#cs: gem

[teabutmakeitazure]

oh god, my worst enemy. coding. i did coding/comp sci at one point, when i was strongly ambitious about my talents and skills. yet, my enthusiasm didn't last me even a whole semester until i dropped out of those classes T-T i don't know, it might have been me, but! i hated my prof so much. i think i'm 20-40% to blame, only partly. i struggled so bad, but i did truly try so hard to at least accomplish something! i swear, he was the source of all my regrets in life. is it just me or comp sci professors are either really dorky and goofy, which is rare, or super mean and intimidating, which is common. my old prof was so aggravating every time he taught a lesson, like, "you should know this already!" and sometimes when people would ask questions, he'd make a snide remark like: "if you're still asking questions, you won't ger far in this field." sir, this is an introduction class?! and ohhhhhhh myyyy gooooddddd his grading was so ass. that man did not listen to any reason and excuses, even if it meant you couldn't attend some of the lectures due to personal reasons. i remember there was this guy who actually wept in class because he missed some days. there was a death in the family, so yeah, it'd be hard to attend school during a time like that. i could only imagine how bad his grades dropped, and when this guy tried to talk to the prof, he kinda just went, "that's on you." WTF....

suffice to say, i dropped out soon after.

but tbh, if you do genuinely like comp sci, don't let some snotty prof demotivate you. it's just...something about tenured professors getting away after ruining students' lives is mind blowing to me, especially in this day in age. this behavior of abuse is incredibly archaic, can't believe there's profs like this who act this way.

-anon who hates chrollos swept back hair

My professor doesn't even teach. Literally. We have one class with him in the grand hall and all he does is take a quiz. He uploads a few 4 to 10 minute videos as pre-lecture videos for us to watch and then takes a quiz on them. The student tutors who take the tutorial classes also only review weekly coding challenges and then take another quiz. There is 0 learning and the course description said, "For students who have never even attempted 'hello, world' in python." Despite that who knows wtf that assignment is.

cs50 from harvard is what is keeping me afloat *cries*

and yeah. The two types of professors. Sadly I got the worse one too

[killianxswan]

the amount of high quality ari and liz content that comes out every halloween and i am just like,,, normal about it now

i love when people tell me they think of me when they see them together. think of me what??? curled up on the radiator in the choir room crying into my twitter feed and i have to take a math test when the bell rings? that’s sure as fuck what i’m thinking

anyways they slayed this year as always. never know what those two gremlins are talking about but god do they know how have a laugh.

[thebirdandhersong]

Just started TLJ for fun because it was a Long Day and I wanted some form of distraction that didn't involve the current Ghost Crew kinda high stakes episode I was halfway through and I must say..... this is so strange to me

[catcatb0y]

If I ever write a series with a romance subplot/endgame, I ain't even gonna HINT at it until over halfway to the end of the series. The things people post- and genuinely think- when their 'ship' has been "winning," is mind numbing.

The equivalent of getting the right answer and doing the wrong math.

[dailyminddumps]

If my jewellery doesn’t spell out a hidden message I don’t want it!!!

Guess who just discovered acrostic jewellery…

[wholoveseggs]

hii

A gem was gardener part 1 wait ing for other parts desperately...

Also a tiny request plz make it a nice smutty happy ending cuz my heart broke after rules

Thanku love (in klaus voice:))))

The Gardener {Part Two}

18+ ---- {Masterlist} {Tag-List}

Part Two

Your mission to seduce Elijah continues, and it's becoming harder and harder to separate your feelings for him from your duty. Your ancestors call out to you, warning of death and destruction, and tensions within the coven are high. Your time is running out, and you have to find the white oak ash, and soon.

♡♡ ...Hiii anon, don't worry about it darling! ... the end will be the end and I promise it won't hurt {a lot} ~xoxo.♡♡

4.2k words - Warnings: smuuuuut, oral sex {f!receiving}, interrogation with a side of breakfast, visions, angst, deception, lies, a stupid self referencing joke, blurred lines, Klaus ruining the moment and lots of tension...

{Part One}{Part Three}{Part Four}

{Elijah Mikaelson Tag-List }

@gorgeouslydangerous @starkleila @lydia1369sworld @notleylaaa @vampiresluv

@myanmy @xflowerbombxo @maryvibess @always-and-forever-daydreaming

@spnaquakindgdom @amournoir @meeom @damienmorton @wickedmuse

@cs-please @complicatedandconfusing-25 @youcanhavemybuckanyday @akala6670229 @yeaiamme2

@itsjulzandmydiamonds @witch-of-letters @elijahstwink @rosecentury

@amanda08319 @starshipcookie @li-da-savage @veggie-eggrolls @spideybv28

@sunkissedebony97 @idk00sblog @savannaounana @sekaishell @b1tchy

@loving-and-dreaming @fancycassie-stayfancy @hcqwxrtss123 @iamawkwardandshy @ziayamikaelson

@absolutemarveltrash @darkened-writer @nina6708 @evasmlp

The following week had been filled with work, keeping up the appearance of an innocent gardener. It was easy enough, the herb beds were finished and now all you needed to do was keep them maintained and watered. It was a pleasant task, especially compared to the tasks ahead of you.

You had been avoiding Elijah, Agnes told you not to use him unless absolutely necessary, and so far, he had left you alone. He had been polite, friendly, but his presence had been a constant shadow. Stolen glances and flirty smiles, he was clearly interested.

You had tried to ignore him, but every time you saw him, you felt a rush of excitement and dread. He was the enemy, and yet, his presence made your heart flutter and your stomach churn. It was foolish, reckless, dangerous, and yet, there was no denying the pull.

It was early morning when you arrived at the compound, the air was cold and misty, the sun had just started to peek above the horizon. The courtyard was empty, and the whole compound was quiet, almost eerily so.

"Gardner! Just who I was looking for," Klaus' voice rang out, making you jump.

You spun around to find him leaning against the railing on the second floor, a grin on his face.

"Good morning, Mr. Mikaelson," you greeted, trying to keep the fear from your voice. "What can I do for you?"

