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inevitably-johnlocked · 3 years

Note

Hi Steph! Would you happen to have any fic recs that involve John meeting the Holmes family? I always think that's such an interesting dynamic to see! Also, I think this goes without saying but I love your blog and appreciate your contributions to the fandom! Thanks!

Hey Nonny!

Ah, thank you! I’m glad you enjoy my blog!

Oooo! Yes, I love that dynamic too!! ANNNNND!!! You’re giving me the chance to make a part 2 for a REALLY OLD LIST!!! So YAY!!! I found a bunch on a text doc I haven’t posted yet, so HERE WE GO! Hope you enjoy, and as always, everyone please add your own!

PARENTS AND FAMILIES Pt. 2

See also:

Parents & Family

Meeting the Family With a Fake Relationship

Do You Love Me? by whitchry9 (K, 641 w., 1 Ch. || Friendship, Family, Epic Bromance) – John asks Sherlock perhaps the most important question.

Once Upon A Time by ProfessorSquirrell (T, 908 w., 1 Ch. || Family, Snippets of Life, Romance, Sherlock’s Mind Palace, Implied Drug Use, Angst with Happy Ending) – There is a room in Sherlock's mind palace where nothing gets deleted. And it looks like this...

Crisis Averted by Spartangal22 (T, 2,188 w., 1 Ch. || HLV Fic, Missing Scene After Confronting Mary, Canon Compliant, Sherlock Whump / Mary Shot Sherlock, Family / Friendship, Hospitalization, Sherlock POV, Holmes Brothers) – Lying in the hospital, Sherlock receives some surprising visitors, and manages to deal with two problems he's been having lately. A missing scene from HLV about a formal introduction that was never made and a visit that was never shown.

The Only Available Transportation by blueink3 (T, 5,379 w., 1 Ch. || Post S4, Fluff and Angst, Insecure Sherlock, Caring John, Parentlock, Sherlock’s Birthday, Family, Misunderstandings) – It’s possibly the desperation that’s seeped into his voice despite his best intentions, or perhaps it’s just a mother’s intuition, but she knows that whatever he’s calling about is Serious, hangover be damned. “What’s happened?” she asks, tone soft and as comforting as a hot cup of tea on a cold winter’s night. “Mummy,” he begins, voice catching. “I think John may be moving out.”

On the Steadfast Approach of an Oncoming Darkness by 2bee (T, 7,772 w., 1 Ch. || Apocalypse, Minor Character Death, Sort of Parentlock) – The world is ending. Not fast, but slowly, like falling asleep with a fever.

The Name Game by ItsClydeBitches221B (K, 8,958 w., 1 Ch. || Humour, Family, Platonics / Friendship, Sort-of Parentlock, John/Mary, Mary is Nice, Five and Ones, Baby Watson, Mycroft Loves Baby Watson) – The names that baby girl Watson comes up with for her extended family. Or: how everyone—Watsons, Holmes, and others alike— just learned to give up and embrace their weirdness.

The Burning of the Leaves by blueink3 (M, 15,915 w., 3 Ch. || Post S4, Angst, Reichenbach, Parentlock, Past Jolto, Idiot John, Sherlock’s a Mess, Puppies, Fluff, Possessive / Jealous Sherlock, Pining Sherlock, Sherlock POV, Matchmaker Sholto, Melancholic Feelings, Emotional Sherlock, Domesticity, Love Confessions in the Rain, Kissing in the Rain, Pet Names) – After the events of series 4, Major Sholto invites John and Sherlock to lunch one day. It nearly proves to be too much for their tenuous relationship as the past haunts the present, putting the future that Sherlock so desperately wants at risk.

Permanent Fixture by vitruvianwatson (E, 18,836 w., 9 Ch. || Post-S4, Parentlock, Slow Build, Friends to Lovers, They’re Good Parents, Blushing Sherlock, First Kiss/Time, Explicit Consent, Sexual Content, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Mutual Pining, Big Feelings, Crying, First Kiss, Fluff, Anxious Sherlock, Inexperienced Sherlock, Emotional Communication, Love Confessions) – Now, as Rosie sat curled up against Sherlock’s side, John watched and wondered exactly how he had ended up here. Domesticity had never suited him before, not at any point in his life. His disastrous marriage had been proof of that. But somehow, here in the warmth and safety of 221B Baker Street, here with Sherlock Holmes reading medical jargon to his daughter, Sherlock’s bony feet nudging against his leg, John couldn’t imagine anyplace that would make him happier.

Dropping the Act by jadztone (T, 27,258 w., 10 Ch. || Parentlock, Fake Relationship, Mary’s Family, Post-S4, Cuddling & Snuggling, Bed Sharing, Pining, Christmas) – Sherlock and John are quite happy living together with Rosie in Baker St. They might be even happier if they didn’t act towards each other like their love is only platonic. Mycroft brings troubling news in the form of Mary’s parents wanting to know just what their grandchild’s home life is like. The boys decide to spend Christmas pretending like they are in love in order to seem more like a "normal" family. It's easy enough to pretend when all you're doing is dropping the act.

An Acquired Taste by kinklock (E, 31,059 w., 4 Ch. || Vampires AU || Vampire Sherlock, Misunderstandings, Bat!Sherlock, Pining Sherlock, Humour, Magical Realism, Fluff and Angst, Blood Drinking, Holmes Family, Slow Burn) – At Montague Street when Sherlock was forced to sate his body’s needs, he was at least able to wander about the flat as much as he pleased. At Baker Street, it was mini-bags in a mini-fridge and bedroom confinement.

Chaperones by MissDavis (T, 34,114 w., 7 Ch. || 11 Years Post-S4, Fake Relationship, Parentlock, Disney World, Bed / Room Sharing, Friends to Lovers, Fluff, First Kiss, Obsessive Sherlock, Insecure John) – Right. Of course. Everyone assumed they were a couple and no one would question it. John put his elbows up on the table so he could rest his head in his hands. "You want to pretend to be a couple so we can chaperone a trip to Disney World with Rosie's class and you won't have to share a room with a stranger?" "Exactly." Sherlock beamed at him. "Don't worry about the cost. The Birmingham case last month paid more than enough to cover expenses for all three of us."

Where The Ghosts Have Voices by HappyJuicyfruit (M, 37,691 w., 12 Ch. || Supernatural AU || Ghosts, Magical Realism, Light Horror, Fluff and Smut, John Can See Ghosts, John Whump, Emotional Manipulation, Dark Magic, Coma, Injury Recovery, Blow Jobs, Anal, Happy Ending, John’s Past, Mr Holmes, Powerful John, Holmes Brothers, Sherlock’s Past, Past Viclock, Drug Abuse, Hair Pulling) – John has lived his whole life as an outcast. It is only when he meets Sherlock, that be realizes being a freak might not be such a bad thing, and that the curse he has lived with his whole life may be a gift after all. (TO READ)

Anchor Point by trickybonmot (E, 49,856 w., 80 Ch. || Truman Show AU || Psychological Drama, Suspense, Slow Burn, Dark Characters / Fic, Alternating First/Third Person, Protective John, Anxious/Worried Sherlock, Tender Moments, Love Confessions, Hand/Blow Jobs, Cuddling, Jealous John, First Kiss/Time) – The world tunes in nightly for Sherlock, the ultimate in reality TV: Sherlock Holmes, a real person with a legendary name, unknowingly lives out his life in a staged setting contrived by his brother. Things get complicated when a retired army doctor joins the show to play the part of Sherlock's closest friend. This fic borrows its concept from the 1998 film, the Truman Show. However, you don't need to have any knowledge of the movie to enjoy this story.

The Hollow Woman by ScopesMonkey (M, 51,335 w., 22 Ch. || Post-TRF, Major Character Death, Mystery, Romance, Friendship, Family, Angst, Crime, Reunion, First Kiss / Time, Nightmares, Doctor John, Jealous Sherlock, Jealous John, BAMF John, Angry John, Dub-Con, Rough Sex, Bottomlock, Possessive John, Villain Mary, Open Ending) – Forced to return to London sooner than expected, Sherlock falls into a case too close to home. Part 1 of the Hollowverse series

Repairing the Broken Things by BakerTumblings (M, 75,252 w., 15 Ch. || S4 Compliant, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Medical Trauma, Hospitals, Big Brother Mycroft, Misunderstandings, Realizations, Severe Accident, John Whump, Pneumonia, Medical Procedures, Bed Sharing, First Time, Healing, Happy Ending) – "I'm calling today to notify you that there's been an accident."

Points by lifeonmars (E, 53,791 w., 42 Ch. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || HLV Rewrite / Canon Divergence, Married Life, Pregnancy / Baby Watson, Drinking to Cope, Boxing / Fisticuffs, Clueless John, Angst, Minor Medical Drama, Tattoos, Christmas, First Kiss/Time, Eventual Happy Ending, Love Confessions, Doctor John, Sexuality Crisis, Slow Burn, Case Fic, Drugging, Blow/Hand Job, Emotional Love Making, Parenthood, Passage of Time) – What if His Last Vow never happened? This fic picks up a few months after John and Mary's wedding, in an alternate universe where Magnussen doesn't exist, but Mary is still pregnant. Life continues -- just in a different direction. And slowly, Sherlock and John find their way to each other.

The Monument of Memory by J_Baillier (M, 79,663 w., 14 Ch. || Post S4 Fix It Fic / S4 is Canon, Angst, Family Drama, Guilt, Case Fic, John Loves Sherlock, Complicated Feelings, Mentalism / Hypnosis, Murder, Grieving John, Sherlock is a Bit Not Good, Team Work, Trust Issues, BAMF John, Psychological Trauma, Protective John, Autistic-Spectrum Sherlock, Parentlock, John POV) – A genius traumatised by a past he's only beginning to recall. The psychopath sister that time forgot. A missing woman and a mentalist who may or may not be a murderer. And, in the middle of it all, stands John Watson.

Kintsukuroi by sussexbound (E, 91,823 w., 20 Ch. || S4 Compliant / Post-TLD, Grief / Mourning, PTSD, Internalized Homophobia, Therapy, Past Abuse, Alcohol Abuse, Nightmares, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Depression, Anxiety, Bed Sharing, Love Confessions, Cuddling, Suicidal Ideation, Masturbation, Minor Character Death, Sexting, Frottage, Inexperienced Sherlock, Rimming / Anal / BJ’s, Emotional Turmoil, Finding Each Other) – “I love you.” Sherlock sees the words hit John with almost physical force. He reels back a little, jaw twitching and eyes filling. “I love you,” he repeats, a little softer, a little more gentle, as earnest as he possibly can. Because they’ve been teetering on the brink of this thing for years, and it had become painfully obvious over the last few months that they were at a tipping point. This had to happen. Now it has. Now they can see where they end up. The tears in John’s eyes spill over, and he wipes at them angrily. “Do you even know what that means?”

The Summer Boy by khorazir (T, 94,706 w., 6 Ch. || Post S3/Post TAB/Alternate S4, Friends to Lovers, Asexual Sherlock, POV Sherlock, Flashbacks, Bullying, 1980′s Kid Sherlock, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Inexperienced Sherlock, Grief/Mourning, Pining Sherlock, Case Fic, Sherlock’s Past, Awkward Conversations, Anxious Sherlock) – About half a year after the fateful events at Appledore, Sherlock and John embark on a private case in Sussex. For Sherlock, it’s a journey into his past, bringing up memories both happy and sad that he has locked away for almost thirty years. For John, it means coming to terms with the present – and a potential future with Sherlock. Part 1 of the The Summer Boy series

The Wedding Garments by cwb (E, 105,390 w., 36 Ch. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || Alternate Future AU || Alternate First Meeting, Dating / Arranged Marriages, Romance, First Kiss/Time, Heavy Petting, Cuddles, POV Sherlock, Virgin Sherlock, Idiots in Love, Slow Burn / Falling in Love / Dev. Rel., Nervous/Anxious Sherlock, Jealous/Cranky, Hiking, Vacation Homes / Honeymoon, Sherlock’s Family, Horny John/Sherlock, Patient John, Massages, Hand Jobs, Assassination Plots, Hand Jobs / Oral Sex, Case Fic, Emotional Love Making, Bath Time Fun) – This is the story of a young consulting detective who wants nothing to do with marriage and an army doctor who wants to find true love. It's 2020 post-Brexit England and the British government is encouraging arranged marriages. Candidates meet through state-run agencies and date in hopes of finding love (and tax benefits). Sherlock doesn't need or want a spouse, at least not until John Watson shows up. Hesitant to give in to his more carnal urges because of the way they derail his mind, how will Sherlock progress toward the more intimate aspects of a relationship? The answer lies in a very special wedding gift.

The Bang and the Clatter by earlgreytea68 (M, 137,049 w., 37 Ch. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || Baseball AU || Slow Burn / Dev. Rel., Possessive/Obsessive Sherlock, Jealous Sherlock, Mutual Pining, Body Appreciation, Depression, Closeted Sexuality, Family, Sherlock’s Mind Palace, Ogling Each Other, Anxious Sherlock, Panic Attack, Drunkenness, Talk of Forever, Big Feelings™) – Sherlock Holmes is a pitcher and John Watson is a catcher. No, no, no, it's a baseball AU. Part 1 of Baseball

The Lost Special: Family Matters (As Do Relationships) by ShirleyCarlton (M, 144,688 w., 40 Ch. || S4 Fix It Fic, Unreliable Narrator, John’s Mind Bungalow, Friends to Lovers, Happy Ending) – Sherrinford is not really the name of some high security prison. That was just a figment of John’s frantic coma dream. And Eurus is not actually Sherlock’s sister. That’s just something random she said to John before shooting him. Sherlock and John were never actually estranged. That was just their act to cover up what really happened to Mary – or Rosamund Moran, as her real name has turned out to be. Sherlock does have a secret sibling, though, and his name is Sherrinford. After finally eliminating Moran – though in a rather dramatically different way than they had envisioned – and exposing the truth about Eurus, John encourages Sherlock to delve into his past and to find out whether the reasons to keep Sherrinford away from Sherlock were the right ones, and to discover what really happened in 1981. Along the way, Sherlock and John gradually, finally, stop keeping each other at a distance, and eventually become a proper family of their own.

Proving A Point by elldotsee & J_Baillier (E, 186,270 w., 28 Ch. || Me Before You Fusion || Medical Realism, Insecure John, Depression, Romance, Angst, POV John, Sherlock Whump, Serious Illness, Doctor John, Injury Recovery, Assisted Suicide, Sherlock’s Violin, Awkward Sexual Situations, Alcoholism, Drugs, Idiots in Love, Slow Burn, Body Image, Friends to Lovers, Hurt / Comfort, Pain, Big Brother Mycroft, Intimacy, Anxiety, PTSD, Family Issues, Psychological Trauma, John Whump, Case Fics, Loneliness, Pain) – Invalided home from Afghanistan, running out of funds and convinced that his surgical career is over, John Watson accepts a mysterious job offer to provide care and companionship for a disabled person. Little does he know how much hangs in the balance of his performance as he settles into his new life at Musgrave Court.

#steph replies #johnlock fic recs #my fic recs #parents and families #meeting the family #Anonymous

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obeyme-kaidii-writes · 4 years

Text

Remember

Mammon x gn!MC

Words - 3238

Content warnings - lots of angst, MAJOR SPOILER WARNING, post Lesson 16, platonic relationships

Prompt/Inspiration - none

Summary - After the situation with Belphegor is resolved, you struggle to come to terms with your changing relationships with the brothers.

AO3

Things rarely turn out as you plan them.

And this time was no exception. As soon as Belphegor offered you that hug, you knew something was wrong. That smile just didn’t look...right. Perhaps you should have tried to run, but judging by what happened with your body in the alternate reality, it wouldn’t have made much of a difference.

When you had finally left the attic, after being revived by the last of Lilith’s power, the sight that greeted you was like something out of a horror movie. So much blood everywhere. And in the middle of it all sat Mammon, clutching your body to himself, begging you not to leave. Even though you knew Barbatos had told you that you must not interfere, you couldn’t just stand by and watch Mammon fall to pieces when you were right there, just a few yards away.

So you took a step forward.

Levi was the first to notice you, and everyone else turned to face you soon after. There was so much confusion in their eyes, but also hope. Hope that maybe you were in fact alive. Just as you were about to run to Mammon, Belphegor moved to attack you again. But after a few moments of panic, you were finally able to explain what happened to their sister and why there appeared to be two of you.

You were so happy to be reunited with everyone, to be alive, you didn’t think much of your new relationship to them at first. It hadn’t entered your mind that anything would actually change. As you talked with Belphegor, you relaxed even more, learning that he did in fact value your companionship and what you had done for him. Which is also, as he explained, part of why he reacted as he had - he knew just how enamored everyone was with you, and blamed you for leading them down the same path as Lilith. But once he had learned that Lilith was still able to live a happy life, he was able to begin to deal with his grief, and could finally fully appreciate you.

As the evening wore on however, you started to become uncomfortable. Not with Belphie though, his behavior you at least understood, in a sense. But with the attention and doting that everyone else was lavishing on you. Everyone had always been nice to you before, but this was beyond that. And when Lord Diavolo made some comment in passing about how everyone must be happy about getting to do all the things with you that they had wanted to do with Lilith, a sick feeling crept into your stomach, making it churn. You tried to convince yourself you were overreacting. They loved you. You loved them. They were just glad you weren’t dead. But the feeling of unease wouldn’t go away.

————

The following morning, you woke up drenched in sweat. You had a nightmare. And not just any nightmare. A very vivid nightmare about how Belphegor had killed you. And not only did you remember the first time in the attic, but for reasons you did not understand, you also remembered the death you had suffered in the alternate reality. You could feel his claws around your throat. How your ribs stabbed further into your lungs every time you tried to take a breath. The blood pouring from the wound in your abdomen. Everything. Every little thing, in excruciating detail.

Your first thought was to run right to Mammon. He was your closest friend, after all. And you frequently helped him out when he had nightmares of his own. But something made you hesitate and you decided instead to just take a quick bath, and head down to breakfast. Maybe you could talk to him after school, you thought. That would also give you an opportunity to check on him too, since you hadn’t had a chance yet to speak to him about the events of the previous evening.

After classes ended, you quickly headed to your meeting spot to wait for Mammon. He was all smiles when he saw you, and you beamed at him in return. The walk back to the House of Lamentation was a peaceful one, as the two of you chatted about your day. You were surprised at just how normal it all felt. Like yesterday had never happened. But it did happen, and every time you closed your eyes all you could see was the blood coated hall, and you knew you needed to talk about it.

“So Mammon...how are you doing?”

“Good, why?”

“Oh, I was just...well...I was worried about you. After yesterday, I mean…”

“Oh. Well, I’m good. You’re here, so it doesn’t matter ya know? Everything worked out,” he answered, flashing you a brilliant smile.

“Umm, yeah, right. That makes sense.”

It didn’t really make sense to you though. Not after that nightmare you had. But it seemed Mammon wasn’t having any nightmares at least, so that was good wasn’t it?

However, you couldn’t help but feel a little...rejected? One of the reasons you had wanted to talk to him about how you were feeling, was because you had assumed he would be struggling in a similar way. He was the one you were closest with, and he was the one you had seen holding your body, after all. Was what happened just not that big of a deal to him? Or maybe things like this just weren’t something demons got upset over?

“Whattabout you?”

“Hmm? Oh. Good, no problems here,” you smiled back at him. It was all you could do really. It just didn’t feel right bringing up those things when he was doing well. Especially since you knew how happy he was to find out the truth about Lilith and your bloodline. You couldn’t bring yourself to taint that happiness. He had suffered for long enough already, he deserved a little peace.

————

And so your days continued to pass in a similar way - go to school, walk home, go to bed, have a nightmare - until it had been a week already.

And by the end of the week, you were exhausted.

As you had spent time with each of the brothers, helping them get over their awkwardness with Belphegor, one thing had become abundantly clear to you: none of them seemed at all upset by what he had done to you.

You couldn’t really say why that bothered you so much. You had already forgiven Belphie, and had spent most of the week in his company. So it shouldn’t be a big deal if his brothers also forgave him, right?

Still, you found yourself flinching every time someone hugged you, or tried to hold your hand. When they’d offer you a snack or invite you somewhere, you just instinctually wanted to run away. To yell at them for ever thinking that you would be interested. And every time you had to fight back those urges you felt more and more guilty. They just wanted to show you they cared, didn’t they? Why couldn’t you just be happy?

When you got home from school that day, you immediately collapsed on your bed. Ever since the first nightmare, you had been having trouble falling asleep. And even after you managed to go to sleep, once you woke up from your nightmares, regardless of the time it was, you couldn’t go back to sleep. Sometimes you would think of going to climb into Mammon’s bed or see what Levi was up to, but you just couldn’t bring yourself to do it. You didn’t want to have to explain why you were up at weird hours of the night.

