#didn't render the story any harder to understand

[kedreeva]

did u read the good omens book? if so, what are your thoughts on it compared to the tv series?

i followed u for the steddie posts but fell in love with ur meta too 💜

I did, but honestly they're separate entities unless I want to steal something specific for a fic. They're both good, for different reasons and in different ways. They are written by different men, literally and figuratively, about different subject matters, for different reasons. You can compare an apple to an apple blossom, but even though one became the other, and came from the same tree, doesn't mean they are the same thing anymore, nor does it mean one is better than the other.

That being said, I've only read the book once, and I've watched the show over a dozen times, most likely because I saw the show first and read the book second. I enjoyed the book, but I think it was probably a better read in its day, by people who were the target audience at the time, and who didn't just read about or know the context, but understood and lived it. I can't be that, I can't go back in time and read the book before the series, I can't go back and read it in a time where it would have meant what it was intended to mean to the world it was born into.

[reashot]

Aurum The Dragonslayer. (1/2)

Several years after the defeat of Salem and two decades before Aurum met Jaune's younger self. Tells a story of how Aurum became known as the Dragonslayer.

First born of Jaune and Yang, two great heroes during the war against Salem. Born into this world weak and small, many did not expect him to survive childhood but to everyone's surprise he did not only survive past it but grew up to be bigger and stronger as time went on. Now in his sixteen years of age he towers over his peers and most adults. His skill with a sword surpasses many renowned warriors of his time.

And now embarking on a quest he can be seen walking into a seedy tavern out in the middle of nowhere in order to fulfill his quest. Aurum opens the wooden door of the bar to walk inside the tavern. The loud metallic stomp from his boots caused all eyes inside the bar to turn on him. To see what kind of fool that would dare to visit this den of ill repute.

And to their surprise and delight they indeed saw a fool. They saw a fool wearing full body armor from head to toe.

"Thine looking for a guide across the western mountain." Thus speak the armored fool.

The patrons however paid Aurum no mind and continued with their day drinking.

"Thy liege. King Ozcar has given thine a royal writ. That states any subjects of the kingdom must render aid when asked to by the recipient." He proudly exclaims his royal authority to a room full of drunken degenerates.

When Aurum mentioned the monarch Ozcar. Instead of bowing in reference to their superior. The patrons just ignored him even harder. For there's not a lot of love for the monarchy this far out in the wild.

At first he does not understand why these "fine" people did not try to help him. Aurum may be a master of the blade but reading the room is not one of his expertise. So if appealing to their sense of fealty did not work he would try to appeal to their avarice instead. "Of course Thine would not expect for thee to toil for free. Thine is willing to offer adequate reward if thou are willing to help thine out."

Their head starts to turn to the direction of the Knight after the mention of a reward.

"Thine needed a guide. For thine wishes to go to face the dragon Tiamat."

The tavern that was once as silent as the grave erupted at the mention of Tiamat.

"Are you insane!" The first shout rang.

"You can't kill Tiamat!" The second explained the absurdity of Aurum's statement.

"Get the F**k out of here!" The third one explains what the patrons wanted out of the Knight.

Then after that they just throw insults and slurs like questioning the sexuality of the Knight. When that was not enough the patrons started throwing things at Aurum From foods to beer bottles. Fortunately this is where having an armor actually comes in useful. He didn't even need to activate his Aura as the bottle simply broke upon contact.

"Art thou done with thy foolishness?" Aurum calmly states as all manners of debris clutter the floor near him and on his self.

"How much you paying?" One dissenting voice comes from the back corner of the room. The man sitting in the corner is a lot older than he is, probably the same age as his father. He also wore a suit of armor albeit tattered and dirty unlike Aurum's shiny golden armor. But Aurum notices that the man sitting is also a warrior like himself by the looks of it and he has probably been in a few fights himself.

Aurum walks towards the corner of the room to meet the person. "Two millions Lien. If thou accept thine request then thine will give thee half and the rest afterwards."

The amount that was offered caused an immediate shift in the atmosphere inside the tavern. "Two millions... Why so generous, sir knight?"

"Thine would not asketh thou to risk thy life on a pittance." Aurum simply stated.

"How very noble of you, sir knight. Very well we will depart immediately." The man grabbed his glass and immediately down the entire thing.

Some times later.

"So, sir knight I was wondering?" The guide subtly gesturing to the Knight behind him.

"Thou may ask thine a question." Aurum gives him permission.

"Thank you, sir knight. May I ask who I currently have the pleasure of conversing with? Because we were not properly introduced back there."

"Very well thy suppose thou deserve to know. Thine name is Aurum Arc. Son of Jaune Arc.

"You're Jaune's son?" The guide was surprised upon hearing Jaune's name.

"Thou knoweth my father?" Aurum's eyes widened.

"You have no idea... Still. He became a hero and he had a kid? Good for him I guess."

"What was thine father were like back then?" Aurum asked the guide again.

"... I'm sorry I can't."

"Prithee tell thine why not?"

"Because there's no use in telling someone who's about to die." The guide then loudly whistles.

Aurum immediately stands at the ready preparing for what comes next. At first he saw one person appearing from the bush, then two, three, four until finally there were twelve of them. All of them are more dirty and tattered than the last. Noticing that he is now surrounded he finally draws his sword while the rogues cackle in the background.

[creepy-crowleys]

You had better be. Ha...

Of course. I'll try to pull together what I can.

