#holiday portraits near me

[danbusler]

A Gala Diwali Celebration!

A gala celebration of Diwali

A Gala Diwali celebration.Recently I had the great pleasure of photographing an amazing gathering to celebrate Diwali in a gorgeous Walpole, MA home.It was a beautiful and joyful evening filled with laughter and good friends to celebrate The Festival of Lights!

[pickingupmymercedes]

Hands on you - Lewis Hamilton NSFW

Part of 1K Jukebox Event

song: Hands on you - Austin George (anon who requested it, I love your big brain, it took me a while but i hope the wait was worth it)

Written as a part 2 to No Chill , but it's a one-shot on its own.

pairing: Lewis Hamilton x Reader!

genre: smut (you know what they say about the control you exercise in bed being a direct contrast to the one you have over your life, well...)

wordcount: +8k (this one REALLY ran from me, I know I've said it many times before, but this story took a whole life of its own)

As always, I'm open for feedback, come say hi!

EXPLICIT CONTENT UNDER THE CUT, -18 DO NOT INTERACT

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The cold of Aspen pressed against the cabin windows, but that wasn’t something Lewis really noticed.

He stood near the fireplace, fingers absently grazing the edge of his glass. The low hum of his family’s laughter drifted from the other room, but his focus was trained elsewhere.

His phone sat on the table, a silent instigator of thoughts he couldn’t quite shake.

He’d known she’d be here—knew before either of them had exchanged a single word about their holiday plans. They didn’t share itineraries or expectations, but somehow, they always knew where the other would be.

This was how they worked, if you could even call it that. A tangle of half-finished conversations and unresolved tension, always stopping just shy of something real.

It wasn’t simple to describe what they were.

She kept him at arm’s length, no matter how much he pushed. And he always pushed.

Harder, closer, testing the limits of the distance she insisted on keeping. But then she’d let him in—just enough to give him hope before pulling away again.

When his phone buzzed, the interruption jolted him. He set the glass down with a deliberate slowness, exhaling sharply before reaching for the device.

Her post though, stopped him cold.

The photo wasn’t anything new; she’d always had a knack for commanding attention without trying.

There she was, poised in front of a grand tree, the red velvet dress clinging to her like it was designed with only her in mind. In a few she stood with her family, the perfect portrait of elegance and untouchable grace. In other, just her.

And the necklace.

Those diamonds—his diamonds—rested against her neck, catching the light as they glimmered.

He ran his thumb over the screen, staring longer than he should have, the tension in his chest almost choking. She’d barely acknowledged the gift when he sent it. A shrug, a flicker of a glance, but then she had worn it for that party.

And she’d worn it tonight. Here.

And he knew why. The gift wasn’t just for her. It was for moments when she wanted to send him a message. For him to see her wear it. For her to let him in, even if only a fraction more.

Lewis smirked, a low chuckle escaping him as he typed out a quick message:

“Red’s your color. But you already knew that, didn’t you?”

He set the phone aside again, trying to will himself back to his family.

His brother called out from the other room, teasing him about something he didn’t catch, but Lewis barely registered it, as he kept his hand resting on the back of the couch, knuckles flexing as he stared toward the window.

The phone buzzed again.

This time, it wasn’t a post though.

He unlocked the screen, and his breath caught.

The image was impossibly intimate, far removed from the polished perfection of that Instagram one.

She stood before a gilded mirror; her body bare except for the diamonds he’d given her. The velvet dress gone. So were the smiles.

It was just her, raw and unfiltered, the faint smirk tugging at her lips the only armor she wore.

The message attached was simple:

“They went skiing. You know the address.”

Lewis stared at the screen, his jaw tightening as heat rushed through him. And he didn’t think twice, grabbing his jacket, muttering a vague excuse to his mother about needing fresh air.

“You’ve been distracted all morning” she said, her voice knowing. “Are you meeting someone?”

He paused, considering how much to share, but her expression told him she already knew. She always did.

“Something like that” he said, voice low before heading out the door.

The drive through to the red mountain was a blur of snow-dusted evergreens and winding roads. He knew where he was going; he didn’t need directions.

The estate came into view, sprawling and opulent, nestled against the mountains like a secret meant only for those who knew where to look.

He parked the car, his hands gripping the wheel for a moment longer than necessary. The house loomed ahead, every bit as untouchable as she was.

But much like the house, she’d invited him in.

He stepped out into the snow, his sneakers crunching against the ground as he approached the door. It was unlocked—of course it was—and the soft hum of music drifted from within.

He recognized the song immediately. One of his.

He followed the sound through the grand hall, past glittering chandeliers and marble floors that reflected the faint light.

When he reached her room, he froze.

The door was ajar, just enough for him to catch a glimpse of her.

She stood by the window, her silhouette framed against the snowy landscape outside. The necklace sparkled against her skin, but it was the rest of her that held him captive.

She wasn’t wearing the red velvet dress anymore. Or anything else, save for the crimson lingerie he’d sent for her birthday—a month ago – and the diamonds around her neck.

Y/n turned slowly, her lips curving into a soft, knowing smile as she met his gaze. “Took you long enough,” she murmured.

The door clicked shut behind Lewis, the sound echoing in the quiet room as if marking the shift in atmosphere.

He stood there for a moment, just taking her in. The way the necklace caught the dim glow of the lamps, refracting tiny prisms of light onto her collarbone. The way the lace hugged her body, framing her in a way that made it impossible to look anywhere else.

His breath came slower, heavier, as he stepped closer, like approaching something sacred and fragile.

Because their relationship was exactly that. Fragile.

“You knew I’d come” he said finally, his voice low, almost a rasp.

Y/n tilted her head slightly, her expression unreadable but her lips curling into a faint smile. “Did I?” she challenged, though her tone carried none of its usual bite.

Her gaze flicked over him, the tension palpable as he stopped just shy of touching her.

“You’re playing one of my songs” he pointed out, his voice steadier now, though his chest felt like it might betray him with sound of his own heartbeat.

She chuckled softly, a sound that caught his whole attention. “Seemed fitting,” she replied, her fingers trailing absentmindedly along the chain of the necklace. “You have a way of sneaking into my head.”

Lewis let out a soft breath, his lips tugging at the corners. “That makes two of us.”

He reached out, his hand hovering near her waist before finally making contact. His fingers brushed lightly over the lace, tracing the curve of her hip as though committing it to memory.

Her skin was warm beneath the delicate fabric, and the subtle rise and fall of her breathing was the only movement in the stillness between them.

“Every time,” he murmured, his voice dropping lower. “You do this.”

Y/n raised an eyebrow, though her composure faltered just slightly as his touch lingered. “Do what?”

“Pull me in,” he said simply, his other hand moving to brush against her arm. The contact was light but the kind of touch that spoke volumes without needing words. “Just when I think I’ve figured you out…”

She met his gaze, her own expression softening just enough for him to notice. “And yet, here you are.”

Lewis chuckled “Here I am.”, the sound small but filled with something more.

Almost a deference.

He leaned in, his forehead nearly resting against hers as his hand slid to the small of her back, pulling her closer. The scent of her perfume—warm, rich, and utterly her—wrapped around him, grounding him in the present. On her.

“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

Y/n’s hand came up to rest against his chest, her fingers brushing over the fabric of his sweater before curling slightly. “To what?”

“You” he said simply.

Her breath hitched, just for a second, and he felt it more than heard it.

She didn’t respond right away, but she didn’t pull back either. Instead, she let him guide her toward the bed, their movements slow and unhurried, as though he was afraid she might change her mind at any moment.

When the backs of her legs met the edge of the mattress, she hesitated, her gaze dropping for the briefest of moments before meeting his again.

“I told you” she said softly, her voice carrying a vulnerability she rarely let show. “We’re alone.”

Lewis nodded, his hands moving to cup her face gently. “I know.”

The next moment felt like a tipping point, the air between them charged and heavy. His lips brushed against hers in a kiss that started soft, almost hesitant. But the hesitation didn’t last long.

Her arms came up to wrap around his neck, pulling him closer as the kiss deepened. He felt the shift in her—the way her walls seemed to lower, just enough for him to catch a glimpse of what lay beyond them.

His hands moved slowly, tracing the curve of her spine, the delicate fabric of the lace barely a barrier between them. She leaned into him, her body molding against his as though she was finally letting herself give in.

Lewis broke the kiss just long enough to rest his forehead against hers, his breathing uneven. “You’re killing me, you know that?” he murmured, a wry smile tugging at his lips.

Y/n laughed softly, the sound warm and intimate. “You’ll survive.”

He chuckled, his hands moving to her hips as he guided her onto the bed. She lay back against the plush pillows, her dark hair around her like a halo.

The soft lighting cast shadows across her skin, highlighting the curves and lines he’d memorized a hundred times over.

He settled beside her, his hand tracing idle patterns along her arm before moving to her waist. There was no rush, no urgency. Just the quiet, steady rhythm of their breathing and the unspoken understanding that this moment was theirs alone.

“You’re letting go” he said quietly, his fingers brushing over the necklace.

Her gaze softened, her hand coming up to rest against his. “You make it easy.”

The admission hung in the air, heavy with its meaning. It was the closest she’d come to saying the words he’d longed to hear, and he didn’t take it lightly.

He leaned down, pressing a kiss to her collarbone, just above the diamonds. His lips lingered there, his breath warm against her skin.

“Good” he murmured. “Because I’m not going anywhere.”

She smiled faintly, her fingers sinking in on the skin just by the edge of his curls as she pulled him closer. “I know.”

The words lingered in the quiet, wrapping around them like a promise. Lewis didn’t reply—not verbally. Letting his actions speak, his lips brushing along her collarbone in a slow line that got her breath catching.

His mouth pressed kisses against her skin like he was mapping her, savoring every inch. Each touch was soft, unhurried, but the weight behind them was undeniable, like he was reminding her of the trust she’d given him in letting him be here, in letting him see her like this.

When he reached the hollow of her throat, he paused, his breath warm against her skin. “You sure?” he asked, his voice low, but there was no mistaking the genuine care in it.

Y/n’s fingers curled into the fabric of his sweater, a quiet reassurance. “You’re thinking too much” she teased, though her tone was softer than usual.

Lewis chuckled against her neck, the vibration of it sending another wave of warmth through her. “Can’t help it.”

“Then stop thinking,” she murmured, her other hand sliding along his jaw to guide his lips back to her skin. “Just… be here, with me.”

His chest tightened at her words, but he didn’t let it show. Not just yet.

His kisses trailing lower now, over the curve of her shoulder, down to the edge of her collarbone. The strap of her lingerie slipped under his fingers as he slid it a part of it off her shoulder, baring more of her to him.

She inhaled sharply as his lips followed the path of the lace, his kisses deliberate and exploratory, testing the boundaries she’d so carefully guarded.

And every time she didn’t pull away, every time her body responded with a subtle arch or a quiet sigh, it spurred him on.

“You’re so damn beautiful” he murmured, his voice thick with something that felt too big to name.

Y/n’s laugh was soft, almost self-deprecating. “I think the diamonds are doing most of the work.”

Lewis lifted his head, his gaze locking with hers. “Not a chance,” he said firmly, his thumb brushing against her chin. “They’re just a plus.”

Her lips parted slightly, her teasing retort faltering under the intensity of his gaze. And for a moment there was only the weight of his words hanging between them.

Then, as if to break the tension, she arched an eyebrow. “Are you always this smooth, or is this just for me?”

He grinned, the corner of his mouth quirking up in that way that always seemed to disarm her. “Only for you.”

She rolled her eyes, but there was no denying the warmth that bloomed in her chest at his words. His grin softening into something more sincere as he leaned down again, his lips pressing against the center of her chest, just above her heart.

There was no witty comeback this time. Only her fingers threading through his curls, her nails grazing his scalp as she encouraged him further.

Lewis took his time, his kisses trailing lower, over the delicate lace of her lingerie, down to the curve of her ribs.

He paused there, his hand resting lightly on her waist as his lips hovered just above her skin.

“Still good?” he asked again, his voice quieter this time, but no less steady.

Her response came without hesitation. “Yes.”

The simplicity of her answer, the certainty in it, was all he needed. What they needed.

He let out a quiet exhale before continuing, his lips brushing against the soft skin of her belly.

She let out a sound—a mix between a sigh and a laugh—that made him pause. “What’s that for?” he asked, his gaze flicking up to meet hers.

Y/n propped herself up slightly on her elbows, her expression equal parts amused and affectionate. “Your beard. But… don’t stop.”

Her voice dropped slightly on the last part, and it was enough to make him smirk. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

He resumed his path, his lips exploring every inch of her. And it wasn’t just about the physicality—though the way her body responded to him was intoxicating.

It was about the way she let him in, the way she seemed to trust him enough to let her walls down, even if only for these stolen moments.

“You’re different like this,” he murmured, his voice soft and sincere.

“Like what?” she asked, her tone curious and unguarded.

“Open” he said simply, his hand brushing lightly against her side. “It’s like you’re letting me see … you.”

She was quiet for a moment, her gaze searching his. Then, with a faint smile, she reached out to touch his face, her thumb brushing against his cheek. “Maybe I am” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

He leaned into her touch, his eyes never leaving hers as he pressed a kiss to her palm.

“Yeah” he said softly.

And then he kissed her again, his lips meeting hers in a way that felt like a promise. Y/n’s fingers moved instinctively to the hem of his sweatshirt, tugging at the fabric as their kiss deepened.

But before she could pull it over his head, Lewis broke away, his breathing heavy as he caught her hands in his.

“Not yet” he murmured, his voice teasingly.

She blinked up at him, her lips slightly parted as she watched him. “Oh?” she murmured, her tone laced with challenge, but there was curiosity behind it too.

Instead of answering, Lewis gently pressed her back down onto the bed, his hands firm but careful as he guided her into the soft sheets. The weight of his body shifted as he sat back on his heels, his eyes never leaving hers.

Slowly, deliberately, he reached for the hem of his sweatshirt and tore it off himself, revealing the toned lines of his chest and arms.

He paused there, leaning over her but not touching, his dark eyes tracing every detail of her expression. His gaze was heavy and she couldn’t help how her pulse quickened.

“You do nothing, love” he said softly into the small space between them.

Y/n’s brow lifted slightly, the corner of her mouth twitching as if to challenge him. Her eyes flicked down his body briefly before meeting his gaze again.

It was her way of asking: What exactly do you think you’re going to do?

Lewis caught the look, his lips curving into a small, knowing smile. “Let go” he murmured, his tone insistent. “Just for a bit. Just for me.”

Her heart skipped at his words, and she hesitated. He could see it in the way her eyes searched his face, as if she were trying to read every unspoken promise behind his words.

Finally, with a soft exhale, she nodded. Her fingers sliding into his, intertwining them tightly.

That soft smile of his lit up his face, easing the intensity of the moment, and for a split second, she relaxed completely under his gaze.

“Good girl” he murmured, pressing a kiss to her knuckles before lowering himself back down.

He resumed where he’d left off, his lips trailing down her abdomen in slow, deliberate movements. His hands rested lightly on her hips, his thumbs brushing small circles against her skin through the delicate fabric of her lingerie.

Y/n inhaled sharply as he traveled lower, his kisses now brushing along the edge of the lace.

The softness of his lips against her skin was maddeningly gentle, and she felt her body react without thought—her hips shifting slightly, a quiet gasp escaping her.

Lewis paused, glancing up at her with a soft chuckle. “You’re really bad at letting go, aren’t you?”

She smirked down at him, though the faint rush in her voice betrayed her. “Maybe you’re not doing a good enough job convincing me.”

He grinned at her challenge, his hand brushing lightly over her waist before his lips followed, pressing just below her navel. “Guess I’ll have to try harder.”

Her breath caught as his kisses dipped lower, moving in a painfully slow trail that left her skin tingling.

When his lips finally brushed the edge of the lace, he paused, letting the moment linger as his fingers traced the delicate fabric.

Lewis smiled, a flicker of pride in his eyes as he slid one hand to the edge of the lace, gently pushing it aside.

The first touch of his skin against her folds was electric, and Y/n couldn’t stop the moan that escaped her lips.

Raw and unrestrained. And for a split second, she froze, caught off guard by the sound of her own vulnerability.

His head lifted, his eyes locking with hers, and the look in them was enough to make her forget her hesitation.

There was no teasing this time, no smirk or witty remark. Only a quiet intensity.

“That’s it,” he murmured, his voice like a low hum that seemed to resonate through her. “Let me in, babe.”

The frailty of the moment—the way her body responded so freely to him, the way she didn’t pull back or try to shield herself—was both terrifying and exhilarating.

And when Lewis pressed another kiss to her skin, his lips warm and soft against her, she found herself sinking further into the moment. Into him.

For the first time, she wasn’t thinking. She wasn’t analyzing or calculating her next move. She was just feeling. And with him, she felt safe.

Lewis kept his kisses, his lips brushing along the sensitive skin of her inner thighs, the slow deliberate strokes of his mouth setting her nerves alight. His hands gripped her hips, holding her steady as his kisses trailed dangerously close to her core but never quite reaching it.

“Lewis…” Y/n’s voice was breathless, frustration and anticipation mixing in her tone.

He chuckled softly against her skin, the warmth of his breath ghosting over her. “Patience, love” he murmured. “I want you to feel every second of this.”

The first touch of his tongue against her clit was featherlight, a flicker that barely lasted long enough to register before it disappeared. Y/n gasped, her back arching off the bed as a jolt shot through her but disappeared just as quickly. Replaced by the maddening sensation of his lips pressing kisses around but never quite where she needed him.

She let out a low groan, her hands fisting the sheets. “This is torture” she muttered, half-laughing, half-desperate.

Lewis grinned against her skin. “Is it?” he teased, his tone laced with mischief. But even as he spoke, he let his tongue drag in slow, deliberate strokes against her clit, building a rhythm that had her thighs trembling.

His movements were being guided by the subtle shifts of her body—the way her hips pressed forward, the sharp intakes of breath she couldn’t hold back.

When she felt him slow again, teasing her with softer, lighter touches that left her clenching at nothing, she couldn’t help herself. Her hand moved instinctively, finding its way to the back of his head, her fingers tangling in his curls as she pressed him closer.

Lewis chuckled and the vibration against her sent a wave of pleasure coursing through her. “Needy, aren’t we?”

She gave him a look, her swollen lips parted “I swear to God, Lewis…”

He didn’t let her finish. Taking her cue and deepening his focus, his tongue working her clit with more pressure now, more intention. Y/n’s breath hitched, her body tensing as he explored her.

And just when she thought she couldn’t take any more, he shifted, sliding a single finger inside her.

Y/n’s head fell back against the pillow, a sharp moan escaping her as he moved carefully, exploring the tight heat of her. His finger curled slightly, testing, searching, until—

“Oh—” The sound tore from her lips, unbidden and raw, as he found the spot he’d been looking for. Her walls clenched around him, her body reacting before she could think.

Lewis grinned to himself, the satisfaction of her response clear on his features.

He pressed into the spot again, slower this time, relishing the way she gasped and arched beneath him.

“You’re perfect,” he murmured, his voice low and full of reverence as he worked her gently. “You feel perfect.”

Y/n couldn’t answer, her words lost in the haze of pleasure. She was on the edge, her body trembling as she clung to him, her breath coming in short, desperate gasps.

And then he stopped.

Her eyes flew open, meeting his as he sat back slightly, his finger slipping out of her completely. The loss was immediate, and she let out a sound of protest, her brow furrowing in frustration.

“What the hell?” she managed, the irritation clear in her voice.