He strolled down the stairs and approached you, a cocky smile on his lips.

"I was wondering if you would care to join me for breakfast?" He asked, stopping a few feet away from you.

You looked up at him, your stomach twisting with anxiety. You had hoped to avoid him as long as possible.

"Come now," he said, his voice smooth and seductive, "don't be shy."

You nodded, giving him a forced smile. He led you to the dining room, holding out a chair for you.

"Please," he said, gesturing to the seat. "Surely, you're hungry, and we have some things to discuss,"

You sat down, and he sat at the head of the table, looking pleased with himself. A number of servants came and went, bringing plates and glasses. One stopped and slit their wrist, pouring blood into a glass for Klaus, their expression empty.

You looked away, your stomach churning, you hated the sight of blood. The smell of the food made you nauseous, and the thought of eating was unbearable.

"So, my brother tells me you are a witch, I don't recall seeing that on your resume," he said, picking up his wine glass and swirling the blood inside.

"I didn't think it was necessary," you replied, trying to keep your voice even.

"Yes, well," he paused, taking a sip, "I'm sure you are aware of the current...situation,"

You nodded, avoiding his gaze, trying to quell your nausea. Klaus chuckled at your unease.

"Eggs?" He offered, holding up a plate.

"No, thank you," you said, forcing a smile.

He shrugged, setting the plate down and digging into the pile of food in front of him.

"The witches have been rather troublesome, plotting against my family," he said, taking a bite of sausage. "Do you know anything about that?"

"I'm afraid not," you lied, looking at him.

"Hmm," he mused, chewing slowly, his eyes narrowed.

"Why do you think I would be involved in any sort of plots?" You asked, taking a bite of toast. "Awfully presumptuous to lump all witches together, like we are some sort of monolithic entity."

"You are a witch, and I am a vampire, and our relationship is...contentious at best," he said, his blue eyes sparkling. "Besides, I have heard rumblings, whispers, of a new faction, a new coven-"

"Brother," Elijah's voice interrupted.

You looked over to see him enter the room, his expression stern. He gave Klaus a disapproving look before sitting down next to you at the table.

"Y/n," he said, smiling at you. "How are the herb beds coming along?"

"Very well, thank you," you replied, relieved by the interruption.

"Eggs?" Klaus offered, holding up the plate again.

"No, thank you," Elijah said, a hint of annoyance in his tone.

"You love eggs," Klaus teased, shoveling a forkful of egg into his mouth.

"Yes, but I am not in the mood," Elijah said, his voice sharp.

Klaus raised an eyebrow, and Elijah shook his head.

"Are you planning on interrogating her the entire meal?" Elijah said, looking over at his brother.

Klaus shrugged, shoveling another forkful of eggs into his mouth. "Whatever do you mean Elijah? This is simply a friendly breakfast,"

"It doesn't seem friendly," Elijah retorted, "and I think the poor girl is uncomfortable,"

"You worry too much, brother," Klaus said, grinning. "She's perfectly fine, aren't you?" He looked over at you.

"Yes, I'm fine," you said, trying to hide the unease in your voice.

"See?" Klaus said, giving Elijah a smug look. "There's nothing to worry about."

Elijah sighed and poured you a cup of coffee, pushing it towards you.

"Please, drink," he said, offering a sympathetic smile. "I'm sorry, my brother can be a bit...difficult,"

"Hey," Klaus interjected, his expression indignant. "I'm sitting right here."

Elijah ignored him and continued, "how are the herbs? Do you need any help with anything?"

"Everything is fine, thank you," you replied, taking a sip of the coffee. "I... Do have a question though,"

"Anything," Elijah said, looking at you, his hand resting on the table next to yours. You could feel the heat from his body, the tension between the two of you.

"Your choice of herbs, was that intentional?" You asked, looking up at him.

Klaus' eyebrows shot up, his gaze curious. "What do you mean?"

"The herbs in the greenhouse," you clarified, "you chose them for their magical properties, didn't you?"

"We did," Elijah admitted, his gaze thoughtful.

"What did you hope to accomplish with them?" You pressed, wanting more information.

Elijah was silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on the table, then he looked at Klaus, an unreadable expression on his face.

"Call it a precaution," Klaus said, leaning back in his chair, his arms folded across his chest.

"A precaution?" You asked, confused.

Neither of them answered, but you could feel the tension in the room. There was an unspoken conversation going on between the brothers, and you were missing something.

"You worry about the wrong things," Klaus finally said, his gaze locked on Elijah. "Just get the job done and you will be well compensated,"

Elijah gave his brother a hard look, and then turned his attention back to you, a polite smile on his face.

"I can walk you back to the greenhouse," he offered, standing up.

"And leave all this food for me to eat?" Klaus exclaimed, his tone teasing.

Elijah ignored him and took your arm, helping you stand up.

"It was lovely having breakfast with you," Elijah said softly as he walked you to the door. "Perhaps we can do it again sometime."

"Sure," you said, not sure how else to respond.

The greenhouse was quiet when you returned, the sun streaming through the windows. You could smell the herbs, their fragrance filling the air. Elijah stood beside you, his hands in his pockets.

"Can we talk?" he asked, his tone gentle.

"Of course," you replied, looking up at him.

He smiled, and reached out, taking your hand in his. Your heart was pounding, your stomach churning. You had to keep reminding yourself that he was a killer, not the handsome and charming man he was portraying himself to be.

"I was hoping we could continue where we left off the other night," he said, his eyes dark with desire.

You swallowed, trying to push down the feelings that were threatening to overtake you.

"Elijah," you began, but he cut you off, pressing his lips to yours. You melted into the kiss, his hand resting on the small of your back, pulling you in close.

"I've been thinking about you," he murmured against your lips, "about that kiss,."

He stepped forward, moving you backwards until you hit the workbench. His hands rested on your hips, lifting you up and setting you down on the counter.

You couldn't deny how hot he was, or how much you enjoyed him taking control. You didn't have to pretend, not right now. The constant whispering of the ancestors fell silent, the stress and pressure you were under was lifted, if only for a moment.

You smiled against his lips, running your hands up his chest.

