#endless bellamy

[where-the-wind-travels]

top row — amethyst grimes & euphemia labelle (ilw) ✦ middle row — moi kujaku (es) & elias bellamy (ds) ✦ bottom row — raida pearce (bb) & maya minobe (rod)

inspired by @choicesmc ♡

[mariocki]

Saw (2004)

"Congratulations. You are still alive. Most people are so ungrateful to be alive. But not you. Not anymore."

[lorstone]

Watching old Muse music videos and realising Matt Bellamy gives total Dream of the Endless vibes 😂

[hd-junglebook]

Neutral 8

This part may suck BUT I am slowly trying to get back into the story so skim through this and don't be mean.

You stared up at the endless blue sky, watching the clouds slowly drift by as the earth continued its endless orbit. The faint smell of burning metal filled your nose as a gentle breeze ruffled your hair. ‘I wonder if they'll ever find us down here,’ you thought, your hopes fading with each passing minute.

Around you, the search party members shouted to one another, their voices echoing off the mountainsides as they frantically pushed aside debris.

‘She can’t be dead. She hated me but she would never leave me like this. Why did I have to try to prove myself? Please come back...please,’ you silently pleaded, even as your weary body begged for rest.

Clarke mirrored your determined attitude, the dark circles on her face were more prominent in the bright sun while she meticulously scoured the debris strewn across the mountain.

Every step brought you closer to Clarke, her gaze fixed on some viscous liquid oozing from a ruptured container amidst the rubble.  

"Clarke," you called out softly, she turned to face you reluctantly meeting your gaze. "What’s wrong?" you asked, your curiosity piqued by the sight before you.

Without a word, Clarke gestured toward the oozing liquid, her expression troubled. You followed her gaze, crouching down as you took in the scene before you. The pink liquid dripping to the ground, its pungent odor assaulted your senses, causing you to recoil instinctively.

Suddenly, Clarke's voice shattered the tense silence, her cry of "Oh!" echoing through the desolate landscape.  Raven reacted swiftly, sprinting up the slope to join you both.

Her eyes were wide with concern as she assessed the situation, her sharp mind already racing to decipher the cause of Clarke's distress.

"Y/n, stop! Get away from there" Raven shouted as she reached your side. You both turned to Raven, her expression a mix of shock and disbelief. "Rocket fuel?" Clarke questioned.

Raven nodded grimly, her features drawn tight with concern. "Hydrazine... Highly unstable in its non-solid form. If this stuff meets fire, we're all pink mist."

“Suddenly I don’t think that would be too bad.” You started, recovering from your crouched position beside Clarke. She shot you a sideways glance. "Are you serious?" Raven huffed with disbelief as she struggled to comprehend your words.

"Watch this," Raven declared as she reached for a nearby object. “Fire in the hole!” You and Clarke ducked for cover as Raven hurled it toward the pink liquid with a swift toss, the impact causing a small explosion that sent debris flying in all directions.

The explosion was deafening, and the heat was intense, but you couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction as the rocket fuel burned away.

Bellamy's commanding voice reached your ears, “We move in formation, no straggling, weapons hot. We've got to get back before dark," he bellowed like a clarion call to action.

Without hesitation, the group began to fall in line, their movements synchronized and purposeful as they prepared to venture back into the woods. You remained rooted to the spot for a moment longer, your eyes scanning the debris-strewn landscape one final time.

As you lingered amidst the wreckage, lost in thought, you felt a presence at your side. Bellamy had come up beside you, "that means you too, Hestia," he remarked, his voice softer now, laced with a hint of affection.

You couldn't help but smile at the nickname. "Just taking one last look," you replied, turning to face him. His soft eyes met yours, filled with warmth.

"We'll find her," he said, squeezing your shoulder reassuringly. "But not if you work yourself to exhaustion. Come on, let's head back." You nodded, allowing him to guide you away from the wreckage.

His hand dropped to the small of your back. He was right - you had been pushing yourself too hard. But you wouldn't stop looking until your mother was found.

Glancing back over your shoulder, you silently made that promise once more. Bellamy's hand pressed more firmly against you, as if he had heard your unspoken words.

…

Your heart pounded against your ribcage as you pushed your way through the throng of people. The air hung heavy with the oppressive heat of the sun, the stench of sweat and dirt permeating your nostrils. Bellamy walked ahead of the group, shoulders tense and his head held high while the rest of the group trailed behind.

 As you approached the gate, the commotion grew louder, the voices rising in pitch with each step you took. The gate creaked open with a deafening squeal, and Octavia emerged, her eyes wide with fear.

She swallowed thickly before rushing forward, “Bellamy...” she gasped, her voice barely a whisper.

You pushed your way towards the front where Clarke and Bellamy stood, “Octavia whats wrong?” you demanded. The three of you shared a look as everyone waited for her to speak. “We found something bell. Its in the dropship.”  

With that, Octavia turned and headed back inside, guiding the three of you into the ship. The camp's stragglers dispersed around the perimeter, their voices fading into the distance. You followed closely behind Octavia as she ascended the metal ramp, the sound of her heavy footsteps echoing through the cavernous interior.

Once you reached the top, Octavia pushed back the plastic tarp covering the entrance, your breath caught in your throat at the sight that met your eyes.

John Murphy lay slumped against a wall, his once-blond hair matted with dried blood. His eyes were closed, his face covered in an excessive amount of cuts and dirt.

You and Octavia exchanged a grim look. Murphy had always been a thorn in everyone's side, but he didn't deserve this. “Everyone but Connor and Derek out... Now!" Bellamy emphasized

"We caught him trying to sneak back into camp," Connor stated, his voice low but firm, eyes narrowed as he assessed Murphy's reaction.

Murphy's jaw clenched, his gaze flickering briefly towards Bellamy before returning to Connor. "I wasn't sneaking," he retorted, his tone sharp with frustration. "I was running from the Grounders."

Bellamy, arms crossed over his chest, stepped forward, his expression unreadable in the dim light. "Anyone see Grounders?" he questioned, his voice a blend of skepticism and curiosity.

Connor shook his head, his eyes darting around the cramped space of the dropship as if searching for any sign of the elusive enemy.

"Well, in that case--" Bellamy began, lifting his rifle at Murphy before you began to panic, placing yourself between Bellamy and Murphy.

Your gaze flickered nervously between the two men, uncertainty clouding your features as you struggled to find the words to intervene.

Murphy's fate hung in the balance, and though you knew his actions had been reckless and foolish, there was a nagging voice in the back of your mind urging you to spare him.

"Wait," you interjected, your hands trembled at your sides, fingers curling into fists as you searched desperately for a reason, any reason, to convince Bellamy to show mercy. Bellamy's gaze softened slightly; his expression thoughtful as he considered your words.

"We were clear what would happen if he came back," Bellamy reiterated, his tone firm, uncompromising.

You took a shaky breath, summoning all your courage as you spoke, your voice steadier now, but still laced with uncertainty. "We... we don't know the full story," you ventured, your words hesitant but earnest. "Maybe... maybe there's more to it than we realize."

Clarke's voice sliced through the tension that had settled over the group like a sharp blade. "No," she declared, Clarke stood tall, her stance resolute, her eyes locking with Bellamy's in a silent challenge. "Y/n is right."

The soft glow of the flickering firelight illuminated her features, casting a warm, golden hue across her determined expression.

Bellamy's jaw tensed, his gaze bore into hers, as he bristled at Clarke's assertion. "Like hell he is," he retorted, his tone laced with frustration. "Clarke, think about Charlotte."

You couldn't stay silent, not when the memory of Wells's death still lingered like a specter in the shadows of their minds. "We are thinking about Charlotte," you interjected, your voice cutting through the charged atmosphere with a bitter edge. "Or did you forget what she did to Wells?"

Clarke knelt down beside him, her fingers grasping Murphys hand, she flexed It back and forth. “He's not lying,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “His fingernails were torn off. They tortured him."

Bellamy hesitated, torn between his sense of duty and the gnawing doubt that tugged at his conscience. Finally, with a resigned sigh, he relented, his shoulders slumping in reluctant agreement.

"Fine," he conceded, his voice heavy with resignation. "But if this goes wrong, it's on you." His gaze flickered toward Murphy, lingering for a moment before shifting back to Clarke and you.

…

“You need to practice shooting, Y/n. After yesterday, we can’t take any more chances with these grounders,” Bellamy insisted.

“And what if I don’t want to?” you challenged, a hint of defiance in your voice.

“I wasn’t giving you a choice,” he replied back just as fast, his words leaving no room for argument. You hid your giddy smile behind your hand as you followed Bellamy and the group to the makeshift shooting practice area.

Miller and Monroe lined up the empty ration cans, preparing for the practice. Clarke strutted over to join the group, picking up a gun and readying herself for the competition.

Sensing the competitive energy in the air, you accepted the challenge without a thought.

"On the count of three, I want you guys to start," Bellamy announced, his voice cutting through the chatter. You nodded in reply, feeling the weight of the rifle against your shoulder as you lined up your shot.

“One, two... three,” Bellamy counted, and with precision, you fired at the first tin. It flew back off the log with a satisfying thud to the ground.

Swiftly, you moved on to the next target, hearing Clarke finish her second shot. You took aim at the third can, your senses heightened as adrenaline surged through your veins.