His grin was maddeningly confident as he leaned forward, brushing a kiss to her hip. “I need to get you ready” he said, his tone soft but firm, as though he were sharing a secret. “I want you to remember this. Our first time.”

Y/n’s lips parted, her frustration giving way to something softer as his words sank in. She studied him for a moment. The sincerity in his gaze, the way his hands moved gently over her thighs, grounding her—it all felt so intimate.

After a beat, she nodded, her fingers brushing against his wrist as she intertwined their hands again.

Lewis took it a permission, and his lips curved into a soft smile before he lowered himself back down. His hands rested on her thighs, steadying her, grounding her, before one finger slid to her core.

This time, he didn’t hold back. His tongue found her clit with precision, and as her body arched in response, his second finger joined the first. He moved deliberately, curling his digits to press against the spot he had found earlier, his rhythm unrelenting as he dragged pleasure from her.

Y/n’s breath hitched, her hands gripping the sheets as her body surrendered to him. The combination of his tongue and fingers was overwhelming, a perfectly orchestrated symphony of sensations that left her trembling.

The world around her seemed to fade, the edges of her vision going white as pleasure consumed her. A sharp, euphoric wave crashed over her, and the ringing in her ears drowned out everything else. Her hands scrambled to find purchase, gripping his curls, his shoulders, the sheets—anything to anchor herself as her orgasm tore through her.

Lewis didn’t stop, his touch gentle but steady as he guided her through every shudder and gasp. It wasn’t until her breathing began to even out that he finally slowed, his lips brushing against her sensitive skin as he pressed tender kisses along her inner thigh.

“You’re stunning like this” he murmured, his voice low and rough, still laced with the intensity of the moment.

Y/n let out a shaky laugh, her chest still rising and falling with the aftershocks. “You’re already in my pants, Sir.” she said, her tone feisty despite the lingering haze of pleasure in her voice.

Lewis grinned, his hand sliding along the smooth skin of her thigh, his fingers tracing lazy patterns. “That I am” he teased, leaning in to press a kiss to the sensitive spot just above her knee.

Her laugh grew steadier, though her legs trembled as he continued his soft, maddening ministrations. “Shut up,” she murmured, her tone carrying no real heat.

Lewis chuckled, his breath warm against her skin. “You love it.”

She reached down, her hand brushing against his wrist as she tugged him upward. Her body still hummed from the aftermath, but she wanted him closer, his weight, his warmth.

He obliged, moving up her body slowly, pressing kisses along the way—her hip, her ribs, the hollow of her throat—before meeting her gaze. His dark eyes were filled with something unspoken, something she felt reflected in the way he looked at her, like she was the only thing that mattered in that moment.

“You’re unreal,” he whispered, his voice low but earnest.

Y/n arched a brow at him, her lips curving into a small, teasing smile. “And you’re far too smug.”

His grin widened as he leaned down, brushing his lips against hers in a kiss that was tender and hungry, a perfect encapsulation of everything he felt for her in that moment.

Mid kiss Lewis felt her hips rocking against him, her teasing movements intentional as she grinned up at him with a smugness that made his pulse thunder. “I can feel you, you know?” she murmured, her voice dripping with tease.

The corner of his mouth lifted in a smirk, but her words set a fire in him that had him breaking their kiss. He got off the bed, his fingers hooking into the waistband of his sweatpants and boxers.

The fabric fell to the floor in a single, though hurried, motion, and his length sprang free, hard and veined, evidence of just how much she’d unraveled him.

Y/n’s lips parted as her gaze fixed on him, and she couldn’t stop the smile that bloomed across her face. Her eyes darkened with appreciation, and without thinking, her hands moved to her own breasts, fingers brushing over the lace of the lingerie that kept it from fully spilling out.

Lewis let out a low chuckle, guttural even, as he gave himself a single, languid pump. “You keep looking at me like that,” he teased, his voice barely more than a rumble, “and I’m not gonna make it to the bed.”

She bit her lip, her expression innocent and anything but, and Lewis shook his head, climbing back onto the mattress. Before he could fully settle, she pushed herself upright, her head tilting slightly in question as her gaze flicked downward.

Her intent was clear, and he froze for a moment, his breath catching in his throat.

She raised a brow, a silent, teasing demand for permission. He nodded, but not without a soft warning, his voice strained. “Don’t tease, Y/n. I need to last with you.”

Her lips quirked into a wicked smile, her giggle soft as her hand reached for him.

She wrapped her fingers around his base, her touch gentle as she explored him. Starting at the base, her hand moved to his balls, her fingers playing with them just enough to make his breaths grow heavier.

But when her lips pressed the faintest kiss to his tip, he was done for. His hips jerked involuntarily, and he looked down at her with an expression that was of a man utterly undone.

And it only spurred her on.

Her tongue darted out, the flat of it trailing from his base to his tip, slow and deliberate, before repeating the motion. She maintained eye contact the whole time, the sight of him unraveling beneath her felt like a dream.

Lewis’s groans grew deeper, his hands moving to cradle her face, though his touch was feather-light. Her tongue circled his tip before taking him into her mouth, her pace unhurried, and it wasn’t long before he was moaning her name like a prayer.

When his breaths turned shallow and erratic, he gently pulled her head away, his hands cupping her cheeks as he tried to regain control. His grin was sheepish but endearing, his chest heaving as he caught his breath.

“Babe,” he rasped, his voice hoarse. “I won’t last like that.”

Her laugh was soft, her lips glistening as she looked up at him with desire. “You sure about that?” she teased, her voice light and playful, but she didn’t push further, leaning back slightly as if to give him the reins again.

Lewis let out a shaky exhale, his gaze locking onto hers with a new intensity. His grin widening as he leaned down, capturing her lips in a kiss that was hungry and unapologetically full of want.

When he broke the kiss she reached over to the bedside drawer, her fingers deftly searching until they closed around a small, foil packet. Pulling it out, she gave him a pointed look, a playful glint in her eyes as she caught the subtle question forming in his gaze.

A soft chuckle escaped her lips. “What?” she teased, holding the condom between her fingers like it was the most casual thing in the world. “You think I didn’t plan ahead?”

He leaned back slightly, his gaze narrowing as the pieces clicked into place. “So you’re saying,” he began, his voice laced with amusement, “you planned that photo, this whole thing?”

Her lips curved into a slow, self-satisfied smile, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “I mean” she drawled, her tone dripping with playful innocence, “it wasn’t exactly a coincidence.”

And before he could continue his teasing, she tossed the packet toward him. He caught it easily, holding it between his fingers and giving it a closer look. The brand and size caught his attention, and his grin turned smug.

“How’d you know the size?” he asked, his voice thick with curiosity and more than a hint of ego.

She didn’t falter, shrugging again with an air of feigned indifference. “I had a feeling,” she said simply, her tone light.

And just as he was about to say anything else, she plucked the packet back from his hand with a quickness that caught him off guard. Tearing it open with skillful precision. Holding his gaze as she rolled it down over his length, her fingers moving with ease.

Her smug smile only grew as she leaned in, pressing a kiss to his tip through the thin barrier. And the sound he made—a cross between a groan and a low chuckle—had her biting her lip, her own pulse racing in response.

“You’re dangerous,” he muttered, his voice thick and heavy with want.

“Maybe” she replied, her voice as steady as her hands, “but you don’t seem to mind.”

He leaned back in, his body pressing her into the mattress as his lips found hers again. The weight of him, the heat radiating from his skin, and the way his hands gripped her thighs made her feel like the only thing in his universe.

Lewis shifted his weight, settling between her thighs as his hands gripped her waist gently, thumbs stroking the soft skin there. He caught her gaze, his dark eyes searching hers for any hesitation, any flicker of doubt.

Seeing none, he leaned down, pressing a kiss to her lips.

“I’m going to take my time with you,” he murmured against her mouth, his voice low and steady. “Tell me if it’s too much, alright?”

She nodded, her breath catching as she felt the tip of him pressing against her folds. Her body tensed instinctively, and he couldn’t help but notice.

“Relax, love,” he whispered, one hand moving up to cradle her face while the other stayed on her waist, grounding her. “Just breathe. I’ve got you.”

She exhaled slowly, her body softening beneath him as she let herself trust his touch, his words. The feeling of him—his warmth, his strength, his care—wrapped around her like a cocoon, and she nodded again.

“Good girl” he praised softly, his voice a gentle caress that made her shiver.

Slowly, he began to press into her, inch by inch, his movements controlled and deliberate. His lips stayed close to her ear, whispering reassurances with every breath.

“You’re so tight” he murmured, his voice tinged with awe. “Feels incredible.”

Her fingers clutched at his shoulders as her body adjusted to him, her breaths coming in short, shallow gasps. When he felt her tense up again, his movements paused, his forehead dropping to hers as he soothed her.

“Breathe, baby” he coaxed, his tone insistent. “You’re doing so good for me.”

She took a shaky breath, her nails digging into his skin. Slowly the stretch became less overwhelming as he stayed perfectly still, giving her the time she needed.

“That’s it” he murmured, his lips brushing against her temple. “You’re perfect, Y/n. Perfect.”

When she finally tilted her hips toward him, signaling she was ready, he began to move again, easing in further until he was fully seated inside her.

The sensation was overwhelming. The heat, the tightness, the sheer intimacy of it. He let out a shaky breath of his own, his forehead dropping to her shoulder as he gathered himself.

“You okay?” he asked, his voice laced with concern even as his body trembled from the restraint it took to stay still.

Her lips curved into a small, teasing smile. “More than okay,” she whispered, her voice breathless.

He chuckled softly, brushing his nose against hers before he started to move. His thrusts starting to draw soft gasps from her lips.

“You feel so good,” he murmured, his voice low and thick with emotion. “Better than I ever imagined.”

Y/n arched against him, her nails dragging down his back as she adjusted to his rhythm. The sounds of their skin filling the room, soft gasps and low groans mixing with the faint hum of music still playing in the background.

But then, her teasing nature resurfaced. She leaned up, her lips brushing his ear as she whispered, “You’re talking too much”

He froze for a moment, pulling back just enough to look at her. Her smirk enough to make him laugh, the deep, rumbling sound vibrating against her chest.

“Oh, you want me to shut up?” he asked, his grin turning wolfish.

She raised an eyebrow, her smirk widening. “And fuck me” she added, her voice challenging and playful all at once.

His grin only grew, his hands sliding down to grip her hips more firmly. “Careful what you wish for” he warned.

And then he moved, his pace quickening as he thrust into her with more purpose. Her head fell back against the pillows, a moan escaping her lips as the intensity increased.

“Like that?” he asked, his voice rough and breathless.

Her body moved with his, their rhythm syncing effortlessly as the tension between them built higher and higher. His hands roamed her body, memorizing every curve, every reaction, as if committing her to memory.

He slowed for just a moment, pressing his forehead to hers as he caught the tension building in her body again, the telltale flutter of her walls around him as her moans grew higher, more desperate.

He smiled against her shoulder, slowing his movements just enough to catch his breath and consider what to do next.

He wanted to draw this out, make it last.

With a shift of his weight, he eased them onto their sides, pulling her leg over his hip as he adjusted their position. She was now nestled in his arms, her back pressed firmly against his chest. The change altered the angle of his thrusts, not as deep as before, but the friction made her gasp sharply.

She whimpered, her head tilting back to rest against his shoulder. He kissed the curve of her neck, one hand sliding down to grip her thigh and keep her leg in place as he moved, slow and deliberate. The other hand found her breast, his thumb brushing over her sensitive nipple through the delicate lace of her lingerie.

“I’ve got you,” he murmured, his breath hot against her ear.

Her response was a soft moan, her free arm reaching back to wrap around his neck, fingers tangling in his hair as she tried to pull him closer. He chuckled, his lips brushing against her ear as he continued to move inside her, the rhythm steady and almost torturous in its slowness.

“You feel so good like this,” he whispered, his voice low and rough.

Her breathing hitched as his hand slid beneath the lace, palming her bare breast and rolling her nipple between his fingers. His other hand pressed against her stomach, holding her securely against him as his hips moved with deliberate precision.

She gasped when his fingers squeezed her nipple lightly, and when his tongue darted out to trace the shell of her ear, she let out a broken moan.

“You’re creaming all over my dick, baby,” he teased, his voice laced with a smug edge. “You’re so wet for me.”

Her cheeks flushed at his words, but the heat pooling in her core only grew. “Fuck” she breathed, her tone half-plea, half-warning.

“Yeah?” he asked, his tone teasing as he nipped at her neck. “Tell me what you need.”

“You” she managed, her voice trembling as his hips rolled against hers, the friction unbearable in the best way.

“I’m right here,” he whispered, his lips trailing down to her shoulder. “Not going anywhere.”

His hand moved from her breast, sliding down to her stomach and pressing gently, as though anchoring her to him. The pressure make her squirm, and she could feel herself teetering on the edge again.

Lewis, ever attuned to her, slowed his thrusts further, the motion gentle but unrelenting. “I want you to feel every second of this” he said softly, his lips brushing against her neck. “I want you to remember this.”

Her body arched against his as his words, his touch, his movements all coalesced into a perfect storm. The tension inside her snapped, her climax hitting and leaving her breathless. Her moans filled the room as her body trembled in his arms, her nails digging into his skin.

“That’s it” he murmured, his tone reverent as he held her through it, his thrusts slowing to let her ride out the waves of her orgasm. “So gorgeous.”

When she finally stilled, her body limp and boneless against him, he pressed a soft kiss to her neck, just above the diamond necklace.

He wasn’t done yet, but he was in no rush. This was about her, about showing her just how much she meant to him, even if she couldn’t say it yet.

Lewis eased himself out of her, his motions unhurried and careful, allowing them both a moment to breathe. But a fleeting moment at last, as with a firm grip on her hips, he guided her onto her hands and knees, positioning her with precision.

He grabbed two pillows from the head of the bed, tucking them beneath her hips to elevate her. The sight before him breathtaking: her back arched, her body pliant, and her skin glowing with their sweat under the soft lighting of the room.

“Damn” he muttered, his voice filled with want as he leaned over her.

He pressed a series of kisses along the line of her spine, traveling from the curve of her shoulder blades down to the small of her back.

“I should personally thank your trainer,” he teased against her skin, his voice laced with amusement.

Her laugh was soft, light, and so utterly her. It had him grinning as he moved back up, angling her face just enough to press a kiss to the corner of her mouth.

The intimacy of the gesture wasn’t lost on her, and her gaze softened for a split second before her eyes fluttered closed as his lips trailed to her ear.

“You’re incredible, you know that?” he murmured, his voice a warm caress that sent a pleasant tingle down her spine.

Her breath hitched, and before she could respond, he took advantage of the moment, angling himself at her entrance and thrusting into her in one fluid motion. The force of it sent a jolt through her, her body instinctively surging forward, but his hands were firm, holding her hips in place.

“Gosh” she gasped, her fingers gripping the sheets tightly.

He froze, waiting for her response, his instincts telling him to be sure she was with him.

Then she turned her head slightly, giving him a look over her shoulder that was just pure need. “Aren’t you moving?”

A slow, knowing smile spread across his face, and he chuckled softly. “Impatient, are we?”

“Just shut up and—” Her words were cut off by the sharp inhale she took when he began moving.

His thrusts started slow and deep. He wanted her to feel every inch of him, wanted to stretch this moment out for as long as he could.

His hands roamed over her body, one sliding up her back, following the curve of her spine, while the other remained anchored on her hip, guiding her into the rhythm he set.

The sound of skin meeting skin filled the room, along with her breathless moans and his low groans. As he shifted his angle slightly, the motion of his hips caused his pelvis to press against her, and he noticed the subtle slap of his balls against her swollen, oversensitive clit.

The reaction was immediate. Her body tensed, a strangled moan escaping her lips as her arms buckled slightly under her.

Lewis paused for a moment, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth as he realized what had her unraveling like that. “Oh, so that’s what’s doing it for you,” he said with a low chuckle, his tone teasing and joyful.

She let out a frustrated groan, half-laughing, half-mortified. “Don’t get cocky”

“Too late for that” he shot back, his voice dripping with smugness.

He adjusted his grip on her hips, pulling her back against him as he picked up the pace, making sure to maintain that angle. Her moans became louder, more erratic, and he knew he was driving her closer to the edge again.

“Lew…” she whimpered, her voice barely above a whisper, but the need in it was clear.

“I’ve got you” he said, his voice steady and reassuring.

Her body tightened around him as the rhythm of his thrusts pushed her closer to her peak. He leaned over her again, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispered, “You’re doing so good for me. So perfect.”

His words seemed to send her straight to the precipice. Her body trembling with anticipation.

Lewis could feel himself getting close too, the tightening coil in his abdomen signaling his release was imminent. But he wasn’t about to let go without taking her there with him one more time.

With one arm steadying her waist, he slipped his other hand around her body, his fingers finding her swollen clit and taking the place of his balls. His flicks were harsh and fast, the perfect counter to the deep, deliberate thrusts of his hips.

“Lewis—” Her voice broke into a cry, the overwhelming pleasure making her legs shake as her head dipped forward.

Her walls clamped down on him, the tightness making him struggle to keep his rhythm steady. The way she clenched and trembled around him was too much, and as she shattered around his cock, her third release washing over her with force, he couldn’t hold back any longer.

A deep, guttural groan tore from his chest as his own orgasm hit. His thrusts stuttered, then slowed as he spilled into the condom, his body trembling against hers. The heat of his release and the pulsing of her walls combined into a sensation so consuming that it left him breathless.

He pressed his forehead to her shoulder, stilling until he caught his breath before carefully easing out of her.

With a tender touch, he guided her onto her side and pulled her close, cradling her against his chest as their heartbeats gradually steadied.

She looked impossibly soft, her features relaxed, and for the first time, Lewis thought he might be seeing her exactly as she was, no defenses, no walls—just Y/N. But even then, he could feel the tiniest trace of distance, an invisible line she hadn’t yet crossed.

His fingers brushed against her bare shoulder, tracing idle patterns on her skin. “You know,” he murmured, his voice low and teasing, “for someone who loves control, you’re surprisingly good at letting go when you trust someone.”

She smirked, though her eyes stayed closed. “Don’t push your luck. I might revoke your privileges.”

Lewis chuckled, leaning down to press a kiss to her temple. “Noted. But seriously,” he continued, his tone softening, “I meant what I said earlier. I want you to feel safe with me, always.”

Her eyes opened, meeting his gaze. For a long moment, she said nothing, her fingers lightly grazing the curve of his bicep.

Y/N stretched against him, her body melting into his as she exhaled deeply. The tension she carried so often was gone, replaced by an almost vulnerable ease.

“I bet you think you’ve got me all figured out now,” she murmured, her voice laced with teasing, though there was a softness beneath it.

Lewis grinned, tilting her chin up so their eyes met. “Not a chance,” he replied. “I think I’ve just cracked the surface. And, honestly? I like it that way. Keeps me on my toes.”

She laughed, the sound rich and unguarded. “Well, don’t get too comfortable. I’m not some damsel for you to swoop in and rescue.”

“Trust me, love, I’d be bored if you were,” he quipped, his hand finding hers and lacing their fingers together. “I’m here for the full ride—walls, sass, and all.”

She smiled faintly, her fingers trailing up to brush the side of his face. “Why, though?” she asked, tilting her head slightly. “Why would you want to deal with someone like me?”

Lewis caught her hand, pressing a kiss to her palm. “Because I see you. The real you. Not the guarded version you show the world, or even the teasing version that drives me mad in the best way. The woman lying here, right now. That’s who I want.”

