#even if the lights were off and it was spooky it would be cozy

[seveneyesoup]

a long nights sleep under the tardis console would fix me btw

[wandasaura]

RED WINE SUPERNOVA

summary — when wanda first proposed making you cum in front of her friends, you’d thought she’d been joking, but when maria and carol come over for your annual halloween movie night, you realize she wasn’t at all

warning(s) — established relationship, heavy dom/sub elements, exhibitionism, slight voyeurism, humiliation, degradation, praise kink, teasing, cum tasting, finger sucking, make out session, nipple stimulation/torture, orgasm control/delay, unintentional edging, fingering, clit stimulation, alludes to maria being dommy, carol and maria watch, possessiveness, eventual orgasm, soft aftercare, brief domestic fluff/cuteness, men/minors dni

kinktober

The fabric of your panties had once felt soft against your skin, comfortable and easy as you slid through the house on sock covered feet, preparing for a movie night with your girlfriends and two of their friends. It had become something of a tradition, a soft moment to look forward to in a life overwise filled with chaos and constant movement. Tonight, you’d thought you’d be cuddled up close to Natasha, holding onto Wanda’s hand as you watched Coraline and countless other films that had always inspired spooky feelings in your heart, but when Natasha had steered you away from the wardrobe, declaring that your outfit was enough on its own despite the nakedness of your uncovered stature in frilly panties with a dull pink bow sewn onto the waistband and a lacey top that matched so sweetly, that soft cotton fabric between your legs had very quickly become damp with persistent arousal and anticipation; no longer comfortable as every time you shifted in place, you were reminded of your desperate state and unwavering vulnerability. 

Maria and Carol had been right on time, barging straight into the quaint albeit perfectly cozy apartment that you, Wanda, and Natasha shared whenever they weren’t crashing in safe houses and Shield facilities off the grid. They’d hardly even glanced in your direction as they barrelled through the door, something that was odd and had your belly twisting with wild emotions and sensations, especially when you came to realize why they were acting as if you weren’t there at all. This had been something brought up in passing conversation one night, merely a wild fantasy that Wanda had shared after coming back from a grueling solo mission. You had always known that she was on the kinkier side, especially out of you and Natasha, but hearing about how she wanted to show you off to her friends, wanted to stake her claim with you in front of an audience of your most trusted acquaintances, had you eagerly agreeing to her little fantasy. That’s all that you thought it would be, a fantasy that stayed within the walls of your shared bedroom, but then Natasha brought it up last week, and now here you were, sat on the couch between both of your girlfriends, your naked thighs glimmering beneath the ambient lighting of the television as one of them held your hand, and the other stroked your inner thigh as if you were nothing more than a priceless object to flaunt. 

Your cheeks were heated with flushed humiliation and undeniable arousal, the center of your panties damp and darkened, although thankfully hidden from view yet not ignored entirely. Every few minutes, when you had been led to believe that Natasha’s heavy, possessive, hand wouldn’t rise any further up your thigh, she would stretch her fingers outward and fiddle with the lace edges of your panties, pulling the elastic material away from the crevice of your thigh only to let it snap back into place like a broken record that wouldn’t stop skipping. Wanda squeezed your hand occasionally, reminding you of her steady presence beside you on the couch, but even that did little to quell your racing thoughts as you tracked the way both Carol and Maria traced the outlines of your pebbled nipples through the dainty tank top adorning your torso and upper half. 

After a while, yet only midway through Coraline which nobody was really paying any attention to, Natasha grew bolder in her ministrations with your wanting body, and as a result, the flush plastered across your cheeks and ears became darker with bated arousal and humiliation. That soft, tantalizing touch on the insides of your thighs became curious fingers sweeping through your sodden folds, prodding at your aching clit and pressing against your wanting entrance that begged to suck her fingers in despite your greatest attempts to remain unbothered and unaware. You hadn’t thought it could get any worse, any more humiliating, but just as you got used to Natasha’s cold touch against your hot cunt desperate for relief, she retraced her fingers, instead holding them up to the light for Wanda and her friends to marvel at. 

As she pulled her fingers apart, revealing stringy ropes of warm arousal clinging to her knuckles and the pads of her delicately scarred fingertips, a whine of mortification fell off of your cat clenched tongue and into the air thick with tension and lust, though like before and every minute since both Carol and Maria had stepped inside the apartment, you were ignored entirely by the onlookers who caught a glimpse at your most vulnerable headspace typically reserved for Wanda and Natasha exclusively. “Well would you look at that. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say the little slut likes being shown off.” 

A pitiful whine fell off of your lips as Natasha rubbed her fingers together for everyone in the room to see, making an extravagant show of your glistening moisture that dirtied her fingertips. Your face fell into Wanda’s chest on instinct, seeking protection from the dramatic show Natasha was putting on for her own entertainment, however that was hardly allowed, and mere seconds after you settled with your face against the breasts of your younger girlfriend, her fingers were tangling into your hair and pulling you upright, demanding you watch as Natasha unravels your autonomy, reducing you to nothing but a slut for her friends to ogle; and shamefully, it was turning you on more and more. 

A startled gasp fell off of your lips when Maria came closer, leaving Carol behind on the loveseat adjacent from the couch you sat cuddled into, and stalked up to Natasha with slow, calculated strides of maintained authority. She had always radiated a gentle energy, someone that you found comfort and ease being around whenever you visited your girlfriends at whatever Shield base they occupied, but as she stared down at you, traced the evidence of glistening moisture on the insides of your thighs and snickered to herself when she found that telling patch of darkness on the center of your panties, she’d never appeared more dominant, and your heart lurched in your chest at the prospect of misbehaving in her company. 

When her lips wrapped around Natasha’s fingers, cleaning them off without so much as a grimace as she let the taste of your arousal sink into every taste bud on her tongue, a blush so dark it nearly burned your skin crept down your neck and provoked tingles and goosebumps to rise along your spine and in your belly where that coil of anticipation grew bigger and bigger each time Natasha humiliated you further. When Maria moaned softly, only pulling off of Natasha’s fingers because she couldn’t contain the laugh that bubbled over in her chest as you squirmed and whined with impatient humiliation, you nearly melted into the couch entirely, not sure what was worse; being beneath her heavy, pointed stare, or watching as your girlfriends shared your intimate sweetness with their friends. 

“My shy girl. Why are you pretending that you don’t like this, huh? Your pussy’s aching for Natty to touch you, and yet you’re pretending to be my shy girl like you don’t want her to make you cum for Carol and Maria to see.” Wanda coaxed tantalizingly, her fingers ghosting along your chest for the first time that night, taking an interest in your pebbled nipples that pleaded for attention just as Maria sat back on the couch with Carol, being abruptly pulled into a searing kiss that conveyed passion and intense need. 

Between the sharp sensations of Wanda fiddling with your pebbled nipples, pinching and pulling and twisting, your eyes remained locked on Carol and Maria who seemed to be lost in the whirlwind of their passionate makeout session. You hadn’t known that they were an item, wouldn’t have suspected it even if the signs had been laid out in front of you, but they moved together so cohesively, it couldn’t have been the first time they found themselves in this position. It was most definitely the first time you found yourself in this position however, and you couldn’t stop the involuntary whine that clawed up your throat and forced its way out when they finally pulled away, a lust drink smirk on Carol’s lips as she practically undressed you with her eyes. 

“You’ve been holding out on us, Romanoff. I didn’t know your girl was so sweet.” Carol’s lips curved with dominance that hadn’t been traceable when Maria had tangled her long fingers into her short blonde locks and tugged so aggressively you feared Carol may recoil from the kiss in momentary pain, but as she sat on the loveseat that you had spent many nights cuddled up on, she looked absolutely dominating with her icy blue stare and sharp jawline. 

“She’s the sweetest, isn’t she?” Natasha’s eyes glimmered with dominance as she turned her attention to you, fully focusing on the pink hues that formed along your cheekbones and skin, marveling at the glaze of submission that had come across your eyes since she’d first denied you access to the wardrobe in your shared bedroom. “Why don’t we take these off, show Carol and Maria how wet you really are for me, hm?” There wasn’t much of a question in her softly uttered words, but there was enough grace given that you knew you could back out at any moment. You declined that subtly placed offer, though your embarrassment didn’t lighten any. You couldn’t explain the strong feelings turning your blood into butterflies, but despite being utterly humiliated, you were beyond turned on. You wanted Natasha to continue to condescend you, you wanted Carol and Maria to watch as she unraveled your walls and brought you through a glorious episode of bliss and pleasure. You wanted to know that despite sharing the sight of your body with two people that you trust most in Wanda and Natasha’s tight knit circle, that you were truly only theirs to have. 

When your panties came off, you tried not to watch as Natasha playfully flung them across the room in Maria and Carol’s direction, or how the Commander grabbed them without batting an eye and inspected the dark patch adorning the center that had laid so snugly against your weeping entrance. You shuddered in anticipation when Natasha pried your legs open just the slightest bit more, draping one of your naked thighs across her material covered lap, opening you up for eager eyes to search. You whined when her fingers swept through your folds again, although this time, she didn’t spare her touches like she had been. Her fingers fell onto your clit heavily, rubbing rushed tight circles on your pebbled bundle of nerves that pleaded for attention and relief. 

When Carol commented about wanting to taste you herself, Wanda’s ministrations on your nipples seemed to double, fueled by possessiveness that was intimidating and unspeakably arousing, and through a haze of intense pleasure that was sparking through your body at various places, you just barely recall her telling Danvers to remember the agreement at hand. Her possessive touch lit your body up, and before you could comprehend the desperation that was truly turning you into a mindless slut for two of the most powerful and influential people in the world to witness, your hips searched for more from Natasha in desperate twists and pathetic reaches. 

“How long do you think it’ll take me to make the little slut cum?” Natasha wagered, her smirk devious as she stopped rubbing tight circles around your clit without so much as a warning that you were about to lose what you’d been begging for all night, her eyes trained on Carol and Maria, paying no mind to the way you babbled and sobbed for relief, having been seconds away from an orgasm that was now ebbing away into the abyss. Desperately you fought for her attention, arching your hips up against her hand, attempting to gain back even an ounce of the pressure she had been providing, but Wanda’s arms snaked around your waist and pulled you back before you could succeed. 

“A minute.” Carol laughed, her tone painfully condescending as her eyes traced the gleam of arousal that had marked your skin with glistening moisture, your pussy on full display as Natasha unintentionally spread you farther, giving both Danvers and Hill an extraordinary sight of your pulsating clit and weeping hole that was desperate for any ounce of attention. 

“Fifty six seconds, but nobody's counting.” Maria’s response was dry, laced with infectious dominance that was spurring Natasha on to be better, harsher. Your eyes nearly bulged out of your head when two fingers sunk into your cunt, enveloped by velvety walls that squeezed her knuckles tight. There was no time to grow used to the stretch as she worked you open, but it felt so good you didn’t care. 

Her thumb found your clit again, and relentlessly she worked you back up towards that orgasm you’d been desperately chasing. Wanda’s fingers didn’t stop pulling and twisting at your nipples, but at some point, she’d pulled your top low, trading in thin fabric for warm flesh. You hardly flushed when you realized all of you was now exposed to Carol and Maria, so desperate for an orgasm that you let it fade away entirely. Strained whines and pleads fell off of your lips as Natasha worked you closer and closer to a blissful orgasm embarrassingly quick, but she kissed your insecurities away as she mumbled for you to let go, to let her make it all better. 

“Shh, there we go. There we go, pretty girl. Making such a mess for me. It’s okay.” She coaxed softly, pecking your lips multiple times as she withdrew her fingers, quickly finding a blanket to throw over your body, no longer wanting you visible to her closest friends who seemed to understand, and didn’t comment on her quickness to cover you up. 

“Forty seven seconds. Impressive.” Maria taunted lightly, her smile dazzling as she flashed you the softest look you’d ever seen her give. You blushed, hiding your face in Wanda’s chest as she allowed you to get comfortable, seeking out her tender affection that she would never dream of withholding. “Where are you going?” Maria narrowed her eyes at Natasha when she noticed the redhead itching to rise from the couch, her arms slowly falling off of your still trembling frame as you leaned heavily against Wanda in post-orgasm bliss and hazy submission. 

“To get her a water?.” Natasha’s eyebrows furrowed as she found herself explaining the routine steps to your preferred aftercare scene that she had engraved in her mind like a sacred text since starting her relationship with you, but Maria merely scoffed and stood up herself, tenderly handing your panties back to Wanda who took them appreciatively. 

“I’ll get her some water. You make sure that she’s okay.” Was her affectionately mumbled response. You didn’t really pay any attention to Natasha easing your panties back up your legs, or Wanda softly fixing your top over your breasts, but by time Maria returned with a glass of water, you were dressed and snuggled into Wanda’s lap contently, holding tightly to Natasha’s hand, just barely able to focus on the credits rolling across the screen.  

“Thank you.” You mumbled to Maria when she passed the water off to you, smiling encouragingly before she took a seat next to Carol again, seemingly unphased by what had just happened, although it did ease the knot of anxiety in your belly. Nothing had changed, they didn’t see you any differently, and if anything, these were the best post-scene cuddles that Wanda had ever given, partly because her possessiveness fueled her need to hold you tight and stake her claim despite there being no threat. 

“What do you say we watch Halloween Town?” Carol mused, seemingly just as eager to assure your comfortability as Maria, to which you were beyond grateful for. 

“Twitches. Someone thinks it’s fun to watch witch movies and compare everything about them to me.” Wanda giggled, pressing a chaste kiss to the crown of your head, silently settling the question of which film would be the one that you all agreed to pay attention to. Maria agreed easily, fighting Natasha for the remote and winning, victoriously scrolling through your streaming platform until she found what she desired. 

“I love you.” You mumbled to Wanda, slouching against her chest as your attention drifted between her soft touch and the opening scene beginning to play at a low volume. 

“I love you too, baby. So much more than you’ll ever know.”

[natswife-marvelicious]

Ghosts, Goblins and Growing Closer

Plot: During Tony Stark’s extravagant Halloween party, you and Natasha share playful banter and subtle flirtation. The spooky atmosphere brings you closer, leading to a sweet, intimate moment where you both realize your growing feelings for each other.

Warnings: none

Word count: 1,3k

Masterlist

The Avengers Tower was buzzing with excitement, decked out in orange and black for Tony Stark's infamous Halloween party. Cobwebs lined the ceiling, jack-o’-lanterns flickered from every corner, and ghostly decorations floated above the crowd. Tony had truly outdone himself this time, with a towering haunted house in the corner of the common area and a fog machine making the place feel like a spooky dream.

You walked through the sea of costumes, feeling the festive atmosphere. Everyone was in full party mode, Steve Rogers was dressed as a classic 1940s soldier, which earned a few chuckles, Thor sported a Viking costume, much to everyone’s amusement, and Tony? Well, Tony was, of course, dressed as himself. It was his party, after all.

The one person you were most excited to see, though, was Natasha Romanoff. You hadn’t had the chance to spot her yet, and there was an anticipation in your stomach as you searched the room. You knew she would look incredible, no matter what costume she chose, and the idea of spending Halloween night by her side had been your focus all week.

After a few minutes of wandering through the party, you finally saw her. Natasha stood by the bar, leaning against the counter in an all-black assassin outfit with sleek leather pants and a fitted top that hugged her figure. A playful black mask rested on her face, accentuating her mischievous smile. She looked drop-dead gorgeous, and your heart skipped a beat as your eyes locked.

