#honestly evelyn should have her own tag by now
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Hello. My name is Maria. She/her. I am a Faller from a place called Yharnam through means unknown, the Chosen champion of Ho-oh through means theoretically known, and the current Champion of the Indigo League through means I know very well, as I did defeat Lance to win that title.
Though I still am thoroughly uncertain as to what quirk of fate resulted in my arrival here, the Johto region has become my home, and I will defend it. Team Rocket is now a memory, as is its leader. They will not be missed.
Here is my Trainer Card, for those curious—I have found that I look rather dashing in it.
My team is as follows; if you would like to know more about any of them than I have provided here, you need only but ask:
Rakuyo (Meganium, X) Hunter (Furret, F) Molotov (Arcanine, M) Adeline (Gengar, F) Evelyn (Kingdra, F) Eileen (Honchkrow, F)
My Gengar, Ade, is considerably more technologically literate than I and frequently borrows my device to editorialize upon my posts, record what I am doing, or make posts of her own. When she does, she favors the color purple.
Silver is, technically, still the rival to me that she has declared herself to be. She now has her own blog at @cosmic-crobat. In previous posts upon my blog, she has utilized the color blue.
Occasionally, the god that deemed me worthy of saving Johto chooses to speak here as well. When Ho-oh does so, they do so with bold orange text, and they use that name interchangeably with another they have chosen: Solaire.
The first person to show me kindness in this world was an eleven-year-old boy named Ethan. He introduced me to the second—his mother, a woman named Reina, who I hold in the highest esteem and bear much affection for. I have lent her my device before, and her favorite color is pink.
(Ethan, in his single brief appearance here, used the color yellow. Unfortunately, Rotomblr seems to have removed that color from my post editor and I lack the technological knowledge to restore it, so should he return I will ask what he would prefer instead.)
Some time ago, there was an incident where my Pokégear was stolen and found its way into the hands of a mysterious woman known only as Dee, who distinguished her own posts with green text. I spent the following weeks attempting to solve the mystery of who she might be, only to discover that she was in fact the living Doll modeled after me.
I... do not know how she is in the same world as me. Nor do I know who her friend with the bold red text is for certain, though I have reason to suspect that they are from Yharnam as well.
Now that Team Rocket can be referred to in the past tense, I suppose I do now have the time to devote to the mystery of Dee, or I will soon. A part of me wants nothing to do with her. But she bears no responsibility for the circumstances of her creation, and perhaps she knows the answers to some of the questions I still have. Perhaps she knows something that I do not.
(OOC info under cut!)
Man these intro posts just keep getting longer and longer. Maria has a Lot To Say now that she's less depressed it seems, which is probably objectively a good thing but still. Anyway, hi, it's still me, @ofstormsandfire, with the pokeblog I've been devoting the majority of my time on Tumblr to for the past few months. I have no regrets this has been very fun and is helping with my Bloodborne withdrawal.
Anyway. Hi. I like Bloodborne, I really like Lady Maria of the Astral Clocktower, and I got the idea back in November that I could make her a Faller. That, honestly, there isn't much I can do to her that wouldn't be an improvement over the Ocean Horrors. So this blog resulted!
With that said, Bloodborne is ostensibly a horror game and while Maria is currently in the world of Pokémon, that does not change the fact that she has been through The Horrors and is likely to reference them. Canon-typical themes for that may be present, I'll do my best to tag for anything that isn't average pokeblogging fare, if you'd like me to tag for anything specific feel free to just ask!
Here's some navigational tags for y'all (and I finally figured out how to make them chronological between the last intro post I made and this one, woo!)
#firebird arc: I combined the Radio Tower takeover and the Ho-oh subplot, made the Kimono Girls a lot more relevant, and ramped up the stakes slightly. Ho-oh is a firebird and I think there's a type of rocket called the firebird. I like puns. Sue me.
#from the ashes arc: Giovanni became an actual threat, there got to be an entire Rocket base in Tohjo Falls, and Silver got traumatized more. Mind the tags and also the warning OOC post at the beginning.
#kanto rocket arc: There wasn't much to do in Kanto so I had Rocket start causing problems on purpose. Silver transed her gender and Giovanni... seemed to no longer be a problem at the end of it.
#downpour arc: This hasn't started yet, and won't for a little while, but I've got one post in the tag already establishing it and letting people know what's up OOC ahead of time. I'll probably need to write another new intro post by the time this arc actually begins but it's nice to have my bases covered anyway.
#milf time and sonboy hours, #milf time: The first tag was specifically posts from Ethan and Reina, but Tumblr stole my yellow and Ethan didn't care about Rotomblr so we're not likely to see more of him actually posting. Maybe on Silver's account who knows.
#passing stranger: Posts from or relating to Dee, which y'all now know both ic and ooc is the Plain Doll. Though most of the posts in this tag are from her 24-hour takeover back in February, there will be more, she's coming back more permanently soon and I'm excited.
#rainbow wings: Posts from (or sometimes relating to) Ho-oh. They don't post that often but they're a giant rainbow bird they can do what they want. What they want, when they happen to be online, is generally for injustice to Not Happen. Good luck buddy.
#what's with this sassy lost child?: Posts from Silver, before she got her own blog at @cosmic-crobat. These days she mostly uses her own blog. I might reuse blue for another character later, or I might just keep using blue for her, we'll see what happens.
#ask game: Reblogs of ask games and responses to said ask games. This one isn't chronological.
#hints to the future: Specifically, responses to that one ask game with the gear emojis that lets you hint at future events. I am always accepting asks for this one no matter how long it's been since I last reblogged that ask game. I like hinting toward what's to come and I like writing prose.
#glimpses of the past: That one ask game with the hourglasses that lets you see into the muse's past. Again, always open because I love writing prose and I can write out prose for things that have already happened this way.
#pelipper mail: It's open, it keeps happening, it keeps causing problems. Note that while I do not have magic anons on, if you're sufficiently creative with Pelipper Mail and it isn't too story-breaking you can probably get a similar effect to a magic anon that way.