Two shots sounded in quick succession, echoing through the clearing. Both you and Clarke hit the targets with pristine accuracy. The group cheered in approval. “Who needs men when you have us?” You joked to Clarke, gaining a big smile from her for the first time today.

shouts and cries rang out from the perimeter. "Clarke! Where's Clarke?" Connor's voice, hoarse with desperation, his words punctuated by fits of coughing. The sound sent a shiver down your spine, the hairs on the back of your neck standing on end.

Clarke's brow furrowed in concern as she moved towards his voice, "Connor?"

"It won't stop," Connor's voice drifted through the air, strained and ragged, each word punctuated by the gut-wrenching sound of his coughs.

"Clarke! What's happening?" Raven's voice joined the chorus of cries, her tone frantic with worry. Your breath caught in your throat as you witnessed the sight that greeted Clarke's eyes.

Horror washed over you like a tidal wave, threatening to engulf you in its icy grip. "Oh, my God, Clarke, your eyes," you gasped, the words tumbling from your lips in a hushed whisper.

You moved instinctively to approach her, to offer whatever comfort and support you could in the face of such a devastating revelation. But Clarke's hand shot out, a silent barrier that pushed you and Raven away with unexpected force.

Her eyes, once bright and vibrant, now held a haunted emptiness that sent a shiver down your spine. The color seemed to have drained from them, leaving behind only a dull, lifeless gaze that spoke volumes of the horrors she had witnessed.

…

Clarke's hurried footsteps echoed against the metal floor of the dropship as she entered, her senses on high alert, her eyes scanning the room with an intensity that made your heart race. You followed closely behind, the weight of worry pressing down on you like a leaden cloak.

Murphy's presence loomed in the corner of the room, his figure tense and apprehensive as he attempted to blend into the shadows, a futile effort to evade Clarke's keen gaze. The air crackled with tension as she approached him.

"Murphy, hey, look at me," Clarke's voice was soft yet firm, cutting through the silence like a knife. She reached out, her hand gently gripping his shoulder as she sought to anchor him in the midst of his mounting panic.

Murphy's gaze flickered nervously, his muscles tensing beneath her touch as he met her unwavering stare. "I need you to tell me exactly how you escaped from the Grounders," Clarke continued, her voice steady despite the turmoil swirling within her. "What happened?"

Murphy swallowed hard, shifting his weight uneasily. "I don't know," he admitted, his words coming out in a rush as if he were desperate to convince her of his innocence. "I woke up, and they forgot to lock my cage. There was no one there, so I took off."

Clarke's brow furrowed in confusion, a hint of skepticism creeping into her expression as she processed Murphy's explanation. The pieces of the puzzle seemed to shift and blur before her eyes, leaving her grasping at fragments of truth in a sea of uncertainty.

"Bellamy, stay back," you urged, your voice tinged with urgency as you moved to position yourself between him and the infected. Bellamy's brow furrowed in confusion, his gaze flickering between you and Murphy as he struggled to make sense of the situation. "Did he do something to you?" he questioned, gripping the rifle tighter in his hands.

You shook your head. "What the hell is this?" Bellamy demanded, his tone edged with frustration as he glared at Clarke, searching for answers in the depths of her haunted gaze.

"Biological warfare," Clarke stated, wiping her hands down her face in distress. “You were waiting for the Grounders to retaliate for the bridge? This is it. Murphy is the weapon." Bellamy's eyes widened in disbelief, the realization seemed to hit him like a physical blow, his shoulders slumping in defeat.

Clarke's revelation settled over the dropship like a suffocating blanket, a heavy silence descended upon the room, punctuated only by the sound of their ragged breathing.

Suddenly, the world seemed to blur around you, the edges of your vision blurring as if obscured by a thick fog. Your senses swam in a dizzying whirlpool, the world tilting precariously on its axis as you struggled to maintain your balance.

A bead of sweat trickled down your forehead, tracing a path down your flushed cheeks as the heat of the moment pressed in upon you like a tangible force. Your breath came in ragged gasps, your chest rising and falling with each shaky inhale.

With trembling limbs, you moved away from the group, climbing the narrow ladder of the dropship's interior. Your breath came in ragged gasps, the air thin and suffocating as you ascended to the third floor. Finally reaching the top, you stumbled into the cramped space of the third floor, the dim light casting long shadows across the metal floor.

Alone at last, the tears flowing freely from your eyes as you collapsed to the floor. Your knees cracked uncomfortably beneath the weight of your body. The tears mingled with the blood that trickled from your eyes.

you let out a choked sob, the sound echoing in the empty space around you. The tears continued to fall, unchecked and unbidden, as you surrendered to the overwhelming despair that threatened to engulf you.

"Will you stop crying?" it scoffed, dripping with disdain. Your eyes snapped open, scanning the empty expanse of the room in search of the face behind the voice.

But there was nobody there, just the echo of the words hanging in the air like a ghostly whisper. Confusion clouded your thoughts as you shook your head, trying to dispel the illusion that had taken hold of your mind.

A sudden weight settled on your shoulder, causing you to gasp in surprise. A hand, firm yet comforting, pressed against your trembling form.

Slowly, you turned your head, your heart pounding in your chest as you prepared to face the unknown presence behind you. And there, standing before you, was Diana Sydney, your mother.

The sight of her sent a jolt of shock through your system. Her hair was no longer the blonde that you once envied, once a shimmering cascade of blonde, was now charred and matted, wisps of smoke still clinging to the strands.

And her skin, once flawless and porcelain, was marred by angry red burns accompanied by the smell of char.

“Mom.” you whispered, your voice barely above a whisper as you reached out tentatively, as if afraid she would vanish into thin air at the slightest touch. For a moment, you simply stared at each other, the silence between you heavy with unspoken emotions.

The sudden sharpness of the voice shattered the fragile moment like glass, snapping you back to reality. "Do you ever shut up, y/n?"

"No," you replied. "I don't."

[bellamyblakepositivity]

Endless Bellamy Blake (158/?)

[bellamyblake]

Bellarke + Christmas AU

For Christmas Eve Bellamy and Clarke don't do anything that much different than usually;

they let the delinquents organize a big party that consists of just them, all of those who came down first, the kids who were still alive and who cared for each for more than just family;

Bellamy pretended to be grumpy about the whole celebration thing; he had never had any sort of thing in his life, even his birthday passed by with a loving card from his mom and a hug from Octavia and that was a lot for him, he simply wasn't used to attention;

Clarke herself acted like she wasn't involved in any way when in fact she very much was because the kids came to her with questions about everything-Jasper asked how to hang the Christmas lights, Monty wondered if it'd be okay to have moonshine, Murphy asked to bake potatoes and Raven said she'll take care of the fire but they needed her to confirm every little thing;

that's why at the beginning of the month when the first snow came in (and poor Clarke was too busy helping her mom in medical because of the breaks and the colds) she sat them all down with a piece of paper and gave out everyone's tasks for the eve;

They took them diligently but they still came to her with tiny questions that seemed endless;

Bellamy knew it was a lot for her even when she wouldn't say so and that's why he tried to help even if he still felt a little awkward being involved in the whole event because he could give out his heart for everyone but whenever they shoved presents in his hands, he was confused, stared down at them dumbfounded and just like the rest of the kids, looked at Clarke with confusion as to how to proceed;

but with the preparations he helped; he went out hunting and brought over a boar, a deer, a few rabbits and a chiken so that they had everything they needed;

then he fortified the hut they'd use for the celebration, brought woods for the fire, helped Jasper get the lights on and Miller the pine twigs and something akin to mistletoe;

he brought them pelts and blankets so they'd be warm and secretly, very very secretly, he started gathering apples and any sort of fruit late in the summer hiding them in a big wooden box mixed with leaves to keep them safe; yes, nobody knew...except his wofldog Ares who always whimpered whenever Bellamy climbed up the trees, knowing full well how easily he could fall and get something broken the way he did before like his elbow, his knee or his ribs-all injuries he had been present for too;

at night they lay in bed side by side sighing loudly-Christmas was a lot, Clarke would say and he'd hum tiredly, bringing her in close to his side;

on the day itself they were both tired, wet but grateful and even Bellamy wouldn't really be grumpy, just pretend he was so; when they all gathered together and exchanged presents, moonshine and sang songs he was happy;

so was Clarke who was smiling at him from the opposite side of the fire; they'd outdone themselves, more and more each other-mistletoes, pine branches, decorations they found in old bunkers, christmas lights, paper stars and snowflakes and this year, for the first time, a real christmas tree;

Bellamy had found it during one of his hunting missions outside camp, he felt almost bad cutting it off but brought Miller with him when he did and apologized quietly to the tree when he finally put it down;

by the time they dragged it in, he was covered in scratches, he was limping because his knee was swollen and his shoulder was just slightly dislocated; Miller was out of breath and the world spun around him because of his bad blood pressure;

He thought he'd make Clarke happy but she just stood there as the kids jumped around him and Miller, hugged him saying 'Thank you so much, Bellamy!', Jasper as always the happiest of them all (he had been asking for a tree for years now) but Clarke-