“Hey, you,” she said, walking over with that signature swagger that left you feeling weak in the knees. “Nice costume.”

You looked down at your own getup. You had gone with something simple, an easy superhero-inspired costume, but the way Natasha’s gaze lingered made you feel like you were the only one in the room. “I could say the same thing. You look amazing.”

She raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing at her lips. “What, no tricks or treats for me?”

You grinned, stepping closer. “That depends. Do you deserve a trick or a treat?”

Natasha leaned in slightly, her eyes twinkling with playful amusement. “I’ll take my chances with the treat.”

Before you could respond, the room erupted in laughter as Tony announced the costume contest over the speakers. The Avengers gathered near the stage, some eagerly ready to show off their costumes. You found yourself standing next to Natasha, who glanced at you with a knowing look.

“Should we enter the contest?” she asked, tilting her head as if daring you.

“I don’t think we’d stand a chance against Thor’s Viking costume,” you joked, nodding in the god’s direction.

Natasha laughed softly. “True, but we’d definitely win ‘Best Duo’.”

Your heart fluttered at the idea of being a duo with her, even if it was just for the contest. Before you could think too much into it, Natasha gently grabbed your hand and pulled you toward the stage. She waved off the contest, dragging you toward the quieter side of the room, away from the loud music and flashing lights.

“I thought we were entering the contest,” you teased as you followed her lead.

She shrugged with a sly grin. “Changed my mind. Besides, I’d rather spend the night enjoying the party with you.”

You couldn’t help the smile that spread across your face. This was what you loved most about Natasha—her ability to make even the most extravagant parties feel intimate and personal. The rest of the room melted away as you found yourselves in a cozy corner, watching the others dance and mingle.

Nearby, Sam was challenging Bucky to a pumpkin carving contest, and Steve watched in amusement, his arms crossed as he shook his head at their friendly banter. Wanda and Vision were mingling near the snack table, sharing a laugh as they tried out Tony’s over-the-top Halloween-themed treats. It was a lively night, but with Natasha beside you, everything felt a little warmer, a little brighter.

Natasha turned toward you, her gaze softening as the noise of the party faded into the background. “You know, this is the first Halloween I’ve actually celebrated in… well, a long time.”

“Really?” you asked, surprised. “Not even as a kid?”

She shook her head. “Not many trick-or-treating opportunities when you’re raised in the Red Room.”

The weight of her words settled between you, and you suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude for this moment. Natasha had been through so much, and yet here she was, standing next to you, making the best of a night filled with silly costumes and haunted house decorations.

“Well, I’m glad we’re making up for lost time,” you said softly, reaching out to take her hand.

Natasha’s eyes flickered with something unspoken, something deeper than the playful banter that had filled the night so far. She laced her fingers with yours, her grip firm yet gentle. “Yeah, me too.”

For a moment, the two of you stood there in comfortable silence, simply enjoying the proximity and the unspoken connection between you. It was as if the party continued on without you, a blur of laughter and music while the world narrowed to just you and her.

“I’m not much for big parties,” she admitted after a while, her voice quiet yet sincere. “But I’m glad I came to this one.”

“Because of the company?” you asked, unable to keep the teasing tone out of your voice.

Natasha smirked, but her eyes were soft. “Maybe.”

Just as you were about to respond, Tony’s voice boomed across the room once again, calling everyone’s attention. “Alright, everyone! Gather around for the haunted house tour! Who’s ready to get spooked?"

The crowd cheered, and you saw Thor raise his hammer, clearly ready for the challenge. You turned to Natasha with a grin. “What do you say? Want to check it out?”

Natasha looked skeptical, but there was a glint of excitement in her eyes. “You know I don’t scare easily, right?”

“Yeah, but you haven’t been through one of Tony’s haunted houses yet,” you quipped, tugging her toward the entrance.

The haunted house was exactly what you’d expect from Tony Stark: over-the-top, high-tech, and filled with more jump scares than necessary. As you navigated through the dark corridors, fog swirling around your feet, you couldn’t help but laugh at the ridiculousness of it all. Natasha, true to her word, didn’t flinch once, though she did smirk at your startled reactions a few times.

At one point, you found yourselves in a narrow hallway, the only light coming from flickering candles mounted on the walls. Natasha stepped closer, her shoulder brushing against yours, and despite the eerie atmosphere, you felt nothing but warmth.

“This is ridiculous,” she whispered, though there was amusement in her voice.

“Completely,” you agreed, but you couldn’t deny the thrill of being in this moment with her.

As the haunted house came to an end, you emerged back into the brightly lit common area, where the party had picked up once again. Tony was handing out awards for the costume contest, and the music had resumed, filling the space with a lively beat.

Natasha turned to you, her eyes glinting with mischief. “Alright, I’ll admit, that was kind of fun.”

You laughed, shaking your head. “I knew you’d enjoy it.”

Before you could say more, Natasha stepped closer, her hand finding yours once again. “Thanks for sticking with me tonight,” she said softly, her voice barely audible over the music.

You squeezed her hand, feeling your heart swell with affection. “Anytime, Natasha.”

She smiled, and for a brief moment, the noise of the party faded into the background once again. It was just the two of you, standing side by side, sharing a quiet moment in the midst of the chaos.

As the night wore on and the party continued, you couldn’t help but feel grateful for this strange, wonderful Halloween. It wasn’t the costumes or the decorations that made it special, it was Natasha and the way she made every moment feel like it was just for the two of you.

With a final glance at the lively crowd around you, Natasha leaned in close and whispered in your ear, “Happy Halloween.”

You smiled, your heart full, and whispered back, “Happy Halloween, Natasha.”

And as the night unfolded, you knew this was a Halloween you’d never forget.

[ashwhowrites]

Older! Eddie x Reader, where the two of them are watching horror movies and Reader gets really scared and Eddie thinks that cute and he tried stop comfort her, but at the same time, that impresses him, and he starts laughing and reader is like why are you laughing, I'm scared! And he then just cuddles her

A small Halloween blurb!

I hope this is what you wanted and you enjoy it. Thank you for requesting<3 happy October!

One of the things Y/N loved about dating an older man was that he lived on his own. He had a cozy apartment, that was decorated with her touch.

It was finally October, a month she adored. She and Eddie went to every store they could to buy decorations for his apartment. She covered his house in webs, pumpkins, skulls, and orange lights. He didn't care for decorations, but he loved that she decorated like it was their home.

"Even when you were married, you never decorated?" She asked surprised, cuddled up into Eddie's chest as he flicked on the movie.

"We didn't think about it. We said we would once we had kids." Eddie shrugged. Y/N knew about Eddie's ex-wife, and it didn't bother her. They ended on good terms and now didn't speak.

"Sometimes I'm amazed that you were once married, and I graduated high school like two years ago." Y/N laughed. She knew Eddie hated her age jokes.

"Haha!" He faked laughed, giving her hair a small yank.

As the movie played, Y/N realized letting Eddie pick was a mistake. She yanked the blanket further up her face, her body turning into his even more. Eddie eyed her as she shuffled, he didn't think much of it as he held her closer.

Y/N watched in horror as the little girl began to float into the air, her head turning fully around.

"Oh fuck no," Y/N said, covering her face as she heard screaming coming from the TV. Eddie tried to hide his amused smile, holding her closer as he watched the movie.

The more she flinched, jumped and tried to hide, the harder it got for him to keep his composure.

"I can feel you laughing at me! I'm scared" Y/N whined from under the blankets, her head against his rumbling chest.

"I'm sorry! It's just adorable." Eddie said, rubbing her back over the blanket.

"Being scared is not adorable! Being scared is being scared!" She slowly peaked out as the credits rolled. Her head poked out from the blankets but her body was covered.

"Just someone that loves Halloween and all that spooky stuff. You are quite afraid of a little girl." Eddie teased, kissing her forehead as she pouted.

"That was not a little girl! She was possessed and fucked up!" Y/N defended herself.

"You're right. She's scary, baby." Eddie said, kissing her forehead. "I'll protect you." He promised, snuggling his face into her neck. He nipped slightly at her skin, making her giggle as she pushed him off.

Y/N just prayed she didn't see that little girl in her dreams.

Tags!

@bmunson86 @mxcheese @ladymunson @michaelfuckinglangdon @z0mbie-blah @biittersweet @mirrorsstuff @somethingvicked @micheledawn1975 @ago-godance @magnificantmermaid @tlclick73 @hargrovesswifee @cityofidek @manyfandomsfanvergentreblogs @silky-luxe @lokiofasgard616 @loving-and-dreaming @eddiemunsonsbitch69 @thegemaqua @ashlynnkennedy @strangerthingsstories5255 @harringt8ns @pleasinghellfire @whoscamila @stusdollface93 @gretavankleep37

[dancinglikebutterflywings]

Spooky Season | Halloween Event 2024

Ghost Stories | Jongho

🧡 Pairing: Choi Jongho x gf!Reader

🖤 Requested by: Anon

🧡 Prompt: 18 - Telling ghost stories.

🖤 Warnings: Ghosts. This one involves babies, midwives and a matron (chief or head nurse). The ghost story Jongho tells is inspired by one of the many experiences I had as a kid. I tried to make it spooky but let's face it as much as I love spooky stuff, I suck at writing it.

🧡 Word Count: 1,783

🖤 Taglist: Open. Send an ask or fill out the Tag List Form. Please note that the halloween event taglist is included in the general taglist.

Spooky Season 2024 Masterlist | Main Masterlist

Y/N and Jongho were finally enjoying their first date night in what felt like months. This Halloween, they opted for a cozy evening at home, ready to dive into a marathon of scary movies while indulging in takeout and snacks they bought the day before. They’d politely declined all their friends' invitations to Halloween parties and events and placed a bowl filled with candy outside the door so they weren’t interrupted by trick or treaters. However, they were caught off guard by an unexpected power outage caused by a drunk driver crashing into the transformer that supplies electricity to their block. 

"How about instead of scary movies, we tell scary stories instead," Y/N suggests lighting her last candle so they have a little bit of light. 

"Who are you and what have you done with my girlfriend," he chuckles, not quite believing the words coming out of her mouth. This is coming from someone who only watches scary movies on Halloween with the compromise that they keep the lights and a promise to follow up with something lighthearted afterwards. He thought she’d be relieved to skip the scary stuff altogether. "Are you possessed or something?" he joked, leaning in closer to her face as if to inspect her for signs of a takeover. "Hello, Y/N? Are you still in there? Blink twice if I need to find an exorcist."  

"Stop," she chuckles, rolling her eyes and gently pushing him away from her. "I assure you I have not been possessed," she says. "I just thought it would be fun to keep it somewhat spooky, ya know, without the jump scares." 

Jongho raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her unexpected suggestion.  I guess that could work. But you have to promise me one thing," he says agreeing to it. "Remember that this was your idea. If you get scared, you can't put the blame on me." 

"Deal! But if I do get scared, you have to hold my hand," she counters with a cheeky smile. "Let’s play rock, paper, scissors to see who goes first."  

They both lifted their hands, "One… two… three!"  

Jongho goes with paper, while Y/N picked rock.  

"Ha! I win!" he cheers, clapping his hands in excitement. "Looks like I get to start. I promise the first story won’t be too scary."  

"Alright," she rolled her eyes again, a grin on her face as she settles into the couch.  

"A friend of mine told me this story. It really happened to him," he began, also getting cozy on the couch. "So, my friend’s dad worked as a security guard. His job was to check on old buildings to ensure they hadn’t been broken into and that no one was squatting inside. Some of these places had alarms, so he would just walk around a few times, making sure there were no one suspicious hanging around," he continues. "One of the buildings he had to check was an old maternity hospital on the outskirts of town. After being closed for years, it had reopened as a temporary doctor's office. The locals often whispered about it being haunted, claiming it felt cold even in the summer and that they heard babies crying or the sound of heels clicking down the hall," he explained, his eyes widening as he recalled the eerie details. Storytelling has always been something he's always been good at. "My friend's dad often did night security at this building. After his shift he would come home and tell my friend about what he experienced that night. My friend was so excited to hear his stories. He's really into the paranormal." 

"You've told me about this friend," she says recalling the times he talked about him. "He does ghost hunting on YouTube now, right?" 

"That's him," Jongho nods before continuing his story. "One night his dad promised to take him to the hospital with him. His mum reluctantly agreed but since it wasn't a school, she allowed him to go. Of course he was over the moon about it. This is his first time going to a real haunted building." 

He leans forward, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, as if the very walls of the room might be listening. This causes Y/N to instinctively lean in closer to. 

"It's dark by the time they get to the old maternity hospital. My friend said he could feel the eerie feeling before he even saw the building. It sent chills down his spine. After they get out of the car, his dad hands him a flashlight, and they made their way to the entrance. The door creaks as his dad pushes it open, revealing a dark hallway that seems to stretch for miles. The air thick and heavy as they walk inside, so much so that it’s almost suffocating. My friends could feel his heart racing, both excited and terrified at the same time." His eyes gleam with mischief as he recounts the details. "They stepped inside, and then, bam!” he shouts causing Y/N to jump, “The door slammed shut behind them. My friend's dad chuckles trying to lighten the mood. He’s been there many times so he should be use to all the activity by now, but my friend could tell he was a bit on edge too.”  

"What happened next?" she asks, her curiosity piqued.  

"They began to walk down the corridor, making sure all the doors were locked and secure. My friend can’t shake the feeling that they’re being watched the entire time,” he replies. “They get to the room at the end of the hall and as his dad makes sure its locked, the door swings open. It was unlocked. His dad reassured him that perhaps one of the doctors had forgotten to lock it, so he closed the door, the keys clinking loudly in the stillness as he locked it. After confirming it was locked, they turn to head down another corridor, which was much shorter than the main one. But as they walk, checking the doors, the temperature drops, and the sound of babies crying fills the air. It’s a haunting sound and it sends chills down my friend's spine. He glances at his dad, who’s gone pale, his usual bravado replaced by a look of fear. He may have checked on this building so many times that he should be used to it but it still scares him." 

"I would still be scared too," Y/N confesses. He nods in agreement, even though the only thing that truly frightens him is bugs. A haunted place doesn’t faze him at all. "What did they do next?" she asks. 

"They kept on going," he replies, his tone growing more serious. "But with every step, the atmosphere thickened and crying grew louder and more desperate. My friend wanted to turn back, but his dad insisted they keep going, he has a job to do after all."  

"That sounds terrifying," Y/N interjects, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did they find anything? Were anymore doors unlocked."  

"Not at first," he says, shaking his head. "They reached the last door, and his dad paused, listening intently. The crying had stopped and it was replaced by an unsettling silence. My friend felt a knot in his stomach and heard his own voice in his head telling him to run. His dad, on the other hand, had to brave it and went to push the door open."  

"What was inside?" Y/N asks, her curiosity piqued.  

"I don’t know. The door was locked," he tells her before continuing with the story. “So, they end up walking back up the corridor, the eerie silence, following behind them. When they got back to the main corridor, that’s when the loud clicking of heels on the concrete floors begins and it only grows louder as the sound grows closer to them. But, it eventually stops when the sound reaches the end of the corridor and is quickly replaced with the sound of a door unlocking and the creak of the door swinging open." 

"Fuck that, I'd be out of there as fast as my legs could take me," she shivers. 