#the vampire allegations: Silly tag for posts involving the recurring jokes about Maria being a vampire. It keeps happening, due to her entire aesthetic and also me deciding she can be allergic to garlic for coincidental and completely mundane reasons.
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71 pages of planning my Roslin/Adama fic and still going, but i've now also written this to get a feel for the dynamics and characters.
I also learnt that the original character bible had Laura's mother's name as Judith, so EJ's full name is Evelyn Judith not Evelyn Jewel.
“Please Mom, please,” EJ Adama, who has grown to look more like her mother, with her long red hair tied back into a high ponytail, with her father’s eyes, skin tone and temperament, begs as she walks with her mother through the Caprica City River market, the two of them doing some shopping for dinner. “Please let me come,” EJ begs.
“EJ it’s a work trip, it’s not for fun,” Laura tells her daughter, knowing that her upcoming trip to the Battlestar Galactica could be described as lot of things, but she is sure that fun isn’t on the list.
“Lee’s going to be there,” EJ argues.
“Your brother is going to be there because he is a part of the ceremony, he’s going to be there for work,” Laura tells her daughter, who smirks as that is exactly what she was hoping her mother was going to say.
“That’s exactly my point,” EJ admits. “Mom this decommissioning is just as much about Dad, his career and retirement, as it is about the Galactica. I want to be there for that, to support him, please let me come,” EJ says, looking at her mother with eyes that are identical to her father, eyes that all of her children inherited, and that Laura has loved for most of her life. “Please Mom,” EJ begs.
“Okay,” Laura says, feeling concerned that it might be a mistake, but it is clearly incredibly important to EJ and she knows it would mean a lot to Bill.
“Okay?” EJ asks amazed, as she planned a lot more arguments in case her mother didn’t agree so easily, as honestly, she wasn’t expecting it to be so easy to get her mother to agree.
“Okay, but you should know that your dad’s going to be busy, you might not be able to spend a lot of time with him,” Laura tells her daughter, not wanting her to get her hopes up about how much she is going to get to spend with her dad.
“I know, I still want to go, want to be there for him,” EJ admits.
“Then okay, you can come,” Laura says, putting her arm around her daughter, who is about the same height as her. “I have an appointment tomorrow morning, and a meeting, so I’ll pick you up from school at lunchtime,” Laura tells her daughter, keeping her voice even as she mentions her appointment as she doesn’t want her to worry even though the doctor has hinted that it’s not good news. “Make sure you get your bag ready tonight,” Laura tells her.
“I will,” EJ says excited. “Thank you, thank you,” EJ says amazed, hugging her mother and kissing her check, and as she sees how happy EJ is Laura knows she made the right choice, despite her own reservations. “So, what are we going to do for dinner?” EJ asks her mother as they break apart, but Laura keeps one arm around her daughter.
“That’s a good question,” Laura admits as she looks around. “What do you feel like?” Laura asks.
“Chicken noodle stir fry?” EJ suggests.
“Sounds good,” Laura responds, and the two of them continue to walk through the market, getting what they need.
(LIne break)
A little while after EJ made the suggestion for dinner EJ and Laura are arriving back at their house, both holding shopping bags.
“I’m going to call Lee, tell him I’ll see him tomorrow,” EJ says to her mother as they walk into the main living area.
“First help put the shopping away,” Laura tells her daughter.
And over the next few minutes Laura and EJ put the shopping away and once they do that EJ hurries off to call her brother while Laura gets started on dinner, as she is washing up she reaches into her pocket, and pulls out a pair of dog tags; dog tags that she has kept with her every day for two years, dog tags with the name with the name Zachary Adam on them, and just like she does several times a day Laura stares at the name of her son, the piece of him she keeps with her every day.
(Line break)
After leaving her mother in the kitchen EJ hurries to her room that is bright, full of books viper models and posters, and covered in pictures of her with her friends, brothers, mother, and even a few with her father. Getting to her bed EJ picks up her phone and spends the next five minutes getting connected to her brother.
“Adama,” Lee’s voice answers.
“This is Adama too,” EJ responds, smirking as she speaks.
“EJ,” Lee says, and EJ can see how glad he is to hear form her. “How you doing, Kiddo?” Lee asks her.
“I’m good,” EJ says rolling her eyes at her brother calling her kiddo, but she knows that trying to get him to stop is no use. “So, I’m going to see you tomorrow,” EJ reveals, as she lays back on her bed.
“You’re coming to the decommissioning?” Lee asks shocked, as while he knew about his mother going he didn’t expect his sister.
“Yep, I begged mom and she agreed. I finally get to see Galactica!” EJ says excited as she has never seen it before, but she knows how much it means to her father.
“It’s not that big of a deal,” Lee tells his sister, not wanting her to be disappointed.
“Maybe not for you, but to me it is,” EJ says excited.
“You’ve been the on a Battlestar before,” Lee reminds his sister.
“Yeah, the Valkyrie when I was like six, this is different,” EJ tells her brother, as she can barely remember that trip. “I can’t wait to see Dad, and the ship,” EJ says excited, as from all her dad has said she almost feels like the Galactica is part of the family, and even though she can’t see it Lee frowns, having a really bad feeling about this.
“Hey, EJ, can I talk to Mom?” Lee asks, wanting to see if his mother has the same bad feeling about this as she does.
“Sure, give me a sec,” EJ responds before getting up and heading to the kitchen.
About a minute later EJ walks into the kitchen where Laura is working on dinner.
“Mom, Lee wants to talk to you,” EJ informs her mother.
“Okay, start to get the noodles ready,” Laura tells her daughter, as she wipes her hands.
“Got it,” EJ says, handing the phone to her mother.
“Hi Sweetheart,” Laura says to her son, as she walks a little away from where EJ is.
“Hi Mom,” Lee responds, sounding glad to hear her voice. “So EJ’s coming to Galactica?” Lee asks, and Laura can tell that he doesn’t think it’s a good idea.
“It’s important to her,” Laura explains to her son. “I know it will make things more complicated, but she really wants to come, be there for your father,” Laura explains to her son.
