#her hair still manages to get all over my room and clothes though just... less

[healingheartdogs]

They need to invent a way to make my bed not smell so much like dog that doesn't require me to wash my sheets and blankets every other day or stop letting my dog in my bed to cuddle

Likewise for dog hair on my bed and clothes

[the-record]

COWBOYS LIKE YOU

SYNOPSIS: you should stop letting her through that door

PAIRING: cowboy!abby x reader

WARNINGS: a touch of homophobia

A/N: this isnt great, and makes me sad, but i like it!! trying to be a little less dialogue focused

my masterlist

“do you have to go?” your voice is soft as abby lets the question linger in the air. “i hate it when you leave. its lonely.”

her fingers slide carefully up and down your arm and she sighs. “im sorry angel.” abby wraps her arms around you and pulls tight, trying to get you as close as possible. “you know it ain’t safe for us out there though.”

you knew she was right, seen first hand just what people think about sappho and her friends. felt the rage and anger that came when two women who just loved each other.

these nights with her were nice. the sun still going down and the heat with it. crickets started their song and birds finishing theirs. you had pulled the sheets up halfway when it cooled, the sweat on yalls skin disappearing with the breeze.

abbys nails were kept short always, but theyd begin to grow out and were gently scratching at your skin. her hair had finally grown out again and you twisted it around your fingers.

when you’d found her that night, you had to bring her back. clean up her hair, her wounds, her clothes. you couldnt leave a sweet thing like her out in the cold to die. or the boy that was with her. you never did see him again, but it meant more time just you and her.

“i can stay one more day. but then i ought to get back on.” she pressed a sweet kiss to your forehead. “you get some rest now, let me make us somethin’ warm and good for dinner.” you whine as she untangles herself from you, but only laughs before leaving the room.

you don’t remember when you nodded off, but you do remember waking up to something smelling good. she stumbled in with a tray full of plates and cups. she smiled when she saw you sit up.

“well good mornin’ sunshine.” you rolled your eyes as abby settled in beside you. “now, no more of that attitude, not when i made you somethin’ nice.”

you scoffed, crossing your arms over your chest. “now i know good and well that you, abby anderson, are not talking.” she returned the eye roll, albeit not very well. “now what is on my menu tonight mrs anderson?”

abby always left without warning, but it didn’t make it hurt any less. but you always managed to make a move on from her, prepared with the fact that she may never be back for you.

you tended to the farm, your cows. made breakfast and dinner each and every day, sweet tea and lemonade for the hot afternoons. you did afternoon tea in the ladies parlor on saturdays and church on sundays. you kept on the way you always did, never missing a beat.

until a fateful cool evening when someone came knocking on your screen, scaring you half to death as you stirred beside the stove. you sighed as you made your way to the door, wiping your hands on the apron you had on.

you nearly tripped over your own feet seeing abby at your door. took everything in you not to rush and pull her in.

she was different than when you last saw her. new clothes, hair in a loose braid, cuts and blood all over. but you didn’t yet even open the door, she had much to say first.

“before i even start, know how sorry i am. know i didnt mean for it to be this long.” she winced as she leaned on her other leg. “i wanted to come, truly i did, but ive been running all over hell’s half acre. i had business.”

you huffed, pulling the door open and taking her with you to the kitchen. “im so sorry angel, please talk to me.” you sat her down on a stool before heading back to your dinner. “what do i need to do to make it all better?”

she quieted down when you didnt respond, watching you cook. she always loved watching you do household things. made her feel right at home again.

she smiled when you sat her bowl down infront of her, stopping and staring with a frown. she wanted to tell you how pretty you were but held off, you scared her quiet a bit. her hands moved to your hips but you slapped them away and grabbed the wet rag she hadnt noticed.

“eat your damn food.” she slowly spooned the meal into her mouth as you wiped at the old cuts on her face. she winced and pulled away but you pulled back. “stop movin’ when im tryna fix you up.” she nodded as softly as possible.

when you finished, you took the rag and half finished plate with you, pulling the fork from abbys mouth. “go wash up, you will not be dirty in my house.” she nodded, though you weren’t looking, and left to the bathroom.

the plate sat on the counter as you heard her harsh steps up your stairs. you held your head in your hands and took a shaky breath.

you didnt expect her to come back. figured it was final this time. and you certainly didnt expect her at your door like that. you had to pull it together though, couldnt let her see you like this.

you washed up and wiped the kitched till it was spotless before heading upstairs to abby. she was still sitting tending to her wounds when you found her. “you’re doing it wrong.” she dropped what she was doing and slouched. “let me.”

you were gentle with your touch, knowing it was always what she needed. she lived such a hard life that sometimes she needed a gentle touch, some loving. “what in the god damn world did you get yourself into this time?” abby sniffed and you looked up for the first time.

“i hate going out there. i dont wanna anymore.” you hushed her, pulled her close. “can i stay?”

“you can do whatever you want.” you kissed her face, running your fingers through her hair. “im here no matter what you decide.” she nodded and squeezed your hand. “now let me fix up these stitches. you have no idea what your doing. bless your heart.” she laughed softly and you copied. “seriously though, sit still for me.”

“im sorry i always leave.”

it was a quiet night. crickets too tired to so much as hum, and the cow sleeping to forget the chill of the dark. the house had a chill but you and abby huddled to ignore it. it was peaceful. you missed this peace.

you hummed in response, leaning on her chest to see her face. “so don’t.” but she said nothing. did nothing. “abby…”

she shook her head. “im sorry.”

[clarisse0o]

Camp Wiegman-Part 37

Lucy Bronze x Ona Batlle

Alternative Universe : Military School

Words : 5k

Masterlist

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Friday, January 15; 6:00 AM -  Lucy's Room.

Even though the ringtone is more pleasant than the alarm in our dorm, it doesn’t stop me from groaning and burying my head in the pillow when it echoes through the room. I hate waking up, no matter what sound comes out of the alarm. I feel a light pressure on my back, encouraging me to roll onto my stomach.

"Get up, Ona."

"No," I mumble.

We stay like this for a little while. I start to worry when her presence lingers on me longer than usual. This isn’t normal. I turn my head to the side to check on her. A smile creeps onto my face when I see her eyes are closed. My movement must have woken her up because she opens one eye, then the other.

"Is getting up tough, Miss Bronze?"

"Whose fault is that?"

"It’s not like I didn’t warn you..."

I clutch my pillow a bit tighter. Guilt washes over me when I see her like this. She hasn’t been spared during the last five nights I’ve spent here. She has as many dark circles under her beautiful eyes as I do.

"I don’t blame you, Ona. But get up now, or we’ll be late."

"Hmm... Don’t feel like it."

Instead of listening to her, I roll over in her bed, pulling the comforter over my head to escape her. Silence reigns until I feel a foot in my stomach, sending me tumbling off the bed. I open my eyes wide to see her grinning triumphantly. The shock leaves me speechless.

"I already let you sleep in my bed, even though I tell you every night it’s the last time... At least do me the honor of getting out when I tell you to, will you?"

I groan as she gets up and walks past me, but I smile when I’m sure she’s in the bathroom. This girl is completely crazy, yet I like her more and more every day. I didn’t think that was possible. Neither did I expect my episodes to worsen after coming to this room. Neither of us was prepared for it. Lucy even thought I had lied about the previous ones, but that wasn’t the case. In the end, we realized the only way for me to fall back asleep after an episode is to sleep in her arms until morning. If that doesn’t happen, I can’t get back to sleep for at least one or two hours.  Lucy kept telling me each time that it would be the last time and that we’d find another solution, but here we are, five nights in.

"Ona," she scolds as she comes out of the bathroom, standing in front of me with her arms crossed. "You’re really pushing it. Get up, now!"

"Alright, I’m getting up!"

"You better be! Hurry up, we’re leaving in ten minutes, max."

The one thing that hasn’t changed since coming here is her commanding nature. Sometimes I think it’s just a front to make her orders seem more fun. But deep down, I know that’s not the case. She wouldn’t hesitate to punish me if I didn’t listen. She has the authority, so she takes advantage of it. With these thoughts, I head to the bathroom, where my things are already set. Lucy has managed to change all my habits in less than a week. She makes me prepare my clothes the night before, and sometimes we even go to bed earlier than the imposed curfew to catch up on sleep. That’s unheard of for me. I quickly get dressed, brush my teeth, and apply some makeup. I barely have time to fix my hair when the door opens, and  Lucy walks in.

"Ready to go?"

"Yep, I just need to grab my jacket and bag."

 Lucy hands me my jacket with a small smile. In her other hand, I also see my bag.

"Thanks," I say, holding back an eye roll.

I’ve discovered that  Lucy is very particular about order. I thought I was meticulous, but she’s on another level. Her room is always impeccably tidy, and she’s incredibly organized. Case in point: our suitcases are already packed, just waiting for our return later this afternoon. Once everything is set, we leave her room. We greet an instructor who came out at the same time as us, then I follow  Lucy down the stairs. I still feel a bit strange being here, but I’m no longer afraid of what her colleagues think. All the educators were informed that I’ve been staying with Lucy ever since a teacher caught me in the hallways when I was heading to her room alone one night. I had been hanging out late with Alexia, not paying attention to the time. The teacher dragged me to the principal’s office without listening to a word I said. He felt pretty foolish when Wiegman explained the situation to him.

"Shall we meet up later?"  Lucy asks me.

"Yep, I’ll meet you at the car, then?"

"Around one o’clock, yes."

"Alright, have a good morning."

"Thanks, you too."

We’ve settled into a bit of a routine. I leave her to wait for her friend at the back door of my dorm while I head to the cafeteria to meet up with mine. Alexia always waits for me out front to ask how my night went. No one has noticed our routine yet because we always join them at the table anyway. Today, we’re the last ones to arrive. We sit in our usual spots with our full trays and join in on the discussions already happening during our absence. It’s the best part of the day. Since we wake up early, we always have time to chat until eight o’clock. Sometimes, there are exceptions where we leave the cafeteria early, like today. I don’t return to  Lucy’s room. I’m not allowed to. Besides, I know she needs to shower since she always goes for a run after breakfast. Since I live with her, I’ve started to learn her habits. We already spent a lot of time together, but now it’s even more. However, I’ve been trying to balance things since Alexia confessed that she misses me. I realized I was spending more time with  Lucy, so I decided to organize myself better. Now, I dedicate my classes and free time before meals to Alexia and my evenings to Lucy in her room. I’ll see how I manage once I’m swamped with homework again, as I’ve asked to work in Lucy’s office, and I know she won’t forget that. In the meantime, I head to class. The day goes relatively well. For a week now, we haven’t really been following the lessons since these are our last few weeks. We’re still working, but nothing important, so we end up laughing a lot with Alexia, making the most of our last two hours together. Maybe too much, as we get reprimanded by our teachers quite a bit. Today is no exception.

"Seriously, you should’ve seen her face when I told her," she giggles, talking about her girlfriend without any discretion. "It was hilarious!"

"Alright, enough!" shouts the teacher. "Out, both of you! Now!"

I widen my eyes at the tone our teacher suddenly took. I expected him to react again after his first warning, but not this harshly. He’s the only one who’s gone so far as to kick us out. We must have pushed him to his limit. Our teacher in the first class was more lenient with us.

"No, it’s fine, we’ll calm down," my neighbor replies.

"You’ve already told me that ten minutes ago," he retorts. "And the rest of the week too. This is the last straw. Out!"

To accompany his words, he points to the door. Alexia reluctantly packs up her things. She gives me a stern look to prompt me to do the same when she notices I’m not moving. The only problem is that I’m frozen. I’m going to be in so much trouble if I leave this room.

"Batlle, do you need a special invitation?"

"No, it’s fine..."

"Excuse me?!"

I don’t reply anymore, afraid of making things worse and getting written up too. It wouldn’t be the first time. I grab my bag and join Alexia, who is already at the door. As if that wasn’t enough, the teacher asks another student to escort us to Bronze' office. I’m in so much trouble. Ale is teasing me.

"Oh, come on, you shouldn’t be that scared! It’s been ages since Bronze punished you."

"You don’t get it. If I’m denied the weekend because of this, I’m a dead girl!"

"You’re overreacting," she laughs.

Oh no, I’m not. She doesn’t understand why I’m so scared. We arrive at my supervisor’s office quicker than I would’ve liked. Two pairs of eyes are on us as the student escorting us knocks on the door. My first instinct is to stare at my feet.

"Ooh... This doesn’t look good," Ingrid comments.

I bite my lip. If she caught on that fast, I have no doubt  Lucy will too. I hear the latter stand up from my peripheral vision. I fidget with my fingers, dreading making eye contact with her.

"What’s going on?"

"I—," my classmate tries to explain.

"I wasn’t talking to you," she interrupts. « Ona?"

- We-

- I said Ona, snaps Lucy harshly in response to Alexia’s attempt to speak.

I lift my head for the first time since I’ve been here. I realize that I’ve positioned myself behind Alexia without meaning to. To my surprise,  Lucy doesn’t look angry, or she’s hiding it very well. She raises an eyebrow when our eyes meet and crosses her arms.

- We got kicked out, I mumble.

- Excuse me? I don’t think I heard you correctly.

I swallow hard. She’s right about one thing—she’s a very good actress. She’s angry. I doubt her lack of sleep will help matters. I press myself against the wall as she approaches us. She sighs, ripping the paper from Megan’s hands violently.

- Alright. Go back to class.

She’s so terrified that she bumps into me as she leaves the room.  Lucy doesn’t take her eyes off me, which also tends to scare me.

- Reasons? she asks me.

- Talking...

- Talking? she repeats, raising her voice. Are you kidding me?!

- No...

- I can’t believe it, she says bitterly. You promised me you wouldn’t do it again! And here you are, as soon as I loosen the reins just a little, you do it again, she snaps at me.

- Luce-

- Oh no, no, she cuts me off. Shut up, will you!

- Whoa, calm down, Ingrid intervenes. Have you seen her face or what?! She was already terrified just walking through the door! she defends me. I think she’s learned her lesson, right Ona?

I nod timidly, thanking her with a look, unable to speak. I knew she would be mad at me. Even though she’s my friend, she’s always prioritized her role as supervisor. I turn my eyes back to her when she sighs again. Her hand rubs her forehead, as if she has a migraine.

- I’m sorry, she says. I’m sleep-deprived.

- Let’s look at the bright side. We can now finish our work faster, Ingrid says, trying to lighten the mood.

 Lucy doesn’t say anything else, just gestures for me to sit in my usual spot. Alexia, who still hasn’t said a word, simply gives me a sorry expression, realizing that I was completely right to be scared.

- Well, I guess I’ll team up with mini Putellas then, Ingrid says. Come sit with me, will you?

Alexia follows the orders she’s given. I smile slightly, noticing she’s not used to being here. I’m sure it’s the first time she’s been kicked out.

- Does this change anything about our weekend? I ask Lucy timidly, who’s now standing in front of me.

- No, but you won’t have the next one, and neither will I.

- Why not?

- Because that was part of the deal with Wiegman! she informs me. How can I go if you’re not sleeping at night?

Now I feel guilty. I should have negotiated to stay in class and asked for a different seat, for example. It’s too late to come up with solutions.  Lucy slides a sheet of paper in front of me. I don’t understand her intention until she asks me to read out the numbers to help her with her work.

- Can I go to the bathroom first?

- You’re kidding me, right?

I bite my lip, wanting to collect myself before diving into her work. Her bad mood makes me anxious. She grants me this favor but insists on coming with me. I say nothing, even though I made the request to get away from her. When we arrive at the bathroom, I only breathe when I’m locked in a stall.

- I’m sorry... I dare to say once I can no longer see her.

- I’m the one who should be sorry, she surprises me by replying. You could have held off for your last class at least.

Not knowing what to say, I stay silent. I come out of the stall after flushing and stand beside her to wash my hands. I look up into the mirror when a pair of lips touches my cheek. The contact lasts longer than it should. I remain speechless at this more-than-pleasant gesture.

- Do me a favor and don’t get kicked out again for the rest of the year. I won’t be as lenient next time, knowing what you’ve become. Got it?

- Yeah... Sorry again about your weekend... There’s no chance I’ll have it.

- I’ll make sure you don’t. That will be your punishment, she tells me. I had planned to offer you a weekend in the Alps with my friends. Now I’ll have to reschedule everything since I can’t go anymore, and I’m not sure if you’ll be invited then.

- What’s this about...?

- I wanted to surprise you since I’m forbidding you to go back to Barcelona.

- You would have taken me with you...?

- Of course.

- And now you don’t want to take me?

- Not until you prove you deserve it.

She winks at me before leaving the room. I quickly toss my paper towel and follow her. Damn it! I’ve messed everything up! I’m sure she’s trying to make me feel guilty, and it’s working perfectly. I try to convince her to change her mind on the way back, but it’s no use.

- Please, Luc-

She puts her finger on my mouth, making me stop so I don’t run into her. I look around and see that we’re back at the office, and our friends are laughing at us.

- That’s enough. I said no.

- So, are you two best friends again? Ingrid asks.

- No, she’s just trying to persuade me to take her on the weekend we planned.

- Oh... I forgot about that... Damn. Can’t we go now? Can’t you work something out?

- That’s what I’m trying to ask her! I reply.

- I said no. It’s your punishment. Now move your chair over here. You’re supposed to be helping me, remember?

She sits behind her desk with a determined look. I glance at Ingrid, who seems exasperated by her friend’s behavior. Without much enthusiasm, I follow the order and sit next to her. Alexia also sits next to Ingrid to work better. I retrieve the previous sheet and make myself comfortable, crossing my legs.

- First to finish wins? Ingrid challenges us. We’ve been waiting for you for this.

- Fine by me,  Lucy surprises me by agreeing. You’d better be efficient. I hate losing.

I chuckle and nod.  Lucy gives the signal to start our silly contest. I quickly give her the first eight-digit code to avoid getting scolded. We keep going like this for a good half hour until the bell rings in the hallway.

- Already? Ingrid exclaims. Do you have one or two hours of detention?

- Two, I respond instinctively at the same time as Lucy.

 Lucy gives me a dark look.

- What? It was my turn to answer.

- Hmm.

I sense amusement from Ingrid. It’s true, it’s pretty funny to see us connecting this way. Alexia is more discreet next to her, even though she’s probably thinking the same thing as us.

"Alright, give me the next one?" she reminds me.

Friday, January 15; 12:40 PM - Manchester Airport.

Ten minutes have passed since Lucy and I arrived at the airport. The morning had been tense since my dismissal, but  Lucy calmed down after we crushed the other team just before lunch. After that, we separated to eat, then I met her on the same side street as last time when it was time to leave. Now, I’m eagerly waiting for Mapi to arrive, and I think I’ve mentioned that enough already. I’m starting to get fed up with the tension between Lucy and me. It feels like it’s only getting worse. She’s been ignoring me since we got here, tapping away on her phone doing who knows what. I sigh in frustration. This situation is ridiculous. I was about to speak when she finally looks at me, but then she steps back, looking behind me. The next moment, something literally jumps on me. Lucy catches me to stop me from falling. I’m attacked by a wave of kisses, causing Lucy to step back.