"My friend said the same thing. He would have bolted if he wasn't frozen in fear," he says. "His dad, though scared, walks the few feet to the door, pulls it shut and locks it again before calling out to the spirit he believes it is. 'Matron, you can't be unlocking doors that are supposed to be locked. I don't want to lose my job because someone thinks I'm not doing it properly.' he calls out to the old chief nurse, his voice trembling." 

Y/N's eyes widen, captivated by the unfolding story. "Did the matron respond?" 

"No. But the sound of babies crying started again," he says and shakes his head. "After making sure the door was locked once more, they bolted out of the hospital as quickly as they could. They got in the car and my friend's dad started the drive back to the next location. As they were leaving, my friend heard a voice telling him to look back, so he did." 

"What did he see?" Y/N asks, her interest clearly piqued. Jongho can't help but smile at her fascination; usually, she hides behind a cushion during scary stories. 

He leans in closer again, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret. "He saw a figure of a woman wearing an old nurses uniform standing in the doorway of the hospital. Her face is pale and gaunt, with eyes that seem to pierce right through him. He couldn't bring himself to look away." 

Y/N's breath catches in her throat, her heart racing as she imagines the scene. "What happened next?" she urges, leaning forward, her eyes wide with anticipation. 

Jongho takes a moment, savoring the suspense. "As he stared, the woman raised a hand, slowly started waving to him," he says lifting his own hand and waves it at Y/N. "As the terrified feeling inside him starts to dissipate, he couldn't stop himself from waving back to her. She was the first ghost he'd ever seen." 

"Did he ever go back to the hospital?" she asks. 

He shakes his head. "No, he had all the evidence he needed to believe that hospital is haunted. He didn't feel the need to go back." 

“I don’t blame him. I wouldn’t go back either,” she says, moving closer to him.  

“It’s your turn to tell a story,” he teases her and pulls her into his arms. 

Just as she’s about to say something, the lights flicker back on. “Let's watch something instead,” she suggests picking up the remote and starts going through the movies on netflix. 

©️ 2024 dancinglikebutterflywings - do not copy/modify/repost anywhere. reblog instead

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[sexsylexi]

Pumpkin carving date.

Roy Harper x reader

The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of fallen leaves and the comforting warmth of spiced cider as you and Roy Harper sat on the porch, surrounded by pumpkins of various shapes and sizes. The orange glow of Halloween decorations around the yard set the perfect mood for the evening. Roy's hands were already buried in pumpkin guts, and he shot you a grin as he held up a handful of seeds.

"Bet you won't eat one," he teased, raising an eyebrow.

You wrinkled your nose, laughing. "Absolutely not. But if you clean them up, I’ll roast them for you."

He shrugged, still smiling. "Fair enough." With a dramatic sigh, he set the seeds aside, grabbed his carving knife, and began sketching out his design on the pumpkin's surface. It was something that looked suspiciously like an arrow, a cheeky nod to his hero work.

"Is that supposed to be a self-portrait?" you teased, nudging him with your shoulder.

"Art's subjective," he shot back, narrowing his eyes in playful defiance. "What about you? Going for something spooky or classic?"

"Maybe I’ll do a haunted house,” you said, sketching out a rough outline.

Roy watched you for a moment, a soft smile touching his lips. "I’m glad we’re doing this together," he murmured, quieter this time.

You smiled back, reaching over to smudge a bit of pumpkin on his cheek, making him laugh. "Wouldn't miss it."

As the two of you carved away, the laughter, teasing, and the glow of Halloween lights made the night feel magical—a simple tradition but one you knew you'd carry on with him, year after year.

A slight chill hung in the air, enough to make you pull your sweater sleeves down over your hands, but not enough to drive you inside. The porch light cast a warm glow over the pumpkins you and Roy had picked out earlier that day, and the smell of leaves and faint traces of cinnamon from candles burning inside added to the coziness of the moment. The two of you were surrounded by the tools of the trade—carving knives, bowls for scooping seeds, newspapers to catch the mess—all spread out around you on the porch steps.

Roy was already elbow-deep in pumpkin guts, his sleeves pushed up as he carved a lopsided grin into his pumpkin. He caught you watching him and gave you a playful look. “What? This is art in progress. It’s supposed to look like that.”

You snorted, looking at the wonky lines of his carving, then back up at his smirk. "Oh, so the classic Harper charm is supposed to show up in pumpkin carvings, too?"

He laughed, shaking his head as he pointed his carving knife at you. "Hey, let’s see you do better, huh? You’re all talk."

You raised your hands in mock surrender, smirking as you picked up your own pumpkin. "Oh, it’s on. Mine’s going to blow yours away." You started sketching out your design—a haunted house silhouette with windows that would glow once a candle was inside.

Roy pretended to be focused on his own work but kept glancing over at yours, clearly impressed despite his best efforts to hide it. “That’s actually looking pretty good,” he admitted, finally giving in with a grin.

You gave him a teasing look. "Only 'pretty good?' Just you wait."

Roy shook his head, a laugh slipping out as he wiped his hands on his jeans, leaving streaks of orange pulp. "Alright, hotshot. But remember, this is about having fun, not showing off." He nudged you gently with his elbow, and you felt warmth spread through you despite the chill in the air. Even after years together, it was moments like this, the little traditions and small challenges, that made you fall for him all over again.

"Are you saying you don’t want to lose to me at pumpkin carving?" you teased, scooping out seeds as you went along.

"Maybe I’m just saying you make me want to try a little harder," he said, his voice softer, a trace of genuine warmth hidden under the sarcasm. He flashed a quick grin, and for a moment, his eyes lingered on yours, the teasing replaced with something tender.

The two of you carved in companionable silence for a bit, focusing on your work. At one point, you looked over and saw Roy’s tongue poking out slightly in concentration, and you had to stifle a laugh.

"Alright, alright, what's so funny?" he asked, looking over.

"You,” you admitted with a grin. "The great Arsenal, totally serious about his pumpkin."

“Hey, someone’s got to keep you on your toes.” He leaned over, grabbing a handful of pumpkin guts and throwing it on your knee with a mischievous grin. You gasped, then laughed, swatting him away.

“You’re going to regret that,” you said, grabbing your own handful of pumpkin goop. He held up his hands in surrender, laughing, but you still managed to smear some on his cheek, which only made him laugh harder.

"Guess I deserved that," he admitted, wiping his face and smirking.

Eventually, you both settled down and finished your pumpkins. When you finally stepped back to admire them, Roy tilted his head and considered yours, pretending to be thoughtful. "Alright," he admitted with a sigh, "you might’ve outdone me on this one."

You smiled proudly. "See? I told you."

But then, Roy took your hand and looked down at you, his expression softer. "Thanks for doing this with me," he murmured. "Halloween’s kind of been… I don’t know, a tough holiday for me in the past, but being with you tonight? It actually feels fun again."

You squeezed his hand, giving him a soft smile. "Anytime, Roy. I wouldn’t want to be here with anyone else."

He leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to your forehead, then your nose, and finally, your lips, before pulling back with a smile. “Next year, I’m picking the designs,” he joked, a playful glint in his eyes.

"Sure," you said, grinning as you lit candles and placed them inside the pumpkins. The shapes you’d both carved flickered to life, casting a soft, warm glow across the porch. Standing beside him, watching the pumpkins light up in the cool night air, you knew this would be a tradition you’d look forward to every Halloween night.

[frostbitten-writer]

OCTOBIE: 1 WEEK; Comfort

Synopsis: Halloween can be spooky, and yet what if it’s comfortable and loving? And I’m sure it’s better when a certain someone is celebrating your favorite holiday with you…

Pairing: Hobie Brown (spider-punk) x fem!reader

Warnings: none? Maybe a bit spooky at the start. FLUFF

Authors note: I finally finished this one, phew! Was quite the challenge cuz I didn’t have ANY motivation!! But I think I did this one good. A bit short but one shots are not exactly my strong suit.

Thank you @the-kr8tor for this event and motivation!!!

Word count: 881

The sound of soft drizzle filled your cozy and yet spooky apartment. The streets were golden and orange, the leaves swaying around in the sky through the thick layer of fog. You made extra effort to make your home warm and super decorated, as it was your favorite holiday, Halloween.

You were preparing some snacks and food, a movie and much other stuff since you knew that Hobie would come over to spend the promised time together. Sooner or later…

As you were just throwing a fluffy blanket on your bed, you heard a loud thunder and flashlight strike outside.

And that’s where the lights went off…

I mean, you did know that Halloween was about scares and horror, but honestly, you weren’t a big fan of horror… or at least not when it was something in real life and troubling you…

You quickly snatched a box of matches and the candleholder you got from Hobie with the words: “I saw it, and it reminded me of you”. It was comforting but the idea of using it for actual purposes was a bit scary.

You put the candlestick on your nightstand, the small light source giving you the opportunity to finish the final touches to the cozy atmosphere-

Swoosh…

The candles were blown out.

Wait. How could the lights go off when the candles were burning just fine? And the windows are closed, the wind shouldn’t be the culprit…

It probably can’t be Hobie either, he shouldn’t be here till at least an hour, since his band practice would clash together with his patrol…

Never mind, just a coincidence. I mean, it is Halloween right? Weird things do happen…

You blindly stumbled over to your nightstand, squinting your eyes and patting your hand against the wooden surface, trying your best not to knock something over and find the matches.

“Bloody light has to shut down right now…”

You groaned and grumbled, not being able to find the matches, where could they be?!

As you were about to give up you heard a straining sound, coming from the ceiling and lowering down to your eye level. You felt your feet suddenly grow cold, and yet the place where the straining sound came from remained oddly warm…

As if someone was there and breathing right into your ear…

You felt a lump form in your throat, still not being able to see in the pitch black room. The warm feeling should’ve brought comfort, but in this cruel situation, it brought only fear of the unknown…

Who is it? Is it even someone? The Prowler? Is Hobie in danger? Wait-

“Boo.”

With a quiet squeak you flinch away from the sound, clasping both of your hands over your mouth. You then heard familiar laughter coming from next to yourself, and then warm hands wrapping around your waist. The candles started to burn again and you saw the person that you know so well…

“Hobart Larry Brown! Are you mental?!”

You exclaim, but to your reaction you only heard giggles from behind your shoulder.

“No, I don’t think so..” he gently pecked your shoulder, resting his chin on it, “but you were so cute just right now, would be a shame if I didn’t try to scare you even a bit~” he hummed with a smirk, clearly enjoying this situation.

“But why are you so early? You shouldn’t be here-“ you glanced at the clock on the wall, “-till like, 2 hours..”

“The band canceled the practice, but I wouldn’t go there anyway.” He gently kissed your cheek and smiled affectionately “not when I have my sweetheart right here.. waiting for me..”

You melted into his arms, your racing heart finally relaxed and you felt the comfort of your lover’s warmth.

“D’you wanna change? I think your suit is a bit too tight for late night relaxations..” you suggested, looking at Hobie and feeling himself bury into your neck as his fluffy wicks tickled your cheek. “Hmph.. but I don’t want to move..” He muttered into your crook between gentle pecks. “But you’ll get sick, your suit is all damp from the rain.” You countered, getting a bit frustrated at his stubbornness. “Fine. I’ll be right back” He muttered quietly, letting his arms fall to his sides as he stomped to your wardrobe to get his clothes.

-

After some minutes he came back from the bathroom, some comfortable clothes on his lean body. He quickly buried himself next to you in your bed, spooning you from behind as you started your movie.

The movie continued to play and you slowly started to nod off. Hobie quietly closed your laptop and shoved it to the edge of the bed, where it wouldn’t bother you.

He held you a bit tighter and nuzzled his face into your hair, taking a deep breath of your shampoo.

“G’night, love..” he murmured, feeling his own eyelids grow heavier.

“..good night, I love you..” you groggily responded, “I luv you too..”

Bonus!!:

“This was the best Halloween ever…”

“You’re so cheesy, seriously, how did I end up dating ya?”

“Shut it! Or I will kick you out!”

“So demanding.. a cruel woman you are..”

[writer-freak]

Horror Movie night | Twst x gn reader

Characters: Lilia Vanrouge, Leona Kinscholar and Idia Shroud

Warnings: none all fluff, gn reader, mentions of watching horror movie and getting scared, reader being teased, english isn't my first language

A/n: So I maybe wrote a lot for Lilia and not so much for the others but here is a little something for halloween and I hope you guys like it

Comments, likes and reblogs are always appreciated and really motivate me to write more <3

Lilia: When you stepped into Lilias's room you couldn't help the smile forming on your face. Fairy lights were hung on every corner, casting a warm and inviting glow over the entire room. Pillows and blankets were scattered in a little messy pile creating a cozy little fort. There were all kinds of different blankets, pillows, and plushies, just waiting for you to crawl in and make yourself comfy. You both cozied up in the blanket fort, the dim lights creating a beautiful atmosphere. You leaned back and chose one of the plushies it reminded you of Lilia so you took it into your arms cuddling with it. The room smelt like your favorite candle, and you noted that Lilia had several of them placed around the room. As you settled into the nest, Lilia got a tray of snacks, ranging from sweet to savory, having everything that you liked. You started eating some popcorn before he even put on the first movie and then you both leaned against each other to start your horror movie night. The first horror movie flickered on the screen, and you couldn't help but feel the tension in the air. It was your idea to watch something spooky, wanting to embrace the fall vibes, but as the first eerie scene unfolded, you began to regret your choice. Lilia, the mischievous old man that he is, sensed how tense you were and used it to his advantage. If there was a very tense scene he would scare you making you jump and send him a slight glare when you noticed that he did it. His voice, ever so sweet, teased, "Did I scare you, my dear?" A playful glint in his eyes that was almost as annoying to you as his mischievous grin. His laughter mixed with the movie's haunting soundtrack, a small smile making it onto your lips. Before any real fear could settle in, he'd pull you into a tight embrace, his warmth and laughter reassuring you. "Just teasing you a little to make the night more interesting." he'd say, a mischievous sparkle still in his eyes. Even if Lilia could be quite annoying at times like these this is exactly what you love so much about him, his teasing is just something so endearing to you. You could feel your heart racing, all the while you hoped that Lilia was unable to hear it. Lilia's laughter, the gentle rhythm of his heartbeat, and the way his eyes met yours in the soft glow made your face feel hot. You lost track of time, spending part of the night also trying to scare Lilia. Though he would expect your every move no matter what, the horror movie now only being a backdrop. You two at one point cuddled closer together intertwining your fingers and then fell asleep.

Leona: Moonlight spilled through the window, casting a soft glow over Leona's room. You and Leona lounged on his bed, a horror movie flickering on the screen. Leona, the king of indifference, tried to act cool, but his tail gave away his subtle excitement with each twist or jumpscare. As the scenes played out, Leona couldn't help but chuckle now and then, a mix of amusement and maybe a hint of mischief. He casually draped an arm around you during tense moments, his laid-back demeanor masking the fact that he enjoyed being closer to you. It didn't matter if you were genuinely scared or not, you soaked up the warmth that radiated off him. By the time the credits rolled, accusations flew about who got spooked more. Leona grinned "You jumped at every shadow, herbivore. I thought you said you were the fearless type." You shot back "Please, you were practically hiding behind your own tail. King of the savannah, my ass." Laughter filled the room, wiping away any lingering tension from the film. As you both playfully teased each other about your reactions, Leona leaned in with a mischievous glint in his eyes, "You know, if you're ever scared, you can always hold onto me. I'll protect you from the movie monsters and the real ones too." You rolled your eyes "Oh, how chivalrous of you, King Leona. Should I expect a heroic rescue from every horror movie now?" He chuckled "Only for you, [name]. You're special."