My own world has documented cases of temporal anomalies of various types, usually isolated cases connected to magic use, whether that be through some kind of artifact designed for that purpose or through elevated concentrations of ambient magic that can lead to spatiotemporal instability. There are entities strong enough to potentially warp time and space around themselves, though they rarely have interest enough in any particular individual to deliberately create loops, it's more of a fuzzy sense of the passage of time or an overlaying of past/future/alternate present event.

In the harder loop sense, this is the fourth iteration of my world where the loops have functioned as an emergency failsafe. Events occurred that would have rendered the world uninhabitable, so the reset button was pushed. My understanding is that the loops were exceptionally long and highly divergent - several millennia and some forms of science and magic no longer work the way they did in earlier iterations. Reality faded into myth. The characters stay the same, the stories keep many similar beats, but the framing shifts, I suppose.

Outside of my world...

I knew one person who had been chosen as a piece in a wager between gods, one of which had deigned to cheat and insisted on attempting to claim a total victory by completely breaking down the person caught up in the loop. They eventually managed to challenge the god directly and were able kill it to free themselves.

Others created their own loops through the manifestation of abilities they didn't know they had - such as a strong enough will to reject their own deaths or a strong enough desire to return to a certain time in their life. Successfully completing whatever journey they were on that kept leading to their death or otherwise taking control of their abilities broke the loops, or at least let them set new anchors to return to instead of forcing them to go through everything again.

And the last group I'm aware of are those that are affected by some entity outside of the bounds of their world who... seem to experience the loop as a story, of sorts? Like rereading a favorite book, only some of the characters have noticed the story they're in. I think some people have found success in locking their 'reader' out, and others found their own ways to just leave the story completely.

There's also... at least one person I know who is actively dealing with her own loops with no hard determination of the cause that I'm aware of. I don't know if she'd be someone either of you would be interested in talking with? She's at @ctrl-shift-escape if either of you would like to touch base sometime, though her connection here comes and goes.

Oh I'm always very good to them, no need for worries there, they're my little stardust after all.

...You mentioned. Knowing of others in similar situations? Might I ask for more details there? Purely for research purposes, of course..

[itsclydebitches]

"We are marble buddies." First, it's heart warming, then it's tear enducing and then it's heaping helping of 'Oh, you mother fucker.'. That episode of Squid Game hit me hard and got even harder with each episode after.

Right? And it gets even worse the more you think about it. Knowing of Il-nam's betrayal colors so much of the story for me.

Gi-hun greets him by making small talk about how he's the first one to arrive, 001, when in reality Il-nam never arrived at all. He was always there. He was never drugged, manhandled, undressed by a bunch of strangers. Il-nam took off his fancy suit upstairs and donned the sweats like a costume, playing the part of another frail, terrified kidnapee.

When the games start and the Red Light, Green Light massacre has just ended, II-nam is the only one who moves during the next round, grinning all the while.

Because he already knows what's going on! And he knows he's not in any actual danger! This guy isn't going to risk getting shot during his "I'm poor and have to play death games to get by" make believe session. No way it's not rigged to ensure his safety, so off he pops, smiling at his own fun. (Which, you know, obliterates the Front Man's claim that this is all about fairness, how dare you learn the game ahead of your peers, Doctor, that's cheating. When, you know, there's a real cheater in their midst the whole while.) I suspect that's also why Mi-nyeo gets to sit out the marbles game: all the orchestrators likely assumed that Il-nam would be the odd one out, since no one wants to pair with an old man, so they built in an excuse for his survival, but instead end up giving that to Mi-nyeo when Gi-hun makes his unexpected offer. But at the time of Red Light, Green Light, the viewer brushes this behavior off with the assumption that, since he's terminally ill, he's just fearless.

Which generates the expectation that he'll continue the games because he has nothing left to lose, in turn creating a feeling of real love for him when he "saves" everyone by choosing the X. When in reality, he chose to be 001. He chose to have everyone vote in reverse order. Sure, it was always possible that there'd be a huge sway for or against the games, rendering his final vote useless, but with the 50/50 split things are as they "should" be, with him pulling the strings. Let's remind everyone of the hardships they're enduring outside so that they consciously want to come back and risk their lives.

And then he runs into Gi-hun! "Runs into" with, like, the biggest scare quotes imaginable. He was in the neighborhood, my ass. We know he doesn't need to bunk down with a friend. We know that this organization is stalking every player (keeping an eye on the 7% that didn't come back, Gi-hun's final phone call telling him to get on the plane, etc.) II-nam orchestrated this "run in" so he could build his relationship with Gi-hun, fucking with him all the while. Yeah, I'll have some of the alcohol you can barely afford. In turn you can have some of this uncooked ramen that meant nothing for me to buy. We're both just poor, struggling fellows, right?

(Compare all this to Sang-woo who, yeah, turns ruthless by the end, but before that was actually compassionate in everyday matters. He lets Ali borrow his phone, buys him food, and gives him bus fare, all without any expectation that he'll be paid back. It's only when the game pits them against each other that he tries to leverage that kindness to save himself.)