Clarke was pissed off and his face had fallen, knowing he screwed up; yet when they put it on and started decorating, she had joined them in albeit still reluctant and refusing to meet his eyes;

when the night ended and they had put everyone to sleep, Bellamy and her walked to their cabin slowly, him still limping, sighing painfully;

she had come over to wrap her arm under his elbow and help him there; He smiled at her, she mirrored him but there was something akin to sadness written all over her face;

he had been mistaken though-she was angry; it all bursted out when they made it in and she started taking care of him, his knee, his back, his elbow all the while he sat in bed and looked at her as if seeing her for the first time;

then when she was done wrapping him up, he pulled her in for a kiss and hugged her softly, pushing her to bed and holding her tight;

'I love you, princess.' he had whispered in her ear 'Thank you for being with me no matter how stubborn and stupid I am.' she had cried then and he hated that he did this to her but then she pulled away and held his face 'I don't really have another present for you. I thought the tree would make you happy but it didn't-'

she shook her head and kissed his lips softly 'oh, Bellamy...I'm not mad you got the tree. I'm mad I could've lost you because of it, you idiot. You've always been and will be my best present." Bellamy had smiled and covered them in the blanket, feeling warm and cosy and the whole night he couldn't get one image away from his head;

and it wasn't the Christmas tree with its lights and candles, paper snowflakes or colorful balls;

No, it was Clarke's face on the other side of the fire, her rosy cheeks, her messy blond hair and most of all, her kind smile;

That was the best Christmas present he could ask for;

[readingforaneternity]

For all my Bellarke shippers, if you haven’t already, go read everything written by @ajrchaosrising-blog.

Everything is amazing and will make you contemplate life and the intricacies of love and will ultimately make you yearn for the kind of love Clarke and Bellamy have.

Go. Join me in this cycle of endless yearn.

[acronym-chaos]

Ship Captain ID Pack

[PT: Ship Captain ID Pack].

[ID: A purple thin line divider shaded at the bottom. End ID].

Names

[PT: Names].

Alden, Anchor, Aquila, Ashby, Barnacle, Beck, Bellamy, Bilge, Brine, Calder, Caspian, Cormac, Cutter, Delmar, Dorian, Drift, Duncan, Elara, Eldoris, Eulalie, Farron, Fjord, Gale, Gulliver, Harbor, Helm, Horizon, Isla, Kaelan, Keel, Leif, Linden, Lorelei, Marina, Mariner, Maris, Marius, Marlowe, Nautica, Oceane, Oceanus, Orla, Paloma, Quillan, Roderick, Thaddeus, Ursula, Wade

Pronouns

[PT: Pronouns].

Anch / Anchor / Anchors, Compass / Compass' / Compass', Curr / Current / Currents, De / Deck / Decks, Fleet / Fleets / Fleets, Horizon / Horizons / Horizons, Ke / Keel / Keels, Ma / Mast / Masts, No / North / Norths, Po / Por / Port, Sai / Sail / Sails, Se / Sea / Seas, Ti / Tide / Tidal, Wa / Wav / Wave, Wi / Win / Winds

Titles

[PT: Titles].

A Captain Who Commands the Waves, The Captain of the Endless Voyage, The Navigator of the Sea, The One Who Conquers the Ocean, The One Who Sails with the Wind, The Sailor of the Endless Sea, The Seafarer Who Looks for the Horizon, The Storm Chaser, The Voyager of the Open Sea, [Pronoun] Who Steers the Ship Through the Storms, [Pronouns] Who Follows the Ocean Winds

[ID: A purple thin line divider shaded at the bottom, End ID].

Requested by @cloverpilled!

Also tagging: @id-pack-archive

[ipsiducis]

I just love that in 2024 when a new hyperfixation rears its head, there is still a place you can go and scroll endless memes, photos, gifsets, audio clips and videos without an algorithm "suggesting" content and making you look at paid adverts and clips where they will beep out Matt Bellamy saying 'cunt'.

[mariana-oconnor]

The Lion's Mane pt 2

Fair warning: I've had a fever for like half of the day, so this is liable to be more unhinged than usual. Everything feels sort of floaty and I'm pretty sure I had a dissociative episode this morning. Fun. Woooooo!

"That's The Haven, as Bellamy called it. The one with the corner tower and slate roof."

His house has a tower? No fair.

There was no mistaking that tall, angular, straggling figure. It was Ian Murdoch, the mathematician. A moment later we confronted him upon the road.

Is he hiding a jellyfish catapult up his jumper? That's the real question.

Is he three jellyfish in a trenchcoat?

"I am your subordinate, sir, under your roof. I am not aware that I owe you any account of my private actions." Stackhurst's nerves were near the surface after all he had endured. Otherwise, perhaps, he would have waited. Now he lost his temper completely. "In the circumstances your answer is pure impertinence, Mr Murdoch." "Your own question might perhaps come under the same heading."

Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!

"You will kindly make fresh arrangements for your future as speedily as you can." "I had intended to do so. I have lost to-day the only person who made The Gables habitable."

omg McPherson and Murdoch unrequited love enemies to lovers 100k angst hurt no comfort major character death

Murdoch needs to set out on a mission of revenge to murder all jellyfish. I still don't like him because throwing dogs through windows is an unforgivable offence, but VENGEANCE must be his new creed. He can turn the power of maths to his cause.

One man's quest to avenge his beloved. A tale for the ages. Revenge is best served wet.

I feel like there's a jelly and ice cream joke to be made there, but I don't think he should eat the jellyfish, even if that might be one of the only ways to kill them for good.

"My son here" -indicating a powerful young man, with a heavy, sullen face, in the corner of the sitting-room -- "is of one mind with me that Mr McPherson's attentions to Maud were insulting."

Maybe Mr Bellamy the younger is three jellyfish in a trenchcoat! Or maybe the whole family is jellyfish shapeshifters!

The possibilities are endless.

(the idea of jellyfish shapeshifters is going to give me the weirdest fever dreams tonight istg.)

Who could have imagined that so rare a flower would grow from such a root and in such an atmosphere? Women have seldom been an attraction to me, for my brain has always governed my heart, but I could not look upon her perfect clear-cut face, with all the soft freshness of the downlands in her delicate colouring, without realizing that no young man would cross her path unscathed.

Ugh, Holmes. Come on. I was counting on you! I'm going to lay the blame for this one on ACD and say that he suffered from the inability to describe a pretty woman without being horny about it, no matter who his narrator was supposed to be,

"There is no reason why my sister should be brought into the matter," growled the younger man.

Her boyfriend's dead, bitch. There's a lot of reasons. Stop being a dickhead and start being a comforting brother. Honestly. Stupid jellyfishifter.

She listened to a short account from my companion, with a composed concentration which showed me that she possessed strong character as well as great beauty. Maud Bellamy will always remain in my memory as a most complete and remarkable woman.

Well, at least she isn't getting brain fever. We are all grateful.

"Bring them to justice, Mr Holmes. You have my sympathy and my help, whoever they may be." It seemed to me that she glanced defiantly at her father and brother as she spoke.

OMG they are jellyfishifters! She knows! She knows!

"I see no reason for mystery," she answered. "We were engaged to be married, and we only kept it secret because Fitzroy's uncle, who is very old and said to be dying, might have disinherited him if he had married against his wish. There was no other reason."

The ancient enmity between the jellyfishifters and the sea turtle shifters! It's Romeo and Juliet meets Waterworld (I've never seen Waterworld, but I assume that it is a war epic about the ongoing conflicts between jellyfish and sea turtles. Or I do now, because it has occurred to me.)

"There was a time when I thought he was. But that was all changed when he understood the relations between Fitzroy and myself."

The tragedy. The homosexual pining.

"Sad story this, sir, about Mr McPherson's dog," said she one evening. I do not encourage such conversations, but the words arrested my attention. "What of Mr McPherson's dog?" "Dead, sir. Died of grief for its master."

Best. Boy. Survived being thrown through a plate glass window only to die of grief.

Also, what the fuck, Holmes? You 'don't encourage such conversations'? You're the only person she sees all day. TALK TO THE WOMAN.

So the dog was also attacked by the jellyfish. Someone really needs to mark that beach off limits.

You will know, or Watson has written in vain, that I hold a vast store of out-of-the-way knowledge without scientific system, but very available for the needs of my work. My mind is like a crowded box-room with packets of all sorts stowed away therein—so many that I may well have but a vague perception of what was there.

Have you finally remembered that lions man jellyfish exist?

...Inspector Bardle of the Sussex Constabulary—a steady, solid, bovine man with thoughtful eyes...

Animal comparisons as well. It's like we have Watson back.

"What would my position be if I let him slip away with all this evidence against him?"

You have literally 0 evidence.

"But I have examined them very carefully with a lens. They have peculiarities." "What are they, Mr Holmes?"

Well, one peculiarity is that they're jellyfish stings. So write that down.

"A most ingenious comparison. Or shall we say a very stiff cat-o'-nine-tails with small hard knots upon it?"

bdsm play gone very wrong... or jellyfish?

It's a difficult one.

Ian Murdoch staggered into the room, pallid, dishevelled, his clothes in wild disorder, clawing with his bony hands at the furniture to hold himself erect. “Brandy! Brandy!” he gasped, and fell groaning upon the sofa.

BRANDY! The triumphant return! And Watson isn't even here to administer it.