“Right,” Lee says with a bitter laugh. “Have you talked to him lately?” Lee asks curious as he is never sure how often his parents speak.
“A few months ago,” Laura reveals. “He had a couple of days leave so he came to see EJ, we talked briefly,” Laura explains, knowing that Bill knew what she was going to be doing to his ship at that point, so he wasn’t happy with her.
“Right,” Lee says, clearly not sure how to feel about that.
“Lee, your father….” Laura starts to say.
“Mom, I’ve got to go,” Lee says, cutting her off and making it clear that he still doesn’t want to talk about his father. “I’ll see you tomorrow, love you,” Lee says to her.
“Love you too, see you tomorrow,” Laura says before hanging up and after hanging up Laura walks over to her daughter.
“Lee still won’t talk about Dad?” EJ asks, having heard enough of the conversation to realise that.
“No,” Laura says with a sigh, putting the phone down on the bench.
“So, tomorrow is going to be interesting,” EJ realises, though she is still looking forward to it
“Really is,” Laura confirms, not looking forward to it as much as her daughter clearly is, and the two of them proceed to make dinner together.
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Okay I'm going to add a prompt to what is no doubt your mountain. Can I request one from baby Evie? First time she gets sick? Kinda inspired since I was up all night with a sick kiddo.
Yep, it’s definitely a mountain! It may take awhile, but I’m getting to all of them eventually! Thanks for the prompt, and I hope the kiddo didn’t have too rough a time - getting sick as a kid was the worst! (not that it’s much better as an adult lmao)
(Ao3)
-
A high-pitched cry broke through the quiet stillness of anaverage mid-morning in Perthshire, only to be followed closely by another,longer wail.
“Anything yet?”
Jemma glanced up from the parenting help books that she’dbeen leafing through at the dining room table with an increasing worry, findingFitz still trying to rock Evelyn to sleep without success. She’d been like thissince early that morning, waking both of her parents with a shrill cry that hadhad them up and out of bed in moments, despite the early hour. They’d triedchanging her diaper, tried getting her back to sleep, and tried feeding her,but she wasn’t having any of it – and the unmistakable little coughs that shewas giving between cries were reason enough to have them both on edge.
“It’s probably just a cold, but…” Jemma shrugged helplessly;she may have acted as their team’s doctor for many years, but she wasn’t actually a medical professional. And,well, it seemed that the moment her eleven-month-old daughter’s heath came intoquestion, she couldn’t be sure of anything.
“She does feel warm,” Fitz admitted, his lips tugging downinto a grimace as he shifted Evelyn in his arms and cupped the back of her headwith a hand, still doing his level best to soothe her.
“Does she?” Hurriedly, she got up from her chair at thetable and moved to stand beside Fitz, pressing the backs of her fingers toEvelyn’s little forehead. She didfeel warmer than she should, and even though Jemma knew that she shouldn’t jumpto conclusions, she couldn’t help the little jolt of anxiety that she felt atthe confirmation.
After all, this was her baby;Evelyn depended on them (Jemma had always been quite aware that Evelyn wassmall and defenseless and dependent upon them, but in that moment, it was astark reminder that left her feeling guilty and slightly nauseous), and therewas something wrong with her that they just couldn’t seem to fix.
She knew that itwas most likely a small thing, just a little common cold, but…but that hadnever been their luck, had it? Not after trips to the bottom of the ocean anddistant planets and virtual realities and space prisons had become theirnormal, everyday life.
So, Jemma carefully extracting a struggling, fussy Evelynfrom Fitz’s arms, and told him efficiently, “Call Dr. Clark, then get the keysand my purse, and we’ll head over to get her opinion.” As he moved to followher instructions, Jemma focused on gently trying to shush Evelyn, who washaving none of it, and kissing the top of her head as she murmured, “We’ll sortthis out, sweetheart. I promise, everything will be alright soon enough.”
-
After getting everything settled, they then made it to thepediatrician’s in record time – only to find themselves sitting in the littlewaiting room with framed pictures of giggling babies on the walls and old,mismatched toys sitting in the corner for an indefinite amount of time.
Jemma had Evelyn cuddled up against her chest, rocking herabsently. She’d stopped actively crying and screaming, only giving littlecoughs here and there, but she was still visibly irritable, always lookingmoments away from breaking into another crying fit.
Fitz, on the other hand, was an unashamed wreck, constantlyfidgeting in the seat beside her, tapping his foot and digging his thumb intothe palm of his opposite hand, which seemed to be trembling just slightly.Frowning in concern, Jemma reached over with the hand not supporting Evelyn’sback, laying it over both of Fitz’s to still the movement.
With a calm in her voice that she didn’t really feel, sheassured him, “Everything’s fine, Fitz. Babies get sick all the time, you know,it’s really nothing to lose our heads over.”
But, much in line with her own thinking, Fitz turned to faceher fully and arched an eyebrow, deadpanning, “Jem, it’s us.”
“Well, alright, yes, but…” However, Jemma didn’t quite havean argument for that at the moment, and instead let her sentence hang there.
Fitz released a long, slow sigh that had his shouldersrising and falling, then he explained in a low, tight voice, “You know…everytime I hear the word ‘sick’, I can only think of you and…” He trailed off then,his gaze going unfocused as he mumbled something under his breath, but Jemmaonly managed to catch, “…trapped on the other side of the glass…wasn’t able to do anything…”
It was more than enough, though, to understand what had himso bothered.
As he let out another, shuddering sigh, Jemma gave his handa reassuring squeeze and reminded him softly, “Fitz, that was a completelydifferent situation – I know for a fact Evelyn hasn’t been around any Chitauriartifacts.” With a quiet laugh, she added teasingly, “Unless, of course, youhave something to tell me about what you two do when I’m out.”
Instead of being comforted, though, Fitz simply gave her abit of a look and replied, “Yeah, I knowshe doesn’t have an alien virus Jemma, but there are still plenty of human ones out there that scare the crapout of me.”