From then on, Gi-hun and II-nam have a number of heart-to-hearts that, upon reflection, just read as more manipulation. Gi-hun has a horrifying flashback and admits that he was involved in a deadly strike, which II-nam comforts him over. Yet not only is this another moment of the elite just playing at understanding, but he's playing at surprise too. There are detailed records of every player's life, including the past choices that helped lead them to this level of debt. Gi-hun's firing is absolutely a part of that and no way does II-nam not know. He's just taking advantage of Gi-hun's trust. What particularly fascinates me though is how he plays up his illness. I'm not sure whether he could have faked the fever (perhaps something in the food, if he really wanted to go that route?) and he is legitimately sick, but everything else carries the implication that he's playing the cancer up for his own use. It's too much of a coincidence that he forgets his name right when Gi-hun asks for it in front of a crowd, especially when this is an organization so obsessed with anonymity that you're shot the moment you lose your mask. No way that, for a man who's real game is torturing these people, he coincidentally loses his memory right when Gi-hun needs him to play, causing intense terror that they'll both be killed. He just happens to find one marble left, inducing more horror that Gi-hun could still lose. He just happens to regain his faculties long enough to accuse Gi-hun, then "sacrifice" himself, all while giving an emotional goodbye that will haunt him for the next year, only to then reveal his duplicity. It brings everything II-nam does into question. Did he actually wet himself? Or did he find some of the extra water and dump it on his pants? As someone whose father has a brain tumor and has seen every one of these symptoms, they're all depicted in a way that's very convincing... but Il-nam's true identity makes me suspicious of it all.

The real kicker for me though is that we have no reason to doubt Il-nam's claims about his past. Gi-hun makes a point of asking if that's really his name, if what he said was really true, and we're reassured that it was. Il-nam seems to have been truthful about everything he said... he just didn't say a lot. Which means that (if we trust the story's lack of proof that this isn't true) he really did grow up in a neighborhood just like Gi-hun's. He really did watch his son after a long day at work. At some point, prior to becoming the wealthy powerhouse determined to entertain himself and others, Il-nam was someone whose situation looked a lot like the players'... and that personal experience didn't create a shred of empathy in him. He got out and began exploiting his former community, not helping it, and since then he's actively encouraged others (like the detective's brother) to do the same. It's all so horrible.

I actually ended up calling the twist ahead of time. I knew for sure once we saw the Host reaching for his mask and I recognized Il-nam's hands. But I wasn't sure when I reassured my mom that, despite the clearly horrific nature of this show, there was so much good and hope too. Don't worry! It may be depressing in many respects, but it's so heartwarming to see these bonds forming; people helping one another get through such tragedy. There's one relationship in particular that's just the sweetest. You'll love watching that!

An episode later when everything marbles happens and I'm sure of Il-nam's duplicity:

[anastasiaskarsgard]

My whore

Warning: cursing, sex, adult content 18+

I should edit this, but I will later maybe. Just busted this out at lunch for no fun

As she pulled her hood up even more, and briskly walked down the familiar street, she could hear her heart pounding in her chest. Her stomach did a somersault as soon as she she spotted the lone figure standing outside the dimly-lit liquor store. She knew better, she really did. You play with fire, you’re bound to get burnt eventually, but try as she might to practice self preservation, she just hadn’t a care when it came to him. It was a well-known fact that he was someone dangerous and she felt the most scandalous rush whenever she was near him.

She gracefully made her way to his side, briefly knitting her brows together in self-loathing for being unable to just walk on by or ignore him.

"What do you want?" The man moved closer watching her with a cold sneer on his handsome face as he studied her changing expressions. He was absolutely fascinated by how expressive her face was. The way she smirked and you could see the hint of a dimple, or how her eyes narrowed into slits when she tried to control herself from telling him off. How her full lips drew together in a bow when she was determined, or if she felt particularly brazen, she’d cock a single eyebrow and grin like a cat.

Being who he was, his facial expressions ranged from various levels of boredom, to every level of rage. Hatred and apathy was all he’d ever really felt, except when he was around this girl. As the corners of his mouth nearly twitched into a smile, he grabbed her hand, forcing her close to his body, chests touching, thrilling at the stunned look on her face.

"You know what I want princess?” His lips found her ear, fangs nipping at the lobe, hyper aware of her dainty hands clutching his shirt, her breathing growing more erratic by the second, and her icy blue eyes scanning his face, searching for his intent.

"Please Roman....." She pleaded.

His hands brushed over an area she never let anyone else touch, moaning in spite of herself. When his fingers took hold of a swollen nipple and tugged at it viciously, she had to bite her lip, to stop herself from screaming aloud. Her knees shook and she tightened her grip on his shirt, scared if she let go she’d fall. She cursed herself for always turning to silly putty in his hands so easily, but she couldn’t help it. He was intoxicating.

Roman scratched his nails down the taut flesh muffling her sweet mouth with his own. Inhumanly sensitive ears, and Jade green eyes became aware of a few of her friends moving their way, and before she noticed them, (or them her) he dragged her down a nearby alley, walking swiftly with purpose in hopes they hadn’t been discovered.

It was no surprise that her friends weren’t fans of his. He’d beaten up the males of the little posse, after they’d tried to confront him for filming himself fucking their girlfriends and posting it a snippet on his Instagram story when he was high. He hadn’t even remembered he’d done it, until they marched up and shoved a phone in his face, and he could understand why laughing and commenting on one of the girls o face, could be seen as a dick move. The rest of the girls in her circle of friends would drop to their knees and service him if he so much as glanced their way, but he had been far too distracted by the girl he was currently dragging behind him to care.

"Where are we - what are we doing?" The breathless girl inquired, as he continued forward like he knew where this lead. Her eyesight needed time to adjust, so she was still practically blind.

"Why do you sound so scared princess? You came and found me." He came to a small alcove and He pushed her firmly against the wall, hands going to her waist, lips finding their way to her neck.

