely registers that the others begin to thrash as well, and quickly she moves to resurface. Now she was so slow, wading through the water up until she came out for air. “What the fuck?!” Keanul manages to spurt out after his coughing fit, the others trying to recover as they nearly sink. “The spell has worn off! They must know!” Jiroki says, quickly looking back over her shoulder towards the open sea, though she couldn’t see anything. She didn’t need to. “Fuck, we’re so close! Move!” Fellor quickly begins to swim forward, having lost the magical capabilities he swims like an athletic pro, arms wading through the water with quick speed. The others have no choice but to do so in kind, now losing their greatest advantage of escaping. But the landmass is much closer than before, a large forest being spotted, almost reminding her of home. She didn’t know if that was the case, but she didn’t care, anywhere can be home as long as it’s not here. Jiroki only had a few moments of seeing those sea creatures swim at full speed, and it was startling fast, like a shark. If those things could figure out the direction they swam in, they could be upon them in the minutes. Praying with all her might in her heart she keeps going, focusing solely on the destination at hand. Every splash made her paranoid that their captors were upon them, but it wasn’t until something grabbed her foot that she knew they had been caught. She first sees Myti get yanked into the depths before herself, forced to hold what little breath she had, and pulled below by the Overseer. “You filth!” The Overseer sneered at her as she writhed and squirmed, Jiroki now only able to see blurs in the ocean water as it stung at her eyes now. Myti struggled too with the creature holding her foot, the others swimming after her other comrades. One held something like a harpoon, and hurled it towards San’ra. A cloudy explosion of red mist blossoms where the harpoon makes contact, and the elf is ruthlessly pulled beneath the waves, the other end of the harpoon latching into her chest and digging in deep as the blood trail follows. “Don’t kill them!” The Overseer hisses at first in Jiroki’s tongue, then begins his agitated hissing and reverberates in the water as he communicates with his followers. Frantically digging for the hook, even cutting her skin with it, and she grabs it and swings it wildly at him. She manages to scrape it along the side of his face while it’s turned, taking him by surprise as he yelps. Immediately he growls, and suddenly begins to coil himself around her body, constricting her like a snake as his hands go for her throat. “You’ll pay with your life!” He snarls, and suddenly bites down his massive jaw on her right shoulder. Almost like the teeth of a crocolisk sinking into her skin, she yelps and bubbles go forth, filling up her lungs with water anew. Still clutching that hook as her life depends on it, she jabs it at his face and it sinks into something soft, and his body goes rigid. His blood begins to stain the water right away and she struggles more, knowing her aim has hit somewhere sensitive as she tries all her might to dig it in deeper and deeper. The constricting gets tighter and tighter as a result, but Jiroki had no intentions of surviving this encounter if things went south. However, his grip begins to loosen, and he grows slump in his arms. Pulling herself back she realizes that the hook had gone right into the Overseer’s eye, and she had shoved it so far into him that it helped meet his demise. Suddenly free of that burden she shoves his body away and once more begins to resurface, only for another to come and begin to drag her down to the depths. Jiroki’s lungs burned like never before, desperate for air as she began to start swallowing it. Fellor and Keanul had been drawn down into the depths with her, and with the Overseer dead the slaves had no use anymore, especially since one of them had killed him. This must be it. From the ocean floor something massive comes up, a large pincer throttling one of the sea creatures as it loses parts of its tail, more blood staining the waters. The Makrura showed up, but it wasn’t the one that Jiroki had encountered, nor was it alone. There was a group of them, suddenly ambushing the fiendish creatures as they began to attack one another, confusion mixing in with the chaos. The creature holding fast to Jiroki suddenly let’s go, only to be felled by a pair of pincers. Barely able to focus, this one seemed vaguely familiar with the way it just stared at her. Then it turns, leaving her to her own devices as it goes in to join the fray. Frantically Jiroki swims up and gets some much needed air, so ready to pass out, but by the strength of will barely hangs on. “F-Fellor?!” Her voice croaks, trying to search in the water. “Myti?!” She breathes and ducks back into the water, lungs cursing her, but she perseveres to try and find her friends. Keanul is nowhere to be seen, but she sees the body of Fellor floating, left alone and no longer having the strength to wade. Swimming down she grabs hold of his arm, and with strength she didn’t even know she had she brings him back up for air. He coughs and she nearly submerges herself trying to keep him afloat, but he manages to come back from the edges of unconsciousness. “Myti, Myti?!” He calls out, trying to frantically look around, almost pushing Jiroki back down. “I- I don’t know!” Jiroki comes back up, and he manages to keep himself afloat to not hurt her further, but only so he can get some air before going back under. She does too, trying to search for the other elf, and she spots her in the grasps of one of those creatures. She struggled in his arms, putting up a fight as he had refused to let go of her despite the attacking Makrura. One as such comes in to fight off the creature, a large pincer opening and striking, but it also cuts into Mytindia in its efforts. Purposely, uncaring that another was in the way as Mytidnia is lost in a cloud of blood. Jiroki nearly screams but gets a mouthful of water, as does Fellor who begins to fervently swim towards Myti. Reaching out she manages to snag his leg, fumbling with it and pulling him back up as they both are forced to resurface for air. “SHE’S RIGHT THERE!” Fellor cries out in a panic, trying to go back under. “No! Stop! She’s gone! We have to go!” Desperately Jiroki tries to fight with him to swim to land. They had gotten so far. Almost ready to give up, she had barely just started thinking of swimming away, but he gave in. In a ruined mess they both weakly swim back, the instinct of survival strong as they get closer to land, seeking their freedom. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A pair of elves washed up on the shores of Feralas one day, a mystery in itself of where they had come from, but they were taken and held in Feathermoon stronghold. They spoke of humanoid sea creatures unlike anything they had seen before, incredibly intelligent and having kept them slaves under seas for over two years. But the pair of elves also showed signs of severe withdrawal symptoms, the only evidence of their addiction being a strange seaweed substance one of them possessed. So much confusion around this whole scenario and names of people that were not with them, they were brushed off as having drug induced paranoia and kept for recovery. Hands shaking greatly Jiroki sat alone, on a chair with a blanket wrapped around her. She didn’t feel like doing much these days, the cravings etched deep into her bones. Local druids and priestesses were trying to figure out a means to aid her and Fellor of whatever severe addiction wrecked through their bodies, but they wouldn’t listen to their story, their story being too far fetched to believe. Jiroki could hardly believe it herself, it almost seemed like a dream, yet the taste of the kelp still lingered on her tongue. But there was hope, she had managed to get one of the Sentinels on duty to reach out to her family, and she had hoped her Min’da would come. She had much to learn. The same couldn’t be said of Fellor. Looking more and more disheveled by the day, and losing his will. He often stared out blanky at the sea where they had come from, muttering to himself often, and thrashed and panicked in his sleep. No longer did their hands intertwine at night, and he expressed no interest in doing such the moment they were saved. Jiroki stood from where she sat, seeing him afar in the other end of the open-air building, once more sitting on the edge and staring out at sea. Pulling the blanket closer to her she begins to walk over with slow steps, the tremors not only in her hands but her whole body, but she manages to come up and sit down beside him without difficulty. “Fellor…” He had rarely spoken to her now, each day making an attempt, but barely any budge. “Talk to me, please…” He takes a deep breath, his response lapsing into silence, and she turns her gaze away to stare downward moments before he does speak. “I shouldn’t be here.” He says, finally having a meaningful conversation with her. “I shouldn’t be here. This isn’t fair.” “What do you mean? We survived.” Jiroki turns to him, gently reaching out to lay her hand on his arm. “No, you survived.” Her touch unwanted, Fellor pulls his arm away. “I died out there, with Myti. You should have let me go.” “But, but Fellor…” Blinking back tears, not expecting this sort of thought process from him. “There was nothing we could do. Mytindia would not have wanted you to perish. It was all we could do to escape as we had. I miss her too, I miss everyone…” Myti and San’ra falling to those creatures in their moments of escape, Keanul lost at sea, and everyone else that had begun their voyage with them having long ago perished. “You and I, we’re all that’s left…” “I shouldn’t be here.” He repeats, starting to shake his head as his face cracks, staring out at sea. “I loved her. I should be with her.” The sudden truth of his words crash into her like a wave, catching her off guard. She blinks at him, unsure of what to say in his grief. “Fellor, I…” “Just go.” Giving her the cold shoulder once more, lowering his head. “I want to be alone.” This was not what she had expected, hoping they could heal together. She understood the need for grief, but the instant rejection after everything they’ve gone through, only the two were able to understand they had gone through, and also the affection she thought they developed. It all felt out the window now. Slowly, the rejection filling her with sorrow, she stands and parts to give him his space. Jiroki did nothing for the rest of the night, nor the day. Aimlessly she wondered, her own grief enough to temporarily curve the craving her body ached for, if only to nurture a broken heart. So much was lost, all for nothing, and the only person who could understand her anguish didn’t even want her company. The next day Jiroki aimlessly wandered the stronghold. Known well enough by the others stationed there of her condition, eyes kept on her to make sure she did nothing to hurt herself, but given her own space to cope with her ordeal. Jiroki didn’t know to be thankful or angered at their distance, but in the end it meant nothing, the only one she wanted to be with was nowhere in sight. Over hearing some voices she ends up drawing closer, hearing her name whispered around a corner, and she quietly comes up and listens in. “They speak of these humanoid creatures from the sea, almost looking like elves! Can you believe that?” A druidess spoke her opinion, though Jiroki knew already of the disbelief that spread in the stronghold. “I can’t even imagine what they must be going through.” A more kind hearted priestess speaks up as they gossip. “I don’t know what really happened, but it’s just awful, and whatever is ailing their body can’t be helping.” “Yes, I know. I don’t mean to be harsh towards them, it’s just… I don’t know. It’s so hard to believe.” There’s a startled shout and their gossip is interrupted, there suddenly a commotion over something up above. Jiroki hears the pair move away in great earnest to investigate, and Jiroki gets the mind to as well, instincts kicking in to see what trouble occurred. She saw the pair looking upward at the main building of the stronghold, faces fixated in horror at whatever they saw, and Jiroki quickly moved to look too. The priestess catches movement in her line of sight and looks down, and nearly pales at seeing Jiroki. “No, don’t look!” But it’s too late. Coming out from under the woodwork Jiroki looks up, and nearly collapses right there. Fellor hanged from the rafters way up above, blankets fastened together in a noose around his neck, the makeshift rope taut as his body idly swayed side to side in the wind. His face contorted in pain from the constriction around his throat, but the light in his eyes is already long gone as they stare longingly at the sea. Jiroki collapses as she stares upward, the priestess and druidess running to her. Fellor had killed himself, and it was something that Jiroki couldn’t properly fathom in her mind. Still, the stress in her stomach couldn’t bear, and she hunched over as she began to hurl. After the first heave, that’s when the screams began, and none could calm the poor woman who now could only suffer all alone. (( @daily-writing-challenge )) (( One of my background stories for Jiroki, all the characters mentioned OCs just for this, though clearly they’re not around. This definitely is one of the darker moments in her life that she has not even given the details in full to anyone yet, only perhaps sharing how she got the scar on her shoulder that she still has today! If you read the whole thing, thank you SO much for taking the time, and feedback on my story telling would be really appreciated! ))

#stories

6 notes · View notes

nightwolfomega · 4 years ago

Text

Painting Fox

Part 2

Dawn was arriving slowly, Cora still in bed enjoying the nice comfortable warmth of the blankets, wait? Were the blankets always this heavy?. Trying to adjust her eyes from opening too quickly and blinking a few times she notices that she wasn’t covered in blankets at all but a large kitsune spooning close to her with his tails curled around them.