Knowing that neither of them would be truly comforted untilthey’d been told otherwise by a doctor, Jemma instead asked knowingly, “Do youwant to hold her?” He nodded wordlessly, holding his hands out to receiveEvelyn from her, and he visibly relaxed as soon as their daughter was in hisarms and snuggled up against his chest.
Thankfully, not too much more time elapsed before they werecalled in by a nurse, and taken to an exam room, where they were soon joined byEvelyn’s pediatrician, Dr. Clark. As the kindly older woman examined a oncemore screaming Evelyn, Fitz was even antsier than he had been earlier, standingat Jemma’s side and watching on.
Neither of them, of course, was a fan of being unable to doanything to help someone, especiallywhen that someone was their child, but this wasto help Evelyn in the long run, so Jemma simply reached over to grasp Fitz’shand, a gentle reminder that everything was okay.
Finally, Dr. Clark finished looking Evelyn over, and Fitzimmediately stepped forward to take Evelyn back into his arms, working tosoothe her yet again. Once they’d taken seats in the uncomfortable plasticchairs off to the side of the room, Dr. Clark explained with a warm smile, “Evelynis just fine, she’s simply caught a common cold.”
All of the tension seemed to leave Jemma’s shoulders in aninstant as she breathed an audible sigh of relief. She’d known that it was most likely a cold (hadn’t she told herself thatjust an hour ago?), but she just hadn’t been able to stop herself from jumpingto worst possible scenarios in her head, even while she’d attempted to remainoutwardly calm in order to keep Fitzcalm. Hearing from a doctor that she trusted that Evelyn just had a cold wasexactly what she’d needed.
“Have you been anywhere recently that was crowded?” Dr.Clark asked curiously, making a few notes on the little laptop she’d brought intothe room with her. “That’s usually how babies end up catching colds, or, ofcourse, if either of you have been sick in the past couple of weeks.”
Frowning, Jemma thought back for a moment, then shook herhead and informed her, “No, we haven’t been to the park for awhile –”
“And Evie isn’t in daycare yet,” Fitz finished for her, anda glance at him showed that he was wearing a similarly confused frown.
But, they both seemed to realize something simultaneously inthe next moment, gasping aloud and turning to look at each other as they criedin unison, “Daisy!”
Their closest friend had been by their cottage just last week tosee them (but mostly to see her goddaughter, who she doted on and adored morethan both of them combined), and Jemma hadn’t even connected the dates at thetime. But, it was just then that she remembered that it was the time of yearthey’d always referred to as “the plague” at the Playground, when everyone inthe tight quarters seemed to get sick all at once.
They’d been away from SHIELD for what felt like so long now,the thought hadn’t even occurred to Jemma – if it had, she would’ve insistedthat Daisy stay away until the illness had worked its way through her system.
Dr. Clark had arched an eyebrow at their outburst, and witha little flush, Jemma explained simply, “Our friend. She was by last week, andshe may have been carrying the proper germs.”
“What do we need to do to get Evie better, then?” Fitz askedthe doctor curiously, though Jemma could tell that he was listening intentlyand was ready to begin following the instructions as quickly as he could possiblymanage.
“Keep her hydrated,” Dr. Clark began to list off, “try andmake sure that she gets plenty of rest, and steam should do the trick to clearup her sinuses, which will help with her getting her appetite back. Her coldshould clear up soon, but if her fever doesn’t go down or worsens, give us anothercall.”
After they’d both thanked the doctor profusely, they leftthe office with Evelyn, who was still sniffling and upset, clinging tightly toher father as they crossed the relatively crowded parking lot. Once they’dmanaged to wrangle Evelyn out of Fitz’s arms and into her car seat, Jemma andFitz then got into the car themselves.
As they were pulling away, he said optimistically, “Hey,maybe this means that our bad luck skipped right over Evie, maybe it’ll justend with us.”
Jemma gave a short scoff, then laughed lightly and shook herhead as she replied wryly, “It’s more like our ‘bad luck’ ended when we leftSHIELD; of course the chances of otherworldly, strange things happening to us weremuch higher when we were working for an agency that makes otherworldly, strangethings its business. I can’t imagine any of those things happening now.”
He chuckled a bit at that, admitting, “You’re probablyright, Jem, but…I’m still hopeful that Evie won’t have it as hard as we did. I’malways hoping for the best for her, really.”
Smiling softly, Jemma turned her head to glance at him,agreeing in murmur, “I am too.” Then, after a moment, she added thoughtfully, “Whichmeans that we should probably make sure that Daisy never comes by during theplague again.”
“Agreed,” Fitz said simply, nodding, before he went onhastily, “but it was your idea – you have to be the one to tell her.”
“Ugh Fitz!”
#shayna writes#fsfic#fitzsimmons#prompts#baby fitzsimmons#honestly evelyn should have her own tag by now#fitzsimmons are very overprotective parents#but like...can you blame them after everything they've been through??#agl03
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Word Count: 5118
CW: angst, smut but not super filthy smut (medium filth?), bad language
Dress and shoes that Nina wore in this chapter
Join the tag list here!
Only three more chapters and an epilogue left
Nina fidgeted as dug into her pocketbook for her keys to her parents’ house. It was time for Sunday dinner, the one meal a week that she wasn’t responsible for cooking and therefore, Nina never missed it. Cooking was not her forte and Nina had no problems with that. However, this Sunday dinner, she needed to talk to her family about their lives changing.
The smell of roast chicken filled the house and Nina took a deep sniff as she opened and closed the door. Aryanna and Dad were watching the late game aka hate-watching the Ravens vs Saints. The Steelers were playing on Monday night this week.
“Heey sweettart,” Vernon said, getting up to give his oldest daughter a hug.
Nina hugged her father back, holding him close for a second. “Hi Dad.”
“Oh no!”
Nina ended the hug, turning with her father towards the tv. Lamar Jackson had just run for a 20-yard touchdown. They all groaned; the Steelers needed the Ravens to lose as both teams were running neck to neck for the AFC North crown. As Nina got absorbed into the game, the situation with Sidney was still in the back of her mind.