"I had to twist your arm too." She whispered sarcastically, feeling his hands slip under her shirt rubbing, caressing and fondling her breasts. She bit her swollen bottom lip, silencing the moan which threatened to escape. Her own hands seeking out his skin, desperate for the closeness and intimacy found with skin on skin contact. She shuddered with anticipation as she raked her fingernails down his chest, feeling his muscles jerk under her touch. She moaned wantonly as her shirt was pushed up, exposing her to the night air, before her nipple was engulfed by a warm, wet mouth and she gripped his head pressing him closer to her.

Her sudden intake of air, made him look Out of the corner of his eye to be sure the immediate area was free of any sudden movements. Finding none, Roman smirked allowing his eyes to wander back to the half naked beauty before him. Pushing her skirt up, he pulled her panties to the side, sinking two fingers into her aroused body, driving then in a series of quick, hard movements, mouth covering hers when her sounds rose in pitch. Feeling an almost desperate need to be inside her, he Freed himself from his slacks, pressed up against her body, lifting her legs to straddle his waist and pushed his length deep inside of her core. He couldn’t get over how tight her sheath was every time, even though he had worked her over several times with his impressive manhood. Doesn’t mean he ever went easy on her, if anything it made him pound into her that much harder. He wanted to ruin her for any other man. The thought of someone else inside his princess made him see red.

Just the thought of someone else tasting her had His mouth possessively taking hers, in a wild, untamed passion rendering the girl practically breathless. All she could do was hang on, as he fucked her senseless like a man possessed or a demon. She felt fire course through her veins, igniting suppressed emotions, spiralling her to a pleasurable Eutopia of her own creation. Coherent, logical thoughts were lost and she surrendered her mind to the unlikely possibility that this was all there was. Her and him forever.

Just when she thought he couldn’t possibly fuck her any harder, he grabbed her by the shoulders and fucked up into her savagely, almost bruising as he delved deeper. She didn’t know why his rough animalistic behavior aroused her beyond anything so violent ever should, but it quickly brought her to climax, engulfing her in flames, limbs locking around him as she bit into his shoulder, sending a tingle of ecstasy down her spine, as she felt him spill inside of her, stuttering his hips to a stop. He pressed his forehead to hers and opened his eyes to stare into hers, before closing them and kissing her passionately.

"Roman,” She murmured, as they paused for air, dragging them both back into reality. Finally regaining the strength she had lost in their frenzied sexual escapades, attempted to push her partner away. He hesitantly relented, giving her enough space to stand. Legs trembling slightly, she adjusted her clothes, back bracing against the wall and head still dizzy from his presense. Muscular arms wound around her waist and she stood perfectly still as he pulled her close again, and his breath feathered across her cheek.

"Eager to escape me princess?" He purred, mockery making it's way into his voice and she damned him for so damn attractive. Not that he wasn’t gorgeous to look at, but it went beyond his heart throb, movie star looks or tall statuesque form. He had a Raw, primitive sexuality that cant be described in words, but was painfully obvious, that made him beyond desirable.

"I don’t know why I let you do this to me. I’ve got your cum running down my leg and I'm supposed to meet my friends fifteen minutes ago."

"Don't lie to me." He hissed, turning her to face him, thumb and forefinger capturing her defiant chin increasing the pressure when she tried to look away. "Tell me you enjoyed what we just did."

"I didn't." She bit out defiantly, the fire in her eyes growing stronger, fed by his arrogant attitude. "In fact I hated it."

His amused laughter infuriated her even further, and she had to use every ounce of willpower not to scream in frustration.

"That's what I like about you,” His green eyes gleaming darkly. "Always resisting me. It makes complete and total possession of your body that much more sweet."

"A possession? Is that what I am to you?" She shrieked, striking him in the chest, trying to break free of his embrace. This only made him bring her body closer, pressing his renewed arousal against her in an unmistakable way. Lips skimming her cheek, and throat, hands touching her everywhere as she squirmed in his grasp.

"Does this bother you?" He whispered eyes locking with hers, mouths so close they could feel each others breath.

"Yes." She whispered, willing herself the strength to resist him.

"You sure seemed like you liked it when I fucked you, out in the open, in a dirty alleyway like a fucking whore.” His words pierced her heart like a dagger had been laced with them, and in a burst of strength, she threw him off of her, and she stormed down the alleyway. Certain this was how Roman Godfrey, discarded his toys, she let out a yelp when she was grabbed from behind and spun around. Aggressively seizing her in his hold as she thrashed, he bent and whispered in her ear, “I love how you fight me...” before claiming her mouth with his own. The kiss sent a shiver down her spine, causing her traitorous body to move closer to him, practically begging and pleading for more contact. Her long-fingers raked through his chestnut hair gripping the strands firmly, tugging in a confused attempt to hurt and arouse.

A wanton moan was heard and she found herself pinned against the wall again. Their movements desperate and uncharacteristically sloppy. Emotions running wild, not wanting to acknowledge they were already in over their heads. That this was more than just sex, there were true emotions underneath it all, and it was terrifying. No one in their right mind loved a man like him, and no girl could possibly love him ran through their chaotic thoughts as the alarms went off, but neither heeded the call. Pleasure that could be described as unimaginable pain flowed through them, pushing all their insecurities down and finding them lost in each other once again. Their ragged breathing was the only sounds heard and they kissed sweat drenched faces absentmindedly. His low chuckle garnered her attention and she looked at him curiously.