Idia: You both were snuggled under a pile of blankets, and Idia held onto you like a lifeline. Surprisingly, he was a bit of a scaredy cat, jumping at every jumpscare or loud sound in the movie. You couldn't help but chuckle at how adorable he was like this. Normally he wouldn't easily coddle with you like this, or at least he wouldn't initiate it but that was seemingly thrown out of the window right now. When you got to a bad horror movie though his entire demeanor would change. Suddenly he spends most of the time critiquing the film and explaining every inaccuracy to you. He'd point out the flaws in special effects, scoff at unrealistic plot twists, and make witty comments about the characters' choices. "Come on, even a first-year magic student could cast a better illusion spell than this" he'd remark, his eyes narrowed at the screen. You playfully nudged him "Well, Mr. Expert, do you really think you could do better in that kind of situation" He smirked, "Oh, trust me, I would know what to do. I'm not like one of those normy protagonists who makes beginner horror movie mistakes" Eventually, the critiques turned into funny comments, and the scares turned into inside jokes. "Maybe if they paid attention in Magical Creatures class, they'd know how to deal with that monster." Idia would quip, earning a giggle from you. As exhaustion crept in, Idia's grip on you loosened, and he started to just sometimes mumble out explanations. You listened, half-asleep, to his comments, trying to pay attention but your eyes slowly fell shut. Before you finally fell asleep you used the moment and shifted a bit, resting your head against Idia's chest. "Thanks for making this night so magical, Idia." He was obviously caught off guard and you could hear his breath getting caught in his throat before he responded with a slight stutter "Anytime, the [name]"

Divider by: @djarrex

[queenendless]

My Hallow Fairy✨️

A/n: Short piece. Sorry if it seems like it wasn't done with enough effort. But I genuinely wanted to get something out for this week cause next week is the last time. Cause Halloween is gonna be big. If ya know, ya know. But I at least am glad I got something of Winx on here.

Ault!Bloom x Adult!Fem!Reader.

Short AU piece. Hurt/comfort, romance, fuff, and implied suggestive stuff. Just pure self indulgence cause she's my favorite fairy. I prefer the 4kids dub. Especially for Bloom's VA; perfection. So there.

"He's the biggest fool of them all to not appreciate the energetic, sweet, creative, beautifu angel that you are —!"

The moment those words left your lips, your confession became ingrained into the mind of the princess of Domino before she flung herself into your arms, smiling smittenly as she kissed you into a blushing humming mess.

The time spent being there by her side to help her cope through the messy breakup with that blond dunce of a royal ex were filled with tears, tissues, and tugs of the heartstrings. Never date a guy that lies about being engaged to another yet still taking you out amiss it. Besides spending time with the rest of the Winx Club, you used the time together to do anything and everything to help Bloom get through it all.

And in the midst of all that, your harbored feelings for your childhood friend turned crush only grew in the time you reconnected and renewed your old relationship. And of course, that relationship blossomed into a most intimate kind.

Fast forward to the Halloween party you were hosting — cause let's be real throwing one for your favorite holiday in this scenario would happen —

"Well what do you think?"

Turning around, your red cheeked gaping expression of yours made the Winx Club giggle. For your mesmerized The two heart marks on her cheek. The pink and blue highlights in her pigtailed hair. The gothic fairy before you brought you to awareness from those twinkling blue eyes.

"Beguiling."

"Careful~ I might just put a spell on you~" That coy grin of hers just made you want to smooch it away. And you did.

"You already have~ For a long time now~"

Hugging her waist, you and your special HalloWinx held hands and spun in glittery bliss, lost in each other’s gazes.

The floating lite jack o lanterns mingling with the girls pixies invisible to regulars eyes aside from the Winx and you.

The costumed dancing pairs twirling about the skeletons and knights lining the walls to the beat of the spooky themed, booming music

The spooky castle setting for a lively party is a match made in chaotic fun.

The girls danced amongst themselves, with other costumed kindred souls, and even dragging you two into their chaos.

Watching these Hallowinx doing the Pumpkin Boogie as the multicolored strobe lights made them pop out more than ever amongst your partying attendees.

Combine that rushing heated sensation with some fizzy drinks and you two can't keep your hands off each other.

The late night came rushing in like a white hot wave as you two dove into an unoccupied room, lost in kisses and sighs. Brushing those red locks off her bare shoulder, your fingers caressing her velvety smooth skin, stripping off her form fitting costume in a steamy rushed manner. And she gave you the same treatment; just as impatient and tempted.

Your lovestruck gazes stayed on each other the whole time. Letting the full moon gaze upon your pairing as you were lost in endearing pleasure. To worship and cherish your fiery angel.

The party ran on for the whole night, ending in the drawls of the sunrise. The castle would be filled with stragglers waking up from the highs of partying.

For you? It was the start of the new month. And the start of a breathtaking morning as you woke up in each other's arms. Nuzzling her giggling face as you breathed in her cozy scent.

"Never let go." Bloom whispered.

"I won't. Not you, love. Never." Your heated promised sealed in with a kiss.

[hotmesslovesickcrackhead]

Marked By Fate

Pt 1

Chapter 1: Unseen Connection

It was a dreary autumn rainy day, the sky grey. Puddles formed on the side walks as people hustle to get to their jobs, appointments. The rain falls, steadily, creating a rhythmic patter against the windows and the rooftops. The vibrant fall foliage, rich with hues of red, orange, yellow and green. Appears muted and subdued under the overcast sky. The air is thick with the earthy scent of wet leaves and soil. The chill in the air, prompting people to bundle up in cozy sweaters and in raincoats. The rain providing a soothing scene for a day spent indoors with a warm drink and a good book. Which somehow seemed to set the mood for Enid, this morning. As she got ready to go to a coffee shop herself. 

It was Enid's first day, at her brand new job. "The Blackbird Cafe". She was nervous as shit. The bell above the door jingled softly as Enid Sinclair stepped into the coffee shop. It was tucked away in the quieter, darker corners in Jericho. It looked as if it belonged in some type of gothic novel. It had a shadowy interior illuminated by flickering of candlelight, miss matched colored chairs and wooden tables that creaked with every touch. It definitely had character, but not the kind of character that Enid Sinclair was used to.

She walked towards the back office, placed her keys down in her little locker for the employes. She grabbed an apron off the shelf, as she adjusted her apron, Enid took a deep breath. She could do this, "I got this!" She mumbled as she took another deep breath. Trying to swallow her nerves. She had just moved to the town of Jericho for college. And this job was meant to cover the bills, still she felt out of place in a shop that practically screamed "Bleak". Hopefully, this job would only be temporary. She just knew her bright pink and blue streaks in her blonde hair, and her floral pins stood out like a sore thumb. Screaming like fireworks, landing against the coffee shop's dark walls.

"Hey Kiddo!" called out her boss, Yoko. Yoko was a vampire, and an exotic beauty. She was standing behind the counter, cleaning the espresso machine. "You ready for your first shift?" She asked with casual indifference. 

"Totally." Enid replied, flashing her signature wide grin. Fangs showing off in the candlelight cafe. Though the butterflies in her stomach told a different story. 

"You know that I can hear your heart beat right?" Yoko stayed with a slight grin at the were wolf girl. 

"I forgot, I don't know why I'm so nervous. This place seems so... cozy?" Enid remarked to the vampire. 

Yoko snorted. "Cozy? More like haunted, but you'll get used to it. And hey, you might even meet our regular customer. She's a bit of a legend around these parts." Yoko said as she took a break wiping off the espresso machine. She winked at Enid, and grinned. 

Enid's curiosity piqued. She was intrigued to say the least.

"Legend? What's that supposed to mean?" Enid asked the grinning vampire. 

"I should let you find out for yourself, but fuck. It's a slow day. And this bitch needs some entertainment." Yoko paused, "Wednesday Addams. She's here almost every day, orders the same thing: black coffee, no cream, no sugar. She doesn't talk, doesn't smile. Just... stares. You'll know her as soon as you lay eyes on her. She's definitely quirky and spooky. That's for sure. " Yoko, said as she turned back around to finish her task. 

"Says the dark, brooding vampire!" Enid remarked with a nervous chuckle. "Sounds like fun." But inside, she couldn't quite shake the feeling of anticipation. Something about this place felt important. Though she couldn't quite put her finger on the "why?" just yet. 

Across town, Wednesday Addams stood in the stark fluorescent lighting of the coroner's office, her black gloves on as she examined the body before her. Death had always been such a comforting constant in her life. A puzzle, that she understood deeply. The sterile scent of formaldehyde filled the room as she methodically dissected the corpse that was laying on the table in front of her. 

"Time of death, approximately four days ago," she muttered to herself, her voice calm and clinical. She felt more at home here among the dead than she ever dreamed about being among the living. Emotions, attachments, friendships, and worse romantic entanglements were just well, they were messy. And unpredictable, and pointless. Things she had no time for. 

The scalpel in her hand moved with precision, revealing more of the corpse's deep dark secrets. However as she worked on the body, an odd sensation tugged at the back of her mind. It was faint, almost imperceptible, but it had been growing stronger over the past few weeks. An unusual restlessness. She would have to ask Thing if this continued. 

Wednesday prided herself on being in control of her every thought and feeling, but this... This was different. This was something she had never dealt with. It wasn't logical. And it certainly wasn't explainable. And it all seemed to stem from one peculiar place. 

The Blackbird Cafe. 

No matter how hard she tried to dismiss it, the pull towards that coffee shop lingered. It had started the day she stepped in for a quick drink. A decision she had initially made without much thought. Yet now, it had become a routine. Though she couldn't for the life of her, explain why. She hated routines, detested the mundane things in life. However something about that place. Wednesday huffed, annoyed at herself. She would go again today, if only to prove to herself that it was nothing more than what was becoming an irritating habit. 

I wanna hold the hand inside you

I wanna take the breath that's true

I look to you and I see nothing

I look to you to see the truth

It was a slow afternoon at The Blackbird Cafe, almost a dreamy atmosphere. Enid was almost lulled to sleep by the soft song, that was playing on the old radio on the counter. The haunting vocals, and gentle guitar strumming acting as a lullaby. Blending in with the quiet conversations and the ambient sounds of clinking cups. Almost ethereal. Yes today was a slow day, when Enid spotted her. The customer who could only be Wednesday Addams.

She was hard to miss, dressed in all black. From head to toe. With raven hair parted in the middle, going off into two separate tight braids. Her expression was unreadable. Eyes dark and piercing, as if she were studying every detail to memory. With a level of scrutiny that would make anyone else uncomfortable. Enid swallowed hard, suddenly aware of how loud her heartbeat felt in the suddenly even more quiet cafe. 

"That's her." Yoko whispered as she walked past, nudging Enid with her elbow. "Good luck. You'll need it."

You live your life, you go in shadows

You'll come apart and you'll go blind

Some kind of night into your darkness 

Colored your eyes with what's not there 

Fade into you

Enid's palms were sweating as she made her way to the counter, where Wednesday stood waiting. She tried to summon her usual cheeriness, but the strange cold aura around Wednesday made it harder than it usually was. "Hi! What can I get for you today?"Enid asked, her voice a touch too bright.  Wednesday didn't respond right away. She glanced at the bubbly blonde girl, with the pink and blue streaks in her hair. Her expression unreadable, before finally speaking. "Black coffee. No cream, no sugar."

"Coming right up!" The werewolf girl said as she moved quickly, her hands were slightly shaking as she poured the coffee. When she turned to hand it to the dark haired goth girl, their fingers brushed for the briefest moment, and that's when it happened. 

A sharp burning sensation shot through Enid's hand, like a spark of electricity. She gasped, nearly dropping the cup. Wednesday's eyes flickered down to her wrist, and Enid's eyes followed her gaze. There on her skin, was the faintest outline of a tattoo. It was small, no bigger than that of a coin, but it was in the shape of a raven. Enid blinked, confused but before she could say anything, Wednesday had snatched the coffee and turned to leave. Her face set in stone. 

"Wait! Did you?", Enid began, but Wednesday was already gone, the door swinging shut behind her with a soft jingle of the bell. She looked down at her wrist again, heart pounding. The tattoo was still there, growing clearer by the second. "What the hell?" Enid whispered, rubbing at her skin. No matter how hard she tried, the mark wouldn't fade.

Outside the coffee shop, Wednesday gripped her wrist tightly, her heartbeat loud in her ears. This wasn't possible. It wasn't logical. And yet, the werewolf shaped mark on her skin was there. As real as the cold autumn air biting at her face. A soulmate mark. Wednesday had heard of such things of course. A quaint myth, passed down through generations about destined lovers. She had always dismissed it as nonsense, a fairy tale meant to pacify those who feared loneliness. However, now standing in the alley behind The Blackbird Cafe, Wednesday couldn't dismiss the burning mark on her wrist. It was an irrational phenomenon, something that defied all logic, and she loathed it. 

She loathed the idea that her fate, that her life could be tied to someone else's in such an arbitrary, mystical way. She flexed her hand, trying to will the mark away, but no matter, it stayed. Darkening with each passing second. "No." Wednesday muttered under her breath. "I won't let this happen." Without a second glance back at the coffee shop, she made a decision. She would never go there ever again. 

[bio1]

Well it's finally time to post the rest of this Earthspark horror fic on the spooky month.

Big thanks to @billy-jay-kisses-robots for writing and spelling help. Couldn't have done it without them.

Last part of you haven't read it

Ok now here's it is

Throughout a rotten oak:

act there: tangled in the hanging tree.

The cold, metallic clicking of leaking rainwater rose Nightshade from their unconscious. They managed to blearily pry their optics open, the young bot's vision blurred from exhaustion and their injuries. Nightshade silently prayed to whatever might be listening that all this had just been some sort of horror movie induced nightmare. That when they got up, they’d find themselves awake in the cozy dugout, surrounded by their siblings. That they could go on and have another fun, peaceful day with those they loved.

But they were met with no such luck. They were lying on an unfamiliar rusted floor, faint light leaking in from a hole above them. Scattered drops of fresh rain pattered down, keeping the air around them cool. It was a sound they usually quite enjoyed, under happier circumstances. With no idea where they were, however, it only brought them a further sense of alienation.

As they tried to gather their thoughts, a voice they had gotten to know far too well over the past few hours made itself heard.

“Rise and shine~”

The voice led to a pitch black doorway, only the speaker's white eyes indicating something was there. Nightshade tried to change forms, but residual weakness kept them barely able to move. Honestly, they were surprised still able to move at all, feeling being so drained of-

“Energy” it said.

“You need it to survive like all things do. It will not be good if you're too weak to stand.”

Its eyes narrowed to pin pricks of light.

“Lucky for us, it seems like your kind is able to process organics. Looks like we have something in common.” A wheezy laugh escaped the beast’s mouth.

“Unlike your inferior kin.”

It tossed a plastic-wrapped packet in the room next to Nightshade.

“Is this Jerky?” they mumbled, looking over the bag with bleary optics.

“Better than rats, I suppose. Or do your animalistic instincts like raw vermin?” It tilts their head.

“How would you know my body can process organic material?” Nightshade questioned, weakly.

“You and your sister seem to processing those caffeine rich liquids just fine. Besides, I can't see it being possible for a techno-organic species to survive solely off of polluted water.” It leaned its metallic face closer, its nightmarish grin now barely visible in the pale light.