Get that man some brandy and cure him of... what's probably jellyfish stings, I guess. Does the brandy go in his mouth or does he bathe in it?

Half a tumbler of the raw spirit brought about a wondrous change.

If there is anything this year of Sherlock Holmes stories has taught me, it's that there is a panacea, it is brandy and we should all worship it. I need some brandy, clearly. Why am I taking paracetamol when I should be downing brandy?

At any moment he might die. More and more brandy was poured down his throat, each fresh dose bringing him back to life.

Best. Story. Ever.

I love this. It's perfect. No notes. Save that man's life with brandy, Holmes. If only you'd had a hip flask on you before. Can dogs drink brandy? I mean, there's that legend about St Bernards carrying brandy with them. Clearly dogs and brandy go together.

I can't believe brandy is saving the day. This is excellent.

Pads of cotton-wool soaked in salad-oil seemed to take the agony from the strange wounds.

OK, brandy and salad oil. Sure, why not.

I feel like he might be about to die of alcohol poisoning instead. But sure.

“I think I can, Stackhurst. Come with me now! And you, Inspector, come along! We will see if we cannot deliver this murderer into your hands.”

No, do not pick up the jellyfish with your hands.

“Cyanea!” I cried. “Cyanea! Behold the Lion's Mane!” The strange object at which I pointed did indeed look like a tangled mass torn from the mane of a lion. It lay upon a rocky shelf some three feet under the water, a curious waving, vibrating, hairy creature with streaks of silver among its yellow tresses. It pulsated with a slow, heavy dilation and contraction.

I'm really glad everyone is now on the same page, but I do have to say, Holmes, that clearly you had suspicions and you still allowed people to swim in that pool. That's reckless endangerment of lives, if ever I saw it. I am even more disappoint.

Even if you were wrong about it, you still shouldn't have let people swim there until you were sure you were wrong. Poor show.

There was a big boulder just above the ledge, and we pushed it until it fell with a tremendous splash into the water. When the ripples had cleared we saw that it had settled upon the ledge below. One flapping edge of yellow membrane showed that our victim was beneath it. A thick oily scum oozed out from below the stone and stained the water round, rising slowly to the surface.

A yuck and B, now the jellyfishifters are going to come after you.

Could have just put up signs telling people not to swim there rather than crushing the poor thing. It didn't mean to kill anyone.

"He gulped down brandy, a whole bottleful, and it seems to have saved his life."

✨Brandy!✨

“No, Mr. Murdoch. I was already upon the track, and had I been out as early as I intended I might well have saved you from this terrific experience.”

Yeah, feel bad, Holmes. Feel bad!

"The poor fellow had never thought to dry himself, and so I in turn was led to believe that he had never been in the water."

This I don't get. Was he not wet when they found him? Whatever. Doesn't matter. It was the jellyfish all along. There were no jellyfish catapults alas, and perhaps no jellyfishifters, but we aren't told whether the younger Mr Bellamy had gone suspiciously missing following the crushing of the jellyfish, are we?

But one thing we can all rest assured knowing: Brandy is the true hero. Three cheers for brandy!

[where-the-wind-travels]

i want to make more proper mc introductions as i mentioned earlier but i have no idea which one to do first aaaa a h 😭

* if yall have never heard of august it's because i have indeed never once posted about them but i have The Urge to since everyone else is posting about tefe

[luverofralts]

Arkhelios Adventures

"So, after we close the restaurant tonight, remind me to pick up those papers from Maura’s office. They need to be filed within two weeks, and I can't forget."

Adrian continued doing sit-ups for another few minutes before he realized that Roman hadn't replied to him in awhile. He had been sure that Roman had walked away until he looked around the room and saw that both Roman and Abe were staring at him.

"I'll remind you about the papers," Roman promised, despite looking distracted. Beside him, Abe looked equally out of sorts.

Abe nodded.

"Yes, the papers. The papers for Maura. I can remind you."

Adrian gave the two Bellamys a strange look but decided they were weird, but harmless. Ever since the demonic marriage, Abe would sometimes finish Roman's sentences or answer with Roman's exact response to Adrian's question, despite not having seen his husband all day. Whatever was happening, clearly their brains were synchronized and Adrian would never understand. Between those two and Rien's standard creepy predictions, Adrian's life was never boring.

"Well, thanks for the promise," he said, grabbing a dish towel to wipe off his sweat. "I'll hold you two to that or Maura will have my head. I'm off to go finish my run, Evren's meeting me at the cafe to take me home and I don't want to be late."

"Uh huh."

Neither Roman or Abe moved from their odd position, still staring at him like he was the sun itself and they couldn't look away.

"Fucking demonic marriage," Adrian muttered to himself. "There's no way my kids are getting anywhere near that, even if they claim they want it for themselves. Those two have never been creepier. I'm glad to see them happy, but the staring is just too much."

"Has Adrian's ass always looked like that? How have I missed that for all these years? It's like a marble statue."

Abe stared after Adrian long after he'd left, in complete awe of how attractive Roman's ex-husband was despite knowing him for over a decade and never thinking that thought once.

"Mhmm," Roman replied. "It's only gotten better with age."

Adrienne rolled her eyes, utterly exhausted by her parents. It was always something with them, whether they were in love, out of love, cheating on each other...the list was endless. Ever since her father and stepfather were demonically married, things in the household had gotten weird. Their thoughts were blending together and expressing themselves in weird ways. Supposedly, in a few years, the demonically married couple usually figured out how to tell their thoughts apart from their spouse's, which would be a godsend. Her father had called Elaine Helios "mom" by accident a few times now, each time with disastrous results, and Adrienne had seen her stepfather awake in the kitchen late at night, completely butchering the recipe for sugar cookies because her father had been thinking of making some for sale the next day.

Now it was spreading over to her other father like some kind of horny contagion. Adrienne had been told the secrets of just how damaging sex hormones were by the spirits, and had witnessed her own brother fall victim to his own raging hormones for Adam. From her earliest memories, Adrienne knew that Abe didn't like her father, Adrian. He was jealous and petty about every little thing regarding her biological parents' relationship for the longest time, and now here he was ogling her father openly. Which meant that her other father had been ogling him and passing the thought on, making the whole thing gross. After all this time, Adrienne thought that the adults in her life were finally able to have better control of their hormones, but clearly, she was wrong. She dreaded her birthday next year when she, too, would likely have uncontrollable hormones.

"You know, I have some time still before I have to go to work," Abe whispered, making his husband laugh.

"Oh, really?" Roman asked playfully. "Adrian should stop by more often if he can free up your schedule like that."

"Hi, Rien. I'm home from school early this weekend. I'm going to my room."

Adrienne sighed as the spirits filled her in about Theo's latest drama. Adam cheating on her brother? She hadn't predicted that happening, though truthfully, she hadn't peered into that aspect of her brother's life in a long time.

"I'm sorry that Adam's an idiot," she stated sincerely.

Theo didn't look surprised that his sister knew immediately what was going on. There wasn't much that anyone could hide from her.

"It's my fault. I almost killed him. Relationships don't last after something like that. It makes sense."

Adrienne frowned at these words.

"The spirits say that people have endured worse and stuck together. Adam's not allowed to kiss other people and still have the moral high ground."

Theo smiled weakly, but didn't look convinced.

"You're a good sister, Rien. I'm just going to go to my room. Tell our parents that I'm here, but I don't want to be disturbed."

"Did you hear that? It sounds like Theo."

Abe pulled away from his amorous embrace to scan the room for their son. Roman whimpered slightly as Abe pulled away from him, but the mention of his oldest son was pulling his attention from his husband.

"Already? It's barely Saturday morning, and that kid doesn't show up until at least noon. Something must be wrong."

"You're going to get through this," Adrienne promised, hugging her brother tightly to emphasize how sincere her vision was. "There's other people out there who you haven't almost killed. Your roommate, for example. The spirits say that he's got feelings for you. That blue girl you go to school with too. She thinks a lot about you."

Theo scoffed, despite being intrigued by this information.

"Despina? No, she has a crush on Prince Jasper of Strangetown. I think they're secretly dating or something. Sebastian though....His gold eyes are gorgeous. They say only the strongest demons had them and passed them down to their powerful descendants." Theo shook his head to clear his thoughts. He was in love with Adam and not interested in a new boyfriend. Nothing would change that. "I don't need to date anyone else. I'm dating Adam."

"What's this about Adam? Do you want to invite him for dinner tomorrow? Your father is making a casserole, so there should be plenty for guests."

Theo shook his head quickly, unable to even think of sitting next to Adam and pretending things were fine in front of his family. Between this and the strange look on Adrienne's face that seemed to be trying to tell him something, Abe had some suspicion of what was going on

"Are you having boy trouble?" Abe asked gently, reaching to hug his son, only to have Theo pull away. "It's okay, Theo. Everyone has rough patches in relationships. Everyone. It's perfectly normal. Tell me about what's happening, and your father and I can help."

Theo hesitated, trying to hold up an expression of confidence and completely failing. His bottom lip quivered as he blinked back tears. He wouldn't let anyone know what had happened. He couldn't. Adam was supposed to be his forever relationship, but at the moment, Theo couldn't even imagine them sitting together at lunch anymore.

"Dad...how do you know a guy is cheating on you? K-kissing someone at a party counts as cheating, right? It's not just about sex?"