"Mapi, cut it out," I laugh.

"I missed you so much! Oh my God, I thought I’d never land! Seriously, how do you manage to sleep through every flight?"

I laugh, recognizing my best friend and her way of complaining without mincing words. I turn around when she finally climbs off my back.

"Good to see you, Commander! Maybe not as much as my Ona, but still!"

"Good to see you too, Mapi."

Mapi sticks close to me until we retrieve her suitcase. Since I no longer have a phone to communicate, she catches me up on her crappy week in detail without paying any attention to Lucy beside us. She missed an important exam that she hopes to retake. She also tells me she ran into her ex with Feli. Judging by Lucy’s reaction to this news, I’m not holding my breath for her to change her mind about returning to Barcelona. She eventually talks about her casual flings, which I could have done without hearing next to my supervisor. I feel extremely embarrassed, unlike Mapi, who seems totally at ease. I get a brief break when she grabs her suitcase from the conveyor belt.

"Does she always talk this much?"  Lucy asks.

"It’s just the beginning..."

"Great. I thought no one could be worse than you."

"Hey!" I lightly punch her. "I’m not that bad! And I did warn you that you were taking a risk by picking her up."

She pinches my cheek when I pout. I give a victorious smile when she apologizes, saying she was joking. She quickly withdraws her hand when Mapi comes back. She resumes her monologue all the way to the parking lot.

"Wow, nice ride! An Audi? You didn’t mention that, Ona! Can I sit in the front?"

"No!"  Lucy and I reply in unison.

"Whoa, calm down, you two," she chuckles.

 Lucy avoids us by getting into her car. I help Mapi put her suitcase in the trunk before we get in too.  Lucy hasn’t let me drive her car since last week, but I was glad she let me do it at least once. The feeling of driving her car was magical, and I understand why when it purrs at startup.

"By the way, Ona?" Mapi asks.

"Can’t you just shut up for, like, five minutes?"  Lucy growls.

"Is she always this grumpy?"

I laugh as my best friend points at  Lucy with an indifferent look.  Lucy’s going to explode any second if she keeps pushing her buttons like this.

"If you don’t stop soon, I’ll leave you on the side of the road!"

This scene is truly hilarious. Mapi eventually cooperates by sinking into her seat and sulking. Now she knows what it’s like to be put in her place by  Lucy Bronze.

"What was your question?" I finally ask.

"Um, I’m not sure I’m allowed to talk..." she pouts.

"Don’t be upset. She was joking. Right, Lucia?"

"Mm," she responds.

"So?" I press.

"Did you sort out your phone problem? You said you would this week."

I sigh and shake my head, thinking about that issue.

"I called my mom. She gave me a hard time when I explained that mine was broken. We argued until she finally agreed to let me cancel the line and get a new one."

"And?"

"Well, I eventually got the green light."

"So it’s good? You can get a new phone?"

"Normally, yes."

"Then why don’t you already have one?"

"Because Lucy will take me when she feels like it."

I see Mapi flinch in her seat through the rearview mirror. I glance at  Lucy, who sighs heavily. I place my hand on her shoulder to try to calm her down. I think Mapi’s presence is irritating her. She was happy to host us last week, though. Maybe I’m wrong. Her mood has worsened since my dismissal. I feel responsible. We had started the day off well. I smile as I realize that my touch has an effect, against all expectations.

"Go ahead, Mapi, spit it out,"  Lucy encourages.

"Well... We could go get one now, right? But, you know, it’s up to you! You’re the driver, after all..."

"Alright, let’s go. I’ll have the opportunity to leave you there if you keep annoying me."

I laugh, removing my hand from Lucy. She changes direction towards a street I recognize. She’s actually heading downtown.

"Take out my phone and send a message to Ingrid asking her to meet us," she orders.

I don’t think twice and do what she asks. My best friend is here, so she can ask hers to join us too. Ten minutes later, we’re in the underground parking of the shopping mall. I’ve visited a lot of places, but I’ve never been here. We follow Lucy, who heads for the stairs. She’s tapping away on her phone, as if we’re not even there. We arrive in the middle of a dozen brand-name stores. I spin around to see if I spot any stores I might like. It only lasts a second, but when I stop, I don’t see anyone beside me anymore. I move forward a bit, hoping to spot  Lucy, Mapi, or maybe even Ingrid, but I don’t recognize any faces. There’s no one. I’m alone, and I start to panic like a little girl who’s lost her mother in the supermarket. I look around and even search my pockets, but I quickly remember that I haven’t had a phone for weeks. I stop when I start to feel overwhelmed. I’m beginning to think I’ll never find them with all these people around. I jump when a strong hand suddenly presses on my shoulder. I was ready to fight back, but I relax when I come face to face with  Lucy.

"Oh, thank God..."

Without thinking, I hug her. She chuckles softly, accepting the embrace. She doesn’t seem to notice my panicked state. Yet, I can feel my heart racing against her warm body. I pull away from her so she doesn’t realize how exaggerated my reaction was.

"Sorry, I... I didn’t see you leave, and I thought I’d never find you again."

"Calm down," she smiles. "I’m here now. Give me your hand so I don’t lose you again. Your wonderful best friend and Ingrid are waiting for us."

She knows exactly how to calm me down. I smile and happily take the hand she offers. She pulls me along in a direction I definitely wouldn’t have taken if I had gone looking for them.

" Lucy?" I call out to her.

« Mm?"

- "I'm sorry for ruining your mood... It's my fault, and I hate seeing you like this."

I bite my lip when our eyes meet. She smiles tenderly.

- "It's not your fault."

- "But—"

- "I promise, Ona," she interrupts, tightening her grip on my hand. "If you don't want things to get worse, don't stray from me again."

I smile at her, and she finally lets go of my hand when we reach Mapi and Ingrid, who are deep in debate. It almost seems like they've known each other for ages, even though they've only met twice.

- "Oh, there you are at last!" Mapi exclaims when she sees us. "Can we go now?"

- "Of course. Try not to get lost again."

Ingrid and Mapi walk ahead of us as if we weren't there. Well, they do glance back at us occasionally.  Lucy tells me that the mobile store is on the next floor when I ask her. We take the escalator to get there.  Lucy takes my hand again as I start to lag behind them. The other two girls decide to leave us to check out the store across from the mobile shop when we arrive. At least we'll have a little peace, and I'll have time to choose a phone without any pressure.

- "Hello," a salesman approaches us right away with a predatory smile. "Can I help you?"

- "We're fine, thanks,"  Lucy replies coldly. "We're just browsing for now."

I give the salesman an apologetic smile, realizing that he's unwittingly sparked my boss's ire. I hurry to join her when she calls me over a bit further away. I apologize and quickly catch up to her.

- "I guess you want an iPhone? Can you even afford it?"

- "Yes, yes! My mom sent me some money."

- "Do you want to look at anything else?"

- "Are you kidding?" I giggled. "I only have Apple products; I'm not going to look at Samsung!"

- "As you wish," she smiles. "So, which model? You had a 13, right?"

- "Yeah," I sighed. "Actually, I'm torn. I could get the latest model, but I think it's too expensive. What do you think?"

- "What I think? It's not up to me to decide."

- "I'm just asking for your opinion..."

- "There's not much difference between the latest models. It's up to you to decide what you want."

- "Do you need advice?"

 Lucy lets out a grumpy sigh towards the salesman who returns. I stifle a laugh and place my hand on her arm, which is holding one of the displayed phones.

- "We'll come to you when I've made my choice," I simply say.

He nods. I think he got the message now. I smile, seeing  Lucy glaring at him as he walks away. I call her to get her attention. She raises an eyebrow, noticing my amused expression.

- "You think this is funny?"

- "He's not doing anything wrong; he's just doing his job."

- "Yeah, well, if his job is to check out all the pretty girl in this store, I hope he gets a bonus considering how often he stares at you."

I look at her, stunned by that comment I didn't expect at all. A burst of laughter escapes me, causing her to frown. It's one of the last things I expected to hear from her. I wipe away the tears forming in the corners of my eyes.

- "Are you done?" she snaps coldly.

- "Sorry, Luce, but why are you reacting like this? Who cares? I won't ever see this guy again anyway."

- "Yeah. Well, are you done so we can leave? The last thing we need is for the others to show up, and that would be the icing on the cake."

- "Hey, are you done being like this? As long as those two are together, they leave us alone. It's pretty nice, isn't it?"

- "Which one are you choosing?"

I sighed, realizing that my words wouldn't change her mood. I hope it'll fade soon because I won't be able to put up with it for long. I give up and change the subject, pointing to a phone in front of us, the iPhone 15.

- "That one, then?"

- "Yeah."

- "You know it's really expensive?"

- "Let's just say my mom transferred me a generous amount," I giggled. "Might as well enjoy it, right?"

- "You could use it for something else."

I stare at the new iPhone for a moment. According to people, it's the phone to have. I'm so tempted, but  Lucy's eyes are much more compelling. I let out a defeated sigh.

- "Alright, alright, I’ll go for the other one then."

I settle for the iPhone 14 that was right next to it.  Lucy nods, as if she approves of the obvious choice.

- "So, black or white, Princess?"

- "White," I finally said without hesitation, crossing my arms.

- "Okay," she laughs. "Let's find a saleswoman."

- "The salesman was fine by me," I teased. "Especially since I told him we'd go back to him."

- "You really want to irritate me to the end?"

We lock eyes for a moment until I look away to find the salesman in the store. I’m not trying to annoy her, but I don’t want to give her the final say on everything either. I smile when I finally see him and waste no time going over to him.

- "Ona," she

 growls behind me.

- "Have you made your choice?" he asks warmly when I reach him.

- "Yes, I have. Can you take care of it?"

- "I'm not sure your girlfriend feels the same way..."

- "Oh, she’s not—"

- "If it were up to me, I would have gone to your colleague already," my boss retorts. "Just do your job."

- "R-right... If you would follow me..."

The poor salesman is almost running out of fear as he heads to his desk with a computer. I wait a moment before following him to turn back to  Lucy.

- "Are you serious? Why did you let him think we were together?!" I giggled.

8

"I’m saving you from his flirting tactics."

"Oh yeah? Who says I didn’t want to be flirted with?"

"Doesn’t matter," she rolls her eyes. "Come on, he’s waiting for us."

I smile unconsciously as I walk past her. This situation is actually quite funny. The poor salesperson doesn’t dare look at us when we sit on the stools in front of his desk. He prefers to focus on his screen to do his job. I suppress a smile when  Lucy continues her act by placing her hand on my knee. I have no idea what’s gotten into her, but I don’t mind it.

"So... uh, what would you like to do?" he finally looks at me.

"Open a new line."

"Alright... Are you already a customer with us?"

"Yes."

"She’d like a new no-contract plan,"  Lucy intervenes. "That’s what you wanted, right?" she asks me for confirmation.

I nod with a sly smile. The guy taps on the keyboard as I give him my line number. He accesses all the information my mom provided when setting it up. Fortunately, she had the sense to put it in my name, or else I wouldn’t have been able to change anything. He quickly switches the line when I tell him the plan I want with a new number.

"Uh... what model do you want?"

"iPhone 14 in white," I replied.

"Are you sure you don’t want to go for black, being undecided that you are?"  Lucy asks with an amused smile.

"Stop it," I giggle. "You’re really silly."

"Yet, I’m the one on top," she murmurs.

Her words were a whisper, but loud enough for the salesperson to hear. I can’t hide my surprise when I catch her smirking. I can’t believe she dared to say that! My cheeks flush with embarrassment, and I can’t think of anything to say in response. She’s taking this role-play way too far. The salesperson is so uncomfortable that he gets up, saying he’s going to get my phone from the stockroom.

"What were you thinking?" I spitied as soon as he left.

"Oh, it was just a joke. I’m not sure which of you was more uncomfortable," she teases.

"It wasn’t funny at all, you idiot!"

I can’t hold back my smile as she laughs even more. Goodness, I don’t understand what’s gotten into her all of a sudden. Just a few minutes ago, she was completely grumpy.

"We should play this game more often."

I turn my head to hide my embarrassment. I didn’t know she could be so teasing. I push her hand away when she tries to slide it up my thigh to provoke a reaction. I glare at her, but she’s not intimidated in the slightest. She just chuckles and places her hand back on my knee when the salesperson returns. He sets the box with my new phone on the counter after scanning the barcode.

"Alright. Now we just need to set it up. We can do it together if you’d like."

"Yes, please."

He removes the plastic wrapping and pushes the box toward me.

"Do you know how to do it yourself?"

"Of course."

"I’ll let you handle it then. Is there anything else you need?"

"A screen protector,"  Lucy replies.

I hadn’t thought of that, but it’s a good idea considering how my last phone ended up. I nod, and he gets up again. Meanwhile, I take my new phone out of the box and insert my new SIM card under  Lucy’s watchful eye.

"This game is ridiculous," I say.

"I thought I was doing you a favor," she says, removing her hand.

"A little, yeah. But we both know he wouldn’t have tried anything more."

"That’s true. I don’t know what made me react that way, but it annoyed me to see him looking at you like prey."

A foolish smile spreads across my lips. I appreciate that she doesn’t let people disrespect me. I try to convince myself that there’s no hidden motive behind it. That’s probably the case anyway. I turn on my phone and start setting it up, syncing it with my account. I feel relieved when I see my home screen, as if I never broke my previous phone. I’m thrilled to find all my data intact.

"Did you manage?" the salesperson asks upon his return.

"Yes, everything’s working," I reply with a smile.

"Great, here’s the receipt," he hands me a sheet of paper. "You’ll find a one-year warranty, your new phone number, and of course, the price. Are you paying by card?"

"Yes," I confirm.

He hands me the machine once he’s inserted my card. I enter my code before handing it back.  Lucy takes the bag where the salesperson has put the empty phone box and the receipt. I thank the salesperson as he returns my card.

"Have a good day," he wishes us.

"Thank you, you too."

I put my phone in my pocket before anything can happen to it, and we head out to meet Mapi and Ingrid. It wasn’t difficult to find them. They were waiting on a bench across from the store. The first thing Mapi asks me for is my new number. I choose the simplest way: sending her a message. I do the same with  Lucy and end up getting Ingrid’s number, which she readily gives me. “Just in case,” she says. I’m not sure I’ll use it, but at least I’ll know who to contact if I can’t reach  Lucy one day.

"So, movie night at my place tonight?"  Lucy suggests.

"Really?" Mapi enthuses. "Like, all four of us?"

"I’d love to leave you behind, but Ona wouldn’t let me."

We all laugh except for Mapi. The girls get up, and we head back down to the parking lot. Mapi immediately agrees to Ingrid’s offer to ride with her. I stay with  Lucy, who seems pleased to get rid of my best friend. I know she likes her and that it’s just her bad mood talking, so I’m not worried about the rest of our weekend. I’m beaming when she hands me the car keys.

"You’re letting me drive?!"

"Mm-hmm."

"But I don’t know the way to your place..."

"I’ll guide you."

I don’t ask her a third time and take her keys. She makes sure I’m settled in and have my license with me before letting me go. I start the car, unable to hide my smile as I think about the evening ahead.

[five-rivers]

Cracked Clay Cup Chapter 2

For @greatbigolhampuckjustforme

“How is this organized, anyway?” asked Daniel.  “It isn't alphabetical.”

Clockwork shuddered.  “The debate about which alphabet to use would be interminable.  No.  The list is arranged from eldest to youngest, with groups being averaged.”

“So, the oldest person is on top and the youngest person is on the bottom.”

“That is correct.”

Daniel hummed and wiped up the last of his syrup up off his plate with the last piece of his pancake.  “This Jasmine person is the youngest person who wants me.  Ick, that sounded wrong somehow.”

“She is the youngest person,” said Clockwork.  He was doing something strange with the plates in the sink.  

“Is she, like, really into plants or flowers or something?”

“Are you really into Daniels?”

“I mean.  I don’t know.  My memory’s been erased and all.  For all I know, my name isn’t even Daniel.  It could be William.  Or David.”  Still, he got the point.  He shook his head.  “Ghosts just picking random names.  What is the world coming to?”

“You could always choose to go by another name,” said Clockwork, mildly.  “You are not trapped in it.”

“I know,” said Daniel.  “I’ll keep it for now, though.  Is, um, is the…”

“Her section of the file is colored teal.”

“Thanks,” said Daniel.  He flipped through.  “These aren’t in the same order, you know.”

“I know,” said Clockwork.  He sounded very put upon.  

“You’re not the one who does the organizing, huh?”

“If only I were.”

Daniel looked over the teal pages.  There wasn’t a lot of information on them.  The name, Jasmine, her height, hair color, eye color, a few lines about interests.  

“Not a lot here.”

“You are meant to form your own opinions,” said Clockwork.  

“Enjoys pushing forward the boundaries of knowledge?” he read from the page.  “Interested in modern psychology and brain surgery?”  He looked up at Clockwork.  “This sounds like mad scientist material.”

“You can always skip her, if you feel uncomfortable.”

“No, if I’m going to do this, I’m going to be fair.  So, uh, let’s go.  Let’s do this.”

“In your pajamas?” 

“Well, it’s not like I have anything else, do I?”

“In fact, you do.  There is a closet in your room upstairs.”

“With clothes that are mine?”

“With clothes in a variety of styles in your size.  They are all new, acquired for this process, although you can keep them afterward.”

“So, no way to figure out my style except for experimentation.  Cool.  Great.  Another mystery to solve.”

“Think of it as an interesting puzzle.  An amusing way to pass the time, whilst you are experiencing the various persons who wish to gain custody of you.”

“Uh huh,” said Daniel, pushing his chair out.  “I’m going to go get changed.  Do I need to pack a bag, too, or what?”

“What, in this case.  Any clothing and toiletries you need will be sent to you.”

Daniel nodded and climbed back up the stairs to ‘his’ room.  There was a closet there that he hadn’t noticed before, across from the bathroom.  He opened the door and started to shift through the different outfits.  

That one was too complicated… ugh, weird texture… too much body exposure… ooh, gothic… but also complicated… nice skirt… robe… kilt?  He prodded at the maybe-kilt a little.  He wasn’t sure that it was a kilt.  Well, whatever.  Jeans.  T-shirt.  Hm.  Tempting, if only for its simplicity.  But maybe he wanted something that vibed with his tail a bit better.  Ooh, Egyptian.  