"I can't get you out of my mind," he whispered, his hand running through your hair.

You laughed softly, "Have I cast a spell on you?"

"If you did, I wouldn't mind," he said, his eyes dancing with amusement.

His hands moved slowly up your thighs, searching for the buttons of your pants. You giggled as he struggled, his fingers fumbling. He pulled back and looked down, frowning in confusion.

"You have to start up here," you smiled, biting your lip, pointing to the buckles of your overalls. "You probably don't hook up with a lot of women wearing these."

He smiled, mildly flustered. "I've taken off much more complicated garments than this," he said, flipping the buckles and tugging your pants down.

It was a bit of an awkward struggle to get them off, the two of you giggling and fumbling around. Finally, he was able to tug them past your hips, pulling them off and tossing them to the side.

He leaned forward, pressing his lips to yours, his tongue exploring your mouth. You wrapped your legs around him, pulling him closer. He chuckled against your lips and slid his hands under your shirt, caressing your breasts. You moaned softly, arching your back, pressing into his touch.

His hands moved down your sides, sliding over your hips and thighs, pulling you closer. You could feel his arousal, hard and insistent, pressing against you.

"Am I moving too fast?" He asked, his eyes searching yours.

"Not at all," you whispered, kissing him.

He grinned, his thumb gently grazing over the swollen nub peeking through your panties ,a little wet patch had formed, the cotton clinging to you. You grabbed his shoulders, pulling him closer. He chuckled and kissed you, his fingers moving slowly, exploring, teasing.

"Oh, you're so sensitive," he said, his voice low and seductive. "And beautiful."

Your fingers curled into his shirt, your eyes locked with his. He smiled, watching you react, enjoying the effect he was having on you.

"You like that?" He asked, his voice a deep purr.

"Yes," you whispered, your cheeks flushed.

"Good," he said, his finger slipping into you, making you gasp.

He hummed, his fingers moving in and out of you in a firm, steady rhythm. You were so wet, the filthy sounds were audible in the quiet of the greenhouse. He pressed his lips to yours, his fingers continuing their pace, driving you crazy. Your hands slid down, unbuckling his belt and fumbling with his zipper.

"In a hurry?" He teased, his breath warm on your skin.

"A little," you moaned, your eyes squeezed shut.

He chuckled, pulling his fingers from you, causing you to whine in protest. He knelt down, his hands sliding up your thighs, gripping the edge of your panties.

"Let me," he said, tugging the wet garment down and off.

You bit your lip, watching him, your heart pounding. He grinned, his hands pushing your knees apart. His tongue ran along the inside of your thigh, making you shudder. He paused, his gaze moving up, meeting yours.

"Is this alright?" He asked, his fingers tracing circles on the smooth skin.

"Yes," you whispered, your eyes fixed on him.

He smirked and then buried his face between your thighs, his tongue lapping at your swollen, slick cunt. You let out a moan, your hand grabbing onto his hair, pulling him closer.

He was good, infuriatingly so, his tongue licking and swirling, driving you wild. You could feel your climax building, the tension rising, his hands gripping your thighs, his tongue working its magic.

You were close, so close, your toes curling, your body trembling. You couldn't believe how good it felt, how amazing his mouth felt against your skin.

The silence in your mind was intoxicating, the freedom addictive. The only things that mattered were the waves of pleasure coursing through your body and the feeling of his fingers digging into your hips.

The pressure built, and you writhed, bucking your hips, grinding against his mouth. Reaching, reaching, reaching for the edge, desperate for release.

And then, you fell.

The world exploded in a blinding light, stars dancing behind your eyes. Your body shook, a tingling sensation spreading from your core, to the tips of your toes. The voices came rushing back, and with them visions of the past, of a life lived, of a future yet to be written.

You could see plants wilting, rotting in their pots, a tree splitting, its roots exposed, a forest fire, a raging inferno, consuming everything in its path. Ashes like rain, falling, blanketing the earth. You could hear screams of children, of a mother crying, a woman wailing. You saw blood, so much blood, the air thick with its coppery scent.

You screamed, your eyes wide, your body shaking, the images flooding your mind. It was too much, it was all too much. You couldn't breathe, the weight of it crushing you, suffocating you.

You felt two warm hands on your shoulders, shaking you, a soft, muffled voice calling to you.

"Are you okay? Come back to me, come back,"

Slowly, the images faded, the voices silenced, the pressure eased. Your heart was pounding, sweat covering your skin. You looked up, Elijah's worried expression coming into focus.

"Y/n?" He said, his voice laced with concern.

"I'm... I'm okay," you managed, your voice hoarse.

His hand cupped your cheek, his thumb stroking your skin.

"What happened? You went away for a moment," He asked, his eyes scanning yours, searching for an answer.

"Y-you are just really good at that," you said, giving him a small smile, your voice shaking.

He wasn't convinced, his expression concerned. He was about to say something when Klaus' voice echoed through the greenhouse.

"Brother! Are you still here?"

You and Elijah looked at each other, his hands quickly fixing his pants, before he moved away.You forced a smile, the visions still lingering, the voices of your ancestors had returned, the blissful silence gone. He helped you stand, his hands lingering on your waist, his eyes full of questions. You tried to give him a reassuring smile, but he could see through it.

"Do you need anything? Water, or..." He trailed off, searching for an excuse to stay, to make sure you were okay. "Did I upset you? I... I didn't mean to push."

You shook your head, trying to put him at ease. "No, it's not you, it's... I'm sorry, I can't,"

You were embarrassed, confused. You needed space, time to sort through the images and figure out what they meant.

"You're sure?" He asked, his voice gentle.

"Yeah, I'm fine, really," you said, trying to sound convincing. "Thank you, but I... I have work to do, I should go,"

"Okay," he said, reluctantly letting go of your waist.

You hurried to find your clothes, putting them on, ignoring the way the fabric stuck to your damp skin. He watched you, his expression thoughtful, his arms folded across his chest.

"Have dinner with me tomorrow?" He asked, his eyes hopeful.