But now that you were laying in bed once again, it didn’t take long before exhaustion claimed you and pulled you into a deep sleep.

————

You were at the dining room table, eating breakfast when Beel entered.

“Good morning, Lilith.”

“It’s me Beel. I’m not Lilith.”

He looked at you, slightly puzzled.

“Um, ok? If you say so.”

And then he continued to his seat, and began eating his breakfast.

Lucifer entered next. He walked right over to you, and kissed you on the top of your head.

“Good morning, Lilith.”

“I’m not Lilith.”

“Oh? Is that so?”

Lucifer smirked at you. It was like he thought you were playing a game.

Mammon was the next to join you.

“‘Morning Lilith!”

He walked right up to you and hugged you in your seat.

“I’m not Lilith!”

“Of course ya are. I know my sister.”

He then ruffled your hair and took a seat next to you.

“But I’m not Lilith. I’m MC.”

“Huh?”

“MC! Your best friend!”

“Oh is this a new game you and Belphie are playin’?”

“No!!”

Mammon laughed at your reaction.

No, not your reaction. The reaction of his cute little sister.

‘You’ weren’t there. ‘You’ didn’t exist. It was just Lilith. And no one missed you. No one remembered you. Only Lilith.

————

“AHHHHHH!”

You woke up in a cold sweat, screaming, though you couldn’t remember why. You had been having breakfast. And then…

And then…

Lilith.

Suddenly everything made sense to you. Why you flinched when someone touched you. Why you wanted to slap their hands away when they offered you food. Why you wanted to scream at them when they invited you somewhere.

They weren’t inviting you, they were inviting Lilith.

Or Lilith’s descendant. Though you supposed it didn’t really matter. All that mattered was that you were not part of the equation. You had died, and no one mourned your death. As soon as your identity had been revealed, it was like nothing else had ever happened. No one cared that Belphegor killed you. It was all okay...because they got Lilith back.

As the realization hit you, so did the flood of tears, and the uncontrollable sobs. Or maybe calling it wailing would be more accurate? Whatever it was, it brought Mammon to your room, in a panic.

“What the hell?! Are you okay?!”

Mammon was at your side in an instant, but seeing him there only made you cry harder. A reminder that you were gone. That he didn’t miss you. That your death was an acceptable thing, because he got Lilith back.

Not knowing what else to do, Mammon sat beside you in your bed, wrapping his arms around you as he cradled you to his chest. You wanted to resist. You wanted to push him away. But you were just too weak. Too exhausted to fight back. So you let him hold you, and comb his fingers through your hair, as he rocked you gently and tried to comfort you.

Eventually you were able to sit up on your own, even though your tears were still streaming down your face. Your chest was still unbearably tight, but at least you could breathe now. And even though your throat still ached, you could once again talk.

“I’m sorry,” you mumbled, wiping at your eyes, trying to clean off whatever tears you could.

“It’s nothin’...but what happened?” Mammon loosened his grip on you a little, allowing you to sit up some more and put some space between you.

“Just a nightmare. No big deal,” you tried to laugh it off. But he wasn’t buying it.

“Ya know, you’ve been actin’ kinda weird all week. Are ya sure you’re ok?”

“Yep. Just fine. Probably could use some sleep, but that’s it,” you smiled at him.

“C’mon you can’t expect me to believe that. You can’t even get ya-self to stop cryin’!”

“Oh…”

He was right. The fact that even now your tears wouldn’t stop was a pretty clear indicator that something was wrong. But you couldn’t tell him. You couldn’t tell anyone.

“It’s fine. I’ll be ok. Just need a minute,” you said, trying to deflect.

“It ain’t fine. C’mon, talk to me, please. You’re…”

“...I’m not Lilith…”

“Huh?” Mammon looked at you, as you sat next to him, keeping your head down. His arm was still wrapped around you, so he squeezed your shoulder in what he hoped would be a gesture of reassurance.

“...I’m not...not her...I’m not Lilith…”

“Well yeah, I know that.”

“...but do you? Really?”

“Look you really ain’t makin’ a lot of sense right now. I want to help...but I don’t know what ya want me to do,” Mammon was grasping at straws here, desperate to figure out what had you so upset, and why you were saying these things.

“I remember….”

“Remember?”

“When I died. I remembered. Not just in the attic. But…”

“Wh…? How?”

“I dunno...I just do. I see it in my dreams. I can’t sleep.”

Mammon had started rubbing your arm now, gently, encouraging you to keep going.

“I remember. But no one else does. I died. But no one cared. They got Lilith back. And what about me? What about where I belong? It’s all gone. I’m still dead. And you have Lilith. And no one...no one cares…”

Your tears had started to fall heavily again, the pain in your chest worsening. You tried to rub it away with your hand, but it didn’t bring you any relief. Why couldn’t the pain just stop? It seemed like you had been in pain from the moment you finally opened the attic door. And it felt like nothing would ever make it end.

Suddenly you felt Mammon’s arms around you, and you were wrapped in a near bone crushing hug. You gasped in surprise, but he didn’t let go. He just buried his face further into the crook of your neck. As you sat there, stunned, you started to feel dampness on your shirt and skin.

Was he...crying? Why would he be crying? Did you do this? You had been so careful not to mention any of this, and then suddenly it had just come rushing out all at once and you couldn’t stop it. And now Mammon was hurt.

“... I remember...I remember…” he choked out in between sobs. He was trying hard to keep himself together, but it was a losing battle. Every time he tried to speak, another memory would replay in his mind. And every time he closed his eyes, he could see your lifeless body. All he could do now to stop from coming undone completely was to hold you close and feel your warmth against him.

“You...remember? But...I...you said…”

“No. Listen. Listen to me,” Mammon said, letting you go and sitting up, taking your face gently in his hands, “I remember. I could never forget. I didn’t want ya to worry. So I didn’t say. But I...I remember.”

“You..remember?”

“I remember.”

Without any further hesitation, you wrapped your arms around Mammon’s neck as he pulled you into his lap and hugged you tightly to himself. It was impossible to tell who was crying more at this point. In between sobs, the only other sound that could be heard was Mammon repeating “I remember” over and over again.

You had been feeling so incredibly lonely. And in one single moment, Mammon had managed to change all that. Even if no one else grieved for you. Even if no one else missed you. He did. You couldn’t put into words how much that meant to you, all you could do was hold him tighter and tighter. Trying with all your might to make sure he would never leave you again.

And Mammon? He had been feeling much the same as you. When he saw you trying so hard to act normal, he didn’t have the heart to burden you with his troubles. Why should he be the one to stir up bad memories for you? It was bad enough he had to deal with these things, that his sleep was a restless one, plagued with nightmares, you didn’t need to suffer too. If you were strong enough to get through this, then he should be able to manage it easily.

But now, he could see just how foolish that was. You hadn’t been alright at all. In fact, you were the furthest thing from alright. As far as you knew, no one missed you and only saw you as some sort of sister replacement. And if he had just told you, even a little, just said “I’m glad you’re ok,” all of this could have been avoided. You wouldn’t be crying so hard in his arms. You wouldn’t be struggling to breathe. No, you would be happy. You would be smiling. But because he didn’t want to appear weak , he had brought you so much unnecessary suffering.

————

Neither of you knew when you had fallen asleep exactly, but by the time you had woken up, it was late into the night. Not wanting to disturb Mammon, you opted to continue laying curled up next to his side, with your head resting on his chest. The sound of his breathing was so soothing to you. You had missed this.

It occurred to you as you snuggled closer to him, that you had woken up naturally. For the first time in a week, your dreams had been peaceful ones. And you attributed this change to the fact that Mammon was now by your side and you no longer felt alone and forgotten. You were safe here, with him.

“You ok?” he asked.

“Oh sorry. Did I wake you?”

“Nah, just checkin’ on ya.”

“I’m good actually. No nightmares,” you replied, looking up, smiling at him the first genuine smile you had had in days.

“Me too,” he pulled you closer with the arm that was around your shoulders so that he could kiss your forehead, making you smile even more.

“Guess we just aren’t any good on our own, huh?”

“Yeah, maybe,” he laughed.

After a moment of silence, he continued, “Umm. There’s somethin’ I feel like I gotta say,” you tried to sit up so you could look at him, but he held you in place and pulled you closer instead, “Nah, just stay like that. I don’t wantcha lookin’ at me.

So...umm...I feel like you should know that you aren’t a replacement ta me. I mean, I loved my sister. And losin’ her was hard. But...when I thought I lost you? That was...that was the most painful experience of my life. Worse than the Fall. Worse than all of it,” Mammon’s grip tightened around you, pulling you even closer than before, “I can’t lose ya again.”

You listened carefully as Mammon opened up to you. With each word he whispered to you, another knot of anxiety untangled itself from within your chest. The two of you had misunderstood each other so badly. And in trying to protect the other, had only caused one another more pain.

“I don’t want to lose you either,” you said, giving him a squeeze with the arm around his chest. Just spending a week without him was bad enough, you didn’t want to think about what things would be like if he was ever truly gone .

Mammon smiled as he felt you cling to him. He loved that feeling. Of being wanted, needed . He always felt that way around you, you made sure of it. And he didn’t think he could live without it at this point.

“Don’t worry. I ain’t goin’ anywhere.”

#gn!mc #platonic mammon #platonic relationships #obey me #obey me shall we date #obey me mammon #mammon x mc #obey me fanfic #obey me angst #mammon angst #mammon fanfic

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gracielitamargarita · 3 years

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Thoughts on Kyoru in Fruits Basket: The Final as a manga reader

(and bad metaphors about lava cake)

So with next week's impending shit storm of a Furuba episode next week, I've been doing some reflecting on our favorite Mutual Pining Idiots, Kyoru--and thinking about how the anime adaptation's choices in rearranging or removing content has impacted things, specifically with Se3E6.

And just to preface, I think the anime adaptation has been terrific overall. I also think loving something and critiquing something aren't mutually exclusive either. The goal of what I'm about to write is not to incite negativity, just to get some feelings out about my favorite pairing from my favorite manga series and provoke some deeper thought, I guess.

ALSO, I hope you don't mind metaphors--specifically ones about chocolate-raspberry lava cake, because that's what I've decided works best for explaining Kyoru. So FASTEN THOSE SEATBELTS PEOPLE

MANGA SPOILERS regarding previously omitted content as well as VAGUE ANIME SPOILERS that can be implied/inferred from the ending of Se3E7 under the cut.

I think one of the (many) reasons I find Kyoru to be such a satisfying ship is because of the slow-burn element. Come season 2 through the beach arc, their chemistry is palpable, natural, and growing stronger and stronger with each episode. When Kyo finally admits to himself that he's in love with Tohru in Se2E9, it feels like we've been rewarded with a chocolate lava cake topped with raspberry sauce--it's delicious, complex, and full of gooey and satisfying substance.

Now like many, I'm a sucker for the pining idiot trope--let alone the MUTUAL pining idiot trope--and we do get to see this through the end of season 2 as Tohru's feelings for Kyo become more apparent to everyone BUT her. It's like we're LOOKING at the chocolate-raspberry lava cake, so close that we can ALMOST touch it, but we as viewers aren't allowed to cut into it yet--which makes every little encounter between the two of them all the more exciting, because we wonder what's finally going to allow us to ravish this goddamn lava cake (sorry).

Which is why I realized I'm actually struggling more than I initially thought in the final season. As it's been widely speculated, discussed, and now officially confirmed, we're getting 13 episodes this season. And while like most everyone else, I'd be thrilled with two cours, I don't know the ins and outs of anime production, AND, while I'm bummed, I've accepted that it is what it is--and that it isn't the reason I'm writing this post.

Of course not every panel or fleeting moment can be adapted from the manga to the anime. There were small little cuts here and there over the course of the first two seasons, but nothing in my opinion that's really SO substantial that it drained the lava cake of its filling--maybe some of that raspberry topping, but generally, the good stuff is all there. (Though I do love this moment below from chapter 82, which was skipped over in Se2E19)

The final season has been different, though. As we know in the manga, the inner turmoil for Kyo--and Tohru to an extent--really starts escalating immediately after Cinderella-ish with Kyoko's backstory and Kyo's nightmare from chapters 90-93. I also understand that Cinderella-ish was Se2E23, and with only 2 episodes left in the season, it made sense from a directorial standpoint to end with the Kureno/Akito reveal versus Kyoko's backstory and Kyo realizing he needs to know his place.

But without this context, it leaves moments like the flower scene from Se3E2 less impactful--like a lava cake made by someone who skimped on the filling. To an anime-only (and even as a manga reader), it's likely still a satisfying moment to watch: we know that Tohru clearly has a lot of inner turmoil following her conversation with Kureno. Kyo's turmoil following his nightmare, however--and overall, the sentiment of him thinking he needs to stay away from Tohru, yet still finding himself drawn to her above all odds--is deeply diminished.

Which leads me to the main reason (finally, sorry) that I wrote this post--Se3E6, or the episode when Tohru finally admits to herself AND to Rin that Kyo has taken the place of her mother as the most precious person to her.

In the manga, Se3E6 is made up of chapters 107, 108, 109, AND 114, spanning the end of volume 18 through the beginning of volume 20 of the TokyoPop mangas. Volume 19 in particular is one of my all time favorite mangas in the entire series for one clear reason: just as we've seen Kyo get to do in season 2, we finally get to see Tohru slowly own her feelings for Kyo, and MY GOD, is cutting into that lava cake and enjoying that delicious filling satisfying AF. The Mutual Pining Idiots are in full swing here, both dealing with inner turmoil but also being unable to stay away from one another either. In addition, they're dealing with normal teenage awkwardness too, which feels like a bonus topping (would nuts go well, do we think? LOL) to the Kyoru lava cake.

But between the producers adapting Momiji's arc prior to episode 6 AND the producers ending episode 6 with a 2-minute horror movie essentially--AND, lest we forget, none of the Kyoko backstory at this point--we lost essentially all of that satisfying filling.

And again, I understand, only 13 episodes and the producers are trying to make shit work and I do see why they made some of these changes in the overall big picture of things, but I wish it weren't at the expense of Tohru's character development and also for Kyoru, which had been so thoughtfully and delightfully well-developed in the first two seasons.

My biggest issue BY FAR with episode 6 is Tohru's confession to Rin happening before the sheets scene. The producers combined 109 and 114 for the second half of episode 6. In the manga, Tohru is able to openly admit that Kyo is the most important person to her BECAUSE of how he accepts her after she "opens the lid" to reveal the ugly feelings she's been harboring for years about her father. And in the manga, since we have the context of Kyoko's backstory and can see how she nearly committed suicide and left Tohru alone for days, it is gut-wrenching to finally hear Tohru confront and express her trauma in her own words.

The sheets scene is arguably my favorite scene in the entire series. The anime portrayed it beautifully. Jerry and Laura ripped my heart out with their performances. It was a deeply moving scene (even with all of the changes) and the romance and pining was there--but, I hate to admit it, the feeling of cutting into that delicious lava cake to reveal that even more satisfying filling was not.

And now, come the end of Se3E7, we're approaching the climax of the series that we've been salivating for for so long now, the result of all of this inner turmoil and secrets and deep, deep longing for one another--and it almost feels now like the cake was baked too quickly, in addition to being drained of much of its filling.

I was debating waiting to write this until next week after we see how Se3E8 goes, but my thoughts have been swirling about and this clown couldn’t help herself. I'd like to end this post on a hopeful and more forward-thinking note, though, if you've made it this far into my novel LOL.

There is definitely the potential to add a little more about Kyoko's backstory in next week's episode. I also expect that we'll hear more of Tohru's inner narrative and thoughts, which I’m really looking forward to. As several others have speculated as well, I predict that we'll be getting chapters 119-122 next week. Despite it being 4 chapters, everything should happen in sequence (versus with episode 6) and there's a lot of action, so I do feel like it won't feel rushed or disjointed. And while I could see them possibly ending with 121, 122 would be my preferred ending for many reasons (manga readers know where I'm going with this ;P) and I honestly see it fitting best there.

And regardless of what happens, I'm looking forward to eating whatever variety of lava cake is served to us next week.

And at the end of the day, we'll always have the manga, which will probably always be my favorite lava cake of all.

(and now I'm hungry for an actual lava cake)

#fruits basket #fruits basket spoilers #furuba #fruits basket manga #fruits basket anime #kyoru #tohru honda #kyo sohma #fruits basket the final #let them eat lava cake #sorry in advance #i love these mutually pining idiots so much #and i have a lot of feelings #kyoru clown hours #fruits basket meta #fruits basket analysis

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sol-rising · 4 years

Text

— dramione fanfic recommendations bc i don’t have a life;

[CHERRY] No one asked for this but I don’t have a life and I read a lot so.... why not? Majority of these are either on AO3 or FFN.

— ONESHOTS;

Best Shot by AccioMjolnir [Mature, 24k words]

Summary: It's eighth year and Hermione is trying to navigate her post-war friendship with Draco Malfoy and a relationship with Ron Weasley when she gets an unexpected visit from someone who knows her better than anyone: herself. Thrown back from the future, an older Hermione drops a bombshell on her: she has only three days to set things right, or Draco dies.

Amateur Cartography by worksofstone [Teen & Up Audiences, 21k words]

Summary: That one-night stand with Draco Malfoy was a mistake. Hermione doesn't make mistakes, or at least she isn't supposed to. She's working hard at her Ministry career, however frustrating and pointless her job may be, and she's also got to live up to everyone's expectations as Hogwarts's most famous Muggle-born and a top-tier War Hero. So, why is she still sleeping with Draco Malfoy, ex-Death Eater and infamous pureblood? And why isn't she certain that she wants to stop?

A Muggle-born Magic by Musyc [Mature, 50k words]

Summary: Regency-era AU. Physician's daughter Hermione Granger finds herself in need of a way to pay off her father's debts after his death. Draco Malfoy, retired from the politics of the Isolationists, a group of pure-bloods bent on separating 'true' magic from lesser folk, finds himself in need of a tutor for his son, Scorpius, who appears to be incapable of magic and must learn to survive in a world without it. Draco also needs a wife and mother for Scorpius, to satisfy a promise to his unwell father. After she saves his son from an attack by Isolationists, Draco hires the Muggle-born Miss Granger for the former, and after a riot in Vauxhall Gardens and a scandalous discovery made by his mother, weds that selfsame Muggle-born for the latter. While making the best of her marriage of (in)convenience, Hermione discovers that Scorpius' history of wild imaginings and dreams is more than just imagination. As she attempts to teach him about magical abilities no one expected he would ever have, she and Draco work together to raise Scorpius and learn to trust each other.

Ice by senlinyu [Teen & Up Audiences, 5.1k words]

Summary: Hermione works in Gringotts’ Records Department when Draco Malfoy comes on staff as a curse-breaker. His icy presence drags up memories she’s desperate to move on from and forget. She tries to ignore him, but every time she sees him, she feels chilled to the bone. DHr Advent 2018.

Fallin' (Adrenaline) by LeilahMoon [Teen & Up Audiences, 4.5k words]

Summary: When Professor McGonagall encourages all Hogwarts students to participate in a mentor scheme designed to promote inter-House unity, Hermione Granger is thrilled; she can’t wait to embrace the opportunity for further education. Unfortunately, she's not able to choose who she is allocated to and, when her mentor turns out to be Draco Malfoy, she’s certain she won’t learn anything at all.

The Two Sided Triangle by Canttouchthis [Teen & Up Audiences, 5.2k words]

Summary: In which Daily Prophet reporter Hermione Granger inadvertently becomes a superhero and her partner, the intrepid Draco Malfoy finds himself smitten. In other words, a Dramione inspired by Superman and Lois Lane.

Now Is A Gift by senlinyu [Teen & Up Audiences, 5k words]

Summary: Hermione is determined to give meaningful Christmas gifts to everyone in her Ministry department.

Everyone.

Even that anti-social arse Malfoy.

DHr Advent 2019.

riddle me this by megamegaturtle [General Audiences, 8k words]

Summary: Their fingers touch when Draco hands her the paper and Hermione's heart almost jumps out of her chest.

The note reads: How do you spell ‘cute boy’ with only two letters? -Riddle Me This

Hermione finds herself grinning. “Cutie. Q-T. That’s the answer to the riddle. You’re a cutie, Malfoy.”

[the one where someone leaves Draco Malfoy riddles to solve from the local coffee shop's community board and he enlists Hermione Granger for help.]

(Written for 2020 DFW Trope Fest: Double Trouble)

Library Rendezvous by WickedlyAwesomeMe [Fiction T, 2.9k words]

Summary: Hermes Granger just wanted to finish his homework in peace but of course, she always had to ruin his plans. Male!Hermione Granger/Female!Draco Malfoy. Genderbender

Relentless (Hogwarts Era Series) by realjane (Series of Connected Oneshots)

Height by senlinyu [Explicit, 8.7k words]

Summary: “Tall? That’s what you think I should notice about Malfoy? His height?”