Her lips parted slightly, as though she had something to say, but the words didn’t come. Instead, she leaned forward, pressing a lingering kiss to his mouth, as though that gesture could convey what she couldn’t say aloud.

Y/N’s expression softened, though her lips still held a playful tilt. She reached up, brushing her fingers through his short curls before letting her hand fall to the diamond necklace still resting against her chest. “You really have a thing for seeing me in this, huh?”

His eyes flicked down to the glinting diamond, and a slow smile spread across his face. “It’s not the necklace,” he said, his voice low and intimate. “It’s what it means. You’re wearing it for me. That’s enough.”

She rolled her eyes, though her fingers toyed with the necklace almost shyly. “You’re insufferably smug, you know that?”

“Only because I know I’m right,” he teased, leaning down to kiss the corner of her mouth, the faintest brush of lips that left her sighing against him.

She nestled back into his arms, her cheek resting on his chest as her fingertips traced absent shapes on his skin. The quiet stretched between them, not heavy, but filled with unspoken truths and the history they’d built together.

“You’re annoyingly patient too” she said after a long silence, her voice almost contemplative.

Lewis glanced down at her, his brow lifting. “That’s a complaint?”

“It’s an observation,” she corrected, her words deliberate. “Most people wouldn’t have stuck around this long.”

He chuckled, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “Most people aren’t me. And you’re worth it, Y/N. Every bit of it.”

Her lips twitched, her usual sass flickering back as she quipped, “Big words, Hamilton. You planning on carving them into a trophy or something?”

He laughed, his head falling back briefly before he looked at her with pure adoration. “Nah, I’ll just keep reminding you every day.”

Y/N shook her head, her smile growing as she tugged him closer for another kiss, this one slower, softer. When they parted, she rested her forehead against his, the diamond catching the last rays of the setting sun.

“You’re so stubborn” she said with mock exasperation.

“And you love it” he shot back, grinning.

She didn’t reply, but the way she pulled him closer, the way she let herself fully relax in his arms, told him everything he needed to know.

For now, it was enough.

_____________________________________________________________

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[snowblossomreads]

Day 18 - Secret Visitor

Pairing(s)/Character(s): Severus Snape x Fem!Reader

Summary: In where a secret visitor interrupts Severus thoughts with a secret of their own.

Tag(s)/Warning(s): Just general angst and worry from Snape's end.

A/N: Eee it's our baby bat baby once more!! Writing for Snape is a challenge bc he isn't a yapper. But the challenge is also fun because it's him and it makes me happy to make him happy 😭😭 He deserves happiness (she repeats to this to all alan characters)

This war, the students, the Potter boy, and even a dead man whose portrait hung on the wall, its owner sleeping peacefully while he had not slept well in some time. All of it was taking a toll on Severus. Draining his very life force, as he did his best to keep the rebelling students safe from the Death Eaters that taught and roamed around the school. 

Yet they rebelled still, doing foolish things purposefully to show their distaste for him, and the allies of the Dark Lord that had overrun their school. Those dunderheads. If only they knew. 

No.

No, no, no. No one could know what he had been doing these past years. Not only would it put everything he had done in jeopardy, but he would very likely lose his life over it. And Merlin knows Potter needed all the help he could get.

But he was so tired. Exhausted, even if the holidays were around the corner there was nothing merry to be about. How could there be when the world was on the brink of a war between muggles and wizards, one that the nonmagical community had no idea was brewing?

His thoughts about these things swirled in the hazy cloud of his mind, as he sat in front of one of the tall windows in the headmaster's quarters. Sleep had evaded him again tonight, and he had resigned himself to another sleepless night as he looked over the snow-covered grounds of the school. The world outside was silent and still as the cold December moon illuminated the grounds. It was so peaceful, like it was unaware of the perils that were attempting to erupt to the surface. 

However, the peacefulness was suddenly broken when a loud creaking right outside his chamber door had Severus stiffing, suddenly on high alert as he whipped his head around to the door.

"Who's there," Severus hissed quietly, his hand snatching his wand off the table beside him as he stood up with haste, almost knocking over the chair he had been sitting in with how fast he had gotten up. 

Silence was his only answer as he stared at the door apprehensively. Maybe it was just the old building shifting. It was hundreds of years old. But no, no someone was here, he could feel it. The question was who had broken through the charms and wards he had put in the office that would alert him if someone was near?

Taking a step closer to the towards the door, his wand pointed at it, he called out once more,

"Reveal yourself to me now unless you wish to be made an example in front of the rest of the school for breaking into your headmaster's office!" 

"You wouldn't do that to me though would you?"

His eyes widened just slightly at the response from this secret visitor. That voice! It couldn't be!

Lowering his wand immediately, Severus glided over to the door, unlocking all the bolts on it and swinging it open only to have it reveal the one person whom he could trust, dressed in a dark cloak with a hood. But those eyes of hers, and that smile. No one could replicate that. Yet what should bring him joy, only brought more anxiety.

"[Y/n]!" He hissed, shooting his hand out and dragging her in the room, shutting the door behind him as he quickly muttered a soundproofing spell before whipping around to the woman. His gaze was fiery as they settled on hers that were cool and collected which did little to calm him. "What are you doing here are you mad! If anyone sees you-."

"No one has seen me or will see me, Severus," she interrupted pulling the hood down and standing in front of him with a calm expression that only partly assuaged his worry. "Did you forget that your wife is an expert at evading detection charms and wards? So much so that even that stupid map could never find where I was." 

"Of course not but this is war," Severus pointed out as if she needed a reminder of what was happening in their world. 

She was very much aware of his role from the double agent to the promise to keep that Potter boy safe. But she was his wife and damnit she needed to see him! It had been just after the school year started when they last met, and to be away from him for so long hurt, but she understood the consequences if they were caught she did. But it had been so long and…she needed to tell him. 

"If anyone even thinks there is someone who I love as much as I do you, they will use you. And I cannot bear that thought [Y/n]." He pleaded, his emotions laid bare for her. The only person he could trust to be like this with. "Please we can't be seen together not now."

"And we won't! I promise my love," she whispered as she went to him, "it's been months Severus, months. I was so looking forward to seeing you during the break. And then you send me a note saying that you're not going to come back for Christmas! What do you expect me to do?" 

"To wait and do as I say! To stay hidden and safe [Y/n]!"

"But this thing can't wait any longer!"

"And what is so important that you would endanger yourself to tell me!"

"I'm pregnant!" 

He’d never been so glad to have put that soundproof ward on the room. 

Oynx eyes widened at her words, and any of the thoughts he had about scolding her about the dangerous risk, they fell away even if he knew he should be scolding her more. Yet, all he could think about was what she had just said to him. Yet it still didn't process.

She was what?

"What?"

Confusion was evident in his eyes, and [Y/n] let out a sigh, before she began to undo the cloak that she wore which he now noticed was quite large on her. And when she finally opened it revealing the front of herself to him, his world felt as if his world both stopped, yet brightened at the same time.

It wasn't large by any means, but he could see a bump under the dress she had worn. She couldn't have been too far along either considering the last time they had seen each other but still, here it was.

Evidence that he could see even if he didn't need it really.

"I-I didn't want to send a note about it because I was worried about it being intercepted and I so wanted to tell you in person," she explained as she looked down at her stomach, her hand going to rest on the small bump. "I was going to tell you when you came for Christmas, but then you sent that letter saying you weren't so instead I came to see you."

"[Y/n]," he murmured, approaching her with care as she looked up at him with a watery smile, and his slow strides became quicker, eager to be next to her and be her comforter. 

"You're going to be a Pa Sev," she whispered looking up to him, "I'm sorry I know it's dangerous and maybe foolish of me but I needed you to know," [Y/n] continued as she closed the space between him and her. "Wanted you to know that at the end of this, we're going to be waiting for you so don't give up Severus."

He had always loathed people who wore their emotions on their sleeves. Nothing good could ever come out of that because people were people, and emotions were easy to manipulate. There was pride in making everyone guess what he was thinking, always maintaining that scowl that made people avoid him but tonight he couldn't hold that up.

Not in front of his beloved wife, and his future child, not with how exhausted he was. No, so he did what he hated, and he let out a shaky sigh, gathering his wife in a hug trying to ignore the warm tears that escaped his eyes as he kissed her softly on top of her head.

"I do so love you [Y/n] Snape," his voice muffled as he spoke into her hair.

"And I you, Severus," she answered without hesitation as she nuzzled herself against him. "And for the record, I didn't come through the front door," she whispered as she held onto her husband who needed some comfort. Comfort she was happy to give to him "I was able to connect to the Floo network in an abandoned storage room near the potions classroom since no one ever goes there anymore so no one thought to check to see if it was closed off." 

His lips twitched upwards at her words and he squeezed her tightly.

"That's my clever girl."

This war, it would end someday. He was sure of it as the Potter boy was persistent if nothing else. Whether Severus would survive it or not was unknown, he hoped so. 

For all his life he had very little to live for, only allowing himself to keep that child safe after his promise. But then he had met [Y/n] who made him want to live for other things, and now he was to be a father. He had so many things to live for now, and he would do everything he could to make it through for his little family. 

No matter the cost.

A/N: Papa Snape 😭😭😭😭😭. I know fatherhood probably freaks him tf out but i know he be a great dad.

[electricneonvalkyrie]

Holiday Headcanons for a WLF Christmas:

(Awkward Crush Energy Turned Up to 11)

🎄❄️🎄❄️🎄❄️🎄

✨️Abby tries to help you with your gingerbread house. Instead, she accidentally crushes one of the walls with her heavy-handed decorating. “Guess it’s more of a… fixer-upper now,” she mumbles.

✨️While hanging decorations, Abby steadies you by the waist as you reach for the top of the tree. Her hands linger, her breath warm against your neck as she says, “Careful. Don’t want you falling.”

✨️Abby tries to hang tinsel but ends up tangled in it. When you laugh and offer to help, she awkwardly says, “Nah, I’ve got it. Totally planned this.” She’s still stuck five minutes later.

✨️You mention how pretty the candles look. Abby immediately says, “You’re prettier,” then freezes and gracelessly adds, “Uh, objectively. From a lighting perspective.”

✨️Abby sits on the couch, replaying every interaction with you in her head. “Why didn’t I just say something cool?” she mutters. Manny, walking by, snarks, “Because you’re a disaster.”

✨️Abby sketches you as a secret gift but chickens out. Manny finds the sketch, smirks, and says, “Nice portrait. What’s next, wedding invitations?”

✨️Abby uses duct tape to wrap your gift because she doesn’t know how to wrap properly. When you struggle to open it, she says, “You’re welcome. Consider it strength training.”

✨️Abby finds an extra gift she meant to give you and spends the next hour debating whether to run to your apartment and deliver it. Manny finds her pacing and says, “Abs, just do it.”

✨️Abby bakes cookies to impress you, but they come out like rocks. When you try to eat one anyway, she yells, “No! Those are… tactical paperweights. Don’t ruin your teeth.”

✨️On Christmas Eve, Abby starts to say, “I’ve been meaning to tell you something…” but chickens out halfway and switches to, “You’re standing in front of the snacks.”

✨️Abby fills in as Santa for a WLF children's event but tries to act cool about it. When you tease her, she smirks and says, “Careful, or you’ll end up on my naughty list.”

✨️Abby sneaks into the Christmas party early to hang a small stocking with your name on it, filled with scavenged treats. When you ask who did it, she shrugs. “Santa?”

✨️Abby shows up to the Christmas party wearing her best flannel, hoping to catch your eye. Manny smirks. “Ah, yes, the ‘gay lumberjack’ look. Bold choice.” Abby punches his arm — hard.

✨️Abby spends the evening subtly checking on you. “Just making sure you’re not cold,” she says, draping her jacket over you for the third time. You're indoors.

✨️Abby offers you her chair and says, “I don’t need to sit.” Then awkwardly looms behind you, not sure where to go next. Manny whispers, “Real subtle.”

✨️Abby notices the mistletoe above you, panics, and ducks to tie her shoe instead. “No mistletoe rules for people on the floor,” she mumbles, totally unconvincing.

✨️Manny puts up mistletoe and tries to push Abby under it with you. She “accidentally” trips him into the punch bowl instead.

✨️You make a joke, and Abby laughs way too loud. Everyone stares. “It was funny!” she insists, crossing her arms and trying not to turn bright red.

✨️Manny loudly declares, “Abby’s single, by the way!” Abby threatens him with a candy cane to the jugular. You? Giggling. Abby? Mortified.

✨️Abby takes a sip of eggnog and tries to act casual. “You know,” she says, “this tastes like… how I feel about you. Sweet, but also confusing.”

✨️When you inevitably end up under the mistletoe again, Abby takes a deep breath and says, “I could just kiss you and call it tradition, but… I really want you to know it’d mean something to me.” The soft look in your eyes afterward? She’s thinking about it for the rest of the night.

✨️As the night winds down, Abby’s hand hovers near yours, trembling slightly before she takes it. “You have no idea how hard it is for me to stay away from you,” she whispers.

✨️When the last candle flickers low and the world feels still, Abby approaches, hands shoved deep into her pockets. She hesitates, her jaw tightening as if she’s fighting a battle within herself. Finally, she looks up at you, her tone more tender than you’ve ever heard it. “I’ve spent so long keeping people at arm’s length… thinking it was safer that way,” she begins, her words slow, deliberate. “But this year, I don’t want to do that anymore. I don’t want to lose what’s right in front of me.” Her gaze locks on yours, and she steps closer, her voice dipped with a fragile softness. “I want to make more time for the things that matter. For you.”

✨️After walking you to your door, Abby leans in for a hug. But instead of pulling back, she pauses, her lips just a breath away from your ear. “I don’t want to leave,” she whispers, her voice low, carrying a weight that makes your stomach flip. Her fingers graze your back, lingering as if she’s afraid to let go. The closeness, the warmth of her breath against your skin, leaves your head swimming, the world narrowing to just her. “Tell me to stay.”

Love,

(Formerly) DeepOuterSpaceCandy 🌙🩷

Wishing you so much love and all the best things in life. I’m not ✨️back✨️ but I wanted to put some soft Abby into the ether. Be gentle with yourselves—this season and always.

[oneforthemunny]

i'm not entirely sure what prompted this. to be utterly honest, the holidays are rough sometimes, and i've been kind of struggling so here's this bc this is how i cope now :)

tw: mentions of loss, grief, depression.

“...at the tone, please record your message.” 

Beep.

“Uh, hey. It’s-It’s Eddie. I, uh, I was just calling to, uh- I was just wanting to check on ya. I haven’t heard from you in a couple of days, sweetheart, and I know you’ve been busy. I just… Yeah, gimme a call back when you can, alright? I still got those VHS’s. Rentals not due for a couple of days. I’d-I’d really like to see you. Just… call me back when you get this. Even if it’s late. Love you.” 

The lights on your tree started to blur, water-stained with blinding, swirling tears of guilt. Settled on your couch, in the same crumpled position that you fell into as soon as you got off work, waves of exhaustion consuming you, but sleep never came easily. 

The most wonderful time of the year was a stretch, a mockery of a term that felt poisoned and back handed. With every happy, glowy commercial, all smiling families and sing-songy laugh; it made you feel sick at the falseness of it all. 

It had been four days since you last spoke to Eddie, nearing two weeks since you saw him in person. Not out of spite, or a fight like it had been in the past. This time, it was you- all you. 

The message on the receiver played on a loop, you jammed your finger on the button, letting it sound off its automated message before his voice filled the silent space in the room. You missed the sound of his voice, the warmth behind it so comforting in this frigid winter. It might be better to call him, actually hear him and talk to him, but every time you reached for the phone, you couldn’t dial his number. That would mean you’d have to talk, have to say something, tell him why you’d been so MIA, and that required a strength you didn’t have yet. 

Somewhere between the late night talk show coming on, but not before your neighbor’s lights turned off, there was a knock at your door. You figured it was your neighbor across from you, Mrs. Jennings, always bringing you baked treats in festive sweaters, leaving with a hearty “Merry Christmas!” that always had you crumbling inside. 

“Baby?” Your body stilled, breath caught in your lungs at the sound, like he might be able to see you through the door. 

“Hey, I-I know you’re in there.” Eddie’s voice was soft, muffled by the heavy wood of your door. “Not to sound like a total fuckin’ stalker or anything. I just… I wanna make sure you’re ok?” 

Your mind screamed at you to move, to go answer the door, to reply, to do anything. 

The lock jiggled, a squeak and a creak before the door was opening softly- hesitantly, like he was scared of what he might find on the other side. “Babe?” Eddie’s eyes scanned the small kitchen area, your purse slung on the table, shoes kicked off by the door into a pile. 

“You alright? I-I called you a coupla times, actually, and I just wanted to make sure you were ok.” His voice was tight, heavy soled steps on the carpet. 

You knew he saw you by the way he stopped. Halted behind the couch, hovering over a collapsed you on the couch. Tear stained sweatshirt sleeves under your head, an array of photo albums you always kept tucked in the top of the storage closet down the hall, memories sprawled out on the coffee table, creased on the edges from your shaky grasp. 

The one closest to you had his stomach dropping. He’d seen her before, the solemn looks and shaky breaths that you and your family gave when you’d pass the outdated family portrait in your home. Plastered on the wall with matching bright smiles, but looming with a haunting, sickening feeling. Eddie knew the feeling, a little too well. 

“Oh.” Eddie breathed before he could help himself. 

You wanted to sob, felt the burn of it in your throat, curling into yourself. 

“No, no, no, I-I didn’t-” Eddie’s eyes darted frantically, reaching out towards you, but never touching you. He knew what this felt like, knew the embarrassment and vulnerability, the shame and dread. 

He knew what it felt like. 

Silently, he sank next to you on the couch, careful of the delicate photos, placing them out of the way with a gentleness that had you sniffling, swallowing down a whimpering cry. A hand on your back, pulling your body into his, letting the weight of you settle onto his chest. 

Your face moved into the soft cotton of his tee. He’d smoked on the way over here, though it was comforting. Nose rubbing against his chest, clinging to the fabric next to you in a fisted clutch. Eddie’s arms around your frame, holding you firmly yet so softly at the same time. 

Your neighbor’s lights were off by the time you finally spoke. 

“I was in line at Melvald’s getting wrapping paper,” You croaked, voice raspy with emotions, cheek still pressed to Eddie’s chest. You could hear his heartbeat. “And they started playing this song. The Christmas one by The Partridge Family?” 

Eddie nodded slowly, hand still gliding soothingly up and down your spine. He could feel your shaky breath through his fingertips. “She, uh,” You swallowed around the words. “She used to love that song. Would always sing it when we’d put the trimmings on the tree. My mom would have that hanging tinsel you know?” 

“Yeah.” 

“And,” Your tone fell at the thought, at the mention of her again. “She’d always play this song on a loop. Would throw it around, all over the branches just to piss my mom off.” Your lips curled at the memory. You always laughed when she did that. Now you couldn’t because you knew she’d never do it again. 

There was a moment, a beat of silence in the still room. “Anyways, I…I was going to get wrapping paper because I’m so fucking behind on wrapping and-and buying, because I’ve been working-” 

“-You’ve been working a lot.” Eddie’s eyes cut down to you, carefully. 

You sighed, a shudder of a breath in. “Yeah. I know.” It was soft, an apology. You didn’t need to, but Eddie was glad to hear it. Selfishly, he was relieved that his fears that this was somehow his fault, that he’d done something to upset you, weren’t true. 