"Oh, Theodosius, come here."

Upon hearing the sympathetic tone in his father's voice, Theo cracked, falling to the floor sobbing. Abe crouched next to him, holding out a reassuring hand for his son to hold.

"Did Adam kiss someone else at a party?" When Theo nodded, Abe sighed. "Oh, buddy, I'm sorry. That's always hard to deal with, and it's not your fault."

"It is my fault," Theo sobbed, breaking Abe's heart to see him suffering. "I almost killed him and he's afraid of me and the scars on his face are horrible, and I feel so bad looking at it and-and-"

Theo broke into fresh sobs, unable to continue his sentence. Abe squeezed his hand reassuringly, stroking Theo's hair like he had when Theo was a child.

"Hey. I'm right here. You're going to get through this. I know how much your first heartbreak hurts, but it gets better. It always gets better even when you think it can't. I promise you, one day, all of this will be something you laugh about with your future husband or wife."

"Why did you and Dad stay together when you cheated on each other? Was it just because of us kids or because you didn't think you could find anyone better?"

Roman made a miserable groan that he tried to muffle with his hands. This was his fault. He had set a terrible example for his children and now they were suffering for it.

He hadn't broken up with Abe when Abe cheated when they were teens. Abe had dumped him and nearly abandoned his son in college, while Roman remained a perfect doormat for Abe. He had tried to cling onto the relationship too hard because he needed a place to stay and help with Theo, while believing that the demonic contract they'd made would keep Abe's heart true to him.

And he'd never technically cheated on Adrian with Abe, but that was a very flimsy technicality. Roman was, to this day, very sexuallly interested in Adrian, but those feelings had always paled in comparison to his feelings for Abe. He knew that Theo had seen the old paparazzi photos of him and Abe taken shortly after Adrian's death for certain, and each day he prayed Adrienne and Luciana never stumbled upon them and realized just how much of an ass their father had been in the wake of Adrian's death. He had been technically single at the time, true, but the fact that the papers could even make a case that Roman married Adrian for his money and was complicit in his death was shameful. The fact that Adrian had barely been dead a few months before explicit photos of Roman and his ex started to appear was embarrassing to one day have to explain to his daughters. His early twenties had been a shitshow that one day his kids were going to learn about, and Roman was terrified to preach to angsty teenagers about proper behavior when he was hardly a good example.

And Ulyssa. Roman groaned again at the thought of having to deal with that mess as the kids grew up. He'd cheated on Abe in the worst possible way, and Abe had stayed with him. They'd done countless hours of therapy to overcome it, but the scars of Roman's affair were all over their family. Theo had a little brother he resented, he hated his godmother, and he'd seen a parent once again take a cheater back, glad to put the whole thing behind them.

No wonder Theo was so confused when it came to relationships; Roman had never provided a proper example for his son to follow. Everything about Abe had been school boy fantasy and eternal demonic contracts and magical feats of love defeating evil. Roman could see his fingerprints all over Theo's wild ideas of forever loves, young marriages, and magic binding two people together for a higher purpose. He had done this to his son and then punished Theo for following in his own footsteps. After all the care he had taken to be better than his own parents, Roman had failed.

"I can't break up with him," Theo sobbed to Abe. "This is just a small challenge when we're going to be together for the rest of our lives."

"Theo, you're almost fifteen," Abe replied. "Most people don't end up marrying who they dated at fourteen. It's just not statistically likely. People grow and change over the years, and by the time you graduate high school, you and Adam might not even have anything in common anymore."

"That's not true," Theo insisted. "He's going to be grounding my abilities for the rest of my life unless Lukas feels compelled to undo it and...and...please don't tell Dad, please, but...Adam and I sometimes have sex. Completely protected with magic and condoms, I promise! Until recently, we had that in common, and I hope someday we will again."

Roman's heart dropped on the floor, shattering before him. He didn't know what to process first.

His son had gone against his parents' requests to abstain from sex, which was just one of the shards piercing Roman's heart. All of the worries about teen pregnancies or negative reputations rose again in his mind, though they were quickly overtaken by rage aimed at the teenager Roman had never liked. He had been right to distrust Adam and his intentions. Adam had used his son sexually, and now was surely cheating on Theo with his replacement. If the boy wasn't protected by absurdly powerful magic users, Roman would be paying Adam Darktide a visit.

The worst part of it, though, was the request Theo had made to his father. Not only was Theo listing sex as a shared interest to remain in a toxic relationship, which again made Roman question his parenting, but Theo had only felt comfortable telling Abe about it. He had actually begged Abe to promise not to tell Roman, telling Roman exactly how much trust his son had with him. He was afraid of Roman's reaction, and rightfully so. Roman was incensed by this revelation to the point of not knowing which teenager to start screaming at first. He didn't have the same demonic powers as his son, but Roman was still a hybrid. He could maybe scorch the doorframe of the academy a little before a magic user caught him.

But a calmness suddenly took hold of him that he couldn't explain and all desire to burn down Theo's school dissolved away. Roman frowned, bringing up the idea of someone hurting his son in any way in his mind and finding a resigned peace instead. This wasn't Roman's reaction, which meant....

Abe was the calm one. He was comforting their son without flying into a rage or threatening to murder a fourteen year old student. Roman was borrowing Abe's patience against his will, allowing him to step back from his own feelings and focus on Theo's.

And Theo had a lot of feelings to deal with. Namely, the twisted view he seemed to have about what a relationship was actually was about. Roman had to undo some of the damage he had unknowingly done to his son before Theo made the mistakes that he'd made.

"Theo, buddy, we need to have a talk," Roman began. He approached his son to sit next to him, but Theo's face was frozen in panic and he gripped Abe's hand harder than before.

Roman's face fell as he saw the fear in his son's eyes. Theo hadn't meant for him to overhear his conversation with his father and now he was terrified of Roman. The hundreds of tiny glass shards that had torn through his heart a mere moment ago returned at double their previous strength. This was what he had done to his son with his parenting. He looked at Theo's eyes and saw his own, pleading with his mother to love him and the baby she wanted dead.

He was his mother now, hurting the child he'd sworn to protect. He'd once stood over Theo's crib and promised him to love him unconditionally, and yet here Theo was, terrified of his father's reaction.

"Abe, why don't you start some hot chocolates for us," Roman suggested, giving his husband a pointed look. Abe hesitated for a moment, but eventually nodded.

"Good idea," he replied, giving Roman a look of his own conveying a warning about upsetting their son. "I don't think we've had our gourmet hot chocolate mix since Winterfest last year. I'll get lots of marshmallows for them, just the way you like, Theo."

Roman inched closer to his son and tried to project calmness. The last thing he needed was for Theo to run away.

"Dad, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have, a-and you're so disappointed, I know, and I know I'm grounded until university, but I love him. Even now that he's been acting so weird, I still love him," Theo sobbed. "Please don't take me out of school, all my friends are there and-"

"Theo, take a breath. I'm not angry with you, and you're not grounded even if I thought I could enforce that punishment. I'm disappointed with some of your choices, but I've been your age and I know what it's like. Your father and I try to set limits for you and your siblings to protect you from making the same mistakes that we did when we were young. Trust me, I understand what love feels like at your age, and I get it."

"You do?" Theo asked, still hesitant to open up to his father. "Because of your relationship with Dad?"

Roman shook his head.

"Oh, buddy, I never thought that I'd be telling one of my kids about this, but I had relationships other than with your father. When I went to Princess Zarah's, your father and I were in a loosely defined relationship, and I slept with other people. Mostly, it was just Ulyssa, but I flirted when I could."

"Ew, you and Aunt Ulyssa used to hook up when you were my age? Even before Georgiana?"

Roman laughed softly. Ulyssa was still a sore subject, but Theo needed to hear the truth, especially when it made him too horrified to think about his own troubles.

"Yep. We stopped when I found out about you, and she met Maura, but back then, our feelings and the friendship between us felt incredibly overwhelming. And things with your father? I felt like I would die without him some days. He understood me like no one else and was incredibly handsome as a bonus. We rushed into a sexual relationship before we were ready because I was afraid of him leaving me, which-"

"I don't want to hear about your sex life with Dad," Theo whined. "Gross. Or anything to do with Aunt Ulyssa either."

Roman smiled. Theo wasn't as closed off as he was a moment ago, proving that being open with his son was actually helping their relationship despite his fears.

"Okay, okay. You get the point though. I loved your father like you presumably love Adam, and I ignored a lot of red flags because of my feelings. I wasn't confident in my relationship and there were times that your father had doubts too. We clung together because our lives were threatened, plus we had you to think about, and we weren't ready for any of what happened. Sure, your father and I are still together, but there were times in our relationship where it would have probably been healthier if we'd gone our separate ways. In trying to hold on to each other, we pushed too hard in places. We could have saved ourselves a lot of pain if we had been smarter about our relationship and let go when we needed to."

"So you think that I need to break up with Adam," Theo murmured. "That taking a break would help us be together in the future?"

Roman's head throbbed, trying to ignore the burning anger he felt for Adam Darktide so that he could be a better father. The last thing he wanted was that boy anywhere near his son.

