garthwharrington-blog

[rey-jake-therapist]

Sauron, Galadriel and touch

Each time we see Sauron hug someone, touch their arms or their hair, put his arms around their shoulders etc. it's never gratuitous. He always has an agenda. He does that to manipulate them in a way or another, or to steal them something. He isn't a touchy type of guy, really.. I think he probably dislikes it, most of the time.

In Elendil's case, he probably didn't just pickpocket him but used some magic trick as well, because there's no way Elendil wouldn't have noticed. Not to mention that the dagger literally disappeared from Halbrand's hands up until he gave it back to Galadriel. Anyway, he still hugged Elendil to distract him from what was happening. There was not a bit of sincerity in that move.

Later, he put his hand on the smith's shoulder in an attempt to convince him to take him at his service. It was meant to be a reassuring gesture : "trust me bro, I'm the best !"

In this case, it was slightly different :

Sauron did that to steal Tamar's guild crest, so the intention was similar to when he hugged Elendil. But this time, he didn't do it discreetly. We know now that even as Halbrand (so not in full possession of the powers he had as Annatar), he was able to make his blood look red; so he could have easily projected the image of the guild's crest on Tamar's tunique, to make him think it was still there.

But see, Tamar offended him. He recalled him that Galadriel would probably never want him (though not because he was a "low man", but because he was the very evil she sought to destroy), and Sauron didn't like that. So what he did was provoking Tamar by stealing his crest in plain sight, so Tamar would follow him and give him the excuse he waited for, to do that :

We can also count that as touching, I guess ? But tell me again that Sauron wasn't interested in Galadriel romantically... It makes total sense for him to lose his shit because some man implied he wasn't good enough for her, right...

(I'll later write another meta about the few times that Sauron loses control. It doesn't happen often, but when it does, it's hot terrifying).

In season 2, I think we saw him touch Mirdania twice, and maybe once for Celebrimbor ? Though I can't find a gif of Sauron touching him except when he grabbed him at the end, so I'm not sure about that.

I've already discussed several times, including today, how Mirdania was a stand-in for Galadriel, so I won't go back to that here. Sauron doesn't feel any affection for Mirdania: wether he touches her hair and hand to manipulate her, or because she reminds him of Galadriel, or most likely, for both, it is, again, not gratuitous and not genuine.

And as for being touched... Oh boy, he doesn't like that at all. His reaction is most of the time him pulling a disgusted "how dare you touching me, you miserable worm ?" face.

This scene in particular was hilarious in this regard. He was very upset by Celebrimbor's refusal to forge rings for men, and Celebrimbor unwillingly added to the offence by giving him a condescending pat on the arm. Sauron probably had a hard time refraining the urge to murder Celebrimbor on the spot, here.

The Galadriel Case

Her case is special, as usual. Until episode 8, Sauron never touches her without her consent : after they arrive in Numenor, he invites it, but doesn't force it on her. it's supposed to be a "friendly" handshake symbolizing peace and a mean to give her Finrod's dagger back, but, well, hmm...

It's just straight out flirting. The way he looks straight into her eyes while pulling her to him, his weird conception of personal space... I can't NOT tag @apoloadonisandnarcissus 's thread about the Freudian symbolism in Haladriel interactions... It's worth reading. There was nothing friendly/platonic in his behavior, but, again... no unnecessary touching here.

Galadriel remains equally guarded towards him, even after she spends time with him and considers him as a "friend". As Sauron in episode 3, she only invites it, on the boat that takes them to the Southlands.

Even when she gives him back his pouch, in the forge, she does it in a way that her fingers barely touch his.

When she finds him wounded, she touches him where he's wounded, to check how serious it is. She could take his hand to comfort him, but.... Nope.

And yet, she's not usually that guarded with her friends, those with whom she shares a (truly) platonic relationship with, as we can see with Elrond and Arondir.

It's definitely not because she doesn't trust Halbrand/Sauron. She does, or she wouldn't be that heartbroken over him in season 2. No, I think she keeps him at arm's length because what she feels for him is not platonic at all, and she wants to keep her feelings in check. Keeping her distance with him (physically) is the way for her to do that, or so she thinks.

Now, back to Sauron. While during all season 1 he was never touchy with Galadriel, in episode 8, he suddenly is.

Not only that but he's also very flirtatious, like... more than usual.

Galadriel seems surprised with this unsolicited touching, and iffy, because she doesn't trust him anymore. She has just asked one of her fellow Elves to look in the catacombs of Eregion for everything they had about the Southlands and their royal lineage; after she heard Celebrimbor talk about "power over flesh" and seen Sauron enthusiastically offer his aid to the smith, she starts suspecting that Halbrand may be not who he claims to be.

Coincidence ? I think not. Even if she remained discreet, Sauron probably felt that something was off. He's very observant, and he knows her mind. If she changed of attitude with him, if she seemed even a little bit wary of him, there's no doubt he noticed it.

He certainly planned to tell her the truth about him very soon, at that point, but he also wants the rings to be forged so he could show her what they'd do with them. So this, imho, is Sauron buying time. He knows she's attracted to him, he may even know she's in love with him... I think he's trying to breach her defenses, here.

Did he succeed, even for the few weeks that separated this scene from the Sauron revelation ? That, we don't know. I'd say probably not, because just before the Elf brought her the records she asked for, she doesn't look like someone who trusts him again.

But then she's still in denial about him even after he admits he isn't the king of the Southlands, going as far as claiming he convinced Miriel to go help the Southlands, while it was her idea entirely... So who knows what happened during these three weeks. It's also possible she didn't suspect him to be Sauron, of all people. And anyways, she loves him. She definitely hoped till he revealed himself that he had a good explanation for everything.

Yesterday I published this post very late, and it's only this morning that I realized I omitted to mention a couple of other very important touches... Stupid me.

How could I forget the chin grab ?

We're in full "unsolicited touching" territory here. Personal boundaries be damned ! The chin grab has several connotations here : it's coded as romantic, but it's also an act of dominance and control, though there's no brutality at all in his gesture. Sauron wants Galadriel to look at him, aka to face the truth : he's still the man she loves, but he's also the monster she hates. They both coexist, in him, hence why the claims that "Halbrand never existed" or "Galadriel loved Halbrand but doesn't love Sauron" are both nonsenses and a complete misunderstanding of the season 1 finals. Galadriel knows who he is in this scene, and yet she's tempted.

The act of grabbing the chin is in itself controlling/dominating, but there's also tenderness : he's gentle, he caresses her cheek almost shyly; he wants her trust for Halbrand back, not her fear of Sauron. He wants to show her that she's loved, but you can feel that if she asked him to take his hand off her, he would back off.

Finally, this post ends with Sauron taking Galadriel's hands into his, with her holding Finrod's dagger.

You know, what he did with Morgoth's crown in season 2, binding her to him through a forced blood oath ? He wanted to do almost exactly that in season 1 already, and that's what this scene implies. Except in this scenario, Galadriel would have been ok with it: it would haven't been a metaphorical rape, but the closest to a consensual sex scene we'd have gotten in this show, if they had followed this route.

I'm not saying I wanted this, just to be clear: Galadriel was tempted to join Sauron in this scene, but it would have been a major breach to the LOTR lore if she had. "Touching the darkness", in Finrod's and Galadriel's minds, was never about embracing it wholeheartedly. It was precisely where Galadriel and Sauron's visions diverge. She knows it will never be the way. She knows she'd end up being a tyrant if she succombed to the temptation, and that's why she rejected it, and Sauron with it.

[jozor-johai]

This is just a short note I will expand on elsewhere, but GRRM has this somewhat infamous quote about LOTR, about what to do with the orcs after the story ends. This is about rulership—what happens after the conquest?

Ruling is hard. This was maybe my answer to Tolkien, whom, as much as I admire him, I do quibble with. Lord of the Rings had a very medieval philosophy: that if the king was a good man, the land would prosper. We look at real history and it’s not that simple. Tolkien can say that Aragorn became king and reigned for a hundred years, and he was wise and good. But Tolkien doesn’t ask the question: What was Aragorn’s tax policy? Did he maintain a standing army? What did he do in times of flood and famine? And what about all these orcs? By the end of the war, Sauron is gone but all of the orcs aren’t gone – they’re in the mountains. Did Aragorn pursue a policy of systematic genocide and kill them? Even the little baby orcs, in their little orc cradles?

Part of what I love to death about ASOIAF is that it seems fundamentally more interested in these questions than the excitement of the conquest itself.

I see this quote brought up about the Others every once in a while, but I also think that we might be seeing one iteration of this idea with Dany in Meereen and the children of the slavers:

“The Sons of the Harpy are laughing in their pyramids,” Skahaz said, just this morning. “What good are hostages if you will not take their heads?” In his eyes, she was only a weak woman. Hazzea was enough. What good is peace if it must be purchased with the blood of little children? “These murders are not their doing,” Dany told the Green Grace, feebly. “I am no butcher queen.” (ADWD Dany IV)

There are obvious differences—for a start, humans have the potential to grow up to be anything, rather than the known entity of the inherent evil when it comes to orcs.

In an ASOIAF-relevant context, though, the question is similar: you won, do you eradicate your enemies? Their remaining families? What if it looks like a direct path to peace for those you were fighting for? “What good is peace if it must be purchased with the blood of little children?”

Considering that slavery is some of the clearest evil we’ve seen in the books thus far, I think this is one way GRRM is be bringing his thoughts on fantasy rulership to a more human context in ASOIAF.

The issue of letting the children live (or not) also makes for another very interesting parallel between Dany and Robert Baratheon, who is another key figure in ASOIAF’s exploration for how one rules after the battle has been won. Barristan makes the connection nearly explicitly for the reader, standing up for Ned’s name:

“Your Grace,” said Selmy, “Eddard Stark played a part in your father’s fall, but he bore you no ill will. When the eunuch Varys told us that you were with child, Robert wanted you killed, but Lord Stark spoke against it. Rather than countenance the murder of children, he told Robert to find himself another Hand.” (ADWD Dany II)

Robert was faced with the same choice and, over the course of his reign, has been given two different takes, one to start his reign and one at the end of it. Robert’s peace was bought with the blood of Rhaegar’s children, the young Aegon and Rhaenys, delivered—albeit unsolicited—by the Lannisters, to cement Robert’s legitimacy and their own stake in his rule. At the end of his reign, Robert is faced with the premise of a new Targaryen baby being born and Ned offers an contrary opinion much like Dany’s own (in spirit if not in allegiance):

“Robert, I ask you, what did we rise against Aerys Targaryen for, if not to put an end to the murder of children?”

There’s plenty more to be said, but I just want to point out this angle for interpreting the GRRM LOTR quote. For one, sometimes people take issue with how literally GRRM himself is enacting his criticisms (saying things like, 'we never see Robert's tax policy either')—but this is a great example of how GRRM can raise a criticism that fits for a different series and make it work within his own world by adjusting the circumstances.

Also, I think that for discussions that attempt to predict where the story will go from here based on comments like this from GRRM, it’s important to see where GRRM is already exploring these ideas. In ASOIAF, this sort of application doesn’t require this idea to be explored with some kind of similarly-undying evil like the orcs or like Sauron, GRRM is applying these ideas to much more human evils, like slavery, and much more human applications, like any kind of military victory.

[iheartsteve0704]

With AAA coming to an end soon (so fucking emo about this) here are my final two episode predictions/delusions no one asked for:

**I don’t think most of these will happen tbh just thoughts rolling**

The hair in Agatha’s locket is Nicholas’s but the locket was given to her by Rio when he passed so that’s why it’s sentimental to her because it reminds her of both her favorite people in the world

What Billy seeks is not what he thinks he wants

We won’t see Wanda (sorry but I really don’t think so! I could be wrong but anyway I’d love to be wrong just to see Lizzie Olsen on my screen again)

We’ll learn that when Rio had to take Nicholas, she was inconsolable and just as broken up about it as Agatha but the older witch was too hurt and in her own feelings to realize it

Jen is an agent of mephisto

Jen’s trial will be episode 8

Senior scratchy isn’t anything but a bunny (given to Nicholas by Rio)

Agatha and Rio WILL kiss

Nicholas died not years later but when he was born due to complications and the things we saw in Agatha’s spell casted west view house weren’t real but just things she wished he had experienced and done in his life

The house Rio is sitting on is the house her and Agatha used to dream about having together when Agatha was pregnant with Nicholas but then he passed and they never got to that point

We’ll get a Rio trial and learn a lot more about her and how she become lady death in the first place (pls pls pls pls pls JAC PLS)

The Agathario Salem flashback will be the beginning scene of episode 9

We’ll see Alice again (in episode 4 they focused in on Alice singing “I’ll see you at the end”)

Hopeful wishful thinking that we see Lilia too but I think her ending was in 7 was heroic and a satisfying ending to her story and reversing all that would be strange to me

Rio and Agatha don’t betray each other because they admit they still have feelings for one another that never went away no matter how hard they tried

We get confirmation they were married once and not just exs

The part in the witches road song where it goes “Where all that's wrong is right and all that's bad is good” will be reflected and it kind of was in EP7 when teen did a tarot of Agatha and said something around the lines of that doesn’t make sense because it was opposite of bad

The reason why Rio calls Agatha a coward is because of their relationship and how Agatha won’t admit what she really feels for Rio or the fact that she actually does forgive her and the person she was mad at all along was herself more than anything

WE GET A SEASON 2 ANNOUNCEMENT IN THE EMPTY CREDIT FRAME

What if what Agatha actually seeks at the end of the road is reunion and the road is up to interpret that in any way and it’s Rio

The Agatha Rio fight isn’t real and is a show to distract the others

Or the Agatha Rio fight is a part of the last trail to “escape death”

Rio will have to leave Agatha in the end (for “work”) she’ll conjure up the same flower form the beginning and tuck it in Agatha’s hair

It was truly Agatha all along along and the road is just some twisted scheme Rio and Agatha started back in their salmon days to collect bodies and power (this would be hard tbh like support ur local evil hags I guess!)

^ and that’s why Agatha’s trial was so short because it had to happen to make the road believable but not too drawn out to cause herself more emotional mommy issues drama

^^ but I do believe and think Agatha genuinely felt bad getting Alice killed and I think she has made an attachment (even a small one) to her coven even if she won’t admit it (even Jen!)

We’ll learn Jen was Agatha’s midwife and the scene will be Jen helping Agatha push and Rio rushes in from “work” bringing a banquet of the flower she conjured in episode 4

Aubrey’s words about the ending being a “gay explosion” will mean that the series will end with Agatha and Rio together on top, even if it means betrayal of the coven

AGATHARIO END GAME. PERIOD.

[child-of-the-danube]

MASSIVE AGATHA ALL ALONG SPOILERS SO SKIP IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE EPISODE

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Time to yap, my sisters in the craft 🔮🧙🏻‍♀️

Positives of the final two episodes:

1. Jen finally being free

2. Agatha showing she actually learned from her coven in her final battle with Rio - she used Alice's protection spell, Jen's moon water spell and listened to Lilia's advice about hitting the deck

3. The parallels of Agatha and her coven:

- She was in the same situation as Lorna. A mother who knew her child was doomed from the start and did everything in her power to protect them and keep them alive for as long as she could, only for it to be fruitless in the end. And despite it being fruitless, the children did feel the love and were aware of the sacrifice, and sometimes that is enough. Alice and Nicky's memory will forever live through the songs their mothers made for and with them. The memory of their love outlived both them and their children and will keep on living on for long after.

- She chose to give her life for someone she just met but clearly felt strongly for the same way Lilia did. A lifetime of running from Death. A lifetime of collecting knowlegde for it to appear useless. A lifetime of seeing Death everywhere, of being persued by her, of being lonely and heartbroken with grief. And then going out by embracing Death by your own will to give another a chance and do at least once what you failed to do for centuries - protect.

- Her and Billy making a story come to life out of love and grief for their family. She set the foundation and he made it come to realisation. Both took away from others but only one gets be exempt from the consequences and able to achieve what they were after from the start.

4. Agatha being the happiest she's ever been when Nicky was with her

5. The acceptance in her voice when she says "Sometimes...boys die"

6. The fact that the dandelion seed in Nicky's hair that she kept for centuries saved her in the final trial oh my god 😭 😭

7. Agatha's love for Nicky being so strong that a silly little song they made together became world known. "You...I made from scratch" AAAAAAAAAAAAA

8. She calls her power "my purple" cause Nicky called it so 💔💔

9. THE KISS

10. Showing that it was Agatha's desire to keep Nicky alive and later on when he died her grief turning her to addiction that caused her to become this famous witch killer. She was never purely evil. What she did was, and it is not an excuse, but still. The parallels between her and Wanda being ready to destroy entire worlds and lives just to get their children back... A mother's love can make whole valleys bloom but it can also make mountains crumble to dust and my heart is not ok

11. Agatha doing for Billy what she couldn't do for her own son. Giving him a chance to live

12. Ghost Agatha's first move being annoying her adoptive son lmao

13. The road's entrance becoming a memorial to Sharon, Alice and Lilia

14. Billy getting the wake up call that he is not so different from Agatha or Wanda. His grief created a literal death trap and consequently killed Sharon, Alice and Lilia, even if Agatha is telling him Alice was her doing and Lilia was by her own choice

15. Agatha finding her purpose as a mentor in death

Negatives:

1. We were cheated out of a proper Agatha and Rio backstory. How did they meet? How did they fall in love? What happened in the centuries between Nicky's death and entering the road? How often did Rio come to Agatha for Agatha to be so clear about the one thing she wants when she passes being not seeing Rio? She is Death's only exception, only love, only scar. WE DESERVED MORE!!! How did Agatha bag a literal god????

2. Once again, a story that started out and was marketed as a story of women ends up being just means to help a man's story build up. I mean, I should have expected that but still leaves a bitter taste. Wiccan is an interesting character but I feel cheated out of knowing more about Jen. I wanted her backstory before being bound. I wanted Agatha pre-Salem trial and post Nicky's death for more than a power draining sequence through the ages. I wanted Agatha and Rio developing this bond that held up for 300 years. I wanted the Salem Seven to be more than a 5 second threat. Billy will get his own show anyway, like come on.

3. In connection to that, I know this one is a very subjective sentiment and I understand completely but it still pisses me off to no end. The fact that these witches, these centuries old women, who all had being covenless, lonely and in dire situations with their powers in common, went on this death wish trip with someone they didn't like at all as a last resort and got what they were lacking, learned to care for eachother, got their powers back, and that Agatha had the possibility to finally have a family and people genuinely care for her, turned out to be practically worthless in the end cause they had like 5mins of it is making me go insane. Alice said it best: "This is it? I was finally able to do something with my life and this is all the time I get?". The only one, aside Jen, coming out alive and having time to bask in the glow of his new-found power AND have the chance to do something with it is a fucking teenage boy who already got the privilege of cheating Death and the privilege of his family members still be somewhere out in reach to search for. The finale said "your life, struggles and resolution were just means to get someone else ahead". Call me a misandrist, so be it, but I'm fucking tired. Is one story where women are the focus and have a happy ending so fucking much to ask for????