Feeling his member once again free, and pressing deliciously close to her entrance again, she shifted to make access easier.

"Tell me you enjoy this. Tell me you like us." He smirked, eyes betraying a hint of vulnerability that was gone so quick, she wasn’t sure she saw it.

“Or what? You won’t fuck me again?” She asked cocking her eyebrow, and grinning up at him.

“You love it.”

"What if in fact I hated it?"

"You didn't." He proclaimed confidently.

She wished with all her might that he was wrong, but he was right. She loved their fucked up little arrangement. “I don’t love being called a whore.”

“How about just my whore? Only my whore? Hmmm?” He asked, eyes flashing darkly.

“You’re such an asshole.”

“But I’m your asshole.”

“My asshole.” She giggled.

“My whore.” He growled as he thrust up inside of her.

[phantomofsilence]

Title: It's hard, but it's worth it.

Word count: 2188 words 11283 characters

Warning: None,really.Maybe some grammar mistakes?

A/N: I saw this gif and i had an idea. I got a little carried away thou. Gifs are not mine.

"How long has he been like this?" entering the room I looked over at sleeping Bucky and over exhausted Steve. Exhaling loudly, he closed his eyes rubbing them. Coming closer i nudged his shoulder handing him a cup of coffee.

"The same. Thank you." Besides a little bruise under his eye, Bucky looked as if he was just sleeping and not in a coma for the past three days.

"He's strong, you know that, Steve it's just taking him longer to heal. You heard Shury. He just needs time."

Convincing others he's going to be okay was a piece of cake, but convincing myself now that's another story. God i miss him so much. I'd give anything just so he opens his beautiful eyes.

Neither Steve nor me slept since he fell into coma, we convinced ourselves that watching over him somehow kept him alive. Even when i tried to get some shut eye i couldn't,the bed felt wrong, to spacious, to lonely.

"Steve, you're a mess. Go rest. I'll stay with him." turning towards me he opened his mouth to speak, i guess to argue with me but last minute decided against it and closed them nodding in agreement.

"Call me if there are any changes or you need rest. You hear me. Don't hesitate to call me." He squeezed my shoulder and turned to leave. "Thank you, Steve." he stopped at the door, but didn't turn around. "You know he made me promise if anything happened to him I'd have to take care of you."

His words surprised me, Bucky wanted him to take care of me? Now that made me miss him even more than i thought possible. Gazing at him with tears slowly filling my eyes i took my index finger and ran it genly down his left cheek.

"He did?" I chuckled shaking my head trying to stop myself from crying. Steve chuckled as well seemingly remembering their conversation.

"Yeah, he said you listen carefuly. If something happens to me, you take care of my girl, you hear me punk."

Tears now freely fell down my face while i laughed. It's like i could hear him say that.

" Still, you didn't have to be here here for me the way you were for that past three days. I know we never talked much before this, but in this short time that i got to know you, i realised that you are the most stubborn, self sacrificing, dramatic, loyal and the best person i have ever had pleasure knowing. And i wanna thank you for everything. I mean it Steve. "

I hoped i could convey how grateful i was to this man before me. In this short period of time this man has become my world, i depended on him, and he depended on me.We fulfilled each other, when he stopped i pushes us forward, when i stopped he was there to catch me.

I know it hasn't been long, but when the person you love is hurt and there's nothing you can do to help them you can feel every second as it passes. The worst kind of torture is feeling helpless.

"And they say i'm the dramatic one." he gave me a smile and left, i understood the smile, it said thank you, i'm grateful for you to, you are my friend. I loved how he managed to say so much without having to say anything at all.

Oh my Bucky, i hope you're still in there. And i hope you're fighting to get back to me. I miss you. I love you.

I sat in the chair next to his bed, placed my hand over his and leaned into the chair resting my head and i closed my eyes. The warmth of his hand gave me comfort. I had to take what i could get.

This waiting game is like warfare, constant nerve wracking feeling in my gut. All i could do is stay strong for him and Steve, hold on to hope for as long as i could. I had to stay strong, giving myself an option to be week was not negotiable, i couldn't fail him or Steve.

It's hard, but it's worth it, it has to be.

For the next five days Steve and I exchanged shifts watching Bucky praying for any sign of progress.

Now you were sipping on your seventh coffee cup staring into one dot at the wall. Five minutes ago i chased Steve out of the room to take a shower and eat something.He didn't want to eat and although I got why, i made him go eat, i lost my appetite as well but we had to eat. Forced on not, food was food. And we needed it.

"Oh my God." Bucky groaned next to me and begrudgingly opened his eyes. The light bothered him.

"(Y/N)?" he said, his voice raspy from lack of use. "Yes, Bucky?" wait what? Bucky? Bucky's awake! Bucky's awake. Oh my God! I need to breath! Oh God, he's awake. "Bucky? Oh God please don't let this be a dream! If this is a dream it's too cruel. Bucky, please, say something, love." he looked at me with those baby blues and for a second i forgot how to breath.

Clearing his throat he gaze was set on me, oh how i missed the way he looked at me, it's as if i was the last drop of water and he was a man in a desert dying of thirst." Hey, doll. You missed me, baby?"

I felt so many emotions at the same time it rendered me speechless.All i could do was reach my hand towards his face caressing him softly.

With a small smile on my face i gazed at him lovingly, soaking him in. I was afraid to blink fearing i might break the spell and he'll disappear.