Cora felt a tint of pink in her cheeks now that her mind has started to finally process what’s going on, about to move her arm she could hear Aki stir a little letting out a little mumble. She froze and closed her eyes quickly to make herself look like she was still sleeping, which wasn’t that hard at all since she was still tired.

When it came to their living situation they didn’t mind sharing the bed together, sleeping back to back since that’s how it always was but now it was different. Aki was spooning with her.

Aki opened his eyes, glowing their blood orange as he stretched his legs and arms a moment letting out a yawn his tails shiver for a moment then curled them back up to him and Cora. She could feel his big thick arms and legs moving around to hold her again humming happily to move back to spooning position with her back pressing onto his strong chest and torso,

He smiles pressing his lips to the back of her head and gives her a little kiss, Her face felt hot, she couldn’t believe he continued giving her little kisses, maybe he was sleepwalking but doing sleep kisses instead? Wait, how does that make sense?

Soon enough she heard his adorable chirping and squeaking, the sound foxes make when they're really happy. The tips of his tails now tapping onto the bed happily, “This is the most adorable moment I have ever been a part of with Aki.” Cora thought to herself, this was just too cute.

But it would soon be short lived when one of his hands brushed against her waist hitting a tickle spot, she gave it all her willpower to not laugh and squirm. Gripping onto the pillow so tightly her knuckles became white. She suddenly felt Aki’s kisses now start to drift down from the back of her head to her neck and soon enough his tongue licks her.

She jolts from the sudden wet kiss, Aki’s eyes widen in panic now, Cora is slowly getting awake now. At least that’s what he thought and grabs the blankets quickly, then slowly lowers them onto her body so she wouldn’t suspect a thing.

Cora knew though, she knew the whole time and was surprised he was trying so hard to cover his tracks of what he was doing with her. Pretending to slowly wake up she lifts herself up as the blankets droop over her head, turning over to look at Aki she lets out a little yawn and rubs her eyes “Hmm, good morning.” she mumbles sweetly with a smile. “Good morning.” Aki replies softly as his ear’s twitch.

“How’d you sleep?” she asks trying to play it cool, He shrugs “I slept great as usual, but last night I slept really good.” Turning his body to face her as he rests his head onto the palm of his hand. “I hope you slept well too.” his other hand twitching feeling the temptation in his mind to just caress her cheek to feel her soft warm skin.

Cora lets out a big yawn “Yes, It feels so good to be back in this bed again. The blankets felt so warm and huggable.” she spoke as her hand snakes out from under the covers to scratch one of Aki’s ears. “Did it? Heh that’s nice.” he spoke feeling his face get warm. Aki hums softly enjoying the scratches Cora was giving him, he was loving every minute of it.

“I’m gonna make us something special for breakfast okay? You wait here and relax on the bed until I get them done okay?” patting his head.

Aki’s ears droop “Aww c’mon I wanna help.” he spoke sitting up. “Ah ah ah, You’re going to stay here and rest. I’ll come back in and get you when they're finished okay?” getting up from the bed.

Aki lets out a little whimper, his tails curling close to his body. To be honest it almost made Cora want to hug him and let him join her in the kitchen but she had to keep her resolve. “I’ll be back soon okay.” walking through the door and keeping it open a crack.

He takes a deep breath and sighs, grabbing Cora’s pillow and hugging it close to his body, taking in her scent while the tip of his tails tapped on the bed. It felt like torture that he wasn’t with her now. Wanting to hold her close from behind and give her little kisses on her neck, wanting to make her feel like she is the most sublime creature on earth.

His nose captures a delectable scent, a scent he was all too familiar with that made his mouth water and his tails tapping the bed faster “Cinnamon rolls” he squeaks happily rolling around in bed excitedly.

Cora always had a knack for baking, her best and favorite were cinnamon rolls. Getting the recipe from her mother years back she would make them for breakfast if there was a special occasion or just to indulge their sweet tooth. Now he realized why she told him to wait in bed, he would have tried to eat the icing for them, chuckling to himself “She’s so amazing” he spoke softly.

He heard a rapping at the door and gazed at his view to see Cora walking in “They’re all glazed up and ready to be eaten.” she spoke with a grin. The large kitsune grins “I am definitely excited for breakfast now.” grabbing his glasses from the little table beside the bed and hopping out of bed stretching again for a moment and flexing his arms, Cora couldn’t help blush seeing that it was so weird seeing Aki being this size now.

They both walk into the kitchen to see the big succulent cinnamon rolls sitting on the table, with the thick icing glazed over. “It’s been such a long while since we had cinnamon rolls so I thought I could make us a batch.” Cora spoke looking up at Aki “I can't wait to take a bite out of them.” his tongue running over one of his sharp canines.

They enjoyed the cinnamon rolls immensely. Each bite felt like an angel was massaging their taste buds, Aki helps her with cleaning the dishes used to make the succulent sweets and go to the studio “I thought we could just spend the day doing some relaxing painting. So last night before coming to bed I set up a little something for us.” Showing Cora the blank canvases on their easels and chairs. The little table next to them had all the colors of paint they would need and brushes sitting ready to be used to unleash their creativity.

“Aww Aki that’s so sweet of you to do this.” Cora wrapping an arm around his torso in a little hug. His tails swayed smiling happily to himself as he raised a hand to stroke her back “I’m really happy you like it Cora.” adjusting his glasses he turns on some relaxing Jazz from the little stereo.

They both took a seat on their stools and got to work setting up the colors for their paintings and lightly dipping their brushes in the water “What are you going to paint Aki? I bet it’s going to be something amazing as always.” she spoke, beginning to paint the background with a soft orange.

The kitsune pauses lifting his brush staring at the white abyss of the canvas and closes his eyes, fantasising Cora using his body as her canvas and making it into a masterpiece. He’d use his magic to make the paint stay permanently on his flesh feeling her precious mark on him, it would be heaven.

“Aki?” he heard Cora speak out again, snapping him out of his fantasy quickly “Sorry about that, I was concentrating too hard on what to paint.” he lies grinning bashfully. “Oh man I’m sorry I didn’t mean to make you lose your train of thought.” Cora replies feeling bad looking back at her own canvas.

“No no don’t say that, I never mind it when you talk with me.” he grins as one of his tails strokes onto her arm gingerly. She felt the soft fluffy warmth touching her and giving her reassurance.

Cora smirks “Thanks Aki,” she replies softly reaching her hand out and gently stroking the tail, his face becomes red instantly feeling her warm delicate touch on the bristles of his tail. Pulling his tail away from her slowly, he starts to paint something that she would like.

It took a while for their paintings, wanting to make sure it was perfect for the other to see “I have mine finished Aki, would you like to see it?” she asks, shifting her head over to him. “Of course I would love to see it, Cora, wanna see mine?” he asks, sitting his brush down.

“We’ll show it to each other at the same time, it’ll be like a quick surprise.” Cora cheerfully spoke carefully grabbing the back of her canvas. Aki hums with a nod doing the same. Now both holding their canvases “Okay, go!” spinning their canvases around to show the other their breathtaking artwork.

Aki froze when he saw her painting, a red fox with nine tails standing within a field of golden grass, the sunset reflecting off the fur and even seeing some of his facial markings on the fox. “I thought that I would make something for you.” Cora spoke bashfully.

Looking at Aki’s work her eyes sparkled as she saw his. It was a surreal painting of a jester in blue and purple dancing in a street at night with rows of warm lit lights. “Aki this is fantastic!” she spoke excitedly leaning close to get a better view of it.

She didn’t notice Aki still staring at the painting, how elegant each brush stroke was on the tails and how the sunset made the fox fur pop. Aki was touched, she painted this for him and only him. His heart was pounding loudly in his chest.

“Cora,” lifting his hand up feeling the strong temptation to stroke his fingers onto the painting, “This is beautiful.” She lifts her head to look at Aki “Aw shucks, thank you. Probably not the best like others but hey I’m still learning.” she chuckles.

Something sparked in Aki when she said that, it made his blood boil. “What are you talking about?” he growls “You’re art is astounding! It’s better than those idiots calling their garbage art!” shooting up from his stool “Don’t you ever say something like that again!” his eye’s now glowing and his sharp canines bare.

Cora backs away from him, “A-Aki? Are you feeling alright?” she asks worriedly using her painting as a semi shield. Aki didn’t realize he was towering over her, his face softens making his ears droop “I-I’m so sorry Cora, I didn’t mean to scare you like that. It’s just that, I hate it when I hear you talk like that. Making it sound like your art isn't good enough when it’s really more than that.”

He carefully grabs the painting from Cora “This painting means so much to me because it was you that made it.” placing it back on her easel. “You have no idea how much of an impact your work gives off, I feel like I could just stare at your work for hours on end” his tails sway softly.

“Do you understand Cora? Your art calms the most savage beast, when people look at your work they enter into an enchanting dreamscape of your vision.” shifting his view to look at her.

Cora’s eyes became glossed with tears, her hands trembling as her fingers fidgeted with each other “Aki...” sniffing using her sleeve to wipe the tears. Aki felt his heart drop when he saw her like that, he reaches his arms out and pulls her in a tight hug. He could feel her arms wrap around him as she buried her face onto his chest sniffling.

“You’re an amazing artist don’t let anyone else tell you otherwise.” he coos stroking the back of her head, he remembered people making distasteful comments when Cora would have her work out with Aki’s. It made his anger burn like a wild fire when they would knit-pick each detail on her masterpieces that she spent hours on pouring her heart and soul onto. It made him want to tear them to shreds with his claws and teeth, but Cora would always take the harsh criticism with a smile, Aki would wished he could protect and comfort her from the harsh criticism of the world.

Cora deserved better than that, those idiots should feel lucky she would grace them with her breathtaking artwork. He sighs softly “Hey, since you were so awesome making us breakfast how about I make us lunch okay? I’ll make your favorite.” he spoke sweetly to her.

He knew what her favorite foods were, he would master them to a perfect dish that would make Cora hum with delight with each bite. “That’s so sweet of you Aki, you don’t have to do that.” she spoke wiping her eyes again.

“Nonsense! This day is about us having a fun relaxing time after all so lets make it even better. You relax in the living room while I cook lunch.” he spoke with a grin. She pulls away and nods “Aki you're too good to me, What did I do to deserve you?” she spoke out chuckling.

The kitsune smiles warmly at her and leans down “I could say the same about you.~” he spoke as he was a bit too close. His eyes glowing again as he looked at her, he wanted to kiss her so badly but pulls back clearing his throat. “Ahem well I better get started.” he spoke with a chuckle.

“Okay, I’ll give the brushes a good clean while you cook. Don’t want them to get hard and crust up.” she giggles picking up the brushes they used.