You hesitated. "I'm not sure that's such a good-"

"Please," he said, his voice soft. "Let me take you out. We can have a nice, normal date."

You smiled, your heart fluttering. "Okay,"

He grinned, his eyes sparkling. "Great, I'll pick you up,"

You nodded, mustering your best smile. You couldn't shake the unease, the fear, the dread that was starting to creep in. There was a storm coming, you could feel it, and you weren't sure what to do.

Agnes lit the last candle, the soft glow filling the room. She closed her eyes and whispered an incantation, the air thick with the scent of herbs.

Maeve wandered in and sat down beside you, watching Agnes.

"Is she trying to commune with the ancestors again?" Maeve asked, her voice laced with irritation.

"She is," you replied, keeping your tone neutral.

"It won't work," Maeve said, her voice harsh.

"I had a vision," you whispered, not wanting to distract Agnes.

"Of course you did," Maeve scoffed, her gaze fixed on Agnes. "They're always visions. Never anything helpful."

"Maeve," you warned, not wanting to argue.

You heard the sound of the latch being pulled and the other coven members entered, filling the room. Agnes signaled for the members to gather around the altar.

"Welcome," she said, her voice low and calm. "I have called this meeting to discuss an urgent matter,"

The coven murmured, exchanging glances, a sense of unease filling the room. Agnes looked over at you, gesturing for you to speak.

"We have a problem," you began, your voice shaking.

"What's going on?" A member named Ava asked, her voice concerned.

"I think I know what they want with the herbs," you said, your eyes scanning the group.

"Spit it out, girl," Maeve said, her tone sharp.

"We know they have been escalating this war, first with suppression, then an outright ban on magic. They have executed some of our families, and now they are planning to use the last thing we have against us," you said, taking a breath, steeling yourself.

"Which is?" Another member named Liza asked, her gaze focused on you.

"They're taking complete control of the vervain supply," you replied, "They're growing it, cultivating it, with the aim of controlling it,"

"That would explain why they were in need of a gardener," Beatrice said, her brow furrowed in thought.

"But why would they need complete control?" Liza asked, her voice full of concern.

"To take the last thread of control away from us," Agnes replied, her eyes full of worry. "They will keep it out of our water supply, and be able to compel any person they please,"

"And they will kill any competitors," you said softly, remembering the vision.

"Including you, with your little shop" Maeve said, her lips curled in a cruel smile. "So, you might want to focus on getting us the ash before they cut your pretty head off,"

"Any progress with getting the ash?" Beatrice asked, placing her hand on your shoulder, her gaze sympathetic.

"Not yet," you replied, shaking your head. "It's a delicate process."

Agnes nodded, looking around at the seven young women. "We must prepare, we need to find another way to protect ourselves. Our coven, our legacy is all that matters,"

The witches nodded, their expressions somber.

"Our ancestors are looking out for us, guiding us. We will survive, we will persevere," Agnes said, her voice resolute. "Y/n has seen it,"

"Oh yes, the vision," Maeve said, her eyes filled with sarcasm. "What have you seen?"

"I... I saw death and destruction," you said, your voice shaking.

"You can't be serious," Maeve scoffed, rolling her eyes. "You have had those visions hundreds of times,"

"Maeve," Agnes warned.

"No, this is ridiculous," Maeve shot back, her eyes narrowed. "We need the ash, and y/n isn't getting it. So, we need to find someone else who can."

"I'm doing my best," you said, trying to remain calm. "I have earned Elijah's trust, he will-"

"When and how did you have this vision?" Maeve demanded, cutting you off.

"This morning," you admitted, knowing there was no point in hiding it.

"Please dear, tell us how, perhaps it can add clarity to what is to come," Agnes said, her voice soothing.

You felt yourself blushing, your cheeks growing hot. "I... I was with Elijah, in the greenhouse," you began, avoiding their eyes.

"Your visions are usually caused by stress," Beatrice chimed in, her brow furrowed. "Was he threatening you in some way? Was it an argument?"

"No, no, nothing like that," you assured them, a blush creeping onto your cheeks. "It was... I... It was after,"

"After what?" Liza asked, her interest piqued.

You cleared your throat, shifting uncomfortably. Everyone here knew you were trying to seduce him, that his blindspot was always with his lovers. But admitting that he had touched you, that you had let him, that was different.

"It was after he was intimate with her," Agnes said, her voice soft and understanding.

You could feel the judgment, the disapproval, the tension in the room. Beatrice took your hand and gave it a squeeze, trying to offer you comfort.

"How many times has that happened?" Maeve asked, her tone accusatory.

"Maeve," Beatrice warned, "she's making a great sacrifice for us,"

"Whoring herself out to an abomination," Maeve scoffed, shaking her head.

"That's enough," Agnes said, her tone sharp, cutting the argument short.

"It's fine, I understand her concerns," you said, trying to keep the bitterness from your voice. "I've been with him every day, I'm gaining his trust, it's only a matter of time before I find the ash."

The other members nodded, their faces grim.

"Y/n's way is the safest, they cannot know when we take it, or they will stop us with violence," Agnes said, her expression solemn.

"How long will it take?" Maeve asked, her frustration evident.

"I can't be sure," you admitted, shaking your head.

Maeve let out a frustrated groan and stood up, storming out of the room.

"I'm sorry," you said, looking around at the others.

"Don't apologize, it's a difficult task," Liza said, offering you a reassuring smile. "I could never have the will or strength to lay with a demon, much less one of the old ones."

You swallowed, forcing a smile, trying not to let the comment hurt. It wasn't exactly a burden to be with him, you couldn't deny that it had felt good. That there had been moments where the lines between what was an act and what was real blurred.

"He is a very handsome man," Beatrice added, trying to lighten the mood.

"That he is," Ava agreed, her eyes twinkling. "It's a shame he's so evil."

"Yes," you said, forcing a smile.

"I think that's all for tonight," Agnes said, giving you a kind smile. "As always, prepare, purify, for tomorrow could be the day we possess the ash."

You watched as the coven departed, their expressions somber, their shoulders hunched, each carrying the burden of your coven. You felt a wave of guilt wash over you, wondering if there was something more you could have done. If you should have tried harder, found a quicker solution.