"If it's meant to be, then it will happen," Roman said after a brief pause. "He'll be grounding your powers probably for the rest of your life, like you said. A connection like that won't be easy to shake. Right now though? You need to protect yourself and value what you can bring to a relationship. If Adam is kissing other boys, then he's not respecting you, and you owe it to yourself to put your foot down. I know it hurts now, but there will be other people to date who respect you and will be there for you. Right now, that person isn't Adam."

"But it's my fault that he's like this," Theo replied. "If I hadn't hurt him, he'd be happy like he used to. None of this would be happening."

Roman's blood pressure spiked again at this thought, despite the soothing waves of calm radiating toward him from the kitchen.

"Theo, what happened between you and Adam was an accident. You weren't charged by your coven with a crime and they sent you away to protect yourself from further accidents, not as a punishment. You need to drop this idea that you were at fault for any of it. Do you really think that if anyone thought the accident was your fault, your Aunt Lucy wouldn't sue them into bankruptcy?"

Theo smiled at the idea of his aunt taking on the coven and probably winning despite not being magical in the slightest.

"Yeah, you're right. She'd have demons tormenting Adam's mom until she was nicer to me," he replied. His voice was steadier than before, though tears still filled his eyes.

"So it's not your fault that Adam got hurt," Roman concluded. "From what I hear, you helped save him despite being hurt yourself. It sounds like Adam has a lot to heal from, but you're not responsible for that. You can let go of him without feeling guilty, I promise you. It might even be the kindest thing you can do for him. He sounds very confused at the moment."

"Dad? Did...did you ever love Adrian as much as you love Dad?"

Roman paled at the question, his mind racing to come up with an appropriate response.

"It's just that...I don't love anyone more than I do Adam," Theo continued, taking his father's silence as his answer. "There's no one at school I like more than him, and even all the people at the dance couldn't come close to making me feel what he does. Does this mean that i have to spend my whole life with someone I settled for?"

Roman stared at the wall, desperately trying to find anything in his brain to tell his son without unintentionally saying the wrong thing. Had his feelings for Adrian been as strong as his feelings for Abe? Had he ever felt anything with Claudia or Ulyssa that even came close to how Abe made him feel?

"That...is a very complicated question," he tried. "You're not me, and you will make your own choices in life, so you can't completely compare yourself to anyone else. In the beginning, I think I loved Adrian as much as I loved your father, or at least I thought I did. Theo, you're still very young and so much in your life will inevitably change by the time you're my age. Your father and I were different when we were your age. We were both running from a bad family situation and we only had each other to hold onto, but Theo, that's not love, that's desperation. I was dealing with powers I didn't realize I had and then your father got pregnant, and my family...well, our attention then was on surviving and making sure that you were safe. When it came down to it, your father and I were very different from each other. I was trying to embrace my supernatural abilities, while your Dad was afraid of them. He wanted freedom to explore life as a young adult and I wanted commitment. We weren't a good match back then and it would have been settling if we had tried to force things to work. Adam is not the only boy in the world. You may find someone else and realize that all this time, you were settling for Adam."

Theo looked at his dad curiously. He had asked a question about Adrian and received an answer all about his father, which was an answer in itself. Marrying Adrian made sense on paper, but the spark wasn't there. It was as Theo feared. He felt that spark for Adam and there was no guarantee that he would ever feel it for someone else. His parents hadn't lasted this long together because they made sense on paper; they had something special between them, and their dedication to preserving it was what kept them together.

He had no idea of what that meant for him and Adam, but it was oddly nice to have his father actually talk with him instead of yelling about rules. Maybe this newfound openness was Theo's chance to ask other burning questions he had for his dad that would likely never be answered in his lifetime.

"Dad, what was my grandmother like? I don't really remember her from when I was younger, and sometimes we talk about the Great Demons in school and it makes me wonder about her. I know she's gone now, but-"

"I don't know a single thing about that woman, except that she wanted you to die to save herself," Roman interrupted quickly. A carefully practiced mask replaced the rare openness on his face before Theo could continue his question. "That's all that you need to know about her. Let's check on those hot chocolates your father said he started. That's much better than dredging up the past, right? Right."

Theo sighed, but followed his father into the kitchen. Roman had all but sprinted there, desperate to leave his son's question behind him. Theo had a bunch of questions that he'd love for his father to answer about his life and the past, but Roman was never open to answering them. Theo knew all about the Helios side of his family, but very little about the Bellamys. His great-aunt Wanda sometimes rattled off impressive facts about the Bellamy family, but she never talked about how it felt to experience it all or be near the people he read about in history books. Finally getting some answers to his questions was probably the only thing his parents could do to keep his mind off of Adam, but that didn't seem to be happening any time soon.

"You know that I love you, right? I'm sure that you'll make the right decision about Adam," Roman said, pulling his son in for a hug before the teen could ask any further questions or run away.

"What is the right decision?" Theo asked warily. "Everyone is telling me to break up with him, is that the right choice? I know we have something special, but what if he won't stop kissing other guys? What if I want to kiss Ewan again?"

"Ewan? Who the hell is Ewan?"

Roman reacted too quickly to cover up his reaction to hearing his son's sordid confession, and Theo noticed, immediately taking a step away from his father.

"A friend. Just a friend. And Adam's half brother. Oh look, my hot chocolate is ready. I'll go drink it in my room. Thanks, Dad, good talk."

Theo scurried as quickly as he could without spilling his drink before his father could ask any further questions about boys he may or may not have kissed.

"This discussion isn't over, Theodosius!"

Abe poked his head into the kitchen upon seeing Theo's quick escape.

"Everything good here? I think I saw a teenaged blur run past me. I hope you weren't too hard on him, Ro. We talked about this, remember?"

"Your mother? Why would he be asking about her? I thought this was about a boy."

"Everything's fine," he groaned. "Just Theo admitting to kissing someone other than Adam and asking about my mother of all things. He's going to end up pregnant or dead at this rate, Abe."

Roman sighed, rubbing his suddenly aching temple.

Roman crossed his arms defensively.

"He was full of questions apparently. He wanted to know about my marriage to Adrian too. Like I'm the one who has to answer questions! He's kissing Adam's brother now apparently too. I told you that boarding school would make him-"

Roman stopped mid sentence, his rant suddenly fading from his mind as another wave of calmness overcame his anger. Beside him, Abe smirked.

"You're out of practice, Bellamy. For a demon hybrid, you're not really catching onto demonic marriage very well. Calm down. Theo's growing up and trying to find his place in the world. The twins aren't far behind him, so we have to be ready for questions about the past or about our family. Think of everything that you had to piece together on your own about your parents and grandparents. Theo is just looking for a connection to his roots and experimenting with relationships. Besides, I thought you hated Adam. You should be celebrating Theo kissing someone else."

"Not Adam's brother," Roman groaned miserably. "His brother? Who knows what he's like? He could be worse."

"Or he might be great. That's up to Theo to find out and us to support him as best as we can. Now grab your hot chocolate and sit at the table with me. If the kids are going to start asking about...sensitive subjects, we should probably have some answers prepared."

"You've been reading those parenting books again, haven't you?" Roman teased, doing exactly what his husband had asked him to do.

Abe smiled mischievously.

"Come on, let's get started before you start getting ideas about chasing down every member in the Darktide family. That wouldn't end well for you and I'd much prefer you in one piece."

[reallygroovyninja]

This was inspired by the prompt - Kissing in a pillow fort

The sky was a brilliant shade of blue, speckled with fluffy, white clouds as Lexa made her way to Clarke's house. It was a Saturday afternoon, the kind that whispered promises of endless possibilities and adventures. Lexa’s footsteps were light, her heart filled with the familiar thrill of spending the day with her best friend.

As she approached the Griffin residence, the sound of laughter and music spilled out from an open window, guiding Lexa like a beacon. She rang the doorbell, a smile already blooming on her face.

Clarke opened the door, her bright blue eyes shining with excitement. "Lexa! You're here!" she exclaimed, stepping aside to let her in.

The Griffin house always felt like a second home to Lexa. There was a warmth to it, a lived-in feeling that made her feel instantly comfortable. She followed Clarke through the hallway, their conversation a lively stream of updates and shared jokes.

They reached Clarke's room, where a magnificent pillow fort awaited. It was a sprawling construction of blankets, pillows, and fairy lights, creating a cozy haven. Clarke's artistic touch was evident in the hand-drawn banners and colorful cushions that adorned their fortress.

"Welcome to our Saturday headquarters!" Clarke declared, her eyes sparkling with mischief and excitement.

Lexa laughed, her heart light. "It's amazing, Clarke. You've outdone yourself!"

They crawled into the fort, the outside world melting away as they entered their own little universe. Inside, the fort was even more magical. The fairy lights cast a soft glow, creating a world that felt removed from reality, a place where only they existed.

Clarke and Lexa sat cross-legged in the pillow fort, surrounded by a sea of soft blankets and the gentle glow of fairy lights. The air was filled with the sweet scent of popcorn and the quiet hum of their shared laughter. Clarke, with a half-eaten popcorn in hand, suddenly turned to Lexa, her expression a mix of amusement and curiosity.

"Did you hear about Miss Diyoza in class yesterday? She got super mad because some kids were passing notes," Clarke said, her voice tinged with a hint of teenage drama.