Aki nods “Thank you so much, you're so thoughtful on this kind of stuff.” he spoke sweetly while walking off to the kitchen. Cora paused a moment when Aki left the room, She never saw Aki react like that, he would usually tell her that all she had to do was keep working hard and show them her art can improve and become better over time. But seeing him snap like that made her feel a little uneasy, but it also made her feel her heart warm saying all those kind comments about her work.

“Aki what are you thinking about right now?” she asked herself as she continued gathering the brushes to clean them. She didn’t see Aki however standing at the door looking through the crack as his eyes glow softly “You Cora...I’m always thinking about you and only you…” a wide smile creasing on his face.

#Painting Fox #Cora #Aki #yandere #kitsune #fox #painting #cinnamon rolls #snuggles #horror #romance #monster #monsterxhuman #monster boyfriend

7 notes · View notes

teejiplier · 5 years ago

Text

Letter Plights and Starry Nights

Summary: Yancy stayed in prison, and you couldn't change his mind, the least you could do was ask him what was in it and tell him what was in yours.

Content Warning: Angst

Relationship: Yancy/Reader

AO3 Link: X

AN: First off, I'd like to give credit where credit is due. The first piece goes to thehalfdemonwitchfromamestris here on tumblr for sparking the majority of this fic. They wrote a letter from Yancy to the reader and since I saw that I could not get the idea of Yancy writing letters out of my head. The second piece of credit goes to Fandomtrash_247 over on ao3. They wrote an amazing story about giving Yancy a perfect day on his first day out of prison, and I wanted to try my hand at that.

LASTLY! I would just like to thank the entire Cursed Trails Penitentiary discord server, without whom this fic would've not been created, continued, or even finished. A special thanks to Mary for beta-ing this and honestly? just thanks to her in general. She's awesome. Love her.

Anyways, here you go. This fic has been a labor of love over the time I've been writing it and I hope you enjoy the fruits of said labor.

The night Yancy had broken you out of Happy trails was one of the most bittersweet moments of your life. Yes, you were out, but Yancy was staying. You offered him to come with you, to run off together. He said no, of course, his heart in the right place. He knew he had to serve his sentence.

"Maybe next time parole comes up, I'll give it a shot."

That gave you hope.

"Hey, visitation, every third Sunday."

And that broke your heart.

You knew you couldn't come back, it'd be too risky. So you left. You gripped the key in your hands and began planning. If he did go for parole when it came up, you would make sure it would be the best day of his life.

That would take time though, and you would need to ask Yancy some questions. So you decided, if you couldn't visit him, you would write to him.

Dear Yancy,

I know you're not going to be a fan of this, but I won't be able to come visit you. It's too risky. I could get locked up again. And as much as I would love to enjoy spending more time with you, you worked so hard to get me out and I can't let that go to waste. So I've decided to write you a letter. I hope that you'll write me back, but I understand if you'd rather cease all communication with me. My address is below if you do want to write back though.

Love Your Friend,

Y/N

As soon as you had written the letter, your insecurities rose. What if he really didn't want to talk to you ever again? What if he wanted to forget about you? What if he didn't like you in that regard? All these questions and more plagued your mind, causing you to debate on whether or not you should send the letter.

No. You had to send this to him. He deserved that at least. To know you were alive. To know you cared.

Before you knew it, you had sealed up the envelope, addressed it, and took it to the post office. It was out of your hands now. The ball was in his court.

Visitation day had come and gone, and Yancy hadn't seen hide nor hair of Y/N. He had thought they were too good to be true, and right he was. His thoughts often drifted back to them, despite his best efforts, and he couldn't help but feel as though a part of him was missing.

Yancy wasn't sure to make off the fact that he had received a letter. He wasn't exactly sure why someone would mail him something, much less knew anyone on the outside who would. The return address was sketchy, to say the least, as it was from an area he wasn't familiar with.

Regardless, he opened the envelope to see a small letter, in handwriting he didn't recognize. But as he began to read it, he realized immediately who it was. It was you. He was slightly downtrodden at the fact that he wouldn't be able to see you and that you would ever think he never wanted to talk to you ever again. But he was able to move past that, as he realized that you cared about him. You sent him a letter. Handwritten, through the mail, postage stamp and everything. The amount of trouble you went through to let him know you were alright was comforting.

He read it over and over again, memorizing your signature, committing it to memory. As soon as he was done, he ran to find paper and something to write with.

Hey Y/N,

I know it's been a while since the last time we talked. But I just wanted to let youse know, that I would never wanna stop talking to someone as amazing as youse. I can't get youse outta my head. Ise understands why youse couldn't just come and see me. That's what I like about youse, how smart youse is, how creative, how caring. It's so good to hear from youse, an' I hope Ise can look forward to another letter of yours.

Your Friend, (Ise never know how to end these things.)

Yancy

It had been about a month since you had sent your letter to Yancy, and you had just about given up hope of him sending you a response. Of course, you knew it would take time for the letter to get out there, and if he had written a response back, it would take a while to get to you.

Not to mention the fact that the letters could've gotten lost in the process.

This was the conversation you had with yourself every day as you went to go check the mail.

Bills, bills, junk, Happy Trails Penitentiary, more junk, more bills.

Wait. You cycled back through your mail to see in fact that you had received a letter from Happy Trails Penitentiary. And you just hoped against all hope that it was from Yancy. You rushed back to your room to open the letter, not quite paying attention to anything else.

You eagerly opened the envelope reaching the letter inside. As soon as you had begun to read it, you knew it was Yancy. And the little signature at the end confirmed it. You marveled at the letter, all of your previous insecurities melting away as you read it over and over again.

With each new read through, you noticed something new about the letter. You noticed his handwriting, and how much it suited him. Small letters, cramped, excited, but still legible. You noticed how he had erased certain parts which wrinkled the paper and written over it. Maybe he had things he wanted to say that he was afraid of saying just like you. But you didn't indulge that thought. It was dangerous. An easy way to get your heartbroken. Instead, you turned that excitement towards writing him a reply.

Hey Yancy,

I am so happy that you got my letter. And I'm even happier to have received a reply from you. And I'm so glad you understand. It hurts so much that I can't see your face. But hopefully, we'll be able to see each other soon. I know you mentioned maybe going for parole, and I was wondering if that was still a possibility? I hope so.

If you are gonna go for parole, I'll be there if you'll have me. I was hoping we could spend the day together. You could come stay with me, until you find your own place, that is. Or forever if you want.

So that leads me to my next question, if you could have anything in the world what would it be? Okay actually that might be a bit too broad, so let's start with this. Where would you like to go to eat? A nice diner, a busy restaurant, maybe just a little cafe? I never got the chance to learn your favorite food. The choice is yours and if you want to go somewhere different, I'm all for it!

Sincerely, (I never know how to end these either, it always feels so formal)

Y/N

Every day Yancy woke up, he eagerly asked if there was any mail for him. More often than not, there wasn't. Which pained him, as this was the only way he could talk to you. To keep himself busy, he would read over the previous letter you had sent him. He had kept it safe, right next to his bed in the top drawer of the bedside table.

He didn't just enjoy reading it either. He would flip it over, and feel the impression the words had left on the paper. For some strange reason, it made him feel as though he was closer to you. He felt as though he was there while you were writing to him. And it made him happier, the fact that you had pushed down so hard to leave an imprint on the back. It made him feel as though you had been excited to write to him

He hoped at least.

It was during one of these musings that he was snapped out of his trance as he heard a rapping on his cell door.

"Letter for you Yancy, and it looks like it's from the same place as that other one you got about a month ago." The guard said, handing Yancy the envelope.

"Thanks, Boggs," Yancy replied, taking the letter," 'preciate it a lot."

He read over the letter, elated that you would want to see him again, and possibly spend more time with him if he stayed with you. He laughed at the end, feeling solidarity at the fact that you hadn't really figured out how to end your letter either.

He was touched at the fact that you wanted to spend the entire day with him, and even considered to ask what he would want to do.

He wondered how lucky he was to have met you. Completely, if he was being honest with himself.

Dear Y/N,

How could I not write back to youse? Youse is perfect. It woulda been rude of me not to. An' as far as parole goes, it can't come soon enough, Ise sent in my appeal. An' I have to ask, is youse sure I wouldn't be imposin' on youse or nothin'? Ise ain't even outta here an' it already feels like youse is doin' so much for me. Once I'm out, I'll make sure to repay ya.

The only thing I really want is you.

Where would Ise like to go an' eat? I honestly have no clue. I've been in here so long, I kinda forget what it's like out there. But the one thing Ise does know I want is if it could be somewhere quiet, somewhere intimate , somewhere wit' not that many people. As charming as you might think Ise am, Ise don't do too well in big crowds. But Ise trusts ya, so I'll letcha choose.

An' youse keeps askin' me all dese questions, how 'bout I ask you one? How's your life been since you got out? Youse hasn't really mentioned much, an' if you don't wanna share that's fine, but I thought I'd ask. Just to make sure youse is doin' alright too.

Love, Warmly,

Yancy

You had been keeping yourself busy since Yancy's last letter, coming to the conclusion that it would take about a month for your letter the get there and then get a reply. So until then, you threw yourself into work, writing, anything to keep you busy. Interestingly enough, you threw yourself mainly into cooking. Even though you had asked Yancy where he would want to go to eat, you thought that maybe that could be lunch, and then you could make him dinner. Which gave you an idea for what to do to end that day.

When you had finished planning, you went down to check the mail, and lo and behold, you had received a letter from Happy Trails Penitentiary. You smiled as wondered what Yancy has said in response to your idea.

As you read over the letter, you felt your heart swell. He cared about you. He wanted to spend time with you. He wanted to get to know you. It was a lot to deal with. And he wanted to know how you were doing. He wanted to know if you were ok. The sentiment nearly brought tears to your eyes as you began to pen your response.

My dearest, Dear Yancy,

I wouldn't have held it against you if you hadn't written back. I just figured that I was simply another person you helped along. I guess I was wrong. And I'm happy you applied for parole. I can't stop thinking about you getting out. I promise the day you get out will be the best of your life. And please, don't worry yourself with whether or not you're imposing, I offered, so all you have to do is say yes. You've already done so much for me, it's payment in kind. You're worth it.

I'm glad you're letting me choose. I don't know about you, but I've always liked surprises. Regarding spending the rest of the day, is there anything in particular that you would want to see? I know there are definitely a few things I want to show you, but I'll keep that a surprise as well.

As far as how I go, I've been alright. I would be better if you were around. I've been keeping myself busy. At least until you get out. I've been working mostly, spending the rest of my time cooking, which has been interesting. I wouldn't say I'm the best chef in the world, but I think I've certainly come far. Just a warning, when you get out I will for sure use you as a guinea pig to try out new recipes. I hope you're okay with that.

How've you been? I hope you haven't been too bored without me. Make sure to give BamBam, Tiny, and Heapass a kiss for me. Tell them I miss them. Not as much as I miss you. And keep up the good behavior. I don't think I could take it if you were in there for any longer than you have to be.