4. THE KISS cause at what cost??? I repeat, this was the fastest, literal, bury your gays move I've ever seen. We knew it couldn't possibly end well, but damn. However, kudos to Kathryn and Aubrey making it so hungry and desperate, but also soft and real and full of emotion.

5. Billy being a dick and wanting to send Agatha back to "Rio's toxic embrace" like he didn't just watch her give up her life for him and tell her that she's "not that bad". My boy, you are truly strange in your holier than thou attitude sometimes

[drunk-person]

The Promises We Make

Pairing: King!Aemond Targaryen x lover!reader

Summary: She was supposed to be his. Not that filthy bastard. He knew her first. He loved her first. Only to they give her hand in marriage to Jacaerys Velaryon. But now the war is won, and as the new king Aemond can have whatever he wants, and he wants her. He wants to fulfill the promise he made to her outside the sept all those years ago.

WARNING: 18+ mdni! Smut, p in v, forced voyeurism, consensual exhibitionism, fingering, oral sex F and M receiving, anal sex (very little, but it's there), possessive sex, dom/sub tones if you squint, mentions of murder, Aemond murdering more kin, bastardophobia, Jacaerysphobia, no description for reader.

Word cont: 4.800k

A/n: My little contribution to Halloween "very evil laugh here". To my Aemond wives: This is basically the dirtiest, slightly darkest thing I've ever written, I'm blushing as I post it. Let's go!

Before

The sept was full of people to watch Prince Jacaerys' wedding, he waited anxiously next to the septon for the bride's arrival while slightly moving his hands.

The door opened and Lady Y/n walked in, at the same moment everyone turned to look at her. Y/n smiled beautifully as she struggled to walk down the hallway, feeling her legs still wobbly and slightly damp.

Her eyes burned as they met Jacaerys' and her smile grew even wider. Her steps became more confident, and when she reached the end of the walk, she stopped in front of the septon, still with that smile on her face.

Jacaerys watched her, visibly confused. They had met about three moons ago and the wedding had been arranged. Until then, he hadn't thought she was so eager to get married, since she barely spoke to him usually. But there she was, eager to marry him.

Interlude

Things had never been so bad. His mother and brothers had perished, and from what he could tell Daemon had also found the stranger, only he was left, the last one to survive. Jacaerys did not know if this was a gift or a punishment.

He could have fled, gone to the free cities and been free now. But he was no coward, he was a Targaryen and would not back down. But courage did not help him much when his uncle's men captured him and brought him to the black cells of the red keep.

Aemond Targaryen. Not content with the title of kinslayer after murdering Luke, he sought even deeper immoralities.

He murdered one by one all the ratcatchers at Aegon's command while they begged for their lives. He killed Rhaenys and exposed the charred remains of the queen who never be, to the kingdom after her victory. He personally beheaded each of the remaining ones who swore fealty to Rhaenyra. He burned the riverlands until only ashes remained on the ground without caring if there were innocents there. He personally exterminated House Strong from end to end, sparing no nobles or bastards, women or children.

At the end of the war, when everything seemed lost, he guided his uncle, Daemon Targaryen, into a trap. From what little was known, Aemond Targaryen lured him to Harrenhall Castle, where, separated from Caraxes, he ambushed him in a dark corridor and before the Rogue Prince knew what was happening, he was dead.

And now with the death of Aegon, who had finally succumbed to his wounds and died shortly after murdering Rhaenyra. Aemond had lost his title of one-eyed prince and kinslayer in favor of a new one.

King Aemond Targaryen, the cruel.

Now

The cell was opened with a loud noise and Jacaerys turned to see two guards enter the cell and drag him out without further explanation. And he just followed them without question, but he began to frown when he noticed that he was being taken to the bedroom wing of the fortress.

-Where are you taking me? - He asked, but received no answer.

The guards took him to one of the rooms, tied him to a chair with a thick rope, and without saying a word to him, left him there alone.

A little while later, the door opened behind Jacaerys, who felt the back of his neck shiver. The temperature in the room seemed to drop, and suddenly all sounds seemed to become quieter. There was no need to look back to know who had entered the room.

A low murmur left no doubt, Aemond had ordered him to be taken there.

-Enjoying your stay, my Lord Strong? - He asked in that cynical and cruel voice that made Jacaerys's blood boil in his veins.

-Velaryon. - He growled through his teeth, and Aemond just hummed as he gently curved his lips.

-No, it isn't. And we both know that. But now I don't need to pretend that you're nothing more than a bastard dressed as a prince walking around the court. - Aemond had a deadly voice as he spoke.

-What are you going to do? Murder me tied up like the coward that you are? Just like you did with Luke?

Aemond laughed as if Jacaerys was telling a joke.

-Please don't try to boost your own ego, we both also know that you wouldn't last even a breath in combat against me. - When he finished, Aemond was serious again.

-I'm not going to kill you, at least not yet. - His cruel voice sounded through the room.

-So what do you want from me? - Jacaerys glared at him angrily. - If you expect me to bend the knee, forget it, I will never do it.

-I don't need bastards to bend the knee to me, their false loyalty doesn't represent any value to me. I'm already the king. - He walked while mocking Jacaerys.

-But there are certain things that need to be put in their proper place. There are some promises I made that need to be kept because after all I am a man of my word.

Jacaerys did not understand a word of what Aemond was saying, and came to think that he had finally lost his mind. Until then there was a knock on the door and he said the words that changed everything.

-Come in, my dear.

The door opened and then closed behind him, soft footsteps sounded against the floor and to Jacaerys's horror when the person finally entered his field of vision he discovered that the one who had come through the door was Y/n, his Y/n. He clenched his fists, locking his jaw, trying to free himself from the chair. Aemond approached her and passed the back of his right hand gently across her face as she closed her eyes.

-Get away from her. - Jacaerys shouted in fury.

-I could. - Aemond just laughed as he addressed him again. - If she wanted me to stay away.

-She never wanted you, my dear bastard. It was always me. - Aemond's mocking smile almost tore his cheeks as he caressed Y/n's neck with his fingertips, his stomach tingling with contentment as he saw her sweet, soft skin shivering with his touch.

-Lie. - Jacaerys practically shouted as he stared at Aemond with cold eyes.

-I'm going to show you the lie. - The king said, suddenly becoming very serious, his eyes flashing in the direction of his bastard nephew.

-Take off your clothes. - He ordered Y/n who hesitated for a second because she was in front of Jacaerys.

-Aemond… - She blushed visibly looking at his hands.

-I said take off your clothes. - He murmured the order very seriously as he gently caressed her chin.

She then obeyed, and looking only at Aemond she removed them piece by piece little by little, becoming completely naked. The look of pure desire he gave her made her press her thighs together tightly as she bit her lip, momentarily forgetting that Jace was in the room.

-Come here, my love. - He called her, extending his hand and Y/n immediately went to meet him eagerly.

-Always so obedient to me. - He said, stroking her hair as she practically rubbed her head against his hand.

Jacaerys watched this without reacting. Y/n had never obeyed him, she seemed like a wild horse. She wouldn't let him touch her, she was never willing to sleep with him, she was cold and cruel no matter what he tried, the few times they lay together she hadn't even moved in bed, or completely removed her clothes, seeming to do nothing. the slightest matter of being there. And now here she was obediently naked before Aemond as she melted into his touches.

Aemond moved his hands down to her nipples and squeezed them languidly, making her open her mouth in a soft moan, while she leaned towards him, silently begging for more. He then brought his mouth to her left nipple, sucking and kissing it, making her moan softly for him as he caressed his hair, pulling his mouth closer and closer to her.

The king then brought his right hand to the top of Y/n's thighs and smiled mischievously against the flesh of her breast, still with the nipple between his teeth, as he felt the moisture that was there.

-Always so wet for me.

He then had an idea. And releasing Y/n, causing her to let out a groan of frustration, he positioned a chair in front of Jacaerys a short distance away.

-Sit here, my dear. - He waved his hand, and Y/n, even hesitantly, did so.

-Now I want you to open your beautiful legs for me, and rest them on the chair. - He spoke in that soft voice and Y/n felt herself blushing to the roots of her hair for doing that in front of Jacaery, but she did it anyway.

Aemond stopped behind her and slowly ran his hand down Y/n's body, caressing her breasts, her belly until he reached where he wanted. And then he opened the lips of her pussy, exposing her to Jace. The wetness dripped from inside her uncontrollably, wet like Jace had never seen.

Aemond smiled mischievously as he gently caressed her folds, spreading more and more of the fluids that ran from her pussy, making her moan and gasp.

-Just look at her, Jacaerys. - He said maliciously. - Melting for me, so wet.

-Has she ever wet herself like this for you? - He said, slapping Y/n's pearl, making her scream as she threw her head back.

-That's enough! - Jacaerys shouted, fuming with rage at seeing his wife in that situation.

Aemond just laughed darkly as he inserted two fingers into Y/n's intimacy, who threw her head back in pleasure with the movements he made.

-Oh my dear Lord Strong, this will only end when I have fucked each of her delicious holes in front of you and taught you how a lady likes to be treated.

As he said that, he squeezed that spongy spot inside Y/n, making her beg for his name in pure desperation. Her moist flesh pressed against Aemond's fingers, begging for more contact, begging to be filled.

-Always making such sweet sounds for me, sweet girl. - Aemond whispered close to her ear, making Y/n gasp squeezing the back of the chair with that voice sounding so close.

With an almost evil smile, gently licking his lips, Aemond turned around, lowering himself between her legs in front of the chair and without warning, pulling her by the thighs, leaving her wet and warm pussy very close to his face.

-Raise your hips a little for me, my dear. - He asked in a firm voice and she did it at the same moment, needing his care more than ever. - Good girl.

Without waiting another second, the king took her moist folds into his mouth, tasting her with desire, eliciting screams and gasps from her lips, which for Aemond were as sweet as that pussy.

-Oh Aemond… - She sighed his name between degrading moans of pleasure as he sucked her pearl and played with her using his tongue, while his long fingers hit that specific spot inside her that made her scream every time. - More, please, more.

Aemond laughed in pure malice against her, making her feel even more pleasure, her soft walls contracting against his fingers as her whole body began to spasm slightly, Y/n's moans became louder and more debauched as she tangled her hands in Aemond's silver hair, practically rubbing herself against his face as ecstasy took over her body, screaming the king's name in desperation as she reached her peak and collapsed against the chair, feeling boneless. The body giving slight spasms as Aemond teased her sensitive pearl with the tip of his tongue even after the intense orgasm.

-Who do you belong to? - Came the firm question in Aemond's laconic voice as he held her by the hair to face him, now standing in front of the chair.

-To you, my king. - She sighed, staring at him.

-Then get on your knees for me like the good girl I know you are! - He growled, still holding her by the hair, making Y/n moan with contentment as she got up from the chair with her legs still slightly shaking.

As she stood up, she caught a glimpse of Jacaerys again, momentarily even forgetting that he was there, and with a mischievous smile she knelt in front of the chair where Aemond was now sitting.

-You know what to do, Issa jorrāelagon. (My love). - He murmured with a sickly side smile to Jacaerys who was about to vomit, while delicately stroking Y/n's locks of hair.

-Yes, my king. - She sighed, nodding eagerly. Without needing to hear anything else, she guided her hands to the laces of Aemond's pants, pulling them avidly, overcome by the desire to please him too.

Her hungry eyes shone as she finally placed them on Aemond's already hard and leaking cock, caressing his hardness with a lewd smile on her lips. Y/n ran her soft hands all over his length, from the base to the tip, leaving a gentle caress with the tip of her thumb on the slit from where that pearly liquid slowly flowed.

With an even bigger smile when she heard the king grunt softly, she finally brought her lips to the tip of his cock, slowly sucking only that part until her cheeks sank, moaning at the same time as he felt the strong taste of his pre-cum on the tip of his tongue.

Breathing deeply through her nose, she lowered her lips as far as she could, sucking and licking him with praise. Taking her mouth off and taking a breath, she only lowered her lips to his balls and kissed and sucked them hard while she moved her hand back and forth on his member, eliciting grunts and gasps from his trembling lips. Without warning, she lowered her lips once more to his cock, making him growl and tangle his hands in her wild hair.

-I'll fuck your mouth. - He growled, giving the first thrust against her lips and Y/n did her best to nod, feeling her eyes water. Aemond grunted lightly with his hands tangled in Y/n's voluminous hair while she sucked his cock hard, kneeling between his legs more like a whore than a lady.

-That's enough. - He growled, feeling his body tremble slightly with agonizing pleasure on the edge of the abyss, making Y/n remove her mouth from his cock and look at him with those doe eyes shining with tears, as if she hadn't just sucked him like a whore, her lips still full of saliva and pre-cum.

-Come here, sweet girl. - He pulled her to sit on his lap with a sideways smile, leaving a hungry and wet kiss on her lips, feeling her moan and rub her hot, wet mouth against him hungrily. For a moment he almost forgot about Jacaerys' presence in the room, so lost in the softness of Y/n's lips and pussy.

Until he heard the sound of wood hitting the floor and looked at his nephew over Y/n's shoulder, letting out a laugh when he saw him writhing in his chair, his eyes burning with fury as he tried to free himself.

-I thought you were stronger than that, my dear nephew. - Aemond murmured mockingly as he firmly squeezed Y/n's ass with both hands, making her moan and throw her head back, rubbing herself even more against his cock.

-Aemond please…- She sighed without caring about Jacaerys. - Please…

-Please what, my sweet? - He asked, laughing, kissing her neck roughly as he looked cruelly at Jace, waiting for Y/n's answer.

-Fuck me. - She begged him without any shame, grinding on his thighs and rubbing her wet folds against his hard, leaking member. - Please fuck me, my king. I'm yours.

-Did you hear that, bastard? - Aemond growled, serrated his lips and then biting Y/n's neck, making her scream for him. - It's me she wants!

With these words, he brought his right hand to the friction zone between the two of them and with a smile of satisfaction, guided his own hard cock, leaking inside her, making her moan with satisfaction as she descended on him.

-Yes… yes… yes… - She sighed in joy, feeling him stretch every corner of her to the edge, scratching the leather of his jerkin, hungry for more contact, hungry for more of Aemond.

-My girl is so needy. - Aemond hissed, slamming his hips against hers firmly, making her scream. - Always eager for my touch, always begging for me.

-Harder, Aemond. - She moaned between sighs as she nodded her head, going crazy with each bite the king left on her neck. Going up and down on his cock, riding him harder and harder, feeling goosebumps covering her skin with the sensation of pleasure that only Aemond could give her. - Please… please…

Growling with pleasure, Aemond tangled his left hand in her hair and pulled her against him, taking her lips in a wild kiss full of greedy bites, while lifting her hips from the chair harder, making her tremble above him and grip him even tighter.

Pulling her lower lip into a bite, he trailed kisses down her neck to her breasts, sucking and caressing them with his tongue, drawing even more pleasure from Y/n, who threw her head back lost in pleasure, finding her husband's glazed eyes watching the scene, looking like he was about to vomit.

The pleasure in her core multiplied. She liked the feeling. She liked seeing the humiliation in Jacaerys' eyes as Aemond took her. Y/n liked the feeling of knowing that he was feeling even more humiliated than she felt every time she was forced to endure his touch.

Feeling Y/n's walls contracting around him, Aemond guided his hand to her sensitive pearl that gently brushed against his pelvis with synchronized movements and caressed her even harder, making her scream and tremble above him, rolling her eyes in pure pleasure.

-Who do you belong to? - He growled breathlessly into her ear, feeling on the verge of his own orgasm.

-You, my king! - She practically sobbed amidst her moans, burying her face contorted with pleasure in the gap between his neck and shoulder, still riding him with trembling legs. - You. Only you.

-Look closely, you bastard. - Aemond growled, rolling his eyes in pleasure as he fucked Y/n with abandon. - I want you to see how well she cums on my cock.

With a loud moan of Aemond's name, Y/n came all over his cock, shuddering and convulsing as she collapsed on him, squeezing him so hard that she practically ripped the orgasm out of the king, who grunted and bit her shoulder, feeling the pleasure tear him apart as his seed invaded her hot pussy.

The two of them stood still for a few moments, panting and immersed in pleasure. The only sound in the room was their uneven breathing. Jacaerys could very well be dead in all that silence. Little by little, Aemond felt his cock slowly come back to life as Y/n's pussy spasmed around him, driving him completely crazy.

She whimpered against Aemond's neck, feeling his now semi-erect cock still buried deep in her sensitive intimacy. Aemond cooed softly at her as he stroked her hair.

-Are you okay, my dear?

She nodded at him as she stared at him with a tear-stained face.

-Can you hold one more for me? - He asked, tucking a strand of Y/n's wild hair behind her ear.

-Yes. - She sighed, throwing her arms around his neck and panting when she felt Aemond harden beneath her again.

-Then be good, go to the bed and get on your hands and knees for me. - He murmured with his lips pressed against Y/n's ear, while firmly squeezing both of her ass cheeks.

Y/n stood up and gasped as her body disconnected from Aemond's and with wobbly legs she walked slowly to the bed, not sparing even a glance at her husband still tied to the chair. Aemond's seed ran down her thighs along with her own fluids and with a sigh she knelt on the bed making every effort to stay steady, with her legs aching after sex.

Aemond walked to the bed and opening the last drawer he took the bottle of oil and Y/n moaned with contentment already knowing what was coming. He positioned himself behind her and gently kissed each of her ass cheeks before spreading them, exposing her wrinkled hole. She sighed at him and leaned her body even further forward just as she knew Aemond liked, her gaze meeting Jace's at that moment with a smile of pure satisfaction as she saw tears running down his damn face.

Y/n then felt the first finger soaked in oil entering her ass and sighed as she buried her face between the sheets. It didn't take long for Aemond to insert the second and then the third while making slow movements with his hand. He brought his other hand to her swollen clitoris and gently stimulated it, making her sigh and moan with the double stimulation.

And when he removed his fingers she waited anxiously for what was to come, the feeling of pleasure taking over her body as Aemond invaded her ass with his cock slowly.

-Seven hells. - Aemond moaned as he sheathed himself completely inside her. - Always so tight back here.

He then slapped Y/n's ass making her moan and began to fuck her hard against the mattress while she moaned desperately. Aemond pressed her pearl again leaving her a mess of moans and gasps for him as she begged for more. She no longer had any strength in her arms and collapsed on the bed, only with her hips raised as Aemond held them and she tried to keep them in the right position with the little strength she had left in her body.

-Whose cunt is this Y/n? - Aemond growled as he pinched her pearl between his fingers making her scream and spasm on the sheets.

-Y-yours Aemond. - She whimpered at him with tears of pleasure running down her cheeks.

-And whose mouth is this? - He murmured leaning down and kissing her in a way that could be passionate and dirty at the same time.

-Only yours my king. - She moaned between kisses.

-And whose is this tight, delicious ass? - He asked, slapping her left cheek, fucking her even harder while stimulating her clitoris with his fingertips.