Ginny quirked an eyebrow and licked the tip of her quill suggestively. ”Well, isn’t that your thing? Lockhart. Krum. McLaggen. Ron. The only thing they have in common is being tall enough to give me a neck ache.

”Hermione felt her ears grow hot, and she gripped her book tighter. “I don��t have a thing for tall men. Their height is—completely coincidental.”

Dramione Height Differences Minifest 2020.

Diamond Heart by artemisgirl [Fiction T, 8k words]

Summary: When Hermione approaches Draco Malfoy proposing a fake relationship between the two of them as part of a scheme, he's eager enough to participate - the potential benefits outweigh any costs on his time. But as it all progresses, Draco finds himself wondering what it would be like if what was 'fake' was real.

The Spring’s Chosen by artemisgirl [Fiction T, 5.5k words]

Summary: A golden unicorn appearing on the Malfoy grounds sends the Manor into a flurry of activity, to the confusion of one Draco Malfoy. It's just a unicorn that happens to be gold - isn't it? DMHG

Courting Customs Most Sacred by HeyJude19 [Twoshot, Mature, 15k words]

Summary: Published in 1862 by Lady Apollonia Nott, Courting Customs Most Sacred is the comprehensive text for any pureblood family seeking to arrange suitable matches for their children. It’s also patently ridiculous and not at all appropriate for the modern era of dating. It is certainly not how one should woo Hermione Granger, at any rate.

— ON-GOING/WIPs;

Come Let Us Adore Him by thiscitychickk [Not Rated]

Summary: Hermione Granger scoured the subreddits, perused the checklists, and read virtually everything possible on how to be an all star Congressional intern and staffer. She had her job responsibilities well in hand, but instructions on how to handle the attention of an upstart Congressman Draco Malfoy were nowhere to be found. US politics AU: Congressional staffer Hermione, Congressman Draco

and with you, i fall by passionesque [Mature]

Summary: With Narcissa Malfoy striking a deal for her family — protection for information, the last thing anyone wants is Draco Malfoy seeking refuge within the heart of the Order.

It would’ve been easy, Hermione thinks. So easy for her to hex him back to Voldemort’s clutches for all that he’s said and done, but being the bleeding soft-hearted Gryffindor she is, she doesn't.

* * * * *

“You should hate me,” he murmurs, flicking his gaze to her from beneath his lashes.

She should, Hermione knows this. She really ought to hate him, but the memory of the haunted look in his eyes and the hoarse screams of his nightmares echoes through her mind and eases the storm in her heart.

She doesn’t. She can’t.

“You’re right,” Hermione says soberly. “I should. But I don’t.”

Post HBP. Canon-Divergent. HG/DM.

Love In A Time Of the Zombie Apocalypse by andgladly [Mature]

Summary: After Voldemort, there was this. The clock is ticking to create a cure to the unimaginable horror that currently grips the world. Hermione finds herself unwillingly allied with the most hated man in Wizarding Britain.

The Alkahest by Shadukiam [Mature]

Summary: The Marriage Law, once enacted, has the power to destroy Hermione's perfectly normal life. Luckily, she and Ron are already planning to obey the horrific law together as a team... Until a Malfoy-shaped wrench gets thrown into the works. Dramione.

In the Arms of Her Dragon by Wolf Blossom [Mature]

Summary: A random act of kindness (the life-or-death kind) draws together Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger in a way that nobody saw coming. The duo, in fact, did not want anybody learn the secret of their relationship, but their hope was in vain. All of Hogwarts, nay, England suddenly knew about their union. "Nobody said this would be easy, bookworm." Malfoy drawled. "Shut. Up. Malfoy."

Time Twisters by themirrorminder.372259 [Fiction T]

Summary: Narcissa ignores the sharp smile her little brother wears after Bella's funeral, in the same way that Lily ignores the ravenous gaze her little sister aims towards Knockturn Alley. However, Albus Dumbledore cannot ignore the ominous friendship between Draco Black and Hermione Evans, not when he hears blood dripping from their joined hands. {TimeTravel} {DRAMIONE} {Marauder's Era}

Beautiful Incongruence by charlie_weasleys_gf [Teen & Up Audiences]

Summary: “You are not an easy person to talk to, Granger.”

“Well, you haven’t made the prospect of talking to you sound very exciting."

Hermione Granger was ready for her third year at Hogwarts-that was, until it was interrupted by time turners and apologising assholes.

In which Draco Malfoy apologises (a lot).

How to Move On by longdistance [Mature]

Summary: It's been nearly a decade since the war. A long time since she locked herself away. A long time since he faced his mistakes. She's what he wants. He's what she needs. It's time for both of them to figure out how to move on.

Through the eyes of blind love by Mixilip1 [Mature]

Summary: Torn between the heart and love of two souls thou shall find theeself. Post-war.

Following the war, Hermione finds herself not-so-happily dating Ron, but it seems she can't keep herself away from a certain blonde Slytherin who's determined to finally make her his witch. After hearing a prophecy about her future, she thinks her life might change for good, but what she doesn't know is that the prophecy also included a veela in it.

"Granger, don't be nervous. Just look at me and let go." He said, grabbing her chin, and her brown eyes met his.This is a story about love triangles and veelas. Veela AU

flesh and blood by forbiddenquill [Teen & Up Audiences]

Summary: Scorpius breaks his father’s Time-Turner and ends up getting transported into the year 1998, when the Second Wizarding World War has already ended and where Draco Malfoy is still trying to pick up the pieces of his shattered world.

With Scorpius’ arrival comes shocking revelations, burning questions, and a son’s image of a father Draco is sure he’ll never be able to live up to.

More importantly, it’s Scorpius’s bright brown eyes, so unlike his own, that bug Draco the most.

[alternatively, a multi-chapter fic where eight-year-old Scorpius follows Draco around the castle and tries to discover the secret identity of his mother]

The Other Side by sweetsolitude [Teen & Up Audiences]

Summary: A slow-burn Dramione version of 6th year, The Half-Blood Prince, told from the perspectives of Draco, Hermione, and Theo. No smut, no character bashing. Attempted to stay TTC and the general plot progression of HBP. Primary ship is Draco/Hermione. This fic is already completed at around 150k, will post chapters regularly.

The Hidden Duchess by Moxified [Fiction K]

Summary: She had always been given everything she wanted ever since she was a child, spoiled to the very bone. Her life consisted of a strict regimen built for a princess that was followed to a tee - even after she came to Hogwarts. Leading two lives is stressful for anyone, especially a young lady with an equally young man curious enough to discover what secrets she was hiding.

An Unexpected Malfoy by RiverWriter [Mature]

Summary: Once upon a time Hermione Granger literally ran into Draco Malfoy in a bookshop. His mother sees a connection between her son and the muggleborn that she can't ignore and determines to get to know the girl. An imagining of how things could have gone if Hermione had been taken under the wing of the Malfoy family.

In Another Life by marana1 [Fiction M]

Summary: She walked over to the huge, full-length mirror. Staring back was her eleven-year-old self but with long, beautiful, silky platinum blonde hair and pale skin. Hermione ran her fingers through her hair, the reality of the situation sinking in. The fairy hadn't just made them switch places for a day... she sent them back in time and switched their lives. DM X HG. EWE. Slow burn.

Hermione's pianist by softblakegriffin, va_lentina [Mature]

Summary: Draco Malfoy was destined to play music since birth. A small prodigy in a family of long-standing musicians, he’s well on his way to become the best pianist of his generation. A month in Rome with his friends is the perfect way to leave the pressure and social obligations behind and relax, immersed in the eternal beauty and soul-stirring art.

Hermione Granger’s road to music wasn’t straightforward. She didn’t attend the Conservatory, everything she knows is the result of sacrifices, and she’s still searching for the perfect opportunity to make music her job. It’s her dream and she thinks Rome, with its breathtaking views and magical atmosphere, is the place where she wants to try and fulfill it.

He’s in Rome to enjoy a short reprieve from London, before going back home.

She escaped London and is in Rome to stay.

Will music and the treacherous city disrupt their plans?

Crimes of Passion by All3Unforgivables [Mature]

Summary: Draco Malfoy lost his family, his dignity, and his humanity during the Dark Lord's rise to power. The only thing he couldn't stand to lose was something that was never his to take. With no one left to mourn him, his disappearance goes unexplored. But angels like Hermione Granger do not go missing without notice. D/H OOC, AU. Very mature themes.

Nightcrawlers by malf0y101 [Explicit]

Summary: Returning to Hogwarts for her eighth year, Hermione Granger is depressed, resentful, and suicidal. That is, until Draco Malfoy presents an enticing offer to keep her alive. Soon after, the two embark on a torture spree of students, professors, and acquaintances while simultaneously engaging in a clandestine and dirty relationship. How long can they keep their game up?

What crawls in the night stays in the night.

Poet. by OneEqualTemper [Mature]

Summary: “Uh...Malfoy? Did you knock your pretty head into a wall this morning?” Ginny questions and slides into her spot next to Hermione.

Hermione gives her a quick glare, her eyes begging her to just leave it alone. Ginny ignores Hermione’s look and waits for Malfoy to answer. Malfoy does his best to ignore the red-headed Witch.

“Hello? Anyone in there?” Ginny questions and waves her hand in front of him.

Hermione grabs the Witch’s hand and pulls it down to the table, “He can sit here if he wants.”

Ginny scoffs but keeps her hand down on the table, “What’s wrong with his own table?”

“Ginny, stop,” Hermione hisses at her friend. “We��re friends. He can come and sit here anytime he wants.”

— COMPLETED;

Hindsight by floorcoaster [Teen & Up Audiences, 12 Chapters, 170k]

Summary: It's a New Year and Hermione decides it's time to make some changes.

Between the Devil and Draco Malfoy by QueenOfSmokeAndMirrors [Mature, 13 Chapters, 34k]

Summary: Seventeen is a dangerous age. Hermione Granger, arrogant and precocious and bored of her mundane life, thinks she can handle a deal with the devil. But Draco Malfoy - the devil's own son - plans on dragging her down to Hell with him. Dramione AU with demons.

Good Luck Kisses by Musyc [Teen & Up Audiences, 8 Chapters, 8.4k]

Summary: A good luck kiss for a Quidditch captain - it's ridiculous. It can't actually work.

But it does.

Every time.

Traditions by raven_maiden [Explicit, 14 Chapters, 69k]

Summary: She straddled him slowly, still biting her lip, her hands on his shoulders. He held her hips tightly as he stared up at her.

“So beautiful,” he whispered, and she flushed prettily, like she always did from his compliments. “You never need to hide from me.”

Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy fell in love during the war. One year later, they're heading home for the holidays so he can finally meet her parents. There's just one teeny little problem: her parents think they're both Muggles.

Fortuitous by MrsRen [Mature, 13 Chapters, 93k]

Summary: Recently divorced Draco doesn't believe in the ideology of having one true love. He certainly doesn't expect to meet his match in a Halloween themed coffee shop, but fate has a peculiar way of giving you just what you need.

Manacled by senlinyu [Explicit, 77 Chapters, 370k]

Summary: Harry Potter is dead. In the aftermath of the war, in order to strengthen the might of the magical world, Voldemort enacts a repopulation effort. Hermione Granger has an Order secret, lost but hidden in her mind, so she is sent as an enslaved surrogate to the High Reeve until her mind can be cracked.

Wait and Hope by mightbewriting [Mature, 12 Chapters, 95k]

Summary: “Harry,” Hermione began, voice very controlled, but she could feel the blade of panic slicing at her vocal cords. “Why was Draco Malfoy just screaming bloody murder about his,” and the word almost strangled her as she said it, “wife?”

Harry's green eyes blew wide. Healer Lucas pinched the bridge of her nose, clearly displeased with the recent series of events.

“He was referring to you, my dear,” she said. “That was the other question you got wrong. Your name is Hermione Jean Granger-Malfoy.”

Hermione had to be sedated again.

Beginning and End by mightbewriting [Explicit, 48 Chapters, 242k]

Summary: Years. Broken into months into weeks into days—into hours, minutes, seconds—into moments. Simple at one end, complex at the other. In Draco’s experience, moments, even when simple, had a habit of becoming irretrievable. Moments grew, stretched, multiplied into ages and eras that defined whole stretches of measurable time. Draco regretted several moments in his life, some within his control, some without: all of them irretrievable in nature. At a certain point, wedged between ‘what-ifs’ of his own devising, he’d stopped trying to keep track of those regrettable moments: now and then, pushing and pulling, coming and going, beginning and end. Moments were only moments for just as long. After that, he had no control.

A Draco POV prequel to Wait and Hope.

Through the Years by WickedlyAwesomeMe [Fiction T, 11 Chapters, 93k]

Summary: Hermes Granger fervently believed that Malfoy's sole purpose in life was to make his life a living hell. Genderswap Dramione! Male!Hermione Granger/Female!Draco Malfoy. Companion piece to "Library Rendezvous".

Apple Pies and Other Amends by ToEatAPeach [Mature, 29 Chapters, 77k]

Summary: It’s not until she’s brought a basil and strawberry sponge cake to Neville Longbottom and his new girlfriend, Hannah Abbott, a dozen rhubarb hand-pies to Luna and Xenophilius Lovegood, and another basket of ganache-covered muffins to Dean and Seamus, that Hermione admits to herself what she’s actually doing: she’s making a thing of this. It’s a veritable PTSD tour. With pastries. And hand-skimmed clotted cream. And she has no idea why she’s doing it, but it’s becoming very apparent that she is.

Sometimes you're sad. Sometimes you need dessert. And sometimes, it's a little of both.

Arrogance and Ignorance by AnneM.Oliver [Fiction T, 38 Chapters, 140k]

Summary: A romance set in the era of Jane Austen novels, this is the story of a woman and a man. The man thinks he is better than all others, & the woman knows she is smarter. Their differences aside, they have one thing in common, both are smitten with the other.

The Babysitter by WickedlyAwesomeMe [Teen & Up Audiences, 29 Chapters, 145k]

Summary: It was a dark and stormy Sunday night when Hermione Granger unexpectedly visited his house and entrusted him with her daughter, Rose. Disaster ensues.

Slow burn Dramione with a sprinkle of cute, cute Rose!

The Best of Me by MrsRen [Mature, 21 Chapters, 82k]

Summary: Officially, Hermione Granger was killed in action during the Battle of Hogwarts. Unofficially, Draco Malfoy has never stopped searching for her. Years after the war during a mission in France, his salvation comes in the form of a little blond boy and a familiar half-Kneazle.

Chronos Historia by In_Dreams [Mature, 27 Chapters, 98k]

Summary: Hermione and Draco stumble upon a mysterious portal and find themselves hurtled back through time a thousand years. Forced to team up to find a way home, they quickly realize that much of the history they believed to be fact, wasn't true after all. A founders era, time travel Dramione.

Presque Toujours Pur by ShayaLonnie [Fiction M, 38 Chapters, 174k]

Summary: Bellatrix's torture of Hermione uncovers a long-kept secret. The young witch learns her true origins in a story that shows the beginning and end of the Wizarding wars as Hermione learns about her biological father and the blood magic he dabbled in that will control her future.

omnia vincit amor by SyrenGrey [Explicit, 40 Chapters, 187k]

Summary: Dark days are here at Hogwarts, and the darkest cloud of all is hanging over Draco Malfoy's head. Already burdened with the impossible task of murdering the Headmaster, life becomes more complex when an elusive prophecy entangles him with a bushy-haired enemy, and a steamy forbidden romance unfolds. Sixth Year. Rated E for sexual content and violence.

Rose by longdistance [Mature, 5 Chapters, 20k]

Summary: A short tale of what happens after Hermione and Draco wake up with each other after a drunken night together. Alcohol often has consequences which they soon learn.

#dmhg.ficrecs #dramione #dramione fanfic rec

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animerunner · 3 years

Text

Luz’s Not So Great Luck: I am Not the Monster in Your Story

Fandom: The Owl House

Relationship: Eda Clawthorne & Luz Noceda

Characters: Eda Clawthorne, Luc Noceda,

Warnings: Implied Verbal and Physical child abuse, heavily implied past medical experimentation

Summary: One of the first things Eda noticed about Luz was just how many scars she had. The pattern of stitches were hard to miss.

Something doesn't feel right about it but at this point Eda doesn't know enough to articulate what.

Maybe it was just the number of it. Or maybe it was the uneasy familiarity she felt when catching a glimpse of a scar that nearly mirrored her own.

Which considering what that scar was from...it was concerning to say the least.

Notes: Not much else to say here today. Most questions were addressed in the last chapter posting here.

Ao3 Link Here

If you want to read it on Tumblr fic is under the read more:

One of the first things Eda notices about Luz after the fact she’s human is the scars.

It’s hard to miss. From the first time Eda took off Luz’s shirt to try and get her temperature down. The patchwork of scars scattered over the girl’s body stare back at her.

It unnerves her for some reason. Though she can’t entirely put her finger on why.

Maybe it’s some of the locations?

After all one of the scars would be right above where a bile sac would normally be in a witch. She would know since she has a similar scar on her own chest.

However in a human, Eda’s not entirely sure why there would be a scar there.

Humans didn’t have bile sacs right?

Something to worry about another time. She had bigger concerns on her plate.

--------------------

The second time Eda thinks about the scars is after Luz first casts magic around her by accident.

Once she’s got Luz calmed down and asleep her mind flashes back to that one scar. Suddenly everything she had thought she had understood about humans is thrown into question.

The magic and the scar makes her wonder, maybe humans do have bile sacs?

But if they did then why had Luz needed surgery there. Most witches and humans she supposed didn’t need surgery for it. So what gave?

Why did Luz have an almost identical scar to her own?

Why did it feel like there was something sinister afoot?

Maybe the healer she’s going to call can answer her questions. --------------------

The third time Eda is reminded of the strange stitched scars that are over Luz comes when the girl has her first nightmare since arriving on the Isles.

The healer wasn’t able to tell her much on the mystery that is Luz. She had been hapless as Eda was on why Luz had so many scars.

All Eda knows is that there must be some time to the fact Luz can do magic. Though she doesn’t understand it yet.

King’s the one who wakes her up in the middle of the night.

“Luz is having a nightmare I think?”

“You think?” Eda stares at King for a moment. Hoping he just didn’t wake her up at 2 am on a whim.

“She’s not saying anything. Just a lot of miming. But she is sweating a lot and-”

“-she could make herself sick at this rate. Got it.” Eda concludes summoning Owlbert to her side.

The kid had just started getting better. The last thing they needed was for Luz to work herself into such a frenzy that she makes herself sick all over again.

Luz is still in the throws of a nightmare when they reach her room. King’s description had been accurate. The kid was tossing and turning in her sleep but Eda couldn’t hear a sound from her.

Eda frowns before she realizes why. Silencing spell. Well that’s easy enough to fix. Thankfully she hadn’t used up all her entire yesterday.

What she doesn’t expect is the near scream from Luz when the spell is cancelled. Jumping back slightly in surprise for a moment. She catches a few phrases that make her stomach sink further. Before she moves closer and decides a simple spell to wake up Luz is in order.

It’s probably maybe not the best course of action Eda realizes as she draws the spell circle. But Eda’s more worried what might happen if the nightmare is allowed to continue.

The kid’s fever just finally broke three days ago. She really doesn’t know if the kid can afford to be sick again so soon after.

Luz cuts herself off rather quickly as she rejoins the land of the living. Stares up at Eda who had been holding her, not entirely sure what would happen when she came to, for a moment confused. “Eda?”

“The one and only.”

Luz finally wakes up enough to realize what happened and immediately starts panicking. “Oh my god I am so sorry-”

Eda cuts in as the kids' words get more frantic. “Kid breathe. I’m not mad.” A bit concerned about what Luz might be having a nightmare about to begin with that would leave her in such a state. But not mad.

“But I woke you up.”

“King woke me up actually. He noticed you having a nightmare.” Eda said with a shake of the head. “And even if he hadn’t you don’t need to hide them from me.”

Titan knew she was familiar with having her own fair share of nightmares.

“But people don’t like it when I scream in my dreams and wake them up.” Luz says after a moment. She was supposed to be quiet. If she had to have magic then this was the one good thing she could do.

Or that’s what people liked to say to her a lot anyway.

What the actual hell? Eda wondered for a moment. Who were these people that apparently needed a head smacking? You couldn’t control nightmares.

Luz continued seemingly unaware of the growing horror in Eda. “They don’t like being reminded that things happened to me.”

Eda stares for a moment, mouth slightly agape. She is left again wondering what Luz’s story is. The kid had been dodging questions about it since she had finally become well enough to hold a resemblance of a conversation.

For now though she pushes it aside. Luz didn’t need questions. As much as Eda wanted answers that could wait.