Yours,

Y/N

Yancy had been feeling, conflicted, to say the least. He wasn't conflicted about you, no, there was no doubt in his mind that he felt a connection with you. He wanted something more with you. But he wasn't sure if you wanted the same thing. He also wasn't sure if he was ready to leave his prison family. It was all he had known for the past few years. He was scared. What would he even do out there? Would the world even want him there? Would you want him there? His line of questioning was stopped as a letter was dropped on the table in front of him

"You gotta secret pen pal Yancy?" Boggs asked cheerily.

"Eh, somethin' like that. I'd consider them a friend, but I ain't too sure what they consider me." He said, heading back towards his cell.

It felt wrong keeping it from Boggs, but Yancy couldn't really tell him much about you, fearing that if he did, it would wind up with you back in here. And the guilt he would feel if that happened was unimaginable.

He sat on his bed, as he opened the letter, his previous fears of whether or not you wanted him around gone. You wanted him out. You wanted to spend time with him. You thought he was worth all the trouble he might give you. You wanted to see him as soon as possible. It truly pulled at his heartstrings. And he laughed at the image of you rushing around a kitchen, with several different meals being prepared, all of them being placed in front of him to try.

The signature though, was what got him the most. One word, a simple word, and yet it held so much meaning. Yours . His. It was then he knew how you felt about him. And suddenly he couldn't wait for parole.

He put the letter in the drawer where he kept the others, and made his way back to the cafeteria, giving Tiny, BamBam, and Heapass a kiss on the cheek, and quietly telling them it was from you. Shortly after he headed back to his cell to craft his response.

Dear Y/N,

Ise have helped plenty of people escape, none of them were as sweet as youse . It was really just another day in the life of Yancy. And speaking of parole I found out when my court date is. Ise'll make sure to call youse a little while beforehand, so that way youse could make the trek back here. Though that requires me knowing youse’s number, which I do not. Maybe youse could send it in the next letter you send to me. And as far as the best day of mine’s life, well, that wouldn't be too hard to do. Any day I get to spend with youse would be the best honestly. Ise also truly can't thank youse enough for letting me stay with you. I swear on mines life that I'll make it up to you, however you see fit.

The only thing Ise gotta see when I get out is some trees. An entire forest maybe, if you could manage that. I haven't seen a forest for the longest time. Ya know, I used to spend a lot of time out there with them trees. I climbed 'em as high as I could just to see the view. It was really somethin'. It doesn't hold a candle to youse though. Maybe we could do that, I could teach ya the best trees to climb and the best ones to carve youses name into. We could climb up 'em and pretend we is pirates in the crow's nest. And the wildlife, god, there's so much I would love to wanna show you, so much Ise think you'd appreciate it. That's really all Ise can ask for really. That and youse.

Ise has been ok so far. Itchin' to get outta here and see you. But I told the gang my plan and they all support me. It's sad in a way, they supportin' me to get out, but it's also comfortin' knowin' that they think Ise can do it. But it truly has been borin' wit out ya. There’ve been a few newbies, but they ain't nothin' compared to you and that guy you were with. How is he anyway? I know Jimmy hit him real good, but that's 'bout it. What was in that box the two of youses brought in? I been curious ever since Ise handed it off to ya.

Everybody here misses you too. Tiny 'specially. Says you awakened somethin' in her or somethin'. Youse awakened somethin' in me too. Heapass wanted to send somethin' your way, but Ise wasn't so sure that was a good idea. Said it was a secret for youse only. If youse'd be okay wit' that, I'll send it along next time. Or maybe I'll hold on to it to give it to youse in person. I can't wait to sees you.

Yours as well,

Yancy

It had truly been a day for you. Work had gotten so busy that you had to stay late, even after having come in early. You headed home afterward, your body heavy with exhaustion. You nearly forgot about the fact that Yancy’s letter was supposed to come in today. Lucky enough though, you had seen one of your neighbors getting their mail, which reminded you to get yours. At that moment, the exhaustion seemed to lift as you retrieved your mail. You uttered a small greeting to your neighbor in passing and headed back home.

You nearly collapsed when you entered the door, but you knew you couldn’t. You had to read Yancy’s letter and then send yours out tomorrow. You couldn’t break the routine, despite how your body yelled at you to rest. You managed to get through the first paragraph before you dozed off, the letter still in hand.

When you woke up, you realized what had happened, and scrambled to find the letter, which was still in your hand. Relieved you hadn’t lost it, you folded it back up as you made yourself something to drink before you began reading it. You owed Yancy your full attention.

After a while, you were finally more aware of your surroundings, and sat down to begin reading Yancy’s letter. From beginning to end, you felt fondness in your heart. You didn't want to get your hopes up when he ended it with 'yours as well' but it seemed unlikely. And when he mentioned the key, you remembered what you wanted to do with it, and write it down so that you wouldn't forget again.

And then he mentioned Mark. You weren't quite sure how to feel. Of course, you felt bad that you had left him behind, but because of that you got to meet Yancy, and then when you broke out, the two of you fell out of contact. It was conflicting, to say the least. You chose to pay it no mind though, and instead direct your attention to responding to Yancy.

Hey love , Yancy,

If that's your day to day life, then I'm sure you're keeping busy without me. As much as it hurts to think that. Hopefully, you'll keep busy until your court date! Speaking of which, I've attached my number on a separate sheet of paper so you won't have to go digging through letters. At least, if you haven't gotten rid of them.

Knowing you haven't had a perfect day breaks my heart. I'll be pulling out all the stops to make sure that this can't be topped, even by me if I were to try again. Every day I get a letter from you is perfect. And if you change your mind about wanting to do anything, then we can just hang out at my place. Just the thought of being around you makes me giddy. We could play some board games, watch some movies, I could make dinner or we could order takeout or we could try and cook together. I'm not sure how good you are at cooking, but for some reason, I feel as though you would be a quick learner.

And I'll make sure to factor trees in. I actually live near a forest, it's about a ten-minute drive from my place. Or we could walk if you wanted. I hope you do, I want to spend as much time as possible with you. It's not that far, and it should be pretty mild, so walking wouldn't be absolutely terrible. As for the forest, I can only hope you'll like it. I'm not sure if the trees will be very climbable, but we can still try. There are likely to be some solid ones, some might even be able to hold both of our weight. And you'll have to show me which trees are good for carving. As cheesy as it is, carving out initials would make me so happy. We'd have to mark such a momentous day, wouldn't we? I can think of no better way.

I'm glad you're feeling up to coming out! And I'm so glad that everyone supports you. I hope you know that I support you too right? In any decision you choose to make regarding this, I'll follow your lead and be there when you need me. I only ask that you love me in return think about the future you want. Hopefully, it involves me.

Mark has been...I'm not sure how to put it. I saw him get beat up by Jimmy too, and after that it was a bit of a whirlwind and I lost touch. I don't know if he ever recovered from that, if he has, he hasn't reached out to me. If I'm being honest, he probably resents me for leaving him behind. As he should. I should've gone back for him. As thankful as I am for the freedom you gave me, I could only wish I could share it with him. We were friends for a long time, and not knowing what's going on is unsettling, but I've managed. It's weird really, things happen and yet life goes on. One door closes, another one opens. I leave Mark behind, I meet you. You don't come with me, you get parole. Happenstances and all that. But the box, well, that's something I'm going to keep a surprise for now.

It's nice to hear that people there still miss me. Tell Tiny I'm sorry for leaving so abruptly, and that maybe in another life we could've been more. But my heart is set on you not this time. I...also am not sure what to make of Heapass wanting to send me something, but I think the thrill would be worth it. I can let you know what he sends in the next letter.

I can't believe it's been three months. I can't believe you leave in three months. I can't believe I love you.

Eagerly Awaiting,

Y/N

Yancy's mind had been entirely focused on you as of late. Given, even before now he thought of you pretty often, but recently, all he could think about was you. He would be dancing and he would think of your reaction to it. He would be writing a song and asking himself if you would like it or not. In his free time, he was just going over and over the letters you had sent him. He thought that it was most likely due to the fact that someone seemed to care so deeply for him, and he cared so deeply for you in return. It had only been a few months, but that didn't stop his heart from yearning for you. He missed your presence if he was being honest. Just having you there, having you knock him out if it meant getting to feel your touch, god when did he get so soft? If it was for you though, it was worth it.

The rest of the gang had noticed him becoming more and more withdrawn and did their best to get him out of his head.

"Heapass knows that you are anxious to get out, and are constantly thinking about Y/N, but Heapass also knows that you must keep busy to pass the time." Heapass said one day, handing Yancy a small package.

"Thanks, Heapass, I'll do my best to get out some more." He responded, questioning the package but also thinking of what he could do.

He met up with Tiny and BamBam later that day to just hang around. They ended up playing cards for a long while. And it truly did help. He hadn't realized how long it had been since he had had a conversation with the two of them. They talked about anything that came to mind, what the next dance number would be, when they would rehearse, the usual conversations.

After the game had come to a final end, Yancy followed them into the cafeteria. As soon as he sat down everyone began going into different conversations. It was nice. It was comforting. He heard snippets of them, not really listening, instead just enjoying their company. The peace was soon broken, as his shoulder was tapped by Boggs.

"Another letter from your little penpal, Yancy." He said, jokingly.

"Thanks, Boggs," Yancy replied, taking the letter. Ah, now the package Heapass had given him made sense.

"Looks like Yancy's checkin' out for the day guys, let's all say our goodbyes," Jimmy said.

Everyone began saying their goodbyes simultaneously, making Yancy laugh.

"I'll be back, ain't like Ise is leaving for good yet," he said, realizing towards the end what he had said. Everyone else had gone silent as well, and Yancy had taken that as his cue to leave and headed back to his cell.

He was a little hurt at the fact that you thought he had thrown away all your letters. But he had never written about keeping them, so it was understandable. He truly couldn't wait to see you. To spend time with you. To be with you. It made him feel giddy just thinking of it.

And the trees. You would make sure he saw them. He couldn't express how that made him feel. All he knew that it was good.

Hey Doll,

Day to day life has been kicked down a notch. Recently, youse’s the only thing I can think about Ise been gettin' a little anxious over gettin' out. Court date's coming up, an' it feels like everything’s a bit heavier here. Everybody knows Ise is gonna be leavin' for good, hopefully, and I know they is sad, but they refuse to admit for my sake. Maybe though, I could do the same thing we do. I could write em all letters to keep in contact. Maybe even visit them. Though I can only visit them one on one, so the letter's probably a better idea. 'Course they support me, it's what a family does, but Ise thinks they is havin' a hard time too. But I think I am ready to come out, to have a future outside of prison. Maybe a future with youse. Knowing that I have youses and the gangs support is real helpful.

An' doll, don't worry 'bout me not having an 'absolutely perfect day'. But Ise is glad youse is puttin' in so much effort to give me one. I can't tell you how grateful Ise is. Truly. Ise don't think I'd be in the situation I'm in if it weren't for youse. Youse makes me wanna be better. I think I'm in love wit' youse. And for what we do, I really don't have any preference, as long as we get to do it together. Actually, Ise would prefer it if it was just us. I get kinda jittery around strangers. S'why I wanted to go to the cafe. But if you wanna cook somethin' for little ol’ me, then cook to youses heart's content. My heart is content wit' just youse.