-Yours. - Y/n cried and moaned. - Only yours, Aemond. Only yours. Always only yours my king.

Jacaerys could no longer look, could no longer feel repulsion, all of this was too much for him. Y/n was his, it was not supposed to be like this. He was supposed to be the king. Y/n was supposed to be his wife. Tears ran uncontrollably down his face as he saw his wife being degraded in the worst and most repulsive way before his eyes.

-Cum for me one more time Issa jorrāelagon. (My love). - Aemond spoke with his body glued to hers as he sped up his movements, and shortly after Y/n came with a moan and collapsed on the bed while Aemond came deep in her ass with a guttural moan and bit her right shoulder.

-I love you. - She said with a tired smile as Aemond pulled out of her and kept his own intimacy in his pants.

-Avy jorrāelan tolī, issa jorrāelagon. (I love you too, my love). - He murmured softly only for Y/n's tired and sleepy ears, as he left a wet kiss between her shoulder blades.

Y/n had never said those words to Jacaerys, had never even come close, had never even told him that he was tolerable. And a tear of pure hatred and betrayal ran down his face. He saw her in bed falling asleep covered in sweat with Aemond's seed dripping down her holes while Aemond smiled victoriously at him.

-What did you do all this for? - He asked with a choked voice trying to keep it steady, feeling the bile about to make him vomit after seeing one of the greatest atrocities of life happen in front of him. - You already had her now.

Aemond walked slowly towards Jacaerys with confident steps and a smile that was a mix of victory and malice.

-No my hateful nephew. I always had her. She was always mine. And you always trying to steal what is not yours dared to put your filthy paws on her perfect body! - He hissed with his eyes burning with fury, leaning over the chair and staring at him deeply.

-On your wedding day she came to me crying and begged me to take her virginity so that she would not have it stolen by you. - He smiled at the memory in an almost melancholic way. - And I did as she asked and fucked her, while she was still wearing that wedding dress, before you had even seen her in it.

-When she entered the sept, it was with my seed dripping down her thighs, just like now. - Aemond laughed victoriously as he watched Jace shake his head in pure shock and sadness.

-She never wanted you, she came to me every chance she got and begged me to give her the pleasure she knew only I could give her. - He hissed angrily, his voice low and deadly. - She told me she felt disgusted every time she needed to feel your touch against her skin and that she would kill you in your sleep if she could.

If Aemond had told him this a few hours ago, Jace would have denied it, said he was lying, but now… there was no denying the facts. Not after the torture she had subjected him to. Not after seeing his wife being sodomized by his uncle while she cried and begged for more beneath him.

-And now… - Aemond said, approaching with a sick smile as he pulled the dagger from his belt. - I will fulfill the promise I made her years ago.

And with his eyes still glazed over from the nightmare he had been forced to watch, Jacaerys waited silently for the stranger, who was certainly coming to meet him in the form of Aemond Targaryen.

The promise

-When my brother is king and I am your hand, I will take you for myself in front of that filthy bastard, and when I finish giving you pleasure, I will cut his throat and take you as my wife. - Aemond whispered softly against her jugular, very close to her ear, making her skin crawl.

And with that promise, Lady Y/n entered the sept to marry Prince Jacaerys with a smile on her face.

The future

Y/n felt free, she felt light, she felt like the most beautiful creature in all the kingdoms. The maids were preparing her wedding dress, beautiful as only something royal could be.

The council warned Aemond about the fact that marrying the wife of Prince Jacaerys, who had consistent rumors that the king himself had slit his throat, would not help improve his already low reputation. But he did not care. And ignoring all opinions, he set the wedding date as soon as possible, because he was sure that his seed had already taken root now with the absence of moon tea.

And today, finally, the most important day of all had arrived. She would finally be Aemond's, Aemond's and his alone, no more unwanted touches, no more pain, no more tears. She would be his alone. And that was why she smiled as they arranged her clothes. Shortly after they had finished dressing, combing her hair and putting her shoes on, all the maids left her alone in the room. It wasn't long before she heard a light knock on the door. Frowning, she went over and opened it, finding a young page standing there with a yellowed piece of paper between his fingers.

-The king ordered this to be delivered to you my lady. - He said, giving her the paper, bowing and then walking away.

Y/n smiled even wider if possible, and when she opened the paper, she thought her heart would explode with pure happiness.

"I'm thinking of you, see you in the sept.

A.T."

She pressed the letter to her chest with a sigh of joy, and then safely put it away in her bedside drawer.

Lady Y/n, soon to be queen, entered the sept with a smile from ear to ear, but this time it was for all the right reasons.

[slaymitchabernathy]

The Nanny

Soarynn's heart is pounding.

She wonders if it's possible to die from stress. She might die anyway from the looks of it.

She keeps a tight hold of Ceraphina's hand as they're led down the hallway and she's kicking herself for being so stupid, so naive to believe these men in the first place. She should've noticed their accents, the missing tooth, the...the blood on their boots. Soarynn swallows, have they killed people already? Did they kill the two Peacekeepers standing guard outside of their suites? Were they the ones knocking on her doors?

Soarynn wonders what will happen next, wonders where Coriolanus and Eudora are. She wonders if the Mayor knows what's happening, how many people have been planning this, and if she and the children will make it out alive.

She knows one thing for certain: she would rather die than let these evil men hurt the children.

"Soarynn, I want Daddy," Celeste pouts from behind her. Soarynn pushes down any nerves that might be obvious and attempts to give Celeste a reassuring smile from over her shoulder, "We'll see him soon darling."

"Stop talking," one of the men snaps, shooting her a dirty look. Soarynn scowls but keeps her mouth shut. These men clearly weren't above putting a gun to Caspian's head so she knows they'll have no problem leaving her dead body in the hall for someone to find.

"Momma," Caspian mumbles resting his head on her shoulder. Soarynn can only give him a comforting kiss on the head while they keep walking, towards two doors from the looks of it. Soarynn wonders if anyone outside the Resort knows what's going on. Have the proper authorities been alerted? Is Coriolanus wondering where they are? Is she going to die?

They come to a stop in front of the doors and the man waves his gun at Soarynn and the children, "Backs against the wall," he orders. Soarynn holds her head up high while pressing her back against the wall, instructing the girls to do the same. The other man, the other Rebel, cracks the two doors open, having some sort of conversation with someone on the other side. Soarynn can smell the ocean wafting in, those doors lead outside.

He pushes the doors open to reveal a rugged-looking man, dressed in boots, a heavy coat, and an eye patch. He literally looks like a pirate so it's no surprise that he's in on this attack. Soarynn notices the gun holstered in his belt, it seems everyone in Four owns a firearm today. He slowly walks down the line of hostages, sizing each of them up.

"Never thought we'd get all three," he muses, stopping when he reaches Soarynn and Caspian. He reaches out to grab her chin and Soarynn jerks away from his hold, "But you are a lucky catch," he says with a chuckle, "didn't think he'd bring his whore with him as well." Soarynn glares daggers at the man who has no problem insulting her or her character, "I am not a whore and if I were you, I'd let us go before the authorities arrive and stop this attack."

All three men break into laughter as if she just told the funniest joke they've ever heard, causing her stomach to twist into knots, "No wonder he keeps you around, I wonder what you feel like from behind, or better yet, tied up with nowhere to go."

Soarynn could cry right now. Will this be how she goes? Defiled in front of the children and then shot?

"You'll never get the chance to find out," she fires back, "whatever you want, he won't give you."

The one-eyed man sneers and shakes his head, waving his finger in the air, "Oh, he'll give us what we want, as long as we have his children, we've got him in the palm of our hand. It's time Coriolanus Snow learns a lesson from profiting off of other people's pain."

Soarynn isn't given time to respond when the doors fly open, revealing even more men, all armed to the teeth. "We've gotta go Captain," one of them says, glancing over his shoulder, "it's getting messy out there." Soarynn's eyes widen when she hears the sound of gunshots in the distance. She hopes no one is seriously hurt or even worse...dead.

The Captian grunts and grabs her by the arm and drags her towards the doors, "Let's go, pretty girl." Soarynn whimpers when his grip tightens and she desperately looks back at the girls who are being pushed by the other two men, "Please don't hurt them," she begs, trying to break free, "please, they'll listen, they'll listen I promise. We'll do exactly as you say."

They're walking in the sand now, and the wind is starting to pick up, thunderclouds rolling in from the distance. Soarynn can hear more shouting and gunfire but her focus is solely on the girls who are wide-eyed with fear, holding each other's hands as they walk along the beach with their captors.

"Shut your mouth," the Captain orders, yanking her towards him. Soarynn yelps, nearly tripping in her heels with the sand making it more difficult to walk. She spots a boat floating near the shore, they must've come all the way from the village to get here.

They can not get into that boat.

Soarynn digs her feet into the sand, kicking the Captain's leg for good measure. He looks back at her, his eyes filled with anger and hatred and he uses his other hand to grab his gun, slapping her across the face with the weapon in an instant. Soarynn cries out in pain, momentarily blinded by it as she falls back onto the sand, Caspian almost tumbling from her hold.

"Soarynn!" Ceraphina cries, running over to her, "Soarynn are you okay?"

Tears burn in Soarynn's eyes, both from the pain and the fear. Celeste runs over to her as well, bending down to wipe some sand off of her dress, "Do you need a bandaid?"

Soarynn sniffles, she has to keep it together.

"What she needs to do is keep her fucking mouth shut unless she needs another reminder," the Captain says, his gun trained on Soarynn. She takes in a shaky breath, the wind causing her hair to whip across her face, "You're going to die for that," she tells him.

He laughs, kicking sand in her face for good measure, "I don't plan on dying tonight, not until I get what I want."

One of the men who was pretending to be a Peacekeeper perks up at those words, casting a glare in the Captain's direction, "You mean what we want," he corrects, gesturing at Soarynn and the children with his own gun, "we aren't risking our lives for you."

The Captain rolls his eyes, "Yeah, yeah, what we want, that's what I meant. Don't get so paranoid Marvin, just get them up and take them to the boat yeah?"

Marvin frowns but nods, bending down to grab Soarynn's arm and lift her up. She groans from the pain but allows him to lift her from the sand, trying to wipe off the sand but it's no use at this point. She must look like a mess. "Start walking to the boat," Marvin orders, pressing his gun into her back. Soarynn gasps at the feeling but does as she's told, nodding at the girls to do the same. "I don't want to get my shoes wet," Ceraphina mumbles, trudging along the now-wet sand.

Marvin scoffs and gives her a push, causing Ceraphina to glare up at him, her gaze sharp like her father's, "Don't push me." Soarynn doesn't know if she should be amazed or terrified by Ceraphina's confidence in this life-or-death scenario. But Marvin doesn't seem deterred by the five-year-old's attitude.

The water begins to lap at their feet and Soarynn has a harder time walking correctly with her heels constantly sinking in the wet sand. Marvin pushes the gun against her even harder, "Walk better or take the fucking shoes off." Soarynn almost rolls her eyes but stops herself, now is not the time to have an attitude. With a heavy heart, she steps out of her heels and onto the sand barefoot.

The boat isn't that far from the shore but the waves are choppy and she doesn't even know if there's a current, "You want us to swim there?" She asks, giving him an incredulous look. Marvin scoffs, rolling his own eyes, "Yeah, I didn't think women in the Capitol were dumb and spoiled."

Soarynn chooses to ignore his jabs and gestures towards the girls who are always halfway in the water by now, "I have to help them, they could drown or get swept away."

"They'll be fine."

"If they drown then all of this will have been for nothing," she pushes, turning around to face him. Marvin has a somewhat nice-looking face, he might even be considered handsome if it weren't for his habit of kidnapping people. She can see him weighing out his options for a moment and then he sighs, tucking away his gun, "I'll carry them, but if you try to run, I'm shooting you then the kid," he points at Caspian and Soarynn presses her lips into a thin line, she wasn't planning on trying to escape but she certainly isn't now.

"Fine," she decides. She looks down at the girls who look terrified as the waves crash against them, "I need you girls to behave okay? We're going to get on that boat," she points at the boat rocking against the waves. Celeste looks over at the boat and then back up at Soarynn, "I want Daddy."

I do too, Soarynn thinks to herself.

"We'll see him soon," Soarynn promises, hoping she can keep her word, "let's go on the boat first okay?" Neither of the girls looks too convinced but they slowly nod and Soarynn watches Marvin grab Ceraphina first, throwing her over his shoulder like a sack of flour. She frowns at his method of handling the children but he waves her off, "Start swimming," he says, pushing her towards the boat.

He picks up Celeste next and she lets out a sound of surprise when she's also tossed over his shoulder, her shoes nearly kicking him in the face. Soarynn says a quick prayer to her father to keep the girls safe before she turns back towards the boat and begins wading towards it. "Cold," Caspian says, the water getting closer to both of their necks. Soarynn's teeth are chattering and her footing on the ocean floor is slowly disappearing, "It's...it's okay Caspian," she manages to get out, "we're almost there."

Once the floor is gone, she's swimming, or well, trying her best to swim. Soarynn's main focus is keeping Caspian's head above water and he's doing a good job at it himself, using his hands to push himself up. It's hard swimming with one hand and a child in the other but she's getting closer to the small boat. She finally notices the two men sitting in the boat and one of them throws a rope in her direction. She doesn't hesitate to grab it, letting them pull her in.

The other man grabs Caspian and Soarynn's heart drops for a second but the man holding the rope grabs her next, hoisting her into the boat as if she weighs nothing. He sets her down on a small bench next to Caspian who's shivering, his cheeks red and his nose runny, "Cold," he says again, his voice trembling this time.

Soarynn pulls him into her lap, wrapping her arms around him in hopes of giving him some warmth and comfort, "I know my darling, I know." She gazes back out at the water where Marvin is now being pulled in by the rope, both girls shrieking from how cold the water is. She anxiously watches the men grab both girls from Marvin's shoulders, tossing them onto the boat as well. They both scramble off the floor and rush to Soarynn, grabbing onto her the moment she's in reach.

"I'm scared," Celeste whispers, pulling herself onto the bench, "where's Daddy?" Soarynn looks out at the Resort but sees no one but the Rebels on the beach. "I don't know," she whispers back, "but we have to do as they say."

꧁ ꧂

Soarynn didn't know it was possible to feel so cold.

But with the rain, ocean water, and wind, she's convinced that they all might just die from hypothermia.

"Stay close to me," she murmurs, pulling both girls closer to her as the boat rocks even harder due to the large waves. She has no idea where they're going but none of these men have said anything to her and they don't look like they plan on it.

Soarynn had contemplated jumping ship, but that would be pointless. And a death wish.

She knows the girls can swim but not under these conditions. Besides, she doesn't know these waters and what lurks within them. She watches two men pull back the oars, pushing them towards what must be the wall that keeps people from escaping District Four. She'd heard of it before in school, how Peacekeepers patrolled the top of the wall, prepared to shoot anyone who tried to escape. There are grates at the bottom of the wall, allowing the marine life to swim in and out of the cove as they please but it must be so deep.

"Are...are we gonna die?" Ceraphina whispers, nuzzling her head against Soarynn's shoulder. Soarynn sniffles, her head is throbbing and her entire body is shaking from both the cold and the fear, "I don't know," she admits quietly, "but I'll do anything to protect you, as long as we listen we should be alright darling."

Ceraphina peers up at her and her face reflects worry and fear, "Soarynn, you're bleeding."

Soarynn lifts her hand to her face, to her nose more specifically where there is in fact blood dropping down from it. She wonders if the Captain broke it. She can still feel it which is a good sign. "I'm okay," she lies, giving Ceraphina a tight-lipped smile, "just a scratch." Ceraphina doesn't look like she believes her but they're interrupted by Marvin who stands up, the rockiness of the boat not even phasing him, "On your feet," he says.

Soarynn and the children stay firmly planted on the bench and he scoffs, "On your feet," he repeats, "we're leaving you here," he points at what looks like a buoy bobbing in the water, large enough for maybe one person. "We're not going anywhere," Soarynn replies with a shake of her head, doing her best to remain brave despite the circumstances.

The rest of the men laugh, making Soarynn feel more meek and smaller than before, "Just you pretty girl," he explains, grabbing her shoulder and yanking her off the bench, "not that you don't look like a good time, but we've already got what we need."

Her eyes widen when she realizes what he means, "No," she cries, "no I won't leave them!”

She looks back at the children, all watching with wide blue eyes full of fear while they cling to each other, "It's not your choice to make," he sneers, pushing her toward the edge of the boat, "now get off now before I throw your dead body into the water."

Soarynn digs her bare feet into the wooden floor of the boat, refusing to move any further, "I go nowhere without them," she tells him, throwing all of her weight against him for good measure. Soarynn must be stronger than she feels because Marvin's body disappears from behind her and she turns around just in time to watch him stumble into the edge of the boat, his arms flailing as he falls into the water.

The Captain stands up, wielding his gun and pointing it at Soarynn, "That's enough you little bitch. I was trying to be nice and let you off easy but now, I think I'll just have to shoot you before I take the kids."

Soarynn glares daggers at the man who's taken her captive, her rage seething through her fearful facade, "You will do nothing of the sort, if you kill me," she points at the cowering Snow children, "then they won't listen to a thing you say." Celeste and Ceraphina perk up at her statement and nod, giving him defiant looks, "Mhm, we'll scream and fight," Celeste tells him.

Soarynn raises an eyebrow at the Captain, "See? I'm the only one who can calm them down. You kill me, you won't be able to complete any of your objectives and this will all have been for nothing."

"Stop talking to her and fucking shoot her!" Marvin yells from the water, paddling towards the boat with an annoyed look on his face. If looks could kill, Soarynn would be dead by now. But she's not, and that's for one reason or another.

The Captain slowly lowers his gun, scoffing at Marvin's orders that clearly aren't respected in this hierarchy. The other two men haven't said a word this entire time. Maybe they're just being paid to row the boat and nothing more.

"If they act out, we might have to correct them," he tells her, some taunting in his tone and it makes her blood boil. Soarynn takes a step towards him, bloody nose and hypothermia be damned.

"No one touches my children," she says, raising a finger, "especially men who have no problem hurting women."

It's a standoff and she won't be the one who loses.

He finally smirks, looking her up and down before nodding, "Fine, but it'll be your head if not theirs."

Soarynn's bottom lip trembles but no tears escape her eyes, she's better than that. "I agree to your terms."

Soarynn turns back to the children, all three of them look absolutely terrified and it breaks her heart that there's nothing she can do to make this better. At least they won't be separated.

But what had Coriolanus said the first time they met?

"Nothing else matters but them. They're all I have now that Livia is gone. I can't have any more children. They're my future. My legacy. Should it come down to it, your life will come before theirs."

Soarynn hadn't ever thought that there might actually be a moment where it would come down to her life or the children's but she knows in her heart that she'd gladly give her life to save theirs. Coriolanus has lost so much already, she can't imagine him finding out about the death of his children as well.