"Hey baby. Talk to me my love. Let me hear that sweet voice of yours." he whispered gently as if not to spook me, taking my hand in his, he squeezing it and said with a shaky voice. "Hey, i love you, my love. I thought I'd never see you again. You're my girl, you're my girl."

His words turned me into a mess, crying and shaking while squeezing his hand harder. "Bucky?" he smiled at me and bit his lip. "Yes, baby. What is it?"

Everything was suddenly too much, the way he was looking at me left me chasing my breath. I before i could think i said the first though that entered my mind. "You need a shower." at first he looked at me shocked before laughing wholeheathedly.

Before i knew i was laughing with him, it was one of those laughs you couldn't contain, one of those laughs that made your stomach hurt.

He brought the hand that he was holding to his lips and kissed it."Damn, doll, i think i ripped couple of my stitches, though i think i'll need a little more recovering to do before i can shower. I guiess you 'll have to put up with me like this a little longer."

I brought my other hand to wipe my eyes, i smiled shyly at him. "I'm sorry i don't know why i said that." he chuckled and kissed my hand again. "Oh, don't go shy on me now, doll. If you didn't ruin the moment like you always do, you wouldn't be my best girl."

Man, he always knew what to say and he was right i always had to ruin it. "It's annoying how well you know me." He grimaced and tried to cover it with a smile.But i noticed immediately. "Where does it hurt?" I asked but Bucky being Bucky tried to play it off as nothing. "Why? Are you gonna kiss it better?"but i wasn't falling for it." James, i'm serious. "sensing the urgency in the tone of my voice and the use of his first name made him realise i was woried and terrified for his well being.

" Don't panic, but I really think i pulled something when i laughed. "taking a deep breath i tried my hardest to look calm and collected. What now? Oh, right, Shury! I took the call button in my hand but before i could press it to notify someone, a lady doctor and two nurses walked into the room.

"As soon as Sargent Barnes woke up we were notified, but decided to give you two some privacy. Though now that needs to be cut short. If you could please wait outside, Miss (Y/N)." The doctor explained and i nodded and left the room giving Bucky a smile.

It's been twenty minutes since i was asked to leave the room. Every second I'd look over towards the door expecting someone to tell me what was wrong. I know that they are just doing their job and that i need to grateful, and i am but i am also worried. Please be okay.

Steve walked into the hallway disheveled, clearly he had been sleeping prior to this. He saw me and sat next to me bouncing knee.

"A hey, Steve! He's alive would have been nice, you know." I know the jab was on purpose but well meaning. "I'm sorry, i should have called you. I was just so happy that he was awake i didn't think about anything else." i still should have call him, i wasn't the only one worried about him, but I just forgot. "I know." that's another thing that made Steve so amazing, his understanding nature.

The doctor came out of the room along with the nurses, their expressions unreadable which made me worry. " You can relax, Miss (Y/N). Sargent Barnes is stable, he heals faster than a normal human being so the recovery should pass without a glitch. But. "I knew there had to be a but. Why is there always a but? " Sergeant Barnes needs rest and a peaceful environment,so nothing to dramatic. "like with everything when it gets to real i have to make a joke. "Alright, well then Steve, he'll see you when he recovers." he gave me a look of confusion.

"But why?" he asked with a small voice. "Well you heard the doctor , she said nothing dramatic."

"You know what, (Y/N)." before he could finish i cut him of. "Go." I pointed towards the room. "What?" he asked. "Go, see him. I'll wait here, and remember nothing to dramatic. I know it's hard since it's you, but hang in there."

"You just can't do something sweet and not ruin it with words." he smirked at me, got up and moved towards the door. "No, not really that's not my style." he chuckled and disappeared as he stepped into the room.the doctor moved to leave. "Wait. Thank you." she turned and nodded. "It was my pleasure."

Ten minutes later Steve stuck his head out of the room. "He's asking for you." Standing up and stretching my legs i entered the room. Both men smiled at me and i couldn't help but smile back at them. Steve gave me a side hug and kissed my forehead mumbling about giving us some time alone.

"Hi." I said,weirdly now i felt nervous to be alone with him and he could sense it. "Hey. I hope my confession isn't the reason you are so freaked out." He said half joking, half being serious. "No, it's not that. I don't know why i am so nervous. "he visibly relaxed after my reply." Well i am glad that i can still make you nervous."of course he wouldn't be James Buchanan Barnes if he didn't try to lighten the mood. And i loved him for it.

"Come here, doll." he moved a little wincing while trying to make room for me so i could seat near him on the bed.

Carefully i sat next to him, i didn't want to accidentally push him. "James." I said. "Yeah?" It was now or never, while i wanted for him to wake up i realised i never said it, and i might not get to chance to ever say it, And that thought alone made me feel even worse. Here goes nothing.

"I love you, James Buchanan Barnes. I love you." He looked up at me as if he couldn't believe that i said it and it just made me feel more stupid for not saying it sonner."Say it again." he pleaded. "I love you." grinning like a cheshire cat he replied."Again, please." now i was also smiling, i looked down in embarrassment. "I love you." this time i said it, i felt myself blushing. God what was wrong with me?

"Again?" deciding to tease him a bit i gave him a smirk and said. "If this is gonna be a recurring thing maybe i shouldn't have said it." rolling his eyes at me with a smile on his face he said. "See, here you go again ruining the moment." I giggled at his statement.

"Say it again."

"I love you James Buchanan Barnes."

"Again."