“Well it doesn’t bother me. I know all about horrible nightmares.” Eda admits with a shrug. Titan knows how many she had had herself. “You can scream if you need too and if we need to find another outlet for the nightmares. We can look into it.”

“Still I’m sorry.”

“Stop apologizing.” Luz shut her mouth with a click. Eda realizes she made a mistake a second later. “Kid I just-” Eda breaks off not sure what to say. “I’m not mad. You don’t need to apologize. I don’t know what they’re about but you’re allowed to have nightmares.”

“No I’m not.”

Some part of Eda is growing exasperated. “Yes you are. No matter what other people say you can’t control your dreams. And anyone who thinks otherwise is foolish.”

“Then why does everyone get mad at me when I have them? It’s not like I chose to-” Luz cuts herself off before she finishes the sentence.

Eda raises an eyebrow. “Choose what?”

She’s guessing whatever the end of the sentence is deals with Luz’s nightmare. But the girl just looks away. Refusing to answer her question.

“It just hurts less.” Luz finally just says.

What the actual hell. Willingly muting yourself hurt less? Less than what exactly?

“Well around here you're allowed to let them loose. I know what nightmares are like. I know what trying to bury them is like. Just let them loose okay kiddo?”

Luz looks like she wants to question it but decides finally against it.

Eda knows she’s probably wondering what will happen when she goes back to the human realm. Not that will be an issue for a while. She wasn’t letting Luz out of her sight until she knew exactly how the girl was doing magic. Maybe there was a bit of projection going on. But Eda felt that Luz, whether she would say it or not, needed some guidance.

Guidance that she definitely wouldn’t get back with the humans.

Also there were concerns Eda had just from the fact Luz could do magic at all. And letting the teen back into the human realm without knowing what the story was didn’t sit well with her.

Especially with where some of Luz’s old scars were. --------------------

Eda finally finds out about the story of the scars by accident.

Any plans of Luz returning to the human realm had long been scrapped by this point. Eda’s not entirely sure what happened that caused her to find Owlbert and the door. But whatever it was she doesn’t feel comfortable letting her out of her sight.

Not when Luz has magic that she can’t seem to always control at least.

Luz still hasn’t talked about how she has magic. Eda does know that humans normally wouldn’t be able to cast. And Luz really doesn’t cast that often. Most often it’s an accident.

“Magic just gives me grief sometimes.”

“So you hate it?” Eda asks, quaking an eyebrow. She certainly wouldn’t have pinned that based on the fact Luz seemed comfortable staying on the Isles.

“‘Hate it’ are probably the wrong words. Magic is pretty. I love it when you do it.” Luz slowly admits. “I just, I’ve always been able to do this and no one can tell me why.”

“No one?”

Luz shakes her head. “I accidentally cast my first light spell when I was seven. It’s just been a long downhill mess since.” Her voice cracks. “Everyone looks at me like I’m a freak. And I know it has something to deal with the fact I don’t remember anything before I was six. But I can’t figure out what.”

Woah wait what?

Eda stares at Luz for a moment not sure if she heard right. “You don’t remember anything from when you were five?”

Luz shakes her head. “I know something happened. But everything’s sealed. No one can tell me. No one’s willing to tell me.”

Eda stares at Luz for a moment. A nastier theory starting to form in the back of her mind. She really doesn’t like the possible implications that are lining up here. “Alright, why don’t you tell me what you do know and let's see if we can’t maybe figure something out to help.”

The kid probably knew more than she realized. However, it was obvious that no one had tried to help her before now. --------------------

Eda is right. Luz does remember a bit more then she realizes about her younger childhood years.

It would be more accurate to say Luz doesn’t remember enough to make things make sense. Then it does to say Luz doesn’t remember anything at all of those years.

Though Eda gets the impression she would rather just not remember at all.

Luz does know snippets. Mainly thanks to her nightmares. Men in lab coats. Needles and words she never understood.

There’s more there. Luz occasionally cuts herself off from saying something. However, Eda doesn’t push for more. Obviously whatever Luz can remember is hard on her.

Eda only ever asks one question. “Can you tell me how you got some of your scars?”

Luz hesitates for a moment. "You don't have to answer that if you don't want to kid. I was just wondering."

“The thing is like everything else I don’t really remember how I got them.” Luz finally admits after a second. “I know they’re from back then. But other than that…”

“Nothing else?”

Luz nods.

Maybe that’s a blessing Eda reasons. If these ‘people’ (if you could even call them that) were willing to do all sorts of experiments on young children. Then however Luz got her pattern of stitched scars was not a pleasant one.

“Why did you want to know anyway?”

“Curiosity mainly.” Eda says with a shrug. “I have a similar scar to one of yours on your chest.”

Luz’s scar was smaller all things considered. Which made sense considering this happened when she was a small child. But the location was not that far from her own scar.

She thought Luz would just accept the answer. Instead Luz seems to grow more curious. “Why do you have a scar there?”

There’s a beat for a moment and Luz realizes she may have asked too personal of a question. “Sorry-”

Eda holds a hand up effectively cutting her off. “It’s fine. I should have expected that question, all things considered.”

Of course Luz would wonder why she has an identical scar.

Eda sighs debating for a moment. On one hand telling Luz makes sense. On the other she’s worried what telling the kid about the nastier side of magic is like might do to a witch who is just starting to accept her magic.

Though really she supposes it's only a matter of time before Luz finds out the truth anyway.

“When I was younger, someone cursed me. The why and who to it really doesn’t matter now. Point is it was using my magic and my bile sac against me. So I was given two options. One was to hope to find an elixir and hope in the meantime it didn’t cause too much damage. Or two, since the curse was mainly centered around my bile sac still. Have it removed and have an artificial one put in place thus eliminating the curse entirely.”

“You went with option two.” Luz realizes eyes widening putting the puzzle pieces together.

“Yep.” Eda confirms with a nod. “Bitch of a surgery and I still have to take medicine just like you do. But it's better than the alternative.”

It was better than possibly dying.

“Anyways my scar from back then is pretty dang close to yours.” Eda finishes knowing the question that’s on the tip of Luz’s tongue.

“Oh.” Luz says quietly. “But I don’t have a bile sac.”

Yeah that much was obvious. They would have found it within Luz’s first week. Hard to miss on a medical scan.

“True but I’m guessing in whatever they did to give you magic. Some haphazard attempt at giving you a bile sac like a witch would have happened at some point.”

Oh.

“They were trying to make humans into witches.” Luz realizes what Eda has already figured out.

“Seems like it.”

“But why?”

“That’s the million snail question.”

What did humans want with magic?

Better yet how had they even found out they existed?

If they knew about bile sacs. That suggests that they knew how witch anatomy worked. Or at least enough to know that they needed them to do magic. Which raised a whole other set of questions.

Eda needed to talk to Lilith. Because she really didn’t like where the implications of this might be pointing towards.

“Would finding out why you can do magic help with your unease?” Eda says trying to push the disturbing thoughts out of her mind. And circling back to why they had started talking about this to being with.

Luz frowns for a moment. “Maybe. It could just make things worse.”

Eda hums at that thought. She hadn’t really considered that. “True. But it could also help with your health issues. If we know what was actually done to you.”

“You really want to look into it don’t you?”

“Only if you're comfortable with me doing it.”

It’s a sensitive topic Eda can tell that much.

Luz still hesitates. “I just don’t want you to think of me as differently afterward.” She finally had somewhere it didn’t feel like she was a monster. Somewhere that felt like home. What if-

Luz is surprised when Eda pulls her into a tight hug. Squeezing her tight for a moment. Her tone’s surprisingly soft and gentle when she speaks. “You're not a monster kid. And whatever happened to you, me knowing isn’t going to change my view on that. I just want to help, please just let me help.”

Luz's voice chokes for a second, she feels the start of tears, as she tries to talk again only getting a couple of words out. “But I-”

“Hey no buts.” Eda says. “The only monsters are those freaks that did the experiments okay?”

The fact Luz doesn’t say okay back immediately is telling. However Eda supposes it will take time. She only knows pieces of the story but obviously doing magic had a negative impact.

Convincing Luz to embrace her magic and that she wasn’t the monster in the closet in her own story is going to take time. But Eda is sure that with enough time she can do it.

Something in Luz breaks at that and the tears start cascading fully then.

“Kid?” Eda asks now, more worried than before.

Between a few hiccups and the tears Luz manages to get out. “No one’s really ever said that before.”

Part of Eda feels like her heart’s breaking all over again for Luz. Though this time it's out of a sense of familiarity as much as having known Luz went through that. No kid should ever have to think that. She knows that pain all too well herself. And the grief it causes. She doesn’t hesitate a moment to pull her kid back into a tight hug.

For a few minutes neither of them said anything. Eda doesn’t let Luz go when she speaks again there is a sadness to it with an undertone of fury.

“I’m so sorry kiddo that you went through that. But I promise you you’re not the monster in this story. And you may not realize that now, or tomorrow, but someday you will understand that you're not the monster for something you can’t control and never asked for.”

#the owl house #the owl house fanfiction #toh fanfiction #Luz Noceda #eda clawthorne #mama eda #toh au

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hatsukeii · 4 years

Text

Yikes I thought of something BUT

Here’s a big trigger warning. This post will contain mentions of the blue whale game, forced self harm, forced suicide, etc. Please proceed with caution.

Anyways since the blue whale game is being talked about again (Although it started in 2013 and I learned about it when I was like what 11) I thought of something to sort of raise the awareness (??) all while sticking w the whole writing blog theme.

So,

Here’s something for ya.

*gif is not mine:)

The Blue Whale // Akutagawa Ryunosuke x Reader

Word Count: 1.9k+

Trigger warnings: cursing, mentions of death, mentions of suicide, forced self harm, the blue whale game, blood

Summary: No one should have blood in their room, but Akutagawa woke up to smell it all over you.

Tears flowed freely from your eyes as you frantically tried to scrub off the sticky, crimson liquid that stained Akutagawa’s desk. Next to the pool of blood, lay a pocket knife, the blade tainted red. The wet kitchen towels in your hand soaked up the blood, leaving the table squeaky clean. Discarding the mountain of kitchen towels, you scrambled for your phone, snapping a photo of your arm, before sending it to your curator.

Are you happy now? Is this enough for you?

Trying your best not to wake your partner up, you tiptoed to the bathroom, grabbing a roll of bandages from the cupboard. You bit your lip as you ran your cut arm under the ice cold tap water, suppressing a few pained groans. Pulling the bandages out, you began to wrap your arm up, the blood staining the white fabric as you winced in pain. The metallic stench of blood was enough to make you puke as you made your way back to the bed. From next to you, you could feel Akutagawa stir in his sleep, before he groggily forced his eyes open.

“Why the fuck are you awake again?”

“Sorry, nightmare.”

Seeing Akutagawa’s figure relaxing, you heaved a sigh, slipping in bed with him. Accidentally putting pressure on your arm, you winced, hissing silently as you flinched. He responded with a light snore, signalling that he was fast asleep. You inched closer to his body, burying your head into the crook of his neck, hoping that subtle action could give you even the tiniest sense of security in this situation.

It didn’t.

You squeezed your eyes shut, trying to forget about the game for even a second, but the gruesome images of the horror movies you’ve had to watch, the mutilated images you were sent, the blue whale carved deep into your arm, all those horrifying things came rushing back to your mind like a flood. You couldn’t forget them. Even as you nuzzled yourself closer to Akutagawa, a shiver made its way down your spine, despite the warmth his body gave off. It was the sense of uneasiness that really did the job. Who was this “whale?” What did they want with you? How did they find Akutagawa’s address? What would they do if you refused to complete your daily mission? You were on day thirty five with no way out. They have already forced you to make a choice of where and how you were going to kill yourself. No one knew of the dangerous situation you were put in, you were all alone. Eventually, you dozed off out of exhaustion, gripping tightly onto Akutagawa’s sweater.

You stood in the middle of your shared bedroom, too petrified to even move. it felt like you were drowning. Just drowning in a deep void of water, with nothing to grip at. Blood was smeared everywhere, not an inch of space left empty. The floor, the walls, the ceiling, the bed, everything was stained and tattered. To your absolute horror, from the curtain pole, hung Akutagawa, his eyes lifeless and dead. You tried to scream, but it was as if your lungs gave out. You were suffocating. This was too much to handle. Forcing your eyes shut, you take a few deep breaths, before making the terrible decision of opening them again. All over your room, eerily detailed drawings were stuck everywhere. Whether it be a knife, a wound, or even a noose. Bringing your hand up to cover your mouth, you stagger out of the room, horrified to see the rest of the apartment. Nothing struck you as abnormal, except for the final painting you found.

It was a painting of a blue whale, stabbed into your front door.

You let out an inhumane scream, tears staining your face as Akutagawa woke up from his slumber. Your knuckles were white from gripping his sweater so hard, the fabric now crinkled. Seeing your visible distress, the black haired man didn’t hesitate to wrap an arm around you, drawing small circles into your back as you grabbed your chest, heaving uncontrollably. Akutagawa scrunched his nose, sniffing the air.

“Blood?”

Hearing the click of a lamp switch, along with the light that turned on after that, you grabbed onto the sleeve of his sweater, trying to pull him back to bed.

“It’s fine! Really, just deal with it later in the day, it’s like three in the morning right now.”

His expression was full of worry as he softly pulled your hand away from the fabric.

“You woke up screaming at three in the morning and I smell blood in this room, I’m gonna check it out and be right back.”

Refusing to let go, your heart raced as you tugged harder, making him fall back, the mattress dipping as he fell onto your wounded arm. A loud hiss sounded from your mouth as you groaned in pain, cradling your arm as you heaved heavily. Akutagawa’s eyes widened in concern. Turning around to face you, he gently took your arm in his hand, poking on it. You flinched at the sensation, feeling every nerve in your arm tingle with pain.

“(Y/n), lift up your sleeve.”

“No, it’s really fine-”

Without listening to you, Akutagawa pulled your sleeve up to reveal the bandages wrapped around your arm, now stained a reddish brown from the dried up blood. You felt your throat close up as you started to wheeze and choke, panic overtaking your senses. Sweat gathered around your forehead, tears threatening to spill from your heavy eyelids as you fought the urge to pass out. From the corner of your eyes, you could barely make out the image of Akutagawa with the tears blurring your sight and the blinding light that was the lamp. Your mind raced, only just realising the worst case scenario had come true. He was at risk now. You should’ve just held the screams back and shut the fuck up but instead you put him in a dire situation along with yourself. What if he got hurt because of you? What if the whale found him and made your nightmare a reality? You would never be able to live it down knowing you were the cause of pain or suffering for your loved one. He cared for you so, so much, and what did he get in return from you? Danger. You were guilty. Terribly guilty. Akutagawa has been through enough already, he shouldn’t have to put up with your shit as well. You stayed silent about the game, hoping to just get it over with and figure everything out yourself so you wouldn’t be a burden to anyone, but of course that didn’t work out and here you were.

Akutagawa’s eyes softened as he let out a tiny exhale.

“Oh no, what the fuck happened love?”

You bit your lip, tears now sliding down your hot cheek as you squeezed your eyes shut. Love? You didn’t deserve to be called that, especially when you’ve just put your partner’s life in danger.

“I told you... it’s okay, don’t worry about me.”

Hearing your voice crack, Akutagawa felt his heart ache as he reached out, pulling you into his chest. Don’t worry? How was he supposed to not worry? It would be plain wrong for him to not give a fuck about your struggles and go on with his life. When he fell in love with you he swore to himself that he would protect you with every ounce of his life, even if it meant putting himself in danger. Seeing you so vulnerable and hurt, it made him want to cry. It made him want to beat himself up for not noticing it earlier. For not noticing anything wrong with the way you woke up at ungodly hours, searching for your phone. For not even suspecting the way you jumped at the tiniest noises at night. He had to hold his tears back. He was going to stay strong for your sake. Planting a gentle kiss on your forehead, he rested his head on top of yours, not even thinking of letting you go. He was going to keep you in his embrace for as long as it took to make you finally feel safe and at ease again.

“Please, just let me change out the bandages for you, okay?”

Feeling you nod under his chin, Akutagawa gently released you from his hug, before slowly grabbing your arm. Eyeing the bandages, he winced, imagining the pain you must be in. Carefully, he peeled the stained fabric off your arm, trying not to inflict any pain on you. His breath was caught in his throat when he saw what was carved onto your arm. As if it was on instinct, you shoved your head back into his chest, sobbing uncontrollably.

“(Y/n), don’t tell me...”

His sentence may have stayed unfinished, but he knew exactly what was going on in his head. Your tears stained his sweater as you continued to cry, but not out of sadness. He knew the feeling all too well. You were scared. Terrified. But could he blame you? The game had two mafia members murdered in the past week, any normal human being would be petrified.

“The blue whale game?”

You gripped his sweater even tighter, your fingers hurting as you nodded into the fabric.

“How long has it been?”

“Thirty five days.”

Before you could comprehend the situation, Akutagawa was carrying you to the bathroom, his arms hooked underneath your legs and back, dirtied bandages in one hand. Setting you down on his lap, he threw out the stained fabric, grabbing the roll of bandages. Gently, he wrapped them around your arm, making sure not to put too much pressure on the wound. He didn’t want to see you in pain again. Not tonight. Not ever.

“I’m sorry.”

His hands froze at your words.

“For what?”

Your eyes were empty, holding close to no emotion. They were dead, as if you were nothing but a talking corpse.

“You should stay away from me. It’s too dangerous for me to stay now.”

“If I stay away, then who’s going to keep you safe, idiot?”

His words may have been harsh, but it was clear as day the concern that was laced in his voice. The air was thick, the two of you silent as he continued to bandage your arm up. Securing the fabric, he gave your arm a tiny squeeze, his hands warm even through the bandages. Carrying you back to the bedroom, he gently laid you down, before getting in bed himself, draping the blanket over the two of you. He then proceeded to pull you into his arms, his hair tickling your forehead as he stroked yours in return. Your arms shakily wrapped around his torso, taking in his scent. It was comforting to a certain degree, but you shook at the thought of the nightmare. Feeling you shake, Akutagawa started to whisper sweet nothings in your ear, hoping that would comfort you.

“Shh, I’m right here, don’t worry. You’re safe, come closer. You can squeeze me as tight as you want, don’t worry. We can sort all this out tomorrow. For now, just get some rest. Careful about your arm too.”

Hearing that, you tightened your grip on him, pulling yourself into his chest as he wheezed slightly.

“Well that’s quite tight.”

Continuing his calming strokes on your hair, Akutagawa littered your head with soft kisses, each and every single one of them filled with emotion as he held onto you. You were so fragile in his arms, seconds away from breaking completely. Hearing your soft snores, he smiled to himself, starting to drift to sleep himself.

“Never, ever, be sorry for something like this. I’m willing to put my life on the line if it means you’re protected.”

Yikers this seems underwhelming now that I’m done w it-

But still hope you enjoy it!!

First bsd fic DONE LMAOO

Tags:

@sunshines-and-tatertots @just-another-bored-writer @bokutokoutarou @inlwlevi @iwaigroomi @sneezefiction @tiger1719 @tiredgr3mlin @swingflamingoat @random-fandomlover @kaylacinderella @skyeackermans @burnt-tomato @izzyphantomgamer @poppirocks @agentvicinity @sakusasgarbage @emsvegetables @ewfilthymundane @kuroo-thought-of-a-better-un @talks-a-lot-of-stuff @macaronnv @trashcanweeb @xonfusedsoul @eleiaisagoodgirliswear @justachillgirl @artsamber @itmekisuu @shoutsukii @mariechan123

Feel free to comment or pm to be added to the taglist:))

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wayward-mikaelson · 4 years

Text

Centuries-One

Word Count: 2571

Characters: Reader, Dean, Sam, Cas, Jack, Crowley (Mentioned), Lucifer (mentioned), Maggie (mentioned)

About: The reader wakes in a field with no memory of how she got there. She calls the only person she knows she can trust. When the reader finds out that she was gone for a year, she starts to doubt that given the only lead on her blank memory is the phone she found in her pocket. The reader is also made aware of Deans behavior and can’t wait to get to him.

Warnings: Language, Blood, Fluff, Angst

A/N: Read Devilish Angel before you start this one!

A/N 2: If you want to be tagged, Comment below!

A/N 3: I love feedback and I love it when my readers guess where the story is going to go.

TAG LIST: @donnaintx @myinconnelly1 @magssteenkamp @elansaidaris @squirrelnotsam

18+ CONTENT. CHILDREN MOVE ALONG. NOTHING TO SEE HERE.

**PLEASE DO NOT COPY MY WORK AND POST IT ANYWHERE WITHOUT MY PERMISSION. I ALSO POST MY WORK ON IG, WATTPAD AND AO3 BEFORE HAND TO AVOID PEOPLE STEALING MY WORK. I ALSO SAVE THESE INTO FILES WITH DATES AND TIMES TO AVOID THIS AS WELL***

You know, nothing really prepares you for death. You can face it many times and beat it but, there will always be that one time where it just creeps up on you. Then boom. Black. You're gone. Either you go up or you go down.