Eventually, he hit on a combination of loose pants, long shirt, and fringed wrap.  Yeah.  That would look good.  Comfortable.  He took off his pajamas and fluffed his tail.  That did feel good.  He put on the pants, then the shirt, and then discovered he did not have great skills with wraps.  So.  He probably didn’t wear them on a daily basis.  Still, with the help of the bathroom mirror, he managed to get it into a more or less presentable arrangement.  He thought he looked good, anyway, and that was all that mattered.  After all, if they already were getting into fights over custody of him, he didn’t exactly have to dress to impress.  

He went back down the stairs, to where Clockwork was waiting, staff in hand.  “Okay, I’m ready.  How do I look?”

“Dressed,” said Clockwork.  

“Helpful,” said Daniel.  

“I am to please.”

“So… How do we get there?”

“Through this,” said Clockwork.  He held up the staff, and a portal spun off the clock at its top.  Then, he held out a small pocketwatch.  “When you want to return, merely click the button on top.”

“Okay,” said Daniel, taking it and looping it's chain around his neck.  “And… I just go through?  No other tricks?”

“No other tricks.  It is the journey of a single step.”

“Right,” said Daniel.  He took a deep breath and stepped forward.  

The transition between places really was smooth.  One minute, he was in Clockwork's purple kitchen, the next, he was in what looked like a completely normal entryway.  

There was a girl there.  She looked human, and was about half a foot taller than he was.  Her hair was red and her cardigan was the same teal as her paper in the file.  Her eyes, too, were blue.  She… really didn’t look like a ghost at all.  She didn’t particularly look like him, either, except for her skin color.  Unless maybe some of her facial features were similar?  Nose shape, perhaps?  He didn’t really remember what he looked like well enough to say.

But, definitely, what stood out the most about her was the fact that she was a girl.  A teenager.  Not a woman, not really.  She couldn’t be more than a few years older than he was.

“Danny,” she said, jumping out of the chair and starting to smile at him. “Hi, I’m–”  She stopped.  

The girl stared.  Daniel stared back.  

“Danny, what are you wearing?” she asked.  

“Clothing,” he said.  He didn’t think this kind of outfit had any particular name.  At least, if it did, he didn’t know it.

“Oh.”

“And… you’re…”

“Oh!  I’m Jazz!  You… really don’t remember me?”

Daniel shook his head, slowly.  

“Well… They did tell me that would happen…”

“I knew you before?”

“Yes!  Yes.  I… was your mother.  Am your mother!”

“Uh,” said Daniel.  “You’re, like, seventeen.  Eighteen, maximum.”

“Time travel was involved.”

“Time travel.”

“Time travel.  You know how things are in the ghost zone.  You get a natural portal, and then, boom!  You’re fifteen years in the past, or the future!”  She laughed, nervously.  “But I’m here, now!  This version of me.  Who is definitely your mother.”

Daniel realized, then, that just because the memory wipe meant that he couldn’t know what his prior connections were, that didn’t mean that other people couldn’t try to capitalize on them.  Or lie about them.  Or lie about them badly.  

“Time travel,” said Daniel, again.  

“I mean, you’re staying with Clockwork, right?”

“Uh, yeah, so?”

“So, he’s sort of a major player in the time travel scene, right?”

“He is?”  It’d explain the clock theme, at least.  

“He is.”

“Oh.  Cool.”  He still didn’t believe her time travel story, though.  “So, like.  If you were time traveling, who raised me?”

“Your, uh, grandparents.  But they can’t really, uh, do it, anymore.  For reasons.  And I’m back!  In the proper time!   So I want to take care of you now.  And this will start our bonding bonanza!  We can start with a tour of the house!”

What.  She did not just say that.  

“Are they the ones who’re disputing your custody?  Because it is a dispute, right?  That’s what this thing is all about.”

“I mean, um, there are seven groups, right?  Counting me?  So, no, it’s not because of them.”

“Right,” said Daniel.  That didn’t rule them out, though.  Maybe they were the ones at the top of the list.

“So, obviously, this is the entryway… At least, you know, when there’s a door.”

Daniel looked behind him.  There was, indeed, no door.  “What?”

“Something about the rules to these things.  We’re not supposed to leave for the duration.”

“What about food?”

“It’s brought in, the same way you were.  So, over here is the kitchen.”

The kitchen was a long, galley affair, with tile countertops and cute floral backsplashes.  It was much more normal than Clockwork’s, at least in terms of colors.  There was a fridge, a microwave, a toaster, and a dishwasher.  

“Do you know who the other six groups are?”

“I mean… I have a guess about some of them, but I don’t really know.  I’d thought Clockwork would be one of them for sure, but…”

“What, really?”  That, at least, didn’t seem like a lie.  “But he’s the neutral party?”

“Yes,” said Jazz.  “But I thought that the two of you were close.  But maybe it was more along the lines of being, I don’t know, work friends.”

“Huh,” said Daniel.  “I… Okay.”

“Yes.  Okay.  So, the fridge is completely safe, no biological or ectobiological samples stored in it.  Just food.  Normal, edible food.  We’ll do the dishes together, of course.  Cups are in here, dishes, pots and pans–”

“Your profile said you were interested in brain surgery,” said Daniel.  

“Oh, yes, that’s one of the things I’m thinking about studying in college!  Once I get into college.  Which will be soon.”

“So, you don’t have, like, a mad science lab in here where you do brain surgery or something like that?”

The girl stared at him.  “Are… you sure you don’t remember anything?”

This was not a promising question.  “Yeah, why?”

“Because you’re assuming that I have a mad science lab in here.  I’m  a high school senior.”

“Which means it’s weird that you’re here with a house at all.”

She made a face.  “It’s… I had some help getting it.  The house, I mean.  But there’s no mad science lab.  There will never be a mad science lab.  Unless you want a mad science lab.  I could probably make some calls.”

“I don’t want a mad science lab.  Why would I want a mad science lab?”

“I don’t know, to tinker in?  You used to do some, um, tinkering.  Mechanical engineering stuff.”

“That’s more of a garage thing, though, isn’t it?”

“I… don’t know.  You only ever did it in the lab.”

“So, we used to have a mad science lab.”

“That’s– I mean–  No.”

Definitely a lie.  They totally had a lab.  Or, at least, Jazz used to have a lab.  What was going on that they had a lab?  Something sinister, doubtlessly.  

“Did you dissect brains in this lab?”

“No!  Like I said, I’m only a student.  A student that is interested in a lot of things, but right now, my thesis is about Ghost Envy.”

“You’re a high school student with a thesis?”

“I’m a high achiever.  Have to make up for all that time lost time traveling.  You’d think you’d gain time!  But.  Yeah.”  She smiled tightly and nodded.  “Living room next!  We have a, er, one of those consoles.  For video games.  I got it from a friend.”

Daniel let Jazz drag him around the house.  It was kind of nice, except for how nervous she got whenever he probed about his past or her supposed time travel.  He didn’t really feel threatened by her, per se, but the lying… it definitely gave him a bit of, how should he put this, anxiety.  

“And here’s your bedroom, Danny!”

The bedroom was actually really cool.  Unlike the rest of the rooms, it had a very clear, very obvious theme beyond just house people can live in.  The theme was space.  The walls and ceiling were painted with constellations.  There were model rockets on shelves.  The desk had an astrolabe and a small model solar system on it, alongside astronomy books.  There were also some novels, composition notebooks and sketchbooks, alongside a variety of markers, but those were tiny points about the overwhelming amount of space.  Even the decorative throw cushions on the bed had galaxy patterns on them!

Danny… he really liked it.  He guessed he had to admit that, at least, Jazz had known him before, and had known him reasonably well.  Even if she wasn’t his mother.  

She’d also turned around to play with a deadbolt on the door.  

“It locks from the inside, because, well, I figured you’d be a bit nervous, staying with someone you know nothing about, and a lock might make you feel safer.”

She wasn’t wrong about that.  “Hey, speaking of safety, you’re still, like, alive?  Human?”

“Yes?” said Jazz.

“Isn’t it a bit weird, trying to get custody of a ghost?”

“Oh, um, I suppose it’s a bit unusual, but you’re my b– My son.  Definitely my son.  So, it’s worth it.  It doesn’t matter to me if you’re a ghost or a human or– Wait, Clockwork told you, right?”

“Told me… what?”

“That you’re not, you know, a normal ghost.”

“I… he might have said something about that.  About being an unusual kind of ghost.”

“So he didn’t tell you that you’re only half ghost?”

“That’s not a thing.”

“It’s a thing.  You can change back and forth between a human - more human - form, and a ghost form.  Like this.”  She gestured at him.  

Danny stared at her.  “That’s not a thing.”

“It is!  Oh, jeez, I can’t believe Clockwork left it to me to explain.”  She crossed her arms and turned away.  “I don’t know how to explain this.”

“Wait, does that mean my dad is a ghost in this story?  Are you saying that you, as a human, and a ghost–”

“No.  You died.  That sounds terrible.  I mean, you, um.  You sort of died.”

“How did I die that I managed to die only halfway?”

Jazz opened and closed her mouth several times.  “I didn’t witness it–”

“But you know.”

“It was– Do you really want to know?  I mean, regardless, I’m still your– your mom.  And I want to be.  And that kind of thing is really traumatic.”

“What was it?”

She looked like she didn’t want to answer.  Danny poured all his effort into a forceful, expectant stare.  

“It… was a lab accident.”

Silence.  

“Like, um.  A ghost lab.”

More silence.

“Okay,” said Danny.  He bit his lower lip.  “Right.”

“I’ll just leave now,” said Jazz.  “Make yourself at home.  Because it is!”  She stepped out.  

“Yep,” said Danny.  He closed the door and slid home the deadbolt.  Then he put his hand around the pocketwatch, lightly touching the button on top.  “Okay.  I’ll be okay.  I can always leave if she tries to examine my brain, and… I should give her a fair chance.  Right.”

[lesbicosmos]

day 1 of @palasakiweek !!!

day 1 prompt: hurt/comfort / sickfic

summary: crystal's on her period and suffering with it. niko helps with movies, noodles and cuddles.

notes: wrote this for my girlfriend :3 ( @giolovesyousm ilysm <33 )

also on ao3!!

found the place to rest my head (never let me go)

Niko awoke to the loud repetitive beeping of her alarm. She reached over to turn it off, but stayed lying down for a few minutes, just looking around her room. It was strange seeing all her things organised so differently – she may not have been living in Port Townsend for very long in the grand scheme of things, but she’d gotten used to where everything was there; everything had its place in the one huge room that was her apartment. Now, it was all different. The bedroom itself was smaller, so her bookshelves had all been pushed together and there was less wall space for her many posters. It was a welcome change, but a month after moving in, she was still getting used to it. Although, anything was worth it when there were other things mixed in with hers. She wasn’t alone anymore - she had Crystal. Crystal’s clothes were hung amongst hers in the surprisingly large wardrobe in their room, Crystal’s music posters joined her anime ones on the wall, Crystal’s long purple jacket hung right next to her thick green one on the back of the bedroom door. Having a roommate was brilliant, but even better that she was her girlfriend.

Niko rolled over, intending to gently wake the girl in question up – she always managed to sleep through the alarm somehow – only to find the other side of the bed completely bare, the space where Crystal should have been lying so cold, as though not having been slept on in hours.

Worried, she got out of bed, slid on her bright pink dressing gown and left the room. It really wasn’t like Crystal to go anywhere without telling Niko first, especially this early in the morning on a day they were supposed to be meeting Charles and Edwin at the office.

“Crystal?” she asked into the quiet of the apartment.

“’M’in the kitchen,” came a quiet response.

Niko entered the kitchen to find Crystal sitting at their small two-seater table with a cup of coffee in her hands. Her hair was strewn everywhere and she had bags under her eyes as she smiled weakly.

“You’re up early,” Niko said, walking over and dropping a kiss to the top of her girlfriend’s head on her way to the fridge.

“Does it count as being up early if you didn’t sleep in the first place?” Crystal replied as Niko poured herself a glass of orange juice.

“Oh. You okay?”

“Y’know how I started my period yesterday?”

Niko nodded.

“Yeah well, cramps decided to hit just as I was trying to get to sleep last night,” Crystal groaned, taking a sip of her coffee.

“Oh no. They’re bad?” Niko put her glass down on the table across from Crystal, instead running her hand through her girlfriend’s hair. Crystal relaxed slightly. “Day 2 always hits you hard, doesn’t it?”

“Yep. Took painkillers at like 6, they’re barely doing anything. What time is it now?”

“Just after 8."

Crystal’s eye’s widened in panic.

“Shit. We said we’d be at the office for 9.”

She made to move but Niko gently pushed her back into her chair, shaking her head.

“Nuh uh. You need to rest,” she insisted.

“But we’ve got new clients coming in, Charles and Edwin-”

“Charles and Edwin have been doing this a long time, I think they can manage this one without us.”

“Fine,” she grumbled, apparently unhappy with the idea; but Niko knew Crystal too well by now, could tell she was secretly relieved at not having to leave the flat. “Wait, without us? You don’t have to stay, you know. I’ll be fine.”

“But I want to.” Niko leaned down again, this time pressing a kiss to her forehead. Crystal’s eyes closed and she smiled. “I’ll go tell the boys.”

Niko headed into the living room and picked something up from the coffee table. At first glance, the object looked like a simple rock, like something a child would bring home from a day at the beach. However, it was actually one of two communication devices they had received as payment for a recent case. They were similar to the Spirit Finder stones the boys already had, only these ones were connected to each other, and worked like an audio texting device between any two locations. There was a phone in the office, but Edwin had insisted they use these stones – the phone was for clients only.

She tapped the rock three times, waiting for it to glow white to indicate the connection. She thought it was wild how easily her mind had adapted to the existence of such magical objects. But, she supposed, a lot of things become much more believable after you have two troublesome sprites try to rip you open from the inside, and then get killed by an evil witch’s spell but survive because of a magical bear stone and live in an alternate dimension for a few months until you find a way out. Yeah, that makes a lot of things easier to take in.

“Hey guys!” she spoke into the rock. She didn’t feel the need to check they were there; they always were, especially when the girls were due to go over. “Really sorry but me and Crystal aren’t gonna be there today! Crystal barely slept last night, she’s on her period and she’s not feeling too great so we’re gonna stay home and chill. Hope everything goes well with the new clients!”

She tapped the rock once again to end the message, and waited for a few seconds. Sure enough, the white glow returned and Charles’s voice sounded from the device. None of them had any idea how the sound came from the stone – there were no speakers – but who were they to question magic?

“Hey Niko! That’s fine, we’ll manage without you guys. Hope Crystal’s feeling better soon and we’ll see you tomorrow, yeah?”

Three taps.

“Yeah, hopefully!”

Niko went to return to the kitchen, but suddenly remembered something, and turned back into the living room, making a beeline for the bookshelf. She pulled a handmade square of quilted fabric off a large mason jar, and was met with groans of disapproval from its residents.

“Too fucking bright!”

“Seriously, are you trying to blind us?”

Kingham and Litty had also returned to the plane of the living when Niko did, and the others continued trying to convince her to get rid of them. Niko had refused. They had, after all, helped her come back, so it was the least she could do to not, you know, drown them or anything. She’d mentioned wanting to free them but changed her mind when she was met with looks of horror from Edwin and Charles.

“We really don’t need a dandelion epidemic in the middle of London, Niko.”

“Yeah I think keeping them in the jar is for the best.”

They’d complained, but didn’t seem too upset with the outcome when they’d been bought a bigger jar. And in the end, Crystal agreed to living in the same apartment as them, as long as they weren’t in their bedroom. So, the bookshelf it was.

“Look, I’m sorry for waking you but I need to talk to you.”

“What is it?”

“Seriously what’s so important you need to wake us up at the fucking ass-crack of dawn.”

“First, it’s like 8am! That’s a normal time to wake up. Second, you guys really need to be less you today.”

“The fuck is that supposed to mean?”

“Crystal’s on her period,” Niko explained. “She’s not feeling great and I really don’t want her having to deal with your…you-ness.”

“Oh boo-hoo!”

“Hey! She’s in pain! Wait- do sprites get periods?”

“Why do you care?” Litty asked, seemingly offended.

“She does,” Kingham nodded, and Litty groaned.

Niko really wanted to ask what exactly a sprite period consisted of given they were trapped in a jar, but she couldn’t get a word in because within thirty seconds, they were yelling at one another.

“Guys! This is exactly what we don’t want. Can you just like…be quiet for one day please?”

“Ugh, fine!”

“Can you at least put the cover back on? If we can’t talk I at least wanna get some fucking sleep.”

“Gladly,” Niko replied. “Now be good.”

With that, Niko placed the quilt back over the jar, blocking out most of the light. She took a deep breath before returning to the kitchen. She’d grown attached to the sprites, especially since they spent so long together in that weird inter-dimensional igloo, but god they could be assholes sometimes.

“Were you just talking to the sprites?” Crystal asked as she walked in.

Niko didn’t know if she’d heard them or if she could tell based on her tense expression. Probably both.

“Yep. They’ve promised they’ll be quiet today,” Niko picked up her glass of orange juice and took a sip, stepping over to stand right next to Crystal.

“Really? You sure they didn’t have their bitchy little fingers crossed behind their backs?” Crystal looked up at her, raising her eyebrows knowingly.

“Okay they probably did. But don’t worry, they won’t disturb us.”

“Thanks.” Crystal leaned into Niko. “What did the boys say by the way?”

“Charles says he hopes you’re feeling better soon.”

“That’s sweet. They’re sure they’ll be fine without us? I feel bad.”

“Crystal, they’ll be fine. They were fine for thirty years before us, right?”

“Debatable,” Crystal snorted.

She had a point.

“Still. You need to rest.”

“Fine.”

“Come on, wanna cuddle on the couch?” Niko stepped back, offering her hand to Crystal.

“God, yes,” Crystal replied, taking it.

“You go get comfy, I’ll be there in a minute.”

Niko pressed a quick kiss to Crystal’s lips before Crystal headed into the living room.

Nothing felt comfortable. Crystal tried to find a position on the sofa that didn’t feel like something was trying to claw its way out of her abdomen chestburster-style, but to no avail. She groaned, having given up trying after five minutes, when Niko walked in. She had two blankets over one arm and was holding a hot water bottle in the other.

“I didn’t know which blanket you’d want so I got the fluffy one and the thin one. I don’t want you getting too hot.”

“Thanks Niko,” Crystal smiled at how sweet her girlfriend was. “I think I’ll be alright with the thin one, especially with the hot water bottle as well.”

“Okay.”

Niko handed her the hot water bottle and the thinner blanket, folding the fluffy one up and placing it on the floor in front of the sofa just in case.

“And…” Niko started, reaching into the pocket of her dressing gown and pulling out a chocolate bar.

“It’s like 8am,” Crystal laughed, taking it from her and putting it on the side table next to the sofa.

“So? You’re allowed chocolate at 8am when you’re on your period. It’s like…the law or something.”