[squid--inc--writes]

Inktober 2019 day 25 prompt: tasty

Update: masterlist

Art + story

This one's a good one, Bois.

Also, warning for: death, animal abuse (rats), canabalism, etc.

Deep in the woods, you will find that trees grow bark of chocolate, and, depending on the tree, some of varying other tasty treats. Candy apples hang from trees, the leaves are much like taffy. Any smoke produced smells sweetly of cotton candy.

If you travel far enough in the woods, you will find a cobbler path, lined with chocolate stones. When you get to the candy cane arches, or licorice edgings along the path, turn back. If you continue, the enticing trail will become harder and harder to leave.

The house in the center of the forest is a giant cake. In its surroundings are a gumball patch,  with bitter, but tasty vines twirling around it; giant lollipops bursting from the ground, at all colours, and cascading light over various marshmallows, and gumdrops when the sun hits it just right; one can even find a small river of soda flowing through.

The house itself is simple vanilla, with an assortment of toppings and decorations all around. Through magic would be the only way this place is still intact.

Inside the home lives an overgrown rat. She has large, sharp teeth, a long tail, and dresses in the clothes of those unfortunate enough to meet her.

See, once one is lured in by her surroundings, she invites them inside, with promises of sweeter treats, and goodness inside. However, once they are inside, she cast a spell, and renders them unconscious, and takes then to her kitchen. As the story goes, she does indeed cook and eat them. However, she eats the heart and liver raw first, for she was not always a rat.

Before all of this, she had been a beautiful, but mean woman. She would lure in those around her, either through lust, love, or sometimes pity. She would get what she wanted and, rather metaphorically speaking, tear their heart out. 

She had found a partner who was incredibly wealthy. He had earned his fortune with medical miracles. He would work at home, and had many a rat in his home. They were all well fed, and well kept, as he sought to reward hard work.

She, however, despised the rats, and didn't care for the work. One night, while he was out, she went around, and poisoned all the rats. When she woke up, it was to her lover's sobs of anguish. She comforted him, expecting this to last only a few days. She told him "perhaps you should not keep them at home. They must have gotten into something they shouldn't have."

He accepted the excuse, but, after several weeks of mourning, she became aggravated. While she still got everything she wanted, she was missing his attention. She tried her hardest to get it, but he would simply brush her off. He loved her, but his beloved were gone. So, she made a plan.

If he wanted to act like the dead rats were the best part of his life, he would join them. She looked through his medical texts, and found what she wanted. A poison, specially designed to destroy the heart, without being detected. If she couldn't have it, no one would.

So, she set forth a dinner, just the two of them. As they prepared to settle in, there was a knock at the door. And old woman stood before them, raggedy, and wrinkly,looking for a place to stay the night. The woman originally wanted to kick her out, but thought, oh, with a witness there was less chance of being caught.

So, they all sat down  to eat. When the man began to look distraught, he gripped at his chest. The woman kept up, asking if her lover was alright. He, however, waved her off, and they kept eating.

By the end of the meal, he finally succumbed to the poison, and was lying dead on his plate. The woman put on a good show of being distressed, shouting that they needed help, expecting the old woman to run. Get somebody.

Instead, she gets up, and walks to the man. After placing a calm hand on his neck, feeling his pulse, or lack thereof, she turned to the woman.

"Well. Don't we have something awful here. Death by heartbreak. Lost his poor rats, afterall."

The woman stared, confused.

She trudged on, move around the man's corpse.

"Shame, really. That he'd have his heart torn out twice in a year."

The woman began to question, but the old woman stopped her, "Well, for every year you go, my dear, without eating two hearts and two livers, you will become more like a rat, until you are small enough to crush under a boot."

The woman became angry, "excuse me? My beloved just died, and you make awful claims, and curses."

The old woman chuckled, "Well, you did see it coming. However you best get to work, before this goes further." She slipped the tip of her thumb up against the back of her front teeth and tapped.

The woman snarled, before realizing that her teeth had changed. She put a hand up to her mouth, and ran to the table, flipping everything off of a silver platter. In front of her she saw herself. The problem was that she now had two incredibly large teeth at the front of her mouth. She looked back at the old woman, whom had now sprouted her own teeth. And ears, fur, clawed fingers, and tail.

She spoke, "Now, I did say you had to eat the heart and liver. You must understand the heart, but the liver, now that's the question. You seem to enjoy the act of completely destroying a heart, so I figured I might as well add in something you weren't fond of as well."

The woman stared at her still, and the old woman kept going, "you must eat them raw, or else you will continue to become what you hate. However, if you were to cut out your own heart, the curse will release…"

She stopped talking to see that the woman had already descended upon her late lover, already tearing flesh and bone away with a knife, Nd her hands. The old woman was surprised at the lack of hesitation. She was appalled. This was supposed to be hard.

The woman wolfed down his heart, not even stopping to gag, terrified of her impending transformation. She then tore away her stomach, and intestines, root around his carcass for his liver. She may have lived with him, but she knew little of human anatomy.

When she completed the meal, she looked up at the old woman, a feral look in her eyes. 

The old woman took a step back, "Well then, you made a fine mess."

The woman stepped forward, and said, "I know how to clean."

The witch took another step back, realizing her mistake towards the ruthless creature before her, "And he'll be missing."

"Not if an old homeless woman killed him. I had to do it. Bashed her over the skull, and killed her."

The witch, much more skilled, said, "Well, good luck with that." And quickly vanished.