Nina had talked to her mom earlier in the day, explaining everything to her mother, well everything but the sex. Tracey had listened with an open ear before telling her daughter not to make a decision over her potential happiness just because of how it could affect her family. Tracey had reminded Nina that Jason, while he was at UNC now, had been a 5-star tight end prospect and they dealt with the media when it was time for him to sign with a college.
After talking to her mom, Nina had taken a nap before coming to sunday dinner. As she watched the game, waiting to eat, Nina hoped for courage. However, she kept it to herself when it was time to eat, instead listening to Aryanna talk about school, her dad talk about his new position at work which meant that he wasn’t going to be going out on the road as much anymore. Nina shared some stories about her clients while Tracey talked about the switch to travel nursing over working in the hospital. But when it was over, Nina gulped and summoned her courage.
“So, I got news,” Nina started once dinner was over and dessert was served. She looked down at her glass of water. Before she could continue, Aryanna piped up. “Let me guess, you’re breaking up with Sidney Crosby because you’re a punk.”
“Aryanna!”
Nina glared at her little sister while Tracey reprimanded, “That was rude, little girl.”
“Sorry,” Aryanna muttered.
“Anyway, before I was rudely interrupted,” Nina said, “I have news. After thinking about it, talking to Sidney, and going over the pros and cons, I’ve decided to give him another chance.”
Tracey smiled as Aryanna shouted yes. Vernon looked at his daughter and carefully said, “Are you ready for it?”
Nina grimaced. “As ready as I can possibly. Are y’all?”
“We only want you to be happy, sweetie,” Tracey consoled. “Plus, I saw those pics of you two. He’s smitten.”
Nina groaned while Aryanna laughed. Vernon added, “We were already planning to move soon anyway. We’ve been looking at homes in South HIlls and we just closed on a house in Mt. Lebanon.”
“Oh wow. When was I going to find out,” Nina said with a smirk. She knew her parents had been thinking of moving for a while but the market had been super hot for a long time. Before she had moved into her current apartment, Nina had heard of the different arguments her parents had about moving to different areas. But before they could find somewhere, someone else would snap it up.
Tracey grinned. “We weren’t going to say anything until we closed because of how long it took to find somewhere. It’s taken almost two years and we even saved enough to offer forty percent as a down payment. It’s a fixer-upper though but it has a bigger backyard for my garden and the schools are better.”
“What are you going to do with this house,” Nina asked before taking a bite of her sweet potato pie. Fuck, she wished she could bake and cook just so she could make herself sweet potato pie all of the time.
Vernon replied, “Probably sell. There are people looking to buy even though this area isn’t that great. ”
“I guess it’s settled. This is exciting though.”
Tracey snickered before looking at her husband. “I hope you are still excited when we need you to help pack, Ni-ni.”
Nina looked to her right before taking out her phone and sending a quick message. Free monday? 12pm?
She received a quick response. Yup, just tell me where to meet
Vernon casually commented, “I’m also looking at it this way; this is a practice for when Jason is in the NFL and becomes famous.”
“Good point,” Tracey said. “I can start practicing telling people no even more now.”
Nina laughed. “Looks like I have nothing to worry about then.”
The conversation switched to the Steelers game tomorrow night as they finished dessert.
**
Honestly, Sidney was a bit surprised to get a message from Nina so quickly. He had fully expected her to wait until Wednesday and he had been preparing himself for the worst possible outcome. As a competitor, prepping for each game meant learning his opponents’ strengths and weaknesses. Nina wasn’t his opponent but Sidney was now very aware of the power she had over him with just one look, let alone her touch or words.
Nina had asked to meet somewhere that wasn’t at their homes. Sidney suggested lunch but after looking at his schedule, he asked if Nina could maybe meet him at the Pens offices and then get lunch after. Fidgeting in the smaller conference room, Sidney began to worry that Nina wouldn’t show up when the clock showed that it was already five minutes past the time they agreed to. But then, Nina wasn’t the most on time person either so Sidney rationalized to himself, he should worry if it was fifteen minutes passed and she still wasn’t here.
Then outside the door, Sidney saw Nina talking with Evelyn, one of their PR mavens. They were having an animated discussion and Sidney smiled softly. Nina opened the door and grinned at him. “Hi Sid, sorry for being late.”
Evelyn waved at Sidney and he waved back. After Nina walked in, Evelyn peeped in and said, “I was just catching up with Nina since it’s been a while since she’s been here.”
Sidney nodded as Nina replied, “thank you so much for the advice, Evelyn, I will definitely use it!”
Evelyn waved goodbye before closing the door firmly. Nina chose a chair directly across from Sidney and sat down. There was a brief pause before Nina giggled. “Oh my God, you looked like you were about to die before I showed up.”
“Well, I had to remind myself that you’d show up but part of me still was worried because of everything in our last conversations,” Sidney replied.
The aura in the room turned serious as Nina bit her lip and folded her hands together. “Yeah, those conversations,” Nina started. “I like you a lot, Sidney Crosby, but… I hate this circus that surrounds you. I know that it’s something you can’t control but I hate it. But I realized, especially after talking to my mom, there’s nothing I can do about it now. My life’s forever changed.”
Sidney cleared his throat but Nina stopped him. “Let me finish, Sid because I can already tell you’re ready to make promises you can’t keep. So let me save both of us the headache.”
Sitting back, Sidney leaned in his chair. “What are your plans, pretty girl?”
“You have to get over being super private and claim me publicly. You want me to be yours, Mr. Crosby? Then you have to let the world know we are together. No are they or aren’t they bullshit.”
Nina glared at Sidney when she was done. Sidney flushed; part of him hated the idea of letting the world know more than they really needed to know about his personal life. At the same time, he already knew he was going to do whatever Nina asked him to, in his own way. “You know I don’t use social media,” Sidney began before trailing off. Then he smirked.
Nina casually said, “you’ll find a way.”
“I already figured it out,” Sidney drawled. “What else do you want, pretty girl?”