Lexa’s eyes widened, her interest piqued. "Really? I missed that! She's usually so chill. What happened?"

Clarke leaned in closer, as if sharing a secret. "It was during the history lecture. And then, out of nowhere, she just stopped talking and stared at Monty and Harper passing this crumpled paper."

"No way!" Lexa exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with the thrill of classroom gossip.

"Yeah! And she said, 'If you have something to share, please feel free to enlighten the whole class.'" Clarke mimicked Miss Diyoza's stern tone, causing both girls to giggle.

Lexa shook her head, smiling. "That's so like her. Did she read the note in front of the class?"

Clarke nodded, giggling. "Yeah, she did. Monty asks Harper to be his girlfriend"

Lexa laughed. "That’s embarrassing."

Clarke reached for another handful of popcorn, her eyes dancing with a mischievous glint.

"Did you hear about Bellamy and Echo?" she asked, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.

Lexa's eyes lit up with interest, a smile playing on her lips. "No, what happened?"

"They're apparently dating now," Clarke revealed, her words laced with the excitement of a juicy secret.

Lexa gasped theatrically. "Really? Since when? They barely even talk in class!"

Clarke shrugged, enjoying the shared gossip. "I heard it from Raven. She said they've been hanging out a lot after school lately. It's so weird, right?"

"Yeah, totally unexpected," Lexa agreed, her tone full of wonder. "School's been full of surprises lately."

The conversation spiraled into a lively exchange of school gossip. They talked about who liked whom, which teachers were rumored to be the strictest, and the latest drama from the school play auditions. Each revelation was met with gasps, giggles, and wide-eyed expressions.

Clarke, with a sly grin, leaned closer. "And guess what else? I heard that Mr. Pike caught Jasper and Maya passing notes in English class. But instead of getting mad, he read the note out loud, and it was a really bad poem Jasper wrote for Maya!"

Lexa burst into laughter, covering her mouth with her hand. "No way!"

After their laughter had subsided from the latest round of school gossip, Clarke glanced at the small laptop they had set up in the corner of their pillow fort. An idea sparked in her eyes, and she turned to Lexa with an excited grin.

"Hey, do you want to watch a movie?" Clarke asked, her eyes shining with anticipation.

Lexa's face lit up at the suggestion. "Yeah, that sounds awesome! What should we watch?"

Clarke bit her lip in thought, scanning through the list of movies they had been wanting to see. "How about a rom-com? Something light and fun?"

"Perfect choice!" Lexa agreed enthusiastically. "Rom-coms are the best for nights like these."

Clarke navigated through the streaming service, her finger hovering over the titles. Finally, her eyes landed on a movie they had both been talking about seeing. It was a new romantic comedy that everyone at school seemed to be talking about.

"What about this one?" Clarke pointed to the screen, displaying the movie's poster, which featured a colorful and whimsical design. "I've heard it's really funny."

Lexa peered at the screen and nodded, her smile widening. "Yes, let's watch that! I've been wanting to see it ever since Anya mentioned it."

Excited, Clarke clicked on the movie, and the opening credits began to roll. They adjusted their positions in the fort, making sure both of them could see the screen comfortably. Clarke grabbed a couple of extra pillows for them to lean on and pulled the bowl of popcorn closer.

As the movie started, the fort was filled with the sounds of laughter and dialogue from the screen. Clarke and Lexa were soon absorbed in the story, commenting on the characters and laughing at the funny scenes. The outside world seemed to fade away as they delved into the world of the movie, enjoying the comfort of each other's company and the shared joy of a good film.

When the movie reached its climax and the two lead characters shared a tender, triumphant kiss, Clarke turned to Lexa, a curious glimmer in her eyes.

"Lexa, have you ever kissed anyone?" Clarke asked, a playful tone in her voice.

Lexa, taken aback by the sudden question, shook her head with a shy smile. "No, I haven't. What about you?"

"Me neither," Clarke replied, a bit of a giggle escaping her. She hesitated for a moment before continuing, "Do you think it's like how they show in movies?"

Lexa pondered for a moment, her gaze turning back to the frozen image of the kissing couple on the laptop screen. "I don't know. It looks… nice, I guess? But probably not exactly like that in real life."

The idea seemed to hang in the air between them, a bubble of curiosity in their cozy world of pillows and blankets.

"Maybe we could… you know, try it? Just a peck, to see what it's like," Clarke suggested, the words tumbling out in a rush, her cheeks flushing with a mix of excitement and nervousness.

Lexa's eyes widened slightly, but then she nodded, a mutual understanding of friendship and trust between them. "Okay, just a peck. Like a practice."

They both leaned in awkwardly, their eyes closing as they shared a quick, innocent kiss, more a brush of lips than anything else. As they pulled away, Clarke burst into giggles, the sound light and carefree.

"That was… weird," Clarke said, still laughing.

Lexa laughed too, though her mind was a whirlwind of new feelings and thoughts. It was a simple, innocent moment, but it sparked a realization within her, an awakening of sorts to new possibilities she hadn't considered before.

The movie resumed playing, but Lexa's thoughts were elsewhere, gently exploring the new emotions that the innocent peck had stirred. It was a moment of self-discovery, subtle yet significant, a first step in understanding herself better.

Clarke, oblivious to Lexa's internal revelations, chatted away, filling the fort with her cheerful voice. The night continued with more laughter, movie scenes, and shared snacks, a testament to the simplicity and beauty of their friendship.

As the movie credits rolled and the fairy lights in the pillow fort seemed to glow a bit softer, Clarke and Lexa lay side by side, a comfortable silence enveloping them. The laughter and conversations of the evening had woven a new layer into the tapestry of their friendship, each moment a thread of shared experiences and understanding.

Clarke turned her head to look at Lexa, her eyes reflecting the dim light. "Tonight was fun, Lexa. We should do this more often."

Lexa smiled, her thoughts still lingering on the revelations of the evening, but her heart full of warmth for the friendship she shared with Clarke. "Yeah, it was perfect. Best Saturday ever."

They began to tidy up the fort, folding blankets and gathering up the remnants of their snacks. As they worked, their chatter was light and easy, punctuated with laughter and plans for their next adventure.

Finally, with the fort returned to its former state of just being Clarke's room, Lexa gathered her things to leave. At the door, she turned to Clarke, a genuine smile on her face. "Thanks for today, Clarke. It really meant a lot."

Clarke hugged Lexa, the bond between them stronger than ever. "Anytime, Lexa. You're always welcome here. See you on Monday?"

"See you on Monday," Lexa agreed, stepping out into the cool night air, her heart light with the joys of youth and the comfort of a friendship that was more like family.

As Lexa walked home under the gentle glow of the starlit sky, her thoughts kept drifting back to the day's playful dare and the quick, innocent kiss she shared with Clarke. She could still feel her heart fluttering a bit, a mixture of surprise and excitement at the new experience.

The kiss was brief, a mere peck, but it left Lexa with a whirl of feelings she hadn't expected. She wondered what it meant, feeling a buzz of curiosity about the new emotions stirring inside her.

Skipping a little as she walked, Lexa felt a warm glow inside her. Today wasn't just any other day—it was a day where something new and exciting happened, a day she would definitely remember.

After Lexa left, Clarke lay in her bed, her room feeling a bit more special after their fun day. She couldn't stop thinking about the movie, the jokes they shared, and especially the quick, silly kiss they had dared to try. It was just a peck, really, but it made her heart beat a bit faster, and she found herself smiling at the memory.

Clarke hugged her pillow, feeling a mix of excitement and wonder. It was just for practice, she reminded herself, but it was also kind of cool and something totally new. She was happy it was with Lexa, her best friend who made everything fun and less scary.

As she closed her eyes, Clarke felt thankful for having Lexa in her life. They could share jokes, watch movies, build pillow forts, and even do goofy things like practice kisses, and it all just felt right. She drifted off to sleep with a smile, thinking about their next hangout and all the other fun firsts they might share together.

As the night wrapped the world in its quiet embrace, both Lexa and Clarke lay in their respective beds, miles apart yet connected by the memories of the day.

For Lexa, the stars outside whispered of new beginnings and self-discovery, each twinkle a reminder of the day's innocent revelation.

For Clarke, the familiar walls of her room held the echoes of laughter and shared secrets, a testament to the strength and beauty of their friendship.

In their own ways, they both cherished the simplicity and joy of their bond, a friendship that was evolving and deepening with each shared adventure.

As they drifted into dreams, their thoughts intertwined with the promise of more days filled with laughter, understanding, and the magic of growing up together.

[howieabel]

“Bouchaud penetratingly observes, “The supposed omniscience and perfect efficacy of a free market stems from economic work done in the 1950s and ’60s, which with hindsight looks more like propaganda against communism than plausible science.” The capitalist ideology that undergirds economics in the United States has led the profession to be detached from reality, rendering it incapable of understanding many of the crises the world faces. Mainstream economics’ obsession with the endless growth of GDP—a measure of “value added,” not of human well-being.” ― John Bellamy Foster, The Ecological Rift: Capitalism’s War on the Earth

[bellamyblakepositivity]

Endless Bellamy Blake (157/?)