“I just… I don’t know. I guess I just wanted to be busy? I felt like if I stayed busy, I wouldn’t really get to think about it. Get this holiday over with and then I wouldn’t feel so…” You didn’t really know what to say, how to describe the feeling. 

“No, I… I get it.” Eddie nodded slowly, staring off in the colorful strands of lights glimmering from the tree in the far corner of the room. “My mom used to wear that, uh, that Pond's stuff to bed. The face stuff with the green lid?” You nodded slowly, cheek still smushed against his chest. 

“And right after she passed, I-I was in middle school, right? Seventh grade. And we had a sub and… fuck, she smelled just like that cream.” Eddie shook his head softly at the memory. “She just walked past me to make sure we were reading, and I smelled it and… I just ran out of the classroom because I didn’t want to cry in front of everyone. But, like, running out wasn’t much better.” 

You snorted softly, light enough to have Eddie’s gaze peering back down to you, heart skipping in his chest. “Yeah, I would say that might make it worse.” 

“Wasn’t very smooth.” Eddie nodded. “Just running out of the classroom seemed better than crying.” 

You paused for a moment, lips puckered in a pout. “It’s weird.” You muttered, still looking ahead. “How you’re just out and the smallest things just… send you over the edge.” 

“Yeah.” Eddie sighed. “Grief’s a weird thing.” 

“Really weird.” You mumbled. 

Eddie ducked his chin down, let his nose press into your scalp, breathing in your scent, pressing a kiss to your hair. “I’m here for you, you know?” He muttered, the vibrations from his words tickling your scalp. “For when it gets weird. You don’t… this sounds really fuckin’ cheesy and I’m sorry, but you don’t have to do it by yourself. Don’t have to be alone.” 

You weren’t sure what to say. Not sure you could even speak if you did know what to say, the growing lump in your throat strangling you. Instead, you clung tighter to his shirt, pressed yourself further into the warm, inviting hold that felt familiar and calming. 

Eddie would go and get the wrapping paper for you tomorrow, even help you wrap a few gifts. He’d help you carefully put up the photos with a gentleness that would have your heart fluttering. But for now, he held you, fingers moving down your spine, chin pressed to the top of your head, pulling you closer to him on the tiny couch.

[dw-writes]

The Invasion...Chapter Twenty-Two

Summary: Mad Sweeney could not recall the last true believer he had. Sure, he’d been brought over as one of the Fair Folk, but it was different. A sliver of the truth, a dim shadow of what he was really owed. The belief of someone who followed traditions, not him.

That changed when he arrived in Cairo.

That changed when he laid eyes on you and he found that one didn’t have to believe in the myth to believe in the man.

A/N: I am.... SO SORRY. this chapter really shouldn't have taken me [checks calendar] LOL ALMOST A YEAR TO WRITE HOLY SHIT IM SO SORRY. i hope you guys enjoy this chapter, please let me know what you think!!! And i'm sorry ahead of time for the pain :3 (not really yall were expecting it) also enjoy the latest crossover to happen in this series. i hope you enjoy!!! :D

Chapters: Chapter One || Chapter Two || Chapter Three || Chapter Four  || Chapter Five || Chapter Six || Chapter Seven || Chapter Eight || Chapter Nine || Chapter Ten || Chapter Eleven || Chapter Twelve || Chapter Thirteen || Chapter Fourteen || Chapter Fourteen-ish || Chapter Fifteen || Chapter Sixteen || Chapter Seventeen || Chapter Eighteen || Chapter Nineteen || Chapter Twenty || Chapter Twenty-One || Chapter Twenty-Two Requests: Mad Sweeney and The Holidays || The Invasion and the Stressful Blows One Shots: The Invasion and That One Thankful Holiday || The Invasion and the Weight of Change || Eyes On You

The Invasion and the Big Easy

Beautiful Aphrodite had only ever felt rage twice in her long life - once, thousands of years prior, as she watched the carnage that unfolded to retrieve the prize that she had given young Paris, and second, when she saw you.

You, sitting in an empty room, eyes glassy from too much alcohol and manufactured self-doubt. She knew what it was from, had felt your heart chip throughout the night from across the country while you fitfully slept under the concerned gaze of a new friend. Whispers of a voice filled the corners of the quiet room.

She turned to them, her incorporeal form non-existent to your unfocused gaze and the man who sat on the floor near you. The face of a young woman filled the unplugged television. Rose didn’t recognize her – it was some different form of Media, a newer one, a viral one. The young woman stopped whispering and met the goddess’s furious gaze.

The television cracked, the image disappeared, and the room fell silent. She turned back to you and watched your exhausted eyes close. The man mumbled, lifting his head to check you, then settled back against the wall with a sigh.

She made a note to learn his name and remembered how love existed in so many forms.

Elsewhere, Rose slumped into the arms of her two loves. They exchanged worried glances above her head as she mumbled to herself, “My poor messenger.” She sighed. Her concerns traced the cracks in your heart through your long day to the point she remembered last speaking to you, when you were happy, and the events of your day played out against her eyelids.

You stood at the edge of a cliff, overlooking a large and bustling Athens of a different age. Your bare feet were cradled by plush, green grass while a cream-colored toga fluttered around your legs.

“We haven’t talked in a long time,” said fair Aphrodite as she stepped up next to you. You tried to look at her, but her face kept changing, as did the rest of her. She cycled through so many features like an ever-changing portrait, each paint stroke melting into the next, all trapped beneath a pale pink robe that brushed the ground.

“Have we ever really sat and talked?” you asked.

She smiled. It lit up the world. “You know what I mean.” She nodded at you. “Nice toga.”

“I’m liking the breeze,” you replied with a smile of your own.

“Yeah? It’s nice, isn’t it?” she teased. You laughed, and she watched you, her features melting and solidifying into a face that was familiar to you. You cleared your throat and looked up at her.

“Sweeney?” you asked.

She shrugged broad shoulders. “Yes and no,” Rose answered with a voice that wasn’t hers. “I’m the goddess of love, remember?” She lifted a hand into the air. “Funny, I never would have guessed this, though. Not in a million years.”

“Which part?” you whispered.

She shoved her hands into her pockets. “All of it,” she replied, “None of it. You know, I thought I had a grip on these things, but you keep surprising me.” She smiled. You longed to see that smile on his real face. “Tell him soon, okay?”

“I will,” you promised.

You opened your eyes as easy as a blink, staring ahead into the purple black haze of the dark room. Sweeney snored behind you; a hot arm thrown over your shoulders. You gingerly wrapped both hands around his wrist and frowned.

Was it a warning? A piece of advice? It could’ve been anything – your friends weren’t always so forth-coming in their intentions.

You stared at the room, thinking over everything that had recently happened, watching the darkness become blue, then gray, and a watery white as the sun started to rise. Your phone buzzes with the alarm for your meds, and you squirmed out of Sweeney’s grasp to take them.

You washed your face in the attached bathroom, brushed your teeth, changed into different, cleaner clothes. You woke Sweeney and insisted he stay quiet to not wake anyone else in the house. As you two left, you wrote a thank you note for the parents, and folded up Mitchel’s number for the sisters.

“I hope they get in contact with each other,” you sighed as you followed Sweeney across the large yard. He grunted, yawning, and continued towards the water’s edge. His lit cigarette brunt orange in the faint morning daylight, glinting off a key in his hand. “Sweeney?”

His boots clomped over a rickety pier just out of sight of the house. A boat swayed at the end of it.

“You’re joking,” you called after him. He waved you off without a word. You groaned, looking back up at the house behind you, and followed him. “You’re stealing their boat.”

“Borrowing,” he grunted, placing the cigarette between his lips, “’m borrowing – we’re—” he corrected, looking up at you as he crouched, “We are borrowin’ their boat.”

You crossed your arms. “Do you intend to mosey on back up the river with it when we’re done in New Orleans?” you asked. He climbed into the boat. You looked back at the house again and scrambled after him, pinwheeling your arms to keep your balance in the small craft. “Put out your cigarette,” you wheezed, “Before you blow us up.”

“’m not gonna blow us up!” he argued.

“You have the shittiest luck on either side of the Mississippi, Sweeney, so I’m sorry if I don’t trust you saying that,” you snapped. He sat back, glaring at you, which you returned. When you didn’t budge, he slowly pulled the cigarette from between his lips and flicked it out into the water. You took a deep breath and sat down. “Someone’s gonna get back at you for that,” you mumbled.

“You were so nice yesterday,” Sweeney mused as he sat back, “What happened? Hm?”

“You decided to steal the boat of a family that wanted to help us,” you shot back with a shrug, “And it’s not even theirs! This isn’t even their house!”

Sweeney groaned loud enough to drown out your complaints, twisting around to start the motor. You braced against the sides of the boat as it started down the river, glaring all the while at his smug smirk. You settled in after a while, watching the trees pass along the riverside. “What was that about my luck?” he said as he carefully steered the craft.

“You have shit luck,” you repeated, “The only reason you’re not dying some wildly fiery death is because I’m here and I don’t have shit luck.”

He snorted, shifting on the seat, and absently twisted his warped coin charm around his neck. “Ya know, maybe you made me another lucky coin,” he muttered absently, “Ever think of that?”

You watched him before you spoke. His eyes were trained on the river behind you and he carefully steered down the gentle curves, keeping away from other boats and suspicious shallows. You didn’t answer him for a long time. You balled the sleeves of your denim shirt in your palms and pulled it closer to you, wishing it was just a bit thicker to keep out the cold air coming off the water.

“Maybe I did,” you finally said as the river became more crowded with boats. He hummed as he looked up at you, slowing the boat down and threading it through the crowd to the dock. “Maybe I did make you a lucky coin,” you repeated.

He snorted as he climbed out of the coat. He held out his hand to you. “Bein’ facetious, luv,” he grumbled.

You took it, swinging your bag onto your shoulder as you climbed out. “Big word,” you teased. He tugged you hard against his side. “But really,” you said with a small smile, “Always told you that it was about belief. And I really think those coins were pretty lucky if they stopped a bullet and saved your life.”

“We’ll see,” he mumbled. He squeezed your hand, then led the way out of the marina and into the crowded streets, keeping you close so that the two of you wouldn’t be separated. You eventually found your way to a less crowded area of shops. Sweeney slowed down. “Ya hungry?”

“A bit,” you sighed, “We didn’t really eat anything at the house since someone stole their boat.” You looked up at him.

He rolled his eyes and looked around, tugging you behind him to a food truck on the corner. He huffed, lip curling in a teasing sneer as you pulled out your wallet and paid. He took the food he’d ordered, and yours, and tucked a bottle of beer in the crook of his elbow as he started to walk. You followed him, taking your food with a sigh as you kept pace with him. He stopped at a statue of the Virgin Mary, then smacked the top of his beer against its stone pedestal to pop the metal top off, and chugged half of it.

You watched him, slowly eating your food, leaning against the pillar across from him. “Sweeney?” you asked once he finished his beer.

He buried his face in his elbow as he released an ugly burp. You whistled slowly. “Whut?” he grumbled, taking a large bite of his meal.

“Are you okay?” you asked. You set your food down, worry twisting at your gut, and moved closer to him. “You’ve been a little weird since we got here.”

“Just got here,” he grunted.

“That’s exactly what I mean,” you shot back. You crossed your arms, staring up into his face. He scratched his chin, then down his neck as he watched you in return. “I’ve known you too long for you to pull this shit and not expect me to ask you about it,” you gently said.

He continued to stare, his blunt fingernail scratching at the label on the bottle until it started to peel. He didn’t say anything, though. His eyes grew dark the longer they traced over your face, until, finally, they fell away. He sniffed and looked at the crowd shuffling past you, scratching the growing stubble on his chin again. “Just don’t wanna see ‘em,” he grumbled.

“Hey strangers,” came the call of a familiar voice. Sweeney groaned, dropping his head back with the sound, and turned away while you smiled and spun around.

“What a sight for—” the words shifted in your mouth as you took in Laura Moon’s new, fresh face and glowing skin, “Sore eyes, holy shit Laura.”

She smirked and twirled, holding out her arms. “Guess that old man doesn’t lie, huh?” she said.

Sweeney rolled a hand in the air, tossing the empty bottle behind him. “Then what, pray tell, are ya doin’ here, huh?” he sniped, “What, you figure that the quick ‘n easy don’t last?”

You looked up at him, struggling not to roll your eyes. “Really?” you whispered.

He shrugged. “Just pointin’ out the obvious,” he muttered.

“In a really asshole-ish way,” you replied.

He lowered himself against the pillar, leaning into your space. “Never heard ya complain before,” he murmured.

You narrowed your eyes, arms crossing over your stomach. “I call you an asshole a lot, actually. Pretty sure I use it more than your name,” you argued.

“It ain’t bad enough that it kept ya from kissin’ me though, ain’t it?” he asked with a smirk.

You snapped your mouth shut.

Laura’s voice was far too loud in the crowded street when she shouted, “You what?!” followed quickly by, “Holy fucking shit,” and, “It’s about time!”

“Excuse me?” you scoffed, turning to her. “No?”

“Yes!” she countered.

“That’s not the argument here, the argument is how he’s an asshole for getting on your case,” you tried. Behind you, Sweeney started to snicker.

“Uh, no, fuck that, I’m over it,” Laura said with a wave of her hand. She closed the gap between you. “You kissed this sasquatch? Seriously? What, was it against your will, or did you actually want it?” She gasped, her face alight with joy at the first taste of gossip she’d had since she died. It really gave you a glimpse of who she had been before. “Did he tell you that he—”

“Ya here for the Loa, yeah?” Sweeney cut in, coughing on ill swallowed spit.

“That’s not important right now, is it?” she countered, glaring, “Is it really?”

“Course it is,” he replied, pushing away from the pillar. It was your turn to stare at him with narrowed, suspicious eyes as he walked past. “Second longer without my coin is a second too long, Dead Wife. Let’s get this over with.” You followed after him. He tossed the bottle into the nearest trash.

“What crawled up his ass?” Laura grumbled as she walked next to you.

You shrugged. “He’s been like this since we got here. I don’t think he wants to deal with the Loa at all.” You tilted your head, then leaned towards her. “Do you know anything about the Loa? I haven’t read anything, just know what he’s told me.”

“Not a fucking clue except that they can bring me back,” she said.

“Huh,” you sighed.

Sweeney led you both around a corner and stopped in front of a small building. Above the door was a sign that swung in the humid breeze, displaying the black rooster that had started to fade in the sun. He paused at the door, rubbing his neck, then he turned to you both. “Ain’t no backin’ out of this once we start,” he said. He stared at Laura, his face the epitome of sobriety. “You wanna do this?”

She rolled her eyes and yanked the door open. “Let’s just fucking hurry up, I don’t have all day,” she griped.

Sweeney held the door open for you, his arm brushing your shoulder as he leaned down to whisper, “Stay close.”

You nodded and stepped inside.

(Rose frowned as the scene against her eyes shifted, showing you through the eyes of a goddess she’d never met.)

Bridget – lovely and strong – felt her heart lodge in her throat the moment you walked into the Black Cock. She knew the man you walked in with, knew the emotion that made him hold open the door for you, dip his head towards yours, brush your back as you passed him.

Mad Sweeney was in love with you, and you him, if your subtle lean into him was a clue, and he didn’t explain a damn thing about the Baron’s specialty if you have followed him and the woman there.

He was about to break your heart.

She knew all too well that not everyone enjoyed their partner stepping out, but even the ones that didn’t mind it never came with them to ask the favor.

He hadn’t fucking told you.

In the ten seconds it took for your trio to enter the bar, Maman Bridget’s opinion of Sweeney soured. Something must have shifted in her, too, as her husband’s fingers lightly prodded her back in question. She smiled, mirthless, and stepped out from behind the bar.

What a fucking coward.

(And then, there you were)

You watched the red-haired woman move around the end of the bar. She passed Sweeney, sharing a look with him, before she moved through a door you hadn’t noticed before.

(Imaged passed through your mind – piles of stones upon marked graves of women, women standing beneath weeping willows that shielded them from mist and shadow, drums beating against ears; but also, there were doctors in damp fields and poets writing by candlelight and rough handed blacksmiths and farms all framed by an ever-burning flame.)

You sat heavily at the bar. The weight of recognizing a two-faced goddess rested heavily on your shoulders and the back of your neck. You stared absently at a bottle in front of you, barely listening to the sound of Sweeney’s voice as he traded barbs with the man behind the bar. Your vision swam when you finally looked at him.

The man himself was tall, even lounging back against the back bar, with a top hat that made him even taller. He had deep, dark skin with the cool undertone of a clear night radiating from beneath. His bright eyes, while filled with humor, were scanning over your trio with a knowledge you couldn’t place.

The wall behind him melted away when he met your gaze. There was a history behind him, spanning centuries and countries, filled with celebrations and swearing and death and spirits and all framed by a heady smoke that filled your lungs and spilled over your lips on a shaky exhale. When you breathed in, there was life and sex and booze, singing and loud music and a sharp tang of spiced rum on your tongue.

You couched and squeezed your eyes shut to the man’s grin, bracing against the bar as you struggled to regain your composure. Beneath it all, you recognized a gap in your knowledge that ached in your chest and made your heart race. The lack of information made you anxious and it hurt. You refocused on the bar, scooping up a bottle near your fingers, and struggled to listen to the conversation.

“And when she is not around,” purred the Baron, his voice floating through the air, “I fuck a lot of other women.”

You were joining an already complicated conversation, you knew it, and maybe it was nerves clawing at your throat that forced your mouth open to say, “Doesn’t Maman Bridget help women with unfaithful lovers?” The air chilled for a moment, but nothing rang untrue in your skull. You glanced up from the bottle of pepper-infused rum in your hand. “What?” you asked, “I’m not wrong.” You were defensive, yes, your voice sharper than you intended.

The woman, who you knew had left through a door before, was standing next to the Baron behind the bar. She arched an eyebrow and smiled. “I like this one,” she murmured. She released the man and rounded the bar again, almost materializing by your side with her smooth movements. No wonder you hadn’t noticed her return. “I wouldn’t mind keeping you around,” she said, leaning against the bar, “The Baron might even warm up to you.”

“Thanks, but I’ll pass,” you replied, “No offense.”

The Baron laughed – loud and full, a sound that echoed a little harshly in your ears – and leaned towards you. “She’s right,” he murmured, “I like you.”

You smiled. There was an air to him that was familiar, and you voice as much when you said, “You remind me of another friend who owns a bar a lot like this. I think you two would get along.”

He snorted as he leaned back, eyeing Bridget over your shoulder as she slipped behind you. “Maybe you could introduce us,” he replied.

Sweeney sat heavily on the stool next to you, grunting and leaning into your warmth. “How’s about we stop makin’ nice,” he grumbled, “I gotta favor.”

Bridget smiled. “From what I hear, it’s not like you to do favors, Sweeney,” she sighed and your smile grew tighter, “Hasn’t that been your friend’s job?”

You frowned at the way she said ‘friend’. Sweeney huffed, shifting in his seat and leaning away from you.

“The Dead Wife,” he sighed, waving a hand towards Laura on his other side, “Is dead.”

The Baron flicked the rim of his hat up and leaned close, spreading his hands along the bar. “Don’t look dead,” he said. He sniffed, long and loud. “Don’t smell dead, neither.”

“Smells Norse,” Bridget commented with a sigh. She leaned towards Laura and picked up her hair, sniffing it. “A bit Greek? A bit…” Her hand snapped out and slapped the side of Sweeney’s head. He started to protest when Bridget opened her mouth and let loose a violent rant of Gaeilge so fast it didn’t sound like words.