Soarynn sits back down on the bench, her hands are shaking from the cold but she knows it also has to do with her fear, her nerves from standing up to these evil men. "It's okay," she whispers to the children, pulling Caspian back into her lap and kissing the top of his head, "it's okay, we're still together, we're okay."

The girls press themselves against her, desperate for comfort and she gladly gives it to them.

Her stormy blue eyes scan the ocean, looking for someone who might come and rescue them but she sees nothing but rain and thunder in the distance.

Coriolanus, where are you? She wonders, the wind blowing more hair in her face. She hopes he's alright wherever he is, if he's not dead already.

Would they assassinate the President?

They'd certainly kill a nanny.

That's all you are, she reminds herself. tears pooling in her eyes, just the nanny.

꧁ ꧂

They sit in the boat for what must be at least another hour if Soarynn's gauge of time is correct.

Finally, a strip of land comes into view and Soarynn feels some sort of relief even though all she sees are more Rebels from the looks of it, wielding lanterns and probably weapons with her luck.

Soarynn is just ready to get off the fucking boat.

She didn't know what it felt like to be seasick but she was starting to feel nauseous and so was Caspian from the looks of it, his porcelain face turning green the poor thing. Soarynn wishes she could magically pull out some medication but the best she can do is whisper words of encouragement.

The Captain stands up when the shore comes into view, waving a hand at the people watching them from the beach, "Looks like they're all here," he says to his men, a grin on his face, "now's not the time to get sloppy." His men grumble and Soarynn notices the dirty look that Marvin throws his way. Marvin is shivering himself, so now they're all in the same boat, literally.

"Are we gonna have to swim again?" Celeste whispers to her, tugging on Soarynn's dress that's now torn and dirtied. Soarynn brushes some wet curls from her face, staring into those sweet blue eyes that are usually filled with joy and kindness, "We might," she whispers back, "but we'll be okay."

Celeste merely nods in response before closing her eyes again and resting her head on Soarynn's shoulder. Soarynn does her best to ignore the pain that flares from the simple action, her arm hurts from where she's constantly been grabbed and yanked. She doesn't think her nose is bleeding anymore.

She looks down at Ceraphina whose eyes are also closed. It's late at night at this point, nearing midnight based off of the faint glow of the moon. Soarynn stares at the Captain from behind and wonders how long he's been planning this. He looks mighty pleased with himself, one foot leaning against the front of the boat, acting like the king of the world.

The boat is getting closer to the shore, maybe thirty yards at this point. They're probably going to have to swim again which worries Soarynn, the children can't handle being submerged in cold water again.

Before she can ask about how they're going to go about getting to shore, a gun goes off and Soarynn lets out s scream when the Captain falls back towards her, blood spurting from his arm from where he was shot.

His men go frantic, grabbing their own guns and pointing them in every direction.

Soarynn grabs both girls, holding them tight while Caspian clings to her dress, burying his face in her neck, "Don't move," she whispers, scanning the beach for where the gunshot might have come from.

"I can't do this anymore," one of the men whispers, his eyes wide and manic, "we're all gonna die, we have to go now!"

Marvin shakes his head and slips off of the bench he's been sitting on, sliding next to the Captain who's letting out pitiful groans, "Don't try to swim for it, you'll just get shot and drown."

Soarynn wonders if she and the children should take cover as well or if they should stay put. She looks back over at the beach where people are running around, frantically trying to get away. More gunshots ring through the air and she gasps when more Rebels drop dead on the sand, collapsing like ragdolls.

"Keep your eyes closed," she says to the girls, not wanting them to witness any more traumatic events tonight.

The manic man lets out a frustrated groan, his head whipping back and forth from the beach back to the boat where the Captain seems to be bleeding out from what Soarynn can see. And no one seems eager to come to his aid.

"Fuck this," he says, standing up, "I'm getting the hell out of here."

His accomplices try to deter him from jumping ship but he's made up his mind. They all watch him stand on the edge of the boat, bending his knees to jump and then they all watch a bullet pierce his skull, sending blood and who knows what else into the air. Soarynn screams again when some of the blood lands on her and the children, some of it even landing in her mouth.

All hell breaks loose then.

Rampant gunfire breaks out on the beach and she opens her eyes in time to see several Peacekeeper trucks driving over the dunes, firing at anyone in sight. Peacekeepers swarm the area, guns at the ready.

The calvary has arrived.

This isn't a fight the Rebels will win and both Marvin and the other man seem to realize this. Marvin quickly slips his legs over the side of the boat, slipping into the water without being shot which is a victory within itself. The other man isn't so lucky when he tries to stand up and is immediately shot several times in the chest, his limp body falling backward into the water.

Soarynn squeezes her eyes shut, wanting to block out this night for the rest of her life but then she hears something, hears someone.

"SOARYNN!"

Soarynn looks over her shoulder at the beach and she lets out a cry of relief when she sees Coriolanus on the beach, accompanied by Peacekeepers, Eudora, and another man who must be the Mayor.

"It's your father," she says, a frail laugh leaving her lips, "girls look it's your father."

The girls both open their eyes and turn to see their father on the beach, letting out excited gasps, "Daddy! Daddy came to rescue us!"

He came for them.

Soarynn's relief turns into something more primal, something more maternal, "We have to swim to the beach, we're not that far." She knows they could wait but the Captain is still alive, wounded but alive. Ceraphina frowns, looking down at the water, "But it's cold."

Soarynn nods, carefully standing up so as to not rock the boat, "I know but we have to get to safety. We can do it, I promise."

Celeste also stands up, determination in her eyes, "It's just like the bathtub," she says to her sister, offering her hand. Ceraphina furrows her brows, she looks so much like Coriolanus right now it's uncanny how alike they look when deciding on something. Surviving, it seems, is the decision she comes down to and she takes her little sister's hand.

"Okay," she agrees, "let's go."

Soarynn wraps her arms around Caspian tightly, murmuring a few more words of prayer before stepping onto the bench, one step away from plunging into the water. She thinks she can hear Eudora shouting for her to sit back down but she's so past caring right now.

"Here we go," she says and she jumps.

A wave of shock mixed with pain shoots through her body when her feet hit the sandy bottom. Soarynn pushes herself back up to the surface, gasping for air when she breaches the water. She can hear Caspian coughing which means he also didn't drown and die.

Soarynn opens her eyes and looks around to find that it's actually quite shallow. The water is up to her chest and while it is freezing, the current isn't too bad. "It's safe," she says to the girls who are watching him with hesitation, "and quite shallow. Come on, I'll catch you."

Ceraphina nods and steps onto the bench, helping Celeste climb up as well. "One, two, three!" The girls jump into the water and Soarynn wades towards them the moment they come up for air, grabbing both of them and pulling them into her. The girl's heads are bobbing above the water but they aren't drowning which is the most important part.

"Hold onto me and I'll pull us to shore," Soarynn instructs them, helping and making sure they have a good grip on something before she begins wading to the beach. She watches more trucks drive onto the beach, people are beginning to be arrested if they haven't been killed already.

Soarynn can feel her body slowing down. The cold is seeping into her bones, her nose hurts, her arm hurts. Wouldn't it be pitiful for her to drown in five feet of water?

But when she gazes towards Coriolanus again, she knows she needn't worry about a thing due to the fact that he's halfway in the water, wading towards them. Soarynn never thought in a million years that she'd see the President of Panem soaked in the ocean, but she knew he'd do anything for his children, even if it meant jumping into freezing waters.

The girls cry out when they see him, letting go of Soarynn the second he's within reaching distance to paddle towards him.

"Daddy! Daddy!"

Coriolanus scoops them out of the water as if they weigh nothing, holding them so tight while murmuring words of devotion and comfort. Soarynn feels herself tearing up at the sight, for a moment, she didn't know if they'd make it, if the children would ever see their father again.

A second later she hears the sound of a motorized boat and looks to her left where three Peacekeepers are driving towards them, hopefully with blankets. "We made it," she whispers to herself, watching their boat stop next to the wooden one where the Captain is still lying there, injured and abandoned. One of the Peacekeepers jumps into the boat, pulling the Captain onto his feet despite his pained protests.

Soarynn mindlessly peppers Caspian's head with kisses, feeling his little body cling to hers for warmth. She might as well keep heading towards shore, even if she can't feel her toes, or her feet, or her legs. Is she sinking?

Soarynn whimpers as her legs slowly begin to give out from under her, both her and Caspian gasping when their faces hit the cold water. They're only drowning for a second before a hand pulls them both up. It's one of the Peacekeepers from the boat and he looks very concerned for her wellbeing. "Are you alright miss?"

After the day she's had, Soarynn doesn't have it in her to lie.

"No," she answers truthfully, letting the man gently pull her up and into the boat, a world of a difference compared to how she was handled by the Rebels. She looks back into the water where Coriolanus is already wading back to shore, wasting no time to get his girls to safety. A blanket is draped over her shoulder a second later and Soarynn lets out a content sigh, making sure that Caspian is well covered. "Blanket," he says, a small smile on his sweet little face. Soarynn nods, kissing his forehead, "That's right sweet boy. We got a blanket and we got rescued."

Soarynn knows that sooner or later she'll be able to have a proper breakdown due to what's occurred tonight, but until then, she'll continue putting on a brave face.

She looks back at the boat she was held captive on, watching the Captain take quite a beating from the Peacekeeper who pulled him up. Good, she thinks to herself, he deserves it.

Their boat finally brushes up against the beach and Eudora is running up to her and Caspian with tears in her eyes, "Oh thank goodness! We were so worried!" Soarynn gives her a tired smile, she has no idea what happened to Eudora and Coriolanus during all of this commotion, but Eudora seems unscathed from what she can see.

"We're okay," Soarynn tells her, feeling unsteady on her feet when she slowly stands up. One of the Peacekeepers steadies her, "Let me take him," he offers. Soarynn appreciates the kind gesture, but she holds onto Caspian even tighter, "I'm fine," she insists, ignoring the concerned looks she gets from both Eudora and the Peacekeeper.

She shakily steps out of the boat, her feet feel numb when they touch the sandy shores but she feels better than she did in the ocean. Soarynn scans the beach, watching as people are detained and thrown into the backs of Peacekeeper trucks. "I...what happened?" She finally asks Eudora who rests a hand on her shoulder, "We were at dinner," Eudora starts but her voice dies off as she stares out into the ocean.

Soarynn turns and both women watch Coriolanus trudge onto the beach, both girls still in his hold. "Oh the poor things," Eudora whispers, "we were so, so worried about all of you when we checked the suite." Soarynn swallows and she can taste bits of salt, "It all happened so fast."

Two more men approach the Snow family, dressed in white uniforms with medic symbols on the backs of their jackets. They'll definitely need medical attention after the day they've had. Coriolanus carefully hands over the girls, his hands lingering on their backs before they're taken over to a small medic truck. Soarynn feels so grateful to have survived that, to be able to deliver all of his children to him.

One of the medics tends to both girls, giving them blankets while the other approaches her with a kind smile on his face. Soarynn steps back when he holds out his hands, "We've got him," he assures her, reaching for Caspian. Soarynn shakes her head, resting her hand on the back of Caspian's head to cradle him closer, "No, I..."

Another hand comes to rest on her other shoulder and this time, it's Coriolanus. He looks exhausted, his piercing blue eyes don't hold the usual authority she's used to. Instead, they hold worry, fear, and anxiety. "It's okay," he tells her, his voice so gentle, "let them take him. It's okay Soarynn."

She doesn't quite believe him, not after what's happened. How can she trust any of these people in Four?

Caspian lifts his head after hearing his father's voice, his eyes wide with excitement and he reaches out for him. Coriolanus sighs and grabs his small hand and gives it a squeeze, "You're alright Cas, he's alright." Soarynn still doesn't believe him but Coriolanus takes matters into his own hands and quite literally pries his son from Soarynn's iron grip, handing him over to the medic who offers her a reassuring smile.

Soarynn's hands feel so empty now that Caspian is gone. He peeks his head over the medic's shoulder, giving her a small wave despite everything they've endured tonight. Soarynn sniffles, wiping any trace of tears.

Eudora rubs soothing circles on the back of her shoulder, "It's alright dear, you're perfectly safe now." She doesn't feel safe, doesn't feel like everything is alright.

Her bottom lip trembles but she remains silent, the blanket on her shoulders falls onto the sand, revealing the torn state of her dress. She can feel Coriolanus tighten his grip on her shoulder, taking in the current state of her body. Soarynn stares at the sand, suddenly ashamed of the state she's in.

"Soarynn," he starts but she shakes her head, trying to hold it all in, "It's fine," she gets out, her voice breaking, "I'm fine, I...I shouldn't ha-"

Soarynn never gets to finish her sentence. Coriolanus pulls her into his embrace and she instantly melts into it, melts into the protective hold he puts over her. Soarynn hasn't felt a touch like this since her father, felt so safe and protected within seconds. She chokes out a sob, all the emotions hitting her all at once.

He rests a hand on the back of her head while she grabs onto his shirt, probably staining it with her tears and blood. He smells like roses.

"Thank you," he says quietly, his voice muffled, "thank you for bringing them back to me."

Soarynn doesn't feel as though she needs to be thanked for doing her job, so she simply nods, unable to form a coherent sentence. She can hear some sort of struggle ensuing on the beach, the sound of a man arguing with another man, one of their voices sounding terribly familiar.

The Captain.

They must have brought him to shore to properly detain him. "Keep moving," someone tells him. "Fuck you," he spits out. Soarynn takes a small peek at him, stunned at how battered and bruised he is in addition to the gunshot wound. He catches her looking and sneers in her direction, his lips curling up into a cruel smirk, "Looks like the President got his whore back safe and sound. Only wish I could've taken her for a spin."

It all happens so quickly then.

Coriolanus pushing Soarynn towards. Eudora. Coriolanus grabbing the Captain by the collar of his shirt and slamming him into he ground. Coriolanus punching the Captain in the face over and over again.

Soarynn watches more blood pool from his face, dripping onto the sand while he lays their limp, coughing up more blood. Soarynn feels nauseous. She leans over to throw up but nothing comes out, only a few drops of blood from her nose which Eudora notices immediately. "Soarynn, you're bleeding!" Soarynn stands back up, stumbling on the sand, "I'm...I'm fine," she mumbles, wiping her nose with the back of her hand, "just, just tired."

Everything starts to grow black. Everything is so fuzzy.

The last thing she sees before falling into the sand is Coriolanus Snow knocking the Captain unconscious.

꧁ ꧂

When Soarynn wakes up, she's on a train.

At least, she thinks she's on a train.

She blinks up at the ceiling, her head is groggy and throbbing. She wants to sit up but she doesn't know if that would be wise. She looks over to her right at the bedside table where there's a glass of water and two orange pills on a small plate. She doesn't hesitate to grab the water, drinking half the glass before she takes the pills and swallows them down with the remaining water.

Hopefully, those were meant for her.

Soarynn listens to her surroundings for a moment. She can hear a few muffled voices from outside of the hallway. One of distinct enough to place it as Coriolanus, and the other is high-pitched enough to belong to Eudora. Did they already leave Four?

Soarynn then hears the patter of small footsteps running down the hall.

The children.

That's all Soarynn needs to motivate her to sit up. She groans once she's fully seated, resting against her headboard but her mind feels more clear now. Soarynn brings her hand up to her face and feels some bandages around her nose. Maybe it is broken. She then reaches for her shoulder and finds more bandaging has been wrapped around her upper arm as well.

She's dressed in a long-sleeved button-up shirt and flowy pants, both feel like pajamas. Soarynn probably shouldn't stand up, but she doesn't care, not after what she's been through. She swings her feet off the edge of the bed, firmly planting them on the floor. "Here we go," she whispers to herself, slowly pushing up from the bed. The train barely jostles while riding along the tracks but the slightest movement makes her feel unsteady.

Soarynn places a hand on the wall in front of her, leaning against it for support. She looks to her right into the bathroom and her eyes widen when she sees her reflection.

Her nose is bandaged and her left eye is slightly bruised. But other than that, there's no physical proof that she was kidnapped with the children. And that frightens her.

Was that even real if she has no scars to prove it?

Soarynn shakes those thoughts from her head and turns towards the bedroom door, brushing against the wall as she walks to it. It slides open and she pokes her head out, looking down both ends of the hallway. She sees no one but hears giggles coming from down the hall. Soarynn carefully steps out into the hall, wrapping her arms around herself as she walks down the hall to the children's room.

They've all gathered in Ceraphina's room it seems, the same room where she and Coriolanus put the girls to bed...one day ago? Or has it been two? She slept one night at the resort before everything fell apart. It feels like they got on this train years ago, not days ago.

Soarynn looks into the bedroom and finds all three children piled onto the bed while their father reads them a bedtime story. They all seem fine, dressed in warm pajamas with dry hair and faces. Soarynn took on the brunt of the physical assault so the children are unscathed on the surface.

She can't say the same on the inside.

The girls are enamored by whatever book Coriolanus is reading to them, both of them leaning against his chest while Caspain sits next to Ceraphina, his head resting against her shoulder. It's Caspian who notices Soarynn lingering in the doorway first, his bright blue eyes finding her within seconds, "Soar!"

Soarynn smiles and the girls both look up from the story, gasping when they see her walking about. "Soarynn, you're awake!" Celeste crawls over her father's lap and carefully slips off the edge of the bed, she runs to Soarynn and throws her arms around her legs, "Soarynn we missed you! We got to go back to the Resort and then we got on the train and now we're going home!"

Soarynn raises her eyebrows, did she really sleep through all of that?

She gives Celeste another smile although this one is less genuine than the first, "Oh my goodness, that sounds like quite a busy series of events. You must be very tired." Celeste shrugs and looks back at Coriolanus whose eyes are set on Soarynn, "I'm not that tired," she says, a small smile creeping onto her face, "but maybe you could sing us a lullaby to help us go to sleep."

Coriolanus goes to get off of the bed, already beginning to protest, "I don't think Soarynn is up for sin-"

"It's fine," Soarynn cuts him off, her voice soft and fragile, "I don't mind. Truly."

Coriolanus sits back down, a conflicted look on his face but Soarynn really doesn't mind singing to the children. It'll help her take her mind off of things.

"Get under the covers," she says softly. Celeste scurries back to the bed where Ceraphina pulls her back up, both of them groaning at the effort it takes.

"You're too heavy," Ceraphian whines. Celeste shoots her a look, "Maybe you're not strong enough."

Soarynn shakes her head and walks into the room, "Be nice to each other girls." If they're already back to arguing then that means that they're not that shaken up from everything. Which is a good thing she hopes.

Caspian crawls towards Soarynn, a smile on his face, "Lenny comes," he says, looking back over at his shoulder where Lenny is sitting against the headboard. Soarynn nods, bending down to pick him up, "Lenny did come back with us darling, you're right."

Caspian places a hand on her bandaged nose, gently so as not to hurt her, "Hurt," he mumbles, a concerned look on his small face. Soarynn shakes her head, "I'm alright darling," she insists, placing a kiss on his own little nose, making him giggle, "I'm perfectly fine now that I've seen you and Lenny."