I ended up doing both.

The last few moments of my life I remember so clearly.

I was in that field with Sam and we were fighting angels and trying to save Dean. Trying to break him free from Michaels hold. But I knew I wouldn't make out of this once that angel grabbed hold of me. Once my body had passed through the Gates of Heaven, I saw darkness for a brief moment then I saw heaven. My soul slowly turned into my human form. I saw a few angels standing there and then, something happened. Something dark and something powerful took hold of me and pulled me from heaven.

I felt myself being dragged further and further from the pure and clean energy I felt in Heaven. I felt myself being pulled down to something much more darker and much more sinister. Then it stopped. I was able to open my eyes and find that I was in my body. A body that should not exist at this point because it became tiny little molecules when it passed through Heavens gate.

Then Crowley showed up. Of course Crowley had something to do with this. He was always up to something. He sat down and told me he that he was able to recreate my human body with a simple spell so that my soul, which was all dark and twisted now, would be able to enter. I knew I was better off dying at the hands of Michael once I learned I was demon.

As time went on, I did my duty as a demon and then I learned to love it. I became a better torturer. I enjoyed torturing poor unfortunate souls. I made those hard to make deals with those hard to make humans. Billionaires. Millionaires. Celebrities. CEOs. I worked my way up the demonic ladder in hopes of being Crowleys right hand. Then I would over throw him and rule Hell.

Then, I was summoned to the crossroads.

As a crossroads demon, you had to say yes to whatever a Winchester wanted. Crowleys rule. But I just couldn't. Dean wanted to make a deal. Of course he asked for an exchange. My life for his. But I knew better. I knew that once I was human again, I would do whatever it took to get Dean back. So I did what I did. I lead him on and pulled his blade on myself. I could see the pain and horror on his face as I drove the blade into my chest.

Finally, everything was dark. I could finally rest.

Or so I thought.

I open my eyes and see that I am laying down in a field. I sit up and instantly grab my side. Blood is slowly spilling out. I take the flannel I am wearing and press it to the wound. The wound is right above the mark that Michael put on me. Why is that still there? I ask myself. I look around and there are few bodies next to me. Clearly they were demons given there's an angel blade in my hand. It's not the sight that gets me all tripped up, It's the fact that I'm alive. Alive, human, and I have no idea in hell how I got back.

I painfully stand up and try and make myself move but, the pain in my side is killing me. I lay back down and feel something in my pocket. I reach in there, wincing at the pain that I now feel all over my body. I pull out a phone. Theres a few missed calls and texts from someone I don't even know but, they clearly know me. I unlock the phone and dial the only person I can trust.

"Hello," a gruff voice answers.

"Cas?" It's getting hard to breathe now. "It's me. It's YN. I need your help."

Within the hour, I literally crawled my way to the nearest highway with Cas's help. He said he would meet me at the closest mile marker and to just sit near it. By the time I get there, I look down at my flannel and know I lost more blood. I'm starting to get dizzy and pray that Cas is driving fast. I begin to think I may die a second time.

I am just about to pass out thinking about Dean when I hear a vehicle approaching. I force my eyes open to see Cas's truck pull up and him rush out. His trenchcoat flowing behind him. He's by my side in seconds. Already assessing the wound. A wound I have no memory of getting.

"This might hurt when I touch it," He says placing a cold hand on my wound. I suck in a deep breath as a sharp pain bolts through my body. The pain is gone and I can breath again. "How did this happen?" Cas asks helping me up.

"I don't know," I answer. I really wish I knew. "The last thing I remember was killing myself to keep Dean from making a dean with me. Did you tell him about me?" I can't imagine what Dean would feel when he saw me again. Had he moved on? Had he found someone new?

Cas shook his head. "No," he says looking around. "He and Sam are on a case and have been out of reception for most of the day. Even if I had a way, I wouldn't. Not until I made sure."

"Right," I say raising my arm up to Cas. A good old fashioned 'Are you human?' test. "Give me you best."

Cas turns to walk away. "I don't need to check. When I touched you and knew that you were human right away."

I smile and follow him back to his truck. "That's right, Angels can tell who is human and who isn't." I open the passenger door and slip on in. "Cas," I say softly. "I really don't know how I got hurt. I don't even know how I am even alive. I should be dead dead."

Cas looks at you. "We will figure it out once we get back to the bunker."

"The Michael mark, did you get anything from it? Does he know I'm back?" I need to know. Since I was dead before everything finished. "Or was Sam successful with that crystal thing?" I really hope he was otherwise I was in for a treat with the Archangel.

"Sam was able to trap Michael and he hid it in a box to keep demons and angels and witches out and dropped it in the deepest parts of the ocean." Cas stopped talking and starts to drive.

We sit in silence for most of the drive until Cas starts talking again. "Dean never moved on." He says. "He hides it really well but, when he's not hunting and he starts to drink, we notice it. He's too occupied trying to find a way to get you back."

I sit there already knowing deep down Dean wouldn't stop if he knew there was a slight chance at finding me. "How long has he been doing this?" I ask looking at my hands. There was still blood on them. I'm kind of scared to know the answer but I really need to know.

"A year," Cas says. "A lot has happened too. Lucifer broke free. He slept with a human which resulted in a nephilim who isn't anything like Lucifer at all. We somehow managed to kill Lucifer. Dean has been non stop hunting these last few weeks as it's almost the anniversary of your death."

A year? I think to myself. It feels like I've been here all along. I pull out the phone I used to call Cas with. "This is the only thing I have connecting me to the what happened. Once we figure that out maybe I can take Dean out for a small vacation somewhere."

The rest of the drive is silent. I want to get back to the bunker. I want to see Dean. I want to tell him he was stupid for not moving on. I want to get back to what normal of life I had before all of this. But what would I do if he had moved on? I suddenly begin to think. What if he did and was forced to choose between his new love and me. I shake my head and just focus on the now. I lean my head back and close my eyes.

Once I'm asleep I see things that are confusing. A cabin that looks all too familiar. A person that looks all too familiar. A conversation that plays in my head that makes my heart race and my side sting. Could this be the person that stabbed me? That's a real possibility. That same person kept saying a name over and over again. That same person kept pointing and referring to a newly made vessel.

"Michael!" I snap my eyes open to see Cas had pulled over. He's looking at me with a hand resting on my shoulder. I am drenched in sweat and my heart is still racing. The slight sting in my side fades away.

"YN, are you okay? You were breathing pretty hard and shaking." Cas leans back into his seat. "Was it a nightmare?"

I rub my face, "I don't know," I answer finally. "It had something to do with Michael though. Cas how long until we reach the bunker? I really need a shower before we tackle this." I also need to test that mark once I'm alone.

"We are a few minutes from it," Cas answers and puts the truck back into drive. "Sam called. They are back at the bunker right now unloading their gear."

I look up at Cas. "Did you tell Sam about me?" I really hope he didn't but, I also didn't care if he did.

"No, I didn't," Cas says taking a deep breath. Something is off. "The last couple months have been hard on him. Maggie was found dead in the woods. Throat slashed open. Telling him that Dean's girlfriend is back from the dead would be hard on Sam."

My heart stops. Maggie? Dead? How? Maggie was my best friend in the whole world after I killed Ketch. She was always there for me and really wasn't afraid to tell me what she thought. Unless I was injured then she would tread lightly because I was the worst patient ever. I'm sure there were times when she wanted to kill me.

"Poor Sam," I say. I remember they were close too. I knew they liked each other but, they never told each other. I wonder if they ever did before she died. "He wasn't the one who found her was he?" I hope to God that he didn't.

"No, he wasn't. It was another hunter who was staying with the boys." Cas says pulling into the bunker. "Dean wouldn't even let him see her body. It was horrible. But we gave her the hunters funeral that she deserved."

My heart races as I see the impala and I smile. I never thought I would see that beauty again. Then, I see Dean and a young boy walk out of the bunker. The boy smiles and laughs making Dean smirk a bit. It makes your heart melt with happiness. "Cas, you said he didn't move on," I say as he parks a bit away from the Impala. "That right there is moving on. He looks happy with that boy. Who is he?"

"Jack Kline. Lucifers Son. Dean's a good father figure for him and Jack looks up to him." Cas gets out of the truck.

I put my hand on the door handle and hesitate for a second. It's not everyday you come back to life mysteriously. Unless you're a Winchester. But I wasn't one. I close my eyes and say a small prayer of sorts and say screw it. I open the door and step out into the Kansas heat.

"Hey Cas," Deans voice sent shivers down my spine. I missed the sound of his voice and how it always made me feel. Weak in the knees and safe. "Whos your friend...?" His voice trails off when he sees me. He hands the boy, Jack, the bag in his hands and makes his way towards me.

"I know what this must look like," I say holding my hands out. I have no idea what Dean was planning on doing. I can't be too prepared given he has thrown me up on a wall in a very not so sexy manner. "I don't know how I came back. I woke up in a field and I called Cas who came and saw that I'm clearly human."

Dean ignores all that I say. He gets to me and grabs my hands and pulls me towards him. I don't have time to think about what is happening because the next second Dean has his lips pressed to mine. I melt right into the kiss and wrap my arms around his neck. This kiss is emotional for the both of us. I can feel both of our tears mixing together. Dean walks me back against the truck. His hands trail from hips up to my face. Leaving goosebumps through my clothes. I let out a small sigh.

Dean pulls back enough to look me in the eyes. There are a few stray tears lingering in the corner of his eyes. They make his green eyes shine though. "I just needed to make sure this wasn't dream." He pulls a stray hair out of my face and the feel of his hand resting on my cheek makes me close my eyes. I can stay in this moment forever. Even if this were a nightmare, it would have been the best kind.

"Who is she?" I heard Jack ask. His voice is higher than the rest of the guys.

I open my eyes to see that not only Cas and Jack are watching but, Sam was out too. There is both happiness and sadness in his eyes. Cas was right not to tell him about me before. Dean pulls me into his side and walks me over to them. "Jack, this is YN YLN," Dean kisses the side of my head. His lips linger there and I know he's taking in my scent.

"I thought you were dead," Jack says looking you over. He was skinny looking kid with long ragged hair that matched his green eyes.

"Didn't seem take," I answer smiling at him. I think I might like this kid too. "So, you're Lucifers kid. You don't look like you're one."

"I had to grow up fast. My mother told me it wouldn't be safe for me as baby." Jack answers.

Thunder is heard in the distance. I didn't realize that there was storm rolling in. "Let's head on in." Dean begins to walk me inside. His arm tightens around me and I know that he's still thinking that this could still be a dream. Again, if this were a dream or nightmare, it's the best kind. It's been the happiest I've been in a long time.

#SPN #spn fanfiction #spnfandom #spn final season #spnimagine #supernatural #supernatural fanfiction #dean winchester #sam and dean #dean angst #dean smut #dean fluff #dean x reader #Sam Winchester #Castiel #Centuries Story #waywardsistershy

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precuredaily · 5 years

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Precure Day 162

Episode: Yes! Precure 5 14 - “Karen, The Troubled Student Council President” Date watched: 3 December 2019 Original air date: 6 May 2007 Screenshots: https://imgur.com/a/ZVrof8Y Project info and master list of posts: http://tinyurl.com/PCDabout

Karen has a big think

It’s Karen’s turn to hold the character development conch. This time, we get to see how she handles pressure from all directions! We also find out a little secret about Otaka-san and the school’s leadership. Good stuff, so let’s dive in!

The Plot

Various clubs approach Karen, aggressively requesting budget increases. The futsal club can’t afford new balls, the drama club can’t afford costumes, the judo club can’t afford new weights, the list goes on. Karen is taken aback and tries to explain the complexities of the situation to the students, but they are insistent. After trying to come up with a solution, she approaches the Vice Principal and explains her situation, requesting a budget increase for all the clubs. He is reluctant to change the budget that’s already been agreed upon for the year, but because he respects her decision to approach him, he will take it up with the principal. The VP goes to the Principal, revealed (to the audience) to actually be Otaka-san the lunch lady, but she insists that she doesn’t believe they need a budget increase, and there are still solutions the clubs haven’t yet come up with to resolve their budget woes. Komachi talks with Karen, commending her willingness to work hard for the clubs where before she probably would have simply said that the budget was already decided and they had to make do with what they had. The influence of their determined young friends is rubbing off on them.

Coincidentally, Nightmare is also having budget issues of a sort. Although they aren’t in a pinch, Kawarino is scolding Bunbee for blowing a lot of money without producing any results, and implies that his subordinates are useless and the whole department could get restructured. Bunbee decides to go fight the girls himself to get some results.

Back at school, Karen is still being hounded by the clubs, and her attempts at de-escalation aren’t working, so Otaka almost steps in, but Komachi is actually the one to put her foot down, startling everyone. She reminds the club leaders that they agreed to their annual budgets before the proposal was sent to the school administration, and that Karen alone cannot solve everything. With help from Nozomi, she gets them all to line up and explain their problems, to see if they can work together and figure out alternative solutions within their existing budgets.

The biggest offender is the drama club, which is going way over budget because they’ve picked a play with lots of extravagant costumes. However, Komachi gets them to work with the sewing club, who were looking for a platform to display their work, and the two split costs in this mutually beneficial agreement. The Judo club couldn’t afford to buy new weights AND new uniforms, but they also got the sewing club to patch up their uniforms so they could buy heavier weights, and donated their older ones to the futsal club. Now that she doesn’t need to buy weights, Rin can afford new balls, and donates the old ones to the art club, who find their shape and texture very inspirational.

I’d like to point out that the dumbbell Nozomi is struggling to lift is only 5 KG, that’s about 11 lbs.

With everyone’s issues resolved, the girls enjoy a moment of peace as Rin takes her new dumbbells to her club space, but on the way, Bunbee shows up to cause trouble. He turns the dumbbells into a Kowaina and taunts the girls about his own superiority. They transform and fight back, but he is pretty strong. When Mint shields one of the monster’s attacks, he launches a missile that breaks the shield, and he easily dodges when Rouge and Aqua try to fight him in the air. Dream and Lemonade have no luck fighting the Kowaina and they’re all left on the ground, defeated. Bunbee boasts about how much easier it is to do everything himself, and Aqua scoffs. She says she used to feel that way, but now she knows they’d never win if they did that, and the team springs into action. Bunbee tries to missile them again, and again Mint uses her shield, but this time Aqua also blocks it with Aqua Stream and this weakens it enough to bounce off the shield. Dream and Rouge restrain the Kowaina while Lemonade attacks it with Lemonade Flash, then the two throw it and perform their finishers. The Kowaina is destroyed and Bunbee retreats, self-justifying the day by saying you have to spend money to make money.

Back at the lunch table, Nozomi observes that Komachi might actually be stronger than Karen, which gives them all pause. Otaka comes over with a basket full of yakisoba bread, claiming the principal told her how they avoided a budget crisis, and suddenly people from all the other clubs appear, all vying for some of the free bread. Nozomi cries because the crowd beat her to the stuff she really wanted, and that’s the ending card.

The Analysis

What a fun episode. Karen’s commitment to the students is really earnest and inspiring. You can see why she’s the president, and even how much progress she’s made since the start of the show. Old Karen just cared about order, new Karen has the best interests of the students in mind and wants to meet them where they’re at. She fields the ire of the various clubs like a champ, trying not to get overwhelmed, and explaining the delicate balance that is adjusting budgets: since the budget has already been agreed upon, for her to allocate more to one group than previously agreed means the money has to come out of somewhere else, and that could put the other party in a pinch. Important financial lesson for the kids in the audience, too. And when her advice isn’t sufficient for them, she goes to bat for them by requesting assistance from the VP. My only criticism is that she probably should have asked why they needed more money first to see where their funds were tied up at, but honestly I would probably do the same thing, jumping straight to “let me get them what they say they need” and not “let me look into the situation more”.

When they get to the drama club and find out the reason they’re so over budget is because they decided to produce an expensive-ass play, I about died. LOOK AT THIS OUTFIT.

gosh I wonder why

There’s a lesson in here somewhere about working within your limitations. Urara suggests they do a simpler show like Kintarou, which would have costumes and props they could reuse in other shows, but from the club president’s response I get the impression they’ve done far too many shows like that and are sick of it. Also can’t fault them for doing something different. I remember in my junior year (11th grade), my school put on a production of “High School Musical” (this was when that was still a pretty fresh and hot property) and it sold like crazy, so the next year they were able to perform “Little Shop of Horrors”, renting the Audrey II puppets from somewhere. It’s okay to dream big, but you gotta make sure you can afford it. (inb4 ok boomer) However, working with the sewing club was a very good compromise. They get a platform to showcase their work, the drama club gets good costumes for cheaper, and they split the costs. Some of the other deals are a bit more one-sided but as long as everyone’s happy, it works.

By the way, Komachi’s restraint when the club president goes “oh yeah we spent all our budget on that one outfit and we need a bunch more” is remarkable. (I looked it up and I see similarities to Les Miserables: it’s a famous story that takes place over multiple generations and features LOTS of recurring characters) Komachi is, thankfully, very good at keeping herself in check, but if you manage to set her off, she is downright scary. That’s a common attribute for shield-based Cures, and it started here.

For reasons that aren’t entirely clear, since they only have a few of the costumes done, the drama club president is only ever seen in-costume, looking like a prince with a pencil mustache drawn onto her face. If we take the bold assumption that this all occurs in one day, even one lunch period, then this makes sense enough, but it’s still kind of silly.

The first half of this episode is so good, and tells a pretty complete story, that both times I watched it I forgot what kind of show it was because I was so absorbed in the antics of the clubs, so I thought the resolution was just going to be sorting out their budgets, when that was actually only the halfway point. The fight with Bunbee in the second half, while good, feels incomplete. I’m not sure if something got lost in translation for the subtitles, because he seems to indicate he spent money on a better Kowaina mask but the subs don’t reflect him saying this, only the girls’ response that it looks the same as normal. I do like them switching up their fighting style, and it comes with one of the strangest calls to action I’ve ever seen:

previously unsaid sentences in human history

The context is that, earlier in the episode, Nozomi and Urara traded lunch items, and now Karen is reminding them all to trade opponents and work together to beat the monster. Hilariously, even though Nozomi was the one who wanted to trade in the first place, she’s the last one to get this coded message, after Rin explains it to her.

She is special.

The elephant in the room here is that Otaka-san, the humble lunch lady who always adds a million onto every order, who appears a little disheveled, is in fact the school’s principal. Books and covers, ya know. I don’t recall if the girls every learn her secret, but it’s revealed to the audience here. I assume she serves as the lunch lady in order to get close to the students and understand what’s going on without calling attention to her position of authority. That’s the thing about power, even if you act relatable, if someone knows you’re way above them on the totem pole, they’re going to act differently, so she has put herself on the level of students. It’s like Undercover Boss except she never reveals the ruse. And honestly, it’s a very good ruse. She is approachable to the students and they all love her, so she can listen to their problems and make sure that the school is running well from the ground level. Also, as the lunch lady, she wears plain clothes, an apron, and flat shoes. Her only accessory is her trademark silver brooch. As the principal, she wears a suit, her hair is more tamed, she wears lipstick and earrings. She even speaks differently between her roles, sounding more raspy in her disguise, while she adopts a more formal and stern tone while acting as the principal. It’s impressive. I know she appears in this role at least one more time in the show, so I look forward to seeing that.

As usual there were some great moments of comedy, wonderful facial expressions, and you can see those chronicled in the gallery.

Next time, in Precure Daily, Nozomi’s mom is sick, so she has to do the housework! How badly will this end?

Pink Precure Catchphrase Count: 0 kettei!

#Precure #Pretty Cure #Yes! Precure 5 #YPC514 #PCD162

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lovehugsandcandy · 5 years

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Four Words, One Reply (Colt x MC)

A/N: I haven’t written anything recently because my muse was GONE after prom on Friday. Muse said that she needed a break because she got everything she wanted. Back now, for better or worse. Here’s a bit of fluff, a bit of wish fulfillment for me and PLEASE let this offering of fluff atone for the angst I posted earlier.

Pairing: Colt x MC, ROD

Length: 1556 words

Rating: PG-13 (Swearing, probably, because I swear a lot.)

Summary: Ellie graduates from Langston.

Tags: @deimosensblog @alegria1580 @choicesarehard @thefarrari @client-327 @moonlit-girl-wonder @going-down-downtown@soniadotalves@jolietmaraud @hazah @flowerpowell@poeticscolt @powdesiree1986

Ellie dreaded the day that the letters stopped coming. The worst of it was the terror, deep in her soul, that she would never know. Would he stop writing when he fell out of love? When he was sentenced to jail? Worse?