The trees. I can't thank yous enough. Just the promise of seein' trees is something to hold me over. I ain't too sure if we should be climbin' em either. But carvin' our names in em? I'm all about that. It's almost like carvin' our names into the world. It's funny, ya never think 'bout those things afterward, but they's still there. It'll probably be there long after we’re gone. A little humbling, honestly. Memento Mori and all that.

Sorry about Mark. Never really got to know him like I got to know youse. But the way youse talk 'bout him makes him seem like a pretty good guy. Hopefully, he's alright and does reach out to you, lets bygones be bygones. Not really your fault he went and picked a fight with Jimmy though. So I wouldn't feel too bad about it.

That box though, that's somethin' I gotta know about now. They mystery an' allure? Incredibly enticin'. But if youse keeps it a secret, then I guess Ise'll have to wait. Promise not to forget it so I can finally know what it was.

I actually spent some time with Tiny today. An' BamBam. We played cards, nothin' to excitin'. But it helped pass the time. Speakin' of talking to people, Heapass had said somethin' to me today before giving me something. I assume it's the gift he wanted to give to youse. I hope youse gets it. Tell me what's inside in your next letter.

Missin' you,

Yancy

You had just gotten home from the blacksmith’s forge. You had put in your request, and were eagerly awaiting for when they called you to pick up the item. You weren’t sure how long exactly it would take, but given they were a pretty popular business, you hoped it would be done in time.

You had to make sure everything else was in place as well. Already having been through a number of ideas on what to make. You wanted something big, but you weren’t sure if that was what Yancy would want on his first day out. Maybe you could work your way up to that. Baby steps. You decided on something simple, yet elegant. Though you would need Yancy’s input on what he would prefer. Though you might have to give him options, as he seemed content to let you make the decisions. It seemed unfair that he didn’t have any say in his perfect day. Well, minus the trees. That part, you had figured out quite easily and made sure that it would be undisturbed. It wasn’t exactly like you could rent out the forest, but you certainly made sure that you found a spot where you wouldn’t be interrupted. Hopefully, he wouldn’t think you were taking him there to kill him.

As your mind drifted in between all the planning you had been doing, and all the planning you still had yet to do, you mind finally settled on Yancy. You had told him how lucky you were to have met him, but you weren’t sure how much he believed that himself. You remembered back to your time at the fence, how he said he didn’t belong out there, out here. He doubted himself so much, it hurt for you to think about. You wished he could see himself the way you saw him. The way all of his gang saw him. That was something else you were going to work on, that self-doubt of his. If you couldn’t help him through it, you knew a few people who could. You decided to make a few calls as well, before eventually deciding to take a break.

But you didn’t really rest, no, you just diverted your attention. Instead of worrying about Yancy without him around, you were going to deal with what he had said in his letter.

He was anxious, of course. Who wouldn’t be? But the fact that he wanted to stay in touch with everyone was good news. You knew that if he weren’t able to do that, it would probably ruin him. And then he said how grateful he was for you. How he wanted to change. That let you know that this was real. That this was actually happening. That you could have a future with Yancy. A good one. Like you had said, because Mark left, you were able to meet Yancy, and because you lost touch with Mark then you could forge a new relationship with Yancy. It eased the hurt of losing Mark.

The end confused you though. As he said, there was a package attached to the letter. You hadn’t questioned it, expecting Yancy to explain it in the letter, but he didn’t know either, which, left you a bit weary. What could Heapass have sent that he didn’t want Yancy to look at? It was a very small box, with a little weight to it. There were no notes on the outside to clue you into what was inside or anything. Your curiosity eventually got the better of you and you opened it. Inside were two small rings. Looking at them at first, they looked like two normal silver rings, but as you looked them over in the light, you saw they had something written on the inside. You saw your name on one, with a date, and Yancy's on the other, with the same date. It took you a while to put it together but then it hit you. It was the day of the heist. The day you met Yancy. You nearly started crying at how thoughtful this was of Heapass. You weren’t exactly sure how he had gotten the materials to make these, but you were grateful all the same. You would make sure to thank him profusely. Maybe even write him a letter of his own. You soon realized you had never really talked to Heapass while in prison, and yet he had gone out of his way to give you these. You would most definitely write him a letter. But first, you had to write your letter to Yancy.

Heya dear, babe, light of my life, Yancy,

I’m glad to hear that things have been calm(?). And I’m glad you’re not getting into a fight with every new prisoner. I am sorry that you’re anxious though, as much as it makes sense. I hope it helps knowing that we’re all in your corner. And I will be, literally. I’ve found where the courthouse is, so I just need to know when it is from you, so I can come early and get a seat near you. I wish I could hold your hand through the entire process. I know you’ll get through it. You’re a tough cookie, and as stubborn as you may be, it’s admirable, some might even call it determination. I do.

I think keeping in touch with everyone is a fantastic idea. They’ve been with you for so long and gotten you through so much, it’s understandable that you couldn’t just end it on the spot. Maybe we could write them letters together? I’ve actually planned to write Heapass a letter, thanking him for the package. Once you’re out, I’ll tell you what it is. I'll tell you what was in the box that we came in with too. I also want to talk to Tiny, maybe help her figure out what she’s going through. I feel bad that I left her so quickly.

Yancy, I don’t know how many times I have to say it for it to get through your thick skull, but taking care of you is worth it to me. Maybe I should come back to knock some sense into that pretty head of yours. It really is no trouble at all. And the fact that you want to change? Want to be better? Anything I can do to help you is worth doing. Any time I get to spend with you is time well spent. And getting to spend time with just you, without people around us to worry about is wonderful to me. I get you all to myself . But I’m thinking that for your first day out, we keep it simple. Speaking of, what’s your favorite sandwich, for no reason at all. Just something I want to know. No nefarious purposes whatsoever. I promise.

I think carving our name on to the world is something we could do. Something we could do together. That’s one of my biggest fears actually, being forgotten. You’re right in that there’s so much that’ll be here after we’re gone, and not leaving anything behind kind of scares me. So carving our names into a tree that’ll live on long after us is quite appealing.

I think I’m going to stop actively worrying about Mark. It’s been this long and he hasn’t reached out. I haven’t either, but that’s beside the point. I don’t think I want to reach out. If he’s out there, he's made his choice. And now, I’ve made mine.

It’s good to know that you’re not spending your days sulking in your cell. I don’t want you getting too caught up in your own head. Even if all you do is just get out and have one conversation with one person, I’m proud of you. I know how it can be, wanting to isolate and leave everything behind. Being with other people helps though. Distracting helps. It doesn’t even need to be productive, you just have to get your mind off of what’s hurting you and onto something else. One of my favorite methods is cooking, as you may have noticed. There’s so much attention that’s needed, the detail to measurements, being aware of time, knowing what you need and when. If you find something you already like doing to distract you, then it doesn’t feel like you’re being distracted. Why don’t you try to write some new songs? Choreograph some new dances? But don’t do them for anyone else. Do them for you. Self-care, you know? It’s important. You’re important. You have to make it to your court date so I can see you again. I need to see you again.

Fondly,

Y/N

Yancy had finally been interacting more with everyone. He figured, he only had so much time left, best to make the most of it. Every time the had a meal together, he would listen as much as possible and try to give an honest response. He didn’t want them thinking things that weren’t true after he was gone. He wanted to leave a lasting impression on them. He didn’t want to be forgotten.

He did his best to give his undivided attention to everyone he spent time with one on one. It was what they deserved, and he had felt bad for lacking in that recently. Every game he played, every person he spotted, every conversation he had, he treated with the utmost importance. He wouldn’t be able to do that after, so best to do it now.

He had actually been spending quite a bit more time with BamBam and Tiny, always having a daily card game. Go Fish, Old Maid, Crazy Eights, War, Slapjack, Poker, he didn’t really care. He got to spend time with them, and that was enough. He was talking to Heapass more than usual as well. He always had wonderful insight, which, although cryptic, was immensely comforting. He radiated this aura of power, but in the way a cat does when they’re on top of the fridge. Uncaring, and yet interested. Heapass didn’t speak often, but he was a good listener, offering small grunts and noises of understanding. Yancy had tried to ask him what was in the box he sent you, but all he was able to get out of Heapass was a knowing smile.

“Time ticks by, never waiting, never stopping, but when in good company, time feels never-ending,” Heapass said one day, completely out of the blue. It had startled Yancy quite a bit. He wasn’t sure what to make of it until he remembered the letter he sent you. He remembered how he wanted a future with you, and how when he was breaking you out of prison, it felt like it lasted forever, or at least, over and over again. He remembered spending time here, with his gang, his family, and how it truly did feel neverending. Whether that was a good or bad thing, well gray areas exist for a reason.

And then, sooner than he had realized, he had received your letter. He wasn’t sure if that was due to him spacing out, or to Heapass, who always seemed to have a distortion about him.

Putting the thought aside, he read your letter, comforted by your words about being in his corner, calling him admirable, and the like. He was elated at your understanding of him wanting to write back to the gang, and a little touched that you wanted to write to them too. He thought about how the two of you could write one giant letter, pages and pages long, talking about your life together, talking about your days, what recipe you might’ve cooked, what forests the two of you visited, any adventure you might go on.

He paused for a minute, realizing what he was thinking. He realized that he truly wanted a life with you, whatever that may entail. Domestic or otherwise, he wanted to be with you. He wanted to spend every minute he could with you. He could feel the want throughout his body, and he came to a final realization. He was truly, deeply, and entirely in love with you. And that was okay! It shocked him how alright he was with that fact. The only thing that worried him was if you felt the same.

As he continued to read the letter, however, he found his answer. The fact that you were coming into court on his court date. The fact that you giving him a place to stay after he got out. The fact that you were taking care of him. The fact that you cared enough to want to give him the best day ever. The fact that you said ‘ Any time I get to with you is time well spent ’. It rocked him to his core. You never said it outright, but he knew you loved him. He hoped you knew that he felt the same. Unspoken as it was, it was there. You wanted him to stop sulking, you wanted him to find something that made him happy. You wanted him to be happy! His hand couldn’t move fast enough to write his reply.

To Y/N keeper of my heart ,

Things have taken a turn for the better here. I ain’t sulkin’ in my cell as much, Ise actually gotta daily card game with Tiny an’ BamBam. We plays whatever we feel like, whatever feels right at the time. And so far, it’s been workin’ out pretty good. Recently, I been spendin’ a lot more time with’ the gang. We all know my time is comin’, so we is makin’ these last few moments count. Ise been payin’ more attention to the little moments, the jokes we share, the conversations we have, things like that. I can’t wait to share those moments with you . But youse was right. Keepin’ myself busy has been a huge help. Like I said, Ise been plain’ cards, and just gettin’ out to talk to people. I haven’t really been thinkin’ ‘bout songs and stuff. Though now that youse brings it up, I might spend my last month here puttin’ together a spectacle. Somethin’ real special. Something that you might like. I knows youse said not to do it for others, but it’s a nice motivator. I’ll see if we can get it recorded to show youse. Now that I’m thinkin’ about it, I got all these ideas. Youse is such an inspiration.