The usually quick-witted Nightshade was cut off by their captor before they could even speak.

“You mean to tell me that in the year or so you’ve existed, you never bothered trying any food?” Its smile somehow grew wider.

Nightshade cut the side of the packet, pulling out one strip of dry meat. They placed it in their mouth and chewed a bit. It was pretty good, surprisingly. Under different circumstances, they'd be excited to try out other human foods. After swallowing it, they felt off, like there was a hollow feeling in them that the small piece of nourishment slightly filled.

The beast spoke once more.

“I will return when you recover your strength. Until then, stay here.” It taunted, knowing damn well they weren't going anywhere.

It shut the thick metal door behind it with a cold clank. Alone and in the dark again, the green bot pulled out another piece of jerky.

“I hope Twitch is ok.”

---

Sharp claws rendered the air next to Twitch, the red bot barely managing to dodge the swipe by a hair. She reared in for a punch to punch its face, but was instead met with a monstrous knee in the abdomen. She failed to stop her battered fame from involuntarily folding up like a lawn chair from the pain. Orange, shaky optics stared down the approaching behemoth as it made its way to the barnside.

Twitch managed to activate the fans on her circular wings, blowing the monster back as it lunged directly towards her. The thing yelped as it was knocked backwards, but didn't remain stunned for long.

With her processor still hazy and her movements sluggish, Twitch knew this wouldn't be an even fight. She'd need to end it quickly, because there was no way her stamina would keep up for long.

As the husk made its way towards her once again, Twitch used what little remaining energy she had to back herself up into the garage. She frantically slammed her fist down on the button used to close the garage's metal door, hoping it would buy her a little more time. As the husk lunged at her again, she raised her arm, with just enough space between them to take a clear shot.

In less than a second, her laser blew a hole directly into the monster's head, sending it flying backwards. The garage door slammed shut right as its body was about half way through the exit, moving quickly enough to bisect the creature horizontally. The thing’s lower half laid on the garage floor, legs’ violently jerking one last time before going still.

After a moment's hesitation, she carefully moved to get a better look at the split torso. Oily black ooze and wiry threads leaked from the opened wound. Inside were tightly wrapped threads, somewhat resembling muscles, clinging tightly to shiny silver bones. The red bot hesitantly nudged the tattered mass with her foot. Satisfied when it didn't move, she let out a sigh of relief.

She decided to inspect the garage doors, wondering how they had closed so fast. It appeared that Nightshade had added some sort of speed adjuster, currently set onto “Turbo”.

“Nightshade’s going to get one of us killed these days, if they keep messing with electronics like this.” She mumbled. “Oh no, Nightshade!” Twitch's mind was flooded with thoughts of the monstrosity dragging away her sibling. Panic surged through her circuits, making her trace the room in circles, cradling her head in her hands. If she could barely take one of its minions, she wouldn't stand a chance against the creature alone.That's when her optics landed on a car battery and jumper cables.

“What would Nightshade do…” Twitch pondered aloud, gazing over the batteries with inquisitive optics.

_ _ _

Nightshade had just barely regained the strength to stand when their host decided to return.

“Please, follow me, honored guest.” It gestured, holding a slender hand behind itself. Not seeing any other viable options, Nightshade did as they were told.

As the young bot trailed behind their captor, it became apparent to them that they didn't even reach past the monster's knee in height. Wherever they were, the quiet halls of this place were clearly designed to be occupied by beings of immense stature.

Nightshade decided now would be as good a time as any to ask the burning question on their processor. “Are you going to kill me?”

“Blissfully foolish little thing. If I planned to kill you, why would I have kept you alive this long?” Seemingly just to taunt Nightshade, it dragged its claws against the stone walls, leaving shallow marks and a grating noise as they continued.

“I don't know. You could have plenty of reasons. That's why I asked.”

The monster looked back at Nightshade incredulously, only to be met with a sincere expression from the green bot. It was genuinely a little surprised at how curious their captive was. If anything, they seemed just as interested in the logistics of this operation as they did their own fate.

“I want you to join me… Nightshade.” The thing’s smile grew to enormous proportions, only to fade as they realized Nightshade gave no visible reaction to having their name used.

“Aren't you curious how I knew your name?” It tried to sound intimidating, but the bot just continued to stare at them with a wide eyed, yet steady expression.

“I just assumed you overheard my sister referring to me as such.” They answered. “Is that not the case?”

“Uh, no, I… Nevermind.” It seemed embarrassed of all things, not getting to use its usual mindgames. “Scrap, I lost my train of thought. Where was I?”

“You mentioned you wanted me to join you in something?”

“Oh, right, thanks.” It coughed awkwardly. “Ahem. Anyway, my kind has a unique way to produce more of our species. It all starts with a small injection.”

Its tongue formed into a sharp, needle-like point. Nightshade's optics went wide, nervously taking a step back.

“Your body will undergo a beautiful transformation. You'll be stretched, strained, melted. Your insides will dissolve and reform into divine fibrous threads, while keeping your outer casing mostly in tack.” Having regained its sinister mojo, it leaned in menacing.

“And most importantly, you will be able to spread your unique variation of life to all that you see. Your unique biology, I believe it's called your alt mode… it's the perfect blend of organic and inorganic material.”

It gestures to the room in front of them.

Inside, dozens of stasis pods filled with an odd silver liquid Thing against the walls, each with a glowing ball of light in their chests.

Nightshade peered in, before being struck with dreadful recognition. “No, those aren't-”

“Oh, but they are! Protoforms, just for us. You can think of them as our new family.” It laughed, a sound like metal scraping against itself.

“Your techoraganic DNA will make them perfect hybrids between you and I.”

“And why was I chosen for this?” Again, Nightshade’s tone, while clearly uncomfortable, also was bizarrely curious given the circumstances.

The monster scratched at its eye socket, as if it was getting bored.

“Your alt mode, little owl. Strong, swift, and capable of flight. None of your kin can compare in potential.”

“And why can't you just make your army on your own?”

Their bright-eyed, inquisitive questioning seemed genuinely rooted in fascination with this process, which was almost annoying to their captor. It sighed, and begrudgingly answered.

“My body is beyond repair, as you may have noticed. Its previous occupant was gravely injured when I took their place. I was going to just scavenge for more parts… but upon picking up signs of unique, *living* biomechanical parts nearby… Well, that gave me a better idea.”

The two of them continued their walk, finally ending up in an enormous room.

Trashed control panels for an unidentifiable drive and gnarled viscera littered the floor. The foul stench of copper and rot emanated from a tub in the dead center. The beast pushed a reluctant Nightshade towards it.

The scared bot hesitantly peered over the vessel, only to be greeted by a viscous red liquid.

Nightshade nearly gagged upon recognizing the horrific sight in front of them, stumbling backwards away from the blood. Their captor, apathetic towards their discomfort, grabbed the young bot with a single clawed hand.

“But before we comment, I will need approval from a higher power.”

It dipped its free hand into the blood, and began to paint a sigil on the wall.

It licks its filthy hand clean before hovering a clawed finger over Nightshade's face.

“I require one last ingredient to achieve communication.”

Nightshade tried to squirm away to break free as the point of the monster's claw made contact with their cheek. Searing hot pain engulfed their entire face.

The young bot desperately tried to hold in their screams, not wanting to give their tormentor the satisfaction. Having never experienced anything like this, anything this unbearably horrible, how very, they gave in, screeching at the awful sensation. The whole ordeal lasted only a moment, and the monster revealed to them a luminous green liquid on its finger tip.

For a second, Nightshade was confused in its origin. Realization dawned on them as they felt the liquid trickle onto their chest.

“I'm bleeding.” They stated, their tone cold and grim from shock.

“A nice pretty green.” It laughed, mixing Nightshade’s blood into the sigil.

Nightshade watched in helpless horror as the blood twisted and moved upon contact, changing colors until eight white, luminous eyes took form.

_ _ _

Twitch shakily touched the two ends of the jumper cables together, watching with wide optics as they sparked at the contact. The jolt nearly scared the sprockets out of her, but she managed to take a deep breath to steady herself again. She stood over her unconscious younger sister, attaching the cables with an uncertain hum. A zap of energy filled the air before the car battery made a “pop” and went stone dead.

Twitch clutched her fists tightly, heat welling up in her face as her desperate attempt to wake her Hashtag failed. She felt her knees go weak, and a strong urge to curl up into a ball and cry. Before she could give in, a faint whirring noise caught her attention. It was Hashtag's optics, groggily prying themselves open.

“Twitch? What's going on-”

With her energy revived by hope, Twitch rushed in to give her sister one of her famous bear hugs.

“Uh, good morning to you too.” Hashtag said awkwardly, patting her on the back.

Twitch grabbed her sister's hand, desperately tugging it as she tried to pull the larger bot up.

“We need to go, now! Something horrible took Nightshade and-”

“Whoa, slow down, Twitch. I just woke up.” Hashtag stood up, feeling the odd cables attached to her neck.

“I didn't go to sleep with these on, right?” She questioned.

“There's a giant monster keeping everyone asleep! I had to jumpstart you awake with that.”

Hashtag narrowed her optics incredulously.

“Giant… monster?” She parroted back.

“Yeah, the thing is probably twice the size of Mr Prime!” Twitch was practically dragging Hashtag outside at this point. “It sent creatures to attack us. But me and Nightshade destroyed one and I took care of another myself.”

Now outside, Hashtag didn't see anything out of the ordinary.

“Really?” Hashtag rhetorically asked. She thought this had to be some kind of poorly planned joke.

“Yes, really!” The smaller answered, frustrated that she wasn't being taken seriously. “Look, its remains are over here-”

The bisected upper half of the monster was gone, only leaving a puddle of oily blood by the opening of the garage.

Before Hashtag could react, her sister let go of her arm, frantically looking around the building’s exterior for any signs of the missing body.

Hashtag did her best to keep up with her, eventually finding Twitch directly behind the barn, seemingly frozen in place.

“Hey, what's wrong? You're acting-”

The upper half of the creature that Twitch fought previously cut Hashtag off. The two sisters watched in stunned silence as what should have been a corpse pulled parts of the other slain monstrosity into itself. Threads from its wound skewered and pulled scattered limbs, bones, and plating together to reconstruct itself. The final result took the form of a metallic homunculus centaur.

“So that's what you were talking about.” Was all Hashtag could say before the beast spotted the pair, instantly lunging for them.

They both were barely able to dodge the strike, causing the centaur’s arm to slash at a nearby bench, slicing it in two. After realizing it had missed, it started galloping on clawed legs in another loop before heading towards Twitch. She didn't have time to get up before it was upon her. Its front legs, the former arms of its lower half, held Twitch down as it prepared for a devastating swipe.

Hashtag took a moment to recover, before her optics lit up. She was right next to the family grill’s propane tank.

She ripped it out and triumphantly held it above her head.

“Hey, freak!”

The thing turned around just in time to have the tank smashes its face in. Twitch scrambled free as it loosened its grip. She zipped away as the monster's head weakly turned to face her, its jaw hanging on by a few sinews.

She aimed her blaster at the propane tank.

“Yippee kayak other buckets.” Hashtag didn't get the Brooklyn 99 reference.

The tank exploded into a huge fireball. Chunks of the creature’s flesh and limbs flew all over the place. The sisters didn't have much time to celebrate before panic set back in.

“That thing must be doing something horrible to Nightshade!” Twitch belated frantically.

“Twitch, I mean…” Hashtag loosely kicked one of the detached parts. “It looks pretty dead to me.”

“No, a much bigger one got them!”

“Oh…wait, I've got Nightshade's signal! We can track them!” Hashtag said cheerfully.

“Wait, what?”

“What do you mean, what? Did Nightshade not tell you about those tracking implants they put in us? I can follow them.”

Twitch decided this wasn't the time to question that. She picked up her swords and gave her sister a solid nod.

“Let's get ‘em, Hashtag.”

_____

The bloody figure in the mural was similar to the monster’s minions, except for the enormous horns and eight spider-like eyes. Nightshade looked towards the thing to see a snarl replaced its grin.

His captors began, furious. “Where is SHE! I must speak with her you-”

“How rude of you to yell at your Superior. Besides, she is busy at the moment. You should know that better than anyone, Leach.”

The painting could somehow move, as if each brush stroke independently changed on their own.

“If you're asking to start your own colony, then the answer is still no. Even if she was here to allow it.”

“Why not? This one has the potential to bring a new generation into being. Plus, I have the strength and knowledge to lead the way to greatness.”

It pushed Nightshade forward like it was showing their teacher its homework, with a tinge desperation is in its voice.

“For one, you think you're anything special because you fused to a cybertronian body? Any brain dead husk could do that. Second, you are considered on line of execution for abandoning your duty and attempting to start a hive. Third, my lady wouldn't like to see this poor child be subject to your will.

So I suggest you just save us all the trouble of hunting you down, and end your life before we can.”

It finished with a scrap-eating smile.

“Leach.”

The beast's eyes narrowed, it's expression morphing into pure anger.

“You ugly son of a-” A barrage of swears and curses that Nightshade only heard in the movie came out of its mouth. Some of them were for languages they couldn't even begin to understand.

This gave Nightshade the chance to sneak away while it was distracted. When they were sufficiently far enough, they ran down what they thought was the outside door. They were met with a control panel that required a code to progress. Completely over this scrap, Nightshade just ripped the panel off.

After a bit of fiddling with the wiring, the door swung open. Nightshade sprinted into the cool night. They looked behind them to see their captor had apparently kept them in a crashed alien ship.

“Look, they're over there!”

A wonderfully familiar voice rang out of the forest. Not a moment later, Nightshade recognized the bright headlights of Hashtag’s alt mode, with Twitch, curiously, riding on her back.

“Hashtag! You're awake! Twitch, did you-”

Of course, they were interrupted by Twitch ramming into them for a hug. Nightshade awkwardly patted their sister on the back.

“Woah! Were you in there, Nightshade?” The largest of the siblings eagerly drove up the entrance of the downed ship. She was knocked to the backwards as the monster reared its head out of the entrance.

“YOU!” It bellowed, fangs bared. It reached towards Nightshade with feverish rage, clearly infuriated that it had been cheated.

Hashtag, still in her alt mode, took the initiative to drive at the monster's leg at full speed. Having taken it by surprise, it was off balance enough that she managed to cleanly snap its calf from its thigh. The king went flying, and the monster screeched in pain.

“Wow, that actually worked?” She seemed genuinely surprised.

Twitch grabbed Nightshade and the satellite of Hashtag's alt mode, attempting to yank the two forward. “It's not going to stay down for long! We need to get out of here!”

“Aw, really? I mean, we took out its leg, right? That's gotta be enough. Can't I atleast get to check out the spaceship?” Hashtag pleaded.

The monster screamed again, rearing up to charge at them on its three remaining legs. “INSOLENT CHILDREN! I'LL WEAR YOUR CADAVERS AS NECKLACES WHEN I'M DONE WITH YOU!”

“...Nevermind, I want to go home now.”

---

With Hashtag having the most energy of the siblings (and being the largest), she stuck to her alt mode with the other two on the roof of her van, racing through the woods with the alien on their tail. Having removed its leg had slowed it down, but not enough that out running it would be easy.

Twitch was using what little strength she had to fire lasers back at their pursuer, to little avail.

“Hey, I probably should have asked this earlier, but where are we going?” Hashtag's radio called out.