Her roommate thought it was romantic. "No one writes letters anymore, Ellie. It's sweet." Little did she know that it was likely a necessity, a way to avoid being tracked. Electronic communication could be dangerous and she was certain she didn't even have Colt’s current phone number. All she had were the letters.

They came unexpectedly, with no rhythm. Some months, she would get a letter a week, with varying return addresses, some with stamped return envelopes, to varying cities, so she could write back if she wanted. She always did.

Some months, there were no letters. The worst was four months, spanning the summer and start of fall semester of junior year. Ellie was in a panic, barely able to sleep until, finally, a thin envelope in her mailbox, no details, no explanation, only an "I love you, Ellie." She cried, sobs in the middle of the campus center, oblivious to the stares around her.

Sometimes they came with money, always cash. Never a ton, but enough to make her worried about what he was doing. Always earmarked for something, $400 for new school books, $100 for her "first legal drink at Flanagan's and a cab back home." At first, she sent it back; she didn't want his money (she wanted him) and felt bad taking it. He would return it to her, quickly, with a gentle admonishment that it was his way of feeling connected, a way of being there with her in spirit. She took it more often than not now but, when the nights were long and the nightmares were strong and the terror wouldn’t subside, she would send his money back, knowing it was the fastest way to get letter in return, to know that he was still ok. And, though it made her uneasy, she did let him buy her first legal drink.

She knew, with their last conversation in LA, that she was signing herself up for a bit of loneliness. He told her that he needed time, he couldn’t be in LA, he needed to get away. She understood, she got it. She knew the memories this place had for him. She asked him to come with her; wasn’t Boston far enough away? She still remembered his sad eyes, the last kiss. He told her he would wait for her, but he didn’t expect anything, said he didn’t know when he would see her next, but he would, one day. She didn’t know if he was trying to outrun his grief or hide from it, but she prayed he succeeded.

And now this, a month before her graduation, a cryptic note, barely a letter, on the back of a photograph. She could recognize the image, the Bean (he was in Chicago?) and pored over the picture, looking for a hint of him. She couldn't find Colt, no smirk, no leather jacket but, in the corner of the reflecting mirror, warped in the curve of the monument, she finally spied what he wanted her to see. A sleek bright pink European import, looking amazingly like her car back in LA. And on the back, four words and a return envelope, addressed to PO Box in Pittsburgh. She read those words, over and over and over again, in class, in bed, memorizing Colt’s scrawl as if it would bring him back to her, in the flesh. Finally, three days later, she printed a picture of herself, a selfie in front of the magnolias blooming by the library, her fiercest look on her face, graduation cap in her hand. She wrote one word, on the back, and sent it, kissing the envelope as if it would make it travel faster.

In the meantime, she finished classes, hung out with friends, and went on with her life, trying to live enough for both of them.

~~~~~

It was ungodly hot for Boston in May and Detective Wheeler shifted in the shitty folding chairs the university had rented for graduation. He was nothing but grateful to be here and so happy for his ambitious daughter, graduating Summa Cum Laude from her dream school. He was just so proud and had told her as much at breakfast this morning, with her and her roommate and some friends, all celebrating their achievements and simultaneously scared of what was ahead. He was just ecstatic that they all made it this far, intact and whole, willing to take nothing for granted.

He remembered being terrified, after the months senior year when she was lost to him, terrified she was gone, terrified he had failed her, his wife, himself. He still remembered the relief when he opened the door that morning and she was there, two kids in tow, asking for help from a horror they never should have been involved in. Who would have thought the crew he was supposed to be hunting was more Lost Boys than Mafia? And who would have thought they would have been influential in bringing down an actual, organized crime unit in the LAPD?

After, his prodigal daughter had returned, and then gone to school, and things had generally returned to normal. She studied hard, came back for breaks, and confided in him, every detail of college. The all-night studying sessions, the boys who seemingly had their eye on her, even a few snippets about the parties she attended. There was only one thing she didn’t share with him, one thing too personal, too close for her to divulge to her old man. He saw the letters, sometimes, and ached to read them, but he trusted her. Giving her this space was important to him, a way of redeeming himself for watching too closely for years. She had earned her freedom.

And that freedom brought him here, to graduation, from one of the best universities on the East Coast, sitting in the heat and fiddling with a program. Riya would have come but her graduation was the same day so he was here, alone, bringing best wishes from LA.

Well, almost alone. A shadow fell over him, a soft clearing of a throat and, when he looked up, he dropped the leaflet, turning back to watch it sway to the ground.

“Is this seat taken?”

He stood, eye to eye with the boy, no, the man, next to him. He hadn’t seen him in four years and stared; his shoulders had broadened, visible in the short-sleeved dress shirt, eyes still intense, jawline and cheekbones seemingly sharper with age. The last time he had seen Colt Kaneko, he was broken, mourning a father he barely knew and a life he never would live. Now, he seemed more at ease, as if time didn’t erase all wounds, but made them easier to deal with. He still looked like he would never truly relax but that he was, for now, at peace.

Colt extended his hand and he shook it, then gestured to the chair. “Sit down.” He picked up the brochure, watching Colt settle in, putting a bouquet of flowers under his chair. “I didn’t know you were coming.”

A small smile. “Yeah, Ellie doesn’t know either. I don’t know if she’s going to hit me or hug me.”

Wheeler grinned; he knew his daughter better than that. “My money’s on neither.”

~~~~~~

Ellie couldn’t stop laughing and smiling and celebrating. She felt alive. After the ceremony, she desperately ripped off her gown, sweltering in the heat. She couldn’t stop handing out hugs, to professors, friends, her roommate. The crowd was crushing, families and loved ones, all fighting to get to the graduates; she couldn’t find her dad. She knew he was here, somewhere, but the mass of people made it hard to see six feet in front of her.

Finally, it was like the crowds parted and there he was. She dashed, sprinting towards him, laughing and wrapping him up in a hug. They were flying back to LA in a few days, once things calmed down and she was packed, but she wanted to see him now, in the midst of one of the biggest celebrations of her life. She pulled back, looking at the joy in his face and laughed.

“Love you dad!”

He kissed her cheek. “Congratulations. I am so proud of you.”

She went to smile at him again when she saw something, someone, over his shoulder and froze with a gasp. He dad smiled and stepped aside and there, alive and whole and in the flesh, Colt stood, clutching a bouquet and looking painfully out of place. She stared at him, time stopping, the crowd a dull roar around her as they stared at each other.

She took a step, then another, and was soon running, leaping into his arms, her lips finding his, the flowers falling as he clung to her, desperately. It was all she could do to hold on as he kissed her like he was drowning, four years of missing each other communicated through touch.

Finally, he pulled back, stars in his eyes as he looked at her. “I love you, Ellie.”

“Always.”

#playchoices fanfic #choices rod #colt kaneko #colt x mc #colt rod #amy writes

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low-budget-korra · 6 years

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The Legend Of Korra_Book One : “That’s Dark”

So reviewing TLOK made me not only caught up in the nostalgia of this wonderful and special animated show but also reflected on the journey not only from Korra but also from all Team Avatar.

(Remembering that all this is just my opinion and some of the various interpretations that I have about the show)

Book 1 is in my opinion the second best of TLOK and the darkest of all.

And reviewing I think I've noticed why.

Book One is the most "real" of all. All the problems there can be seen in the most different societies.

We have an ideological political clash in an environment where segregation between benders and non-benders is still a reality.

I think the whole atmosphere of Republic City is more dark , so at the very beginning we are introduced to those problems that I honestly think we can all understand. Fear of violence, lack of confidence in figures who hold power, a "savior" who appeals to the fear of this population and take's power, conspiracies for power, politics shit , social inequality , etc

Problems that are real at a international level. I here in Brazil can feel and understand this in the same way as a person who whatch’s the show in Canada. I think

Not to mention the urban colors and shades of grey and brown more saturated and not so bright (especially at night) , showing that the city is kind of a trap, something “Too good to be true." Its beautiful and scary at the same time.

So we have Korra, who in book one has 17 years (the same age as I when i started to watch the series) and as it is visible in her’s first moments, is that she has the “spirit of a kid”.

I think the expression "kid's mind in a Woman's Body" can define the Korra in Book One. She is naive, immature, spoiled, a bit arrogant, very self-confident, playfull...

I think it was one of the things that enchanted me in her and undoubtedly was what made me connect with her, because I was also, especially, naive as she.

Korra comes with the glare for just being at Republic City, that childish naivete of thinking that everything will work fine, without consequences.

And it is precisely when she, for the first time, is confronted with the possible consequences of the fight that she has just entered, she breaks. But before we talk more about Korra, let's talk about her nemesis here, Amon.

Amon is a white and heterosexual man representing the patriarchy .... lmao im joking, or not...

Anyway, Amon ... The way he uses to subjugate and dominate his enemies, the violation he makes to achieve this ... I find it almost impossible not to parallel this with cases of sexual violence. Amom takes some of these people for himself, he forces something into them, they get devastated and depressed after losing the benders to him and also they look kinda of feeling humiliated by that.

So we have the terrible and beautiful episode :"The Voice in the Night". Here we see this 17 year old girl, absolutely terrified by the idea of confronting this man who must be in his late 30′s.

I think that when Korra saw what Amon was capable of , it was the first time in her life when she felt truly afraid. And for us girls, being afraid of a man, especially when walking alone in the night , sadly still is a reality.

Anyway, going back to the show ...

After being coerced to fight on the front line against the Equalists for Tarrlok ( I will speak of him soon), Korra gains confidence and in her naiveness, invites Amon to a duel.

Amon not only arrives late as he is disloyal and does not come alone. An adult man ambushes a 17-year-old girl in a dark place with the help of his crew ... Man, this is dark ! And all the lighting and animation of the final scenes of the episode are excellent because it resembles more a horror story than a kid’s show.

The way they hold her on her knees, making her so small in comparation to him, who looks even more frightening. But not only this, because “be on knees” historically and culturally associated with submission and she was forced to be in that position. The way Amon holds her face makes it clear that the avatar was totally impotent since her rival had already crossed the “touch barrier” by touching her face. The Touch for many people is something intimate and touch someone face is not only something more intimate but also associated with caring and love. And this motherfucker just crossed this line

Amon accepted the challenge with the goal of destroying the Avatar independent of who she was. And thats terrible and scary, but also, so real for so many people.

After he leaves, Tenzin arrives and ask if everything is okay and all. Korra then says that she still has her bendings and finally opens with him over her fears as she cries in his arms.

Then after, we have an episode more focused on love triangle and comedy. Cause its a kids show right?

How will Korra deal with Amon now that she has already lost the first battle?

Honestly I dont think she overcame her fears there, I think she just buried them for the greater good that was defeating him. Something like “im scared as fuck but im gonna do it anyway”. And you need to be brave to do that

And after losing her bendings to the enemy in the final episode, when her worst nightmare comes true , she has nothing left to lose. And in desperation to save her friend and crush from going through what she had just been through, Korra discovers she can airbend. And this new wave of confidence makes her defeat Amon at his own game, exposing him as the fraud he is. But is that enough? I see later that she still suffering for losing all the other bendings, she’s still broken until Avatar Aang pass by to say “hey” and give her all the bendings back

(This scene had me on tears)

Tarrlok is a character that I just did not like. And guys since he saw Korra, he directed all the attention to her.

Of course he wanted to use her to climb the ladder and take Republic City's political power for himself. But seriously ... I know that maybe you find yourself thinking "Damn, you will put sexual subtext and sexual interpretation where they do not have". But listen to me.

Tarrlok is an older man who does not accept Korra’s "no" for his partnership proposals.

Then we have the episode where her confrots him by the arrest of her friends. Of course Tarrlok used the bloodbend on her cause she was ready to burn his ass down.

And it is logical that he would disappear with her so she does not unmask him to everybody. Now, though it seemed like something got at the moment, Tarrlok had it all ready. The place where Korra would be taken and where he kept her arrested .

Of course, the most obvious answer is that the place might have been prepared to receive Amon, though he did not know that he was a bender so he did not need that metal box because a normal cell would work, but with all that happened , Tarrlok had this change of plans. I think he may think that she could bring problems to his plans and the let this as plan B

But then an now unmasked and hunted by Republic City police force and just before Amon invades the place, he tells Korra that he will run away and that he will take her as his hostage.

But why? If he had hated her for ending his plans, he could just leave her there to die of hunger / thirst. Not to mention that, Korra would definitely fight and delay him in his escape, so why take her ?

Another thing, Amon wouldnt hurt Korra, he doesnt even saw her as a person, he only saw the symbol, the Avatar and that must be destroyed but all costs. Tarrlok in other hand wants to use the symbol but also know the person behind, he knows the 17old Korra and would hurt her if he has to.

The politics, the intimidation, the haressament, the fear, the power dinamics between those 3 characters...

Mako and Bolin do not have much development in book One . Mako is the love interest and Bolin is the comic relief.

Asami has a very remarkable moment. She has to choose between her father and what is right.

And the Fire Ferrets certainly helped her in that choice. Especially Mako, Asami's mother was killed by benders, probably fire benders cause they kinda murder people parents sometimes, and Mako is a firebender. So relating to him might have knocked over all the rest of prejudice and anger she may have for benders until that.

This arc between Asami and her father is also about the loss of innocence. In that case, lose the innocence of thinking that our parents cant be bad people.

And even more, from then on, Asami is shaped much more like someone who makes right choices in difficult times, even if those choices are heart-breaking.

Tenzin leaves his comfort zone. He will train Korra, who is someone who almost totally contradicts who he is. And right away, we see that he is an excellent teacher. All your patience, your diplomacy is inspiring and will certainly help to make Korra the most conscientious and mature woman at the end of book four.

He also has tough choices, and shows himself steadfast in them, doing everything to protect his family and friends.

Lin, there's a moment I think is incredible. When she sacrifices herself to save Tenzin's family. Lin does not flee the fight. Just like her mother, she is determined in her goals. And we have more depth development in Book 3.

In another post i will talk about the book Two cause this is already too big.

So i believe one of the main sub themes or simple stuff that i can see on book One is the Loss Of Innocence

#the legend of korra #avatar korra #asami sato #korrasami #mako #bolin #tenzin #lin beifong #avatar #avatar: tlok #lets talk about

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commodorecliche · 5 years

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I'll be honest I'm not into He Tian/ Mo since so much of it from early on has been very physically abusive and i get that most of the fandom disregards that as "boys will be boys" but for me personally it's not an appealing relationship. But honestly you do you @ the people who are into that. I'm just gonna stay 10 miles away from it.

like... my biggest issue isn’t even that it’s such a toxic relationship (and let’s be honest here, it is toxic and unhealthy as it stands right now). my real issue is how so many fans reacts to the ship and say that clearly unhealthy behavior is cute and romantic.

(buckle up kids, this post got long. i ramble a lot about them as characters and their relationship and their motivations) If you wanna skip all that, just read the last like... paragraph.

like there’s literally nothing wrong with shipping and enjoying a toxic ship. nothing at all wrong with that. we are allowed to like things that are less than pure. we all have things that we like that are wrong/dark/problematique/whatever. but at the same time, i think it’s important that we are able to recognize that toxicity and not romanticize it just because we personally like it. i think it’s important to go “hey, I like this ship. It’s not healthy right now, it’s pretty toxic, maybe it won’t be in the future, maybe it will improve. but I recognize right now that it is unhealthy, and I still like it. and that’s okay.”

again, there’s nothing wrong with that!! human beings like dark things. it’s just how we are. but just because someone likes horror movies doesn’t mean it’s okay to go out and murder people. it’s important to go “wow, i love this fictional murderer! but i know that murder is still wrong.” just like we, as a fandom should say “hey, i love this fictional ship! but i know that they’re dysfunctional, toxic, and very unhealthy right now!”

but this fandom doesn’t really do that. in fact, it would seem that many aggressively don’t do that. many in this fandom will be outright rude to anyone who dares to say that tia/nshan’s behavior isn’t cute/romantic, will argue aggressively with anyone who says that mo is obviously uncomfortable and not just blushing cause of ‘gay panic’ or whatever. and that’s really unfortunate. because like i said, just because something is unhealthy doesn’t mean you can’t like it??

every single unhealthy, toxic, abusive thing he tian does to mo is seen by many fans as “cute” and just he tian “showing how much he cares”. mo’s constant discomfort at the things he tian does is, at best, ignored, and at worst, misconstrued. for example: a while back someone posted a picture set of the times mo was “blushing” because of he tian - but really it was just a picture collage of all the times that he tian has done something weird/unwanted/creepy and has made mo aggressively uncomfortable.

and the things that are abusive (like the physical violence) just get swept under the rug by many fans. like, holy hell, he tian threw mo off of a bridge and into a creek. and the fandom just kind of ignores it and INSTEAD decides to focus on the panels after that scene in which he tian jumps down into the water and lifts mo out of the water as if it’s the cutest thing in the world he could’ve done. nevermind that he tian literally threw him off a bridge. he tian going down to ‘help’ mo doesn’t change the fact that he tian was the one who threw him off the bridge in the first place. (and let’s be clear of the reason why he tian threw mo off a bridge: it was because mo threw his phone and bag into the water. but the reason mo threw he tian’s phone and bag was because he tian had tons of creepy photos that he had secretly taken of mo. that’s not cute. that’s creepy and stalkerish. it’s a huge invasion of privacy to just take tons of secret photos of someone and mo is visibly unnerved by it. no wonder mo threw his phone and bag off the bridge! if it were a girl that he tian had done that to?? he would have been CRUCIFIED by fans. but because it’s two guys, somehow it’s cute now?

my point is that... he tian and mo have a lot of problems. a LOT. but the fandom just doesn’t want to acknowledge it, opting instead to pretend that this relationship is okay and good as it stands right now. and what really sucks about that is that because of the fact that they are so dysfunctional right now, that means that they, as characters, have a huge opportunity for growth. they’re in a pretty bad place right now, but that means that they can only really go up. but we need to recognize that we’re sitting at the bottom of the barrel right now with this ship. and this fandom needs to recognize that they have to grow out of what they currently are in order to ever progress into something better.

there’s nothing wrong with liking this ship. i want to emphasize that again. because seriously, i mean that. i like tia/nshan. i have high hopes for the ship (even though OX continues to disappoint me. always one step forward, ten steps back with their progress it seems. that gets extremely frustrating when you think some progress has been made in their relationship and it just reverts back to toxicity but i digress). but i recognize that just because i personally like this ship and want them to eventually be happy/normal, that doesn’t mean the ship is without problems. it’s got loads of problems. and i’m just not sure why so many fans elect to ignore that fact? it’s shocking to me what this fandom will call cute or romantic. and maybe that’s my age speaking. i know many fans of this manhua are younger and just might not realize that this unhealthy behavior and not “cute” and don’t realize that this behavior will eventually have to stop if he tian and mo are ever to become something healthy.

now for some character analysis that no one asked for but that i am gunna type up anyway:

right now, he tian and mo are 15-16 years old. they’re bratty, angry teenagers dealing with a lot of crap in their lives and neither of them have really had... great role models or easy lives that would lead to them being well-adjusted human beings. i think, given those circumstances, some of the unhealthy behavior they show makes sense. a lot of it can, i think, be chalked up to 1) their age and 2) their backgrounds.

he tian is aggressively (and i mean AGGRESSIVELY) possessive and protective and i think it stems from the fact that he grew up learning that if you wanted something and wanted to keep it safe, you had to physically demand it and cling to it. but at the same time, he tian also grew up rich. let’s be real here: he’s spoiled. and he’s very accustomed to getting what he wants. it’s not a stretch to see that mentality extend to people he wants. and what he wants right now is mo. and he just kind of... does whatever he wants and whatever he thinks is necessary in order to exert control over mo and keep him close by. because he wants him, he wants to “protect” him (in his own weird way). and so he goes about showing this heavy affection in an extremely unhealthy and abusive way, complete with unwanted sexual advances, stalker tendencies, physical aggression, and manipulative behavior. i think... he believes his motivations to be good (because in his head he definitely cares for mo and wants to help him), but the way he goes about it is literally awful. again, if this were a girl instead of mo, we’d all be telling her to RUN.

mo is a little harder to peg just because we still only know snippets of his past. but obviously, he’s had an absent father, he has had to become extremely self-reliant, has never wanted to depend on anyone or “owe” anyone anything. he was ostracized by his classmates when he was young: after going through an extremely traumatic experience (the restaurant scene, and then his father going to jail), his classmates branded him “bad” and not someone who could be trusted. mo then found friendship in the only place he could - with the other outcasts, and fell into the gang. every friendship mo has ever had has been toxic and physically aggressive and controlling. i mean, fuck, she li stuck dirty, dull thumbtacks into his earlobes as punishment for him standing up for another gang member. mo seems like he’s aching to have an actual sense of Self. he tian is... just another ‘friend’ who’s hurtful to him and is controlling over him. not to mention, we have no idea about mo’s sexuality. he obviously seems to have some deep rooted self-hatred and homophobia (the kid freaked out about getting a shot at the hospital in his buttcheek for god’s sake and then had a nightmare in which bullies at school said sexually aggressive things to him because he got a shot in his buttcheek). but at the same time he’s also obviously got some kind of... weird... i don’t know how to say it because it’s not affection, but... perhaps fascination with he tian. i’m not sure. because in his dream, he tian is the one that comforts him. and later on we see that mo even goes to help and ‘comfort’ he tian when he’s having nightmares too. but he’s also still aggressively uncomfortable with the things he tian does around him and the things he tian forces upon him.

it’s just... it’s complicated.

and because of that, right now you can’t say that their relationship and the things they do to each other are cute... or happy... or well-adjusted... or even a relationship. right now, really all we have is a deeply dysfunctional acquaintanceship that is being progressed by... control and manipulation. and yes, i have high hopes that... mo will find his sense of self and will discover what he feels and what he wants. and i have high hopes that he tian will realize how he’s behaving and will come to understand that the things he does are not... good or kind... especially to someone you supposedly like and want to protect. and i mean, maybe we’re seeing a little bit of that? i mean, in the last couple chapters, we saw mo willingly asking he tian for a pair of black studs, that’s a pretty big forward motion, and mo being willing to tag along with he tian to go get them. he tian didn’t force him to climb the wall and skip class (definitely a departure from his usually forcefulness), mo went willingly. so... maybe right now we’re seeing a little development. but... like i said, OX tends to go... one step forward and ten steps back with them, and i’m afraid that the next time we see them interacting it’s going to be something violent or forceful or insulting or stalkerish. so, i just don’t know.

but... really the long and short of it is that i wish more fans would look at tia/nshan and say “i like this ship but i recognize that it’s not healthy currently”. because that’s the truth.