“Thank you.”

“Sorry that it’s just what we had in the cupboard, I can get dressed and go out and get you your favourite if you want-”

“Niko,” Crystal stopped her. “It’s great. You’re already doing more than enough for me, now come and sit down I need you.”

“Oh? What do you need?”

Niko sat down beside her on the sofa. Crystal immediately snuggled up next to her, her head on Niko’s chest and the hand not holding the hot water bottle resting on Niko’s knee.

“Just this,” she sighed.

“Ah. I can do this,” Niko replied, wrapping one arm around her and placing the other hand on top of Crystal’s, intertwining their fingers. “You comfy?”

“Yeah.”

It was nice, just sitting there in silence wrapped up in one another. It was quite the change to their usual day-to-day activities of running around London chasing after spirits and demons. Niko loved moments like these with Crystal, where she was calm and relaxed rather than her usual fiery, snarky, occasionally short-tempered self. Of course, Niko loved that Crystal too. She loved all of her, even the parts she was still trying to accept. Because no matter how mean she’d been in the past, no matter how often she lost her temper or started an argument with Edwin, she was still the person who offered her life for Niko’s after barely knowing her for two days, the person who became her friend when it felt like she was entirely alone, the person who tried her best to help her deal with her grief from her dad and convince her to get back into contact with her mom, the person who held her and cried for her as she died and was the first to pull her into a hug when she returned. She was gorgeous and messy and imperfect, and Niko loved her. She held her closer on the sofa, her hand running through her dark curls.

“I’m kinda glad we’re not working,” Crystal said after a few minutes. “I don’t know if I could handle Edwin’s…Edwin-ness today.”

“He’s not that bad.”

“I know, I know. He’s my friend and I love him like a brother at this point but…God, he can be frustrating at times. I feel like I’d just end up yelling at him when I’m this tired and like…hormonal.”

“It’s not your fault,” Niko comforted.

“I know that too, it’s just, since I got my memories back…like, I was so mean before. I really don’t wanna be that person anymore.”

“Hey.” Niko squeezed the hand she was still holding and kissed Crystal���s head. “You’re not. Who you were in the past…I know she’s technically still part of you but you’re not that girl anymore. You’re kind, and compassionate, and beautiful and sure, sometimes you and Edwin end up at each other’s throats a little but that doesn’t make you a bad person. Like you said, you’re like siblings. Most people are like that with their siblings, I think.”

Crystal looked up at her. In their position, it was difficult but neither really wanted to move.

“Thanks Niko, that really…it means a lot.”

“Well, it’s true.”

Niko leaned down the few centimetres necessary to press a kiss to the tip of Crystal’s nose, making her giggle softly.

“Wanna watch a movie?” Niko asked.

“Sure."

“What do you wanna watch?”

“I dunno,” Crystal shrugged. “You pick.”

“You sure?”

Crystal nodded as Niko reached for the remote.

♡ ⚢ ♡

Four hours went by in a comfortable domestic quiet, the two of them cuddled up together on the sofa watching the movies Niko picked, until the credits began rolling at the end of Princess Mononoke and Niko heard Crystal’s stomach rumble.

“You hungry?” she asked.

“Yeah, I didn’t exactly eat breakfast this morning. The only thing I’ve eaten is that chocolate we shared halfway through the first movie.”

“I’ll go and make lunch, what do you want?”

“I dunno,” Crystal shrugged again.

“You’re really not up for making decisions today, huh?” Niko giggled.

“No,” she laughed.

“Wanna try some of my noodles? They’re always good when I’ve got cramps.”

“Sure, what kind are they?”

“Well, my favourite ones are the chilli ones but you might not want those. Spicy and cramps don’t tend to mix. I think we’ve got some chicken ones in the cabinet too, they’re the ones I usually find helps with the pain.”

“Sure.”

“I mean they’re nowhere near as good as the chicken udon my mom used to make, but they’re still good.”

“I’ll take your word for it,” Crystal chuckled.

“I’ll go make them, you choose the next movie while I’m gone,” Niko said, untangling her limbs from where they had become indistinguishable from Crystal’s and standing up. “This is supposed to be your day and so far, we’ve watched two Studio Ghibli movies.”

“Hey, I like Ghibli too!” Crystal argued.

“I know but I was the one who chose them so it’s your turn.”

Niko leaned down to press yet another kiss to the top of Crystal’s head before heading into the kitchen. Crystal smiled to herself – that was the fourth head kiss today and it was barely the afternoon. It had become their thing over the last couple months, and had begun when they’d only just got together, back when they were living out of the rarely used spare room of Charles and Edwin’s office. (After the girls finally got a place of their own, with funds from both Crystal’s parents and the Agency’s steady stream of clients helping to pay their rent, the boys redecorated the bedroom for themselves. Crystal didn’t ask why two people who physically couldn’t sleep needed a bedroom. She didn’t want to know.) Whenever Niko left a room, or entered it, or whenever she liked, really, she would kiss the top of Crystal’s head. At first, it was Niko playing on their height difference, the fact her lips were at Crystal’s head-height unless Crystal was wearing her platform boots, but it had become such a routine for them there were no signs of it stopping. Even Edwin found it sweet, though he seemed to feel that way about almost everything Niko did. That was one of the many things the two of them had in common: their overwhelming love for one Niko Sasaki.

♡ ⚢ ♡

Niko returned several minutes later, a pot of noodles in each hand. She handed one to Crystal.

“Hope you like them. Oh, and don’t forget to take some more meds, you could’ve had some like two hours ago.”

“Shit, yeah,” Crystal swore, moving to get up.

Before she could, Niko pulled the box of tablets out of her pocket.

“Thank you,” Crystal sighed.

Soon, the two of them were resettled on the sofa to start the next movie, both with a pot of noodles in their hands, still leaning as far into each other’s space as they could without causing a food-related accident.

“Jeez, I can smell the spice from here,” Crystal laughed.

“Yup,” Niko replied.

“Can I try some?”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah.”

Niko twisted some of the noodles around the fork, as Crystal leaned forwards to eat them off it. She swallowed, then immediately started coughing.

“Holy shit!”

“You okay?” Niko asked, worried and reaching for the glasses of juice she’d poured them while the noodles were cooking.

“Yep. Just…wasn’t expecting them to be that spicy.”

“Too hot?”

“No, they were good. I like them, I just… yeah I don’t think they’d pair well with the current state of feeling as though my uterus is trying to claw its way out of my body.”

“Oh no…”

“The noodles are helping, though. Thank you.” Crystal smiled, returning her attention to her own non-spicy pot.

“You like them then?”

“Yeah, they’re so good.”

“Good. Did you pick a movie?”

“Yep.”

Crystal picked up the remote, and pressed play. Niko recognised the film immediately.

“Scooby Doo: The Movie? I said pick something you like.”

“Hey I do like this! I was obsessed with this movie when I was like 9. It kickstarted my obsession with Sarah Michelle Gellar. Then I made my dad buy all the Buffy DVDs when I was 12, then that was my favourite show for like two years,” Crystal said proudly.

“Woah."

“Yeah, imagine the shock on my face when I found out demons and supernatural beings and shit were real, and I was kind of one of them.”

“You’re my favourite supernatural being,” Niko said proudly and leaned across to kiss Crystal’s cheek.

“Shut up.”

“Nope,” Niko grinned.

♡ ⚢ ♡

“Hey,” Niko said quietly, around 20 minutes into the movie. “Do you wanna pause the movie a sec? I’ll go put the pots in the trash.”

“Sure.”

Niko stood up and went back into the kitchen, and when she returned less than a minute later, Crystal looked at her and laughed.

“What?” Niko asked.

“I just noticed, your lips are like, bright red.”

“That’ll be the noodles,” Niko giggled.

“You look somehow even more kissable than normal.” Crystal’s head was tilted to the side slightly in the way it always was when she flirted.

“Oh. Really?”

“Mhm.”

Niko barely had chance to sit back down on the sofa before Crystal pulled her in, quickly connecting their lips. Niko kissed back gently at first, not wanting to cause Crystal any more pain than she was already in, but Crystal’s eagerness spurred her on and soon she was pulling her as close as physically possible, both of them seemingly attempting to devour each other’s mouths. Niko tried her hardest to bite back the sounds threatening to escape her throat as Crystal took her bottom lip into her mouth and sucked.

Eventually, they broke apart, for no reason other than the need to breathe.

“Feeling better then?” Niko whispered.

“A little. Still feels like there’s some kind of rave happening in my uterus, but it’s not as bad as it was earlier.”

“Yay, the meds are helping.”

“I think it’s mostly you to be honest. And the noodles. But mostly you. Thank you for this.”

“Of course.”

As much as she wanted to pull Crystal’s lips back to hers, she knew they had all the time in the world for that. So, with one more kiss to the forehead, Niko gently pulled Crystal back into their cuddling on the sofa and pressed play on the movie once again.

♡ ⚢ ♡

“You up for another?” Niko asked after the end credits of Scooby Doo 2 finished rolling a few hours later. “We could watch the 2009 movie, too. You might have had a thing for Sarah Michelle Gellar but I was obsessed with Hayley Kiyoko. Her as Velma was an awakening.”

“Hmm…” Crystal hummed into Niko’s shoulder.

“Are you falling asleep?” Niko giggled.

“No.”

Liar.

“Yes, you are.”

“S’not my fault you’re comfy.”

“Come on, let’s get you to bed,” Niko shifted to move but Crystal held her still.

“It’s like 5pm. You’re not tired.”

“I don’t care. You need to sleep in a proper bed.”

Crystal gave in, allowing Niko to lead her into the bedroom and under the covers. Niko left the room, only to come back a few minutes later.

“I refilled your hot water bottle and brought you more meds,” she said, placing them down on the bed.

“Thanks babe,” Crystal muttered, yawning.

After Crystal had taken more painkillers, Niko climbed into bed next to her. Crystal immediately resumed their cuddling from the sofa. Niko never would have expected Crystal to be the clingy type, but she is not complaining.

“You know, I’m genuinely shocked the sprites were actually quiet.”

“Well…when I made them their little quilt I may have asked Edwin to put a silencing charm on it. They were probably yelling at one another all day.”

“Genius,” Crystal laughed, burying her head into Niko’s chest.

She seemed to have made a home on Niko’s chest over the last few months. Even before they got together, they would cuddle up together on the sofa in the office while the boys were out, or in the spare room while they were there, and Crystal would lay her head on her chest, listening intently to her heartbeat as though making sure she was still there. Every time Niko would hum softly, ensuring Crystal felt the vibrations of the sound. It was her wordless way of replying, of reassuring her she was really there, she was back, and she wasn’t going anywhere any time soon.

“Thank you for today,” she said, her voice more of a mumble against Niko’s pyjamas.

“You don’t need to thank me, it’s what I’m here for.”

“It’s not though, you’re my girlfriend.”

“Well as your girlfriend, it’s my job to be here for you when your period’s kicking your ass.”

“I really don’t deserve you.”

“Hey,” Niko gently took Crystal’s jaw and tipped her head up to look at her. “Yes you do. We both deserve this. Well, you don’t deserve to be in pain, but us lying here together, just…in each other’s space…we deserve this.”

Crystal still didn’t fully believe her. Niko absolutely deserved it, but she still had doubts about herself. She still carried so much guilt for the horrible person she was before she met David, the even worse person she was once he’d really gotten to her. But, she supposed, if someone as intrinsically good yet painfully damaged as Charles could want to be her best friend; if someone as hurt and austere as Edwin could value her friendship and want her around despite their bickering; if someone as sweet and kind and loving as Niko could want her like this, could feel comfortable and safe with her in her arms and want to do everything to help her when she was feeling down, well…maybe she could believe it a little. Maybe she could accept that after everything, despite what she had done in her past, she did deserve something as good as the life she had now, wrapped in the arms of the girl she loved, who loved her so much in return.

“I love you,” she said, squeezing her arms around Niko’s waist even tighter.

“I love you too.”

With one final kiss dropped into her curls, Crystal finally drifted into sleep.

-----

It was around 8pm when Charles picked up the communication stone that sat on one of the many shelves in the office and tapped it three times.

“Hey guys,” he said into the rock. “Just letting you know today went great! It was just a run-of-the-mill haunting in the end, so it’s all sorted now, hope you two are doing okay!”

A minute passes with no reply.

“Guys?” he says again.

Still no reply. Charles put the rock back in its place and walked over to the mirror.

“Charles, you know they said we could only use their bedroom mirror in absolute emergencies,” Edwin said from the desk.

“They’re not replying! This could be an emergency, mate, what if some poltergeist or something got into their flat?”

Without thinking for a second, Charles reached out and tapped the mirror. Ripples appeared centred on the point he touched, and the image changed from a reflection of the office to the view of Crystal and Niko’s bedroom from their dresser. Charles couldn’t help but smile at the sight before him.

“They’re probably just asleep, Niko did mention Crystal barely slept last night.”

Edwin was right. The girls were both lying there, only their heads and shoulders visible poking out of the duvet, Crystal’s head on Niko’s shoulder as they slept soundly.

��Yeah, they are. They’re fine.”

“Good. Now, are you going to help me finish up this case file?”

“’Course love.”

Charles took one last glance through the mirror at the two of them – curled up in each other’s space, holding one another close, the very image of domestic bliss – before tapping the mirror once again, leaving the two of them to their peace.

[reverieblondie]

WIP Wednesday

Hello! I promise I have not disappeared I've just been hammering away on my WIPS, with working having started up for me again it's been an adjustment to find time to write. Hopefully that changes soon!

My list of thinks I've been working on:

Taste so sweet

Oops

Zevlor with ex-goddess

Dark Prince Rolan: Chapter 2

Remember Me: part 2

Now, snippets for your enjoyment,

Taste so sweet:

“Just one kiss huh? You sure about that Tav?” - Gods… does his voice get richer by the day? Is it the drink or has he always been this alluring and down right cocky? 

You place your hand to his knee feeling the heat that radiates from underneath the cloth of his pants, your smile is all desire and taunts, “Well, unless you beg me for more…” 

Rolans smile widens before he looks over his shoulder to see Lia dancing with Karlach and Shadowheart, while Cal plays with the braids in Lae’zels hair as she speaks of her last adventure. Rolan turns back to you, his hand coming over yours as he tries to mask his grin but failing horribly. 

“Well, let’s find somewhere more…private perhaps…” 

It's then you tugging his hand, having him follow your swaying trail, as you two make your way to a dark closet located in the back of the tavern…

****

You practically push him into the isolated room and shut the door behind you, Rolan manages a laugh before he's grabbing your face and pulling you closer to crash into his soft lips. Rolan guides your body to press against his and you can’t help but gasp at the seer heat of him, every part feels so good and his body is so warm. His knee slips between your legs and he gathers a fist full of your hair in his clawed hands, nothing to hurt but just to feel the want burning through him. It's while he’s casually adjusting you to straddle his knee that a stray thought crosses your mind, he's…good at this?

Oops...:

You're still unclear exactly why this started happening, maybe it's something he does to his other 'Client's’ or maybe it's in the contract? Well, other than him randomly popping in he's not bothering anything… not really...

You pause before inserting your key through your door, maybe you could get him to help with chores. Images of Rapheal helping you fold your linens, washing dishes, and helping cook run through your mind. Though the images of Raphael makes a warmth spread over your face, you're pretty sure the princelying is a bit too prim for all of that work. Perhaps he could be taught? Or maybe useful in other ways.

Before those thoughts can bloom you turn the key and enter your home. Once in you place your keys on the hook and put down your bag, You pause for a second before taking the chance,

"Hello Raphael~"

"Welcome home Mouse~” Raphael's smooth voice purrs out from the direction of your small living room. Looks like your guess was spot on. 

Walking in further you make your way to your kitchen you peep at Raphael looking perfectly at home lounging back on your chaste. It's not until you're putting away your groceries from the market that Raphael's looking up from this book. A small smile curls to his lips as he peeks at your form, so relaxed these calmer days.

Dark Prince Rolan Chapter 2:

Tav leans out of the window letting the chill over take her, she really shouldn't ne nervous... The prince- the King, Rolan is just a guy... and married couples do this all the time after their weddings... Plus its not like she is disappointed, he is handsome. Though she had hoped they would have talked a bit more after the ceremony to make this less nerve wracking. Perhaps that's what he likes... hearts racing, body shaking with uncertain anticipation, getting to know each others bodies first when everything is still painstakingly new. The first conversation with one other leading to tasting his breath.

A sudden rush floods over Tav's body making her blood feel hot, seluna help her... Closing the window back Tav finishes getting read, trying not to over think it. Sitting on the canopy bed Tav rubs the fragrance oils to soften her skin and to smell nice... hopefully this will impress him.

Tav pauses from rubbing the oil into her skin, impress him? Why impress him... well there's the obvious, but this...

Tav lays down and turns to the flicking flame, maybe she should snuff them out... or maybe that's for him to do... he could probably pinch it out with his fingers, the heat having no effect on his warm skin. Closing her eyes she imagines his warmth she has felt against her cheek just hours ago... The room bathed in darkness, the only light streaming from the window in a soft silver beam and two glowing eyes shinning in the darkness... Then he steps closer... and this feels real...

Slowly Rolan approaches, his lips in a smirk as he gets closer to her. Tav feels all the blood in her body rush to her face,

"Rolan-"

She's cut off by the feeling of his hands on her shoulders and his body now so close. The warmth just like at the ceremony... "I'll be gentle princess, I promise"

His voice rings through the darkness causing Tav to release a wanting yes. His touch now feeling like it's causing fire to run through her body. Tav keeps her eyes fixed on his as he slowly lowers her down. Rolans clawed hand starts to run down her silk slip as the other starts to undo his shirt. before she knows it the dark princes bare chest is over her as his sharp nails trace the soft skin of her thighs, inching underneath the hem of her slip. Tav's thighs tighten in response her heart racing... then his finger traces the wet spot of her underwear, now he knows how aroused she is... and he's loving every second of her embarrassment.

Hope you are looking forward to the stories! let me know what you think!

[lovezbrownies]

We need more of Reina please I’m begging you 😭🙏🙏. I literally want to spend the rest of my life with her

I GOT ANOTHER ONE COMNG TOO!!! gotta write Gen and Sio before bringing Reina back! anything for you guys...

Masterlist

Synopsis: You're surprised with an emotional surprise after years of pain.

Reina x GN!Reader

You used to hate mornings. Waking up and immediately seeing Gen smirking at you like the devil, her eyes foggy with lust, and her hands rubbing every part of your body it can see. Getting up from bed to not even choose your own clothes, to be handfed food you hated, to sit around in a dull lonely manor until your wife comes back home to entertain you. You hated it all, hated everything, hated everyone. Well, not everyone.