[thewholecrew]

nate was getting used to his job here at the nightclub, filling in where was needed and making friendly conversation while he did it. tonight was busy meaning so was he as he bussed the tables in constant use, delivered drinks and cleaned up the endless messes. it wasn't the most glamourous job but it beat what he used to do to survive before meeting duncan. at least he was earning money, he could eat the left overs at the end of the night, make friends. with grant gone and nick and octavia gone with them he didn't see many familiar faces here anymore aside from bellamy and rev but even then it was pretty rare.

tonight though, he spotted kassy and brows lifted, a smile curling on his face as she danced with a group he didn't know. he had wondered what happened to her but he was glad to see she seemed to be enjoying herself. the night went on and he got pulled in every other direction, losing sight of her for a while until a few hours later. it was pretty late now and not nearly as busy so he took the moment to go over and say hi. he wasn't completely sure what her and nick's relationship had been but from the looks of her with her arms around a woman and dancing backed up against a man he wasn't so sure it was anything serious.

"kassy," he greeted with a warm grin though it faltered a little as her dark glazed eyes tried to focus on his. "it's me, nate," he added as she broke away from the pair that had been seemily holding her upright. "nathaniel," she slurred in a sing song tone, her arms wrapping around his neck as she leaned her weight against his chest. he staggered a little as he caught her, brows lifting to the sky. "whoa, kassy, you uh having a good time?" he asked with a chuckle as he steadied her, hands innocently on her waist. she smiled her cheshire smile at him but it didn't touch her eyes, "why wouldn't i be?" lips parted but nathan hesitated, wincing a little because he knew better than to bring up what she was probably here trying to forget.

"no reason," he laughed a little nervously as her fingers crept up into his hair and had goosebumps spread across his skin, "you just look like you're having fun," he looked at her sheepishly as her head lulled to the side, dark eyes watching him. "mmmhm, i am," she agreed though he wasn't so sure he believed it, wasn't sure she believed it. the couple she'd been dancing with then tugged at her arms. c'mon kassy, this guy doesn't have what you want, the man murmured and nate could have sworn he saw hurt flash in her eyes as she pulled away. "no, you're right," she said in an alarming sobered voice. the girl linked arms with her as she pulled out a little baggy from her bra, c'mon, she urged with a smile as kassy turned to her, hands going to cup her face. "that will make me feel better," she purred before leaning in to whisper in the girls ear making her blush pretty pink.

concern leaked into nate's green eyes as she waved to him and headed off with the two towards the stairs. glancing around the nightclub, he got a bad feeling about what she was doing. where was her little short friend? not octavia, he knew she was gone, but the guy, what was his name... lips pursed when he felt a tug at his shirt, turning to his surprise to the boy he had just been thinking of. "oh, hey....!" he grinned, trailing off because he forgot his name. "alec," he responded though he looked from nate to around the club nervously. "alec! right! you here with kassy?" he asked and the boy shook his head, "no, i came to find her..."

nate blinked, brows furrowing as he glanced back in the direction she went before back to alec. "uh.. she was just here, she went... there, see her," he pointed over the crowd towards the top of the stairs. "you know the people she's with?" he asked and alec searched, rising on his toes to try and see over the crowd before shaking his head. "no," he answered with concern in his big blue eyes. "shit, uh, you want me to go with you to get her? she's pretty drunk... might also be on something.." he explained with a scratch to the back of his neck. alec chewed worringly at his lip as he nodded despite knowing that kassy probably wouldn't appreciate him dragging nathan into this.

alec began to try and make his way through the crowd but with his size and seemingly passive nature he was clearly struggling, being bumped back or blocked unintentionally. nate shook his head as he slipped past alec before clearing his throat, "coming through! excuse me! make way!" he called loud enough for others to glance in his direction before stepping away. alec gripped the back of his shirt as he followed closely behind nate until they made it to the stairs. "thank you," alec said with a small smile before he hurried up the stairs to begin searching for her. nate was right behind him, peeking into opposite rooms and ducking as someone threw a high heel at him for intruding. "whoops, sorry, my bad, just looking for a friend!"

"kassy?" alec called down the hall before nate pointed as he spotted the man he'd seen her with exiting one of the rooms, "there, that guy, he was with her," they hurried over to it as the guy tried to hurry away, nate quickly grabbing his shoulder, "hey not so fast!" he said as he pushed him up against the wall. with the door open the woman was laying on the couch with kassy's head in her lap, her eyes glazed and hardly open as she seemed unresponsive. "kassy!" alec ran to her and gently shook her before glancing back at nate with panick in his wide eyes. nate's jaw clenched as he gripped the mans shoulder tighter, "what did you give her?" he demanded, shoving him against the wall a little harder as the mans hands went up defensively and sputtered lies.

"nate! get rev to find hunter!" alec pleaded and nate cursed under his breath, giving the guy a hard right hook before he took off back downstairs, not bothering to watch as the man crumpled to the ground.

—

a groan escaped kassy, face scrunching into a grimace as she weakly raised her hand to try and hide the light that was burning her eyes even through her eyelids. lashes fluttered and she shifted, head pounding before blinking slowly. where the hell was she? she thought when flashes of the night before assualted her and she quickly shot up from where she was laying. "it's okay," a familiar, monotone voice sounded from the corner of the room and quickly she glanced around. she had been laying in the bed of the gangs medroom and turning to face her from his desk was hunter. "what the hell happened....?" she murmured as she then spotted alec sleeping, curled up on the couch on the other side of the bed.

"why don't you tell me?" hunter countered, turned to face her, hands together in his lap as those unnerving sapphire eyes seemed to burn into her too. kassy looked away as she ran a hand through her messy hair and groaned again, body aching and throat dry as hell. "nothing, guess i partied too hard..." she muttered, "i guess i crashed somewhere and you brought me here?" she asked, glancing at hunter. "no, nathan brought you here after he and alec found you unresponsive in one of the rooms upstairs," his voice was bland, blunt and to the point, no sugar coating anything.

"oh." kassy murmured, feeling guilty for frightening alec. he didn't deserve it. it had been why she hadn't told him she was going out to begin with. and nathan was with him? guess it made sense, she kind of remembered bumping into him. "well.... thanks for not letting me die i guess," she shrugged as she laid back down and turned away from alec towards hunter. it had been reckless and stupid and dangerous, her actions last night but so what? she had felt great, finally replacing the numbness with something other than hurt and anger and festering hatred. "don't suppose you're still here to give me the i'm disappointed in you speech are you?" she muttered a little bitterly now but hunter sighed and she glanced at him. "no, i'm here to make sure you woke up alright."

rising from his seat, he ran the sink in the corner of the room, filling a glass of water as he brought it to her. she tensed as he drew close but took the water and sat up slowly once again. "thanks..." she murmured. there was silence for a long while as she simply stared down at the glass, dissociating until hunter finally broke the quiet. "you're allowed to be openly upset, kassy..." he told her, be it a little hypocritically (but she didn't know that), and she blinked before shooting him a glare. "thanks, though not sure what the fuck good that'll do," she spat before downing her water and hunter shook his head sadly. "it will feel better than doing this..." he pointed out and she scoffed. "what the hell do you know anyways?"

the question had hunter's lips quirking up in a smallest trace of amusement, "quite a lot when it comes to human health..." he pointed out and kassy groaned, falling back against the bed to cover her face with a pillow. "what's the point? being upset, angry, all those shit fucking emotions, the hell is the point? they're not here, and it won't make them come back." she felt like a fool, a heartbroken fool who knew she should just forget about them but still constantly worried about them even though she was fucking furious with them. "no, maybe not," hunter agreed as he moved then to sit at the edge of her bed, taking the glass in his hand. "but neither will this..." he pointed out and kassy glared harder into the pillow she wished she could just suffocate herself with at the moment. better the pillow than the emotions she barely managed to keep at bay.

"are you trying to punish them or yourself?" he then asked after a moment and kassy's throat closed with a surge of emotion, eyes stinging as she shut them tightly. she didn't answer him despite her heart aching with the simple answer of both. she wanted to punish them for leaving, to make them regret ever leaving her, regret going on the stupid and pointless quest after someone who hurt them over and over, make them realize they were doing the same damn thing. and she wanted to punish herself for doing what she knew she shouldn't, for opening up to them, for letting them see more than just the shallow reflection she used to protect herself. her shoulder shook with a silent sob, so angry with every single thing about it all.

a softness entered hunters gaze as he placed a hesitant hand on her arm and she sat up, releasing the pillow as she all but crawled into his lap, hugging him as she hid her face against his chest. "i didn't think they would do this..." she confessed heartbrokenly, "i'm an idiot, a fraud, i was so sure of myself, of them... i know... i know it's not that they chose to leave me.. i know... but it's all i can feel and it.. it hurts so much..." her words were a whispered confession as she quietly wept against hunters chest as his arms wrapped securely around her. "i'm sorry, kassy," he offered quietly. time passed and eventually alec woke from his spot on the couch. by then kassy had expelled some of her grief and her eyes had dried. "me too," she finally answered hunter before sitting up and pulling away.

as alec rose from the couch to go to them, hunter stood, suggesting she take the day to recover. her arms went around alec as he hurried to her, hugging her as he tried not to cry in relief. "i'm okay," she told him as her dull, dark gaze lifted to meet hunters, offering a small nod of thanks before she forced a smile for alec, "i'm sorry for scaring you, lets.. go home."