#anyway #that was a long as fuck post #i'm not tagging this btw cause i don't want disk horse like this to show up in the tags #i'm mostly just venting right now #long post #lindsey talks #Anonymous

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inevitably-johnlocked · 6 years

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Hey! Could you suggest me any good soulmate fics? I've already read two and I got addicted. (Thank youuu!)

Hi Lovely!

I don’t have many, and I know I’m missing a couple because I can’t remember their names and they probably aren’t tagged on AO3, so I didn’t add them to this list (like I can’t remember for the life of me what the fic is where Sherlock has electricity powers and John is the one who can stabilize them for Sherlock… it’s bugging me because I’ve gone through my bookmarks like 7 times D:). ANYWAY, I have put some some soulmate AU’s on this rec list here before, but let’s make a strictly Soulmate AU list, yeah?

So here are soulmate-ish fics! Please feel free, my friends, to add your own recs or let me know what that fic is I’m thinking of because it’s driving me cray, LOL.

SOULMATES AND SOUL BONDS

what’s in a name by flight815kitsune (NR, 1,285 w. || Soulmates AU) – There were some things you just knew. The name, if you were lucky enough to get one, was one of those things.

To Mend A Heart by dee-light (G, 1,472 w. || Magical Realism, Emotional H/C) – Hearts can be broken, and mended, and broken again. Good thing, then, that hearts are only the seat of all emotion, and not something Sherlock needs in order to live.

the fearful passage of death-mark’d love by flibbertygigget (T, 1,980 w. || Magical Realism, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Platonic Life Partners, Name Marks, Referenced Deaths) – The first time that John meets Sherlock Holmes, the younger man has his sleeves pushed up to his elbows, wrists bare of any hint of ink. Within 48 hours, John has added “Jefferson Hope” to his clavicle. (Or: The One Where, When You Kill Someone, Their Name Shows Up On Your Arm)

Upon Waking by joolabee (E, 3,901 w. || Mild Dub Con, Magical Realism, Angst, Somnophilia) – It sets on slow: John can only be awake while Sherlock sleeps, and vice versa. Their lives are codependent, but never meeting. Like a set of scales.

Winter of Life by You_Light_The_Sky (T, 5,178 w. || Christmas, Fluff & Angst, Magic Realism) – It was an experiment, really. On Christmas, Sherlock wrote to Santa asking for a friend. He got a broken toy soldier instead. This is the story of how he finds him again and again.

The Heart On Your Sleeve by flawedamythyst (T, 5,441 w. || Soulmate AU || Sherlock POV, Heartmarks, Pining, Fluff and Angst, Semi-S1 / S2 Canon Compliant, Reunion) – Sherlock stared at the imperfect circle on his left wrist in horror, then sat down on his bed with a bit of a thump. After over thirty years, his heartmark was finally showing activity. This was not good.

Finding John by orphan_account (T, 5,456 w. || Soul Bond AU, Symbolic Rings, Soul Mates) – Sherlock Holmes has met exactly twenty-four Johns in his life. They have all been the wrong John. He’s getting tired of waiting, staring at the inscription on his finger and wondering when his John will turn up, if ever. Part 1 of Inscriptions

The Best Picture of the Human Soul by SwissMiss (T, 5,779 w. || Magical Realism, Tattoos, Soulmates) – The stories of our lives are written on our skin. Part 1 of Imagines Moti

The Most Luminous of People by liriodendron (M, 10,979 w. || Synesthesia, Pre-Slash, Developing Romance, First Kiss) – In which Sherlock Holmes finds out what it’s like to truly want something, John Watson isn’t too bad at deductions, and everything gets a bit bright for a minute. Part 1 of Conductivity

The River Variations by withoutawish (T, 11,619 w. || Soulmates, Emotional Hurt / Comfort, Three Garridebs, Romance, Light Case Fic, Near Death Experience, Angst and Fluff) – John Watson never knew that he wanted a ‘no toast in the mornings’ normal until he realized what an honor it is to be destroyed by Sherlock Holmes.

With All My Heart by QuinnAnderson (E, 19,257 w. || Red Marks / Soulmates || Magical Realism, Growing Up, First Kiss / Time, Falling in Love) – AU in which every time a person falls in love, a red line like a tally mark appears on their wrist. Sherlock is determined to keep himself from ever gaining one of these marks for fear that love will corrode his mental faculties. Then he meets John Watson.

An Experiment in Apathy Series by belovedmuerto (G to E, 28,701 w. across 13 stories || Empath John, Empath-by-Proxy Sherlock, Epic Bromance Becomes Romance, Angst, Nightmares, Experiments, Trauma, Dreams) – “No man is an island, John. You less so than most.” A sequel to the EiE Series, wherein John and Sherlock explore their relationship.

The Soul Remembers by i_ship_an_armada (E, 43,636 w. || Oblivion AU || Post-Apocalypse, Movie Fusion, Science Fiction, Action/Adventure, Angst, Dreams, Bittersweet Ending) – John Watson is the lone security repairman stationed on a desolate, nearly-ruined future Earth. His dreams are plagued by a tall, dark-haired man, and when his dreams meet reality, he will be forced to question everything he believes is the truth about his life.

An Experiment in Empathy Series by belovedmuerto (T, 62,397 w. across 13 stories || Empath AU || Psychic John, Psychic-by-Proxy Sherlock, Empathy, Psychic Bond, Romance / Bromance) – In which John is an empath, Sherlock is Sherlock, and an epic bromance happens. In the aftermath of The Great Game, John creates an unexpected bond between himself and Sherlock. Now they have to learn how to deal with it. John is better at this than Sherlock is.

Bleed Me Out by antietamfalls (E, 87,987 w. || Vampire AU || Bonding, Vampire Sherlock, Fluff & Angst, H/C, John Whump, Magical Realism) – John isn’t exactly surprised to discover that Sherlock isn’t human. His vampirism doesn’t pose a problem, even when their relationship gradually grows into something more. That is, until a deadly revelation about John’s blood sends their lives spinning dangerously out of control.

Colors by Quesarasara (E, 140,537 w. || Pleasantville-Inspired AU || Soulmates, Colour Bonds, Alternating POV, Angst, Fluff, Pining, Case Fic, Medical Procedures) – Everyone on earth is born with eyes that see in black, white, and an endless series of greys. When you meet your soulmate, you finally see the world in color. We’re all searching for the person who brings color to our lives. John and Sherlock are no exception. Part 1 of The Colors ‘Verse

#steph replies #johnlock fic recs #my fic recs #soulmates #soul bonds #tattoolock #harrydeeper

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ladyofstardust · 6 years

Text

Carol of the Goblins

Word Count: 2.7k

Rating: T

Summary: In which Jareth fights in the war against Christmas Wrapping and he and Sarah exchange gifts. A DVD player may or may not have gone back in time and a Goblin may or may not have been on fire. Whatever, the cops left in the end.

Notes: Apartment-verse fic. Set after the events of Thursday Night. I’m also posting them over at Ao3 in order if you’d prefer to read that way.

You took my dreams from me When I first found you I kept them with me babe I put them with my own Can't make it all alone I've built my dreams around you

- Fairytale of New York by The Pogues

“T’was the night before Christmas and all through the apartment, there were several creatures stirring but most notably the Fae king currently in a duel with my wrapping paper,” Sarah said coming in through the front door. Jareth was sitting crosslegged on the floor of her living room, hair sticking every which way and with several pieces of scotch tape in it. He was cursing in a language she didn’t know at her wrapping paper, while the Peanuts Christmas special played in the background.

“Sarah!” He said with a start. “You weren’t supposed to be home for another hour!”

“Traffic was better than I expected,” she said with a smile, eyeing the nondescript box Jareth had half-wrapped. “My family sends their love and more importantly, their gifts.”

Sarah held a bag of gifts up for him to see, but he only scowled at them.

“This holiday would be much improved without this patently impossible task.”

“If you don’t do it by hand how will I know you mean it though?” Sarah teased. “If you can wrap my gift by hand I’ll show you my trick for next year.”

“I don’t need a trick I need magic,” he grumbled. “I truly despise you for these ridiculous gift rules.”

“No you don’t,” she said, giving him a quick peck on the cheek and grabbing a stray piece of tape at the same time. “You just need to be creative.”

“That wouldn’t be necessary if you’d just let me,” at this he gave a little hand wave and the lights on her tree all lit up. He cocked an expectant eyebrow as if this proved his point.

“And I’ve seen what wonders and sparkly delights magic gets me for Christmas. I want to see what my boyfriend gets me when he’s got the same limitations as the rest of us mortals. My gift is also not made with magic I’ll remind you,” she said, retreating to the kitchen. “Besides you’re the Goblin King. Stuff of nightmares and such. Is a bit of shiny paper really going to be your downfall?”

“Oh do go off,” he said bitterly. “And do not come in here until I am done wrapping!”

“Babe, I will need my living room back before June,” she called from the kitchen.

“I should really just return this and find a girlfriend who appreciates my magical abilities.”

“Probably!” She called back. “In the meantime I’m going to start on dinner before the crew gets here. Ludo doesn’t eat meat and Hoggle is currently on a weird Underground diet and can’t have ‘anything that flies’ and I’m not sure…if he counts chickens?”

“He does,” Jareth replied. “Most of the Underground chickens can fly, they just choose not to because they’re disgusting, lazy vermin.”

“You’re in such a good mood that I’m going to put on Christmas carols so I don’t have to hear you shouting eldritch horrors at the scotch tape.”

Sarah spent the rest of the afternoon making Christmas cookies and a very large pot of spaghetti and cauliflower balls. She wasn’t much in the kitchen, but one of the only skills she picked up from Karen was knowing how to make some kickass cookies.

Her and Jareth had gotten into the habit of spending Christmas Eve together with their friends. Sarah was less and less interested in driving for three hours to Irene’s place to hear about who was ruining the economy this year (her), what people needed to ‘get over’ (human rights usually), and when she was going to make something of her life (get married). It was exhausting and compared to the idea of curling up with Jareth watching Die Hard…well she knew which one she was choosing.

Jareth had begged off the Underground’s Yule festivities as they were normally held at the Winter Court and he and the Winter Queen weren’t currently on the best of terms. They had briefly debated decking the hell out of the castle’s halls and doing a very medieval style Christmas, but Sarah wasn’t up to it this year. She liked their low-key traditions of board games, mulled wine, and listening to Christmas music together. It always made her feel at home, and it was the part of the holidays she looked forward to the most.

“Would my beautiful, lovely, and generous girlfriend be willing to come in here a moment?” Jareth called from the living room.

“Sure but she isn’t helping you any,” Sarah said, laying out the Christmas cookies on a plate.

“Well then nevermind!” he yelled.

“You’ve got another half an hour and then you’ll need to give up and come play Settlers of Catan. Hoggle won’t play Risk with both of us anymore,” Sarah said, reminding him of what Hoggle colloquially referred to as “the most scarring experience of his life.”

But it was not as though there was a lot of fire and really, he’d gotten out of there long before the cops showed up.

A few months ago, during a rainy day, they’d decided to play a game of Risk. Things went well…for about the first hour or so. Then alliances and double dealings happened and it all culminated in Jareth creating a playable dragon that truly, under no circumstance, needed to breathe fire. So she’d countered by setting up landmines of pudding for his troops to fall into because of Jareth’s hatred of sticky things. The dragon stepped in the pudding and a goblin came and ate the dragon, because of said pudding. At which point the dragon started breathing fire out of the goblin’s mouth, the goblin started freaking out running all over her apartment breathing fire, lighting other goblins on fire as it went, as she was running behind it dropping pudding on the fire because well, it was what she had handy, while Jareth tried to turn off the building’s sprinkler system. They’d managed to get the goblins back through the mirror before the cops showed up, but not before they cleaned up all the pudding and scorch marks.

So no, Hoggle was not down to play Risk. Sir Didymus was still on board though.

Sarah went into her bedroom to grab Jareth’s gift. She’d spent a lot of time thinking about what to get him, they’d never really done a traditional Christmas gift exchange so this was her first experience trying to buy for the man who could have anything he wanted. The influx of ads pushing whiskey stones and artisanal shaving kits were all wrong for Jareth. She’d debated getting him a nice new pair of leather gloves, but realized she’d be really put out if he thought to buy her underwear, and he had a whole drawer full of specially designed gloves. The mall likely didn’t carry gloves that were designed for spell casting anyways. The idea had come to her one afternoon while cleaning out her drawers. She’d found some old notes from the Goblins and she realized just the thing for her Goblin King.

She hung out flipping through Jane Eyre in her bedroom, waiting for Jareth to finish with her gift. Finally, when she got to the scene where Rochester and Jane confess their love, Jareth walked in, looking somewhat worse for wear. His hair had gained several more pieces of scotch tape and for some reason he had a cut across his cheek.

“I’ve brought you a gift,” he said quietly, extending the package towards her.

In the end, he’d wrapped it perfectly. There was a beautifully tied ribbon, with a bow on top, and the wrapping job looked professionally done. Sarah let out an impressive whistle.

“You know, I gotta say, much like a hotdog, the process to get it may not be pretty, but the end product sure is. Damn, now I want a hotdog.”

“Your gift is not a hotdog,” he said brows knitting together in annoyance.

“Shame,” Sarah said with a pout. “Guess we’ll just have to go back to the cart in the woods.”

“What is that,” he said, trying to change the subject by pointing to the gift bag Sarah had at the foot of the bed.

“Well that would be your gift,” she said, patting the space next to her for him to sit down.

“But…it’s in a bag?” He said confused.

“Yeah that’s my trick. I suck at wrapping so I always just get a nice bag instead,” she said with a wink, giving him a quick peck on the tip of his nose.

“So putting me through the torture of hand wrapping your gift was for…?” He said, helplessly.

“Fun. Namely, mine,” she grinned.

“I will get you back for this,” he grumbled.

“I’m sure you’ll get me back for it before the night is over,” Sarah said, rolling her eyes. “Now open your gift!”

Jareth glared at her one more time before grabbing the gift bag. Slowly and deliberately he removed every piece of tissue paper as Sarah watched expectantly. Finally, he pulled out her gift at the bottom of the bag.

Knit together with golds, greys, browns and black was a long scarf. At the bottom of each tail was the pattern of his sigil, just like the amulet he wore.

“I’m not a great knitter,” Sarah said taking a breath. “So I know it’s not perfect or anything. I tried to get the sigil right, and I had Ludo help me a bit to make it even. I wanted something really long so you could wrap it around your neck a bunch of times since you’re forever wearing those low-cut shirts. But I chose this gift because eight or so years ago, I made Sir Didymus a scarf. It wasn’t very well made, but I spent about a month trying to get it ready for Christmas. I gave Hoggle some marmalade, and Ludo a game of marbles. I didn’t realize that these were the first Christmas gifts my friends had ever received. I didn’t realize that in knitting that scarf I’d find myself and my life totally co-opted by Goblins, and Goblin Kings alike. That the act of making that scarf might have been more powerful than that first wish. That scarf is coming apart, and filled with holes and probably quite a few pudding stains by now. Sir Didymus still wears it proudly. I didn’t know then, what I know now. About you, about the Underground, or about … anything really. But I can honestly say, there’s no place I’d rather be, and no one I’d rather be with. So it seems only right that your first Christmas gift should be a scarf as well, since it was what brought you home to me. Merry Christmas Jareth, and I do love you very much.”

“Oh I do wish you hadn’t,” Jareth said, flopping backwards onto her bedspread.

“Oh...why?” Sarah said, feeling her heart start to sink.

Jareth leaned forward, propping himself up on his elbow. “Because your gift is perfect Sarah. It so far surpasses my gift that despite spending the better part of today attempting to wrap it, I’m not sure I want you to open it.”

“To be honest, half the gift was definitely watching you war with the wrapping paper,” Sarah said, grabbing Jareth’s gift to her.

“I just want to take the opportunity to remind you that I once turned the Bog into your fondest ice skating dreams,” he said as she began to tear into the paper.

“I don’t have any ice skating dreams I can’t skate,” she said, not looking up from the box.

Sarah removed the gift from the plain brown box he’d placed it in. Inside to her complete surprise, she found a new DVD player and every John Hughes movie Sarah could name. She looked up at her very nervous looking Goblin King and bit her lip to keep from laughing.

“You...replaced my DVD player? And got me The Breakfast Club?”

“If you’d allow me a few moments I’m sure I can provide something suitably magical,” he said quickly. “Something that does not involve wrapping paper.”

“What after you conquered it? Absolutely not!” She said clutching the DVDs to her chest. “These are mine and I love them Jareth. Love them. Between this and the war on Christmas wrapping you staged, I honestly am … really charmed.”

“You are forever complaining about how I damaged your original device, I thought it a suitable gift to replace it for you even though I had nothing to do with the initial...malfunction,” he said, and Sarah saw the tenseness leave his shoulders.

“Jareth, I think you may have sent that DVD player back in time. It oozed noxious purple goop for a few minutes, lit off some more truly foul smelling purple smoke - seriously I don’t even think the bog smells that bad, and then poof! Gone! Where did it go Jareth? Where did the DVD player and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off go?!”

“If I knew that I simply would have retrieved the old machine,” he grumbled. “I replaced the film, along with several others by the same filmmaker. I was told he’s a favourite of yours.”

“You were told by me, many times, because I love John Hughes movies. But that kinda proves my point about why I like it. Actually no, why I love it. It’s thoughtful Jareth. I love it when you think about me. I love it even more when you think about me, and what I like, what I don’t like. You even remembered not to include St. Elmo’s Fire because of my inability to watch a Demi Moore movie without getting unreasonably angry.”

“Because she reminds you of your mother,” he nodded. “I remember.”

“Yeah...yeah that’s why I love it Jareth,” she said, giving him a smile. “It’s a wonderfully human gift. It’s perfect. Or maybe imperfectly perfect. Which makes it human, which makes it perfect.”

She leaned over and gave him a kiss and he took the opportunity to pull her down. She snuggled up next to him, facing Jareth and her window, watching the snow lightly fall on her fire escape while he laid soft kisses on her cheeks and temples.

“Merry Christmas Sarah, I also love you very much.”

“Seem like that’s our lot in life, to love each other very much,” she sighed happily, nestling closer. “I guess it’ll have to do.”

“Yes, I guess it will,” he said smiling. “But I think I hear our friends arriving.”

“Mmm the Christmas cookies will keep them busy for a while,” she said, snuggling further into the crook of his neck.

“Not busy enough for all the ways I’ll be celebrating with you tonight.”

“Okay,” she said rolling over. “First we settle, then we Catan, then we bang. Deal?”

“An acceptable bargain,” he said offering his hand.

She took it, giving it a firm shake, and they nodded at each other seriously, before Sarah started laughing.

“Come on, grab the game and I’ll put on Christmas Vacation with my shiny, new, non-time travelling DVD player.”

“I’ll grab the board game. Pour me a glass of mulled wine love,” he said giving her a quick peck before leaping off the bed.

“My lady? Sire?” Sir Didymus called from the kitchen.