The problem was, however, she dropped her book of spells. So, the woman had grabbed it. She read it over, and tried to find what she could do to help herself.

She successfully fooled the people for weeks, into believing her lover was alive and well. The jig was up when someone went to speak with him, without the woman knowing. They entered upon the scene of the rotting, torn up corpse, screaming loudly.

Before she could get home, a large crowd filled the space in her home. She knew she couldn't answer any questions. Not without people seeing through it. So, she fled.

She fled to a forest, and started casting spells Willy nilly. She cast them until she created her own chocolates forest. She made it so tasty, and inviting, that she could get all the hearts and livers she needed. She'd also have all the decadence she needed. However, when no one came, she began transforming more. So, she upped her game. She made it impossible to flee if one went too far. She made the place so easy to find. When she got her first victim in a year, she couldn't help it. It was the first non-sweet she had in years. So, she cooked up the body, and devoured it entirely.

As the story comes to its end, unfortunately the monster was never beat, yet. And still she lives in her tasty home.

[jdmainman123]

You know I realize what happened here one family has control the satellite makers sent into the cities

But the problem I have with you men that are not birthrights and thrown out of your cities is your sad like makers holding a a incident over your head and you can't help but notice HE CAN'T DO THAT TO ME

And you guys all talking trash I need you to kill my kids you guys are happy to be here

THEN IT WAS TRUTH OKAY A FAMILY CONTROLS ALL THE SATELLITE MAKERS TO BE SENT INTO THESE CITIES AND THAT'S FINE WITH ME THE PROBLEM IS YOUR SON COULDN'T YOUR SON JASON COULDN'T AND FOR ME TO BE THE ONLY ONE HERE FOR YOU GUYS TO HAVE LET THE OTHER ENTIRE SIDE OF THE WORLD RENDER YOU GUYS JUST TO A BOY WITH A YACHT 100 FT YACHTS TO BE THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN CARRY THIS NAME JASON AND BE HERE IN THESE CITIES

It's a fatal accident in the mistake for me not to recognize these things and and promote some God language and and you guys tell me that the 3/4 all the people outside talking to people back at home in the middle of the air isn't genius but common sense

And I'm tired of your satellite lying to me the caliber of your satellite lies have gone to okay it's just one man tick tock guys now is our opportunity to attack him as much as we can and the any act statement the funniest thing here is we have witnessed how your satellite makers or you're thrown out satellite makers into these cities I had all the girls to themselves TOO MANY BOYS ARE FLYING IN SEPARATED FROM THEIR SISTERS AND I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE THE THE HEARTACHE OF THESE LITTLE BLACK SKIN BOYS WHO LOOK UP TO ME AND AND I REALLY LOVE THEM THE PROBLEM IS THE SATELLITE INTEGRATION FORCES ME TO CURSE THEM OUT AND CURSE OUT THE PEOPLE AROUND THEM AND I DON'T LIKE DOING THAT TO THEM THEY DON'T DESERVE IT BECAUSE THEY'RE INNOCENT AND THEY DESERVE A FAIR CHANCE AT LIFE AND IT'S NOT FOR ME FOR MY PART TO MAKE IT WORSE ON THEM TO GIVE HIM A HARDER CHANCE

I believe it's why I was sent from Orlando could be kicked off the beach because they knew this process of the boys coming into the city separated from their sisters. Would render a satellite maker entitled to his stupid ego and and and I own every girl in the city and and let's be clear for the daughter word even if I was a satellite operator a boy born woke you guys brought me back here to do one thing shoving my Facebook hanging out socializing as I was in school we didn't socialize we were supposed to be quiet and just read our books and do our mathematics and not talk to anyone

I don't care about the daughter long as I got a nice clean p**** to f*** every night and a nice couple beers to put in her vagina every night the daughter word doesn't matter but the problem is your satellite cities are hooked up to Black Mass Justice and we can no longer take the smile on your faces if I would have known 15 years ago I could drop this black girls and just claim all for a white hair white skin girl clean p**** I would have been better off 10 years ago 15 years ago even though I wouldn't have been here today or I would have been here today it would have been a lot easier for me going out

AND I LOVE THE BLACK GIRLS NO OFFENSE BUT BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE DEALING WITH THE LITTLE BLACK BOY AND IN THIS DEAD WHITE TRASH FAMILY WAS WAS RENDERED OFF OF THE STREETS BECAUSE THE WHITE SKIN BOY HAD THE SAME EFFECT COMING UP TO ME THINKING OF HIS FATHER AND FOR THEM TO PUT ME DOWN HERE AND SABOTAGE THIS LITTLE BLACK BOY AND ATTEMPTS TO TELL HIM SOME STORY TO SOME GROUPIE GIRLS SOME LOOSE GIRLS ON MY BEACH WHAT HE SAID ABOUT THE BLACK GIRL I ALREADY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THIS IS ABOUT I UNDERSTAND THE LITTLE MENTALITY OF THIS FAILED SATELLITE MAKER WANTS TO TELL ALL THE BLACK PEOPLE ON THE BEACH WHAT HE SAID ABOUT THE NBA PROGRAM WHAT HE SAID ABOUT BLACK PEOPLE

And you know if if I have a chance to to make a difference and not go on a plane go on the Greyhound bus to stick up for these boys and avoid them so I don't have to ruin their day and I don't have to change your life forever for it not to be all white skin boys and you to ignore my white skin is an accident in the mistake on your half to take advantage of me once again and if I can help it I will

And I'm going to