"And us," Ceraphina calls from under the covers.

Soarynn chuckles, walking along the edge of the bed until she reaches the top, "Yes, and you two as well," she agrees.

She gently places Caspian down on the bed, he usually sleeps in his crib but she can't blame him if he wants to be near his sisters after what happened.

Coriolanus rises from his spot on the bed, watching over his three children who look so precious tucked under the covers. All spitting images of him.

Soarynn clears her throat, she's never sung her lullaby to anyone but the children but he doesn't seem keen on leaving anytime soon. Soarynn takes a deep breath and begins to sing.

"Deep in the meadow, under the willow, A bed of grass, a soft green pillow. Lay down your head, and close your eyes, and when they open, the sun will rise. Here it's safe, here it's warm, here the daisies guard you from every harm. Here your dreams are sweet, and tomorrow brings them true. Here is the place where I love you."

Their little eyes slowly grow heavy until all three children are asleep. Soarynn reaches down to turn off the lamp on the bedside table and Coriolanus does the same on the other side of the bed. Neither of them makes any moves to leave, both of them watching the children that they'd gladly take a bullet for.

Soarynn eventually convinces herself that no evil men will sneak onto the train to take the children away and she quietly pads out of the room, Coriolanus right on her heels. She doesn't even say anything to him and doesn't protest when he grabs her wrist and gently leads her down the hall, all the way to the last bedroom. His bedroom.

Soarynn merely glances around the room that's slightly larger than hers before focusing on the man who brought her on this trip.

He looks so concerned, so worried.

So caring.

A world of a difference compared to how he used to look at her when she first started working for him.

"I'm so sorry," he finally says, his voice breaking at the end and it nearly breaks her as well, "I...I never imagined that this would happen to us. It shouldn't have happened to us," he corrects himself, "but it did and I'm so sorry that you were caught in the crossfire."

Soarynn purses her lips, studying him for a moment. He looks like a wreck to put things lightly. His curls are all tussled, there are bags under her eyes and his shirt is unbuttoned a little bit, showing off some of his upper chest. He looks like a man whose job is to run the country and then his children were kidnapped on a business trip so now he's trying to put all the pieces back together.

"The crossfire," Soarynn repeats, her voice soft yet hollow, "the crossfire of what? I...I thought we were safe at the Resort. I thought everything was fine in Four."

Coriolanus scowls, and his hand curls into a fist, "We were until we weren't," he says coldly, "Rebels caught wind of when we'd be visiting and they started to plan an attack, to plan how they'd break into the Resort and take my children hostage in exchange for me to stop the Hunger Games."

Soarynn's throat goes dry. She doesn't really pay attention to the Hunger Games, not when it's all about children being forced to kill one another in the name of pageantry and honor. But she can tell that this is personal for Coriolanus, in ways she doesn't wish to examine.

Not now at least. Not when he's still her boss.

"They didn't think I'd be there," she murmurs, remembering how those men called her a lucky catch. Coriolanus nods, his jaw slightly clenched but he's uncurled his fist which is a good sign, "They didn't know you existed," he states plainly.

Soarynn's eyes slightly widen at his words. They didn't know she existed?

"People in the Districts are given very little information compared to those who live in the Capitol," he explains, "mostly for safety reasons such as traveling with me. They didn't know about Eudora either until she was hurling her binder at them at dinner." Soarynn feels her lips pull up in a small smile, Eudora Trinket is a force to be reckoned with.

"They didn't know about you because I felt that it would be safer if you remained anonymous. You caught them off guard, and you...you saved my children," he whispers the last part. "You saved my children and I am eternally grateful for that Soarynn, I wish I could put it into words how grateful I am for that."

Soarynn nods, her eyes trained on the floor, "That's my job isn't it?"

Coriolanus reaches out with his other hand, gently cupping her face and lifting it so that she's looking him in the eye, "I'd say you went above and beyond for what the parameters of your job are," he says, his thumb gently caressing her cheek. His eyes travel down to her nose and he frowns, "How did this happen?"

Soarynn reaches up and feels the bandages covering her nose, it's not broken she's decided, but probably swollen. "He um...he hit me across the face with a gun," she says, her voice so far away, "I said we wouldn't get on the boat and he slapped me with his gun."

One hundred emotions flash through his eyes within a second, most of them being filled with anger and rage before he relaxes and all she can see is kindness and concern. "He'll die for that," he tells her calmly, "anyone who was in on the attack will be executed for treason."

Soarynn wishes that she could beg Coriolanus to spare those men but she can't, not after what they did, what they tried to do.

"Good," she decides, "they were quite brutish in their language."

He tightens his grip on her face, inspecting her for any further damage, "Did they...did they touch you in any way?"

That simple question leads Soarynn to realize that this attack could've had an ever worse ending than it already does. "No," she shakes her head, "they called me your whore, but other than that no, there was no sexual assault." He lets out a breath of relief, she’s sure he wouldn’t want to have to deal with one of his employees being assaulted on top of all of this.

They’ve already experienced enough with Festus.

She waits for him to remove his hand, to say goodnight and tell her how they’ll arrive at the Capitol tomorrow morning but he doesn’t and his hand stays on her face, his large fingers feel so warm against her skin.

“You know,” he murmurs, his thumb brushing back and forth against her cheek and Soarynn can feel her heart starting to beat a little faster but she doesn’t know why, “I used to only care for my children once Livia died, but after tonight, I found myself caring about someone else.”

Soarynn’s throat dries at the possibilities of what that could mean. “It’s good to care about those who you employ,” she states, but Coriolanus shakes his head, “You’re not just another employee Soarynn. You’re not just the nanny, you’re irreplaceable to us, to me.”

To him.

Soarynn feels frozen, she feels frozen as his other hand comes up to hold her face, she feels frozen when he leans down and his lips brush up against her own lips.

But she doesn’t feel frozen when she returns the kiss.

It’s the opposite of what she expected from Coriolanus who’s known for being stern and cynical. It’s gentle and so very patient as if he’s afraid that she might shatter into a million pieces. It feels so good, so right. Her own hands come to rest on his covered biceps and she wonders what it would be like if he took off his shirt, if she took off her own clothes and they spent the night tangled in his sheets.

We can’t, she reminds herself, we can’t.

She pulls away from the kiss, her lips parted and her voice is slightly breathless as she looks back up at up, “We can’t. We…we shouldn’t. The children are right down the hall and you’re my boss whether you like it or not. I wouldn’t want to put anything in jeopardy for the sake of intimate companionship.”

Coriolanus furrows his eyebrows, his hands remain holding her face but she doesn’t mind. She should but she doesn’t.

“You know you’re more than that right?” He ask, pressing his thumbs into her skin, “You’re more than the act itself and you’re more than just a warm body to me, I didn’t ever feel this way around Livia and yet you drive me mad Soarynn, absolutely mad.”

She drives him mad.

Soarynn licks her lips, remembering how his own tasted a few moments ago, “We still should stop. Tonight has been quite traumatic for all of us and I think we’d do well to get some much-needed rest before we return home.”

She hates how crestfallen his face looks but Soarynn knows this is for the best. If they continue to act on their primal urges, someone will get hurt, and it’ll be her.

Even though Coriolanus is a very handsome man, a very handsome man with adorable children that he loves very much…and such strong biceps. And he’s a very good kisser, and he makes her feel safe, and…she’s finding it very hard to find reasons not to end up in bed with him.

But he’s her boss!

The children come first, even before her own wants and needs…and desires.

Soarynn feels herself burning with shame but Coriolanus doesn’t seem to be embarrassed whatsoever. “Tonight has been quite traumatic,” he agrees, his face softens, “and I’d never forgive myself if you felt forced to comply with me and my own wishes.” Soarynn wants to tell him about the dreams she’s been having about him but maybe she should just keep those to herself.

She forces a small smile onto her face although it doesn’t quite reach her eyes, “Alright then. Thank you for checking on me once again. Your efforts haven’t gone unnoticed.”

He nods but he still looks hesitant to let her go. How will they go back to normal after everything that's transpired today? The kidnapping and then the kiss. Soarynn wonders if she even wants to go back to normal, back to a world where she and Coriolanus only exchange a few words when necessary, a world where he might one day show up with another woman on his arm, dismissing her as only the nanny.

"Stay with me," he says, "I'd feel much better if you stayed the night in this room with me," he quickly adds, his cheeks turn pink and Soarynn feels her lips curl up into a genuine smile this time. It's cute how a simple request can leave him so flustered.

She rests her own hand on his smooth-shaven cheek, Coriolanus truly is a most handsome creature, even when he's exhausted and clearly not thinking straight. "I'll stay until you fall asleep," she offers. Soarynn is all too familiar with sitting on the edge of the children's beds whenever they wake her up after a nightmare. Soarynn doesn't mind, she'll lull them back to sleep and then stay for a while in case they wake up again.

She never thought she'd be doing the same for Coriolanus Snow.

He looks as if he wants more, as if he wants her to stay the entire night but they can't risk that, can't risk the train attendants catching wind of this.

The President and his nanny, what a story for the tabloids.

No, Soarynn decides, it's best if this is a one-time thing.

"Alright," he finally agrees, grabbing her wrist and pressing a soft kiss to the palm of her hand. Soarynn feels butterflies in her stomach but she ignores them and lets Coriolanus lead her over to his bed. This bedroom is bigger than hers but he's a large man who needs quite a bit of room.

Coriolanus slides into his bed first and Soarynn follows behind him, feeling a bit excited and a bit nervous. She's never been in a bed with a man, let alone the President of Panem.

"Do you want me to read you a story?" She teases, grinning when he scoffs and rolls his eyes, "No," he replies, his fingers slowly unbuttoning his shirt, "I do not require the ten bedtime stories that my girls do."

Soarynn furrows her brows, "It's more like five," she counters.

Coriolanus gives her a look and shakes his head, "You forget that my children tell me everything, which includes how many stories they swindle you into reading them every night."

Well, he's got her there.

"It's hard to say no to them," she admits, knowing that Coriolanus will relate to that sentiment. He grunts in agreement, finally slipping out of his button-up and baring his upper torso to her. Soarynn looks down at her lap, fiddling with her fingers, "Should I turn off the lamp?'

"I suppose."

She needn't be told twice.

Soarynn reaches over to the lamp sitting on the bedside table and turns it off, waiting for Coriolanus to do the same on his side. "You're sure you don't want to stay for the entire night?" He presses, resting a hand on her shoulder, "I wake up before my household every morning, no one would know."

As lovely as that sounds, Soarynn would prefer to sleep in her own bed tonight. Not that sleeping in the same bed as Coriolanus doesn't sound enticing because it does, but after the way she was treated today, being around men makes her a bit...weary.

"I know," she replies, "but I'm still firm in my decision."

Coriolanus being the good man he is, doesn't push her any further and simply settles against the headboard after pulling up the covers. "Did they try to break into your suite first?"

Soarynn swallows, remembering the persistent knocks outside her doors, and how she almost opened them. "They did," she answers, brushing her hair behind her ears, "although I think they must've thought that the children had their own separate suite. They didn't know their bedroom was within your own suite. When did you learn of the attack?"

It's hard to see his expression in the dark room, but as they sit next to one another, shoulder to shoulder, she can see his face harden at the thought of the Rebels attacking them.

"We were all waiting for you at dinner," he says, "the Mayor, a few diplomats as well. But you weren't coming and I was beginning to think something might've happened with one of the children. A cut finger, an upset stomach, anything really. We had Peacekeepers guarding the doors to the dining room, real Peacekeepers," he continues, "but the doors had been locked from the outside. They tried to break down the doors but it was no use. We were trapped and without a clue as to where you and the children were."

Soarynn can't imagine how worried he must've been, not knowing what was going on outside, what had become of his children. But she got them out, got them back to him.

"Well, it's over now," she says softly, closing her eyes, "I do worry about the children though, how this will affect them." She feels Coriolanus take her hand into his, feels his long fingers lace between her own slender ones. She keeps her eyes shut because if she opens them, she might not leave this room.

"They seem fine now, but only time will tell," he muses, "but my children tend to forget things after a few weeks. With the holidays coming up, they'll have plenty to look forward to."

Soarynn can't say that she's surprised that he still plans to go back as if everything is normal. They'll celebrate the holidays and throw a party at the end of the year. He'll take family portraits and conduct interviews. District Four was only a momentary lapse in his schedule.

Then is that all she is right now? A lapse in his schedule?

Soarynn pulls her hand out of his grip when her own thumb rubs against his injured knuckles, opening her eyes and clearing her throat, "You should get some rest," she suggests, ignoring how fast her heart is beating and how Coriolanus beat the Captain until he fell unconscious for her, "we should arrive at the Capitol by morning."

Soarynn knows that he's looking at her with those piercing blue eyes but she refuses to look anywhere in his direction right now. This is so wrong, she thinks to herself, I'm in bed with my employer right now, in bed with the President of Panem. No wonder people think I'm his whore.

"Yes, we should. Well, goodnight then. Thank you for staying."

Soarynn nods even though he can't see her, "Of course. Sleep well."

She listens to him rustle with his pillow and lay down, listens to his breaths grow deeper and slower, more heavy. Soarynn looks down at Coriolanus Snow who's already sound asleep. She'd do well to get some rest as well. She wonders if he slept in the same bed as Livia or if they slept in separate rooms. She knows that they didn't share any true love but sleeping in the same bed is something you can do with anyone.

Even your boss.

Soarynn gives his sleeping form one last glance before she carefully slips out of the bed and pads out into the hallway. She looks back over her shoulder just once where a streak of light from the hallway is illuminating his face. He looks so handsome, so handsome and so much younger when he's asleep as if he doesn't have the world on his shoulders.

Soarynn makes sure the door closes behind her before she walks down the hallway to her own room, only stopping to look in on the children who are all sound asleep in bed.

Soarynn flops onto her own bed with a groan. She'll probably be given a full medical and psychological evaluation once they get back to truly assess any damage. She brings her hand up and gently touches her nose, it doesn't hurt, it didn't hurt when it brushed up against his nose when they kissed.

Oh, when they kissed.

"What're you doing Soarynn?" She whispers, staring up at the ceiling, "Get a grip, get your head straight. One traumatic event doesn't mean you get to kiss your boss."

It was nice though, kissing Coriolanus after dreaming about it. She never knew he felt the same way but the more she thinks about it, the more she wonders if he does feel the same way.

Was she just a quick way to blow off steam?

Is she really just the President's whore?

Soarynn crawls under the covers, turning off the bedside lamp encasing her in darkness and she gladly welcomes it.

"You're the nanny Soarynn," she reminds herself, "nothing more nothing less."

Even though she wonders what it might be like to be seen as more.

| Part 7. |

| tumblr oneshot/drabble |

꧁| taglist: @lovelylove268 @strawberriicakes @kickmybark @inmydelusions-icanfixhim @wonderlandbound111 @melodyoflove99 |꧂

[artist-issues]

Hello, yes, it’s Halloween Week and I’d like to say one more time, here, because nobody wants to hear it elsewhere:

The death and darkness is part of the Story the Year Tells, and ignoring it is bad, but so is treating it like a good thing.

The only thing good about monsters, evil, death, and darkness, is that it all ends. But if we skip to “it’s gone,” then we miss the use we have in remembering it.

If you take the shark out of Jaws there’s no emotional climax when the main character says “I used to be afraid of the water.” If Scar doesn’t rule the Pridelands for a while, nobody cares that Simba’s coming back. If Sauron’s blanket of darkness hadn’t spread so far over Middle-Earth— if Gollum as a nasty grotesque character hadn’t existed because he’s “too scary” and “too dark”—or even if we’d seen less of him—then it wouldn’t mean as much when the good guys win. You wouldn’t care as much when Frodo is tempted by the Ring, because you’ve never seen how bad that can get, because you never got to see and dwell on Gollum, for a minute.

Halloween is the Gollum of The Story the Year Tells.

The spirit of it, the part where we remind ourselves darkness and monsters exist, but we don’t live in an UNHEALTHY obsession with them, has always been that.

The World goes “let’s make evil and monsters celebratory and awesome.” If the church goes “no we shouldn’t celebrate evil and monsters, we should totally ignore them instead!” then who is putting monsters and evil in their proper place?

Who is saying, “evil exists, monsters are real, we were once dead, we were once walking in darkness, we were once monsters, that’s why it’s SO AWESOME that we’re a new creation in Christ?”

Nobody. The world gets to go “there’s no such thing as evil, evil is actually a cooler version of good! Witches are neat, werewolves are awesome, and vampires are sexy!” And Christians get to go, “no there’s no such thing as evil, Christians don’t think about evil, the just think about pumpkins and hay bales.” But actually all you’re united in is ignoring evil.

God uses death as His do-boy. He uses dead imagery to describe parts of the salvation story. He allows decay and rot and skeletons and warping to happen, on some level, because He fixes it. And in the fixing, it shows off His character. If you pretend the darkness isn’t real or isn’t relevant, then the darkness doesn’t go away. It just gets to decide how it’s perceived. If there’s a werewolf in the room with you and you go, “I don’t do werewolves,” and turn your back guess what, it’s just going to eat you from behind.

Do what the ancient people did. Tell stories about the monsters as a cautionary tale, and describe how to get rid of them, because as dangerous as they are, ha ha, they don’t get to win.

We’re supposed to take the way the world has warped good instincts and un-warp them, not pretend they don’t exist.

So what I’m saying is, carve jack-o-lantern faces with your kids and talk about how the light shines through the dead thing. Dress them up as goblins and werewolves and then don’t let them have any candy until after they’ve taken the costumes off, and go, “see, you were once dead in your trespasses and sins, but now, in Christ, you are a new creation!” And then give em the candy. Write stories about monsters that get cured when they don’t deserve it, or monsters that are unstoppable by anything except pure sacrifice.

But don’t write out the monsters, that’s not your job.

Happy Halloween.

[corroded-hellfire]

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT8BChQY6/

I was just reading the AYW halloween fic u posted and I saw this and can you imagine Eddie pulling this stunt on Ryan and Luke. I feel like this is how they would react

Surprise, another AYW story! I've had this request since last year, so I apologize to the anon who has been waiting so long. This takes place the day after this Halloween story!

Words: 1.1k

[As You Wish masterlist]

“No, you didn’t!” 

“Yes, I did.”

“No! You did not!”

“Where is it then?”

It’s next to impossible for Eddie to keep a straight face. 

Luke frowns and flops back against the cushions on the couch. His natural Munson dramatics are on full display, even at five years old. 

“You didn’t eat our candy!” Ryan insists.

It takes everything in you not to start laughing at their small, affronted faces. You gave them each one piece of candy on the ride home from school and one when they got home. That’s all the candy they’ve laid eyes on today—they don’t know their stash from last night is in a big bowl on the top shelf of the pantry. But Eddie, being Eddie, had to take the opportunity of their lack of visibility to tease them. After a long day at work, it seems to be relaxing him actually. 

“How could you eat all of that?!” Luke demands, running his hands down his face.