Nightshade glared daggers through the window of their sister’s alt mode. “What?! Hashtag, you're the one driving! Are we just headed in a random direction?”

“I panicked! This is terrifying! Just be grateful I'm not leaking oil or anything!”

Before Nightshade could respond, they heard the familiar chugging of a train. Sure enough, just up ahead was one of the unmanned Ghost trains. Finally, a fighting chance.

“Is that a train?” Twitch took a moment's break to look behind her. A flash of recognition in her optics told Nightshade she had just gotten the same idea they did.

“Hashtag! Can you control the-” She began, but it seems her sister was also on the same wavelength. Using her remote hacking abilities, she had the cybernetic train slow down, allowing her to drive across the track. “Hold on, I'm going to make a hard left!”

The monster, clearly not giving it the human made locomotive a second thought, turned around to continue its chase. The nanosecond it stepped foot on the tracks, Hashtag had the train pull forward at max speed, obliterating its remaining hind leg. With a hellish roar, their pursuer fell to the ground, where Hashtag preemptively ran its torso over and over again with the train until she was satisfied.

“I saw that in a movie once, it's called double tapping. You don't stop until you know it's dead.” She chimed, seemingly happy with the results.

Shifting back to bot mode, all three siblings cautiously approached the slain beheatmoth, its nightmarish body splayed in half. Oily guts coated the tracks and train, leaving a thick smell of burned rubber and iron in the air.

“...I think I'm going to pass out.” Twitch fell to her knees, exhausted, clutching her forehead. Both Nightshade and Hashtag ran to her side, picking her up by the shoulders.

“Woah, hey, Twitch, you're good, you're good. That was the main monster, right, Nightshade?” Hashtag's big blue optics glittered with hope in their sibling's direction, waiting for a positive response.

“Well… yes and no. From what I saw, this creature is part of some alien society with others if it's kind. However, it seems its… higher ups, for lack of a better term, don't have much interest in coming to earth.”

“So… it's working alone, right? We're done?” Twitch pulled herself up, gaining a bit of balance.

“For now. This is something we'll have to discuss with Optimus Prime and Megatron.”

“Oh man, Optimus… are we going to get in trouble for destroying this train?” Hashtag worriedly looked over the damaged Ghost train. Unsurprisingly, repeatedly ramminging it into a giant alien had done a significant amount of damage.

“I think they'll understand.” Nightshade reassured her.

“Are we… we need to check up on the others at home.” Twitch began hovering back to the direction of the family house, still determined as ever to keep her loved ones safe.

A giant claw smacked her out of the sky without a moment's notice, breaking both her wing and the eerie silence of the forest.

It wasn't dead. Not completely, anyway.

The monster's head and shoulder were still loosely held onto its right arm by a few mangled tendrils, allowing the wounded creature to drag itself slowly across the grass.

“Nightshade, we aren't done. Please, listen to me. I can promise you-”

Nightshade noticed a glowing or hanging on to the lower part of its neck, appearing to be some sort of power cell.

They walked over as the creature continued its monologue. It seemed to believe the green bot was considering its offer.

Nightshade stomped on the power cell repeatedly, until it exploded into a pile of azure sludge. As they had predicted, all life signs from the creature faded, and its tendrils loosened their grip on its body completely.

“I am so tired of that thing.” They sneered, unusually bitter. Their facial expression softened as they turned back to their injured sister. “Are you alright, Twitch?”

“Ugh, I'm… yeah, I'll just need to get this fixed.” She confirmed, shaking her loosened wing to test its durability.

Hashtag transformed, honking her van’s horn. “Ok, you guys need to tell me everything on the way back. I'm so confused right now. Hop on already!”

---FIN---

[afreakingdork]

Ashes Denote Fire

RotTMNT Leonardo x Reader One-Shot

Tags: Future Leonardo (TMNT), Bonfires, Gift Fic, Short & Sweet, One Shot, Gender-neutral Reader, Mention of Bad Future Timeline (TMNT), Christmas Fluff, Bad Puns, Puns & Word Play

Synopsis: Leon always got strange around fire and you tried your best to avoid the subject, but when Donnie surprises the family with a Christmas bonfire, you are finally party to the trip he takes.

Also Available on Ao3

A Secret Santa gift for Pip!

Merry Christmas, Pip! I'm sorry to say I don't know you well, but I hope you enjoy!

Also stolen away from @morning-sun-brah mwahaha!

Leon always got strange around fire.

Something you would have thought easily avoidable in the city, holidays brought on the cozy imagery in ways you never expected.

You’d catch him often.

Staring at yule logs set on static televisions, slowing down as he passed shop displays with chimneys, or even the wafting flames of a candlelit vigil, Leon would take on that same far away look amongst them all.

If you had known Donnie was going to build an entire bonfire, you might have protested.

Instead, the softshell had ushered the Hamatos to what by all accounts should have been a spooky alley. Turning a wretched glowing corner, he announced his surprise in the form of an utter transformation of the space. Rotting brick done up by Mikey into a scenic forest, lights honeyed the rusted fire escapes and paved the path to the enormous wooden structure already aflame.

The others ran off. There was a refreshment table. There were reindeer games. There was a pyromaniac’s dream that needed tending to.

Then there was Leon.

Bathed in firelight, he’d stood in the crux that hid away this alley.

Amber lapped at his winter coat and his eyes took on that haunted look.

Unlike Scrooge, Leon didn’t need three specters to haunt him.   

He’d had his share and more and you moved with him as he approached the flames.

The others tapered off into Hamato white noise and seemed none the wiser as the older slider stopped short of where the heat became nearly unbearable.

Scorching your cheeks, you watched him where he watched dancing light.

It licked at his stripes and cast his lowered lids with something distant.

A hollowed past, the husk of him had been partially filled in the years since.

There were the younger versions of his family.

There was a world that hadn’t been destroyed.

There was you.

It was never enough.

There was no way for him to be truly healed.

How could he?

What he had helped.

Family helped.

Community helped.

You helped.

He’d whispered it to you hundreds of times by now. He was keen on small surprises. He liked catching you off guard. You could be doing the dishes and he’d appear behind you. With a hand to your waist for a sudsy dance, he’d dip you to whisper about the hope you instilled in him.

He was the preacher of such a thing.

Junior was a testament to that.

The intangible concept kept Leon going with a smile on his face amongst any adversity.

It was his gospel and he knew every hymn.

A caroler so infectious no one could turn him away.

Yet here he stood, unseen as he stared at some far away point where he was usually as unstoppable as a concept.

The words came off your lips before you could stop them.

“Where do the flames take you?”

It waxed poetic which was unlike you, but it was the only way you could think to put it.

He might have teased you, asked about being a modern-day Dickinson, but instead you tapped the time traveler. Caught between two points, he spoke for the present from the past.

“These numbskulls’ll know the time Donnie tried to build a fireplace.”

A smile spread under a shaded gaze.

“We were…” Leon sighed loudly, giving into a closed eye body movement that said age had taken the sharpness off his memories. “Tots, musta been. Learned the whole shebang about Santa and had been fed a line or two about how he snuck in, ninja-style, and left behind our gifts.”

You stepped close, afraid to displace his form.

“We were chomping at the whole Christmas bit. Been there, done that trying to catch the intruder and now we were onto something else.” Leon’s hands itched in his coat pockets.

Beyond the bonfire, Leo and Donnie squabbled over something.

“’Santa doesn’t use manhole covers! He uses chimneys!’” Leon did an impression you couldn’t place.

Splinter laughed loud while April told him to say it and not spray it.

Leon chuckled. “Tots coming up with harebrained ideas. So, we have the mystery man using the wrong entrance. Must mean we’re getting the short end of the present stick because the layout’s all wrong.”

A garland fell and a glowing Raph rose up to fix it.  

Leon hummed with another faded thought. “I think it was Mikey who came up with the line. ‘We get a chimney and Santa’ll bring the good stuff!’ No more cast-off gifts for us. We weren’t that dumb. We noticed our gifts weren’t shiny and new like the kids on TV.” He quieted. “TV…”

He since slept with screens on to make up for the years he’d missed rewatching his favorite films.

He had to shake himself out of the stupor. “So, Donnie devises the thing. We collect cardboard for an entire year. We construct the Leaning Tower of Piza and we all drew our stockings on with the care like the song says.”  

Casey popped a Christmas Cracker and deemed herself ruler of Yule.

“It was all fine and dandy, but we shoulda known. Mikey hadn’t exactly been quiet about the fire bit. He kept saying, ‘it’s gotta be a real fire or it’s not real!’ We figured he was the youngest, what was he gonna do?” Leon’s teeth appeared as he sounded an error bell from a game show. “Firebug nabbed some matches, knocked out first, woke up when we were out, and snuck around all of us to light the dang thing. Cardboard!” Leon shook his head, his pupils a steady moth to a flame. “Went up like the Library of Alexandria. Poof. One second there and the next gone. Dad was furious. We almost torched the whole lair.”

Mikey asked someone to dare him through a stuffed face.

“Before that though, we got our coal. You know you think fire burns from the bottom, but that’s not true. It’s alive and it wants to escape. It rushes up a structure to get away, but falls like bad wallpaper. It’s alive and it’s fighting. For it’s very life, it just wants to consume. It’s starving, hungry. It does what it has to. It scrounges around and it holds its loved ones close. It makes do with what its got. It creates a new home, a new lair. It rations when food gets low, turning into those glowing embers to conserve. You gotta respect that drive. It’s needs. It wants. It wasn’t its fault that one well timed explosion clipped an old capped off gas line. That in seconds it devastated the colony. That we had to leave. All that hard work. The screams. The burn. It all burns. Us. Krang. It’s another living thing to burn out. Conquered like the rest of us.” His gaze lowered and his sclera reflected ages. “I went back after we lost CPC. Later, to the rubble. You know it was still going? Smoldering little bits were still smoking. Weeks later. Still hanging on. To keep the resistance going. To live again. To keep it up.”

“Leon.” You were clutching his arm before you realized it.

It wasn’t enough to summon him from the fire. “You know the funny thing about ash?”

He needed prompting. “What?”

“I never thought it was from the stuff burned. Don woulda said it was something about laws of the universe and how matter can’t be destroyed, but I never quite agreed with that part.” His head tipped the scales of thought. “I always thought it marked the flames. That’s where the fire was. It was saying, ‘I’m here! I did this! I was alive!’ Leaving it’s mark, long after it’s gone.”

“Like you.” You tugged.

“Me?”

With that your time traveler returned. He always did, in one way or another. You considered it fate. That he’d always return to you.

With levity, he turned to you with a glint in his eye that burned. “And what’s my mark exactly?”

“Here.” You touched his stripes.

“Close, I woulda said it was the one I need to hit for the camera to get my good side.” His smarmy grin shined as he tucked his chin into the webbing between his thumb and finger.

“Uh huh, you’re a certified star.” You looked away long enough to roll your eyes.

“That’s fire, you know.” It was just enough time for him to scoop you up. “Again, close, but I’ll save that one for you.”

“Me?” You settled into his grasp.

“Yeah, I’ll be the tinder and you be the flame since you light up my life.” His brow ridge wagged.

You groaned loudly and protested his mocking smooches. “If anything I’ve got a burning desire to go!”

“’Why did the bonfire leave early!?’” Leon shouted. “You scald me! It was right there! Where’s the lead up!? The craft!? You don’t open with a punch line!”

“Here I am getting roasted instead!” You spoke out of the corner of your mouth, but peeked at him.

Bowled over, you watched Leon field swaths of emotions before he settled on the brightest one and a searing kiss.

💙

Here's the Emily Dickinson poem that inspired me:

Ashes denote that Fire was —

Revere the Grayest Pile

For the Departed Creature's sake

That hovered there awhile —

Fire exists the first in light

And then consolidates

Only the Chemist can disclose

Into what Carbonates.

[lumisparks]

🎂 10.29 -- Elise and Emi's Birthday🎂

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Word Count: 2.5k words

Today’s a special day in Radiant Garden! This beautiful kingdom was filled with various spooky decor around the shops and houses: jack-o-lanterns, skeletons, spiders, and bats for example.

There were even black and orange party streamers hung around the area, all perfect for the upcoming Halloween in 2 days. At the castle, a white-haired man in a guard uniform and red cape walked down the halls. It was Fuyu, captain of the guards.

Tap... Tap... Tap... His boots tapped onto the floor on each step he took as he made his way to a door. The man lifts up his fist and knocks on the pattern-detailed wood.

“Enter,” an old man’s voice answers. Fuyu grabs, then turns the knob, and opens the door. He enters a room full of books, papers, and research. In front of him was a blond haired and bearded man who’s donned in a lab coat and red scarf. Radiant Garden’s Ruler, Ansem the Wise, greets him with a kind smile.

Fuyu bows in response.

“Ah right, today is your daughters’ birthday correct?” Ansem the Wise asks as his hand goes to grab something under the desk. Fuyu confirms his question with a low hum, his tone felt unsure on what to give for his children. His eyes noticed the sage pull out a slip of paper then placed it onto his gloved hand.

Fuyu reads the paper carefully. His eyes widened.

“Moogle Adoption Kupon: 50% off!”

A coupon for adopting one or more moogle’s? Why would Ansem the Wise give him this? He suddenly felt a click in his brain.

“Father? Can we have a moogle please? Nonono! Not just one... But two!”

“Mhm! That way things can progress faster in the cafe or play whenever at home!”

Two identical yet child-like voices rang. Their accents were sharp and strong. Fuyu was in an adoption center full of plushy creatures with big red noses, bat-wings, and poms attached on their heads.

He sees a pair of twin girls with black and white hair; yellow and purple eyes. Those two are his daughters Elise and Emi. Elise is the one in green overalls with bows on her hair . Meanwhile her sister, Emi, was the one in a black-red jersey jacket with a moogle beanie.

Emi walks up to her dad, tugs his sleeve, and looks up at him with pleading eyes. Fuyu goes to check the prices, they range around 2450-3150 munny. He grits his teeth and his eyebrows crook in disbelief. He then holds up his hand, projecting light out of his palm to make out the words,

“Maybe if we have enough money... (“^ ^)”

“Alright so.. The answer is ‘not now’?”

Fuyu sadly nods to the young girl. For comfort, he moves his hand to pat her head.

Elise comes by, “If you do though, will you buy two moogles for our birthday?” she asks, hopping excitingly. The father closes his eyes and thinks carefully.

“Mr. Kaibyo?” Huh? He opens his eyes to see he was back in Ansem’s study room.

“I gave you this coupon because you’ve been staring at the Moogle Adoption Center recently, looking troubled. You wanted to buy a moogle for your daughters but they were expensive. Is that right?”

Ansem the Wise stated what Fuyu has been feeling. Fuyu curved his mouth into a smile and nodded, thankful for his understanding.

“Tell Elise and Emi I said ‘hello’ and that I wish them a great birthday,” the blond sage says. Fuyu gives him a thumbs up, then bows, and leaves the room.

Somewhere other than the castle, the birthday party was located in the cozy restaurant

“Kupo Kafé”. The place was packed with friendly customers, moogles, and staff who came in for a celebration.

“Oh Caitlyn! How old are the girls again? And where are they right now?” A lady asks the waitress named Caitlyn, who was drinking some apple juice. Caitlyn’s yellow eyes shifted at her,

”Hm? Oh they’re turning six years old. They’re in the changing rooms to get into their costumes,” she answered. Her expression turned into worry though when she looked at the window,

“Wonder what my husband is doing right now... I don’t want him to be late or anything.“

“I’m sure Fuyu is getting something very special for the two. Just hold on a little longer.”