Laura leaned back to share a wide-eyed look with you.

The Baron laughed.

Sweeney hunched his shoulders around his ears as Bridget swore. Her voice dropped as she switched to English, “You lost the Sun’s treasure?!”

Your leprechaun swung a hand towards Laura. “It ain’t lost, it’s in there!”

“It’s not yours anymore, is it?!” Bridget snapped, “Not the Sun’s but some dead woman’s!”

“And she’ll only give it up if she ain’t dead!” Sweeney shouted.

The Baron stood straighter. Bridget’s mouth clicked shut and her eyes glanced past him to you.

“Why we’re here,” Sweeney finished.

“That’s powerful magic,” the Baron murmured, “With a steep cost.”

“We’ll pay,” Laura replied, unknowing.

Sweeney shoved his hands through his hair and leaned on the bar, ducking his head low.

It was quiet for a moment. The Baron and Bridget exchanged looks. Then, Bridget cleared her throat. “Come back at closing,” she answered, “We need time to prepare.”

Sweeney was up and out the door before she finished. You stood to follow, stopped only by the woman’s hand on your arm. Laura lingered at the door.

“You shouldn’t come back,” she said, “It’s not magic involving you.”

You frowned, feeling a calm warmth seep into your skin, but pulled away. “We’ll see,” you replied.

You left.

Laura waited outside, talking about places to stay, and started towards the main road like she knew the area. Sweeney shuffled behind her, and you after him. He didn’t look at you, didn’t slow to walk next to you. He just walked, shoulders hunched, hands shoved in his pockets.

The three of you eventually made your way to a small hotel not far from the French Quarter. They had one room left, and the cost left you lightheaded, but you dug the cash out of your bag and paid regardless. Once you were given the keys, you turned to see what Laura and Sweeney wanted to do until it was time to go back, but found Sweeney gone.

Laura shrugged when you asked her where he’d gone. “Dunno,” she said, “Didn’t even see him leave.”

You frowned. “Okay,” you sighed, leaning to see if you spotted him anywhere. “What do you wanna do until he gets back?”

A smile lit up Laura’s face. She led you back outside, and down the street, stopping at every shop between the hotel and the bar. You found ink for Mr. Ibis, an antique set of mortician’s tools for Mr. Jacquel, and a new toy in the shape of a bat for Bas. Laura found a cute dress, which she showed you only after you had left the store, and she changed in an alley. There were other stores, other things purchased or stolen, other smiles shared and memories made.

It was dark soon enough, and the two of you stumbled back to the bar in each other’s arms, laughing like schoolgirls.

Sweeney was already there, waiting, face drawn as he pushed the door open. He didn’t say anything as you walked past him, didn’t even look at you.

Bridget looked away from the Baron with a smile that fell the moment she saw you.

(Coward. What a fucking coward.)

“I told you not to come,” she said, leaning on the bar, “This doesn’t involve you.”

“Why wouldn’t I be here?” you asked, confused, a bit incredulous, “They’re my friends.”

Even the Baron looked a bit lost as he watched Sweeney. “Sex magic only calls for two people,” he explained slowly, “That who requested, and that who benefits.” He tilted his head. “And those who cast it.”

“What?” His words rang in your ears. Laura’s hands disappeared from your arm as she said something, then the Baron, then silence. Three sets of eyes burned into your face as a fourth actively avoided looking at you. “What?” you asked again.

“It’s magic,” Bridget said at the confused look in your eye, “Just magic.” It was like she was trying to soothe a burn, but instead of aloe, it was lemon juice.

“Potent magic,” the Baron added. He slid his hand up over her ass. “Only kind that’ll work for this, too.”

Laura whispered your name.

You smiled. You had to – for her, who you’d come all that way for, and for Sweeney, who…

The smile hurt. You’d rather the platitudes from Bridget.

You nodded, glancing around the room. “Yeah, I know,” you said, voice cracking, “Why we’re here.” You cleared your throat. It burned. “I’ll be at the hotel then.” The door thumped against your back as you reached it. Laura had the grace to look away as you fumbled it open and left.

Once outside, the door slipped from your fingers and shut with a heavy thunk. The hot night warmed your clammy skin and sunk into your clothes until you started to sweat.

“You shouldn’t be here.”

“Just don’t wanna see ‘em.”

“You’re a liar!”

He knew.

(He really was a coward.)

You walked, shouldering through the thick evening crowd as your thoughts wandered away.

Why were you upset? He wasn’t yours, despite all your wants, and thoughts, and wishes. He never was, and, if you were honest, he never would be. You weren’t supposed to be there in the first place, weren’t supposed to be trailing after a man who worked for a god you shouldn’t have met. You were supposed to be home in Cairo. In your bed. Alone.

Fading.

Dying.

Dead.

Your feet shuffled to a stop. People milled past you, unseeing, like you were just something in their way and not a person on the brink of an abyss. You couldn’t tell what you were staring at – a swirl of blurring colors that spanned what must have been the road or the crowd or the buildings, it was all bright and it hurt. Heat spilled down your cheeks and your vision cleared.

A shoulder clipped yours. You stumbled, the rest of the tears rolling down your face, jolting back into your body when you weren’t even aware you’d left it.

“I’m sorry—oh,” a voice thick with a deep southern twang danced in your ears. Warm hands brushed your shoulders. “You alright, darlin’?” Your tears continued. They wouldn’t stop, even as you lifted your eyes from the ground, up past a white collar framed by metal filigree points, and met a warm, brown gaze set into a tanned and tired face. The Preacher’s brow furrowed as he muttered a soft, “Shit.”

You shrugged a shoulder away from him, mumbling something you knew was a lie, but that might’ve also been an apology.

He followed, standing close, staring past you, then turned you around towards a door. You barely heard his voice. You tried to take in more of his features, wondering why he bothered when no one else did – his hair was messy but stood in soft peaks around his head, while the sides were shaved close, and a splatter of dark freckles covered the bridge of his nose. He spoke again, meeting your gaze when he did.

The air trembled around you. Something traced his words out onto the air. You could’ve mistaken the anomaly for a heat wave if it hadn’t been at the end of your nose.

He guided you through the crowd and into a cold bar. You shivered at the sudden change, you sweat suddenly ice on your skin. His hands left you to remove his coat and drape it around you. You watched him roll up his sleeves. Hs pressed a hand between your shoulders and led you to a booth. Two other people were already sitting there, arm against arm.

“Padre?”

“Jesse?”

“Now,” the Preacher – Jesse – motioned you further into the booth, taking up the edge seat when you complied. “This here is Tulip, and Cassidy,” he quietly introduced.

You were pretty sure you gave them your name, but you couldn’t be sure.

“We ain’t here for—” Cassidy’s voice cut off with a yelp.

Tulip adjusted in her seat, shooting the man, Cassidy, next to her a glare. She smiled at you. She was lovely. “You alright, hun? You look down,” she asked. Jesse next to you suddenly jumped, swearing under his breath. “Why don’t you and Cass get us all some beers, yeah?” she politely demanded. She even moved for Cassidy to scramble out of the booth.

You took her in as she shuffled back across the booth seat – her tight brown coils kept the sunglasses sin her hair in place, and her brown eyes were bright as she stared at the men at the bar. She wore lip gloss, and her freckles were just a shade darker than her soft brown skin.

She flashed you another smile, this one not as awkward. “You okay?” she asked again. Her eyes darted over your face. “I mean, you don’t really look okay, but do you wanna talk about it?”

You shook your head. You mulled over her words, adjusting yourself in Jesse’s coat as you struggled to settle back into your skin, forcing yourself into the situation. Out of all the stupid things you could’ve done, you were led into a bar by a stranger, and stuck in the corner seat of a booth.

Though, there were worse things you’d done, too.

And it was a Priest that led you into the bar. Out of all the strangers, that was one that you could, maybe, trust more. And given the weird thing that happened when he spoke, it really reminded you of Anders, and you scrubbed your face with your hands with a groan. Fully covering your face, you dropped your elbows on the table and rambled out everything that had ever happened – from meeting Sweeny in Cairo, to sitting in the bar with her at that moment. Your voice cracked as you spoke, and you barely registered Cassidy or Jesse returning sometime towards the early middle of your tale.

Tulip took your hand and wrapped it around a beer, the polite look on her face replaced with a familiar frustration.

“Now, I ain’t one for religion,” she started, quickly rolling her eyes as Jesse cleared his throat. “Wasn’t,” she corrected, “But someone wanted us to meet because I think we are uniquely qualified to help you out right now.”

Cassidy slapped his bottle on the table, leaning in curiously. “Yer man really a leprechaun?” he asked, “Flighty fuckers, ain’t they?”

“I’m sorry?” you laughed, clearing your throat.

“Nah, I’m old, yeah, been everywhere in my hundred years, and I ain’t ever come across a shrewder or fucked fae than a fuckin’ leprechaun,” he answered.

You properly grabbed the beer and had a long drink. “And how—”

“Oh.” Tulip slapped his arm. “Cassidy here is a vampire,” she said casually, then waved a hand at Jesse next to you, “And Jesse has the literal word of God in his chest.”

“Tulip,” he sighed, as though it was a long-worn topic of contention.

The edges of your world became a little more defined the longer you sat with them. “A vampire, a priest, and a woman,” you mumbled, “I’ve been in weirder situations.”

“Yeah, alright,” Cassidy said, waving his hand in a circle over the table as he adjusted in his seat, “Circle back – how the fuck did ya land an invitation to the Oester party?”

“Oester?” Jesse whispered to you.

“Easter,” you clarified.

He nodded slowly and sat back, draining his beer in one long gulp.

“Everyone’s always clamberin’ for that, fuck, even the Oester in fuckin’ Qatar has a hard time gettin’ invited some years!” Cassidy continued.

“There’s more than one?” asked Tulip.

“You also said there were multiple Jessues?” butt in Jesse over her.

“Jesi,” Tulip corrected.

“I think it’s just Jesus, ya know, both plural and singular,” Cassidy mumbled.

“We’re lookin’ for God,” Jesse continued, sighing, “Big G, God. Was he—”

You shook your head. “Sorry, Father. Just Jesus.”

“Jesse,” he insisted.

The conversation continued in a similar vein, you giving them more details, them sharing their story. The table collected a large amount of beer bottles as the hours passed.

Sweeney drank just as much as Bridget danced. It was a dance she’d done numerous times, one that he partook in at least once, one she’d done in front of others who owed favors, who needed magic so desperately that they’d toe the line between death and sex just to taste it. She twisted in time to music that formed on the air. Sweeney’s eyes slipped past her, past the figures that appeared around her, to someone she had yet to see. She threw her head back as old words slipped past her lips, and spotted the figure, the one who clouded the Irishman’s mind as the world grew hazy and the magic grew hot. Bridget was grinning when she turned to him, traced her slim fingers up his thighs, which parted for her.

“And, for a moment, I thought you were hung up on the dead girl,” she crooned against his clothed stomach.

Sweeney snorted.

“But it’s someone else,” she teased. Her lips grazed the skin of his neck. He twisted his head away from her. His knee started to bounce. “Bet you’d be more into it if the Informant were here, kneeling between your knees.” She pressed an open-mouthed kiss against his ear. “Just as eager to take your cock as you are to give it.”

He shrugged her off with a growled, “Shut up.”

She arched an eyebrow as she stood, though that Cheshire stretched further across her face. “C’mon, let’s play pretend, hm?” The room filled with an eerie glow. Sweeney rose from his eat. “You be the burly Irishman.”

“Shuddup.”

“I’ll grant your favor,” she purred, voice lilting as Sweeney stepped closer.

“Shut. Up.”

It wasn’t her voice that said, “Make me,” but she squealed when Sweeney scooped her up and pinned her to the wall, anger and frustration brewing hot in his veins. It wasn’t her he saw when he hiked her skirt up and pulled her legs high around his waist, nor when he tilted her hips up and pushed his cock into her with no preamble.

In the haze, he heard the Baron and Maman Bridget laugh.

As the red settled over his eyes, he slid a hand up the back of the figure on his hips, swinging them around, pinning them to the column behind him. They were tighter than hell on his cock and warmer than the sun against his chest and he felt himself swallow his own name as he kissed a mouth he’d become familiar with.

The fingers in his hair were yours.

The thighs he gripped tight were yours.

The voice that mewled and moaned in his ear as he touched and bit groped the right places was yours.

And while part of him knew it wasn’t you – wasn’t really you taking his cock like you were built for it – the rest of him desperately wished it was, and convinced him to enjoy the fantasy while it lasted.

(Laura knew that Sweeney only touched her the way he did was because he imagined it was you, and she desperately wished her imagination was powerful enough to picture the man she kept telling herself she loved, rather than seeing the one she really did.)

Jesse fumbled with the lock to your hotel room for the third time, swearing beneath the din of a party going on down the hall. Cassidy stated that he was sober, that he could open the door, but Tulip hushed him and pointed out that he was carrying you on his back, so he was too occupied to do so. He didn’t argue with her, nor point out that she, too, was drunk.

You cheered when Jesse finally opened the door.

“’ey, I got it,” Cassidy said as he shuffled inside. You were vaguely aware of him ushering Tulip and Jesse away, of him telling them that they needed to get home, and to call a taxi or an Uber.

“You text me!” Tulip halfway shouted around him, waving at you as you were deposited onto the bed.

You flashed her a thumbs up before Jesse pulled the door shut.

Cassidy turned to you, rubbing his neck, and dug through the only bag in the room, mumbling something about getting you a change of clothes.

It gave you a chance to really look at him, really take in his features. He was tall, with hair long enough to stick out in difference directions, and soft brown eyes, and was freckled from his previous days in the sun. His voice was soft as he handed you the clothes and advised you to change. He steadied you, helped you tug off your stubborn shirt and put on your clean one, then sat you on the toilet and grabbed a washcloth.

“Why are you doing this?” you asked, surprisingly sober, given how much you drank.

He knelt and started to wipe your face; his brow knitted together at your question. Then, he sat back on his heels, his arms draped on his knees.

“I’m a real right bastard, love—”

You swiftly corrected him with your name.

He lifted his hands, apologized, and continued, “But I ain’t gonna leave someone alone when they’re hurtin’.” He paused, then sighed. “Specially with somethin’ like this.” He gave you a small smile.

“I don’t deserve it,” you whispered, sniffling. You wiped your nose with your hand. Cassidy held out the damp cloth. You took it, chin trembling, “I don’t deserve any of this.”

“You don’t,” Cassidy agreed. “Fact, from what y’ said, that Sweeney’s a fuckin’ arsehole and deserves an asskickin’, but that’s from the outside.”

You waved your hands, rolling your eyes. “No, I—” You sniffled against and dabbed your nose with the cloth. “No, I don’t deserve your kindness. I don’t deserve your company, I don’t…” Your voice cracked and dropped to a whisper as you continued, “I don’t deserve to be here. Someone else does. Someone stronger, someone kinder, someone smarter.” You hiccupped and covered your face with the cloth, leaning over your knees.

Cassidy sat on the floor at your feet, folding himself around your legs and the toilet as much as his long limbs would let him. He looped his arms around your back. “That’s the shitty booze talkin’, y’know…” he murmured, sighing gently, “An’ I dunno who you think is better. Yer plenty strong, from the sounds of yer story. Kind, too. Smart as a fuckin’ whip.” He frowned. “You deserve what ya put into the world, and y’ve put a lot of good out there.”

Your sob tore through his chest like a stake.

(Cassidy’s heart broke a bit and stitched back together with a bit of love he carried for you until the day he died.)

“Then why…” you trailed off.

He sighed. “Others just put shit out there, too, and that’s a bit bigger than the good sometimes.”

You scrubbed your eyes with the cloth until they burned, then sat up, wiping your cheeks. He took the washcloth, carefully wiping your nose with the corner.

“Know it ain’t much,” he whispered, “But ‘m glad someone like you’s here.”

“I wanna go home,” you whispered, and he felt it in his gut that you didn’t mean a place.

He sighed. “Me, too,” he said, and in that moment, you knew he didn’t mean a place either, and wondered if Tulip was right about the serendipitous meeting.

Your chin trembled. He helped you up, guided you to the bed, tucked you in, then sat next to you. He flipped the television on. You reached over and flipped it off.

“You’re a vampire,” you mumbled, resting your head on his shoulder, “Tell me a story. Tell me your story. I’ll commit it to memory.”

He snorted. “Why you wanna do somethin’ so silly like that, huh?” he asked.

“Everyone deserves to be remembered,” you sighed, closing your eyes. “And everyone’s important enough to be remembered.”

Your phone buzzed on the blankets. Cassidy scooped it up. He tilted the screen towards you.

“He’s really enjoying fucking that dead flesh,” read a text from your sister, sent over one of the social media apps on your phone.

“That somethin’ she’d say?” Cassidy asked, glancing at the phone, “You said somethin’ about gods and the like, too, when y’ were tellin’ yer shit.”

“Never,” you whispered.

He turned the phone off. “None a that, then,” he mumbled, tossing it somewhere on the bed. He threw an arm around your back. “Get comfortable. It’s a long story.”

“Those are the best,” you yawned.

He spun you a tale of two kids playing at being Freedom Fighters in a land you’d grown familiar with, about how one died in battle, another in the streets.

You drifted off sometime during his re-telling of the 70’s.

Old stone homes crowded the darkness of your sleep, looming over you like specters of a past you didn’t know well. You padded barefoot down cobblestone roads and turned a corner to find your familiar library at the end of one.

“Hello, you,” you whispered as you made your way over, pulling open the clean doors. They creaked and slammed shut behind you. It was dark inside. Not dark enough that you couldn’t see, but the once warm candles were no longer lit, instead being scattered, and broken across the floor. You stepped over them with a frown as you walked in.

Thrown across the main room were books – the floor was covered in pages that were ripped and stained, and shelves were knocked against each other. You knelt to pick up a book and sighed. An ache bloomed behind your eye as sobriety quickly approached.

“Leave.” A voice in the sudden silence made you jump. You dropped the book, rising to your feet. A figure stood beside a tipped over shelf. Its eyes reflected what little light filled the room. You gulped, shifting back as it inched towards you. You scrambled for the door and the bright light beyond it, panic clawing at your throat as the thing ran after you. You pulled the door open.

Its hand smashed the door shut. “You don’t get to run away from this!” it snarled over your startled screech, “You don’t get to just decide it’s over!”

“Stop it!” you screamed. It roared against your back, then fell silent. Its heat surrounded you. You swallowed, turning to see whatever it was that haunted your library.

You stood toe to toe, its bright, knowing eyes watched you. Its chest heaved and its arms trembled. You shivered, backing up against the door. It stepped back.

“Who are you?” you whispered.

It opened its mouth and hundreds of names poured out. You covered your ears as the sound of them echoed in your head, pounding against your skull, everything building until it was undecipherable noise.

Fingers wrapped around yours, cold against your hot skin.

Rose opened her eyes, leaning away from her two lovers to pick up her phone. She’d sent a message hours ago, calling on an acquaintance she hadn’t met in decades, cashing in her one and only favor to him.

Her message was the address of the hotel and your room number, attached to the request, “Take them home. Cairo.”

He’d replied, “Done,” and dropped a pin showing that his phone was at the same location.

She sagged with relief and sat back against the couch.

The man saw the read notification beneath his pin, then slid his phone into his pocket. It was easy for him to pick the lock of your room – old doors, old locks, they were nothing for his deft fingers. Though, he swore when he dropped the lock pick, scooping it up into a wide palm as he checked the door. Satisfied, he swung the door open.