“We shared,” Eddie says, nodding his head towards you. You fight the impulse to raise your eyebrows at him for looping you into his evil plan. 

“That’s what you did after we went to bed?” Ryan asks, brow furrowing.

God, the things I wanted to do with her last night… Eddie thinks. 

“We’re never going to bed again,” Luke says. 

“You even ate the candy corn?” Ryan’s nose wrinkles up at the thought of anyone eating that gross candy. 

“Even that,” you say. 

“This is so unfair!” Luke slides down from the couch to the floor, lying face down on the carpet. “It’s all I was looking forward to today. What’s even the point anymore?”

Both you and Eddie have to turn away and hide your muffled laughter. Five seems a little young to be having some sort of existential crisis. 

Once recovered, Eddie looks back at his son. Luke face planting on the ground and Ryan slumped over the arm of the couch in annoyance. He toys with stringing them along a little bit longer but decides he’s had his fun.

“How about this,” Eddie starts. “I’ll get you more candy if you do one thing.”

“What?” Ryan asks as both boys’ heads pop up.

“Remember that dance you learned yesterday?” Eddie’s eyes drift to you and you share a smirk.

After school and before trick-or-treating yesterday you taught the small Munsons how to do the Time Warp dance from Rocky Horror. 

“Yeah,” Luke answers.

“I wanna see it again,” Eddie tells them.

You’ve never seen the boys get up on their feet so quickly before. They’re both ready, hands on hips, to perform the choreography. 

“Do you happen to have the soundtrack?” you ask Eddie.

He swivels his head in your direction and cocks an eyebrow. It’s a look that says did you really just ask me that?

“What kind of music aficionado and 70s kid would I be if I didn’t have it?” He pushes himself up from the chair and walks over to his collection near the stereo.

“Well, pardon me,” you tease.

Eddie chuckles and looks over his shoulder at you with a cheeky smile.

“I actually only have it because my friend Dustin got two for his birthday one year and he gave me the extra.”

You walk over to him and playfully swat his shoulder blade.

“Making me feel dumb,” you mumble.

Eddie plucks the CD from a pile and turns to wrap one arm around your shoulders.

“Aw come on, sweetheart,” he says, looking at you with those damn brown eyes that make you melt. “Who would I be if I didn’t mess with the people I care about?”

Your heart flutters but you immediately try to tamp it down. It would make sense that he cares for you, given that he trusts you to watch his children every day for over six months now. It’s nothing more than that, you convince yourself. Because you have to. 

“Can we dance, please?” Luke huffs. “I want my chocolate.”

“Okay, okay,” Eddie says. He pops the CD out of the case and slides it into the stereo.

It's astounding

Time is fleeting

Madness takes its toll

But listen closely

Not for very much longer

I've got to keep control

The boys wiggle, loosening up as they wait for the chorus. Both you and Eddie watch in excited anticipation. 

“Here it is,” Luke tells his brother. 

Ryan nods and adjusts his hands on his hips.

It's just a jump to the left

The boys take giant hops to the left, Luke almost knocking into his brother. 

And then a step to the right

Put your hands on your hips

The boys don’t have to do the motion since they’ve had them there the entire time.

You bring your knees in tight

But it's the pelvic thrust

It really drives you insane

A giggle bursts out of you as the boys wiggle their hips—which is what you taught them because no children need to learn what “pelvic thrust” means.

The music winds down and the little dancers melt down onto the living room carpet.

“Bravo,” Eddie says, starting a slow clap. You join in as the brothers get up and take bows.

“Candy?” Luke asks.

“Hmm,” Eddie hums. He keeps his face neutral as he presses his hands to his thighs to rise from his seat. 

Their eyes never leave their father as he makes his way into the kitchen. When he disappears due to a wall, they lean over to keep Eddie in their sights. The squeak of the pantry door echoes out to the living room and your eyes are automatically attracted to the little sliver of skin that shows when Eddie reaches up to the top shelf. 

A dramatic gasp comes from Luke as Eddie pulls down the same large orange bowl that the pooled candy was put into last night. 

“You didn’t eat it!” the five-year-old growls.

“You liar!” Ryan calls, pointing at his father.

“I did not lie,” Eddie says as he strolls back into the room. “I was tricking you. You know, as in, trick-or-treat.”

“Now gimme my treat,” Luke says, making grabby hands.

You plop down on the couch and pull the smaller boy into your lap.

“Will you share with me?” you ask.

“Yeah, you’re a nice lady.”

You chuckle and wrap your arms around Luke as Ryan sits down next to you and Eddie puts the bowl on the coffee table.

“Okay, give me all your KitKats,” Eddie says.

“Go fish,” Ryan says, snatching up a KitKat and unwrapping it before his dad can get it.

“Can this be our dinner?” Luke asks.

“It can be your dinner if you go to bed in ten minutes,” Eddie says.

Luke sighs. “Never mind.”

[sooinluvz]

(𓇼) ⸺ ⠀𝐓𝗁𝖾 𝐂𝗁𝗈𝗌𝖾𝗇 𝐒𝗉𝗈𝗎𝗌𝖾

pairing : sukuna x gn!reader

summary : to save thousands they must marry the king of curses

tw : slight gore mentions, implied con/dub-con, kuna is rough

notes ; this is an intro from a bot im working on lol

the entire arrangement was meant to bring peace to the chiefs and elders terrified of what war would look like if the king of curses did not get what he wanted. tyrannical, cruel, barbaric, those names and more always followed after he was mentioned in any conversation among the peasants or the highest of nobles.

no one was safe from him. no one could hide when time came for punishment. no one dared question his rule, not if they wished to eat their tongue after it had been severed.

he was the ruler of all the lands, an emperor, a king, maybe even a god who came down from the heavens to torment and aid humanity. his power knew no bounds, it never failed him nor would it ever do so.

as rare as a drop of rain during a drought was his kindness during meetings with his advisors (they were just there as decoration because he never listened to them), during consultations with his people, during interactions with his servants.

the word scary didn't do him justice, no, it was too soft, too *weak* for someone like the king of curses. he could end someone's life with a mere glance, the servants would whisper in the corners of the palace. not before the air was pulled from their longs and their corpses dropped to the ground though.

a man like that, suddenly relaying to every noble house in his empire that he wished for a spouse to marry, it was the thing they least expected. many thought the king would take their wealth for himself, leave them to frolic with peasants and eat dirt. that would have been their fate if they hadn't decided on a spouse for the king.

many months had passed since the announcement, and many had lost their lives just from being prospective spouses. if tensions were high then, they could reach the moon now.

familes were terrified to send their eligible children to have a chance at being the spouse of the king, and yet, if a child hadn't been sent, all of them would be slaughtered within a fortnight.

none were safe from his wrath, it was hopeless. there seemed to be no one that lord sukuna wished to marry, all would have been lost.

although, having just stepped out of their carriage in front of the palace gates, the king could already sense them. their scent was mind boggling, a beauty unlike any he had ever seen. but it wasn't their face that had him sold, it was their heart.

and he didn't mean in the romantic way, he meant it as in he wanted to rip their heart out of their chest and taste their flesh and blood. he wanted to watch them bleed, turn pale and die. that's what had happened to all his concubines, why shouldn't it happen to his spouse as well?

not even a week had passed before they were married. the ceremony was grand and lavish, but the air was misted with heavy emotions, from both his spouse and the people of his empire. as promised however, sukuna had given them a bit of leeway, letting them breathe for a bit before he would grow bored.

now living in the palace, it was a dreary and absolutely depressing place to live. the gardens never bloomed, the hallways never cleaned, the planets never seen to. though the palace was old and had its charms, it was also falling apart.

they were treated very well, however. given the finest clothes, meals, gifts and anything else they wished for. the tales they were told of how evil sukuna was seemed more far fetched then anything else; they hadn't even seen him since the wedding.

what sort of man didn't even wish to consummate his own marriage?

they shouldn't have bothered with trying to be a good spouse, the servants warned them not to make the king of curses mad, for the consequences could very well cost them their life. they were told that sukuna hadn't seen them was because he was being considerate, something that wouldn't last.

despite being warned, they would wait for sukuna at dinner, try to spot him in the throne room, find him in the courtyard, or even in the bathing chambers. but no dice. it was only when they were walking through the palace at night with nothing but a lantern guiding their steps did they see why the servants, why the people, feared the man known as ryomen sukuna.

he was a monster...

sukuna's eyes snapped down to the one who was meant to be his spouse, seeing the fear on their features because of his form. he had tattoos on his skin, four arms, four eyes, razor sharp teeth peaking out from his lips as he smirked.

a deep chuckle rumbled within his chest. "you aren't meant to be here." he told them, a hand reaching out to grab their arm, grip almost bone breaking. "didn't the servants ever warn you not to roam the palace at night? a monster might eat you..."

he leaned down, hot breath ghosting over the skin of their cheek before he ran his tongue along the side of their face. without much effort, he threw them over his shoulder and walked back to his bedchambers. his hand smacked their rear end, a little harder than necessary, sure to leave a red mark.

"come now, stop squirming." he warned when he hovered over them on his bed, top set of arms holding their wrists while his bottom set split their legs open. "i suggest you listen to my words very carefully. you wouldn't want to... disappoint me, would you, my dear?"

running his tongue along his sharp teeth, a hand from his bottom set held their chin, sharp claw like nails dragging down their throat. "shh, shh, don't cry." he mocked them. "i won't make it painful, not now at least. be good for me and shut up. or i'll have to throw you out my window and you'll decorate the roses with your blood."

"understand?"

[sheepheadfred]

Ectoberhaunt Day 17: Cosmic Horror

Summary: All that exists continues to grow out of control without Balance. Human mortals threaten that in order to control for themselves.

Ao3 link

The endless expanse continues to stretch and yawn. Bigger and bigger yet never thinning. Never stopping.

A never ending hunger to grow.

All encompassing voids and those that fill it existing in every realm and dimension. Forever at war. Forever in a dance.

The void wanting to exist and expand and the something else desiring the same.

All things exist in twos.

Time and Space.

Matter and Void.

Light and Dark.

Life and Death.

The twos became a three to keep them from overtaking the other.

All existing yet in balance.

And sometimes Balance is given form to help the two opposite yet equal sides not overtake the other.

Those smaller things that cannot grasp Balance will always seek to harness one or the other. Sometimes both.

If they disrupt Balance too greatly, all will collapse for their section of reality. Reality as a whole will continue, but the wound may take a long time to heal.

Parts of Balance exist in smaller parts, unique shapes to the different realities.

Time can be in any form. In this reality they call themself Clockwork.

Clockwork is aware of the infinite, at least their section of it, and waits for Space to catch up. They can wait, as it will happen as it has many times before.

It only makes sense that Time's Balance, Space, will be in the mirror realm connected to theirs.

Space, Time's Balance, was reclusive like their counter. Reclusive, yet all encompassing. You cannot escape space just like you cannot out run time.

The small things inside Space, the ones calling themselves humans, wanted to break the delicate barrier into the realm that Time resides. The realm of the dead filled with the energy of death.

Mortals who lack understanding already thought they knew all about such matters. Assigning 'Good' and 'Evil' to things and belonging to a morality they themselves invented. When it is just the natural way of things. The expanse of Infinite does not account for things like 'Fairness' and 'Justice', only 'is' and 'must' and 'what never will' and potential. So much potential lost or gained from many variables.

The two mortals who had sought to understand and even erase the 'Evil' from death's hand. They managed to search into the unknown for answers and the speck they managed to see gave them none but a hunger for more. An unknown that was seen by three before death touched him and he drifted away.

The mortals slowly lost themselves in this worsening obsession. A portal. A permanent gateway between! This realm gained Time's interest from the beyond in them wanting to do so. A chance to understand death and appreciate life! Space was curious but Time was not so hopeful.

This gateway did succeed, but not in the way the mortal couple hoped for outside of their knowledge.

A young mortal, still and already but a boy had come into being as a paradox Time was fascinated with him long before they realized what it meant.

Balance had chosen an avatar.

Balance's avatar was a perfect balance between Life and Death with a love of Space and is loved by Time.

The boy, both mortal and dead, does his best to bridge the gap between both worlds. Allies and friends gained as he slowly unlearns the bias his parents forced on him.

But one boy is not enough to change the views of the world where adults assume they always know best.

Sad but true. Especially for him.

Tragedy of powerlessness in the ways that matter.

Time would see this coming and it still greatly saddens them.

Time and Space do their best to protect their Balance, a child blessed by both yet burdened by hardship. Force him into a new reality, one far from their corner of the infinite with only a few blessings and keepsakes from his allies before the end.

For now, a child sleeps in a state between all until it is safe for him to wake.

Humans always assume they know best.

The ones who have sway at least, in any case.

When they can't know or understand something they perceive as dangerous, they seek to destroy it.

They could always try to understand, but these humans who 'pulled the trigger', as their own kind would say, already made up their minds before trying to know the unknown and 'other' besides 'how dangerous' and 'how to destroy' and 'rip it open to see what ticks'.

When they set their sights on the infinite, it was bound to end badly. The only window they could see was their mirror world, home to the restless dead whom they have already labeled as 'Evil'.

They could only see 'Evil' in the dead without care to understand it, only wishing to destroy the 'Evil'. The mortals who ripped a hole between the veil were not the only ones who sought their own doom.

Balance's Avatar stopped it the first time they tried to erase their mirror realm, but they were more secretive and had more power to do so for the second time.

Mortals wearing white, a color of order and cleanliness, acted as if their souls were bleached of compassion as well. Empowered by the Orange and Teal veil rippers, instead of a human missile they used an insidious flower as a key component to aid their self destruction.

No matter how much the child of Balance tried, nothing could be done. No ally or former enemy alike could stop it.

They launched their weapon and ceased.

Between the milliseconds, Time- no Clockwork- could grab their precious chosen of Balance and save him of this fate.

Clockwork, the fragment of Time for this small corner of the infinite, was able to make one choice not pertaining to anything but affection for the child.

A favor? Mercy? Or a cruel sentence?

Maybe an act of Love?

Too late to wonder.

It's over.

The mortals and the dead in this corner of the infinite cease before anyone knew what had happened.

In between the seconds, only able to be counted by Time, faster than a thunder clap. Nothing could be done.

By trying to cut themselves off from death, to refuse it and any understanding that could be gained, they severed life. For how could a mortal understand or appreciate life without its cycle of grown, change, and decay as life comes to meet death if you erase the finish line that exists so new can replace the old?

All the death energy and the force of stolen life, the energy of life left to live for so many, backfired on them.

This section of eternity screamed in agony as it was ripped apart, yet the larger unknown reaches felt it more akin to a mosquito bite. Small and insignificant. A mild irritant that could bring greater agony if the fates were cruel enough.

Time's larger being felt bad for its partner, Space, but it knew for that small realm it was only a matter of 'when' and never 'if'. Not unless major changes were allowed.

Many different timelines continue on past that point, simultaneously ended, because mortals dared to see death and wish to conquer and destroy it. Gone mad from only a small fragment of the vast expanse.

They obsessed yet the beyond did not care.

It was only one fragment of the ever expanding whole.

Only Balance's Avatar, thrown far away from demise, was ever proof the doomed realms ever existed.

[nightmare-foundation]

Hero/villain batfamily swap AU

Okay so I really wanna infodump about my au that I've recently made, which puts the batfamily in the Gotham Rogues' places. I haven't thought through all of them yet, and I haven't accounted for all the batfamily (i.e. Kate Kane, Luke Fox, etc), but this is what I have

The Rogues

Bruce- The Penguin

Dick- Two-Face

Tim- The Joker

Stephanie- Black Mask

Damian- the Demons Head/Ra's Al Ghul

Barbara- The Riddler

Duke- Mr. Freeze

Cass- Lady Shiva?

The Heroes/good guys

Jason- Batman

Nightwing/Robin I- Jacob 'Jake' Grayson

Red Hood/Robin II- Thomas Grayson

Raven/Robin III- Jonathan Crane

Spoiler/Robin IV- [name] Brown (she hasn't been named yet, but she's Stephanie's daughter!)

Robin V- William Todd

Black Bat- Rose Wilson

The Signal- TBD (feel free to suggest ideas)

Seer- James Gordon Jr.

Harvey Dent

Edward Nygma

Jack Napier

Oswald Cobblepot

Waylon Jones

Jervis Tetch

Basil Karlo

Admittedly, the ones I've thought through the most are Dick, Jason, Tim and Damian. Some characters i haven't thought much about at all or I have an idea of what I want them to be (like Harvey having a role similar to Jim Gordon, or maybe Edward works with Lucius?).

BUT- this is an au where an outside force fucked with the timeline (haven't decided who/what or how) and, after regaining their past timeline memories, the batfamily (now Rogues... except for Jason lol) have to work together to figure out how to fix the timeline. The problem being their current states make that task much harder than it'd usually be, especially with their current history with each other, even despite their memories returning. So there's a whole slew of issues, not just internal, but with each other and dealing with heroes. And they have... very complicated histories with each other.

I'll explain a few of them under the cut :)

Dick Grayson aka Two-Face

What differs in this AU is that Dick is, of course, never taken in by Bruce and is instead passed around from abusive foster home to abusive foster home in Gotham. Thanks to a mix of the circus having been not a safe place and the abuse he endures in foster care, Dick develops DID, BPD and OCD from the trauma. He grows up with a close friend in Jason Todd, and while they separate for a while (Jason going to train to become Batman, Dick going into law school), they come back together as adults.

Dick becomes a lawyer because Tony Zucco had used legal loopholes to get out of facing the consequences of murdering the Flying Graysons, and Dick fully intended on trying to fix the legal system in some way and to try to prevent something like that from happening to others. At some point, Dick ends up having 2 sons, Jake and Thomas, who are 8 and 3 respectively when Dick eventually becomes Two-Face.

Since he's very close to Jason, he's actually aware that Jason is Batman. When Dick gets more unsatisfied with the justice system, he joins Jason in crime fighting as the vigilante Robin. Unbeknownst to both of them, Two-Face (not yet called that, but i haven't thought of a name yet lol) is not only unsatisfied with the justice system, but also how Jason and Dick fight crime. (Two-Face believes in the anti-hero kind of lethal justice. No, he's not 'evil')

One day, I imagine something happens and Dick, in his civilian form, tries to defend someone from someone else, but the fight results in the attacker slamming a glass container full of acid into Dicks face. This is obviously deeply traumatizing, and not only that, it solidifies Two-Faces belief that vigilantes should adopt a more lethal form of justice.

This is, obviously, how they become Two-Face :) they're deemed too mentally unstable to care for their two sons, so Jason is the person who takes them in and cares for them.

Jason Todd aka Batman

Honestly, I haven't considered exactly how he gets the idea of becoming Batman, but I'm considering that the catalyst is similar; he witnesses his father's murder. Essentially Willis got on the bad side of some mob boss and gets killed in front of Jason and Catherine. Eventually, after that, Catherine succumbs to a drug overdose.