“They’s in the bedroom bein’ gross,” Hoggle replied sourly.

“We’re just grabbing the board game!” Sarah shouted at him.

“Whatever yous say.” Hoggle muttered.

“Come on Rocket Man, Christmas awaits,” Sarah said, grabbing her new DVD player.

“As long as you don’t ask me to wrap anything else, I’m right behind you. I think this is going to be an excellent year.” he replied.

The DVD player, unfortunately, was toast before the new year.

#fanfiction #my ownsome #apartmentverse #labyrinth #labyrinth has ruined me #I wrote this on Christmas Eve and literally published it at 11pm #and then promptly forgot to post it anywhere else #I had been waffling about whether to do a Christmas fic this year #also somewhere in the middle of 17th century France #a DVD player has appeared in the court of King Louis XIV.#Sarah and Jareth's desire to watch Ferris Bueller's Day Off may or may not have played a role in the French Revolution #it's hard to know

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justavengeit · 7 years

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search term: tuna star

or how bucky learned to stop worrying and love shipfic; side b to this post about pining bucky barnes writing winteriron fic, please read first for context

Bucky watches with a kind of shocky horror, flushing hot with shame and cold with terror in waves, as Tony turns to read his writing plastered up on the screen for the entire world to see. The world presses in, too bright and sharp to be entirely real, dragging by like he’s a fly trapped in molasses.

This is all Tony Stark’s fault, he thinks very calmly, vaguely aware of Natasha taking note of his enhanced response. It’s just his shitty luck that she’s the one sitting with him for this one - it was supposed to be Wilson. He could have fooled Wilson.

–

He’d always known that public opinion would be a problem - but he hasn’t accounted for the fans. He’d thought of himself as a soldier, as an operative. He wasn’t prepared for the ridiculous lengths that the Avengers’ public relations team was willing to go to to integrate him into the team whether the governments of the world liked it or not.

“But why,” he’d asked and they’d looked at each other and shrugged and said, “because Tony Stark.”

Oh, Steve had been pissed about it. He hates the whole dog and pony show of it, and Bucky doesn’t much care for it himself, but that’s more because he never knows what to do with himself than because he finds it humiliating the way Steve does. And the outreach aspects are nice. That he can be a source of inspiration, rather than a tool of fear. It feels like a lie that some of the kids love him so much, but they’re utterly unimpressed with his logic and reasons.

“Mom says if you’re sorry for it, an’ you try n’ do better afterwards, then it’s okay,” a boy had told him matter of fact. As if it’s as easy as that.

It’s not that easy, but it’s a start.

And of course, since he’s being worked so hard to make him palatable to the public, he ends up in a lot of the same places as Tony Stark, who does more PR work than actual crime-fighting these days. He doesn’t look like he misses it one bit, for all that he does incredible work when in the suit. He watches Tony with the spider kid, watches on whom Tony’s eyes linger, and figures out that Tony wants to settle down with someone. Retire from the superhero business. Call it quits.

It sounds like a beautiful pipe dream. He should have realized that heroes never get to call it quits.

Bucky finds himself watching Tony a lot. It’s not like Tony notices. He’s so used to being scrutinized that he’s a duck and the clamoring of the people, the media, the fans - it’s all the water he bobs along atop with a jaunty little flick if his hand and a smirk on his face. It’s less that he thrives on the attention and more that it’s his home territory. Bucky watches him effortless seize control of situation after situation, turn back cruel barbs and send off his own.

And it gets cruel, especially when the media gets wind if the fact that there are average, normal people writing stories about celebrities and the Avengers and anyone else that catches their eye. Tony is hardly the only target if their vitriol, but he does get the worst of it. It all gets shaken off with a quirky joke, Tony prodding at it and daring: is this the best that you can do?

The crazy fuck.

Bucky investigates in case this is another thing like the fan letters cum letterbombs. A whole new world is opened to him. Several sleepless weeks are spent buried in the internet, trying to make heads or tails of what he’s found. Apparently people just write things for fun. Things like dime store novels. He finds himself even enjoying some of the more benign ones - the stories where the Avengers show up and save the author’s life. Go to space. Fight ancient magical beings. And it’s all free, is the thing.

Bucky had forgotten that he likes reading fiction.

And of course there are people who are writing about him - about the Winter Soldier. Bucky avoids these fics for some time, until one night, several hours after Tony tears through a fic ‘bashing’ him on a show that features a few other celebrities reacting to fic written about them, Bucky finally gets the nerve to open the most popular Winter Soldier fic and read it. And he doesn’t stop reading them.

They’re wrong, is the thing, Bucky decides - that’s why he keeps reading them. There are several fics that have serialized the mission reports released on the internet. Most fics about him deal with that in what other fans refer to as a 'true crime genre’ manner. But they’re wrong. They don’t understand. The atmosphere of the fics are all wrong, even the ones that get it close, and they don’t understand Bucky at all.

His therapists keep telling him to keep a journal.

Bucky decides to write fic instead.

It’s easier, surprisingly. He only chooses the missions that reports for exist on the internet in a mostly unaltered state. He doesn’t add in any details that only the Winter Soldier would know - he doesn’t want to attract attention from anyone who might suspect that he’s the real Winter Soldier. It’s not like keeping a journal at all: Bucky writes the missions like they happened to someone else - to a fictional 'him’ - and the nightmares ease their wretched grip. And his stories gain a bit if a following, which is the oddest, least comprehensible aspect of the situation.

And then, thanks to Tony Stark, Bucky ends up straying from the 'gen’ genre down the rabbit hole of shipping. It takes one stray comment from Tony about how his fictional representation is a 'ho,’ and that’s where Bucky’s life starts to go wrong again. He searches for Tony Stark shipfic. It's… an eye opening experience.

Tony really, honestly seems unperturbed by the amount of porn that has been written about him. The most perturbing thing about it to Bucky is how little the people writing about Tony seem to actually understand him. It’s like the Winter Soldier files all over again.

He can probably do better, Bucky thinks, and signs his own fate.

–

“Really,” Natasha says, watching him.

Bucky stands. “I’m going to go throw myself off the roof,” he says, turning and walking away from the TV.

“I wouldn’t be in too much of a hurry,” Natasha calls after him.

It’s not like half the team hasn’t decided that Bucky has been nursing something like a crush on Tony, to put it mildly. He thinks that’s ridiculous. He just - admires Tony, really. Anyone would, if they only paid attention. And maybe he’s written twelve fics where they’re a couple but that’s just because his fans love it - they love how he writes himself and Tony and their relationship. It… it seemed harmless enough. It’s not like Tony Stark would ever have Bucky’s fic thrown in his face because it’s such a small ship compared to all the ironcaptain and blackiron and ironhusband ships. No one in their right mind -

Except that’s just happened. Bucky is going to throw himself off the roof in apology and shame and purposely not land on his feet. If life is merciful he’ll get amnesia - there’s no roof nearby that’s high enough to actually kill him - and he can start anew. Tony is too nice to hold shipfic against an amnesiac.

Thank God Bucky had been too self conscious to post the porn. He’s scum just for writing porn about Tony, if he’d posted it-

Wait, he can’t brain himself in the sidewalk until he deletes that, and all his browser history, and changes his passwords to an incomprehensible string of letters not even FRIDAY could crack. He can do it. All he needs is some stand-ins from one if the languages they don’t have on record for him.

Bucky had already been in the roof for some time by the time a brightly colored sporty car pulled up at the Compound entrance. Tony, of course. Oh god, he would know that Bucky had been watching, he came all this way to talk about it probably. At least he’ll be nice about letting Bucky down, inform him with an off color joke that it’s creepy to write yourself into a romance with your teammate, no matter how much you admire them: normal people just don’t do that. Well, better to get it over with, honestly. It might be more awkward and painful if Tony were to just pretend that the whole thing had never happened. The others will definitely take notice because Tony cracks jokes about their fictional relationships all the time.

As if Bucky couldn’t get a clue from the fact that Tony never joked about it with him, despite the number of fics that exists about them now. He doesn’t even read winteriron, when he’s even read the one pairing him with Justin Hammer and Tony doesn’t even like Justin Hammer. He read the bashing fics before he read winteriron.

“I’m so sorry,” Bucky says as soon as the door to the roof pops open and Tony flails out onto the roof. He sounds like he was in a rush, but Bucky wouldn’t know for sure without looking at him and that’s not going to happen.

“What for,” Tony says, and, “please don’t jump. That will scar me forever.”

Point. Bucky probably should have jumped a few minutes after Tony went inside if he were going to jump at all.

“I thought if I landed on my head just right, I could forget this ever happened,” he says pensively.

“Well, that is one way of responding to this,” Tony says, “so is that a 'no’ then? Only I hear the real thing is better that your wildest fantasies.”

Alright, maybe Tony wouldn’t be so kind about letting him down. Bucky can hardly hold that against him. He deserves it. “I’m sorry,” he repeats into the palms of his hands. “If I knew it was going to get thrown in your face that way, I never would put it out there.”

“Okay, wait,” Tony says, approaching, “you sound like you think I’m angry, which makes me think - did they not ask you before they put that on television?”

At that, Bucky has to look - and Tony definitely doesn’t look mad. He looks bright and flushed in a way that isn’t entirely due to exertion, sharp and engaged in a way he doesn’t get with people unless he really likes them. This is… not the first time Tony has looked at him like that. But not with an almost giddy air. No, the giddiness is new. Strange. Exciting.

“You know what they think of people who write fic,” Bucky says, honest. “Of course they didn’t ask.”

“Huh,” Tony says, and oh, that quirk to his brow is trouble. But whatever he thinks of that is is discarded in favor of saying, “so I take it you took off before I finished reading it.”

Bucky scowls. “I know how you feel about people who write fic about you.”

“Well, those fics weren’t very good,” Tony says, giving him a look that ties Bucky’s stomach into an uncomfortably pleasant knot. “I also accept sonnets.”

“I’m shit at poetry,” Bucky protests. He’s not quite ready to give up on the fear and shame that drove him up onto the roof in the first place, but his face hasn’t gotten the message yet. Tony looks pleased and mirrors the grin on his face right back at him.

“Well, it doesn’t have to rhyme,” he says generously, and extends his hand. “Now come away from the edge of the roof, please. You’re looking more skittish than a stray cat and it’ll really ruin my day if I startle you off the edge when I kiss you.”

After this, Bucky is going to have to stop giving his fellow writers shit about their characterization choices. He’s always written Tony as the skittish one.

Tony is right though - the reality is better.

–

“Smutfic is also a thing I accept,” Tony tells him later. It’s clearly just a tease, but something must show on Bucky’s face, because Tony’s eyes get wide and then he starts grinning in a way that makes him look unhinged. It’s unfairly attractive. “You have written smutfic! Where is it? Show to it me. I demand tribute.” Then, in response to whatever face it is that Bucky is making now, he says: “if you let me read them, we can do your favorite scene.”

“Hng,” says Bucky, reaching for the computer.

–

At Tony’s urging, Bucky goes on to write an autobiography in the style of a biography, relating the whole long and awful story. It’s a best seller for weeks.

He titles it 'Who the Hell is Bucky?’ and finally the past is put to rest.

–

#yall i pissed tumblr off trying ti post this #winteriron #my stuff #please appreciate that i wrote thus on my hpone at work and posted it on mobile.... please

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agameofsouls · 6 years

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backstory // jackson + lyra

so, jackson and lyra are ocs that i created for a group rp that i used to run a year or so back. the history and lore was really really deep, and i actually spent months writing it and tying little pieces together to make a blend of rural folk village / supernatural monsters / scifi horror whatever that made me really happy to think about and plan out.

i actually had an entire notebook filled with different arcs and conflicts i wanted the group to work through, including a huntress, a dragon, blood spells, etc. unfortunately, we only got about half way through the huntress before things died out due to busy personal lives, and what have you.

this is just a small directory and explanation to certain parts of that world that are integral to the development of jackson and lyra as characters, and things that they have experienced from their old home, as well as links to posts from the group page with even more stories and information.

mostly, this is for my benefit so i can sort of feel better referencing their backstories knowing that this exists for anyone to read that’s interested.

also, i just really want my old favorite stories to see the light of day again. nightmare was honestly so important to me as a writer, lmao.

NOTE. this is a long post!

the town itself

Nightmare has been around for two hundred and forty horrific years. It was originally created by the legendary group called The Eleven, which consisted of: Five witches, two vampires, three werewolves, one necromancer, and several children belonging to most of the members.

The story is that left their homes in Salem, followed by groups of hunters, and traveled all the way down to Tennessee before disappearing into the Smoky Mountains, losing their would-be killers forever. It took them a while and a lot of settling down and uprooting before finally deciding on a permanent home, but they did it, and here we are: hidden, secret, and safe. ( more here )

essentially, the town is self sufficient, isolated in deep within the smoky mountains. there are several sister towns spread across the us, typically either in more wooded areas, or deep within the rarely traveled plains of the midwest, or the deserts of the mojave.

they are connected by ‘trails’ that are only traveled by those in the know, and nomads travel from town to town with goods to trade on a regular basis, and often bring newcomers with them that they found along the way.

the government system is fairly simplistic as well -- each species that resides in nightmare has one representative, whether because they were elected or are the only one of their kind, that sits on a council.

the power is usually passed through the family of the current council member, and doesn’t often switch hands unless something drastic happens. in the case that there are no familial relations of the current council member available, they will select another member of their species as their ‘heir.’

lyra + jackson

in this world, lyra lived a very carefree life. she was a bit of a criminal, and would often get into trouble on purpose just to have the sheriff of the town, tris, arrest her. she developed a crush on him, and they eventually started seeing each other, much to the dismay of lyra’s mother. she hated that tris was older than lyra, as well as a shape shifter. she thought he was dangerous, but lyra wouldn’t hear a bad word against him.

she also had a best friend, a witch named antonia, who she would drag into all sorts of trouble with her. the two were inseparable, except for when the law man came around. lyra never let toni go down with her, and always took the heat. freya always forgave lyra for any wrongdoing she did, and was the kind of mom that instead got upset with the guards rather than her own daughter for her ever growing criminal record.

on the other hand, jackson lived quietly. even in a place like nightmare, necromancers were still feared. their power was different than that of any of the witches, and it was mysterious. it made other people uneasy, and they didn’t have a lot of trust for young or new necromancers like him.

so he typically stayed home, tending to his plants and decorating his house to look like an hgtv model home. he also sold his fruits and veggies in the town center at his little produce stall, and made some extra cash that way. it was a far cry from his previous life, but he liked it.

he made friends slowly, and eventually befriended lyra. the two, along with toni, became close friends and would often spend time in jackson’s home having tea and snacks during the day, and going to parties at night. toni, while she spent her time with jackson and lyra often, still had a slight distrust of jackson, and would often make excuses to not join them on ventures. this left a lot of time for him and lyra to be alone and bond, and he quickly became her second most trusted friend in town.

when shit hit the fan and it was time to leave, they went together, trying to make sense of all the shit they had been through. after everything, they are inseparable, and would probably die for each other. there are very few friends as close as them, and they depend on each other to survive in the outside world.

the problem

For some reason or another, though, our population has started falling, and not because our citizens are leaving, either. Something’s been coming around when we don’t know it and making people drop dead left and right, whether it’s from a sickness or people being outright murdered, we don’t know.

The recent deaths are causing some tensions between groups and have cause productivity to dwindle as well. Some parents won’t send their kids down to the school and community events have begun to see a decrease in attendance as well. The Council is working on finding the source of the problem and a solution, but with even the Elders finding it difficult to work together, some people are afraid that this is the end of Nightmare.

so, basically, there was a sickness spreading, but it was only affecting certain groups, such as the witches and sirens, specifically. it had slowly started to spread to other species as well, enough that a true ‘pattern’ hadn’t been picked up just yet. no one could figure out how it spread, and no one could figure out a cure or a source for it.

there was no magic that could stop it, no potion that could slow it. it seemed to suddenly hit a person, and within a matter of hours to days, they were dead.

what the townspeople didn’t know was that the sickness was entirely created in a lab. freya, the alpha of the werewolf pack and current holder of the werewolf council seat, had been contacted by a mysterious organization from the outside world regarding a research project into special beings.

the organization wanted to study the dna of supernatural beings, to see what made it different from humans, and if it was possible to cure, or if it was possible to weaponize and turn regular humans into these creatures.

they wanted to see if they could modify regular human dna to pass it on like any regular trait and have it manifest in their children, thus manufacturing witches, werewolves, or even hybrids of any of these species. it was a long shot by far, but they were willing to pay for any help.

for a while, she helped the organization by gathering dna samples and sending it off to a drop point. it was harmless. they compensated her well, and she was able to provide the town with wealth and new things that they never had before. but then, operations at the organization switched hands to someone with a little more darker intentions.

this new head had led the scientists in the direction of extermination -- treat the genetic markers like a virus, create a serum that destroys it, kill the monsters, ensure the survival of pure humans. now, this worried freya, and she pulled out almost immediately, until the head made a deal with her -- provide the dna of the creatures you don’t like and we’ll stick with them. your kind will be safe.

she quickly bought into this, and brought her brother in on the situation, and continued to provide dna from witches, shape shifters, and sirens alike, always avoiding her kind. the organization gave her a satellite phone, as described in this post, and she began to poison the town slowly through the well systems.

the huntress

in the midst of all the chaos and fear caused by the sickness in town, something perhaps worse came to nightmare via an old legend called the huntress, fully explained here.

Legend tells of an ancient hunter made immortal and unstoppable by a group of religious witches to destroy the races of monsters. Their chosen Huntress was taken from her life of poverty and misery and used in a forbidden ritual dedicated to the dark gods. During this ritual, half of her soul was ripped from her body and placed in a token of the Huntress, for safe keeping. The gods replaced the missing piece of her mortal soul with pieces of their own, effectively making her one of them, therefore making it impossible for her to die by normal means.

the story ends with the huntress being trapped in a chest, passed down by the bloodlines of the original witches that created and later imprisoned her. a ritual was to be performed during a full moon every century, but that instruction eventually fell to myth and then became hardly a memory, and the whereabouts of the chest were eventually forgotten.

it turns out, like a lot of things do in this town, that the chest ended up in the attic of the council building, just waiting for a little something like the hunter’s moon to come out and let the huntress out to play.

That moment finally came as the moon reached the highest point in the night sky, casting moonbeams through the trees and onto the buildings in town. One in particular hit the attic window of the Council Hall, illuminating the small, dusty area. It rested on the wooden panels of a particularly dusty and battered looking chest that hadn’t been touched since the Founders chucked it into the attic – which was the last time the chest had been touched.

Just minutes after the light of the moon touched the chest, it began to rumble, softly at first, and then violently. The rumbling then spread to the attic itself and then to the building, making ceiling tiles fall and the wood flooring and walls crack. A dark smoke, moving almost like liquid, began to seep from the seams of the chest and surround it, hissing whenever it came into contact with the wood. Finally, the rumbling stopped, the smoke disappeared, and all was silent.

BANG

It sounded as if several canons had gone off in unison, temporarily deafening anyone in the vicinity of the Council Hall. As the sound went off, a burst of magic exploded from the chest, sending wood pieces flying through the attic and either becoming lodged in the walls or blowing holes right through them like a shotgun blast. The burst of magic flew through the entire town, knocking every living being off of their feet and also knocked the wind right from their lungs. Several light bulbs blew out with the blast and windows shattered, and some people even dropped dead, causing more terror and panic than the initial magic had caused itself.

the rest of the huntress returning to this world can be read here!

after her return, one of the ghosts alerted the town to an ongoing crisis by ringing the bells and causing an even bigger alarm than her arrival did. that can be read here, and so can the official death count from the morning after.

this arc was never finished. i like to think that the town eventually solved it, that they were able to find her token and destroy it. i imagine that it was crushed by either tris or toni. but it was in a climactic moment. fire raging around them, the huntress standing with an arrow ready. the hero drops the token, and crushes it beneath their boot.

with a scream, the huntress let a final arrow fly, killing the hero, just as the trapped piece of her mortal soul came flooding back into her, and forcing the immortal bits out with another flash bang of magic. it forces the huntress onto her knees, and another of the heroes, either lyra or jackson, was able to take the sword and kill the huntress with it.

in the end, a majority of the town was killed, and it was evident to most people that the population would never recover from what had happened between the huntress and the sickness. a few dozen people decided to stay and rebuild, having faith that things could ever go back to normal.

others left, whether to rejoin regular society, or to join the other sister towns for a while, it wasn’t specified. but this event essentially blew nightmare off of the supernatural haven map for a while.

it was from this that jackson and lyra decided to leave. they had witnessed so many friends and family members die, and they both wanted out of that life. lyra left behind her mother and her future as alpha of the pack. jackson left his home behind, and off they went.

#( character study ) lyra #( character study ) jackson #( headcanon ) lyra #( headcanon ) jackson

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