Reina may have been cold towards you when Gen first brought you in (kidnapped you), but after spending many long hours over many long days alone while Gen was out it made her soft. So soft in fact she had saved you from peril. Reina single-handedly yanked you out of the Devil’s grasp and even took care of you, healed you, and loved you, even after all that you two were put through by Gen, your love is stronger than her evil.

You thank whatever higher being that blessed you with Reina as you stare at her sleepy face across the table, you couldn’t even put into words how much you appreciate your beautiful, kinder, smarter wife. You just loved her so much, maybe under circumstances your love would be less severe, but with the shit you two have gone through together your shared love was beyond intense. You’ve escaped hell, almost died together, and went to heaven together. Nothing can separate you two from one another, or is there?

No. There isn’t. And there never will be, that is something you can be sure of. It’s been a few years give or take, and those few years have been your happiest. You two live in a big village home you got for cheap, and also have Reina’s siblings living with you. They are a mischievous bunch, with two boys and two girls one can never guess what chaos they will chaos in a day. Though they can be annoying you still see them as the kids you never had, and they see you as a parent they’ve lost long ago. Semi-parenting the kids with Reina made your relationship even more complex and intimate, you two know each other in ways no other person can comprehend.

You’ve made sure to pay Reina back for everything she’s done for you by spoiling her rotten when you can. From the moment you two settled down you looked and scoured for any job in the village just so you could provide for your little family, not like Reina didn’t have a job either, it just took longer for her crops to grow so she could sell them. You’d save up for special occasions and gift whatever Reina or the kids desire, from big things like anniversaries to rewards for a single good grade you will always make sure everyone’s needs and wants are fulfilled. And that was just a droplet compared to what Reina had sacrificed to save you, and you will always be reminded of that every time you wake up to her long hair covering your face.

Today is different, however, seeing how you hadn’t woken up to a flurry of hair surrounding you. You were never the fastest to wake up, but lacking the warmth and comfort of your wife you immediately snapped out of bed, still in your pajamas you called out, “Reina?! Are you here?!” Once hearing her distinct voice yell out from downstairs you managed to calm down enough to change out of your pajamas and make yourself look more presentable.

Once you were done with that you tried to leave your room yet were met with the youngest, and most stubborn of the siblings, blocking you from leaving. Though you can definitely just pick him up you decided it was best to entertain him. Putting a hand on your hip and looking around cluelessly you exclaimed, “Oh my! I can’t seem to leave our room! Reina, you wouldn’t mind if I was late right? It seems like an invisible wall has blocked me from leaving!” You pretended as if the little boy wasn’t there, and seeing how his face brightened up right after you gave yourself a silent pat on the back for being so cool to the kid. 

You went back into the room, saying a bunch of other stuff as you closed the bedroom door you heard the boy yell out, “I distracted them did I do good!?!” Giggling you laid back down, waiting to be permitted back out again you looked at the photos littering the walls, of everyone standing outside this very house right after purchasing it, of each kid on their first day of school through the years, of small vacations, and most important of all, the picture of your big dysfunctional family on you and Reina’s wedding day. It was such a simple wedding, with most of the village attending to witness the beautiful union of such a loving couple, and with the little money you two made you still spoiled Reina with the most gorgeous expensive matching wedding attire for you both.

All fond and wonderful memories, even the bad days were good for you. No other person’s life could compare to yours, and you would bet your entire life on it. Just as you were about to get up and look closer at the pictures the youngest came barging in, he raised his arm to his head, saluting as he yelled “Okay! You can-can come out now! Her highness! The Queen Reina wants to see you in the kitchen!” Thanking the mini guard you finally left the room, only for him to grasp onto your hand, looking up at you with a fearful look he whispered, “Be careful! The Queen might execute you!! She executed Miss Banana for no reason… It was an injustice!!” 

You smiled down at him, “I promise, I will take down the queen and have revenge on Miss Banana’s name, dear knight.” The promise seemed to have lightened the baby knight’s heart as he nodded and saluted you, wiping a fake tear over your bravery. Chuckling at the light-hearted nature of the conversation you moved on, quickly doing down the squeaky old stairs you were immediately hit with the smell of freshly-baked goodness.

That delightful smell only energized you more, speeding towards the kitchen you witnessed what could only be described as the cutest sight ever. So cute in fact it had you froze, eyes darting from one sight to another. Reina and the kids were covered in flour and many other things, the kitchen was a complete mess with tiny decorated hearts hanging off the walls and spread throughout the kitchen tables. Yet none of that could compare to the amount of food on the dining table, most shaped like hearts and stars, the kids and Reina were all sitting quietly in anticipation, waiting for your reaction. 

You couldn’t even begin to describe how you felt. Swirls of love and affection blossom in your heart, your heart felt like it could implode and release small tiny glitters out of how loved it felt at that very moment. “I-Is this… For me?” You point to yourself weakly, and you can barely breathe with how much your heart’s pounding. Reina stood up from her seat, walking over to you with that same cute dopey smile you fell in love with she embraced you in a tight embrace.

Reina spoke, her voice soft and endearing, “Well, I thought we could do something big and nice for you. You’ve done so much for us and… I just love you. This is because I love you so much.” Right after that, you were ashamed to admit, that you began sobbing and crying like a baby. The rest of the day was spent with your family, all while you still let out a tear every now and then. Nothing could ever compare to a chosen family’s love, that’s for sure.

It’s nighttime now, with all the kids in bed and asleep you and Reina decided to sit back. You both were sat cuddling in the living room. Not a single word was uttered between you two, much preferring to spend your time enjoying each other’s company in front of the fire in your chimney. It was beyond comfortable, you were rubbing up and down Reina’s back, bit by bit helping her snooze off as she cuddled into your neck.

Then it hit you, and your hands suddenly stopped, laying both of them down still on her back as Reina let out a disagreeing moan, “Honey…” Reina hums, “What’s this about a Miss Banana being executed?” And with that sentence uttered, Reina stills for a few seconds, before jumping up from your embrace, her face determined. “You shall never catch me alive!” Reina whisper yelled before running off with you following after her giggling about catching the evil queen.

Unfortunately, the evil queen’s wiles were far too strong for you, as you catch yourself nuzzling into Reina’s sleeping body.

[steeb-stn]

pls have 800 words of the inside of my head, featuring hurt/comfort, cee and her daddy issues, ezra and his daughter issues, and ezra and his issues with his daughter’s dead father

enjoy!

He should have known she was coming down with something - the jungle planet they’d been working on was a cesspool of every plague and malady known to fleshly bodies. Now they’re up here on this Keva-forsaken station, with barely half a first-aid kit that he could cobble together. Cee’s already burned through the half-dozen fever reducers he managed to kick up, and now all he can do is try to keep her cool with wet cloths, and try to get her to drink. Their tiny pod doesn’t even have a tub he can put her in. 

She’s been speaking to him as if he were her father for the past hour. He’d tried halfheartedly to convince her otherwise, but had since given up, a little afraid that her preoccupation with Damon, in combination with reminders of his own person, might lead her fever-addled mind back to the last ill-fated encounter between the two men. That was the last thing either Ezra or Cee needed at the moment. 

“I’m sorry, dad.” She said plaintively, pulling the wet cloth from her neck for the hundredth time. “I didn’t mean to. I’m really sorry.” 

“You’re alright, birdy,” Ezra replied, replacing the cloth for the hundred-and-first time. “Just rest. There’s nothing you need to do right now. Just let this fever burn out.” 

She pulled it off again immediately, throwing it across the room fitfully where it hit the opposite wall with a splat. She was getting more distressed as the fever wore her out. “I’m sorry. It won’t happen again, I promise. It was an accident. I’m sorry.” To his horror, little sobs followed this last apology. “I’m really sorry, dad. Don’t be mad.” 

“It’s alright, birdy. No one’s mad at you. Everything’s okay.” He smooths her sweaty hair back from her temple, feeling physical pain in his chest at the tears on her flushed cheeks. Never had he felt so helpless as he did now. And of course the only person in the galaxy who could have possibly made it better was the same one he’d dispatched in the Green so long ago. 

Even now, Damon still haunts him. 

But Damon’s not here, only Ezra is. Cee has no one now but him. He scrambles for words that might set her at ease. 

What did you call her in your more tender moments, Damon?

His limited acquaintance with the man, on top of what little he has garnered from awkward conversations with Cee, doesn’t lead him to imagine much. Nor does the way the man’s daughter feels compelled to entreat her father for forgiveness in the midst of her delirium.

If it was him, though. If it was him, father to a young girl. A younger, softer Cee, younger even then that little girl in the Green who forever changed his life. That he can imagine just fine.

“I’m not mad, honey. No harm done.” 

“I promise I was being careful!” Tears and snot stream down her face. He wipes her nose gently with the cloth.

What did you say to your girl when she cried, Damon? 

This Ezra doesn’t have trouble imagining, unfortunately. The impatience, the harsh rebuke. In his own imitation he tries to soften the words.

“Don’t cry, now, Cee. It’s alright.” At the command she stops sobbing immediately, as Ezra had suspected she might. As if she had practice at it.

Oh, Damon. Will you ever stop disappointing me?

Disappointing her? 

“I’m sorry.” She swipes a hand under her nose. “Please don’t be mad.”

“It’s all right, honey. It’s nothin’ the two of us can’t fix, now, is it? It’s alright, now. I know you were being careful.” He smoothes his thumb over her forehead. “Will you drink some water for me? There you go. Good girl.”

She lets him pull the water bottle away, dropping her head against the pillow. She looks a little better. Eyes a little less glazed. ‘Dad?’

He breathes deep, continuing the stroking of her hair. It seems to calm her. ‘Yeah, honey.’

“I really am trying. I’ll get better, I promise. You don’t have to take the book away. I promise I’ll do better next time.’

‘That’s alright, Cee. I know you will. You’re my smart girl. I’m a lucky man, ‘you know that?” He cups her fevered cheek. “I’m lucky to have a girl like you.” 

You were so much luckier than you deserved, Damon. 

So am I.

He knows, he hopes, that she will forget this moment of near unbearable vulnerability between them, that it will melt away like a bizarre dream, like the fever that’s sweating off her. But there’s also a part of him that wants her to remember. Remember, at least, this bit.

Remember what she should have learned from her father, what should have embedded itself in her bones where no one and nothing could touch it, not a fever, not a dead man, not even a scoundrel like Ezra himself. Don’t forget, Cee. Don’t you forget how proud I am. There’s nobody in the whole galaxy who’s got a girl like mine. 

Nobody. 

[thoughts-with-hailey]

My Life in Prythian - Chapter Twelve

Training with the Enemy

Summary: Azriel is fulfilling his end of the bargain as I learn mine is a bit more than I had bargained for.

Content warning: mentions of weapons, sexual themes, croissant denial

To say I didn’t sleep well the night before was an understatement. 

After Elain’s cryptic words as she departed, my head was all sorts of fucked up. I couldn’t focus enough to read, the words replaying over and over again thought my mind and preventing me from focusing on anything else. 

It wasn’t like I expected Azriel and I to end up together. We weren’t even together, so obviously I was not routing for that. It was more the fact that Elain didn’t seem to question that we were together. To be honest I was a little surprised about that, her being a seer and all. The thought had crossed my mind when Azriel had asked me to pretend, and I had figured maybe he knew more about her seeing powers than I was lead to believe so hadn’t mentioned it. It seemed, however, that Elain truly thought we were together. Enough so that she basically threatened me? Maybe she had seen a vision of us curled up like that when she had been planning her visit, so it wasn’t that much of a surprise. 

That did not negate what she had said, though. She knows what happens? And it’s not a happy ending for us two? What the actual fuck did that mean?

So yeah, I was exhausted when I woke up the following morning for my first official day of training. 

Nesta showed up to my room early and woke me up with a few gentle nudges and the offer of coffee and a croissant. It seemed they all really did know me because I still grumbled about being woken up, the grumbles were just subdued because my mouth was full of croissant. 

I was less likely to be angry when I had a croissant. 

“I hear you’re joining us for training,” she spoke quietly, knowing how much I hated loud noises in the morning. It was rather intimate, the way I had only been with them a few weeks and they all knew me better than anyone in the human world did. “I don’t know how you managed to get Azriel to agree to that, though I figure it has something to do with the way you were sitting in his lap yesterday.”

I didn’t comment and she only nodded. “I don’t need details. It’s not my business what is going on between the two of you. All I can say is that he seems to have actual emotion now that you’re around, and it’s a nice change. Now get dressed. I don’t want to be late.”

She tossed a set of fighting leathers on the bed and went to lounge in one of the chairs on the other side of the room. 

I had gotten used to an almost sisterly affection between Nesta and I despite the fact we had only really just met, and stripped out of my night clothes without preamble. The fighting leathers she had brought in were soft and well worn, obviously used. I wanted to ask if they were hers, or another trainee, but didn’t have the energy. I pulled them on, tightening to laces since they had yet to develop a zipper, and then Nesta was back next to me with her hands in my hair. 

Moments later the two of us trudged up to the training room together, my hair in a matching braided crown just like hers. 

Azriel and Cassian waited for us, along with a few others I assumed were from the library. Nesta went to join her little group of friends leaving me to figure it out on my own, which was never a good option for me. Social awkwardness was an are of expertise for me and combined with anxiety it had me standing on the outskirts of everyone while they all glanced towards me with curious expressions, which I studiously avoided it. 

I might give extrovert vibes but I am an introvert at heart. 

Shuffling my feet I folded my hands behind my back and contented myself with looking around the training room, taking in the high ceilings and rows of weapons on display. 

“Since everyone is here, let’s get started,” Cassian announced, his hands folded behind his back and his tone authoritative. Everyone shifted their attention to him and he continued, looking every bit the baddass war general he is. “Today we will continue with weapons training, so please go select the weapons you’ve been using most recently and break off into your assigned groups. Work on your stance and form exercised before moving on to light sparring. Azriel and I will be around to check on you as you do to make sure everyone is doing okay.”

I watched as they all nodded and broke off into groups, some going for swords, others going for daggers, and a few grabbing quivers of bows and arrows. Everyone had their place as they scattered about the room, confident in their task and their place, while I stood there completely lost and unsure where to go. 

Turning towards Cassian I was ready to ask him what I should do when I felt the familiar sensation of shadows wrapping around my wrist. Azriel slid into my view a second later, those shadows eagerly reaching towards me to stroke my cheek and curl around my neck, tugging me closer to him and tilting my head back until we were toe to toe. 

Amusement danced in his hazel depths, a small twitch of his lips betraying his normally stoic expression as he murmured, “You’re with me today, little liar.”

The way he said that nickname he had given me, with his voice rumbling and affection in his tone, had my knees nearly buckling. Elain was nowhere to be seen, so why was he still acting so…familiar? He must’ve seen the questions brewing in my eyes as he pulled me even closer, his lips brushing my ear as he whispered, “Nesta would never lie to her sister, and neither would Cassian. You’re bargain with me is to pretend to be mine until I say otherwise. That means in front of everyone.”

“But you said-”

“Everyone,” he repeated, his lips brushing along my jaw. “Now behave. Nesta is watching.”

 Either his shadows or his hand gripped the back of my neck, tugging my head backwards so he had better access to my throat and my breath hitched when those warm, soft lips of his pressed to that spot just under my ear. That spot had always been my weakness, as if every nerve ending in my body had been placed there ready for someone to find it and exploit it. One brush of his lips was all it took for every thought to exit my head and every ounce of irritation in me to vanish. I melted into him, not even having realized his arms were around me, looping my own around his waist in an effort to remain upright when my head turned fuzzy. 

A low chuckle thrummed from his chest, vibrating my own as I was now pressed against him. “This spot, is it?” he relished, nuzzling into my neck and making my entire head spin. “Is this truly your weakness?”

I could barely think let alone speak and when he opened his lips to let his teeth graze that spot I was sure that my eyes had rolled back into my head. When his tongue followed? I was a goner. 

My new fighting leathers were no doubt slick between the thighs. 

“Mother above!” Cassian yelled from across the room. “Do we need to switch duties, Azriel? If you can’t keep your hands off your girl for more than a minute I’m not sure how effective this training is going to be.”

Heat stained my cheeks and I thanked the mother that Cassian’s words brought me back to reality. I was supposed to be training, not indulging in my batboy fantasies. 

Shoving away from Azriel I searched the room to find Cassian, only for my cheeks to heat further. Every eye in the room was on us, including Nesta’s little group. Nesta looked amused and Emerie looked shocked, but it was the pale face of the beautiful redhead between them that had my heart faltering. 

Gwyn looked ready to kill me. 

Shit. 

Averting my gaze I stepped even further away from Azriel, shooing his shadows off me and clearing my throat. “Actually, Cass, that might be useful. Azzie doesn’t seem to intent on teaching me anything today, and I did come here to learn.”

Cassian’s eyes brightened with amusement as soon as the words were out of my mouth and I heard a soft choking sound coming from Nesta even as Cassian called back, “Sure thing, sweetheart. Azzie, why don’t you come over here and supervise the rest of them?”

“You’ll pay for that,” Azriel whispered as he walked past me, and for the first time I was actually worried what he might do. 

I lay on my back on the training mats, chest heaving and limbs aching. 

Once upon a time I was in excellent shape. I had been able to run nearly twenty miles and my body was okay afterwards, but that was after months of training. Cassian didn’t seem to care that the only training I had done in the last year had been cardio in the form of the elliptical or play Just Dance. He took one look at me and decided that going easy on my first day wasn’t going to happen. Instead he had made me start with what I was sure was a five mile jog around and around the training room, him following along and urging me to go faster the entire time,  until I felt like my legs were jello, then he moved on to sparring stances since I was ‘warmed up’. 

Sparring stances meant he was constantly saying my form was sloppy, only it was sloppy because my muscles were so fatigued from the running, and the punishment for a sloppy form was push ups, or sit ups, or planks, or wall sits, all of which made my form even sloppier the more fatigued my muscles got. 

So yeah, I ended up on my back with my vision dancing with spots and my entire body aching, fully ready to call it quits for they day when Nesta came over with a bottle of water. 

“Here,” she said gently, helping me into a sitting position. “I’m sure you’re dehydrated after all of that.”

“You could say that,” I groaned, grabbing it and drinking greedily. “Your mate is insane.”

“I know,” she laughed, rubbing a soothing hand over my back. “The first day is always the worst. It’ll get better though.”

“You mean worse, then better, right? Because I’m going to be so sore tomorrow.”

She only grinned. 

The sound of footsteps alerted me that there were more people joining us and I looked up to see Emerie and Gwyn drop down to sit with us, Emerie looking curious and Gwyn with a blank expression on her stunning face. 

“Hey,” Emerie smiled. “Nesta mentioned you briefly. It’s great to finally meet you.”

“Emerie, right?” I smiled back. “Nice to meet you too.”