“I’ll try...“

Caitlyn sighs and grabs a grape from the fruit platter. She contemplated what her husband could be buying at a time like this. She shakes her head. She needs to just focus on having fun with her children.

“Mother!” Speaking of the two, here they come!

Caitlyn turns her head to see Elise and Emi rush out of the changing room, now in their costumes. It seems they were dressed as cat-girl yokai. Elise had braid pigtails with red bows, and donned a dark dress with green frills. Meanwhile; Emi was in a red dress and a white frilly one under it, plus a big white ribbon on the collar alongside a green bonnet on her head.

Their mother walks up to them and kneels down to their height,

“Aw you two are dressed as cat yokai. How precious!” She compliments. Elise scans the restaurant that had a very vibrant vibe. Although something felt missing...

“Hey, mother? Where’s father?” the little girl wondered. Emi looks at her older twin,

“He wouldn’t forget our birthday, right?”

“Nope. No way he would do that! He always visits each year to give us the best gifts ever!”

Before the girls’ mother can answer, everyone hears a bell ringing when the door opens. They looked to see Fuyu walk in, he was holding a present in purple wrapping with bat patterns on it.

Elise and Emi cried out “father” to the man. They dashed and hugged his legs. Fuyu panics a bit but manages to keep his balance. He looks at his wife, his purple eyes pleading at her yellow ones. Caitlyn couldn’t help but giggle at such a cute moment.

She walks up to him and takes the present off his hands. “Please don’t scare us like that again, darling,” She reminds her husband as she gently pinches his cheek.

He holds up the okay sign to show no promises. Caitlyn grins and pulls her hand away, walking off to set the box in a pile of presents. Oddly, she heard something squeaky inside. She also felt something alive and kicking.

“What the heck did Fuyu buy...?” Caitlyn asks herself. The lady shrugs, walks into the kitchen. “Okay everyone~! It’s time to get the cake!” She orders the waiters and waitresses. The staff responded with a “yes, ma’am’ then headed off to get the dessert.

Back in the dining area, Fuyu was watching Elise and Emi playing hide and seek with some kids. The twins were the ones seeking of course. The most obvious hiding spots were under the table cloths or behind the plants. The two girls stop for a break as Elise counts with her fingers,

”Let’s see... we found um...“ She begins listing her friends’ names until she stops, her mind draws a blank on who’s left.

Emi counts along by looking at the children that were either playing musical chairs or cornhole. Her eyes lit up, “What about Yuffie?” she mentions. Elise’s mouth dropped open, letting out an “oh” which then turned into a groan.

“Uggggh... She’s too good at hidiiiing...“ The older twin whines. She takes a deep breath, gently smacking her cheeks with both of her hands.

Emi flinches and stutters her sister’s name. Before she could place her hand on her shoulder, she squeaks once Elise grabs her sleeve.

“Let’s go try asking people around!”

“... What? Wouldn’t that be cheating?”

“Nooo... I don’t think so.”

The younger twin arches an eyebrow until she sighs, nodding. The two begin splitting up, asking the party guests around. Elise sees two boys that were a bit older than her – one who’s in red-orange and the other in cool blue clothing. The girl notices the red-head putting green cupcakes into a white box, ”Lea! Isa!” she shouts, which puts a stop on the boy named Lea.

Lea turns to face the little one, “... Whoops..?” he grins awkwardly. Elise rolls her eyes and looks at Isa, “You told him to only take 4 cupcakes, didn’t you?”

“I tried,” Isa nonchalantly states. Elise plants a hand to her face,

“Hah... okay, I’ll let you two take 6 if you tell me where my friend Yuffie is. Short black hair? Dark eyes? White headband? And very sneaky?”

The boys look at each other and simply respond with a shrug.

Elise boos, then sticks out her tongue. and walks away from them. Her younger twin on the other hand, was asking a girl with a bow and in a pink-white dress.

“Aerith? Have you seen Yuffie? We were playing hide and seek.”

“Did you try looking for her in the most uncertain places in the dining area?”

Aerith suggested. The most uncertain places? Just what exactly? So Emi thought carefully as she treaded away to continue her search.

Unbeknownst to them, something snickered behind Fuyu where he was sipping fruit punch at a small table. He didn’t mind or not question the small presence under his cape, just played along.

“Fatheeeeer...“ Fuyu’s eyes perked up to see his daughters walk up to him, they seemed defeated. The man tilts his head and holds up his palm to reveal a light projection,

“Can’t play anymore? (•ิ_•ิ)?”

“I give uuuup...”

Elise groans as she hops onto the chair and takes a snickerdoodle cookie,

“She’s truly growing into a ninja...!” She whines then takes a bite of the crunchy treat. Emi hums in agreement until she notices Fuyu’s cape slightly moving. Since when there’s wind inside the restaurant? The little girl looks at the front door...

It’s not even open! That’s totally not suspicious.

Emi cocks a brow, scoots off her seat, and slowly creeps up to the big red cloth. Fuyu takes notice but chooses not to make a move. Instead, he would rather comfort a glum Elise by patting her on the head. Emi gently pinches the low ends of the cape, “One... two... three..!“

With a deep breath, she quickly lifts it up to reveal a girl with short black hair with a white headband.

It’s the one and only Yuffie who yelped once she was caught, “Wha?! Emi?!”

Emi casually replies by waving with her hand. Her sister turns to look and her eyes shift into being offended, “You were hiding under father's cape this whole time!?” She soon glares at Fuyu and pouts. The man looks away, whistling.

Yuffie huffs and crosses her arms, “You may have found me buuuut...“ She points at the twin sisters,

“You will never find me again in the next game of hide and seek!” she beams. Everyone laughs until the room quiets down when the doors from the kitchen opens.

They look to see Caitlyn and the staff walk out with a 3 layered lemon cake. The guests began singing the happy birthday song to Elise and Emi. The cheerful warble caused the two to clap along, their bodies swaying side to side. Once the song is finished, the cake is set right in front of the twin sisters.

“Make a wish, you two~!” Caitlin chirped as Fuyu cheered by pumping his fist up and down. Immediately, their daughters blow the tiny flames off of each candle. As they finished, their father plucked the candles off the cake until he took out his katana all of a sudden. He signals the two girls to step back with a simple nod.

Once the little girls stepped back, Fuyu quickly sliced the cake down into triangular pieces in such a precise manner. Some people like Caitlyn or Elise and Emi were in awe.

Meanwhile, the others were terrified that a man would nonchalantly cut down a cake with a long, sharp weapon. That aside, everyone gets slices of lemon cake and some other treats to feast on.

After eating, Elise and Emi were going to a table that contained a pile of presents. Elise looks at her sister and asks, ”Which one is father’s present? Just so we can save it for last.”

“It’s the one in purple wrapping with bat patterns on it,”

The younger twin answers as she points to the gift that she described.

Soon, the girls grabbed and opened the other presents at a quick pace. They received a common following: toys, plushies, clothes, and cute keychains. Elise got a moogle hoodie then some books from Yuffie and Aerith. As for Emi, she got a frisbee that had a cat decal on it and a necklace from Lea and Isa.

Once almost all the presents were open, the two girls went to the last one.

“Okay~! This one is from father!” Elise exclaimed as Emi nodded, both excited. Their small hands grab the lid of the box, ready to open. But before the girls could, they felt small thuds inside. Something living was inside the box – no, not just one but two things inside!

Emi looks at Fuyu, a little concerned. “Father, what’s inside this?” She questions. The father replies with a hand motion to get on and open the gift. She looks back at the box and sees there was a note on it. She takes it and reads quietly,

“‘You both wanted this :)’...?”

“What did we ask our father for anyway?”

Elise scratches her cheek but shrugs,

“Lets just open it!” The girls counted to three. As they reached the last count... They unexpectedly saw the lid fly open alongside two small creatures in the box, one flying happily while the other hesitantly floating out. However, the shaken creature’s leg hits the edge of the box and trips. Elise catches it. She pauses while Emi’s mouth hangs open.

Wait a second...

Plush-like bodies, fluffy poms on the top, big noses, and bat wings.

“Moogles!?” The twin sisters boasted. The moogle with dark fur and white splotches sways happily, “Hello! My name is Kooger, kupo!”

Kooger’s paw motions to the other moogle but with purple spots, “That one in your arms is Mauve, kupo. She’s a little timid,” he explains.

Mauve turns to look at Kooger, “We were trapped in the box for almost an hour, kupo...“

“Well not anymore, kupo~! We’ll get to play and play whenever and wherever as long as we stick by with the Kaibyo family! Especially with Elise and Emi, kupo!”

The dark moogle zips around until crashing into Emi’s arms. The girl squeaks, holding her laugh,

“Careful... You don’t want to end up all dizzy like how Elise spun around in the roundabout at the playground for too long.”

Elise pouts and huffs, “Hey! I was testing my endurance!”

Until then, the twins sisters’ parents walk up to them and kneel to her heights. Fuyu ruffles their hair as Caitlyn gently pets their soft companions.

“Sooo, girls? What do you say to your father? Hmm?” The mother asks Elise and Emi with a hum in the end. Fuyu smiled, knowing what they were going to say. The little girls looked at their father and said in unison, “Thank you!”

[oodelally3]

WIP Wednesday!

The fic I'm working on (What I Did For Love) actually started out as a reunion one-shot for a prompt competition. I'd bitten off more than I could chew and didn't manage to finish it, but it gave me the push I needed to begin. I could see where my fic was headed, at the very least. *And* I have parts of a future chapter or two written.

The reunion is Halloween-themed and hosted at the White Tower in London, so it's perfect to share today, being spooky season an' all. Some things have changed since I wrote this; for instance, Rahim is voted out early in my fic, so Henry VIII doesn't make much sense for him. 😂 I've also grown as a writer...some of this is pretty darn clunky, I'm not gonna lie. It's definitely a WIP, and that P doesn't stand for "polished."

Anyway! Enjoy Vivian as a sexy Mrs. Peacock and Carl as Professor Plum. (I cannot resist a man in tweed.)

The day of the Halloween-themed reunion has arrived. The producers had put everyone up in different hotels across the city, so no one would run into each other. (They obviously want any drama to happen on camera.) They’d also helped us Islanders out with costumes, which was a relief. I jokingly told Carl they probably only did it to make sure everyone looked sexy enough.   Our costumes had arrived the day before, to ensure everything fit properly. Carl was going as Professor Plum from the Clue board game, after being talked out of going as Spock. I was Mrs. Peacock, but the sexiest Mrs. Peacock I’d ever seen. I rolled my eyes the first time I pulled out the costume.  We didn’t know who else was going as Clue characters, or what everyone else would be doing. “If they didn’t give Miss Scarlet to Priya, someone ought to be fired,” I said to Carl.  “Yes, and Gary has got to be Colonel Mustard!”   Carl looks so handsome in his tweed suit, sweater vest, and bowtie. Others may not think it’s sexy, but damn, those elbow patches really do something to me.   “Don’t give me those bedroom eyes, Curls. We haven’t the time!” he admonishes and puts the professor’s pipe in his mouth for emphasis.   “Damn,” I mutter under my breath.   My own costume is some sort of burlesque-looking corset with a feather skirt tied over my waist, open in front to show my legs in fishnet stockings. I’ve put my hair in an updo, my copper curls escaping here and there, with a beautiful peacock-feathered fascinator to complete the look. I think I look ridiculous, but the rising bulge in Carl’s tweed slacks tells me he thinks otherwise.  I meet his gaze and raise an eyebrow with a cheeky smirk. He blushes and clears his throat.   “Right. Well. We don’t have time, more’s the pity,” he says with a shrug, pushing his fake glasses up his nose. Damn, he’s really got this hot 1930s professor thing down, without even trying.   “Well, who knows? Maybe there’ll be a Hideaway.” *****   The car drops us off at the Tower of London—incredibly, the reunion is being held at the White Tower. The moment Carl and I found out, we were on the phone, giddy with excitement as only two history buffs can be.   We’re greeted by a couple producers who give us the basic schedule and put our mic packs on. I hadn’t missed these, but at least they blend in with our outfits now. They tell us they’ve had our arrivals staggered and we’re among the last to arrive. After testing our mics, they point us to the doors of the White Tower.   Carl holds out his hand for me to take and we walk in together.   The main hall upstairs is amazing, all lit up with soft, warm colours and candlelight in the main areas and red or blue lights in the cozy nooks. Each nook has an overstuffed sofa and armchairs, perfect for intimate chats or a small gathering of friends. There’s a string quartet, who look like they could be a punk band, playing a decent mix of pop and classical music. The suits of armour displayed in the White Tower look amazing in this setting. Henry VIII could never. 

“Oh, wow,” we say in unison, right before we’re besieged by pink silks and taffeta and velvet squealing into our ears. I can’t see her face yet, but I know it’s Chelsea.  “Baaaaaabes! Oh, I’ve missed you both so much!”  “Chelseeeaaaa!” I hug her tight, then pull away to get a better look at her costume. It’s definitely some sort of a Tudor costume, but in anachronistic pinks. And with a modern sexy take. “You are…?” “Katherine Howard, bra!” She twirls around for me, and I see the make-up effects that make her look as though her head has been chopped off and placed back on. “I told them I’d do it if I could be in pink.”  “You are the perfect Katherine Howard,” Carl smiles. “Just don’t cheat on your husband, and you should be fine,” I add with a laugh.  “Eek!” She pretends to cut her head off with her hand. “And you two are from Cluedo! I think the rest of your group is already here. I’m still waiting on a couple wives, but my Henry is here,” she says as she points to Ibrahim as Henry VIII.  Carl and I both laugh. It’s a fitting character, considering how many people Rahim coupled up with on the show. And it looks as though Jo is one of the wives. Anne of Cleves, if I’m not mistaken. The producers certainly have a sense of humour. (I’m pretty good with my Tudor history. Not exactly something to brag about in Love Island circles.)  Chelsea takes our hands and leads us straight to the bar, bless her. They’ve created specialty drinks for the reunion, based on a lot of our characters. Naturally, we choose our namesake drinks: Professor Plum’s is some sort of hot toddy that turns purple when the angostura bitters is put in, and Mrs. Peacock’s is a fizzy concoction with Crème de Violette.  “Cheers, Mrs. Peacock,” Carl says before clinking my coupe glass.  “Cheers, Professor.”  We take a sip and both raise our eyebrows—these are pretty good!  “Well, well, well…look what we have here!”  We turn to see Gary, arms outstretched, waiting to give me a big bear hug. I gladly step into his embrace and place a kiss on his cheek, his fake handlebar moustache tickling my skin. He and Carl warmly shake hands.  “Oh, my god, Carl was right.”  “What?” Gary asks.  “You are Colonel Mustard!” He gives us a sheepish grin. “Yeah. I mean, it’s not as cool as Henry VIII over there, but Colonel Mustard is a right sort of chap. Even if they wouldn’t give me a rifle to carry around.”

[firebrnd]

⋆ having a scary movie marathon

Bonnie had never been one to turn down a good scare, even if it meant spending half the movie peeking out from behind a pillow. She loved horror films, the thrill of it, the way it got her heart racing, but she had to admit, she was a bit of a scaredy-cat when it came to jump scares and eerie music. Still, that wasn’t going to stop her from enjoying a scary movie marathon with Dipper. Especially when she’d gone all out prepping for their night in.