"Are you okay, child?" Agnes asked, placing a hand on your shoulder.

"I'm fine," you assured her, mustering a small smile. "I'll get the ash, I promise,"

Agnes smiled, giving your shoulder a gentle squeeze..

"Do whatever it takes, sweet girl, and stay safe, we need you for the ritual," Agnes said, patting your shoulder before leaving the room.

You looked over at the altar, the candles casting flickering shadows across the walls, the vines, and leaves twisting and twining around each other. It was beautiful, and it filled you with a sense of peace.

You had made a commitment, a promise to your coven, and you were going to do everything you could to keep it. 

It was an odd feeling, to walk around town on the arm of a man that everyone hated and feared. People's heads turned as you passed, and whispers filled the air. You wanted to tell them that you were on their side, that you would fight for them, for their freedom. But you knew it would only cause more trouble.

Days had turned to weeks, turned to months. Each one the same, each night spent in his arms. And yet, every time he held you, kissed you, whispered words of love, it felt like the first time.

You felt like two people.

There was the you that he knew. The one who smiled, and laughed with him. The one who melted into his strong arms. Who listened to his stories, his plans, his dreams. The one who woke up beside him, hair tousled and with eyes full of sleep. The one who loved him, even if you weren't supposed to.

And then, there was the other you. The one who had a duty. The one who had a purpose, a mission, a destiny to wipe out his family. The one who had to lie, deceive, betray him.

Neither of them felt like you. Neither of them felt right. Both felt like an act. Like a betrayal.

The worst part was the way he looked at you. Like you were the only thing that mattered, the only thing he cared about. You were raised to hate him, to expect cruelty, violence, abuse. And yet, here he was, always so gentle, kind and affectionate. It made it hard to believe the things your coven had told you.

He was charming, witty, and intelligent. He made you laugh, he made you feel safe, and cherished. He was nothing like the monster you had expected, nothing like the one the others spoke of. If he wasn't an abomination, you could see yourself falling in love with him.

You couldn't.

You shouldn't.

But you did.

And it would only make what you were about to do, that much harder.

{Part One}{Part Three}{Part Four}

[thearchercore]

I’ve spoken about this in my blog a bit more but personally I’ve never seen so far a blog post regarding Charles mental strength

The insane pre-silly season silly shenanigans (LH replacing CS for 2025, how his contract renewal was leaked, etc.), the fact he’s the longest and 2nd youngest in scuderia ferrari, how the team changed so much when he’s in it, given a more leadership role, even his involvement outside of F1 (like dropping an album)— they’re all like super fucking added pressure on him BEFORE the first ever GP

Now adding the media clownery, and s*inz camp tomfoolery, technical issues, and just focusing on how to still be able to bring points for the team, even if he wasn’t able to win this GP because of the technical issue just insane mental strength

It was also interesting to hear that he could’ve easily gotten the P2 (for himself). And that his teammate was rightfully P3 material.

Add to that being a public figure, and his fans getting out of control, with people literally invading his space and even during an interview!!

Add to that like the pressure of driving for ferrari, for the tifosi, for people who believed in him, for his family, for his friends…Charles always drives for other people. But because him being competitive is first by nature.

Hopefully he has a support system behind the scenes to help him manage because just empathizing with him because I feel he’s also close to snapping at some point 🥲

(This is @monacodarling btw! Love your takes and also @tsarinablogs takes)

his mental strength needs to be studied. he also most likely has a very strong support group - his closest friends are his childhood friends from monaco and he keeps his personal team tight (joris, antoine, mia, andrea). so it definitely helps him.

but it was also said that charles is really hard on himself, fred mentioned that during his sauber year he always had tendency to blame himself for whenever a race went wrong which is a great trait for taking accountabilty for his mistakes (unlike others) but also did not help him because he spent too much time blaming himself for bad races to the point fred had to talk to him everytime to not be so hard on himself.

and with charles' mentality of "i'm only satisfied if i win and am the first", it can be a lot. but i'm sure he knows how to work through it, the way he picked himself up in the second half of the 2023 season was unbelievable. he had a good race, then something bad happened, then a good race again. he could not predict what would happen next. and yet he still remained focused.

he's a gem of a driver and i hope we see him have more happy moments in the future!

[batrachised]

What does your URL mean? I've been trying to figure it out for a while.

oh ho ho, well a couple of years ago I was reading CS Lewis's autobiography and chugging along quite merrily, when lo and behold, all of a sudden the word "batrachised" appears on the page to stop my proverbial train in its tracks! As is my habit, I looked up the unfamiliar word (something I quite enjoy doing when reading, you find so many curious gems that way) and apparently it means something along the lines of "being turned into a toad", and that delighted my soul. I get the impression CS Lewis coined the word rather than using an existing word, but I simply loved the "oh, of course there's a word for that!" feeling. Tbh I still don't know how to pronounce it 😂 but I love it so much that while I've thought about deleting Tumblr before for various reasons (more time offline etc etc), I can't bring myself to lose this url

[mcytblr-confessions]

I'm one of those people who tries to respect CC boundaries and all that. It just... it's not like a book author or a TV actor telling you to stop shipping, the line is blurred bc CCs are basically playing an oc of themselves, so even when you ARE shipping Cs and not CCs, the line is still a little blurry...

That is all my own opinion and feelings, I'm not hating on anyone who feels differently and ships characters regardless of what CCs say, jswc.

Anyway! Gem and Pearl both walked back their "don't ship my character" statements, meaning shipping them SHOULD be in the clear, right? Except for the fact that I spent so long suppressing the desire to ship with them that there is now a huge mental wall in doing so. I like gempearl in theory, but I just can't get over the roadblock that I PUT UP inside my own head in order to actively ship it.

.

[laianely]

Emma, I'm for you

One of my IG followers asked me to edit CS or Killian or Emma with any song of Imagine Dragons. And I was looking for something suitable and found this hidden gem! I've never heard this song before.