Cassidy looked up from gently prying your hands from your head.

The strange man looked around the room. The television had been unplugged at one point, as had the small clock radio. A cell phone sat on the blankets, turned off. And a vampire was tending to the one Rose had sent him for.

He laughed.

“What’s so funny?” Cassidy grunted, standing tall, making sure he was between you and the stranger. The man laughed harder.

The sound was finally enough to wake you. You pushed yourself up, rubbing your sore eyes, and squinted at the man standing in your room. He tilted his head back, somehow larger than Cassidy was before you. “Rose sent me,” he said, waving a hand, “Here to take you home. To Cairo. Let’s go.”

Cassidy glanced over his shoulder at you. You swung your feet off the bed, shrugging, still half asleep and not quite sober as you groggily responded, “Take me home.”

“Y’sure?” whispered Cassidy.

You looked up at him, smiled, and nodded. “I’m sure.” Then, you pointed at your bag. “Give me your number. I’ll update you. And stay here, at least until nighttime. The room’s paid for.”

He hesitated, and gave the man another wary look, but did as he was told with a shrug. He eventually turned back to the man again. “Wait, who’re you?”

The strange man grinned, his laughter finally subsiding. “Call me Iartaithe,” he answered with a wink, “It’s a name.”

“Okay, but why’re you laughin’?” Cassidy asked as he grabbed your bag. He fished for the pen you pointed towards, glancing over when you saw you rubbing your eyes again.

“Just absurd,” Iartaithe replied, “Whole thing. Absolutely fucking absurd.”

“Yeah,” you muttered as you stretched your arms above your head, “Tell me about it.” You waited as Cassidy scribbled down his number, then stretched to grab your phone and turn it back on. You looked up at him. “Can you tell Sweeney where I’m going?”

“I can tell ‘im to fuck right off,” Cassidy replied. You smiled. “Guess I can,” he muttered.

“Thank you,” you said, “He’ll worry.” Then, you frowned, wondering if he’d show back up at all, and remembered that, despite what you wanted from him, he really was still your friend. He’d show up. And he’d worry. But you also knew that you couldn’t stay there anymore, especially alone. You appreciated Cassidy’s company, but you knew he couldn’t stay. You needed to go home. You needed to see Bast again. “Thank you,” you repeated, looking up at Cassidy, “Really.”

He flopped onto the bed with a loud sigh, tapping your phone with his finger. “You better fuckin’ message, or I’m comin’ to find you instead,” he threatened, “Fuck God. He can wait another fuckin’ day.”

You leaned your head on his shoulder, yawning, and stood, scooping your bag off the floor. “Promise,” you swore.

Iarlaithe leaned back against the door, and stepped out into the hall when you followed. You gave Cassidy one last glance, waved when he did, and shut the door on him and everything that New Orleans had brought you.

~*~Thanks for Reading~*~ ~*~Tag List~*~

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[thenerdykneazle]

Dear Diary

Summary: You stumble across Garreth's rather scandalizing diary while waiting for him to meet up with you.

Garreth Weasley x Gryffindor F!MC

Warnings: 18+, explicit sexual content, 7th year, aged-up characters

Word count: 2263

You sat on the edge of the fourposter bed. The maroon curtains were tied back, leaving it open. You looked around the room. It resembled your own, having the same beds with the exception that these were numbered. Garreth also had one more roommate than you did, though the room was smaller than yours. The five beds were packed into the small room at the top of Gryffindor tower. It also lacked the sitting area yours had, though a similar enchanted mirror stood near the door. The room was cleaner than you had ever seen it, too, as most of its residents were away for the holidays. The sole exception was Garreth. He had retuned just after Christmas to spend time with his aunt. As such, his desk was as strewn with papers as ever. It was filled with books, a few for his actual classes but most were various extracurricular tomes on potions and herbology. A portrait of the last Gryffindor captain to win the quidditch cup was hung above it.

Currently, you were waiting for Garreth to return from getting lunch with his aunt. You flopped back, lying sideways across the bed as you stared at the ceiling in boredom. You yawned as you stretched your limbs as far as you could reach them. Perhaps you would sneak in a nap while you waited. The break had been wonderfully peaceful – a stark contrast to your usually hectic schedule. Not a single soul had come to you in crisis, which meant you had been using a lot of time to catch up on much-needed sleep.

However, you decided against the nap since Garreth was set to return shortly. You got up and sat at his desk, looking through the pages of notes on his newest experiment. While you refused to be his guineapig, the concoctions did intrigue you. You drummed your fingers on the desk absentmindedly, tapping to the tune of one of the numerous Chudley Cannons cheers Garreth had taught you over the summer. Suddenly, a drawer you had never noticed in the desk slid open.

“And who are you?” you said as you plucked the lone book out of the drawer before sliding it shut.

You flicked it open, and your eyes scanned the black scrawl on the pages. A diary! You glanced at the door before returning your gaze to the book. Your heart rate accelerated with excitement. You knew you should put it back. Clearly these were private thoughts, hidden away behind a charm. Although, it wasn’t your fault the book practically thrust itself into your lap. You were flipping through the pages as you dialogued with yourself on the morality of perusing something so personal to your friend.

You held the book in both hands as you read the most recent entry. It was a sweet musing about Garreth’s excitement for break. He talked about missing his family and looking forward to quality time with his aunt. He also wrote a bit about the potion he hoped to perfect over break, a fizzing beverage that makes the drinker burp bubbles. You smiled as you read the words. You worked your way backwards, reading through complaints about classes and teachers, especially Professor Sharp. Though, despite his frustrations with him, he clearly had admiration for the man, as well.

An entry from two weeks prior gave you pause.

I had the best dream last night. It was about her, of course. In it, we spent the day in Hogsmeade, browsing Honeydukes and Zonko’s, before spending the night drinking at the Three Broomsticks. We stayed in the private room above the tavern, and she was all over me, kissing my neck and grabbing my hair. I got her knickers off, and she was so wet for me. I swear I could feel her slick now. It was so vivid.

Before I knew it, we were naked on the bed. She was under me as I slid into her. She moaned my name as I thrust sharply into her over and over. She mewled and pleaded for more, and I gave it to her. Merlin, I loved the way her voice cracked as she came, calling my name again. I was surprised I hadn’t actually spilled my seed when I woke up. What I wouldn’t give to hear her moaning my name in the waking world. I do so love the sound of it on her lips in her innocent greetings. Oh, how deliciously it would echo in my ears as she fell apart. Gods, I hope the memories of this dream never fade.

Wide-eyed, you looked around the room again, ensuring you were still alone. The sordid words shocked you. You would never have expected such vulgarity from the genial boy. Well, he wasn’t a boy anymore, you supposed. Well into your seventh year, you had both matured over the last two years. For Garreth, that meant filling out considerably. His broad shoulders and muscular arms served him well on the quidditch pitch. His strong forearms exposed from perpetually rolled-up sleeves were rather distracting in class. So was the way he loosened his tie in potions as the steaming cauldrons heated the room.

It was a small mercy that the woman in his dream went unnamed. It would be too much to know who had stolen the affections of the boy you cared for so ardently. Though, that didn’t stop you from rifling through the diary to try to find it out, against your better judgment. You found several other recountings of his wet dreams. He wrote of dreaming about her riding him and “watching her impale herself on [his] prick.” He wrote of another dream where he bent her over one of the potions stations and pounded into her from behind. An entry on a dream about eating her out in the astronomy tower after meeting her to fill out star charts brought a particularly strong blush to your cheeks. Yet not once did he mention her name.

You had made it all the way back to entries from the beginning of sixth year. It was there that you found the entry that sealed your fate.

She was driving me mad today. I swear she does it on purpose, leaning over tables so that her arse sticks out, begging to be grasped, and biting her lip to draw my eye to it. Even the lightest touch on my arm or brush of her fingers on my hand sets my skin ablaze. Gods, I’m desperate to tell her how I feel. I need to know if she feels the same. Yet, I cannot. We’ve become such good friends, and I couldn’t bear to make her uncomfortable if she doesn’t feel the same. Besides, she and Aunt Matilda are so close. I know my aunt loves me, but she is certain I would lead her into trouble. Aunt Matilda told me as much herself when she first arrived last year. Can’t imagine why she thinks so, though. I’m sure my aunt already warned her against me, and, even if she would give me a chance despite it, Aunt Matilda would never approve.

You almost missed it. The key phrase that made everything click into place: when she first arrived last year. He was talking about you. Fantasizing about you. Your skin tingled as a thrill ran up your spine. You were desperate to read more, but the sound of someone ascending the steps had you snapping the book shut. You tried to pull the drawer open, but it didn’t budge. You shoved the diary between random tomes on one of the desk’s shelves just before the door swung open. You were trembling with adrenaline.

“Good afternoon! Sorry I’m late. Aunt Matilda was extra chatty today,” he said brightly.

“Hi! No need to apologize, Garreth,” you replied as naturally as you could while feeling breathless and like your heart was about to beat out of your throat.

You saw his smile brighten a bit at the use of his name, and you couldn’t help the smirk that played on your lips. “Ready to ring in the new year?” he asked.

It was December 31st, and you two had plans to attend a party in Hogsmeade.

“Actually, Garreth, I was thinking we could hang out here for a while,” you said. You were eager to experiment with the knowledge you had gained. “I don’t want to start partying too early.”

Garreth sat on the side of his bed, facing you. His knee was mere inches from yours. “Okay. What would you like to do? We could bundle up and play summoner’s court, or we could nick some hot cocoa from the kitchens and hang out in the common room by the fire.”

As you looked in his emerald eyes, it was like you had never really seen them. You had always averted your gaze so quickly, afraid he’d see into your soul and reveal the feelings you worked so hard to keep hidden. Now as you gazed into them, you could see the adoration with which he looked at you. “I figured we could just stay up here for a while, Garreth,” you said. You wanted privacy.

He tilted his head as he smiled at you. “Why do you keep saying my name?” he asked, bemused.

You shrugged. “It’s a nice name. Very strong. Masculine,” you said. “Don’t you think, Garreth?”

A blush crept onto his freckled cheeks. “I guess so,” he said sheepishly.

You chucked. “I can stop if you’d rather, though,” you said seriously.

“No,” he blurted out far too quickly. “I mean…you don’t have to.”

The corners of your mouth ticked up again. “Good,” you said. “Because I like saying your name, Garreth.” You let your knee bump against his.

Garreth’s heart was racing. He didn’t know what was going on, but he knew that he liked it, whatever it was.

You let your fingers rest on his forearm. “Do you like it?” you asked.

His gaze shifted from your hand to your eyes. He looked at you with a furrowed brow. “What?”

You gave him your most innocent expression. “Do you like it? When I say your name?”

He stared at you, wide-eyed and lips parted. Was he dreaming? He felt like he was awake, but surely you would only say such things in his dreams. He just nodded, unable to find any words.

Your smirk grew. You were loving the effect you were having on the ginger lad. “What about watching me impale myself on your prick? Would you like that?”

Garreth may well have been part mooncalf with how wide his eyes were now. He had reread his own words enough times to recognize them immediately. His eyes flicked to his desk, searching for the familiar cover. He spotted it quickly on the shelf – very much not where he had left it. “I can explain,” he said in a panicked tone.

You pressed your lips into a thin line, the corners turned down. “Seemed pretty self-explanatory to me,” you mused.

“Where was–I mean, how did you–?” he stammered to his shoes.

“I was just tapping on your desk as I read through some notes, and the drawer popped open,” you said.

He shook his head in disbelief at his bad luck. “I’m so sorry you had to read that,” he said, his gaze still downcast.

You couldn’t help but roll your eyes at your frantic friend. “Garreth, look at me,” you said.

He winced as his eyes flitted up to your face. He was surprised by what he saw. He expected you to be scowling, maybe borderline murderous. Instead, he found an amused, slightly arrogant smile. Your eyes scanned his face, lingering on his lips. You trapped your own lip between your teeth as you stared at him with unmistakable lust.

Your eyes met his as you spoke. “I’m not sorry at all that I read it. In fact, I was hoping to read more before I heard you coming.”

He could feel the desire burning in his stomach immediately. He repeated your words in his mind several times, checking if there was any possibility that he could be misinterpreting them. Once he was certain he understood you correctly, he was leaning over you, his hands resting on the edges of your chair. His face hovered a few treacherous inches from yours as he looked at you with heavy-lidded eyes.

“Why don’t I show you instead, love?” he asked.

You grabbed his tie and pulled him down so his lips met yours. You tangled a hand in his ginger curls, and his hands slid up your thighs as he kissed you back fiercely. He ran his tongue along your lower lip, entreating you for entry. Your lips parted, and his tongue slid along your own, exploring your mouth. Garreth pulled back beaming at you. You were both panting for air.

“So, I’ll take that as a ‘yes’?” he teased.

You bit your lip again as you nodded. “I’m quite curious about your dream in the astronomy tower,” you said as you gazed into his verdant eyes.

He gave you a devilish smile before hoisting you straight up from the chair. You let out a surprised squeal before giggling. He was careful not to hit your head as he laid you on his bed. His tongue darted out across his lips as he looked down at you like a starved chimera at a rabbit. His eyes glinted with desire. “I’ve been rather curious about it myself.”

[voltaage]

@simulamortem ( planned starter. )

     Similarly to Christmas, Natalie's home was fully decorated for the spooky holiday. Her front yard was littered with fake gravestones, with the occasional skeletal limb poking out of the ground as if it were rising from the dead. Near her entrance, there were pumpkins, already emptied and carved, sporting cat portraits that were most likely to be Nikola, despite the lack of artistic finesse.

     Inside was not much better. Little orange and purple string lights had been attached to the walls in the living room and kitchen, giving the spaces a more appropriate lighting effect. There were glass stickers on the windows, displaying cheesy caricatures of ghosts and ghouls. Fake cobwebs were placed upon the television and table surfaces.

     It was clear that while Natalie loved Christmas, Halloween was the holiday that she really went all out for.

     And she wasn't yet done, apparently, as she told the simulacrum in her home. There was still more to put up, more to organize for herself. As the engineer was going through her checklist, she suddenly sat up straight as she recalled something.

     "Oh, that reminds me, I have something to show you!" Natalie declared excitedly before standing up from the couch. "You stay right there and I'll be back in a minute."

     Natalie bent at the waist, leaning in to place a brief kiss on Revenant's forehead before she turned away. Rather swiftly, she made her way down the hall, though stopping to pick up the cat, for whatever reason...

[danbusler]

Let That Holiday Joy Abound!

Don't hide your holiday spirit! Let it shine.

Let your holiday sparkle shine so bright,A joyful glow, a festive light.Let it dance and dazzle, bold and true,For Christmas magic, it lives in you! YES! Proclaim it proudly,Let cheer abound,“Merry Christmas to All!”Let’s spread that joy around.

[lets-go-hurt-someone]

I can’t stop writing little vignettes, moments from random parts of my bard durge Killian’s life. Should I be putting them on AO3? I don’t know. But I need to get them out of me like an exorcism.

Anyway, have a moment of internal crisis set a few years before BG3, after he and Gortash have been working together for some time but before they’ve really gotten the Absolute hoax off the ground. Very “prayer of forgiveness” inspired.

It’s Durgetash, but not nsfw beyond a bit of murder between friends. Canon-typical dark urge behaviour.

———

The body twitched and moaned from where it hung from the rafters, a noose fit snugly around its neck and its arms bound behind its back, toes scrambling for purchase on the stool below its feet. By now, the gag in its mouth was soaked through from all its blubbering and its face glistened in the low light, streaked with tears and spittle.

Killian lay on the bed only a few feet away, unmoved by the plight of a soul that was already committed to Bhaal. He strummed out a few ominous chords on the lute while he waited. A funeral dirge for the sacrifice, a calming melody for his own nerves. It was a shame to make Father wait so long for a sacrifice in the name of theatre. It was the sort of thing that Orin would do. But this was important. A test. An apology, perhaps.

Orin may have been sorely misled about the way in which their father demanded death, but she was right about some things. About the beauty in a well-executed kill, for one. Almost… romantic.

Kill sighed and flexed his toes as he plucked away – new boots still stiff, the leather yet to be broken in. Already they were dotted in flecks of blood splatter from bludgeoning the sacrifice before dragging it here. Soon enough they would be soft and supple and dyed a coppery maroon by the blood of his victims. Their victims.

The lock to the chamber door clicked and Kill sat up straight, tossing his lute aside. The body quit its struggling, going still as if it hoped whoever lay beyond the door would be its saviour. A hysterical notion, for the both of them.

The door swung open to reveal the Chosen of Bane, who took only a moment to assess the scene laid out in his bedchambers before stepping towards the man hanging from the rafters, unperturbed, to look up and meet his eyes. The captive began to grunt and thrash frantically, a wordless yet desperate plea for mercy, but Enver Gortash only rolled his eyes and turned away to face his co-conspirator with a scoff.

“Couldn’t you have taken a moment to lay down a few rags? It takes forever to get the blood out of the floorboards. I’ll have to get a wizard in.”

There was a spark of amusement in the admonishment. The man hanging from the ceiling’s frantic grunting quieted back to muffled sobs. Killian stood to meet Gortash and pressed a dagger to the body’s lower back, forceful but not hard enough to break skin. It whimpered, then went silent.

“I promise I’ll make it clean,” Kill purred, his eyes heavy-lidded with something like intoxication. The drunken feeling of death so near, at his fingertips. Of something else, at his fingertips. With his free hand, he reached out and ran his fingers over the sleeve of Gortash’s cloak. “New?”

“Do you like it?” Gortash smirked and tilted his head as if he was suppressing the impulse to do a twirl. “I just got back from the tailor.”

“Very archducal,” Kill said. “You should get a portrait done.”

Gortash’s smirk didn’t waver. “I wasn’t expecting to see you tonight.” He gestured to the man hanging from the ceiling. “Special occasion? Some Bhaalian holiday I don’t know about?”

Kill drew back and shrugged, suddenly hesitant. “Not exactly. You weren’t the only one with a sartorial consultation today. I went to see a cobbler this afternoon.”

That smirk didn’t falter, but it froze, the expression on Gortash’s face suddenly all too still. “Is that so?”

“Father’s orders,” Kill murmured.

Gortash made a noise in the back of his throat, something like a laugh, but swallowed whole before it could escape. He turned away and looked up again at the tear-streaked face of the captive man. “Well, out with it. Have you made me an orphan or not?”

“Don’t act like you’d be sad,” Killian hissed, his eyes narrowing to slits again. The dagger in his hand trembled against the body’s back, threatening to draw a portrait of his shame upon its spine. “I’d only be hastening the inevitable.”

Gortash took a moment to consider this, then turned back to meet Kill’s eyes, that smirk brightening into a true smile.

“So not.” His excitement was palpable— and certainly not out of any concern for the Flymms. His eyes flicked to Killian’s feet. “And you even bought new shoes!”

“Your mother was very persuasive… it must run in the family,” Kill said, his shoulders hunching, his voice dripping with venom. Like he wasn’t sure if he hated himself or Gortash more, and that hate was fueling something unspeakable within him.

Gortash laughed, swiftly grasping Killian by the shoulders, bringing their faces mere inches apart. The crackle of energy between them was as heady as the scent of blood in the air, and Killian struggled to decide whether to fight against it or give in. “You defied your father for me. Your god,” Gortash said, his voice just shy of awestruck.