“First day of training is rough, but you look tough. I’m sure you’ll fall into a groove in no time. We were all about to go out to Madame Murser's for lunch. Would you like to join us? I would love to know how you managed to snare the elusive Azriel. Many have tried and none have succeeded.”

Gwyn’s head whipped around towards her friend, murder in her eyes, and said, “Emerie, I think that-”

“Oh, are we going out to lunch?” a familiar deep voice said from behind me just as Azriel took a seat next to me. 

I looked over at him as he reached up to grab one of the loose curls that had escaped the braid and tucked it behind my ear, his eyes once more shining with false affection. “I don’t recall hearing that you were invited, Azzie,” I smiled sweetly.

“Where you go I go,” he shrugged, casually throwing his arm over my shoulder and tucking me into his side. “Rhys told me I have to watch you 24/7.”

Aware Gwyn was shooting daggers with her eyes and Nesta was watching with pure mirth, I rolled my eyes at him and shrugged out of his hold. There was no way in hell I was keeping this up all through lunch, plus the idea of doing anything other than taking a hot bath sounded abhorrent. Turning back to Emerie I shook my head. “Thank you for the invite, truly, and perhaps another time I will take you up on it. Today I’d much rather go take a hot bath and then a long nap so I am at least a little recovered for tomorrow.”

“A bath is a great idea,” Azriel’s sexy murmur caused everyone to glance over at him even though his gaze was locked fully on me. “I can give you a massage after.”

If possible Gwyn’s expression grew even angrier as he sprung back up to his feet and offered me a hand. I shot him a glare, irritated that this whole thing was not only interrupting my day to day life, it was also giving me an enemy from someone I hadn’t even had the chance to meet yet. 

Ignoring his hand I shoved off the ground and onto my feet, which okay honestly that was a bad idea because I could barely feel my legs at that point. “It was nice meet you,” I waved towards Emerie and Gwyn, even though the latter had not introduced herself. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Nesta, can you-”

“No more croissants,,” Azriel interrupted, sliding his hand into mine and curling his fingers possessively as he tried to tug me away. “If you’re training you don’t get to have a dozen croissants every day.”

“I wasn’t-”

“You were, little liar. I know you and I know you were about to ask her to bring you one. No.”

I huffed as he dragged me towards the door. I had been about to ask her for that but I sure as fuck wasn’t going to admit that to him. 

[shojizbae]

A Whole New girl

Min Ho x Fem! Reder

masterlist

♨︎⚕︎♨︎✄

Sunday came around and Min Ho seemed to still be on the warpath of a makeover. Although (Y/n) didn't understand why, she had new hair, new clothes, and a skincare routine she actually remembered to do at night. This is even what she was reflecting on while she did the morning skincare routine he assigned her. When she exited her bathroom she saw the whole new wardrobe that Min Ho purchased her.

God, how much could this cost? She knelt down with a crack to her knees to try to scrap something together for the day. Her closet was empty sans a trench coat her aunt got her for Christmas and some lingerie her other aunt bought her as a joke present. I hope you'll be doing a lot more than kissing at KISS she chided with a wink. Luckily some of her painting clothes had been saved from his tirade because they were hidden in a cardboard board marked 'precious'.

She got some underwear out of a drawer and even managed to find the matching bra, a stupid middle school obsession. most of her socks had been tossed and replaced with fresh ones. I guess that's kind.

She found a white tank top hidden in her pillows ad tossed that one then searched for a pair of pants. This morning she had to tutor Shlomo on an upcoming physics exam and she couldn't be late because she had to get to church. Oh crap, what am I supposed to wear to church? She ran her hands through her hair.

Oh my God, my dad is going to hate this hair! She panicked. She did the easiest thing she had learned to do from now on. Text Min Ho. She sent him an SOS text and found a pair of socks. He was knocking on her door and she sprinted out of her room to rip the front door open and drag him in my his forearm.

"Ow! Ow! Man, you're pushy!"

"Listen I need clothing! I have no idea how to dress myself!" she tucked her glasses up

"Why aren't you wearing your contacts. They were quite expensive." his smarmy face showed that he had all the power.

"Would you just listen to me?" she swatted his arm "You got rid of all my clothes I have no idea what I'm supposed to wear and I have to be at the library in seven minutes!" she yelled at him in Korean

"All right calm down," she gave him a sharp look "I'll style you, but uh" his eyes were fixated on her hips "Why aren't you wearing pants?" instantly she tried to cover her legs with her arms. But when that didn't work she decided to jump under the covers of her bed.

"Alright, alright calm down, I've seen plenty of girls in much less." he squatted in front of one of the bags and pulled out a stylist mini skirt

"Are you crazy? I have to go to church after this!"

"Really you go to church?"

"Yeah you don't"

"I mean, not often."

"Well, my dad's a deacon and military so I can't disobey him, and skipping church is a huge disobeying."

"You're dad is in the military?"

"YES! Now please find me some pants!"

"I've never had a girl beg for me to put pants on them, I don't hate it." he resumed digging through the bags until he found some brown plaid pants. He tossed them at her and she caught them and ripped the tags off without hesitation. She leaped out of her covers and tugged them off. Min Ho enjoyed the show. Even though the legs were wide, the waist was small and the was some brief resistance getting the pants around her hips.

"Ok, I need a better shirt that this, there's no tank tops aloud at my church."

"What are you, fundamentalists?" "Protestants." she tugged the tank top off her body and tossed it at her pillows, joining him at the bags.

"Uh here," He handed her a ballet-necked, beige body suit and then got her a jean jacket. She grunted a the snaps and tugged her pants down and readjusted her underwear

She tossed a pair of black Doc Martens, grabbed the jacket from Min Ho, and threw her backpack over her shoulder. She arrived at the library four minutes and 13 seconds late.

The only way she knew that is because, for the entirety of the lesson, Shlomo reminded her. Shlomo was insufferable so the whole time she was looking forward to going to church. Luckily the 85 minutes passed at a crawling speed. She was able to hop on her regular bus to get to church.

Man, was her dad angry about her hair. She was on time, and she was dressed well. Not an ounce of inappropriate collarbone or shoulder showing. But still, her father gave her the sharpest glare and huffed from his nose upon her arrival. He still had her hand out pamphlets and fans. She had to stand and sing with the choir and hand around the donations basket. The whole time though, her father was looming over her shoulder.

Afterward, she had her stay to help set up for the funeral of someone's grandma. She didn't stay long, once people started rolling in, she knew her father wouldn't want the masses to see her. The procession had been whispering through the whole service about her improved appearance. But her dad hated it.

His emotions were buried deep with (Y/n)'s mother, he hadn't shown any emotions his whole life. His dad, (Y/n)'s Grandpa never taught him how. So when he wasn't good enough at school, he joined the army. After losing his right leg below the knee, he was honorably discharged. His father called it disgraceful. They have spoken since (Y/n) was born. He took to the bible for comfort. All day he preached about loving all. But, he was never one to say 'I love you' to his children.

He is never direct and so (Y/n) figured out from disapproving grunts that he didn't like the way his daughter looked. She rode the bus back to campus and limped because her brand new Doc Martens hadn't been broken in. They were pinching her all day. So as soon as she got 'home'.

She didn't realize she was crying until she pulled her head up from her pillow and saw the twin wet spots.

"Why are you so upset?"

"Are you being empathetic right now?" She sniffled and sat up criss-cross apple sauce

"Well, you are sobbing into your sheets, did church not go as planned?"

"No," she sniveled "it did not go as planned. I mean, the sermon was lovely we talked about loving our husbands and our neighbors."

"Then what happened?"

"It's everything that's not the actual sermon, it's all the procession whispering about me. I used to be unnoticed but ever since you waltzed into my life, people have been paying attention to me. It was fine when people at church were saying that it was unfortunate that my mom died and how I've blossomed into a young woman or whatever. But today all anyone could say is that I've lost my way or my dad needs to put the reigns on me. "

"Your mom died?"

"Yeah- uh" the ring of her phone cut her off

"Sergeant dad' it read

"Athair?" she began knowing she didn't want Min Ho to understand this conversation. Her dad fired at her in the same language. For an uninterrupted 17 minutes, she sat down and took every pejorative that her father hurtled at her. She sat and let her face wobble as she tried to keep her expression stone-like. Even if he wasn't looking at her she knew his deserving glare would harden. He said emotions were weaknesses. So she sat while he one-sidedly hurled insults at his daughter.

"Tha mi duilich, dad" she responded, sounding defeated. Then she hung up the call and plugged her phone in at her nightstand. She took a deep breath and folded her hands in her lap. she was quiet fro a moment. an eerie silence passed over the two as she presumably prayed.

"Are you alright?"

"No, uh I just got kicked out of the church. Well not kicked out but I was told not to come back to the service until I've 'pulled myself together' and when I looked less like a 'harlot'." she didn't look in Min Ho's direction until she finished her vent.

"That's what he was saying? What language was he speaking?" Min Ho decided he was going to try to redirect her

"Yeah we were speaking Gaelic, we picked it up when he was stationed in Scotland."

"That's cool, so, how many languages can you speak?"

"Uh like four fluently. Korean, English, Scottish Gaelic, and German

"Fluently?"

"Well, I can understand some conversational Swedish and Russian." She shrugged her jean jacket off and hung it up in her closet. She returned with armfuls of hangers that were left behind by Min Ho.

"That's really cool,"

"Yeah, I guess." She got the rest of the hangers out and started dumping the bags of clothes on her bed. She told Min Ho a story about living in Scotland and sneaking to pubs last year.

"So how'd you end up at KISS?"

"My dad wanted to move back to the homeland after he got discharged."

"why'd he get released?"

"He lost a foot to a landmine."

"He went to war?"

"No, we were in Scotland and they were testing new bombs and one commander marched them through the testing zone. A few people died and he now doesn't have two tibias." Min Ho joined her hanging up various jackets and pants. It was impossible to ignore the lingerie in the closet. Instead, every time she would put stuff in she pushed the lacy piece deeper in.

They worked silently, at least (Y/n) was quiet. Min Ho was kind of enjoying being around a girl who doesn't crumble at his feet. Eventually, she tired of the outfit she was wearing. The reality that Min Ho was still in the room feeding skirts onto hangers from her mattress had slipped her mind. She reached for the button of her pants and started sliding them down her hip and she stepped out of them. She undid the snaps and tugged the long sleeves over her head tossing it to the side.

Before she could unclasp her bra she hear a 'uawaaah' of shock. she spun around hands still grabbing her bra this time by the cups.

"What are you doing here?"

"What are you doing?" he shot back

"I was changing! Get out!" she directed a finger at her door

"Fine!" he put the clothes down and fled her room. She was very flustered as she tugged on a pair of men's checkered boxers and found that white tank from earlier. She finished shoving the clothes in her closet and then pulled the precious box down. From the box, she provided a heavily paint stained flannel shirt.

She opened the drawer under her bed and got out a canvas and a palette. She set to a painting without a plan. In the end, it was time for dinner so she put a bra back on and then put real pants. She sat by herself during dinner

♨︎⚕︎♨︎✄

On Monday she woke up 30 minutes early to do her skincare and then, scarily, her makeup. The occasional lip gloss and mascara combo was the most she had done ever. But, per Min Ho's instructions, she was to follow the tutorial he sent her. It was a youtube tutorial with way too many emojis in the title. She followed it to a tee.

Especially because Min Ho had bought all the products in the video for her. Makeup wasn't nearly as hard as she imagined, or maybe some skills had transferred over. She checked the time and noticed that she was on the path to being late for class. She finished touching up her lip tint and hurried to get her uniform on.

She ran to get to the first class, Professor Chae for Korean Language. All the way to lunch she had to endure the whispers. She managed to get contacts in so the glasses were out. Now, all she had to do was enjoy a meal in silence. She put in her earbuds cracked open a book ad much on some noodles while listening to an album from the '40s she had recently discovered.

Before she could enjoy her lunch six other trays slapped down on the table. Across from her sat kitty and next to kitty was Q and next to Q was Florian. Which left her in a Dae-Min Ho sandwhich.

"So, (Y/n) I'm loving this new you."

"I'm not," I muttered in Korean

"Why aren't you loving the new you?" Min Ho responded in Korean

"I don't hate looking pretty, I just hate all the attention it draws," I told the group in English

"Well as much, as you're not enjoying being pretty I need to ask you a favor."

"Hit me,"

"Can you use your prettiness to draw people in for my hike tomorrow night?" Q gave me a puppy face.

"Uhh, that's a pass."

"What! but please!"

"Look I don't know why you guys all just flooded in so quickly and assumed you're my friends. I never really wanted this makeover in the first place!" Oh man, that just slipped right out

"Then why'd you let me spend all that money on you! And waste my time with you!"

"I don't know, it was just nice for one person to be paying attention and you know doting on me. But now it's-" words got stuck in the back of my throat. I picked up my backpack and my book and stomped away. I was acting like an immature little girl so I made my way to Professor Lee's classroom.

He didn't mind having me on there, I'm quiet. I continue on my book and catch myself every time I start humming along to the lyrics. Eventually, the bell rings, and students start filtering through the door and I sit through the lecture taking diligent notes. The final class hits, Chem. Sadly I'm confronted by the whole group that sat with me.

They never confronted me but now I have the ultra-clear vision to see every time they sneak a glance at me. Torture. All this attention is torture. The room feels hots, time is crawling by and we are forced to do partner work. Kitty scurries over with that over excited smile on her face.

“What Kitty?”

“I want to be your partner.”

“Fine, you could use an A” way harsh, don’t be a bitch

“Alright,” her expression fell

“I’m sorry Kitty. I didn’t mean it to come out the way it did.”

“That’s fine, everyone makes mistakes. And I do need an A.” I felt my cheeks lift at the same time as hers. Whew. We wrap up an experiment on molecular mass versus the velocity of protons. Very intriguing.

I follow Kitty out of the chemistry lab and we pick up smoothies and walk through the sun. Kitty tells me about her mom and how she’s here to learn more about her. We trade stories of our dads trying to help us through our first period. General girl bonding. She seems sweet enough I should at snapped at her.

“Kitty, I want to apologize once again for what I said at class, and at lunch.”

“Oh that’s not necessary-“

“But it is. I’m sorry Kitty. I just feel like all this pressure on me to be the best and the nicest, and now like the prettiest. I mean, I could never rival you, or Eunice or Yuri.”

“Uh, (Y/n) have you, er have you ever had friends before?”

“Not really, I used to sneak around with the kids in base. But, we moved around so much I never made true friends.”

“Well, consider me your first. I’m Katherine Song Covey, Kitty to my friends.”

“I’m (Y/n) Sae-Byeok (L/n). (Y/n) to my friends.”

“Wait Sae-Byeok, like that girl from Squid Games?”

“Exactly.” I take the final sip of my smoothie and toss the plastic cup in a nearby recycling bin.

♨︎⚕︎♨︎✄

I bring Kitty up to my dorm and let her ransack my brand-new closet. While she rips out far overpriced clothes, I ready a study guide for her in English and copy it down in Korean so she can practice reading.

"OH my god, (Y/n) Min Ho bought you Fendi?" She holds up a really thick mini skirt

"I guess. I didn't really grow up caring about brands. on the base, the only difference our clothes had was the pins you earned. I mostly just wore tank tops from dropout pogues."

"Well this skirt," she held it up to her body and looked in the mirror attached to the closet "Is very stylish and very expensive."

"Well I don't really care about my looks. I guess I kind of stopped caring about them in eighth grade. I hit quite a depression, Wh Sorry I didn't mean to dump all that on you."

"That's alright." she pulled out a silky buttoned shirt

"I just, talking with someone about my feeling has never flowed this easily."

"Well thank you," I throw my notebook to the side and tuck my hair behind my ears

"Kitty can I admit something to you?"

"I don't really know the laws here but I'm pretty sure murder is still illegal."

"No, it's more gross feelings."

"Go ahead,"

"I recently was told not to go back to my church, and I am not handling it well. I just-I feel so neglected. I feel like I was left behind." I started to tear up

"Hey, hey it's fine. I'm gonna be right here for you, until curfew, then you can find me in here." she picks up my phone and I unlock it for her. I see her quickly punch her information in.

"Hey, Kitty?" she meets my burning eyes "Can we play dress up?" Twin smiles grow on our cheeks. We melt our woes with expensive clothes. Oooh, those could be song lyrics. Then we tediously clean up all the spilled clothes. She leaves with the copies of notes and I relax in my blankets. I roll open the drawer under my bed ad look at the painting created.

Oh, dear.

[justplainwhump]

Society

A backstory piece on Blanca with her first owner, and a bit of a character study on Renee.

Mostly, however this is a gift for @caramelis dedicated to her great writing and her memorable characters; Emily, Clark (referenced) and Lilah (referenced) are hers. This is set in parallel to this fantastic piece.

Cory and Renee take Blanca to a party.

[Pet Safety masterlist]

[Lilah masterlist]

Content/warning: BBU, BBU Romantic, humiliation, heftily implied dubcon/noncon, implied claustrophobia, multiple whumpers, whumper pov.

Renee found her fiancé's socialising events not very enriching, to say the least. Cory was a lawyer, he was about to make it to partner in a highly specialised, highly prolific law firm. It was 'a man's world', as they liked to reassure each other; and with the growing popularity of WRU-designed whores as status symbols even before yachts and watches and the Porsche's parked along the mansion's driveway, the entertainment aspect of these gatherings had shifted to accommodate that. Partners were still welcome, but of course it were the pets that made the impression.

Her and Cory had even had a little fight about that earlier. His little whore looked fantastic, clothes more exquisite than even hers, higher prices for a lot less fabric, that if everything went well wouldn't even last the night. Renee had forbidden her the shoes though. Blanca - what a stupid name, really, a person could be called that, why not something like 'Kitty' or 'Pumpkin'?- Anyway, she wouldn't actually need shoes for her purpose. And Renee found it appropriate that both Cory and her could tower over her.

That hadn't been the reason for the fight. It was that Renee wanted to emphasise the whore's place. And to arrive in their new Porsche Boxster.

"She doesn't like narrow spaces," Cory had said, absently fondling Blanca's half covered ass. "We're taking the Cayenne."

Renee had seen the tension in the pet's shoulders, and felt a slow smile rise up on her lips. "I never thought pets had the capacity to like or not like anything," she remarked. "Isn't it true, Blanca? Wouldn't you just love to do whatever Cory wanted of you?"

The pet had even managed to produce a shaky smile. "I gladly fulfil all my owner's desires, Madam."

"Well he desires to please me, doesn't he, Cory?" Renee patted the hood of the Boxster's trunk. "And I want to ride this darling car. Get in the trunk."

Her gray eyes were huge, and they got even bigger, as they flicked between Cory and her.

Cory sighed. "You've heard her, Blanca. It's just fifteen minutes. Just close your eyes and breathe calmly."