“No more surprise meet ups with people from the team, let me know ahead of time. Just like I’ll let you know ahead of time whenever I decide you should meet my fam.”
Sidney actually blushed while Nina arched an eyebrow. “I know I’m amazing but that was a bit uncomfortable when I think back. At least you didn’t abandon me to talk to your teammates and let me fend for myself.”
“I’m sorry, Nina,” Sidney apologized. He felt really bad now: he had been so excited that he really didn’t think about how Nina would have felt. Nina shrugged; it wasn’t that bad to be honest because Sidney stayed at her side, introduced her to everyone, and made sure she was included. But that didn’t mean she wanted him to continue doing that.
Nina smiled at Sidney and asked, “what do you think, Sid?”
Sidney scratched his jaw as he thought of his reply. It was relatively simple but it would also be life-changing for him. He finally said, “Yes, it all sounds good. But I have one thing?”
“What’s that?”
Sidney smirked as he looked Nina up and down. Nina rolled her eyes as she smiled. She could guess where his mind was, right in the gutter. But Sidney surprised her when he said, “Then let me spoil you. I have no problem claiming you publicly, but I want you to let me treat you like I’ve been wanting to treat you.”
Nina gave Sidney a bashful smile before looking to the side. “I’ll never say no to purses and shoes but I don’t want you to buy out the store-“
“I already know that, sweetheart,” Sidney firmly said, “but let me treat you like you deserve.”
“Okay, okay,” Nina conceded.
Sidney pushed his chair back, making space. Then he patted his lap. “Come ‘ere.”
Nina got out of her chair and sat on Sidney’s lap. “You know where we are,” she hissed even though she had obeyed him.
Wrapping an arm around her waist, Sidney smiled. Smelling her coconut-vanilla scent, he realized how much he had missed her. “I know, I’m not going to do anything inappropriate, pretty girl. Just missed having you close to me.”
Sidney kissed the back of Nina’s neck, causing her to shiver. “Watch the postgame of our next game, Nina. Now, what do you want for lunch?”
“Um, honestly, I want Chipotle. I have to get back to work in about an hour so nothing fancy,” Nina replied.
Turning so that she was facing Sidney, she placed her index finger over his lips when he opened his mouth. “I forgot to add this earlier but I’m also going to say this now. I’m not quitting my job anytime soon. I’m going to finish my Ph.D. and if I decide to stop working, it’s because I plan to teach full-time. So, if you expect I’ll be waiting at home and living for you, now you know that’s not going to happen,” Nina stated.
Sidney opened his mouth to reply but the door opened. “Hey, I’ve been looking for you, Sidney!”
Nina squeaked in surprise and Sidney sighed. It was Brian Burke and Sidney was sure that it was probably something important but this wasn’t quite the moment where he wanted to see him.
Brian smiled. “It looks like you two have made up.”
Nina weakly waved. At first, she was going to move off of Sidney’s lap but his hand around her waist made that impossible. “I’d introduce myself but I figure I interrupted,” Brian continued.
“It’s okay, I was on my way to get lunch,” Nina replied.
Sidney added, “With me.”
“Don’t forget, you said you wanted to help with more planning for our pride game this season,” Brian reminded Sidney.
“Ohh, the pride game! You’re getting more involved in it? That’s awesome,” Nina exclaimed.
Sidney blushed as he smiled under Nina’s praise.
“Would you be interested in being involved, Nina,” Brian asked.
Nina paused for a second, her eyes wide. “Um, sure.”
“I can get your contact information from Sidney,” Brian asked.
Nina nodded as Sidney rubbed his hand up and down her back. Sidney said, “I’ll let you know,” as Brian closed the door.
Placing a hand over her face, Nina sighed. “Wow.”
“It’s fine. Look, your first volunteer project,” Sidney kidded.
“I need to eat.”
**
The game against the Isles had gone well. Sidney had tallied two assists and a goal in a 4-2 win after having a four game slump. Normally post-game interviews were a necessary evil but he was a bit nervous this time. Not because he knew they were going to ask about getting out of his slump, but because of what he was going to say.
The first couple of questions were easy softballs. Then Sidney was hit with the question that opened the door.
“Sidney, great breaking your slump. There were rumors that your personal life was affecting your game on the ice. What do you think about that?”
Sidney looked at the reporters, all ready for him to give a cliche. Instead, Sidney admitted the truth. “My personal life was affecting my game on the ice. But we’ve fixed our issues and I’m glad.”
There was a pause, as if the reporters didn’t know where to start. Sidney looked at one of the PR interns to the side. The intern gave him a slight smile and a quick thumbs up. Sidney decided to continue, “We prefer to keep our relationship private for now but she means a lot to me and is very important to my life. I will not be answering any more questions about my relationship at this moment.”
Luckily, the rest of the questions were about hockey but Sidney knew that his statement was going to be a big part of what everyone was going to talk about. Once back in the locker room, Geno gave Sidney a big grin. Tanger said, “You did it?”
“Yeah but I’m serious, I’m not going to answer a bunch of questions about my personal life,” Sidney replied. “Now though, every time we struggle, the dumbasses will start talking about it.”
Tanger grimaced as Geno said, “Fuck them.”
Guentzy laughed as he stated, “I agree with Geno. Fuck them.”
Sidney laughed as he pulled his shirt off before pulling off his pads. Sitting in his crocs, hockey pants and pads, Sidney pulled out his phone. There was just one message from the only person who’s opinion mattered to him, wow😍 .
Sidney replied back, made it official for u but in the way u wanted 😁😏
😘🥰 part of me can’t believe it but i’m happy u listened to me, was Nina’s reply.
Sidney texted, only 4 u, before finishing getting undressed so he could take a shower.
**
To be totally honest, Nina thought her life would have exploded the minute that Sidney admitted that he was seeing someone in the post-game conference after the Isles game. It wouldn’t take much to put 2 and 2 together, especially when she went out with Sidney and the Malkins to a popular Shadyside restaurant the day after. But things were relatively calmer.