Tag people who may be interested: @killianxswan @teamhook @booksteaandtoomuchtv @exhaustedpirate @anmylica @hollyethecurious @kmomof4 @winterbaby89 @undercaffinatednightmare @resident-of-storybrooke @caught-in-the-filter @tiganasummertree @stahlords @lfh1226-linda @darkshadow7 @fleurdepetite @motherkatereloyshipper @soniccat @jrob64 @beckettj @whimsicallyenchantedrose @jonesfandomfanatic @zaharadessert @bluewildcatfanatic @once-upon-a-happy-end @ultraluckycatnd @qualitycoffeethings

[marabelle5]

Files

The Copper King walked through the hallways of the Emperor's HQ that they call Mangriovia. The walls were lined with torches and the sound of the Copper King’s sandals walking on the wood floor could be heard throughout the tunnel. There were many tunnels in Mangrovia each going to a different room or rooms. It was quieter than normal on a Sunday at noon. Then again he was headed to one of the rooms most of the Emperors didn’t take a second glance at. 

The Copper King put his gem in the stone and it lit up, beige ruins glowing as the Copper King heard rusty gears turning as the door opened and he stepped into the archives. The Copper King ran his hands over one of the millions of shelves. It was a big room. What made it feel bigger was the small table at the center of the room with only two chairs. 

“We’re dealing with Void and The Red King.” The Count’s voice sound strained over the comm

“The Farmer Queen and I will be there soon.” The Grand Wizard replied.

 The Copper King smiled as the Mage King replied about being there. Void and The Red King were going to have to fight the Wither Rose Alliance. He wished Void and the Red King luck. The Copper King sighed as he turned to look at the files he needed to look though. 

The Copper King was planning to take this afternoon to look at as many villain records as he could. There were only 20 something of them. How hard could it be? 

The Copper King strolled past the As and the Bs and the Cs and so on until he got to the Hs. 

“Hybrids…, hermits! Wait no, that's hermit crabs. Ah there are the Hermits.” The Copper King muttered to himself. He pressed his comm knowing that the fight was still going on so he put it to ‘Not The WRA’ mode. 

“Hey does anyone know why we have a whole box of files for hermit crabs?” 

“I think it was one of the things the Hermits did a few years back.” Spring replied.

“Shouldn’t that go in attacks then?”

“The Count wanted that to go in its own bin. I have no idea why though.” The Ice King added.

“K Thank you for answering my question.” And with that the Copper King went back to his work. He pulled out the file box and set it on the desk looking through it. Running though all the names thank the Vigil they were all in order and all of the files were there. When he finally got to the end he saw three other files in the box. 

The first one was unreliable with its scratch out ink. All the Copper King could see were the faint words of DECEASED. He put that one back in the box quickly. 

The second one was easier to read. It said on it in big bold letters: SLAYER. The Copper King had never seen this file. He flipped it open. And read

 GENDER- FEMALE, 

HAIR COLOR- RED, 

AGE- UNKNOWN THOUGHT TO BE CLOSE WITH THE CLEANING LADY, 

EYE COLOR- GREEN,

WOOD ELF 

TIER- A

 POWERS-UNKNOWN 

NAME- UNKNOWN

STATUS- NOT ACTIVE FOR REASON UNKNOWN     

DO NOT ENGAGE IN COMBAT IF NOT WITH MORE THAN 5 OTHER EMPERORS. 

IN A GROUP CALLED THE SOUP GROUP AND LIKES TO HANG OUT WITH BOATEM. SOUP GROUP INCLUDES SV AND THE CLEANING LADY

MORE ON SOUP GROUP AND BOATEM LOOK AT SV’s FILE.

The Copper King frowned, having way more questions now than when he got in here. He had faint memories of a villain being a really good fighter. They fought that Hermit a good bit; it must have been Slayer, so why didn’t they have more on her? The Copper King put the file back and made a mental note to check SV’s file later and to find out who this ‘Cleaning Lady’ character was.

So he went and picked up the last one. It said in big bold letters: THE CLEANING LADY. He opened the file with interest. It was the same format as Slayer’s.

GENDER-FEMALE

HAIR COLOR-LIGHT BROWN

AGE-UNKNOWN THOUGHT TO BE CLOSE WITH SLAYER

EYE COLOR- BLUE, SOME HAVE REPORTED THAT HER EYES ARE A GOLDEN COLOR.

AVIAN

TIER-A

 POWERS- CAN MANIPULATE MATTER 

NAME-UNKNOWN

STATUS- NOT ACTIVE FOR UNKNOWN REASON 

 IN A GROUP CALLED THE SOUP GROUP AND BOATEM. SOUP GROUP INCLUDES SV AND SLAYER. BOATEM INCLUDES SV, POULTRY MAN, MINNER, AND HOT GUY 

MORE ON SOUP GROUP AND BOATEM LOOK AT SV’s FILE.

How does this Cleaning Lady manipulate matter? The Copper King thought to himself. It would probably be in attacks. The Copper King looked at his watch. It was 4 pm and he was going to meet with the rest of the Recap team at 6. 

The Copper King pulled himself up from the chair and put the files back into place and opened the archive door. He walked down that same hallway to one of the bigger hallways and through a door which closed behind him. The Codfather was carrying a basket of arrows. He was looking down and seemed to be on a call with someone, he hung up. Now the Copper King was not ready for someone to be walking through the hallway and so the Codfather ran into the Copper King and with a yelp of the Codfather both fell down arrows flying everywhere.

“I’m so sorry, Pix.” The Codfather said getting up and picking up the arrows.

“No it’s alright. I didn’t expect anyone to be here.” The Copper King replied. They both laughed as the Copper King helped the Codfather to his feet. And they walked in silence to the main room of Mangroivia. Where they saw most if not all the emperors sitting chatting. The two men got a chorus of hello’s and hi’s from everyone. The Copper King pulled the Farmer Queen, the Grand Wizard, and the Count aside to ask about the files he found. 

“So I found these files in the archives. It didn’t bring them out here but tomorrow or later tonight we can take a look at them. But before do any of you three know who or what the Cleaning Lady and Slayer were?” 