"P... Please..." The pet had whispered, but Cory's gaze had been on Renee already, and then his lips had followed. "You're a fucking arrogant bitch, Renee," he mumbled into the kiss. "Let's hope for you she doesn't arrive there already ruined."

She'd made a point of kissing him over the trunk, while Blanca was in it. She'd have loved for him to fuck her there, too, just to show the pet underneath who was in charge, but he'd fought her off and checked his watch. "Let's not keep them waiting, love." He'd tossed her the key, knowing what she loved, and Renee had gotten them there in eleven minutes.

The pet, nonetheless, had looked horribly pale, when the valet got her out of the trunk, shaking and swaying on her bare feet.

"Give her something to calm her down," Cory said to the valet, carding a hand through the pet's damp hair, and she'd leaned into it, still full of devotion. He kissed the top of her head. "She's got duties to fulfil tonight."

-

She sure did, even though she wasn't the centre of attention. Some of the men withdrew to the other room, in their centre the petite, dark haired Romantic of some social newcomer whom Renee wasn't particularly familiar with, but who was obviously trumping Blanca in going to be the star of the night.

Renee wouldn't have particularly cared, hadn't it been for the very young woman sitting next to her, said newcomer's wife, it seemed. Emily. "So vulgar, isn't it?" Emily whispered, in an awkward way to initiate small talk. Renee could see Emily's gaze glued to the door to the other room, not entirely closed, in order to allow the Domestics waiting on this party to flurry in and out with drinks.

She wasn't sure what the other woman could see; but judging by the way her teeth tormented her lower lip, it... affected her.

Renee found herself smirking. "Certainly," she concurred. "But that doesn't mean us wives can't have any fun, either, does it?"

She was walking on thin ice here, but she had a hunch, and she'd follow it. That newcomer was interesting for Cory's business, his wife would sure be as well. And Renee had the strong feeling there was just the way to crack her.

A gestured command at one of the servers, and some moments later Blanca appeared at her side. Still pale underneath, but cheeks and skin flushed with exertion, dark red lipstick slightly smudged, hair a bit ruffled. The pet sank to her knees almost soundlessly, looking up at her from slightly glazed eyes. From up here, her breasts were enormous. All natural, Cory had said, with the pride of someone whose only contribution to that had been the money he paid to get her. There was a sheen on her cleavage and neck, milky and sticky, and Renee found a bit of satisfaction knowing that these breasts had at least been used as they should.

Shortly distracted from whatever happened next door Emily looked at them both with a polite raise of her eyebrow. She seemed wildly innocent for someone so voyeurestic. She probably just had to learn.

Renee leaned over and placed a hand over hers. "Here's to the fun us wives deserve as well, Emily." She raised her glass of wine, as Blanca vanished under the table soundlessly, swallowed by the long white tablecloth.

Emily raised her own glass, a polite crease between her brows, but too well mannered to admit she didn't understand.

Then, she flinched, gasped for a moment, hand clutching around Renee's as she stared at her from wide eyes.

"Lean back," Renee whispered. "Make yourself comfortable and..." she tilted her head towards the door. "Enjoy. Here's to you"

Emily seemed to be frozen on her seat, glass tipped to her lips, but not drinking.

Then her hips shifted on her seat, and Renee pictured a delicate pair of panties that her husband probably had never even seen slide down under the table.

Emily's lips parted, for a tiny sigh.

"Here's to me," she whispered, and then her eyes wandered to the door, free hand nestled around her hair delicately, and she didn't say anything for a long while.

She did smile all the time, though.

-

--

Pet safety backstory tag list: @gottawhump @labgrowndemon @pigeonwhumps @whumplr-reader

[authorautumnbanks]

How To Tame A Sorcerer (40)

Series Master list

Kagome lies there on the bed, her arms outstretched, as she stares up at the ceiling. It doesn't surprise her that Satoru hasn't found her yet, not that she is placing any kind of blame on him. No, if anything, it just shows how much planning Yumi went through to pull this off. She turns at the sound of the door. Yumi wisely keeps a distance between them. At least the guards are gone, or at least not inside the room with her. They were kind of unnerving with how still and statuesque there were. And what was up with them eating their own tongues? Surely there were less permanent methods to prove one's loyalty.

"Is this chain necessary?" she asks. Yumi glances at her leg and then sets the package down on the vanity. It's the only furniture in the room that isn't black. It speaks to Yumi's own vanity that to have it be the only thing in white in the room. Which works out for her as Yumi's own hubris will be her downfall.

Yumi pulls out a key from her pocket, runs a claw-tipped finger down it, and then places it back into her pocket. "I think it's a nice decoration. Your leg was so plain without it." Yumi smirks, her lips painted red. In a green top and jeans, it's the most casual that she's seen Yumi in. Almost makes her seem normal and not so regal.

"And that lipstick clashes with your hair, but okay." Kagome smiles back at the enraged look on Yumi's face. "For one so proud, I'm surprised that you would align yourself with Naraku and some curses." She sits up, dangles her legs over the bed. At some point, the chain will have to come off, unless they really expect her to wear the same clothes. Kagome shudders. Nothing worse than not being able to bathe. She couldn't stand it in the Feudal era and she won't go for it now.

"The other foxes are... enamored with you." Yumi opens the package and sets out the items. "Yakeru especially. It's sickening how he and the others fawn over you. Though, if they didn't, I wouldn't have known about your young one."

Hairpins? Kagome leans forward but does not move from the bed. She isn't worried about Yumi doing anything to her at the moment. Harming her would mean harming the baby. She places a hand over her stomach. "You know, stress isn't good for babies. I'd feel much more at ease if I didn't have a chain on me like some animal. You, of all things, should know how stressful that can be."

Yumi twirls a gold hairpin in her hand. There's a fox and moon hanging from the end of it. "The six eyes will not find you."

Kagome shrugs. "And if he finds me, it'll be much harder to plead on your behalf if he finds me like this. Just something to consider."

"Humans and their need to cling to false hope." Yumi sets the hairpin down next to the others. She presses her lips into a firm line, but there's fear etched into her eyes. "You talk to me so harshly when I come bearing gifts."

"I'm just speaking facts. The only gift I want from you is to be let free." Kagome pushes herself off of the bed, comes to a stop right before Yumi. It's too bad, they could have been friends. "Let's pretend for a moment that you manage to keep me hidden away until my child is born. Then what? A newborn can't help you with whatever plan you have cooked up, that's just more chances for you to slip up." False hope is not something that fills her—no, she knows Satoru will not stop searching for her; however, she is not some damsel in distress and will not sit around waiting for him like some old cattle going out for slaughter.

Yumi sneers, her claws digging into her palms. "Demons do not screw up. What're twenty years to us? Nothing."

"And yet, your numbers are dwindling. Humans and curses alike outnumber you despite being so superior to all of us." Kagome laughs, shaking her head as she steps around Yumi to pick up the hairpin with one, two-tailed fox dangling from it. "You think that you're getting one over on Naraku when it's really you that's been caught in his web." She grips the gold pin in her hand. She hopes her words strike a nerve.

Yumi is a proud demon, but her arrogance overshadows her intelligence. And that is the slip-up that Kagome wants.

Yumi grips Kagome's hair, pulls her face to face. Kagome grit her teeth, determined not to let out any sounds of pain. "Don't think that just because you bewitched the others and the six eyes, that you can trick me too." Yumi bares her fangs. "As if I or any other demon should be content to be cast in the shadows for some mere humans." She jerks Kagome's head back. "You will not rule over me just because you have some jewel."

"No one said anything about–" Yumi digs her claws into the back of Kagome's skull, the tips prick at her. The hairpin in her palm grows hot.

"The Shikon priestess will bring about a new world. A world in which demons will once again rule over everyone, and your child is the perfect weapon to see that come to fruition."

"I won't let you do that," Kagome rasps out, her face scrunched up in pain.

"You don't have a choice, Gome-chan." Yumi snaps her fangs at her.

"Not even a whole day in, and you've already slipped." Kagome swings her arm and jams the hairpin into Yumi's neck. Yumi lets her go with a yelp, her hands trying and failing to pull out the pin as the purification spreads. Kagome rubs the back of her head, soothing the pain as she towers over the fallen demon.

"B-bitch," Yumi says, as her skin blackens. Kagome crunches down and grabs the keys from Yumi's pocket. Yumi swipes at her, but her efforts are weak. The purification must be speeding up.

"Really, you should have known better." She shakes her head as she unlocks the chain from her leg. "As if I was going to stay here and be okay with you threatening my child." The door swings open, prompting Kagome to rush for the other hairpins. She throws them with everything she has towards the center of their foreheads, silently praying that it works like she needs it to. The Shikon pulses from within her.

"Where were you when I was getting kidnapped," she mutters, not really expecting an answer back. The Shikon sends a warm wave of power to her stomach. She places both hands on her stomach. The smell of burned demons fades away as she takes a moment to take in her new reality. She smiles and then quickly grimaces as the smell does, in fact, get to her. Kagome presses one hand over her mouth as she picks up a dagger from the pile of ash.

A twinge of guilt flashes through as she looks back at the remains of Yumi. Under any other circumstance, they could have gotten past this. It wouldn't be the first time that she had befriended her kidnapper. But, she looks down at her flat stomach, grips the dagger handle tighter. Some things, not even she can look over. Kagome rolls her shoulders, sticks the other three hairpins into her hair, and walks out of the room.

She just needs to find her way back to Satoru, try not to run into any more trouble in the process, and somehow break the news to Yakeru.

[samspenandsword]

My dearest Sam, congratulations on your 300 followers! I know your blog is always a joy to catch up on, and I very often re-read many of your works. You deserve all the best! I raise my teacup to you and your future endeavors!

If you're not too busy, might I request a ship pairing please? I am 37, a she/her, and go by May. I love the forest moon of Endor or Alderaan if I had to pick a planet. My aesthetic is a very cluttered Light Academia style, and my appearance is tall, chin length blonde hair, blue eyes, my build is all arms and legs, athletic-ish. I'm usually listening to soundtracks. I love pasta and love making tea and toast as a snack. Baking is my current favorite hobby, but I also read, sew, dance, and run. Summer is my favorite season, but I like them all in their own way. I drink far too much tea. I can be timid, but I try to be friendly as much as possible. I'm loyal to my friends, always want to make them smile, and one of my favorite things is to make people their favorite dessert or treat just because.

Thank you again for your wonderful works!

Hi May!!! It's always so nice to see you in my notifs and inbox! Thank you so much for submitting, and I genuinely hope you like what I wrote! And I hope 2023 has been going well for you too!

Sam's Pen and Sword 300 Follower Celebration (Closed)

MAY'S FOLLOWER CELEBRATION REQUEST

Ship request 👄

When I was reading your request, I instantly thought of Obi-Wan Kenobi. The two of you both drink excessive amounts of tea, you're just his type (tall, thin, blue eyes, short blond hair), and he has a huge weakness for anything you cook or bake. The two of you like to talk about the things you've read recently over a plate of his favorite treats (I imagine it to be a selection of homemade shortbreads). You also introduced him to soundtracks, and though he admits that he's not the biggest music lover in the galaxy, soundtracks are a great deal better than the shit Anakin listens to. He has become particularly fond of soundtracks with lots of calm piano movements or lush string orchestras. He would love the opportunity to see you dance one day, even if it's just something you do for fun and exercize - he will never get tired of seeing you do things you enjoy. And he's adopted a habit of brushing his fingers over the seams where you've mended his clothes. In that way, you're always with him.

You tried your very best not to laugh as Obi-Wan paced across the living room, but you couldn't quite manage to conceal your amused smile. A book was held in your hands, a physical book with flimsi and binding, and you followed Obi-Wan's movements with your eyes, the open book raised to your smiling mouth. "- do not understand his inability to think before he acts. He's reckless! And did I mention that this was the third fighter he's crashed this week! I cannot -" A cup of tea and plate of shortbread cookies sat untouched on your coffee table, and you had learned that it was best to just let Obi-Wan get it out. Much like the padawan he was currently ranting about, it was best to just let him get it out. He'd feel better once he did and then he'd sit and take a sip of the just-perfectly-cooled tea, tension falling from his shoulders. And indeed, less than two minutes later, Obi-Wan fell onto the couch beside you, taking a long drink of the tea you'd made. The tension melted from him, and he leaned back, eyes closing with a little hum of appreciation. "Feel better?" you asked, still amused. "I know you're laughing at me." You were. You always took pleasure from Obi-Wan's little rants about Anakin. Not only because you knew he didn't mean a word of them, but because you found it endlessly funny how Obi-Wan could be so exasperated at the way Anakin put his all into his missions and battles, in a way he had learned from Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan, of course, failed to realize this. Anyone who knew better knew that Anakin was the way he was because he had learned from Obi-Wan. The man you loved could be as reckless as his former padawan. Leaping before he looked. Cutting once before measuring twice. Acting before considering. People heard Obi-Wan's eloquent words and saw his charming smiles and assumed he thought everything through before he acted. You knew better. So did anyone who knew Obi-Wan. Commander Cody and you had had more than one wine fest where the two of you laughed and bitched over how much Obi-Wan scolded Anakin for simply mirroring his own behaviors back at him. Those two, you mentally laughed. Closer than brothers. So close they just couldn't see how similar they really were. You swore one day you and Padme were going to lock the pair in a closet together and force them to air out all the words Obi-Wan was too restrained to say and all the confessions Anakin was too scared to trust his master and brother with. You and Padme liked to joke that Anakin and Obi-Wan confiding in each other would inevitably be what saved the galaxy from the war. Ah, if only. Obi-Wan, still perceiving your amusement, cracked an eye open and looked at you. You reached over and fondly brushed a lock of copper hair out of his face. "Something funny, my dear?" You knew he knew you were still laughing at him. But you simply smiled at him. "Happy to have you home, Obi-Wan." Obi-Wan smiled too. He leaned over and kissed you soundly. Tenderly. And with that, you knew he was glad to be home, too.

[sardonic-simmerk]

Chasing Happiness- Ch. 5

Phoebe quickly pushed her emotions from the stark news away as she remembered that Collins was, hopefully, still waiting for her outside. She changed into something more… comfortable, texted Collins to come in through her window and to be very quiet, and briefly admired herself in the mirror.

The window slyly slid open and Collins stealthily climbed in, making minimal noise. She greeted him with a smile and an embrace, then they both laid on the bed.

“Are you okay?” Collins whispered.

He hadn’t necessarily noticed that anything was wrong when he came in. He just always asked her if she was alright. But her subtle smile dropped for a moment and he noticed it.

“I’m good.” She whispered back.

“No you’re not.” Collins sat up and forced her to look him in the face, “Talk to me.”

He seemed very stern about it to Phoebe, so she scooted closer and put his head in her lap to play with his hair.

His eyes were focused completely on her and she immediately melted looking at them.

“My mom is pregnant.”

His eyes widened. He knew her Dad hadn’t been gone longer than 8 months, maybe. He kept his judge-mental comments to himself though. She didn’t need a reason to get more upset. He didn’t get a chance to respond, though, before Phoebe dove into a slight monologue.

“I can’t believe she’s been f*cking someone and my dad’s only been dead, like, 5 minutes! I get that she may have needs, but why did her need for the male reproductive organ trump all need to have safe enough sex to not get pregnant? Was I supposed to be… jovial about it? Over the moon? Down on my knees kissing her growing tummy with my soon to be half-brother just floating obliviously in there?

I mean, how dare I have a less than satisfactory reaction to my world changing… again! And I have to worry about getting into college and finding an apartment- because I am not staying here to play pretend-dad if the actual dad, whoever he is, decides he doesn’t want to be involved. I refuse! And work has been killing me, I’m so tired of having to get up so early every morning. And I barely get time to see you outside of school because we’re both so busy and I know you have stuff going on and I feel horrible for not checking in on you more. And all my friends too… “

Collins watched in amazement at how she was quiet, but still so animated. She was, of course, rambling as she does and he realized he couldn’t be more in love with the girl in front of him.

He reached up to meet her lips and stopped her in the middle of her sentence. Not because he didn’t care to listen to her, but because she was going to overwhelm herself with her anxiety if he didn’t intervene.

Phoebe needed it, indeed. She instantly sunk into his kiss and they managed to lay back on the bed parallel to each other. Phoebe relished in his warmth and his love.

Things got increasingly hot and heavy as Collins hands slid south. Phoebe hummed a moan against his lips and quickly asked herself is she wanted to continue. She knew Collins wasn’t a virgin, but she certainly was. And her mother was in a room just down the hall, could walk in at any moment.

Oh, but it feels so good, she thought to herself. And she also thought about how much she loved him. Why else did I invite him in?, she thought. She definitely wanted to do it. She felt the timing was right. And so she pulled away from him. He looked at her, curious to her reason for stopping.

She put a finger tenderly to his lips, a silent reminder that they needed to be very quiet.

His face changed, showing amusement when he understood the moments that were about to unfold. He only nodded while pulling her face back in for a kiss- this time harder and much more passionate.

Soon clothes went flying, accumulating silent thumps, and the air shifted into thickness as their passion intensified. Phoebe had never felt so close to anyone. Collins felt grateful to had met such a wonderful person, it was hard work to keep the noise level at zero. They both felt the same exact love for each other.

Afterwards, Phoebe eventually fell asleep under the embrace of her lover. Collins reached for his phone to check the time. He had no idea how much time had passed, but no matter what it was it felt too short. It was minutes to one in the morning. He was 2 hours out past curfew. His mom was going to kill him.

With a gentle kiss on his girlfriend’s forehead, Collins managed to not wake her as he went out the way he came in.

[xykesh]

The Girl in the Cage, Part 2

Genre: New Adult Fantasy, D&D-esque Fantasy Wordcount: 2,182 Summary: Valerie meets the “monster” the villagers have captured, but it’s not what she expects.

Even for a logging village in the middle of nowhere, the jail was tiny. Just next to a house belonging to the town’s sheriff was a squat building about the size of a shed, with iron bars mounted over its lone window. It was still raining, but Sheriff Darshan remained seated in a rocking chair in his porch, smoking pipe in hand, quiver of arrows at his side, and a longbow strung and ready to use across his lap. His mustache twitched as Valerie and her escort approached, and he set his pipe aside.

“Do you people never get fucking tired? I told you, no one touches the thing until I say so.”

“Are you the sheriff?” Valerie asked, raising her voice to be heard over the rain.

When the sheriff realized he didn’t recognize Valrie’s voice, he tipped up his own wide brimmed hat to get a better look at her, and narrowed his eyes at what he saw. “Who are you?”

“Valerie Waymire,” she introduced. “I was sent here to help with your monster problem.”

The sheriff raised a bushy eyebrow. “Sent by who?”

“My instructor,” Valerie said. “Dr. Arden Lee Siren of the University of Olwin.”

“Never heard of him.”