There were still the nasty looks from other people, especially women when Nina was out by herself, running her everyday errands. But there were also people who seemed to defer to her and it felt so fucking weird. Like, if she wanted to, Nina felt like people were ready to let her do whatever she wanted because she was now Sidney Crosby’s girlfriend.
Nina bit her lip as she waited in line to pay for her groceries. Then someone bumped into her and it was Ron. “Hey Nina, long time no see.”
“Hi Ron,” Nina replied with a strained smile.
“Not everyday one sees their ex. Look at you, shopping like the rest of us. Your man ain’t ordering groceries for you.”
Nina resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She could feel the eyes of other people at Weis and she knew there were people looking for something to gossip about. Nina definitely didn’t want to give Ron the satisfaction of a reaction. She merely replied, “I have my own life I have to take care of on my own.”
“Oh wow, because I remember the way you two were looking at each other that time we went out on a date. Makes me think you were cheating on me with him,” Ron goaded.
Nina gave him a blank look. “We were long over, for almost three years, before I went out with Sidney. But you had two other women when we were a couple,” Nina stated with a shrug. “Anyway, it’s my turn to check out. Bye.”
Nina tuned Ron out as she checked out. The cashier commented, “That guy seems like a dick.”
“You live and you learn,” Nina replied with a smile as she paid, unaware that someone had uploaded video of that encounter to the internet.
**
Sidney gulped down his protein shake, home after practice. The season was starting well but he felt like the team could be better. Sidney wanted another cup, one more cup and he felt like this was the year. Then his phone buzzed and he saw it was his mom.
“Hi Mom,” Sidney said, sitting on his sofa. He had some time before he needed to get ready for tonight and it was always good to talk to his mother.
Trina chirped, “Hi Sidney, how are you?”
“I’m doing good, short practice today before our game against New Jersey tomorrow,” Sidney idly replied as he turned his tv on. Flipping through Netflix, he chose an episode of How I Met Your Mother.
He could hear his mother’s smile through the phone when she teased, “Your father told me you told the press that you are seeing someone last week. Is it that girl you kept talking about over the years?”
Sidney giggle-honked before admitting, “Yes, it is. I’m finally dating Nina.”
“Are you sure it’s a good idea? This is something totally different for you,” Trina asked, concerned. Her son had a relationship with Kathy but this situation with this new girl was something totally different. Part of her was worried that since Sidney had wanted this girl for so long, that he was diving into this without really thinking about it.
Sidney replied, “You sound like Nina.”
“Hmm, I do?”
“Yep, Mom, you did,” Sidney said, “Nina wasn’t sure if it was a good idea for a long time but I managed to convince her it was.”
Trina was still feeling skeptical. From what she knew, this girl was from the area, a fan of the team, a different race, and had worked for the team for a period of time. It was possible she could be playing the long game. “Is she there with you now?”
Knowing her son, Trina was convinced that Nina was already living with her son. Her son, when he decided he wanted something, went all out to get it. She was surprised when Sidney said, “No, she’s at work, then she has class.”
“Class,” Trina asked, her tone perking up. This sounded interesting.
Sidney informed his mother, “Nina decided to get a PhD in rehabilitation science this year. She works as a physical therapist.”
“That sounds interesting, isn’t that how you met her,” Trina idly said. The door opened and Troy stepped in. Trina put her finger to her mouth to shush her husband.
Sidney scratched his head, wondering where his mother was going with these questions. “Yes. Nina works somewhere else totally different now. But she’s looking into becoming a professor after guest lecturing at, I think, Pitt.”
Trina raised her eyebrows. That was interesting information. Switching the conversation to more mundane subjects, Trina filed that information in the back of her head. It sounded like this Nina was a bit more well-rounded than she thought.
Sidney sighed when he hung up on his mother. That conversation felt like one thing but he could sense there was another undercurrent. Then he received a picture message from Nina and his mind went straight to the gutter. Sidney sighed; it was going to be a long night.
**
“You look very nice.”
Nina smiled as she replied, “Thank you,” to the guest.
It was kind of last minute, this dinner that Nina found herself invited to. It was thrown by Nathalie and most of the top brass of the Penguins were here as well as Sidney, the Letangs, and the Malkins. Because Sidney had gone public with their relationship, Nina had found herself suddenly invited. Luckily for her, Nina already had an appropriate cocktail dress for the occasion.
Her dress was black with an asymmetrical one shoulder with a bow but it came to just above knee level. Nina’s heels were gold, an impulse purchase several months ago that she was happy to have. The outfit was classy, understated, and definitely Penguins colors.
Sidney seemed to like it as well from the way his arm stayed possessively around Nina’s waist whenever possible. At least it wasn’t a public event; the possessiveness would have looked bad. But because it was informal and in a private room at PPG arena, Sidney was able to get away with it.
The length was a blessing and a curse. A blessing that it meant that Sidney couldn’t try to do any funny business during dinner but a curse in that the more he touched her, the more Nina wanted him. By the end of the night, it was obvious that Sidney was getting close to losing his cool and Nina was loving it.
As soon as they got into the car at the end of the night, Sidney pounced. His lips touched hers, demanding and devouring as he kissed her. Then abruptly, Sidney let go. “You'd been torturing me all night in that little black dress. So sexy, the way it showed off my pretty girl’s body.”
Sidney already knew that Nina was perfect in every way anyway. However, as soon as he saw her step in with that black dress and gold heels, it took every ounce of media training and self-control for Sidney not to strip it off of her and fuck her right there. Right now, he was glad that he hired a car after this event.
Sidney didn’t even do anything in the car other than keep his hand on Nina’s thigh. The difference was that he told Nina every filthy thing he planned to do to her once he got her home. Nina wiggled on the seat, her legs shifting as Sidney whispered what he planned to do to her. It was insane, what he could do to her with his words.
Nina had expected Sidney to push her against the wall when they got back to his place but instead, he just guided Nina to the kitchen before taking out two glasses. Picking out a wine, Sidney poured two glasses.
“I’ve missed you in my bed but I’m patient,” Sidney stated, his hands palming Nina’s ass before giving both cheeks a smack. Then Sidney picked up the glasses of wine and passed one to Nina.