I had this thought. That maybe, when Ise gets out, we could write letters together maybe? Maybe to save paper or save on stamps or somethin’. I just thought, y’know, it might be nice for everybody to receive a letter from the both of us. If youse don’t wanna do that then that’s totally fine, completely understandable. We can write separate letters, maybe that’ll keep it a bit more intimate. The way our letters have been. But I just thought it’d be less work with the both of us writin’ letters to everybody, so’s that they don’t get two letters and we know the same stuff and so we ain’t repeatin’ ourselves and such. But it’s completely up to youse.

Youses probably been tired of hearin’ that though, haven’t you? Ise think I’ve said it in ‘bout every letter Ise sent to youse. But here, lemme make this decision for you. My favorite sandwich is a turkey and smoked gouda sandwich, with a little lettuce and tomato, an’ some mayo an’ hot sauce. That specific enough for ya? Hope it is. An’ I hope youse never uses this to make deals wit’ me, cuz Ise is a sucker for that sandwich an’ would probably do just about anything for it. And for you . But you promised no nefarious purposes so, Ise is gonna hold you to it.

Ise can’t help but notice you didn’t mention what was in that little box of youse, nor what was in the package Heapass sentcha. Youse is keepin’ me in the dark, an’ Ise ain’t too fond of it. But youse can keep your secrets...for now.

Youse wanna know what Ise think? Ise think you’re too good to be forgotten . Ise think there is certain ways to keep yourself from bein’ forgotten. Two things, really. Actions an’ art. Youse can be remembered by anyone if you do anything to or for them. Youse’s certainly done so much for me . And through art, people can remember youses name, youses story, youses feelings. It’s what Ise loves so much ‘bout musical theater. Ise can express me in ways Ise couldn’t do otherwise. An’ people understand. People remember. My biggest fear has always been bein’ alone. I thinks that’s why Ise been so anxious ‘bout leaving is because here, Ise ain’t alone. But out there? I ain’t got nobody. Nobody but youse. Youse mean so much to me, Ise can’t put it into words.

One months time an’ Ise’ll get to see ya. Time sure flies, don’t it?

Yancy

You knew Yancy's court date wasn't for another month, but you thought that getting a more professional looking outfit as soon as possible was best. Nothing too flashy, you were going for dapper really, put together in a sense. You didn't want to draw attention away from Yancy. It was his day. But given the situation, he might also want some of the pressure off of him, if you had gathered anything from his letters. You decided on a nice little number that didn't scream for attention, but wasn't exactly subtle either. You hoped it would help.

It was so hard to believe. You were going to see Yancy again. You were going to be with him. You were going to be able to hold him. And you would never let go. Of course, he might stray, as is the curious nature of people, but you would be there beside him to set him upright when he fell over, or to fall over with him so he wasn't as alone. He wanted to change, and you were going to be there every step of the way.

There really wasn’t much left to do, due to your impeccable planning. You had gone to the forge and picked up what you had dropped off, and while you were there, you had bought some chains for necklaces. You began putting all the pieces together, and finally putting them back into the box that Heapass had sent you. You hoped Yancy would like it.

You had some free time for what felt like the first time in weeks. You weren't exactly sure what to do with it. Your mind had been drifting towards Yancy's court date. It felt as though it was just yesterday that he had broken you out of prison. And now, time couldn't move fast enough.

You had decided to go for a walk, to clear your head and ease your worries. The anticipation of Yancy's court date was building, and despite everything said in your and his letters, you couldn't help but wonder how he truly felt about you. Did he think you were doing this out of pity? You hoped not. You hoped he knew how you felt about him. If he didn't you would make sure he knew when he was out. He had to know that you cared. He had to know that he was loved. He had to know that you loved him.

Eventually, you decided to head back. If you were lucky, you might've been out long enough for the mail to come. And lo and behold, there was his letter. You were so happy for him. He was doing better, and that brought you so much joy. And when he called you an inspiration? You couldn't help but smile. And you had to say, him finally giving you a concrete answer to what he wanted, well, it was nice. He had seemed so unsure of himself in his letters, and you weren't quite sure what that was about.

And then, he told you his greatest fear. And though you had told him yours, you weren't quite sure he would share his. But he did. He trusted you enough to tell you. And he said you were all he had on the outside. That broke your heart, to be so lonely. You couldn't imagine it. You would make sure he would be able to build a life outside of prison. You would make sure he would never be alone. With that in mind, you penned what you would hope to be your last letter to Yancy.

Dear Yancy,

Seeing as this is probably the last letter you’ll get from me before your court date, I just want you to know how excited I am to see you. How proud of you I am. How much I support you. I actually got a new outfit today just for it.

I’m so glad you’ve been keeping busy, what did I tell you? Works like a charm. And routines. I can’t thank them enough. I’m glad you’ve found one of your own. It helps make things feel more in control I think. Like I’m doing x thing at y time as I have planned. I haven’t been able to spend as much time with other people as I would like, but I know that if I could spend more time with them I would be the exact same. I can't wait to spend time with you. When you get out, I'll make sure to introduce you to all my friends, make sure you can build a family on the outside. We could be our own family. You'll never be alone. Not if I can help it.

As for me, well, things have been ok. Every day is torture without you. I've been keeping busy myself making sure everything's ready. I've set up a room for you here, and I've tried to get some stuff for you, but you've been so indecisive that I'm not quite sure what to get you! Maybe we could go shopping once you're out, and then you can pick out what you like and I won't have to guess. We can go to IKEA! We'll make a day out of it. Look at stuff for your room, maybe get some knick-knacks, grab lunch. I'm not sure how they do it, but those Swedes always make a meal feel like home. Oh!! And we could get a desk! With paper and drawers and a place to put pens and other stationery so we can write letters!! To write letters of course. Speaking of, I would love to write letters with you. I think you're right with the whole saving paper thing and us both knowing the same information so we don't repeat ourselves. But I think we should write letters to them individually and not as one group because they'll all probably have different things going on, y'know?

Look, I promise, once you're out? You'll know exactly what was in the box and what Heapass sent me. I promise.

You're right though, about how to not be forgotten. But the thing is, I just feel like nothing I do will ever be that exceptional. I was kind of hoping that the heist would be a bigger thing. I'm not particularly good at any art form really, and I'm not bold enough to do something worth remembering. I'm so lucky that you remembered me enough to write these letters. And I know what you may say, little actions! They're just as important! And you're right again. Maybe once you're out I'll be implored to do more little things to help people. I need all the help I can get, and knowing I have your help? Is one hell of a motivator. Who knows, maybe with your help, I'll become a world-renowned chef. Can't hurt to dream, right?

I'll see you soon,

Y/N

Yancy had been extremely busy the past month. He only had a month to write, choreograph, practice, and perform his best number yet. He used the word spectacle when describing it to you, and a spectacle it would be. While he was working on writing and choreographing, he sent Sparkles McGee to put together effects, Jimmy to get props, and Heapass to spread the word. After about a week everyone knew what he was up to, and asked if they could pitch in. The help was eagerly appreciated, and Yancy delegated work to different groups. It was a weight off of his shoulders knowing he didn't have to do it all alone. And when everything seemed just about ready to go, Yancy went to go talk to the warden.

"Hey, da- uh Warden," Yancy said, stumbling to correct himself.

"Ah Yancy! It's good to see you son. Do you know how nice it is hearing what good behavior you've been on? It's fantastic!" He replied, gesturing to the seat opposite him for Yancy to sit down.

"And, a little birdie told me you were putting together something special in your last few days here. Did I hear that right?" The warden asked.

"You did hear that right sir. An' regardin' that, Ise was wonderin' if there was a way youse could record it? For posterity an' all that." Yancy said.

"Well, I don't see why not! So long as you've got everyone's permission to be on camera then you'll be golden! And if I'm right, I believe everyone signed a form upon entry giving us that exact thing. So go do it son. I'm proud of you." The warden said, shooing Yancy out of his office.

"Thanks, Warden! Really 'preciate it!" Yancy yelled as he left.

Everything was set. The dance was good, phenomenal if Yancy said so himself. The music was fantastic, full of emotion. And the effects, Yancy would have to write a separate letter to Sparkles after he got out thanking him for all he did. The guards brought in the camera and before Yancy knew it, it was showtime.

It was late after recording, but it went off without a hitch. They nailed every note, hit every move, the effects were all on cue. It was as if the universe had granted him the perfect working day, and he couldn't have been more thankful for it. It was something he was proud of, something he hoped that you would be proud of.

He had made his way back to his cell, tired from all the work and yet still riding the high of having gotten it all done. That high was further increased by the sight of a letter on his bed, addressed to him in your handwriting. He opened it as soon as he sat down and was filled with a new vigor. And there it was. You were proud of him. It felt like he hadn't even done anything and yet, you were proud of him. He was touched at the fact that you wanted to build a life, a family for him outside. That you set up a room for him, that you wanted to help him adjust, that you wanted to take him to IKEA. And the excitement you felt about doing so was palpable, even if it was through a letter. Seeing how excited you got just in a letter excited him to see how you were in person. The thought of seeing you in person excited him. There was so much to be excited about, he could barely write it all down fast enough.

To Y/N,

It's such an amazing thought, thinkin' that this'll be the last letter that Ise'll send youse from in here. Ise can't tell youse how excited Ise am. We actually just finished recordin' that new number Ise was tellin' you about. Came out great, a true work of art. Ise can't wait to show youse. An' as for your art, Ise think cookin's the way to go. From what youse’s told me, all the time youse spendin' on it, all the effort youse is puttin' in, it's all gonna pay off. I'm sure of it.

Ise is lookin' forward to seein' you, to gettin' out if you haven't noticed already. An' Ise really can't thank youse enough for doing all this for me. Meetin' you has changed my life. Ise never thought someone like me would go for parole, and yet, here I am. An' I'm sure once I'm out, youse's gonna change my life there too. Without a doubt.

If we do go shoppin', I'm gonna tell you now doll, I don't like much. I ain't ever had a lot so Ise ain't used to having a lotta stuff. Maybe that'll change, Ise thinks a lot'll change once I'm out, once I'm with you . But the desk, that sounds like a great idea. With all the pens an' paper, Ise can just imagine youse going to town while writin' there, if youses letters to me is any indication. And I'm glad you like the idea of us writin' letters together. Ise wasn't so sure how you would take that. I guess Ise got all caught up in my own head again.

I think anything youse does is exceptional. I mean, youse decided to write to me, a guy you knew for a few days and who youse also knew did some bad things. But youse kept at it. Little actions right? Youse just wrote a little letter an' sent it my way. Now look at me, I'm goin' for parole an' Ise genuinely want a better life. An' youse is so important to me. That one little action had all these ripples. Just keep that up and youse'll be fine. But if you need my help, Ise'll be happy to offer it.

I think Ise is gonna keep this one a bit short, just cuz there's so much I wanna tell you when Ise gets out. I'll see ya soon doll.

Love,

Yancy

As Yancy's parole date drew closer and closer, your fridge grew fuller and fuller, and eventually, you were leaving your home more and more to give out food. To say you were stress cooking wouldn't be wrong, but it wouldn't be entirely right either. More like, cooking in anticipation. To keep you busy, to keep your mind busy, from the date that was ever-growing closer. You weren’t sure what about it exactly unnerved you. Maybe it was the fact that this would be the first time you would’ve seen Yancy in person in months. Maybe it was the fact that he was staying with you. Maybe it was the fact that you were so deeply and profoundly in love with him you were scared that as soon as he saw you and talked to you in person he would want nothing to do with you and your heart would be shattered.