She glanced around her small living room, feeling a swell of satisfaction at how cozy she’d managed to make it despite the creepy theme. A few flickering candles sat on the coffee table, casting a warm, inviting glow over the room, their flames dancing like tiny spirits. She’d draped a plush, autumn-themed blanket over the couch, a little pile of soft pillows strategically placed for easy hiding if things got too spooky. Nearby, a tray of carefully arranged snacks sat waiting: popcorn drizzled with dark chocolate, a bowl of caramel apples slices, a mix of candy corn and pretzels, and some homemade witch-themed cookies she’d baked earlier - tiny hats and broomsticks with colorful icing.

Bonnie had even strung up a few fairy lights around the windows for good measure. They were purple and orange, creating an ambiance that was just the right mix of festive and eerie. She liked the way it felt, a cozy kind of spooky, like the line between comfort and thrill was just thin enough to make the whole evening more exciting. And she hoped Dipper would think so, too.

As she heard a knock on the door, her heart gave a little jump, not from fear, but from a flicker of anticipation. Dipper stood there with his usual easy grin, holding up a stack of DVDs. “I brought the essentials” he said, his eyes already scanning the cozy setup she’d put together. “And maybe a few extras, just in case.”

Bonnie laughed, opening the door wider to let him in. “Perfect! I hope you’re ready for a night of me screaming at all the wrong moments” she teased, shutting the door behind him. “I even made snacks to keep our courage up. Or, you know, to bribe any wandering spirits to leave us alone.” She waggled her eyebrows playfully as she led him over to the couch.

She grinned, feeling a little pleased with herself. She plopped down on the couch, grabbing a handful of popcorn and patting the space next to her. “Come on, let’s get started. But I warn you. . . if you see me grabbing a pillow, that’s your cue to cover my eyes.”

Dipper settled in beside her, close enough that she could feel the warmth radiating from him. He gave her a playful nudge. “Deal. But only if you promise not to scream directly in my ear when something jumps out.”

Bonnie laughed and nodded. “I make no promises, but I’ll try my best” she said, reaching for the remote. She skimmed through the stack of movies, settling on an older classic to kick things off, a good mix of suspense and campy horror. As the opening credits rolled, she sank back into the cushions, the dim light from the candles flickering around them like a chorus of tiny ghosts.

They fell into a comfortable rhythm as the movie played - Bonnie jumping and yelping at the well-timed scares, Dipper chuckling and teasing her good-naturedly. She knew she was a bit of a scaredy-cat, but there was something about watching horror with someone who didn’t mind her squeals and half-hidden face that made it all the more fun. When a particularly loud jump scare hit, she nearly knocked over the bowl of popcorn, grabbing Dipper’s arm reflexively. “Okay, that was dirty” she said, trying to sound annoyed but unable to hide the grin tugging at her lips.

As they settled into the second movie, a thought occurred to her, and she turned to Dipper with a mischievous glint in her amber eyes. “You know” she began, her voice laced with mock seriousness, “we could always up the ante and have the next marathon at the arcade. Think about it. . . finding some old TV or projector, dusting it off, and watching horror movies there. It’d be like one of those urban legend stories where a cursed video starts playing on its own.”

[tigers-eyes-26]

Fall

Daisy stretched her calf muscles one final time, then proceeded to grab the flashlight that was sitting on the railing of Luigi’s back deck. Switching it on she started to jog away from the warm light of the house into the dark woods. There was a clear trail where the trees didn’t dare grow, but they did reach their roots trying to trip an unsuspecting hiker. Daisy kept her eyes and flashlight trained on the ground to avoid the obstacles the gnarly black trees tried to put in her way. The air was cool enough that Daisy’s breath was visible. She wore long burnt orange leggings, and an oversized yellow hoodie to keep the chill out. her jog was rhythmic with each step crunching the dead leaves underfoot. The trees above had mostly lost all of their leaves due to it being late fall.

Daisy checked her watch it was 4:57am. The sun would be up at 6:30am. She planned to run for 30 minutes on the trail then turn back. Maybe she would cook some waffles before Luigi woke up. She had weirdly woken up at 4am and couldn’t go back to sleep. After a day of helping Luigi clean out his house in preparation to move, she would have figured she would have been exhausted enough to sleep throughout the night. Luigi’s house was fine. No strange sounds. It wasn’t too cold or too warm. She had been quite cozy in his bed. Always the gentleman, Luigi had offered up the only bedroom which was on the top floor. He was snoozing away in his recliner in the living room with Polterpup on his lap when Daisy had suck past earlier. Whatever woke her up gave her a chance to get in a morning jog. The rest of the day would be full of loading things into the moving truck.

With Mario getting married to the princess, he would move into the castle. While Luigi would move back into the house they had both built on the outskirts of toad town. Daisy couldn’t even imagine all the complexities that would go into building a house. But Luigi had done it twice! He built his house after kicking King Boo out of Boo Woods! It was funny to her that Luigi, of all people, chose to reside in Boo Woods. It was far away from friends and family and shopping centers. But maybe he liked being away? His own little getaway. Still, even if his house was cozy the surrounding was creepy. Luigi hated creepy! The twisted trees that made up Boo Woods cast eerie shadows. Daisy mentally shrugged. In the middle of the day, it wasn’t so bad. But right now, it was the definition of spooky.

Daisy checked her watch again to see how far she still needed to go. “OH!” THUD! Daisy ended up face first into the ground. Her flashlight skittered down the trail. Daisy sat up, picked some leaves from her hair. She rubbed her chin. There was going to be a bruise on that later. She felt a breeze on her knee. She probably had scraped a hole in her leggings. She pouted those were one of her very few cold outfits. She tried to see what she had tripped on, but in the darkness it was useless. “Stupid tree roots.” Daisy said to no one. She stood up and dusted off some more leaves from her outfit. She heard giggling and froze.

Oh no! She thought Boos didn’t live in Boo Woods anymore! They appeared suddenly circling her like prey. They giggled and smiled viciously at her. Daisy got into a fighting stance. She waited. Then sent a fist flying through the face of a boo directly ahead of her. She didn’t connect with anything and the boo to the right of her pushed her off balance. She stumbled. A boo from behind grabbed her foot. She fell again to the ground. The boo dragged her though the leaves laughing all the way. He floated her up in the air. Daisy made the mistake of looking up at her attacker. As soon as her eyes made contact, he went invisible dropping Daisy. THUD! “OW!” She landed on her shoulder and neck. Her body and legs making a weird tent. The Boos laughed harder at her predicament.  She scrambled to her knees. Daisy rubbed the back of her head. “Stupid boos...” She mumbled. They continued to circle her jeering delighted at her pain.

“Daisy!” 

She looked up as a blinding light flashed. She felt a hand on her arm helping her up. It was Luigi! They sprinted down the path. Which was hard for Daisy because all she could see was white. Luigi noticed. “Jump on!” Luigi backed into her, and she understood. She jumped and let him hold her knees up. She held on to his shoulders. Luigi ran with Daisy riding his back like a backpack. She figured he was used to having weight on his back when he was fighting ghosts with the Poltergust. She heard barking and growling. It must be Polterpup. What as he growling at? Luigi burst through the back door. He put Daisy down. “I’m g-going to get puppy!” He quickly explained and was out the door again. Daisy looked at the floor. She could see a little but only out of a large tunnel of white. She heard a yelp of pain. She whipped her attention back to the door. “S-stay B-back!” She heard Luigi’s shaky voice call. She heard Polterpup whimpering and felt him cower around her legs, he must have fazed through the door. Luigi quickly came thought the door slammed it shut and turned several locks. He turned around leaning his back against the door, “Phew!” He wiped some sweat off his brow. He took some unsteady steps toward Daisy on his shaky legs. “A-are you ok?” Her tunnel vision was filled with some of Luigi’s concerned face.

She blinked several times. “I might have looked right into your strobe light.” She grinned sheepishly.

Luigi waved his hand in front of her face, she flinched away from the movement that had entered her narrow field of vision. “I’ve done that too….” He sheepishly admitted, “Many times…. It will clear up.” He took her hand and lead her from the back kitchen to the living room and sat her down on his recliner. Polterpup limped to Daisy’s feet laid down and whined. Daisy leaned down to pet his head comfortingly. “Let’s look at your foot.” Luigi squatted down in front of the ghost dog. He hummed in thought.

“What happened?” She blinked some more.

“He jumped at a Boo that was chasing us. Got his front paw bit.”

“Oh no poor puppy!” She scratched the dog behind the ears. “What a hero! Are you a hero? Yes, you are!” She baby talked the doggy. Luigi smiled at the scene. He stood up and walked back to the kitchen. He came back with a first aid kit, a damp rag, and a bowl of something. Daisy’s vision was improving. She looked in the bowl. It looked like blue liquid or blue fog. “What is that?”

Luigi set the bowl in front of Polterpup. The Dog happily licked up the substance. Luigi shrugged. “I think E. Gadd said it was ghost energy or ghost goo…?” Luigi lifted Polterpup’s damaged paw for Daisy to see better. The paw reformed into one that wasn’t dented.

“Whoa.” This world of ghosts that Luigi was deep into was so new to Daisy.

Luigi shrugged again and opened his first aid kit. “C-can I…?” He motioned to her face.

She gave an affirmative, “uh ha.” She couldn’t really see his next movement so she jumped a little when she felt him lift her head so he could get to her chin. She focused on the ceiling as he cleaned her scrapes. She could feel his hands were shaking. Maybe from adrenalin or fright from the encounter? He was trying hard to be delicate.

Once he was done with her chin she looked down, finally noticing her knee. Blood was oozing out from around the dirt that was in it. Daisy rolled up her pant leg so Luigi could get a better reach of it.

He used the damp rag to get the dirt out of the wound, sterilized it and put a large bandage on it. Daisy watched him work. She had been patched up many times before, but she was fascinated at Luigi’s efforts while still shaking. How sweet the scene must have looked. He looked up at her breaking her out of her thoughts. “A-are you h-hurt anywhere else?” They both blushed. Luigi because he was being observed so intensely and Daisy for being caught observing him so intensely.

“My head, neck, and shoulders are a little sore.” She moved the said body parts a little testing the range of movement.

Luigi closed the first aid kit and stood up. “I’ll be back.” He semi-jogged back into the kitchen and came back with a bag of frozen peas. He handed them off to Daisy. “F-for your head.”

Daisy gratefully received the chilly bag and placed it on the new bump on the back of her head. Luigi sat down on the floor next to the napping ghost dog. Sensing the silence Daisy changed the subject. “How do you face ghosts?” From what she could see he looked down at Polterpup. Daisy continued. “I mean you can’t even punch them! I tried and my fist went right through!”

“I guess once you have the right tools….?” Luigi shrugged again.

“Speaking of tools why didn’t you have the Poltergust with you!” She raised a fierce eyebrow at him.

Luigi chuckled under the worry, “These are the Boo Woods. They live here. I wouldn’t want to be captured in my own home. I just figured I would stun them and run back to safety.” He looked up at her hoping she would be convinced.

Daisy hemmed and hawed, “That’s kinda what’s been bothering me lately. Why do you live in Boo Woods? You hate Ghosts!” Polterpup barked indignantly. “Except for this cute sweetie of a doggy.” She smiled at the ghost dog. He wasn’t having it. She reached her free hand out to pet his head. He reluctantly excepted the pets at first then fully leaned into the affection. He panted happily Daisy was forgiven of her offence.

Luigi thought for a minute. “I guess to…keep…The professor away from here.”

Daisy was shocked she stopped petting Polterpup, “I thought you were friends with the professor?” Disappointed at the lack of pets the dog laid his head back down to nap.

Luigi fiddled with his hands, “….Yes… I am…. it’s just…. sometimes he is… a little… unethical….” She gave him a look to continue, he took a deep breath. “Like I said this is Boo Woods. The Boos live here and as long as no outsiders come then everything is good. It is when people trespass on the Boos territory, they get a little…. territorial. If the professor had his way, he would be in their faces trying to study them. maybe even taking samples from them…”

“But what about King Boo? Won’t he use these Boos to find you?” Daisy’s eyebrows creased; she adjusted her hold on the frozen peas as Luigi answered her questions.

“Not all Boos work for King Boo. Like how not all koopas work for Bowser.” That was true. Daisy thought of the koopa citizens in her kingdom. Luigi continued, “I think King Boo likes to use traps…. rather than being practical…” He chuckled nervously. He hoped that was true at least. Daisy frowned at the chuckle but didn’t interrupt.  “M-most people will stay away just because it is creepy. But that attracts the professor.” Daisy heard frustration rise in Luigi’s voice. “He asks me if there is any boo activity and I tell him no. He trusts me and stays away. And it’s true! I don’t bother the Boos. I go out when the sun is up, and they are sleeping. And stay inside my house at night. I leave my outside lights on just-in-case, and they don’t bother me.”

Daisy nodded, to the best of her ability, thoughtfully; realization hit her, her eyes widened. “Who did you sell this house to!? Are they going to keep the Boo Woods safe?”

Luigi smiled at her switch of concern. “It’s a toad who use to work for the professor. He knows how the professor is and knows the situation.”

Satisfied with the answers Daisy slouched down in the comfy seat, keeping the cool bag on her head. she looked around the room most of her vision had come back just a little ring of white at her periphery. quietly she uttered her last question. “Why didn’t I know any of this earlier?”

Luigi ducked his head so that the brim of his hat covered his face. “You never asked...” he said quietly. Feeling anxiety build up about how that explanation might be taken, words exploded out of Luigi’s mouth. “I-I didn’t kn-now that you w-would…. A-and I-I would have…I-I D-didn’t t-think… I-I mean…I s-should…. ”

Daisy smirked a little at his flustered nature.  He truly hadn’t thought to tell her. Daisy set the pea bag down on the chairs armrests and lifted the brim of Luigi’s hat. He stopped his mouth and looked up at her face pitifully. Her smile grew. “It’s okay, Luigi” When he heard his name the pity in his face faded.  “I didn’t tell you what I was doing. I just woke up with so much energy, and I didn’t want to wake you.” She let go of his hat and planted her hands on his shoulder. “It’s ok. I forget to tell people things too.”

Luigi rubbed the back of his arm and cast his eyes to the side ashamed. “Because I forgot you were put in danger.”

She snickered “Eh, Life is dangerous, that’s what makes it exciting.” She shook his shoulders encouragingly. “It’s ok, it all worked out. I have my two ghost fighting heroes here.” With her other hand she gave Polterpup a pat on the head, he woke up to her touch.

Daisy placed her hand back on Luigi’s shoulder and looked right into his blue eyes. She was so thankful her eyesight was now mostly back. “That is very heroic of you to keep the boos safe.” She used her hands on his shoulders to bring him forward so she could kiss him on the cheek.  

Luigi was surprised at first but melted into the kiss. Daisy let him go and looked at his humble blushing face. Now full of energy, Polterpup playfully ran round the two joyfully barking. They giggled at his antics. Luigi stood up from his seat on the floor. “Let’s make breakfast?” He offered a hand to her. She gathered the almost thawed pea bag up and accepted his hand.

“Any breakfast foods have peas in them?” She smirked.

He pouted his lips thinking and looked up at the ceiling like it was full of recipes. “I can think of a few.”

As they cooked Daisy’s eyesight came back to 100%, just in time to watch the sunrise out of the kitchen windows.