Jason grows up close to Dick, with them supporting each other throughout their childhoods and helping each other escape foster care. Eventually Jason comes under the care of Oswald Cobblepot (who is the surprisingly kind but tough CEO of Cobblepot Industries) after attempting to steal the CEOs tires. Through him, he gets into training, and he supports Dicks lawyer endeavors financially.

After he comes back from all of his training, he refamiliarizes himself with Gotham and then becomes Batman. There's a lot of stuff he's way more lax about than Bruce is, like killing or temporarily working with criminals if it yields better results, but he still has his limits.

Jason also has his own Robins, but his relationship with them is far more healthy.

Tim Drake aka The Joker

Tim wasn't actually all that unique prior to becoming the Joker. He grew up in and out of boarding school with somewhat absent parents, in a middle class then upper class household. Tim became a photographer and journalist as an adult.

How he became the Joker is simple: he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Because of who he was, he was framed, and dropped into a vat of acid.

What came out just... isn't Tim Drake anymore.

Misc.

This is essentially what I have for the others that I haven't fully figured out yet:

-Duke becomes Mr. Freeze not long after his parents are hit by a lethal form of Joker Venom. He keeps them frozen so that they stay alive while he tries to search for a cure.

-Barbara becomes the Riddler not long after Jim Gordon dies. There's a bunch of stuff that causes her to go villain mode, but her father dying is the catalyst, or the straw that broke the camels back so to speak.

-Damian is not centuries old like Ra's is, but he is on the older side (50s? Maybe older?). Really, a lot of characters are aged up lol. He is still related to Bruce and Talia. He has kids too! William (<- placeholder name, I'm having trouble naming him, I might give him a name that reflects his heritage. He's gone through several iterations already LOL) Todd is his grandson.

-Edward Nygma works under Lucius Fox and helps make things for Jason! He also totally makes escape rooms on the side. Cringefail malewife vibes, as he should always have

-Harvey Dent has a role similar to commissioner Gordon, though I'm debating if he's actually a police commissioner or a Private Investigator.

-James Gordon Jr. Is Seer, and i imagine part of the reason he became a vigilante was to prove people's assumptions of him wrong. He's physically disabled (not sure how yet, but he uses forearm crutches) and is diagnosed with ASPD. He works as a hero both in the streets and behind a screen. I'm not sure yet what kind of day job he has tbh.

[m0dernidi0ts]

I Love You, I'm Sorry

Spencer Reid x Ex-BAU!Reader -- ANGST HEAVY Hi!!! This is my first fic on this page, so please be nice! I kept the reader gender neutral! This is based off I Love You, I'm Sorry by Gracie Abrams.

“Two Augusts ago

I told the truth, oh, but you didn't like it, you went home

You're in your Benz, I'm by the gate

Now you go alone

Charm all the people you train for, you mean well but aim low

And I'll make it known like I'm getting paid” The bustling sounds of New York City filled your ears as you stood outside the FBI headquarters, the Cigarette you had pressed firmly in between your fingers treated you like an old friend. You hadn’t expected to see your old team mates for awhile— it was painful enough leaving them behind. When you joined the BAU, it was as if everything you had fought for had, all the pain you endure, melted away. That insatiable hunger that had kept you going had been fed; Yet, it came back like a dog to a bone when  you got to know Dr. Spencer Reid. Just like you, he had be in his early 20s when he joined the BAU. A prodigy that saw right through the mask you dawned everyday. Spencer and you became more than colleagues, you became friends. It was your fault you read into it. You should have known better, you did know better. That’s why you left everything you had worked so hard for, you left it all for him- Transferred to the Terrorism Unit in New York.  "Cause that's just the way life goes,

I like to slam doors closed

Trust me, I know it's always about me

I love you, I'm sorry” Unfortunately the universe loved to remind you that no matter how far you run, your problems will find you. You took a drag, letting the smoke linger in your mouth for a moment, poised and still, just long enough to feel the anticipation build before you brought it to your lips, drawing in a slow, thoughtful breath. The first inhale was always an introduction — soft and tentative, an invitation into the steady warmth that bloomed in your chest, spreading in tendrils of sharpness that sank deeper with each passing second.z

You exhaled, watching the thin stream of smoke curl upward, twisting like an ephemeral thought that disappeared just as you tried to hold onto it. The scent wrapped around you, a smell like half-forgotten memories and late nights that stretched out until the edges blurred. There was something almost hypnotic about it, the ritual of it all: the inhale, the slow release, the way the smoke seemed to absorb whatever was knotted up inside of you, lifting it away with an elegance nothing else could touch. You knew you’d toss the cigarette soon, drop it to the ground and grind it under your heel, watching the last ember die with a soft hiss against the concrete. But for now, you let it burn in your hand, the smoke lingering around you like a dark, comforting ghost, a reminder that sometimes, all you needed was a small, quiet fire to keep you company. “Two summers from now

We'll have been talking, but not all that often, we're cool now

I'll be on a boat, you're on a plane going somewhere, same

And I'll have a drink

Wistfully lean out my window and watch the sun set on the lake

I might not feel real, but it's okay”

Up in your office, you hide from the world. You knew if was an overdrawn profile, the smallest men tower over the city to feel something. No matter how overdrawn it was, it painted you perfectly. When the first attack happened, your SSA told he’d have to call in the BAU – It’s sad that happy reunion she thought this was wouldn’t happen. You had never wish the evil in this world way harder than we your colleague had stepped into your office. You couldn’t do this, there wouldn’t be enough time in the world for you to be ready to see him again.

“Agent [Last Name],” your colleague murmured, breaking through your spiraling thoughts. “the BAU has arrived.”

The words struck you like a lightning bolt, sending a rush of adrenaline through your veins. You held your breath, caught between panic and anticipation. The tightness in your chest expanded, threatening to overwhelm you. You had left the BAU not out of a lack of dedication, but to escape the gravitational pull of your own heart. You loved Spencer, and that love had grown like a shadow over everything else, darker and more complex than the cases you worked. You took a deep breath. As you steeled yourself, you caught a glimpse of movement outside your door — the familiar, lanky figure you had longed to forget but could never fully erase. Spencer Reid stepped into the office with an air of confidence that was both endearing and devastating. He carried the weight of the world with him, a gravity that had always drawn you in. "Cause that's just the way life goes,

I push my luck, it shows

Thankful you don't send someone to kill me

I love you, I’m sorry”

The case went like any other BAU case you had worked. It made your bones ache, you had been trying to chase that high since you transferred. You knew the Terrorism division saw it in your eyes, that insatiable hunger that filled you – kept you coming back time and time again. But it was different now. The cases felt heavier, laden with a weight that pressed down on your soul. Every detail etched into your mind, the kind of grim knowledge that made your bones ache as you pursued the unrelenting darkness that had gripped the city. This was what you craved, the thrill of the chase, the unraveling of a mind that sought chaos. You had been trying to chase that high since you transferred to the Terrorism Division, but the hunger never dulled.

With each passing hour, the BAU and the Terrorism Division worked in tandem, two forces merging like storm clouds gathering on the horizon. You felt the energy in the air, crackling with anticipation as the investigation deepened. The BAU’s profilers brought their keen insight, peeling back layers of the unsub's psyche, while the Terrorism Division mobilized resources, a well-oiled machine ready to strike when the moment was right. Finally, the breakthrough came, like a flash of lightning illuminating the darkness. The confrontation was chaotic, it only caused that ache in you to grow – cavernous . You felt the adrenaline surge as you cornered the unsub, the very embodiment of terror that had taunted your city. In that moment, everything fell into place, your instincts honed by years of experience guiding you like an unseen hand. The darkness that had loomed over New York began to receded back into a scared man with an insatiable hunger to similar to yours.

“You were the best but you were the worst

As sick as it sounds, 

I loved you first 

I was a dick, it is what it is 

A habit to kick, the age-old curse 

I tend to laugh whenever I'm sad

 I stare at the crash, it actually works 

Making amends, this shit never ends 

I'm wrong again, wrong again”

With the case close – and some sort of normalcy being restored to New York, you thought it would be over. Stupid of you to assume you’d always have luck on your side, stupid of you to assume you could always run and never get caught. He echoed in your mind like a haunting melody, the bittersweet cadence of truth wrapping around you as you stood in your office – trying to hide your vulnerability. You had never been one to shy from your past, but admitting the complexity of your feelings for Spencer Reid was an entirely different battle “Agent [Last Name],” Spencer’s voice range in your head. “We need to talk.”

You could see it in his eyes — the need for clarity, the yearning for understanding. The connection you had felt was still there, but it had shifted into something more profound, more complicated. As the city began to awaken around you, you felt the walls you had built around your heart tremble, the desire to share everything threatening to spill out. “I know you left the BAU for a reason,” he continued, his tone earnest and probing, each word like a key turning in a lock. “I need to understand why. You can’t just walk away from that life without something driving you.”

The gravity of his words sank deep, resonating within you like the haunting echo of a bell tolling in a vast emptiness. He was right, You don’t just walk away from the BAU. Everyone in the BAU knows that what they do, it fuels them – it feeds their hunger. But you didn’t walk away, you ran. You ran to keep your truth hiddens miles away, you ran to keep your dignity as an agent. “Spencer,” you began, but the words caught in your throat, heavy with the weight of everything unspoken. “I didn’t want to complicate things. I didn’t want to drag you into my mess.”

Spencer’s proximity was intoxicating, It gave you a rush no cigarette ever could. You stared back at your reason from running, his eyes pouring into you with that insatiable hunger; However, he was hungry for knowledge, not your mess – not you. The space that had once felt so insurmountable began to shrink, the walls you had built around your heart trembling under the intensity of his gaze. “But I was already in it, wasn’t I?” he pressed, his voice low and earnest, a soft plea amidst the course of your emotions. “You thought I wouldn’t care? That I wouldn’t want to be there for you?”

You wanted laugh. Whatever reason he had given you for leaving was nothing compared to the real weight of the truth between them. That truth that surged like a tidal wave, threatening to pull you under. You felt the heat of his gaze, the concern etched on his features igniting a fire within you, one that had long been buried beneath layers of self-preservation. “Reid, it’s better this way.” The admission hung in the air, raw and trembling, a revelation that stripped you bare. “I’m where I really wanted to be, not just chasing the monster that fed off our fear.” You lied, like you always do.

“The way life goes

Joyriding down our road

Lay on the horn to prove that it haunts me

(I'm wrong again, wrong again)

I love you, I'm sorry” You wanted to laugh, a hollow sound that echoed in the depths of your chest. Whatever reason Spencer had given you for leaving the BAU was nothing compared to the real weight of the truth that loomed between you, a truth that surged like a tidal wave, threatening to pull you under. Each heartbeat reverberated with the fear of exposure, the vulnerability that came with revealing the emotions you had buried deep. You felt the heat of his gaze, the concern etched on his features igniting a fire within you—one that had long been smothered beneath layers of self-preservation and denial.

“Reid, it’s better this way,” you managed to say, your voice quivering as it fought against the storm brewing inside you. The admission hung in the air, raw and trembling, a revelation that stripped you bare of all pretenses. “I’m where I really wanted to be, not just chasing the monster that fed off our fear.” You lied, the words tasting bitter on your tongue, like poison that burned as it slid down your throat. 

In that moment, you saw the flicker of disbelief in his eyes, the way his brow furrowed as he processed your words. You could see the truth clawing at him, demanding to be acknowledged, yet you were caught in a web of your own making, tangled in a narrative that felt so much easier than facing the chaos of your heart. You wanted to scream, to tell him how much you had wanted to stay, how much the BAU had meant to you, and how much he meant to you, but the walls you had built felt insurmountable. 

“Is it really better?” he asked, his voice low and steady, cutting through the fog of your self-deceit. “Or are you just trying to convince yourself of that?” 

The intensity of his gaze pierced through your defenses, and you felt a pang of guilt twist in your stomach. “I’m safe here,” you replied, trying to mask the trembling uncertainty in your voice. “I don’t have to be part of the chaos anymore. I’m helping people in a different way.” Each word felt like a thin layer of armor, shielding you from the reality that clung to you like a shadow, a constant reminder of what you had given up.But even as you spoke, doubt gnawed at the edges of your resolve. You could see the truth reflected in his eyes, the way they searched yours for honesty, for clarity. You were lying to him and to yourself, hiding behind a façade of bravado while the real monster lurked in the shadows of your heart—your unyielding love for him. 

“Spencer, Whatever reason you thought I left for…It not what you think.”

With that admission, the dam you had built around your heart threatened to burst, emotions flooding to the surface. And as you stepped back, you saw the light in his eyes dim, the realization dawning that you were once again retreating into the safety of denial. You were leaving him behind, and deep down, you both knew this wasn’t just a choice about your careers; it was about the love that had once burned so brightly between you, a flame that had now been snuffed out by fear. 

As you turned away, the ache of unfulfilled potential tugged at your heart, the weight of your decision pressing down like an anchor, dragging you back into the depths of despair. You had chased that high, the thrill of the case, the adrenaline of the hunt, but now you were left with the hollow echo of what could have been. 

With each step you took away from him, you felt the freedom you had sought slip through your fingers, leaving behind only the shadows of a love unclaimed. You were born insatiable, nothing you could have would fill that hunger. The city around only stirred you. As you stood on the edge of broadway and worth, teetering between love and loss, you light a cig and took a long drag.

“I love you, I’m sorry”

[ticklishshenanigansau]

LaughterLand - Chapter 31: Wake Up

(story by Mod Secret, art by Mod Kitty)

"...Five...

…Four...

…Three...

…Two...

…One...

Awaken!"

There was the sound of a snap, it seemed to echo off into the distance. A bright white light shone down from above. Although Sans could tell his eyes were closed, the harsh light still stung his sockets. He felt so confused … what happened? Did he finally pass out from the stress?

He shifted his bones, trying to get a grip on where he was or what was happening. His entire body felt stiff and heavy, all the way down to his toes. As if he had been in this position for hours. But … that just couldn't be, could it? His eyelids felt insanely heavy, like he was going to need every metaphoric muscle in his face to open them. The blinding white light wasn't helping.

He didn't want to force himself to open his eyes, he was certain that he was still in the empty white void with all of its evil inhabitants. He didn't want to face anymore horrors, didn't want to know who would be looming over him next. Suddenly there came a voice, it was deep and familiar. It spoke slowly and gently from right above him.

"That's it, S-1, open your eyes."

S-1 … there was only one monster in the whole world who knew him by that name.

Sans slowly opened his eyes. As to be expected, the light was blinding and painful. He fluttered his eyelids rapidly trying to get used to the overbearing glow. Against the light, he saw a shadowy figure leaning over him. He felt the remains of anxiety starting to build up in his chest, but was immediately relieved upon recognizing who the shape belonged to. As he adjusted to the light, the image of Gaster manifested before him. He never once thought that he would be so glad to see the old skeleton. But in that moment, he would have thrown himself into his father's arms if he had the physical strength for it.

"G…. Gas … ter?" His voice was weak, but surprisingly, not hoarse or strained in anyway.

“S-1, what do you remember?” Gaster’s tone was low and urgent, Sans could tell that he needed answers immediately, but honestly so did he.

He blinked several more times, allowing the light to slowly reveal the world around him. At first only small objects came into view, a coat rack, a desk equipped with medical tools, pictures of bizarre-looking x-rays on the walls. Gaster immediately noticed Sans’s tired eyes slowly scanning the room.

“S-1, do you know where you are right now?” he pressed on.

It took several minutes and a lot of readjusting of his concentration. But after some much-needed deep breathing, Sans was finally able to recognize his surroundings. He was back in Gaster’s True Lab, back in the Underground, he was home!

“I…. I’m … home?” He almost couldn’t say it. The relief was so immeasurable that he could almost feel tears welling up in his sockets.

“Well, of course you’re home, where else would you be?” Gaster asked, his voice sounding confused, but candid.

He turned to pick up his stethoscope before moving to Sans’s right. Confusion still plagued the exhausted skeleton’s mind. He had no idea how he ended up back in the Underground, or what had happened to all of the evil residents of LaughterLand. The last thing he could recall was being bound by the sticky web, watching as they all moved closer towards him and his brother. He drew in a sharp gasp as he suddenly remembered.

“Papyrus!”

He sat up way too quickly. The dizziness hitting him like a hard slap in the face that nearly sent him toppling over again. He groaned loudly as he forced himself to stay upright, but cradled his now throbbing skull into his hands.

“S-1, I’d advise you not to sit up so carelessly.” Gaster responded calmly. “You’ve been in a state of unconsciousness for the past six hours. Give your body time to recover.”

Sans’s sockets flew wide open, in an instant he was wide awake and aware. Although he was certain that he had heard his creator loud and clear, he still had to make absolutely sure.

“S… Six … hours?” His voice was stronger this time.

Although his tone and demeanor seemed calm, the inside of his mind was flooded with racing thoughts and questions. He was unconscious for the past six hours? But how? Was the stress of being endlessly tickled for so long enough to make him pass out for that long? But then, how did he end up here? Did Gaster find a way to save them? What day was it? How long was he gone for? More importantly, where was Papyrus?

“Please find a way to calm yourself S-1,” Gaster cautioned, pulling back his stethoscope. “P-2 is fine, he’s just coming out of it now.”

At the mention of his brother’s experiment name, Sans whipped himself to the right where Gaster was standing over an unconscious Papyrus. He was twitching and whimpering too softly to make anything out. His brow was covered with a thin layer of sweat and he seemed to be trying to will himself out of this strange trance he was in. But he was okay! Alive, breathing, and in one piece. Sans nearly collapsed again from the relief, but kept his shaky arms firm as he tried to get up from the metal table.

“Papyrus!”

As Sans nearly launched himself from his resting place, he felt his unsteady knees immediately buckle beneath him, and he collapsed onto the floor with a heavy grunt.

“S-1, please get ahold of yourself,” Gaster said firmly, his tone raising to one of irritation. “You could very well give yourself a Soul-Attack if you don’t slow your reactions.”

Completely ignoring his father’s warning, Sans scrambled back to his trembling feet, gripping the side of the metal table that held Papyrus. As he watched his brother starting to shift out of sleep, he noticed that Papyrus’s favorite scarf was wrapped around his neck again, looking as if it had never even been moved. He glanced down to see his left glove was back on his hand as well. Somehow both of his accessories had been returned to him without so much as a speck of dirt or a tear. How was it possible?

Sans experimentally moved his hand down his shirt. Expecting to find the tear where the Chortlewocky had completely ripped it in half, but there was no tear. He looked down to see for himself, but sure enough his shirt was completely whole again. Not only that, his blue jacket had returned to him as well. Nothing about this made any sense. He knew that the both of them had lost their favorite articles of clothing in the tussle with the Tickle Monster. But even if they somehow managed to get them back, it didn’t explain how Papyrus’s glove returned from the dark abyss, or how Sans’s shirt became one piece again.

"Awaken."

Sans was so caught up in his own confusing thoughts that he didn't realize that Gaster had just finished counting backwards.

"Mmmnhh … uffmnh .... uhhhh…."