Ah. That was it.

Getting caught up in your own head wasn’t something that happened too terribly often, but it was definitely something that once it did happen, it began to drag you down immeasurable depths. But you had to put that aside. Of course, writing to someone did have its perks, allowing you to think about what you want to say before you say it, being able to take back something you didn’t mean to say, things like that, but speaking face to face was good too. You would be able to see each other’s reactions in the moment, you would get to see how he laughed, how he looked deep in thought, how he looked enjoying a nice hot drink. And before you could stop yourself you had done a complete 180 and were spiraling in the other direction. As much as you weren’t opposed to this line of thought, you knew it had to stop. There were other things you had to do.

You had prepared a lot of the physical things for when he got out, but there were things you had to mentally prepare for. You had to prepare yourself for the worst, as much as it hurt you. But on the other hand, you also had to prepare yourself for the best. For the fact that maybe he liked you too, for the fact that maybe, he might want to more than just pen pals turned roommates. It was rocky, sure, going from such intense lows to the highest of highs, but eventually, you wore yourself out and retired to your kitchen to see what you had leftover from your previous cooking endeavors.

You were just about to sit down to eat when you remembered what day today was. Given that you had been obsessing over the future, you had completely forgotten today. It was the day Yancy’s letter was supposed to come in. You rushed down the stairs to the mailbox to see the letter there, as if it were waiting for you. As soon as you had brought it back to your home, you started to calm down. Things were finally falling into place, and all you needed to do right now, was eat and read.

It hurt, of course, that this would be the last letter. You had found small pleasure in writing the letter by hand, sending it off, and waiting to receive a reply. But the thought of having to not wait two weeks for a reply from Yancy, plus the fact that you would be writing letters to everyone in the prison completely outweighed it. And you couldn’t wait to see the number he had done. He called it a spectacular, and you had been on the edge of your seat ever since. He supported your cooking which was sweet, and you had hoped that he would support you in cleaning out the fridge as well. When he mentioned how much you had changed his life, you started crying, you could only think of how much he had changed your life, the fact that he felt the same was so incredibly validating. And then you got to the end. Love, Yancy . You had been too scared to end your letters like that, afraid he wouldn’t feel the same. But then he took that leap himself. Of course, in the last letter he sent you, just to be sure that if you didn’t feel the same way, you would’ve still kept on writing letters to him, and you started crying again.

It was finally time. Yancy was headed to the courthouse for his hearing. He was all dressed up in a nice suit that the prison just happened to have. It was nice, if not a little restricting. He wasn’t used to wearing suits, more used to his loose pants and shirt, but he knew this was required. And he was a little pleased that you would get to see him all dressed up.

He wondered if you were already there. If they had even let you in. He hoped you were there, the sight of a familiar face would be so comforting. Boggs was there though, and his presence was comforting too. But yours would have a completely different effect. He had shared such an intimate connection with you if he saw you, it would just reaffirm what he already knew. While musing, he was brought into the courtroom, sat at a table, and the process began. He looked around to see if you were there, not spotting you in the front few rows. But then, farther back, he saw a flash of color and-

There you were.

He recognized you immediately, your face burned into his memory ever since he had helped you escape and, you were as alluring as when the two of you had first met. He couldn’t take his eyes off you and then suddenly, you looked up, a him, and your face grew into a smile he had only dreamed about. You gave a small wave and then pointed back towards the front, as if you were silently scolding him for not paying attention. He chuckled to himself as he turned back to the judge.

The trial was a blur to Yancy, the only thing he remembered was seeing you and then the gavel pounding and the words officially setting him free. It took all his will power to not hop over the fence and hug you, but he managed. Soon, he reminded himself, soon. He was lead out of the courtroom into a much smaller room, to see you and Boggs talking. He wasn’t sure what about, as as soon as you saw him you ran up to him. You enveloped him in what seemed like the biggest hug a person your size could do, and immediately, he hugged you back. It felt right, for the two of you to be in each other’s arms. After all the time he and you had spent dreaming of this moment, it had finally come to pass. And just like you had dreamed, time seemed to stop and the only things that existed were you and Yancy. He was here. He was out. He was in your arms. And you couldn’t be happier. Neither could he. The two of you stayed like that for what felt like ages before Boggs spoke up.

“Hate to break up such a happy reunion, but I need to finish talking to Y/N about the rules and regulations. So uh, if you don’t mind splitting from each other so I can make sure Y/N gets all this.” Boggs said as the two of you released each other from your holds. Though you didn’t quite detach completely. You instead took his hand in yours and gave it a squeeze before giving Boggs your full attention.

Once Boggs had finished filling you in on all the required information that comes along with doing parole, he said the two of you were free to leave.

You couldn’t drag Yancy out fast enough, you were practically going to rip his arm off at this pace, but you didn’t care. There was so much that you had planned. Once you had reached and unlocked your car, you hopped in, motioning Yancy to do the same.

“Okay doll, before you kidnap me to kill me out in the woods, mind tellin’ me what youse got planned?” He asked, before climbing into your car.

“Sorry, I just got so excited because I get to spend time with you that I forgot my manners. So, first, I wanted to go back to my place, I figured you wouldn’t want to stay in that suit all day, so I got you some clothes that you could change into. After that, I was hoping we could go to that coffee shop I mentioned and grab lunch. There shouldn’t be too many people there, given the day and the time, and I was hoping we could just talk. I’ve been wanting to talk to you, to your face, for so long. And now that I have the chance I’m not letting go. And for tonight! I have something very special planned that I would prefer to keep secret, but understand if that’s unnerving to you.” You explained, beginning the drive back to your place.

“That sounds pretty good. But let’s take it one thing at a time yeah?” He said, grinning. He was silent for the rest of the ride, just taking in his surroundings, the outside world, you. It was as if he didn’t realize how much he was missing in prison. But now out in the outside world, there was so much he wanted to see. So much he wanted to do. So much he wanted to do with you. But you had a plan for today. So he would stick with it.

You enjoyed the silence with Yancy, you hadn’t really had time to just sit with him in prison, and now, you were just enjoying his presence, getting a feeling for having him around. It was pleasant, definitely something you could get used too. You could imagine the two of you, just sitting together at your place, maybe you were reading and he was writing a letter, or maybe you were cooking and he was writing a song, mumbling every time he was thinking which lyric would be better. You had had a lot of these domestic thoughts centered around the two of you, but now that he was here, those things could actually happen, if he wanted to do those things of course.

You had gotten to your home sooner than you would’ve liked. As much as you wanted to talk to Yancy and get to know him, there was something so serene getting to just sit with him. And the suit. You wouldn’t have minded getting to look at him in that for a little longer. But you arrived nonetheless, and you brought Yancy in.

“Welcome to my humble abode. It’s not much, but it’s home.” You said gesturing to the room.

“My room is down the hall to the left, and your room is right across from it. I had turned it into a study when I first got here, but it’s been converted back into a room for your use. The kitchen is back there, and the bathroom is at the end of the hall. That’s about it, any questions?” You asked, ending the miniature tour.

“Not really, but I’ll let youse know if any comes up.” He said, taking in your place. As you said, it wasn’t much, but it sure felt like home. It looked lived in, comfy, homey. He hoped he wouldn’t ruin it.

“Alright, I’ve left some clothes in your room, if you want to change. I will most definitely change. As much as I like this outfit, I’d prefer to have a full range of mobility.” And with that, you walked down the hall to your room, leaving Yancy to do the same.

He observed the hall that led towards his and your rooms, finding it somewhat empty, save for a few pieces of art here and there. They had dates on them, but as to what they meant he had no idea. There were no pictures of you and your family, or of you and your friends either, and he could only wonder what that meant. Slowly, he drew farther and farther down the hall until he finally came upon his room. Again, there wasn’t much: a bed, some sheets and a pillow, a bedside table and a lamp, and some drawers. He began looking through the drawers and cabinets to find some filled with clothes, and others completely empty, and empty notebooks and pens here and there. A lot of stuff to ask you about later. At that thought, he decided he had better change, or else he wouldn’t get to ask all those questions, instead having spent all his time in his room.

After he had changed, he left his room to find you lounging on the couch, on your phone. You hadn’t heard him come in, and he took a moment to admire you again. You were so effortlessly attractive, so easily enticing, that he couldn’t help but get caught up in looking at you. He felt like he had known you and yet, he felt like he was meeting you for the first time again, all the mystery still intact.

It was at that moment you chose to look up and smile at Yancy, and his heart softened.

“You ready to head out?” You asked, still smiling. You had to say, as good as Yancy looked in a suit, he looked so much better in casual clothing, probably because that was closer to what he was used to wearing.

"As I'll ever be." He said, heading towards the door and opening it for you, ever the perfect gentlemen. You thanked him and headed towards your car. As you said, the coffee shop was quite close, and you were there in no time. You exited the car, waiting for Yancy to catch up, and then you took his hand in yours and led him inside.

The warmth rushed over Yancy as he stepped inside. The smell of coffee and tea and pastries assaulted his senses and he took a step back.

"Yancy, are you ok?" You asked.

"Yeah doll, it's all uh, jus' a little much 's'all." He replied, taking in the environment. His eyes were frantically scanning everywhere, trying to place everything. The sound the coffee machines were making, the smell of the coffee, the sight of the pastries and all their decorations, the sight of the people in the shop, the feeling of you hand in his.

Oh right.

You were with him, holding his hand, supporting him. He was gonna be okay, he made it this far.

"'S'alright, I'm alright." He said, more to himself than to you.

"Hey, if it's too much, we can leave." You said, taking a step away from him, worrying your presence was too much as well.

"No," he whispered, pulling you back to his side,"it's good, I'm good. Let's do this." He said, walking up towards the counter to look at the menu.

"Hey Y/N!" The barista said, greeting you, "I assume you'll have your usual?"

"Yep!" You responded.

"And what about for your friend here?" They asked, looking towards Yancy.

"Ise'll have an iced tea." He said, after much deliberation.

"Alright, will that be all for the two of you?" They asked.

"Sure is," you responded, handing them your card. "Thanks, Adrien."

The two of you headed over to a small booth by the window. While Yancy took in the rest of the shop, you took in his reaction. He had seemed to calm down, finally getting used to being somewhere new. He hadn't acted like this at your place, so you weren't sure exactly what caused it.

"Hey Yancy, you okay?" You asked, softly.

"Yeah, I'm good, doll. It was jus' a lotta new things all at once, kinda overloaded my senses is all." He responded, sheepishly.

"Yeah I get that, new places can be super intimidating, especially when they're so different from what you're used to. Don't worry, I've been there before and I can tell you, it gets easier." You said, trailing your hand up and down his arm. It was soothing to him, to feel your touch, grounding even. There was just something about you that made Yancy feel safe. Which was unusual as he was typically the one making others feel safe. It was a new sensation, and he didn't mind it.

"How do youse know so much 'bout my situation, huh?" Yancy asked, playfully.

"I'm kind of in the same boat, more or less. Or was. It's a point I'm definitely past, but one I vividly remember." You said.