Killian did struggle. Hate was a mortal’s most powerful emotion. The most holy. And gods above and below, did Enver cloud his mind with a wet swirl of billowing heat— not heat— righteous, unholy hatred.

“They’re still going to die–and by my hand, I swear it. I will do as my father commands,” Kill insisted, but dropped his dagger so he could bring his hands to Enver’s sides, slipped beneath the brand new cloak, soft, velvety, lovely. He felt himself falter, his voice dropping to a gentle whisper, almost fond. “But I saw no harm in a small delay to allow you a bit of vengeance first.”

With a jubilant, throaty laugh from Enver, their lips crashed together and Killian nearly stumbled back and fell into the bed. He steeled himself, twisting an arm around Enver’s waist as images flashed behind his eyelids of his own body laid bare, flayed and forgotten, on the bloodstained stone of his father’s temple. Enver pressed forward, bringing them closer together, and Kill clawed at him, desperate, needy, almost forgetting his purpose for coming here in the first place.

A prayer, an apology. A test.

Just as he was about to fall back and lose himself entire, he kicked out, sending the stool beneath the sacrifice’s feet flying across the room. It let out a strangled cry as the noose tightened, then went blissfully silent as its neck snapped clean.

Killian felt the rush as the sacrifice’s life left its body, the pure and perfect euphoria always granted by his father. And still, insanely, absurdly, unconscionably, he found himself leaning more fully into Enver Gortash’s arms— and the abhorrent answer to all of his heretical questions filled his soul like the rush of blood pumped by his foul heart.

This wasn’t hate, but it was something pure. Something perfect. Something absolutely vile.

Sceleritas would have a fit. And his father— he would never—

Please forgive me.

[saveregblackordie0726]

Sombre et Pur'

Chapter 9

Sixth Year – 1976 – October cont. 

The next two days passed in a blur of forced cheer and carefully executed smiles. Each act of kindness, each laugh shared with my friends – they all felt like I was desperately trying to patch the cracks in a crumbling facade. With every glance in a mirror, every whispered encouragement, I braced myself for the moment my monstrous reflection would stare back at me, confirming Regulus's twisted truth. 

Thursday found me curled up on one of the worn, plush sofas in the Gryffindor common room. The familiar warmth and flickering fireplace did little to chase away the chill that had settled in my bones. Peter, bless his ever-faithful soul, had sensed my lingering unease and insisted on a study session. Despite feeling adrift in a sea of Potions notes and Transfiguration diagrams, there was something undeniably soothing about his quiet company, his soft voice offering explanations I only half-heard. 

The common room bustled with the comfortable chaos I'd come to associate with Gryffindor life. Fifth-years argued good-naturedly over a game of Exploding Snap, the sharp snap of cards echoing through the room. A pair of first-years huddled near the window, their hushed whispers and furtive glances likely fueled by some mischief in the making. It was a scene of warmth and camaraderie – a sharp contrast to the tempest raging within me. 

Then, like a thunderclap shattering the fragile silence of my thoughts, James burst through the portrait hole, his usual boundless energy amplified by a mischievous glint in his hazel eyes. 

"Alright, listen up!" he announced, his voice booming through the common room and silencing any other conversations. "Halloween's coming up, and I was thinking we could throw a proper bash!" Lily followed behind him, looking flushed as she plopped down beside him.  

Marlene, who had been engrossed in Charms homework, tossed her quill onto the table with a groan. "Oh, here we go," she muttered, but her tone was more amused than exasperated. 

Lily, ever the voice of reason, let out an exasperated sigh. "James, honestly, you're Head Boy now. You can't just throw wild ragers every holiday!" Her words were scolding, but the smile playing on her lips undermined any real severity. 

James, unfazed, scrunched his nose in a deliberately adorable pout. "Can't I?" he teased, and playfully tapped her knee which was now tucked against his lap. 

My lips twitched into a half-hearted smile at their familiar banter. The affection between them was palpable, an unspoken understanding that had been simmering just beneath the surface for years. With a pang of wistfulness, it struck me that it likely wouldn't be long before they finally gave in to the inevitable and made things official. 

The corner of my eye snagged on Sirius, who had been observing the exchange with a flicker of something unreadable in his dark eyes. He offered a grin that didn't quite meet his eyes and raised his eyebrows in a silent question. Peter, oblivious to the undercurrents, launched into an enthusiastic discussion about potential Halloween activities – bobbing for apples, pumpkin carving, the lot. 

"We should definitely have themed costumes!" Lily chirped, her usual pragmatism dissolving under the exciting prospect of a party. 

"Maybe this year Moony and Padfoot won't end up taking turns retching in the loo," Peter added with a chuckle. He, James, and Lily burst into good-natured laughter, but a tense silence fell over Sirius, Remus, and me. We had all shared knowing glances, a silent acknowledgment of the previous year's disastrous Halloween celebration. 

The tension between Sirius and Remus had reached an all-time high that night. Their usual playful teasing had morphed into something sharper, a simmering resentment veiled by forced camaraderie and copious amounts of Fire whisky. They'd disappeared for hours, reappearing flushed and disheveled, carefully avoiding each other's gazes for the rest of the night. We never spoke of it, but the unspoken question lingered, a shadow hanging over their friendship. 

"Well, then," Sirius broke the uncomfortable silence, a forced cheerfulness masking the tightness in his jaw. Are we considering inviting other Houses again?" He caught my eye and offered a soft smile. "Besides Clem, of course." 

Marlene, ever-dramatic, let out a groan and dramatically draped herself across my lap. "Obviously, otherwise we'll be stuck with you lot," she declared with a mischievous grin. "Where's the fun in that?" 

The conversation shifted, descending into a lighthearted debate over decorations, food, and the potential for one of us slipping Rosemerta galleons in return for the Fire whiskey. My laughter felt forced, my participation hollow. Yet, as I watched my friends, the knot in my chest loosened fractionally. These moments – the easy banter, the shared laughter, the unwavering support – they were a lifeline. They were a reminder that even as darkness gnawed at the edges of my soul, there was still good in the world. Good worth fighting for. Maybe, just maybe, that was enough to keep the shadows at bay – for now. 

As evening descended, a familiar sense of dread settled upon me. Patrols with Regulus were a looming inevitability, and with every passing moment, the urge to hide beneath my covers grew stronger. It was a cowardly impulse, one at odds with the Hufflepuff bravery I prided myself on, but the darkness Regulus exuded chipped away at my resolve. 

The Gryffindor common room held me hostage under the guise of camaraderie. Lily insisted on another go at the glamour spell, determined to perfect the sleekness of my waves. Marlene quizzed me relentlessly on Herbology, claiming a surprise exam was imminent. Even Peter, with his quiet empathy, seemed to sense my reluctance and lingered over a chess game that usually would have lasted no more than twenty minutes. 

But time was a relentless hunter, and eventually, I could no longer justify the delay. As twilight painted the castle in shades of deep purple, I reluctantly stood, forcing a smile to mask the rising tide of apprehension. 

"Patrols," I announced, my voice sounding strained even to my own ears. 

A hush fell over the gathered Gryffindors. Their eyes, filled with concern and unspoken questions, burned into me. I'd always been the one to ease their worries, to offer a reassuring smile. Now, I was the one desperately in need of reassurance I knew they couldn't give. 

Sirius, perhaps sensing my turmoil more keenly than the others, pushed himself up from the plush armchair he'd been occupying. "I'll walk you," he offered, his voice gentle, a stark contrast to his usual boisterousness. 

Gratitude washed over me in a warm wave. Without a word, I nodded and followed him towards the portrait hole. As we stepped out into the dimly lit corridor, a comfortable silence enveloped us. We fell into step side by side, his presence a balm against the oppressive weight of what awaited me. 

For a precious few moments, I allowed myself to simply exist in this pocket of normalcy – two friends silently navigating the castle halls. The familiar smell of old stone and lingering potions fumes brought a sense of grounding amidst the inner storm. But beneath the surface, unspoken worries churned. Sirius, despite his outward nonchalance, carried the burden of his family's darkness on his shoulders. Regulus was like a ticking time bomb, his allegiance a constant source of uncertainty. And I... I was caught between them, an unwilling pawn in a war I barely understood. 

As if sensing my spiraling thoughts, Sirius broke the silence. 

"How is he?" His voice was low, a whisper in the quiet hallway. 

I paused, contemplating the loaded question. Sirius's relationship with his brother was a twisted knot of love and betrayal, loyalty and rebellion. Despite the chasm that had grown between them, a flicker of concern still burned in Sirius's dark eyes whenever Regulus was mentioned. 

My fingers traced along the worn tapestry lining the corridor wall, finding comfort in the repetitive motion. Should I confide in him? Share the unsettling truths Regulus had laid bare, the darkness that now threatened to seep into my own soul? A part of me yearned to unburden myself to someone who understood the unique pain of fractured family ties. But something held me back, a lingering fear that exposing these vulnerable pieces of myself would leave me even more shattered. 

Instead, I settled on a half-truth, a careful deflection. "It's hard to say, Sirius. It's not as if we're having deep, meaningful conversations." I forced a wry smile, hoping to hide the tremble in my voice. "We barely speak, truthfully." 

Sirius nodded, a flicker of disappointment crossing his features before he masked it with a sigh. His jaw clenched, a telltale sign of unspoken anger and frustration. 

"He still won't speak to me," Sirius muttered, his voice laced with bitterness. "Lost count of the owls I've sent... useless." He shook his head, a gesture both dismissive and defeated. 

"They've got their teeth in him, Kit" he continued, his voice low and filled with a resigned dread I understood all too well. 

My footsteps slowed as a wave of sympathy washed over me. Seeing Sirius so vulnerable, stripped of his usual bravado, was a stark reminder of the unseen consequences of this war that was bleeding into every corner of our lives. It was a battle waged not merely on some distant battlefield, but in corridors and classrooms, in whispers and silences that wove themselves into the fabric of our existence. 

I longed to offer a comforting platitude, a reassurance that everything would be alright, but the words felt hollow. There was no easy comfort, no quick fix for the darkness that threatened to engulf us all. Instead, I remained silent, allowing him this moment of unfiltered honesty. 

"Why do I even give a damn?" Sirius murmured, the question directed more at himself than at me. 

I paused, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. He met my gaze, a flicker of vulnerability in those usually bright, rebellious eyes. It was the same stormy gaze I'd begun to see mirrored in Regulus. 

"He's your brother," I said softly, empathy threading its way through my voice. "I know I could never turn my back on either of my sisters." 

We'd reached the statue that marked the beginning of our patrol route. A familiar sense of dread coiled in my stomach, tightening with each passing moment. Sirius seemed to mirror my unease, a subtle tension radiating from him. Then, his focus shifted, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the shadows across the veranda. 

His expression darkened. When he turned back to me, his features were schooled into a mask of cold indifference. 

"Give it time, Sirius," I urged, my voice quiet but insistent. 

A flicker of warmth crossed his face, a fleeting reminder of the loyal, caring boy beneath the layers of bitterness. He offered a single nod, a silent acknowledgment of my meager attempt at reassurance. 

"Send Zephyr to me when you make it back to your common room," he instructed. "And Clem... be careful." The worry in his voice was palpable, a stark contrast to the carefree persona he presented to the world. 

Wordlessly, I nodded, a lump forming in my throat. And then he was gone, leaving me alone. 

As I turned to survey the room once more, my heart skipped a beat. Regulus stood leaning against the crumbling stone statue, a sneer marring his pale face. His eyes, icy and unreadable, fixed upon me with a scrutiny that made my skin crawl. The darkness within him seemed to bleed into the room itself, casting the space in a sinister, oppressive light.  

Patrols with Regulus were always unbearable, but tonight the oppressive silence was magnified by the fading light. With each step, shadows lengthened, clinging to the walls like whispers of the darkness that threatened to consume us both. I forced myself not to look at him, focusing on the worn cobblestones and the faint echo of our footsteps. Yet, his presence was a palpable weight beside me, the scent of old parchment and something darker, something that stirred unease deep within me, mingling with the crisp autumn air. 

We reached the Charms corridor, the flickering torchlight barely illuminating the peeling paint and rows of locked doors. It was here, amidst this forgotten space, that Regulus finally shattered the stifling quietude. 

"You two seem close." His voice cut through the silence, cold and laced with an undercurrent of accusation. 

My lips curled into a humorless smile. "You mean Sirius? Your brother?" I scoffed, pushing open the door to a deserted Magical Theory classroom. With a flick of my wand, I surveyed the desks and dusty blackboard. Satisfied it was empty, I closed the door and continued our patrol, determined not to let him goad me. 

"He is no brother of mine," Regulus retorted, his sneer audible in the darkness. 

A bitter laugh escaped my lips. "Oh, come off it, Black." 

Something flickered in his eyes, a flash of surprise quickly concealed. "Pardon?" 

I turned sharply, mirroring his own accusatory stance from our exchange in the Astronomy Tower. "It's only us here, Black," I echoed his words from that night, the weight of them settling between us like a physical barrier. "You can drop the act." 

The impact of my words was visible. He stiffened, jaw clenching beneath his sharp cheekbones. The silence stretched, broken only by the soft whisper of the wind outside. 

Finally, he spoke, his voice laced with a forced nonchalance that rang hollow. "There is no act, Evans. He is a blood traitor, a disgrace to our family." 

"And I'm a Muggleborn," I fired back, my patience wearing thin. "But here you are, speaking with me." 

A venomous sneer twisted his lips. "Allow me to remedy that," he hissed, disgust dripping from each syllable. 

I shook my head, disgust mingling with a growing sense of defiance. He started to move, but I held my ground, forcing myself to meet his gaze. Our eyes locked, a silent battle of wills playing out in the half-light of the corridor. 

For a tense moment, I wasn't sure what he would do. Would he cast a hex, a curse motivated by the same blind hatred that fueled his family's beliefs? The thought sent a shiver down my spine, not out of fear for myself, but out of a bone-deep weariness at the relentless cycle of prejudice and violence that poisoned our world. 

Then, unexpectedly, he stepped back. The sneer remained, but a flicker of something I couldn't decipher flickered in his eyes. Frustration? Confusion? A hint of the vulnerability I'd glimpsed beneath his carefully constructed facade? Whatever it was, the moment passed. He resumed walking at my side, an unwelcome shadow in the dimly lit corridor. 

The silence hung heavy between us as we continued our patrol, a constant reminder of the unspoken chasm that divided us. Yet, as we reached the familiar spiral staircase leading to the Astronomy Tower, something shifted. It was as if the imposing stone walls and open sky created a strange sense of intimacy, an unspoken truth that labels, houses, and the rules of the outside world faded, at least temporarily, into the background. 

I lingered, the coolness of the iron railing a welcome contrast to the simmering tension between us. Against my better judgment, I found myself speaking. 

"He worries for you," I said quietly, my voice barely above a whisper. The words hung in the air, a fragile olive branch offered across a battlefield of conflicting ideologies. 

He let out a humorless chuckle, leaning against the railing. His  almost shoulder-length dark hair, usually perfectly styled, was ruffled by the wind, adding a touch of boyishness to his otherwise chilling demeanor. 

"Does he?" His voice was laced with a bitterness that echoed my own inner turmoil. An uncomfortable silence descended. I watched as a cloud drifted across the moon, momentarily dimming the starlight that painted his features in an ethereal glow. 

"Maybe you should..." I started, uncertainty making my voice waver. 

The rest of the sentence died in my throat as he abruptly turned, interrupting my hesitant attempt at reconciliation. There was a new intensity in his gaze, a predatory glint that made my stomach clench. He took a step closer, his movements deliberate, closing the distance between us until the cool metal of the railing pressed against my back. 

"He should be worried," Regulus hissed, his voice so low it was almost a growl. "In fact," he paused, leaning in even closer, his breath ghosting across my cheek, "you both should be--” 

The question tumbled out of me before I could fully comprehend its implications. "Why do you do that?" My voice was quiet, laced with a hint of confusion and a defiance that surprised even me. I held his gaze, refusing to flinch as he continued to loom above me. 

"Do what, Evans?" he spat, his eyes narrowed in annoyance. 

"This," I gestured between the two of us, encompassing the invisible web of tension that thrummed in the air. "Trying to scare me into running away? Testing how much I'll take?" 

He remained silent, his face unreadable. It was as if my words had struck a nerve, a raw spot beneath his carefully crafted facade. His usual arrogance faltered ever so slightly, replaced by a flicker of something akin to vulnerability before it was ruthlessly suppressed. 

I pressed on, a surge of reckless bravery propelling me forward. "Or maybe," I lowered my voice, tilting my head in mock curiosity, "you're the one who's afraid." 

His jaw clenched, the muscle jumping visibly beneath his pale skin. His eyes, glacial and unyielding moments ago, now seemed to darken with a storm I couldn't fully decipher. There was anger there, yes, but something more - a ripple of unease beneath the surface of his controlled demeanor. 

"Maybe I want to hurt you," he hissed, his voice a dangerous whisper against the night air. "Maybe I want you to realize just how insignificant you are in the grand scheme of things." 

His words were meant to wound, to reaffirm the power he held over me. But instead, they fueled a strange sort of defiant amusement. A twisted smile touched my lips. 

"I can see past all of that, Regulus," I countered, a hint of challenge in my voice. "I can see the fear, the desperation... and I think you hate that I know." 

He moved then, a sudden, predatory shift that closed the remaining distance between us. His gaze, now locked on mine with a burning intensity, was a physical force, pinning me against the railing. The moonlight cast stark shadows across his face, accentuating the sharp lines of his cheekbones, the cold determination in his eyes. 

For a suspended moment, time seemed to warp. The chill wind, the distant rustling of leaves, the echo of my own ragged breaths – they all blurred into a muted backdrop against the onslaught of his presence. There was an undeniable danger in his closeness, in the way his eyes seemed to bore into my very soul. Yet beneath the fear, a perverse thrill coursed through me. This was a dance on the precipice, a tantalizing brush with the darkness he embodied. And in that moment, a shameful part of me craved it. 

"Run on home, little dove," he murmured, his voice so low it was almost a caress. Yet, the words carried an unmistakable threat, a chilling promise of violence lurking just beneath the surface. "Before I break your wings." 

His hand shot out, fingers snaking around my upper arm. The fabric of my robe crumpled beneath his grip, the pressure a stark reminder of his strength, of the potential for pain he held within him. A gasp escaped me, a choked sound that was more of surprise than fear. But then, as suddenly as it had come, the intensity faded. His fingers loosened, withdrawing like a serpent retreating back into the shadows. He stepped back, the dangerous intimacy of the moment evaporating as quickly as it had materialized. There was a new distance in his eyes, a chilling coldness that sent a shiver down my spine. I was a pawn again, an opponent in the endless game he played, not a person worthy of his true, unmasked anger. 

"Go back to your common room, Evans," he commanded, his voice devoid of any emotion. "Before I change my mind." 

The dismissal was a slap in the face, a brutal reminder of the power imbalance between us. Yet, I didn't cower, didn't flee like a frightened bird as he intended. I lifted my chin, meeting his gaze with a stubborn determination that mirrored his own. 

"As you wish," I retorted, managing a shaky smile. Without another word, I turned and walked away, my steps echoing against the stone floor. My back prickled beneath his unwavering scrutiny, the unspoken threat lingering in the air like a poisonous mist. 

The descent from the Astronomy Tower was a blur. My heart pounded in my chest, a frantic drumbeat against the onslaught of conflicting emotions. Anger, fear, and a disconcerting flicker of exhilaration battled for dominance. Each step took me further from him, from the darkness he exuded, and back towards the comforting familiarity of the Hufflepuff common room. 