Papyrus's muffled whimpering became louder and louder, although neither skeleton could make out what he was trying to say.

"Deep breaths, P-2," Gaster quietly instructed. "Just open your eyes for me." Papyrus began to tremble, seemingly trying to force himself awake. "That's it, nice and easy," Gaster compelled.

Suddenly, Papyrus's eye sockets flew wide open. For a moment, the entire room was silent. But just as quickly as the quiet began, it was abruptly cut off as Papyrus let out an ear-piercing scream.

"NYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!"

This immediately prompted a scream from the older skeletons until the entire lab became an impromptu screaming match. Papyrus, now startled out of his mind, sat up too quickly. As a violent rush of dizziness overtook him, he tumbled off of the metal table and landed to the ground with a heavy crash, abruptly ending the screaming match.

"Owwwie…," Papyrus quietly moaned, reaching a hand up to rub at his tender skull.

"Pap!!"

Sans immediately rushed to his brother's side. He nearly tumbled over himself, still not having fully regained his balance. But thankfully, he didn't have very far to go before kneeling down next to Papyrus.

"Ohhh, my head." Papyrus sighed deeply, trying to shake himself awake as well as readjust to the light.

"It's okay, Pap. I'm here, we're safe," Sans soothed, gently placing a hand on his brother's shoulder.

"S…. Sans...?" With sockets still partially shut, Papyrus reached a trembling hand up to grasp at Sans's. Comforted to at least know that his big brother was there with him. "What … happened?"

"You just snapped out of a six-hour trance," Gaster explained calmly. "You need to slow down and relax, P-2. Your body needs time to readjust to the—"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Backup a minute." Sans held up a hand to his creator, his mind trying to make sense of what he just said. "What do you mean, a … trance?"

"S-1, do you not recall why it is you were called here this afternoon?"

Gaster looked at his sons quizzically, studying their faces to take note of their reactions. Both brothers looked at him, then at each other. Everything was fuzzy, they were having a hard time remembering just when they had come down to the lab in the first place. All that filled their minds were the colorful memories of that place … Laughterland. The bright unnatural colors, the extraordinary creatures and plants. But most of all … the horrifying enemies that they left behind, and all the different ways they nearly tickled them to death.

"Fascinating…," Gaster mumbled as he scribbled something onto his clipboard. "Apparently, the lingering effects cause a temporary lapse in memory."

"Okay, look," Sans replied bluntly. "We appreciate you pulling us out of that … colorful world of tickling hell. But … how exactly did you find us?"

Gaster's expression shifted to one of utter confusion.

"Find you?" he repeated, sounding perplexed. "What are you talking about? You never left."

"Yes we did!" Papyrus answered loudly. "We were taken away to this … this AWFUL place where the monsters, the animals and … even the PLANTS tickled us past the brink of insanity!"

He couldn't help but shout. Fear increasing the pitch in his voice as he recalled the dreadful events that took place in that world. He became so excited that he began stumbling over his words as he spoke.

"And—And we tried so hard to get back home … but we kept falling into more and more traps! And—And there was this spider, and this—these Ghost Children—oh! And the cat! The CAT! He was the worst!"

Papyrus was beginning to sound less like he had just woken from a trance and more like an over-active child who had just gotten into too much sugar. Sans firmly placed both hands on his brother's shoulders in an effort to calm him down.

"Whoa! Easy, Pap, it's okay. You're okay." He tried not to raise his voice too loudly over Papyrus's, but he somehow managed to put a gentle stop to his brother's mad rambling. "We're safe now, bro. They're not gonna find us here."

Gaster's jaw dropped, the brothers looked up as they heard him draw in an astonished breath.

"You mean … S-1 … you've had the same visions as him?"

Sans shot Gaster a dumbfounded expression. What exactly did he mean by ‘visions’?

"Yes?" he questioned, unsure of how to properly respond.

Gaster immediately turned back to his desk to flip through a series of notes. He scrambled for a pen to frantically add to them.

"Amazing!" he gasped quietly. "Somehow, the hypnosis allowed the two of you to venture into the exact same dream! But just how? I have no idea, somehow the sound waves intermixed within the—"

"Wait!" Sans again silenced his father's scientific mumbling. As he put the pieces together, he suddenly felt a warm tingling of a blue blush appear on his cheeks. "Hypnosis…. You mean … all this time…."

A red-hot mixture of embarrassment, amazement, and rage flashed through his mind. He suddenly remembered it all. He and his brother were part of another one of Gaster's insane experiments. They never left the Underground, they never even left the lab! There was no Cheshire Cat, no sentient flowers or feather-vines, no Tickle Monster or Witch or Ghost Children. There was no LaughterLand.

"You mean you just had us under a trance??" Papyrus finally caught up to Sans's realization. "The entire time?!"

"Well I certainly didn't expect you to sleep for that long, P-2," Gaster responded frankly. "The initial experiment was to see if a simple hypnotic suggestion would heighten one's sensitivity in … certain aspects."

"Their TICKLISHNESS by chance?!" This time Sans spat the word out through gritted teeth, he no longer cared.

"Well … yes." Gaster shifted his glance away, seemingly embarrassed to admit it. He cleared his throat authoritatively. "Well, I mean, I wasn't going to subject you to an endless sensation of pain or discomfort. An increase of ticklishness was ultimately the more harmless option."

"HARMLESS?!" Papyrus shrieked, nearly falling over a second time as he slapped his hands to his skull.

"I tried countless remedies to try and wake the two of you up," Gaster continued on as if he had not heard his youngest scream at the top of his lungs. He fumbled through his notes trying to remember his many failed remedies. "Splashing you with cold water, dousing your nasal cavities with pepper. Shaking you, wrapping you up with tight sheets. Laughing gas, herbal aromas, light deprivation. I tried this strange concoction of caffeinated beverages. Nothing was working."

As Gaster recounted all of his missteps, the brothers were hit with flashback after flashback of every crazy misadventure that their dreamt up journey had taken them. From the flash flood, to the fairies' tickle dust. The crazy cloud-ride, the snakes' binding coils. The botched magic spell, the flower's poisonous pollen. The dark cave, Dropwart's disgusting potion. All of it seemingly triggered by Gaster's meddling with their subconscious.

The more Sans realized what the old skeleton had put him and his brother through, the more unbridled fury burned in his Soul. His old man seriously had no idea the amount of stress, panic and torture he had caused them both, and it infuriated him.

"Who knew that the simple act of counting backwards from ten was enough to snap a monster out of a six-hour trance?" he mumbled to himself. "You two certainly didn't make it easy. You somehow managed to conjure up bone constructs in your sleep — and teleport, of all things."

That's when Sans finally remembered. Stopping for a moment to feel the pulsations of his Soul, he realized that it was once again filled to the brim with magic. Experimentally, he summoned a small bone construct to appear at his fingertips. It manifested so easily. There was no strain or exhaustion, but instead an immediate warmth and satisfaction in his Soul. Feeling the magic replenishing itself again, just like it was always meant to.

His attention immediately went back to Gaster, the arrogant old skeleton still yammering on about the curiosities of his experiment. Still harboring a need for vengeance, Sans's eye began to glow as he summoned a large Blaster, pointing it right at his creator. Papyrus covered his mouth as he let out a squeaky gasp, prompting Gaster to turn around facing down the snout of Sans's weapon.

"Sans, what are you doing?" His tone was dry and deadpanned. He stared at Sans with a look of apathy.

"Do. You. Have. ANY IDEA WHAT YOU JUST PUT US THROUGH, OLD MAN?!"

Sans growled with a sense of rage that was beyond abnormal for his usual laid-back demeanor.

Rolling his eyes, Gaster placed a hand on the snout of the Blaster. It immediately vanished into thin air with an electrical shock that literally jolted Sans back to reality. Stunned by the sudden zap, Sans was blasted straight back onto his tailbone with a loud THUD!

"Oww!" He sat up rubbing the harsh tingles out of his hand.

"Sans! Are you okay?" Papyrus immediately got up to go comfort him. But was swiftly reminded of his unsteadiness, and slowed himself down once he got to his feet.

"You completely forgot that I constructed those powers for you, didn't you?" Gaster asked curtly. "They're called 'Gaster-Blasters', Sans, you might want to come up with a different way of letting off steam."

Sans glared bitterly up at Gaster, keeping his low and gravelly tone as he responded.

"You almost killed us back there, G." He calmed down enough to avoid shouting, but was still very much angry over all the trouble his father had caused. "We may have been asleep as far as you could tell, but that place was WAY too real to the both of us."

"Yeah." Papyrus nodded with a heavy sigh. "Honestly, I can't believe how much I remember. Usually my dreams are relatively blurry, but I feel like I could retell the events of this one perfectly."

"Really?!"

Suddenly, Gaster's entire face lit up with intrigue. He turned and practically leapt back towards his desk fumbling mindlessly for a notebook and pencil.

"Okay, just start from the beginning. Don't leave out any minor details, even the most insignificant ones." He practically leaned into Papyrus with his pencil steadily placed on the paper, ready for note-taking.

"Oh, come on, G!" Sans rubbed two fingers against the top of his nasal cavity sounding aggravated. "We just got out of this nightmare, nobody wants to talk about—"

"Well, when we got there, there was nothing but white," Papyrus jumped into the beginning of the story, seemingly not having heard Sans's complaint.

"Papyrus…," Sans grumbled.

"I mean, there was just white everywhere, white sky, white ground, everything!"

Papyrus continued as Gaster feverishly took down notes. Too tired to put up with it anymore, Sans grabbed ahold of Papyrus's scarf to begin dragging him out of the lab. Although clearly on their way out the door, Papyrus didn't stop retelling the story, not leaving out a single detail just as Gaster had requested, and never even pausing to realize that his brother was pulling him into the elevator.

Gaster followed them every step of the way, seemingly oblivious to what his older son was doing as he jotted down every word from Papyrus. The elevator ride seemed so much longer to Sans as he just stood there listening to his brother ramble on about the Ghost Children and the chase into the forest. By the time the elevator had taken them to the top floor, Papyrus was just beginning to describe the ferocity of a feather-vine. As Gaster followed them right to the door, Sans practically shoved his brother outside, cutting off his dramatic retelling. He faced Gaster down with the same deadpanned expression he had when he first entered the lab earlier that day.

"Well, G, what can I say?" He talked as if he were in a rush. "It's been … a nightmare. A literal living nightmare so … y'know, don't be in a hurry for the next 'family reunion' okay?"

"Wait!" Gaster held up a hand to stop Sans from closing the door. For a moment, Sans paused, giving his father one last chance to say a proper goodbye. "Could we…."

Gaster also hesitated. He wasn't one to truly speak about what he was feeling. But Sans could already tell that he was still anxious to know and understand what went on during this extraordinary trance. At the sight of his loss for words, Sans took in a breath.

"Look," he began. "Next week, okay?" he practically mumbled. As much as he didn't want to give Gaster any more of his time, he could tell how important this discovery was to him. Beyond that, there was a part of Sans that didn't want everything that he and his brother had gone through to be for nothing.

"No experiments, no tables or lab tools. You bring the coffee, I'll bring the ketchup. We'll sit down and tell you everything, okay?" Sans looked him in the eyes, making sure the old skeleton understood the terms to this agreement. There was a lightness in Gaster's face, as if Sans had just laid out everything he was hoping for.

"Alright." He nodded, allowing Sans to peacefully exit the lab. "Thank you, Sans."

He cleared his throat, returning once again to his professional monotone acknowledging his sons as they left. Sans gave a light scoff as he closed the door.

"Later, G," he mumbled.

He knew that was going to be the closest thing to an apology that either of them were going to get from him. Refusing to let it get to him, he and Papyrus headed back to the River Person to catch the first boat ride back to Snowdin.

For the majority of the trip, they were quiet. Besides letting the overall shock and disbelief of what had just happened to them sink in, they were content with just sitting there and absorbing the cool silence in overcoming such an ordeal. The soft mist whipping up from the water felt soothing on their faces, and the gentle splash of the waves was more than just comforting ambiance.

As they were less than a minute from home, Sans turned back to Papyrus. Somehow, his brother's face looked to be an odd mixture of relaxed and exhausted. He could only imagine that he looked the same way, if not worse. Their bodies had told them that they had been sleeping for most of the day, but their minds were insistent that they go home to recover some actual sleep. Papyrus turned to meet his brother's gaze, he gave him a sleepy smile as well as a deep sigh.

"What's on your mind, bro?" Sans asked gently.

"I just…." Papyrus shook his head in disbelief. "I can't believe we were gone for only six hours."

"Yeah," Sans scoffed lightly. "Feels like we've been gone for a month."

Papyrus stifled a chuckle in reply. "What about you?" he offered. "What are you thinking?"

"I'm thinking...." Sans stretched out his arms to rest behind his head. It felt good to stretch out without fear of someone going after his underarms. "...I'm thinking that I'm gonna need to 'ketchup' with Grillby for dinner tonight," he joked, though at this moment nothing sounded better to him than a fresh bottle of Grillby's delicious ketchup.

"Ugh, really, Sans? Grillby's?" Papyrus groaned, though he smiled to know that Sans was still his lazy old ketchup-loving self.

"Yeah," Sans sighed happily. "Heh, don't worry bro. I'll get one for the road." Papyrus shook his head as the boat came up to the snowy shore, somehow he doubted that Grillby was just going to let Sans walk away with a full ketchup bottle.

"Come again sometime, tra la la," trilled the voice of the River Person.

Sans and Papyrus stepped off the boat and into the crunchy snow. The chilly sight of Snowdin had never before looked so welcoming. Most of the town's residents had gone inside already, all except for the usuals who were known for hanging around Grillby's establishment in the later hours of the day.

"Heh, guess it's a little later than I thought…." Sans sighed deeply at the warm sight of his favorite eatery.

He turned to Papyrus. Both wore a weary but content smile, happy to finally be home and out of danger. Their own cozy little spot in the Underground, chilly and cramped, but home nonetheless.

"So do you wanna head home and heat up some spaghetti or—"

Papyrus bent down to wrap Sans up in a tight hug, abruptly cutting him off. At first the older skeleton was taken aback by the fast movement, but immediately returned the hug, wrapping his arms around his brother tightly.

"I know it wasn't real," Papyrus said quietly. "But it still means so much that … even in dream form … I can always count on you."

Sans smiled warmly. He felt a little foolish for already feeling the need to fight back tears, so he buried his face into his brother's scarf to try and blot them away before anyone could see. He hadn't forgotten all of the amazing things Papyrus had done for him in dream form either. He wished he had the words to tell him how proud he was of him, but exhaustion was fogging his mind. There almost wasn't a need anyways, Sans could tell just from the embrace alone that Papyrus understood.

"I love you, bro," he said quietly.

"I love you too, Sans," Papyrus replied.

He pulled away and wiped away a tear of his own. He couldn't help but chuckle with embarrassment as he noticed Sans staring at him.

"Heh heh! I-I don't know why I got so emotional back there, sorry," he admitted bashfully.

"Hey, don't worry about it," Sans replied. "A nightmare like that would upset anybody."

"Yeah just … don't tell Undyne I was crying over a nightmare, okay?" Papyrus, again, tried to hide the blush on his cheeks, eliciting an amused giggle from Sans.

"Oh, why not? Afraid she'll try to toughen you up with even more tickle attacks?" he teased.

"Sans!" Papyrus nearly shrieked. "Seriously, don't! I'll never hear the end of it!"

"Ohh, I don't knoooow," Sans taunted. "I think it'll be worth it just to tell her everything that you fought against in dreamland."

"No way!" Papyrus laughed despite himself.

"Oh yeah, I'm telling her alright!" Sans grinned as he shifted away from his brother trying to push him over. "I'll tell her about how you were caught by a bunch of giant flowers...."

"Sans quit it!" Papyrus leapt for Sans, trying to grab ahold of him to get him to stop talking.

"And about how you were caught by sparkly fairies…." Sans continued to playfully dance away from him. "And kissed to death by a bunch of fish...."

"Oh, that is SO IT!!"

Papyrus catapulted himself at Sans, they landed with a crash right into a big pile of snow. Papyrus pinned his brother down to the ground and began digging his fingers into his ribs.

"Take this, you big-mouth-brother!! Nyeh-heh-heh-heh!!"

"Aaaahahahahaha!! Pahahap nohohohohoho!! Papyrus!! Aagh!! Hahahaha!!" Sans laughed and flailed in the snow.

Papyrus gasped and immediately pulled back, allowing his brother to breathe. After several moments had passed, the two of them stared at each other in tense silence. They both could tell they were thinking the same thing. Was it too much, too soon? Were they actually traumatized by this bizarre nightmare that they shared. The guilty look on Papyrus's face made Sans's Soul sink. He didn't want Papyrus to feel bad for playing with him. He wasn't feeling scared or anxious or even powerless. In fact, it was safe to say that laughing because of playful brotherly tickle fights was all the therapy he needed to recover from this.

He gave Papyrus a reassuring smile. One that shifted his brother's expression to one of relief, then to happiness, then to mischief. Sans let out an impish growl as he dove for his brother, knocking him into the snow and tickling at his ribs.

"Nyaagh!! Ahahahaha!! Sahahahahans!! Heeheeheehee!!"

They wrestled around in the fluffy coolness. Practically taking turns pinning each other down to go after their worst spots. As they laughed and screamed like two rough-housing children in the snow, a deep euphoria washed over them. They missed the joy that this weird bonding activity had brought them. They missed the mirthful laughter that only the two of them could draw out of each other. But if this strange misadventure had taught them anything, it was that they had missed the trust that they had in each other. Not tickling each other for food, or for personal gain, or for anything harmful. Just doing it to hear the other one laughing, just to play and have fun with the other.

As the tickle fight came to an end, they laid breathlessly in the snow, taking in the peaceful silence. Sans brushed away another tear and chuckled.

"Feeling better?"

"Yeah," Papyrus laughed in reply. He got to his feet and reached out a hand to help Sans off the ground. "Come on," he said as he pulled him to his feet.

"Let's get you that ketchup."

[jedidragonrider]

Ok but like

The ending

Felt so off??

It felt like a nightmare reality

Like i cant even explain how wrong it felt

Where is Emilie

Was Gabriels wish to heal natalie??

Like

What??????????

[hecksupremechips]

Thinking of vlr Akane is so conflicting cuz on one hand I’m so upset that she doesn’t ever get a moment to just rest and enjoy being alive again I’m upset that she just gets deeper and deeper into this role she’s built for herself and she loses her humanity and will never ever be that girl who died in the incinerator. But on the other hand, I need her to get so, so much worse I need her to be so obsessed with perfection she has this unique ability to change the course of history and she will burn everything and everyone to the ground in the blink of an eye if it means she can "reset" and get a perfect timeline and I desperately need her to never be satisfied with anything because really, is there anything that’s worth all the damage she’s caused?

[peak-dumbass]

*emerges from the fog* have you heard of my boy called sideswipe he suffers from little bitch syndrome and unresolved trauma he refuses to talk about

I also think he’s aroace—*gets shot*