“We fought with them a couple times. They always moved so in sync. The Cleaning Lady making platforms for Slayer. When the platforms came down alien like plants would still be on the ground” The Count replied his hand was scratching his red beard.

“I have never fought any of them nor have I seen them around.” The Grand Wizard said. “But I can do some research into them.” She looked at the Farmer Queen, who looked as if she remembered something fondly.

“I have fought Slayer before. That was fun, she has a whole different fighting style than the rest of the Hermits!” 

“Interesting.” The Copper King was thinking about this when he got a text from Zloy. 

‘Are you ready for dinner?’ It read.

The Copper King smiled and texted back. ‘Yep almost I’ll meet you two at House Blossom.’ He smiled and waved to his fellow emperors then exited the building. When he was at the Vigil, he took off his sandy color robes and put on his blue sweater. He set his crown and trident down. 

Pix ran up the stairs grabbing his notebook and pencil from his office before heading across the street and then down one. He smiled as he saw his zombie and fox hybrid friends. Lyarrah was jumping up and down waving.

“Come on Pix!” She yelled as he got closer.

“Hello Lyarrah.” Pix managed to get out as Lyarrah hugged him. When she released him: Pix turned to Zlop and gave the zombie a hug. The three entered the cafe and sat down and looked over the menu. 

Pix waved to Kathrine who waved back as her and Shrub were running around getting things done. The three reporters had been sitting down for only a couple minutes when they saw the Codfather slam against the glass covered in chicken eggs. 

Pix sighed and put his head in his hands. 

[snowbellewells]

Fandom Birthday Rec List for @jrob64

Happy Birthday, dear Joni! Happy Birthday to You!!!

Okay, when I set out to make this list of my favorites of your works, I had a couple in mind right off the top of my head, and thought "This is a no-brainer! It'll be easy!" You would think I'd have known better after the massive list I created when Krystal asked for our favorite fics overall a couple years ago and I ended up making a Sweet 16 style bracket to even narrow mine down. Needless to say, I ended up with a solid dozen stories on my paper, instead of the five or six I needed, and discovered a few hidden gems from way back before I knew you that I hadn't even read!! However, my very, VERY favorite has never wavered and is still exactly the same - you'll see! ;)

Anyway, I am so glad I found your wonderful writings, have gotten to know you in person, text with you, travel with you, and become genuinely good friends. Your are a blessing in my life, and I hope this gift brings a bit of a smile to your face as I try to celebrate the joy you've shared with us all in creating further adventures for our pirate and princess. Happy Birthday!!!

**Top 6 Favorite @jrob64 Fics (in descending order)**

#6 - "One Thrill Ride Leads to Another" (my own birthday fic! ;p )

This five part (six, with the epilogue) story is pure fun and chemistry and sweetness overload. I adore it more than I can really say, and am beyond flattered that a handsome sight and chance comment of mine helped to birth the original idea. And no, it isn't even just because this one include an alive and happy Graham as supporting character and a hilariously hot secondary Red Huntsman plot line -- though it certainly doesn't hurt!! ;) My rambling can't really do this one justice, so if anyone reading this has missed it, I beg of you: Check it out for yourself! It's a perfect summer treat!

#5 - "Silly Songs With Killian" (Modern AU one shot - adorable!)

Okay, I realize that I am using a valuable spot on this list for a fluffy little one shot, but it's just that much fun and has that much heartwarming power. I dare you to get the image of Killian playing VeggieTales on the guitar for a wildly enthusiastic audience of one small boy who is madly excited by the effort out of your head! You won't be able to - it's gonna stick with you and make you smile every time it floats back in!! If you've had a bad day and need a pick me up, this is your fic right here!

#4 - "Taking on Mrs. Jones" (hilariously hot silver fox one shot)

This is another more comic/lighthearted one shot, but I just can't resist it. In fact, I re-read it in making certain of my list, and I love it all the more. This one features a slightly older, professor Killian (one of my serious weaknesses) and a married version of CS. Plus, when he gets an overly flirtatious new co-worker who makes him uncomfortable - Emma comes perfectly to the defense of her man and teaches that girl a lesson.

#3 - "Ghosted" (a WIP supernatural modern AU MC for @cssns24)

This story is still in progress, but it has very quickly jumped the list to become one of Joni's best, best offerings (in my humble opinion)! I love the unusual and intriguing plot and can't wait to see how it will turn out. The inclusion of Will and Belle as secondary characters (and a secondary love story) is wonderful👩🏻‍🍳 *chef's kiss!* And a ghostly version of Liam absolutely tugs on my heart. Definitely check this one out if you haven't yet.

#2 - "Always in my Heart" (5 Part Modern AU, so feelsy and angsty and deep)

This one moved me to tears in the process, way more than once. I loved the long lost friends reunited aspect of this story, right from the start. I loved the sense of adopted family Emma has with David and MM, and most especially Ruth. (I always loved David's mom in canon, and the chance to see a lot more of her in this fic, and to see what this version of her means to Emma was priceless, even if heart wrenching too.)

#1 - "Sowing Seeds of Trust" (and its extra chapter "Marco's Legacy")

This story was the first one of yours I discovered, Joni, and I was completely captured! It was wrapped around my heart from the very first chapter. I loved the vulnerability and need, but also strength and resilience, in this version of Emma. I loved Killian's support, understanding and love in how he reached out to her. I love the friendships with David, MM, Ruby, and of course MARCO!! (He steals the whole show here, honestly!) The faith and restoration and perfect "happy beginning" after trials in this story are original, unique, and unforgettable. It's always going to be my favorite, I think, as it lead me to your writing to begin with, and it touched me deeply.

*Honorable mentions - if anyone is curious - also not to be missed:

"Snowstorm Confessions"

"Lonely No More"

"Faultline"/"Seismic Waves" (Liam x Elsa)

"Where Her Heart Belongs"/"Her Heart's Home"

"For the Sake of Henry"

Hope you enjoy your little list - and an absolutely wonderful day!!! Very Best Birthday Wishes to You!!!

[spartanguard]

Let's spread some love 😘. What are some of your top five favourite cs fics?