Yet, as I descended the winding staircase, a nagging certainty settled into my bones. This wasn't over, not by a long shot. Regulus Black was a storm cloud gathering on the horizon, and I had the terrible sense that I was both drawn to and terrified of the tempest he promised. 

The common room burst into view, a haven of warmth and laughter. My friends, blissfully unaware of the darkness I had faced in the tower, greeted me with smiles and casual questions about my patrol. I forced myself to respond, to slip back into the role of the cheerful, dependable Hufflepuff I was supposed to be. But it was a flimsy facade, barely concealing the shadows that clung to me like a second skin. 

Later, alone in the quiet sanctuary of my dormitory, the true weight of the evening settled upon me. My hand trembled as I untied the Hufflepuff knot on my robes, the bright yellow suddenly seeming garish against the backdrop of the confrontation that haunted my mind. 

Sleep was an elusive luxury. Each time I drifted towards unconsciousness; Regulus's face swam into view. His chilling words, the predatory glint in his eyes, his chillingly calm threat – they replayed in my mind like a twisted enchantment. I tossed and turned, the sheets tangling around me like a suffocating net. 

In the darkest hours of the night, the truth I had tried to deny echoed relentlessly. I was afraid of Regulus Black, of the capacity for cruelty I saw reflected in his eyes. But more than that, I was afraid of myself – of the darkness that lurked within, a darkness that answered his call with a terrifying and unwelcome recognition. We were shadows dancing in the moonlight, reflections of the war that threatened to consume us all. Sleep refused to offer any respite. My tumultuous thoughts, a chorus of whispers mirroring the ceaseless wind rattling the dorm window, banished any hope of escape. The shadows on the ceiling danced to a macabre rhythm, conjuring images of Regulus's icy gaze and the chilling touch of his fingers against my skin. A shiver traced its path down my spine, a stark reminder of the darkness that had tainted my patrol. 

Defeated, I pushed back the covers, the warmth of the bed offering no solace against the creeping unease. The pale moonlight filtering through the window cast long, eerie shadows across the room, lending an unsettling atmosphere to the once-familiar space. 

It was then that a flicker of recollection chased away the relentless onslaught of Regulus's chilling words. Sirius's parting request, his plea that I send an owl once I was safely back in the common room, suddenly resonated with new meaning. 

He had glimpsed the danger I had so foolishly danced with. 

With trembling hands, I reached for my wand, summoning Zephyr from her perch. She landed on my arm with a soft hoot, tilting her head inquisitively as if sensing my agitation. My fingers hastily scratched out a brief message, a silent confirmation of my safety and a word of thanks for Sirius's unspoken concern. 

"Take this to Sirius, please," I whispered, stroking Zephyr's feathers with a gentleness born out of a desperate need for a connection to warmth, to loyalty, to the light that Regulus threatened to extinguish within me. 

Zephyr took flight, a silent white specter disappearing into the darkness beyond the window. With her departure, a small sense of peace settled over me, a reminder that I wasn't completely alone in this battle against the shadows. 

Exhaustion, both physical and emotional, finally won out. As I burrowed back beneath the covers, my mind still raced, though the images of Regulus were slowly replaced by those of Sirius. His eyes, so like his brother's, yet brimming with warmth where Regulus held only ice, swam into focus. It was a comforting contrast, a beacon of hope amidst the encroaching darkness. 

I drifted into an uneasy sleep, images of storm clouds and silver linings clashing behind my closed eyelids. 

[bluberimufim]

Pedro & Inês (cultural ramblie)

Happy Valentine's Day!! <3<3 When I planned this post, I did not realize Carnaval and Valentine's Day were on consecutive days (catholic calendar calculations continue to kick my ass, just like every year), so you get TWO cultural ramblies for the price of one!!

This one is a bit different from the other ones. I usually talk about legends or holiday traditions but this is actually just history! Still, I felt inclined to share partly because this is a major thing in portuguese culture and partly because this is the most overdramatic historical anecdote I have ever seen and more people need to know about it. Now, let's get into it!

The Tragedy of Pedro and Inês

(portraits of Pedro and Inês, made centuries after their deaths)

In 1340, Prince Pedro of Portugal, son of King Afonso the 4th, married Constança Manuel of Aragon. When she moved to Portugal, Constança brought along her lady-in-waiting, Inês de Castro. You can already see where this is going.

Pedro and Inês fell madly in love and began a secret relationship (which seems to not have been that secret at all). In 1344, Afonso the 4th exiled Inês to the castle of Albuquerque, near the border, out of fear that this affair would sour diplomatic relationships with Castille.

It just so happens that Constança died in childbirth one year later. Despite his father's requests, Pedro refused to remarry, claiming that he was still too overcome with grief over his wife's death. Instead, he had Inês's exile annulled and began living with her. During this period in which they lived together, they had 4 children.

In 1355, five years later, King Afonso the 4th ordered the assassination of Inês de Castro. She was killed in Coimbra, in Quinta das Lágrimas, where legend says you can still hear her crying at the fountain where she lost her life, later named Fonte das Lágrimas ("Fountain of Tears"). This moment, along with another one further ahead, is the one all the poets go crazy for.

Inês's death triggered a revolt against the king, led by Pedro. However, there was never an actual physical confrontation, since the queen-mother was able to stop it in time.

In 1357, Pedro rose to the throne, becoming King Pedro the 1st. He claimed that he had married Inês in secret around 1354, legitimizing their children and making her possibly the only posthumous queen in history (someone fact-check me on this). For avenging her death, he was dubbed "Pedro, the Just".

He had matching tombs made for him and Inês so she could be buried as queen by his side. They still stand today in the Monastery of Alcobaça, where you can visit them. They were placed on opposite ends of the transept, facing each other, so that they could be face to face when they rose from their graves. The inscription on Pedro's tomb is thought to read "Until the ends of the world". I'll show pics later, don't worry.

You thought I was done? I haven't even gotten to the overdramatic part! (Ok, the tomb thing was pretty dramatic, but this part is extra as hell)

As King Pedro the 1st, he had Inês's two assassins executed. According to a somewhat contemporary chronicle by Fernão Lopes (still Middle Ages but a century later), he had their hearts ripped out, one through the chest and another through the back. Sources seem to disagree on whether this actually happened or not, but Fernão Lopes was a pretty reliable guy in other parts of his chronicle. And, this being strictly myth, it is said that he made those two assassins kiss the hand of Inês's corpse as they would the queen's. For this, he was dubbed "Pedro, the Cruel", on top of his other title. Perfectly balanced and whatnot.

Here's a painting by Pierre-Charles Comte about it:

The Tombs

I saw them in early November of last year and I cannot overstate how amazing they are in real life. The whole church they're in is beautiful but the tombs are just breathtaking, especially knowing the story behind them.

They're the reason I wanted to make this post. They are considered some of the greatest masterpieces of portuguese gothic sculpture. They are full of intricate carvings and, despite missing a few pieces here and there, are still in amazingly good condition today. You can visit them for free any time.

Here are the pictures I promised. The last 2 are taken by me!

Some historical notes (cool facts)

This is mostly about the corpse coronation part because I found it in my research and thought it was cool.

The first dynasty of portuguese kings didn't have coronations. They were seen as warrior kings first and foremost, and therefore felt no need to pledge their allegiance to Christianity. If they did swear over something, it was a shield. They did not have the fancy ceremony.

What can we learn from all this, you ask?

Write that overdramatic romance you've been wanting to. You'll never out-drama queen King Pedro the 1st.

[skaylanphear]

The Marauders

Summary: Heading to Hogwarts for the first time, Remus tries not to let his worries get him down. He has a lot on his plate—truths he can’t share with anyone—and none of it is helped by the bullies constantly casting jinxes and calling him nasty names. Despite it all, though, he has his three best friends—the first friends he’s ever made, in fact.

Yet, it doesn’t take long for Sirius to start getting suspicious, questioning what strange sickness could be keeping Remus in the hospital wing for days at a time. Ever nosy, Sirius takes it upon himself to unravel the mystery that is Remus Lupin, unaware of the tortured consequences that come with knowing such an intimate secret.

A story about the Marauders as they navigate their school years and set off into adulthood.

Year One: The Marauders and the Shrieking Shack - Chapters 1-34 Year Two: The Marauders and the Counting Curse - Chapters 35-?

Start Reading Here

Chapter 16

"Okay, so let's take stock," James said, the four of them sitting on a set of stairs leading out of the castle. Lessons were over, but Sirius had "accidentally" dropped one of his recently acquired Double-Decker Dungbombs near the portrait hole. And seeing as these were strong enough to knock a person unconscious, avoiding the area was paramount. Less on the threat of fainting and more so because they didn't want to be blamed. Hopefully, their house would fault a Slytherin.

"Of what?" Peter asked.

"Of where we are on Plan Slither-In," James replied.

Plan Slither-In was how they'd recently begun referring to their Slytherin revenge attempts. James said he'd come up with the name on the pretense that they were going to be sneaking into the dungeon dormitory, but Sirius couldn't shake that there was something inherently dirty about it. He giggled every time one of them said it.

"I think I've almost got the buttons perfected," Sirius said, quite proud of his accomplishments. "They smelled a bit like my shampoo last night." The smell he'd had James transfer to his practice packet for experimental purposes.

"Good, very good," James decided. "I've got the smell spell down, I think. My mum taught me how to turn it on and off during the holidays."

"Brilliant," Remus said, smiling. He was a week and a half off the full moon now, which meant he was feeling much better. He was closer to the new moon than the previous full moon, Sirius noted—nearly to the sweet spot. "I think I perfected the permanent sticking charm just this morning," he continued.

"Were you the one that stuck Snape's cauldron to the wall outside potions?" Peter asked.

"Yeah!" Remus smiled wider, which had Sirius smiling too. Remus very rarely offered up bright, genuine smiles. But learning a new spell—especially a difficult one—would definitely put him in a good mood.

"Slughorn was still trying to get it off this afternoon, when I went to see him," Peter said, snickering.

"Must really work, then," James said and reached out to pat Remus on the back.

"What about you, Pete?" Sirius asked. "Getting anywhere with your bit?"

"Slughorn still doesn't think much of me," he admitted glumly. "But I asked Sprout if she could maybe give me a tour of the greenhouses and said that if I stopped by this weekend, she'd be happy to. Hopefully, she'll take me around to the plant we're looking for."

"Perfect! All good news," James decided. "Now all we have left is to somehow link all the packets together, so we can turn them on and off at the same time."

"I'm sure there's a way to do it," Remus said. "Something in the library, probably."

Read More

[catboyolli]

thank you for the tag @man-made-misery 💖💘💕💖💖

Star sign: people say Sagittarius, astral chart says Capricorn 😅

Favourite holiday: I don't have one, so I'll go with whichever one gives me more days off from work (usually Carnival)

Last meal: coffee and toasts with cream cheese

Current favourite musician: well I've been in my Gojira era (Gojera) lately, they are just that good

Last music I listened to: The art of dying by Gojira (no surprises here) but I've had Tidal Wave by Shiraz Lane stuck on my head since this morning

Last tv show watched: Nadiya's Time to Eat on Netflix

Last book finished: The Nine Eyes of Lucien by Madeleine Roux (fucking finally)

Last book abandoned: none

Currently reading: fanfiction :)

Last thing researched for writing/art: distance between some cities of Blind Channel's 2022 US tour

Favorite online fandom memory: the Christmas tree greetings! It was such a cute idea 🥺💖

Favorite old fandom you wish would drag you back in/have a resurgence: Critical Role. I'm sure the fandom is alive and thriving, but C3 didn't hook me

Favorite thing you enjoy that never had an active or big fandom: some of my fave bands that are quite big, like Nightwish or Polyphia or Periphery or Gojira

Tempting project you’re trying to rein in/don't have time for: ooooh, plenty but there's character design for my BC fantasy and tiefling AUs, Olli/Allu friends with benefits fic writing, and oil portrait paiting (it's time consuming and I'm nowhere near the skill level I need to pull all of these off in a way that satisfies me)

no pressure tag: @hlurz and anyone who sees this and wants to do it

[river-ocean]

Piarles + 21 ❤

hi anon <3 this got out of hand but i need to stop pretending my piarles ficlets won't get out of hand. so.

enjoy this uni/roommates AU for piarles + love confessions :)

Every year, the English department held their annual Valentine’s Day carnation sale. And every year, Charles and Pierre’s dorm filled with carnations with anonymous messages. Most of them were addressed to Charles, but Pierre was more than satisfied with the amount of flowers he received - especially since Charles always seemed overwhelmed by his mountain.

“I do not understand what the point of sending it anonymously is. How am I supposed to know who is in love with me if they don’t even sign it?” Charles asked each year, exasperation and bewilderment clear on his face. Pierre would be lying if he said that he didn’t find it adorable.

Pierre would also be lying if he said that he hadn’t been sending Charles a carnation each year, adding one more to the massive bouquet his roommate amassed.

It had started as a joke their first year. Pierre stopped by the table on his way to class, typed out a line from a poem he enjoyed, and went about his day. 

“I look at you and I would rather look at you than all the portraits in the world”

He thought it would be funny for his roommate to receive a carnation from an anonymous suitor. Pierre would pretend to help him figure out who it was, and then eventually he’d admit to sending it as a joke. 

He didn’t know that his roommate would receive so many that it was pointless to try to hunt down the sender.

He also didn’t expect that somewhere along the way, he’d start to actually develop a crush on his roommate.

Their second year, he sent another carnation, with another line from the same poem. 

“the fact that you move so beautifully more or less takes care of Futurism”

Charles wasn’t much of a poetry reader. Pierre figured he wouldn’t catch on.

Their third year, he sent another carnation, another line from the poem. 

“what good does all the research of the Impressionists do them when they never got the right person to stand near the tree when the sun sank”

Pierre watched as his roommate read each of the carnation messages. Charles’ expression remained neutral as he read through them, and Pierre felt a slight pang of disappointment.

Their fourth and final year, Pierre decided that he needed to be brave. He was going to sign the message this year. 

Their plans weren’t solidified for post graduation yet, and this could be his final chance to tell Charles how he felt. Four years of living together had given him plenty of opportunities to be honest with Charles, but he had never been brave enough to take that leap.

He typed out one last line from the poem, and below it, 

“it seems they were all cheated of some marvelous experience which is not going to go wasted on me which is why I’m telling you about it

I love you

-Pierre”

The carnations and messages were always delivered on Valentine’s Day.

Pierre saw the two stacks of flowers sitting outside his dorm room when he got back from class, which meant that Charles wasn’t back yet. They had an agreement not to read any of their messages until they were both home, celebrating the holiday with their carnations and the candy that Charles’ mom sent them every year.

Pierre placed the flowers on the table, pleased that the piles were pretty equal this year. 

Charles arrived home shortly after and rolled his eyes with a laugh when he saw the piles of flowers. Pierre suddenly felt nervous — the weight of his confession feeling real now that his message was on the table amongst the rest.

Pierre grew even more nervous as Charles expression remained neutral as it did every year. Had he seen Pierre’s message and ignored it? Had his flower not been delivered?

They were each down to one flower, one last anonymous message. Pierre pulled the tag off his carnation and read the message.

“Would you like to have a Coke with me?

I love you

-Charles”

He looked across the table, making silent eye contact with his roommate.

Charles was smiling, his eyes shimmering. He grabbed his backpack off the floor, unzipped the small pocket at the front, and pulled out three slips of paper. He slid them across the table to Pierre.

Pierre looked down at the papers. They had obviously been handled a lot — creased with folds and slightly tattered at the edges, like Charles had been carrying these slips with him for a while.

He picked up one of the slips and saw the message he had sent Charles a year ago. He picked up each of the other slips, and found that they were his messages from the first and second year. He looked back at Charles with wide eyes.

“I looked up the poem and I saw you had one of Frank O’Hara’s books on your bookshelf. I wasn’t sure if it was you, but I…figured it was worth a shot anyway,” Charles said softly, tentatively. “But now,” he added, sliding the final slip of paper over to Pierre with a smile.

————————————

Five years later, the officiant read Having a Coke with You by Frank O’Hara during their wedding ceremony.

[romaine2424]

The Azkaban Letters: Chapter 13 is Posted!

Chapter Summary:

Harry has a delightful dream and records it to send to Draco. Harry returns to 12 Grimmauld Place to meet with Remus and Bill where they are surprised by cackling laughter coming from the kitchen. Remus and Harry talk with Kreacher about the Slytherin locket. Plans are put in place for student instructions. And Harry cleverly gets a hold of the smaller portraits of his grandparents and great-grandparents.

Snippet:

The Samhain altar was filled. He looked at each of the portraits. Some waved to him, others slept, whilst some sneered. Then it struck him how to solve Elizabeth's request without raising suspicion with the house-elves. "Malkey!" The pop the house-elf made was barely audible. "What can Malkey do for Master Harry?" "I—I was wondering if there are any smaller portraits of my grandparents and great-grandparents. I'd like to put them on the mantel. And it would be nice to see them. I'm surprised they're not already displayed in the castle." He observed the elf's expression. His large eyes shifted. "Is there a problem?" Harry asked. "No. Malkey brings portraits to Master Harry. They are not displayed because Malkey thinks Master Harry may be mad at ancestors who did not protect Master and Master's parents." "Ah, I see. Thank you for your concern, but I would like to have them displayed, at least for the holiday. Where are they now?" "Portraits gallery," a voice said from the above floor. Harry glanced up to see Florean coming from the direction of his bedroom along the walkway to the central stairway. "There's a portraits gallery?" Harry mumbled to himself. "When Master has time, Malkey will show Master Harry portrait room. But smaller paintings somewhere else," the elf squeaked out. Harry had been around enough wily house-elves to tell when things were being hidden from him. "Malkey, I have a few minutes now." "Oh, sorry, Master Harry, but Malkey is needed in kitchen. Tomorrow be better," the elf said and popped out of the room. "Wha???" Harry began to say and then shook his head. A chuckle came from the stairwell as Florean made his way down. "Harry, I can show you the portraits' gallery now if you're truly interested. It's accessed through the dining room…secret entrance through the far end of the wall." Harry's eyes widened. He loved hidden spaces, and knowing that one had been so near him excited him more. "Thank you, Florean. That would be helpful. Any idea what that was all about?" Harry asked before taking another sip of his getting close to tepid coffee. Florean ran his fingers through the tail end of his silver plait over his shoulder. "Not certain, but I'd say either that elf is telling the truth about thinking you'd be upset with them, or possibly they could be upset with you." Harry grimaced. "Evil in the wards. I've heard them whisper at the entrance of the gallery." Harry sighed. "Florean, let's delay that visit until I speak with Henry and Fleamont alone. If it is Hermione, I'd prefer not to introduce myself to the rest of them in a disagreement. Plus, I need to leave in a few and rather have some time to spend there." "Perfectly understood, Harry. Just be aware that once Henry, Fiona, Euphemia and Fleamont are placed on the mantel, they will be privy to all the doings around here. The gallery room was set up centuries ago. It was for the Master or Mistress of the house to confer with them but not have them nosing around the other paintings to observe what's going on and interfering." Harry's eyes narrowed, trying to ensure he understood what Florean was telling him. He snickered. "So there, like in solitary confinement, and I'm letting these four out for good behaviour?" Florean laughed. "Yes, not the analogy I would use, but it works. Just let me know when you'd like to take a visit."

Read more on AO3: The Azkaban Letters, Chapter 13

Updates every Tuesday! Enjoy your week, Rom