"What do youse mean?" he asked, interest piqued.

"Well like, you know, depression, sensory overload, anxiety, self-loathing, the whole thing. It's something I've dealt with and am still dealing with. It's rough, and I know first hand. Of course, what you're going through is completely different from-" You said, beginning to ramble before Yancy cut you off.

"Wait, go back. Youse said somethin' 'bout sensory overload and anxiety. Can we talk 'bout that more?" He asked.

"Yeah, of course, what do you want to know?" You asked.

"So like, what exactly is that stuff first off. How do youse know if youse has it?" He asked, hesitantly.

"It's all stuff that has to do with your brain. It's a mental illness or disability. And to know if you have them, you typically look at symptoms and if you meet some of them then you could self diagnose yourself, or, you could go to a therapist, psychiatrist, or psychologist to get diagnosed professionally. And that was actually something I wanted to talk about with you. I hope this isn't too forward, but I've set up some interviews with some nearby therapists. I think it'd be a great help now that you're out."

"Huh." He said, taking a moment to take in and process the information. You could see pieces clicking into place as he processed.

"Yeah, Ise think that'll be a good thing for me, thank youse. Ya know youse didn't have to do that for me right? Youse already doin' so much, an' I feel like Ise ain't ever gonna be able to repay youse." He said, pulling away from you. This time though, you grabbed him to pull him back.

"Yancy, I don't know how many times I'm going to have to say this, but you do not need to repay me for this. This is the least I could do for you for helping me out. Let me help you, Yancy. Please." You said, taking his hands in yours.

Just as he was about to respond, Adrien walked over to your booth, with your drinks and a plate in tow.

"One iced tea, and one house special. Plus, one slice of lemon poppy seed cake, on the house." They said, placing all said items between you and Yancy. Adrien left with a sly smile and a wink.

"This looks delicious doll. An' you sure you ain't put in somethin' or nothin' to get this?" He asked, suspiciously.

"I said nothing! Adrien just tends to know more than they let on." You said, putting your hands up in defense.

"Alright, if youse says so." Yancy said, taking a sip of his iced tea.

"That's fantastic. What kinda tea's this?" He asked.

"I'm not sure, I'll make sure to ask though." You responded, taking a sip of your own drink.

"Oh, I had a few more questions for youse. How come there's art, but no photos or nothin' at your place?" He asked.

"Oh, well, the lack of photos is due to the fact that I just forget to take them. And the art, they’re all pieces that I've done. Art therapy is severely underrated." You said.

"Ah," he said in understanding. "Makes sense. An' what about all the notebooks everywhere?" He asked, remembering them all over the place.

"Oh! Those are all journals and sketchbooks! Like I said, art therapy is severely underrated, so I just sketch whenever I'm not doing too well or whenever. I also write sometimes. How I'm feeling, what I'm doing, short stories, dreams I've had, dreams I've turned into stories, stuff like that. And the thing is, I never know when an idea'll strike, so I have them all over to write down whenever I need to. Sometimes I draw pictures to go with them, but not usually. I just really like writing. If you couldn't tell by the letters." You said, reeling yourself in towards the end.

"That's amazing. Youse is, amazing, doll. You do all these great things, it's hard to imagine someone like youse bein' down. Ise never woulda guessed if youse hadn't told me yaself." He said, earnestly.

"Yeah, a lot of people don't notice. You know the whole, fake it til you make it thing. You know, people tell me I'm not that good of an actor but they don't realize how wrong they are." You said, trying to lighten the mood. You were awkwardly trying to turn yourself away from Yancy, trying to avoid his gaze. He looked like he was about to speak up when you interrupted him.

"Hey, we should try this cake! Lemon poppy seed is one of my favorites." You said picking up a fork.

Yancy just watched you as you tried to divert his attention away from you and onto the cake. If you really didn't want to talk about it, he wouldn't push. There were things he felt he wasn't ready to talk about either. So instead of talking, he just allowed himself to sit back and watch you. You had offered him some of the cake, intending to hand your fork over to him, but instead he just ate the piece right off, letting you feed him. The look on your face was priceless, and you couldn't stop laughing. That was truly a sound he could never get tired of. And the sight of your smile was something he knew he'd never forget. You were simply a part of his life now. You had been for a while now.

Time had passed much quicker than you thought. You and Yancy had spent the majority of the afternoon talking to each other, learning all the things you hadn't put in your letters. You told him about your job, how you found the cafe, anything you could remember about the area. And Yancy, in turn, listened, trying to consume as much information as possible, since he was going to be living here of course. As the two of you were heading out, Adrien mentioned that there was an opening at the cafe, passing it off as if either of you were looking for a job and not just Yancy in particular. And as if to sweeten the pot, they also mentioned how staff got free drinks on their shift. And knowing how much Yancy had liked that iced tea, you thought this would be a great fit.

As the two of you were driving back, you had finally noticed how dark it had gotten, making it time for phase two. When you had arrived home, you told Yancy to wait in the truck while you grabbed a few things.

"I promise, I'll be right back." You said with a smile before dashing inside.

You had left the box on the kitchen counter, and the basket in the fridge, making it easy to grab. Everything else was in the back of your truck. With your hands full, you ran back as fast as you could, not wanting to leave Yancy alone for too long. When you got back, you tossed the stuff in the back, making sure to not let Yancy see, maintaining the surprise.

"Alright!" You said, hopping back in the front seat. "Let's go." And with that, you began driving.

Yancy had been unsure about what the night held for the two of you. He trusted you, without a doubt, but the fear of the unknown was still fairly present. And after watching you rush up and then rush back only to toss things in the back before he could get a good look was disconcerting. But he let it go. As he said, he trusted you, and so he waited. He waited as you started the car, waited as you drove down the road, waited as you turned into a park, waited as you went down a worn but secluded path, and waited until you had finally spoken up.

"We're here." You said, with hushed excitement. You exited the car, and headed towards the back to unlock the tailgate. Leaving Yancy to exit himself and take in the view.

You had kept your promise. You had taken him to a forest, a clearing surrounded by trees, and he couldn't be happier. He ran up behind you and picked you up, spinning you around.

You were shocked, but began laughing as you realized it was Yancy.

"What's this about?" You asked between laughs.

"The trees! They're fantastic!" He yelled, moving to put you on his shoulders. "Look at them!" He was absolutely elated to see them, and you could tell.

"Wait, wait!" You said, trying to guide him back to the truck. You reached inside the basket and pulled out a knife.

"Ok! Let's go!" You said. Yancy brought you to the closest tree, and you began carving yours and his name into it, you knew he wouldn't be able to see it so you added a heart around the names. You could dream. Then you passed the knife to him. Before he carved anything though, he stabbed it into the tree, slightly scaring you. But he made up for it by gently bringing you off his shoulders and back on to the ground.

"Ise don't wanna risk droppin' youse while tryin' to carve our names, yeah?" He said, genuine care in his eyes.

"Of course." You whispered.

"Alright then, watch this." He said, before making quick work of the tree, carving out bits and pieces to create a stylized version of his and your names. It was impressive, really.

You couldn't help but admire his skill, his precision, his natural aptitude for working with a knife. He would be exceptional at woodcarving, you thought.

"There. What do youse think?" He asked, looking towards you, looking for your approval.

"It's wonderful Yancy." You said, earnestly.

The two of you just stood there for a moment, getting lost in each other's eyes, basking in each other's presence. Just being thankful to be around each other again. It truly had been too long since the two of you were together, and it seemed as though now that you were together again, neither of you wanted to be away from each other again.

"Hey, c'mere, I wanna show you something." You said, bringing Yancy over to the truck bed. You hopped in and patted the spot beside you.

Yancy hadn't see it before now, but he finally saw what you had thrown in back here, and what was presumably already back here. There was a mattress taking up the majority of the truck bed, with several blankets on the edges with twice as many pillows. And next to you was a picnic basket as well as-

"Is that the thing Heapass sent youse?" He asked, climbing in next to you.

"Yeah it is. But we'll get to that alright? Let's have something a little more substantial first." You said, opening up the picnic basket.

"As it was the only thing I could get out of you, I have your favorite sandwich. Turkey and smoked Gouda, with some lettuce, tomato, mayo, and hot sauce. As requested." You said, making an entire show of bringing out the sandwich and handing it to him.

"I can't believe youse remembered. How many months back did Ise tell you? I can't believe youse did all this for me." He said, taking the sandwich and biting into it.

"Doll, this is so much better than Ise coulda imagined." He said, mouth full.

"I promised you the perfect day right? How would you rate it so far?" You asked.

"Ise'll tell you what doll, Ise had high expectations, but youse passed 'em ages ago." He said.

"I'm glad." You said, smiling at him. You took out a sandwich of your own and began eating too. And you also pulled out a fruit salad in case he was still hungry. The two of you hadn't really had much to eat at the cafe, so you had packed all this in case. And eat he did. While he ate, you laid back, and looked up at the sky. This was the perfect place to go stargazing, and you always came here when you needed a moment to recuperate. You hoped Yancy would take advantage of this place too.

After he had finished eating, Yancy laid himself beside you, and looked up at the stars, reveling in the silence.

"That's Orion's Belt, and that's the Little Dipper, at its tip is Polaris, the North Star. That bright spot right there is Venus, and that smaller bright spot is Jupiter." You said, pointing out each constellation and planet.

"I love coming out here. It reminds me that as small as I might be, I'm still here. Still made of stardust, still capable of anything." You said, though to who you were speaking to was unclear. But you both benefited from hearing it.

Yancy said nothing. He didn't need to. The two of you had lived through so many unspoken words in your letters, this was really no different. You both knew how you felt.

"Oh!" You remembered, "The box!" You said, pulling it out, turning to Yancy to open it. From inside, you pulled out two necklaces, each with a ring and small key on it.

"Doll, where'd youse get these?" He asked in wonder.

"Do you remember that package Heapass sent me with one of your letters? Well inside were these two small rings, and when you look on the inside, our names are engraved. I thought that I could have the one with your name and you could have the one with my name, just so we can remember each other. And the box you gave me the night we escaped? Well, it had a universal skeleton key inside of it. Meaning I could've come back for you, but I didn't. I'm sorry." You explained.

"Doll, if youse had gotten me out then, I doubt I'd be the same person. Ise needed that time. So thank you, for not gettin' me out too soon." He said, calming your worries.

"If you say so. But anyway, I had it melted down into two keys. I'm not sure if it lost its powers, but I thought it might be nice for us to have matching keys, you know, because you've got the key to my heart and all that? I know, I know, it's cheesy. It's all pretty cheesy."

"Y/N, Ise love it. Ise love youse." He said, finally speaking the unspoken truth between you two, bringing his forehead to touch yours.

There was silence, then recognition, and finally joy. Indescribable joy. The smile on your face was shining brighter than the stars in the sky, and Yancy couldn't look away.

"I love you too." You whispered, smiling still, you head tilting forward until you were smiling against him. He smiled too, and kissed you chastely, but you could feel the love behind it. It was sweet, the perfect kiss, to end the perfect day.

In that moment, you truly felt like you were made of stardust.

#fic #fic:yancy #ahwm yancy #yancy/reader #/reader

28 notes · View notes