Valerie wondered if the man had heard of anything outside the thirty square miles surrounding this village, but kept that to herself.

“We’re not really from around here.”

The sheriff grunted like he readily agreed with her.

“She came into the pub a little bit ago, asking about the attacks,” Valerie’s escort explained. “She said she rode five days to come help.”

Valerie stood rigid straight, her hands neatly folded behind her back and her chin held high as Darshan looked her up and down. Young, but confident and collected, the girl carried herself like a professional. And he’d caught the glint of metal on her wrist before she’d folded her hands. If nothing else, the girl knew how to look the part of a monster hunter. And five days' ride alone in rough weather was nothing to scoff at either.

“What exactly do you know about monsters?” the sheriff asked.

“With all due respect, Sheriff,” Valerie said. “More than you.”

Darshan grunted again, but got up out of his chair, slinging his quiver onto his hip and his bow onto his shoulder. “Well, let’s just see about that, why don’t we?”

He fished a ring of keys out of his pocket as he led her over to the jail, unlocked the door, and ushered her inside. After a bit of fighting with a damp book of matches, he managed to get the oil lamp inside the shed burning. It was even less impressive on the inside; a single room with a barstool in one corner and a large cage that took up most of the space in the other. Inside it, huddled in a corner with a chain collar around her neck, was a girl.

She was about Valerie’s age, unhealthily lean and pallid skinned. Her dark hair was frizzed and frayed, with dried mud caked into it in several places. Her clothes were ragged, stained with a dozen different things and roughly repaired or held in place with twine in several places. Her short sleeves exposed a series of intricate tattoos snaking up her right arm, though of what, Valerie still couldn't tell.

When the lamp came on, the girl instinctively shielded herself, and then, when she saw Valerie and the sheriff, she let out an angry, snarling hiss while glaring at them with whiteless, solid red eyes. Her pointed ears flattened against her head, and a devilish tail flicked out from behind her.

She was a hellborn.

“Fucking hells!” The man from the bar jumped back, muttering a prayer under his breath. Even Valerie winced, but Darshan barely batted an eye.

Valerie was incredulous. “You can’t be serious.”

“We’ve had volunteer patrols since the attacks started. Two nights ago, one patrol caught her skulking at the edge of town,” the sheriff explained. “She attacked, and nearly tore a man’s throat out before help got there. It took five people with ropes to get her into that cell. And by morning, she’d chewed through the rope.”

“She’s not a monster,” Valerie said. “She’s hellborn.”

“Call her whatever you want. She’s not human.”

Basic scholarship disagreed with the sheriff, but Valerie got the impression he wouldn’t care.

“She’s still a person.”

“Something’s been attacking. If it is her, and just about everyone’s sure it is, locking her up is the least we should do to her.”

The girl growled again from inside the cage, and Valerie frowned. Hellborn might have profane blood in their veins, but it rarely amounted to much beyond an off-putting appearance. The girl couldn’t be the monster she’d come here for, not if the stories she’d heard were even half true. And yet, the constant, near feral sounds weren’t exactly helping her case.

“What about you?” Valerie asked.

“What?”

“You said just about everyone is sure she’s your monster. Are you?”

The sheriff’s mustache twitched again. “I’m not taking any chances. It could be her. That’s enough to hold her until I know for sure, one way or the other.”

“Is the chain necessary? You’ve already got her in a cage.”

“If you want to take it off her, you can be my guest. See if you keep all your fingers for your trouble.”

“Fine.” Valerie held out her hand. “Give me the key.”

Darshan raised an eyebrow. “What?”

“The key to the chains. Unless you want me to break them.”

The sheriff looked at her like she’d just grown a third arm. She waited expectantly. Shaking his head, he sifted through his keys and plopped one into her waiting palm. Valerie looked from it to the girl in the cage, who was still glaring like an angry housecat, bared teeth and all. All rational notions about hellborn being as human as anyone vanished in favor of what Valerie’s own eyes told her—that anything she stuck into that cage would not come back out.

What did I just get myself into?

“I need the room.”

Darshan shook his head. “What?”

“As long as you’re here, she’s going to be on edge. Just give me five minutes, you can wait right outside.”

He narrowed his eyes, but with a grunt and a shake of his head, the sheriff left, leaving Valerie alone in the jail with the girl. She hadn’t stopped glaring.

Valerie took a deep breath, and tried to start simple. “Hello.”

“Fuck off.”

Okay. At least she talks.

The girl’s accent took Valerie by surprise. Besides just being surprisingly posh sounding for someone covered in filth, it was the first Valerie had heard in months besides her teacher’s and her own that didn’t sound like it was from around here.

“I’m trying to help you.”

“I don’t need your help.”

“You could have fooled me. Unless you like that thing around your neck.”

Valerie held up the key in offering once again. The girl’s glare wavered, softened, then faded to a light scowl. Valerie took that to the closest thing she was going to get to an “okay,” and stuck her hands through the bars.

The girl tensed for a moment before offering her neck. The instant the lock was undone, she pulled away from Valerie and tore the collar off with a growl. After hurling it off into one corner of the cage, the girl retreated to the other, sitting down as far away from it as the small space would let her get.

Valerie let her calm down a moment before speaking. “So, do you have a name?”

“Why do you care?”

“I told you, I want to help. I know monsters, and you aren’t one. You shouldn’t be here. But I can’t get you out of without finding out what’s really going on. I just want to know who you are, and how you fit into this.”

The girl folded her arms and dragged her knees up to her chest, curling up to shield herself from Valerie’s gaze. As she stared at the now discarded collar, what spite was left on her face softened away, until all that remained was a forlorn frown. She let out a sigh.

“. . . list.”

“Sorry?”

“My name. It’s List.”

“What kind of— is that like your scavenger name?”

“It’s just my name, alright?” List snapped.

“Alright.” Valerie threw up her hands. “List. I’m Valerie. It’s nice to meet you.”

List rolled her eyes and scoffed, but didn’t actively tell Valerie to dig a ditch and die in it.

“Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?” Valerie asked.

“You were going to ask them anyway.”

She had her there. “They say they found you skulking around the edge of town. What were you doing out there?”

A sullen silence preceded her answer.

“I was hungry,” she said without meeting Valerie’s eyes. “I thought I could find some garbage to go through.”

Valerie tried to hide the brief spike of revulsion she felt in the pit of her stomach at the thought of eating garbage. She imagined the level of desperation it would take to look for your next meal in other peoples’ refuse, and the things that must have happened to a person, especially one as young as List, to end up that desperate. She frowned.

“Are you . . .” she looked for the gentlest way she could think to broach the subject. “Alone?”

“Yes.”

“For how long?”

“Two years.”

“How did that happen?”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“Nothing. I was just—”

“Then shut up about it,”  she hissed.

Sore subject. Obviously. Valerie cleared her throat. “Sorry.”

“Whatever.”

List shifted, turning more of her back to Valerie, and the monster hunter cursed herself for overstepping. Her window was closing, and she hadn’t learned a damn thing yet.

“Did you see anything?” Valerie asked. “While you were out there?”

“Trees.”

“I meant anything like a monster,” Valerie retorted. “Or signs of one.”

List stayed silent, and Valerie mentally kicked herself. Understandable or not, List’s constant need to be difficult was annoying, and Valerie had let her annoyance leak into her tone. Which was the last thing she needed to do with someone who was already looking for an excuse to dislike her. But just when she thought it was over, List answered.

“. . . there was some kind of shed.”

Valerie’s ears perked up. “What?”

“In the woods. I was looking for somewhere to sleep, and there was a shed, just sitting in the middle of the forest. Or what was left of one,” List said. “It was broken down, covered in claw marks. I thought maybe an owlbear or something was using it as a den, so I left, and ended up here.”

“Where was this?”

“Sort of outside of town? Maybe half an hour’s walk?”

“Which way? North, south . . . ?”

“I don’t know.” List pointed vaguely off to her left. “That way. Away from this side of town.”

“That’s west.”

“Why does it matter what it’s called?”

Valerie stopped herself before she got caught up in a pointless argument. “I guess it doesn’t.”

She sighed, recentering herself. “Half an hour west in the forest outside of town. I can work with that.”

List stared Valerie down, her solid red orbs locking with Valerie’s flat gray eyes. No, they weren’t quite solid, actually. When Valerie stopped and really looked, she could see little flecks of lighter and darker red in List’s eyes. Those red orbs looked her up and down, searching for answers in her neat, prim, slightly drab ensemble.

“Why are you doing all of this? Looking for the monster? Helping me?”

Unconsciously, Valerie straightened her posture and held her chin high as she answered, mimicking the demeanour of the one who’d taught her the answer to this question. “Because it needs to be done. And no one else will do it like I can. I’m going to find the real monster terrorizing this place. And I’m going to get you out of here. I promise.”

List gave a half-hearted scoff, like she didn’t believe her. “Sure.”

It was alright if List didn’t have faith in Valerie. She was going to do her job just the same. For the time being, she left List some of her trail rations, bid the girl farewell, and forced herself not to bother arguing about the personhood of a hellborn with the sheriff again. Searching for List’s forest shed was going to be an inefficient mess in the rain in the middle night, especially with so little direction to go on, so for the time being, Valerie retreated back to the saloon, paid to have her horse properly stabled, and rented out the storage closet under the stairs to sleep in.

It was about as comfortable as it sounded, and yet Valerie fell asleep almost instantly. It had been a long night just getting to this town, and come morning, she had work to do.

[ladyphlogiston]

Paul followed Eden through the interconnected clay-lined rooms of the Home, feeling the floor sway slightly below his feet.

"Is the floor moving, or is that dizziness or something?" he finally asked.

"That's real," Eden told him, "We're moving, and Home always rocks when we do that. It's the legs moving."

"Legs?" Paul asked, ducking through one last doorway and entering a wide room.

The room had several tables. At one end, a round table was set near a fireplace, covered in brightly woven cloth. At the other end, four long workbenches were covered in books, tools, fabric, and all sorts of creative detritus.

In the middle of the room, a young woman was standing on a platform that was set below the floor of the room, so that her head was level with the tables. Her clear similarity to Eden marked her as another of her sisters, though this one's hair was pulled back into a long braid. She appeared to be walking on the unseen platform.

She turned to smile up at Paul. "Legs!" she confirmed. "It's the simplest way to move Home. We keep the legs partially assembled when we're not using them."

Paul looked at her, puzzled. When he listened, he could hear thumps and creaks from below. "So...you're controlling legs on the house?"

She nodded. "I'm Hestia. Vesta and I have the Crafting Gift, so we manage the legs."

"So Eden has empathy or something, and she said Zillah knows where people should be, and now you and Vesta have a crafting gift. What does that do?" Paul asked. He crossed to one of the chairs at the round table, so he wouldn't tower about Hestia so much. Eden served him a slice of bread and some roasted vegetables, and then went to sit over by the benches.

"We make things - assemble them out of rocks and sticks and whatever else is on hand - and they become real," Hestia explained. "They only last as long as we're paying attention, but that's long enough. We have six legs for the Home, like an ant, and we make them work by walking or swinging when we need to move."

Paul nodded. He glanced over at Eden, who had wrapped an orange headband around her head and was turned away from them, but decided she didn't want to be bothered. He ate his food.

-----

A few minutes later, two more women entered. One was a mirror image of Hestia, and Paul realized she must be Vesta. She came over to the table and set down a sizzling pan, which promptly turned into a piece of flat slate rock with hot sausages on it. The other woman looked a little older, and her hair streamed straight down her back, well past her waist. She sat down and began slicing the rest of the loaf of bread.

"Any progress?" Hestia asked, looking up at them.

Vesta sighed. "We have the list for Lorton, of course, but no. Zillah still says Acoda Keep, and I don't see anything that will get us in." She turned to Paul. "I'm Vesta, by the way, and this is Zillah. Your name is Paul?"

Paul nodded. "What's Acoda Keep?"

Zillah sighed. "Acoda Keep is a fortress controlled by Brusha, the harbor city to the south. There's an herb, greenroot, that can be used for powerful healing. Brusha's army torched most of it, about a decade ago, and now the only greenroot is in Acoda Keep."

"I assume it's heavily defended?" Paul asked.

Vesta nodded. "We've dreamed of getting some for years, so it can be grown again, but there's no way we can get in."

"So why try?" Paul asked.

"Because that's what my gift says, and Giftings only work if you listen to them. And maybe we'll find something unexpected - you never know - but the point is obedience. If you aren't careful to listen to your gift, it'll seem to be working just fine, but it'll be less and less effective." Zillah stabbed her sausage and took a bite.

"Do you want to swing in a bit?" Hestia asked.

Zillah sighed. "I should. It'll help me sort out my thoughts. Unless you need a turn, Eden?" she called across.

Eden flapped a hand but didn't turn around.

"Okay," Zillah replied, and continued her meal.

"So you have the Crafting gift too, right?" Paul asked Vesta. "What sort of things do you make? I mean what do you like making?"

Vesta's eyes lit up. "I don't get much use out of them, but I love making weapons. Swords and spears in cool shapes, and especially powerful bows and arrows, and I like making armor too. Though temporary armor is ridiculous. Once in a while there's a use for the ranged weapons, but armor that falls apart if you're knocked unconscious is just dangerous."

"Do you see much fighting?" Paul asked, worried. He didn't have any background in weapons training!

"We mostly see the aftermath," Vesta explained. "The cities are all fighting each other, and there's bandits as well, but Zillah's gift keeps us where we can be useful, which means avoiding a lot of the fighting. Even if we were better at fighting, Eden's gift means she can be overwhelmed easily, so we have to be careful."

"Oh, okay."

Zillah had finished, so Hestia brought the house to a halt and climbed out of the hole in the floor. She lay on her stomach and stuck her head and arms into the hole, apparently rearranging the legs. Paul felt the house settle onto the ground, and then pick itself up again. Hestia got up and served herself at the table, and Zillah descended into the hole and disappeared from sight.

"Zillah likes to swing instead of walking," Vesta explained.

"How high are the legs?" Paul asked. The movements up and down had surprised him.

"The Home is usually around ten feet off the ground, but it varies a little," said Vesta, passing her sister the vegetables. "We need the legs to be long so they can take long steps."

I don't have a title for this yet. Also it is entirely unedited. Usually I make my husband edit my writing, but he's sick.

Anyway, this is the first part of my @inklings-challenge story. I have the next bit mostly written in my head and some of the rest sort of plotted? Honestly I don't know. It might be Terrible. We'll see.

"Where should we be next, Zillah?" Vesta asked.

Zillah straightened up, shook her long brown braid back, and surveyed the ruins of the village of Cubrickton. The survivors of the fire had been relocated to the remaining homes, and wounded were being treated in the Home's infirmary. Hestia was helping to rebuild some of the houses, but high summer meant there would be plenty of time and available hands to rebuild before the harvest. They could probably move on.

"How is Eden doing?" she asked.

Vesta shrugged. "She's okay. Getting tired, but everyone has been treated so the heavy triage is over."

Zillah nodded. She closed her eyes and pressed her palms together, focusing inwards on her Gift. She opened her eyes again. "We're still supposed to be here," she said, frowning.

Vesta looked around. "Why? Did we miss someone?"

Zillah shrugged. "Don't know. Maybe there's something else coming and they need our help building?"

"Might as well." Vesta moved towards the nearest burned-out shell. She picked up a half-burned board, tucked it under her arm, and began sifting through the rubble for others.

Zillah worked her way along the side of the ruined wall, collecting china plates that must have fallen from an interior shelf. Some of them were intact.

A purple light formed in the air between them, rippling oddly in the air. Both the sisters turned to look at it, then look at each other in consternation.

"Or maybe we're here for that?" Zillah suggested.

"Any idea what it is?" Vesta asked, backing away carefully.

"My Gift just says it's a portal, which is less helpful than you'd think," Zillah replied.

"Is it dangerous?"

"Don't know."

The sisters waited as it got larger and brighter. Then, as suddenly as it had started, it vanished, leaving a young man in strange clothing behind. He dropped hard against the stone and rolled over to slam against the foundation of the house, as if he'd fallen from a height.

"Well." Zillah looked at him, then bent over to check his pulse. "Still alive. Better make a stretcher for him, in case that fall rattled something."

"What's his name?" Vesta asked. She laid one of her boards on the street, then pulled a length of twine from her pocket and began tying shorter sticks to the top and bottom. Under her hands, the air shimmered as her Gift turned the boards into a full stretcher.

"Paul," Zillah replied. "I can't see his home. It's very far away. For now he belongs with us, I think."

They carefully loaded him onto the stretcher and carried him towards Home. The big egg-shaped structure, apparently woven from willow branches, was on the edge of the town, and they passed through a hole in the side into the clay-lined infirmary inside.

Eden looked up as they entered. She helped Zillah transfer the young man to an empty bed, then unwrapped the orange band that wrapped over her curls and covered her ears. "What's his name?" she asked.

"Paul," Zillah answered. "He was unconscious when he....appeared."

Kaylee looked Paul over, focusing intently with her hands hovering over his body. "Just bruised, I think," she said. Briskly she refastened her headband and grabbed a pot of salve from the workbench, then rolled him over and began peeling his short tunic away from his back so he could apply the salve to his back and shoulders.

Vesta allowed the stretcher to fall back into pieces of wood and twine, and put the twine back into her pocket. She headed back towards the entrance to throw the pieces of wood away, and met her twin sister coming in.

"Another?" Hestia asked, seeing Paul on the bed.

"He's not a villager. He just appeared. Like a Major Gift, but there wasn't anyone there to use it," Vesta explained.

Hestia raised her eyebrows. "A True Miracle, then?"

Zillah joined them. "I think so. He's from far away."

"Well, there's not much to do until he wakes up," Hestia decided. "Does he need to stay here or can we get moving?"

"He belongs with us, so probably we can go. Did you say our goodbyes?" Zillah asked

Hestia nodded.

"Good."

They made their way through the clay-lined rooms of Home to the driving bench at the front, where a woven window opened into the streaming sunlight. A map of Gasardia was pinned to the wall, covered with careful annotations in colored ink.

Hestia found Cubrickton, on the road between Thire and Philomel. She added a purple X and the date to the map, tracking their journey so far. Zillah would update the logbook with details of their work while they traveled.

Zillah sat on the bench, facing the map, and pressed her palms together. She allowed her eyes to unfocus, looking at what her Gift was saying rather than at the map itself.

Finally she looked up, puzzled. "We're supposed to be in Acoda Keep."

"We can't get to Acoda Keep!" Hestia objected.

"I know that and you know that," Zillah replied. "But apparently my Gift thinks we can."

Hestia sighed, and traced the road south. "Acoda Point is at least a three day journey," she said. "I guess we could start in that direction. If we end up having to stop, we'll figure it out from there."

Zillah nodded. "Thanks. We'll pass through Lorton tomorrow, so I'll check our stores. We can stop at the market."