Thanks for the ask, nonnie! However, I have to admit—I couldn't limit myself to just 5 fics! There's WAY too many good ones in this fandom.

So here's a rundown of some of my all-time faves, though I'm positive I'm missing some. Here goes, in no particular order:

break me by @thisonesatellite. Just—the coolest supernatural story and I just LOVE how she wrote Killian in this, as angsty as it is.

Given the Choice by @iverna. There are lots of good 3B canon divergence stories out there and this is hands-down my favorite.

The Path that Moonbeams Make by @madlymel. This one goes all the way back to S2 and is a fair bit angsty and whumpy, but just SO gorgeous. (If you like it, there's some great art for it here by @cocohook38.)

Dark Horse by @initiala. Absolutely stunning modern AU that is also so charming (with the right amount of perfectly done angst).

Days of Future's Past by @optomisticgirl. B is a master world builder and it shows here, with this absolutely incredible time-travel story.

The Masks We Wear by @katie-dub. CS Superhero AU wherein they both have to keep their secret identity from each other. Delicious and SO well done.

Make You Feel Good by @phiralovesloki. I could put so many more of hers on here (as goes for just about every author on this list) but this one is just so FUN. (Rated very M and probably the best magical gender swapping fic out there.)

The Librarian by @mryddinwilt. One of my FAVORITE Cursed!Killian stories, partly because she changed him more than you typically see with that trope, and also because she gave him GLASSES.

Acquainted with the Night by @caprelloidea. Absolutely swoon-worthy Dark CS in a no-curse AU. I LOVE ME some good Dark CS and this is IT, y'all.

The Fluffy Problem by @ineffablecolors. This one also goes back to S2(ish) and is, quite literally, pure fluff. Also proof that CS will fall in love in any way, shape, or form.

Not One of Those Stories, also by @ineffablecolors (she has SO MANY GOOD STORIES btw). The gold—er, silver—standard when it comes to older!Killian stories. Perfectly slipped into a modern setting. I just re-read it again and, ugh— YES.

I could honestly go on and on with more fics (especially older ones!). But if you don't mind some digging, there's a lot of good stuff in my CS fic rec and CSFRM tags.(like, ANCIENT stuff, and there were a good two years of fics before I got active in the fandom.) There are so many gems out there—keep on digging!

[melodyssolarsystem]

but the truth is i want to say it out loud, do not go *ੈ✩‧₊˚

╔. ■ .══════════════════╗

☆ melody / ophelia ☄️✧.*

.・゜゜・ they / she / he

pjsk, vocaloid, horizon franchise, tadc, mcyt (esmp / hc) cs, twomp .・。.・゜✭・.

ੈ✩‧₊˚ saki, honami, shiho, ichika, alva, ivy, gem <3 ☄. *. ⋆

▷ asks are; open !! doodle requests, writing requests for my listed fandoms 💫.・。.・゜✭・.

✨ header / now playing at the bottom updates depending on the song i cant stop listening to .・。.・゜✭・.

╚══════════════════. ■ .╝

*ੈ✩‧₊˚ blog credits 💫 ☄️

star border / divider by - @saradika /  saradika.tumblr.com

banner by - @cannibalvalley /  cannibalvalley.tumblr.com

symbols - https://www.aestheticsymbols.me/rectangle.html

— ☄️ ੈ✩‧₊˚

now playing: ikanaide - leo/need [▶︎/❙❙/◼︎] 0:57 ⸠——❍———⸡ 3:15

[jamessunderlandgf]

𝐔𝐑𝐋 𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐆 𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐄.

tagged by @timdownie 💜 @thedeadthree ❤️ and @lavampira 💛 to post my url in songs thank u all so much actually i love inflicting my music on people 🩷

☆ﾟ. R— RED ROCK RIVIERA // SEA POWER

☆ﾟ. O— OUTLAW HEART // TIGER ARMY

☆ﾟ. L— LILLY // TORO Y MOI

☆ﾟ. A— ALAKAZAM ! // JUSTICE

☆ﾟ. N— NADJA // UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA

☆ﾟ. G— GENESIS // GRIMES

☆ﾟ. F— FLOATING CATHEDRAL // TIMBER TIMBRE

—bonus -> (cs i was tagged while i was still perpetuagf 🫶🏻)

☆ﾟ. P— PSALM // DANIEL OLSÉN

☆ﾟ. E— EVENING // TOPS

☆ﾟ. R— REVOLUTION 909 // DAFT PUNK

☆ﾟ. P— PEGASUS // GEMS

☆ﾟ. E— EL MUCHACHO DE LOS OJOS TRISTES // JEANETTE

☆ﾟ. T— TARO // ALT-J

☆ﾟ. U— UNTITLED DEMO 1997 // PANCHIKO

☆ﾟ. A— AFRICAN VELVET // AIR

☆ﾟ. G— GOTH // SIDEWALKS AND SKELETONS

☆ﾟ. F— FOG // NOSAJ THING

TAGGING— @teamhawkeye 💎 @bhaalcest 💎 @kirkwall 💎 @scalpelsister 💎 @simply-jason 💎 @sikoi 💎 @oc-musings 💎 @red-nightskies 💎 @druidgroves 💎 @rosayoro 💎 @florbelles 💎 @killerspinal 💎 @rvchelking 💎 @gwynbleidd 💎 @corvosattano 💎 @jackiesarch 💎 @leviiackrman 💎 @ravensgard 💎 @yrlietlanaevyss 💎 @ansburg 💎 @unholymilf 💎 @paddingtongirl 💎 and you! 🫶🏻

[autonomousllama]

June has to become friends with this kid called Siamo Issi kid, so they both hang out in the tree house.

June: A diamonds’ price is determined primarily by the 4 Cs of the diamond. On the wholesale level, diamond prices are first based on a diamond shape and- Siamo: How do you know that??? June: Doesn't your mum read you the prices of gems to get you to sleep?

Beg pardon?

Who the hell buried a cane in the sand pit, i just got this several days ago???

Julia: You did leave it open to the public...

Nevermind, this kid's a di-... little snot