Nina smirked. “I’m not,” she said as she took a sip.
“Can’t be patient for me, pretty girl?”
Nina shrugged as she took another sip. Then she delicately licked a drop that was on her lower lip, causing Sidney to visibly grunt and shudder. “Maybe,” Nina finally replied.
“Good.”
Sidney sat down in a chair and patted his lap. Nina sat on his lap, the hem of her dress riding up. “Did you have a good time?”
“I actually did for something that was pretty last minute. Don’t ask me if I remember everyone’s name yet.”
“That’s okay,” Sidney reassured Nina. “No one expects you to remember everyone, yet.”
Nina snorted before taking another sip of her wine. Idly, Sidney added, “Fuck, I love this dress.”
“Maybe if you move your hands higher underneath it, you’ll get a surprise,” Nina taunted. Licking her lips, she winked.
Unable to resist a challenge, Sidney moved his hand higher and higher. Then he whistled when he realized Nina’s surprise. “You went commando all night and didn’t tell me?”
“I’m lucky this dress was lined so well that no one could tell,” Nina admitted. “But it was worth it.”
“How,” Sidney asked as his hand touched Nina’s pussy. She was already wet.
Nina smirked. “Because I knew if you found out tonight, the look on your face would have been priceless.”
Sidney ignored that statement as he stroked Nina’s core with his fingers. Rolling her clit with his fingers, Sidney hissed at the idea that Nina was here, with him tonight. His pretty girl, perfect in his lap. "I love how wet you get for me, pretty girl."
"Only for you, daddy," Nina moaned as she clutched his shoulders. Sidney growled at her words, her pussy clenching harder on his fingers.
Suddenly, Sidney picked Nina up and placed her on the table. Nina smiled as she hiked up her dress and spread her legs. Sidney licked his lips. “We’re gonna see how many times you cum for me tonight, pretty girl.”
“Fuck, I can’t wait,” Nina moaned as his mouth met her core.
**
Sidney woke, at first disoriented because someone else was in his bed and curled up on top of him. Then he realized it was Nina and he relaxed. Her head was on top of his chest, one arm on him as she slept on her side. Carefully extracting himself, Sidney went to the bathroom. After relieving himself, he watched Nina continue to sleep, now curled into herself. Sidney took a quick picture, it was so cute. However, after taking the picture, he checked his messages. “Fuck, fuck, fuck,” he chanted.
Nina opened her eyes slowly, her body deliciously sore after last night. Stretching out her arms, she sleepily asked, “What’s wrong, Sid?”
“Seems like someone has something against you, pretty girl,” Sidney said, suppressing his fury.
Nina’s eyes snapped open, sleep now forgotten. Sitting up, she queried, “What happened?”
“There's a video of you with some guy at a market.”
Grimacing, Nina sighed. “I ran into Ron while getting groceries. He was being a jagoff asshole.”
“You don’t look bad at all, PR thinks you handled it perfectly.”
Nina got off the bed and walked over to Sidney. Wrapping her arms around him, she pleaded, “Fuck him and fuck whoever took video.”
Snuggling into Sidney’s chest, Nina nipped one of his nipples. “Plot your revenge later, Sid. It’s eight am and I know you have a maintenance day today. Come back to bed.”
“‘Come back to bed?’ You know this is my bed,” Sidney joked. His anger was going away each second that Nina was pressed against him, her lips giving him little kisses and bites on his upper body.
Nina looked up at Sidney, giving him soulful eyes. “Please, daddy?”
Trailing her hands around his neck, Nina murmured, “I’ve been so good. Please?”
“Fuck, how can I say no,” Sidney groaned as Nina giggled. Picking her up, he tossed her on the bed.
Scooting back, Nina spread her legs as Sidney settled in the middle of them. “I love the way you fuck me, Sidney.”
Sidney smirked, his brown eyes smoldering as he crouched over Nina. “Oh do you?”
“Yes, I do,” Nina hummed, her fingers tugging on his chain. “You should do it again.”
Sidney settled between Nina’s thighs, pulling her legs around his waist. His lips lowered to hers in a gentle kiss. Slow and drugging, enough to make both of them red hot for each other, full of promise. Pulling away, Sidney nipped Nina’s lower lip. Nina sucked her lip into her mouth, her brown eyes meeting Sidney’s. Cupping Nina’s chin, Sidney reminded her, “How do you ask, pretty girl?”
“Please fuck me, daddy,” Nina asked, her body arching towards his. “Make me yours.”
“Good girl.”
**
Nina tried hard not to feel self-conscious as she made her way to the ice-level with Aryanna, Catherine and her children, and Anna with Nikita. It had been a week since that awful article with video from her interaction with Ron. It had been set up to make Nina look like a gold digging whore and it hurt to have guys, guys she had only gone out with once or twice, say things that made her seem horrible. Nina hadn’t admitted that part to Sid when he was in a fury about it. Lauren had reminded Nina that men tend to be assholes about women that they couldn’t have and that Nina was way beyond their level even before her current relationship.
Even though Nina had distracted Sidney that morning, by the afternoon, that article was off the internet. A radio host had mentioned it and then within an hour, issued an apology for talking about it. However, it was forgotten pretty quickly as more people cared about the Steelers potentially staying undefeated with a game coming up against the Browns.
Nina smiled as they reached the ice. The team was doing warm-ups and Sidney was in the midst of his pregame rituals. She actually had more enjoyment from watching Aryanna react to watching the guys on the ice. Tanev gave the glass near them an ice shower while Geno and Kris had greeted Nina and Aryanna while saying hi to their families. Then, very unexpectedly, Sidney broke one of his traditions and came over. Giving the glass a small shower, Sidney waved at Aryanna before smirking at Nina. Nina smirked back before giving Sid a little wave.
As people took pictures of Sid waving to her, Nina smiled. She could live with this, maybe. ‘No, that was a lie’, Nina thought as they made their way to the family box. She was going to have to live with this now, it was too far gone to go back. And she didn’t want to.
#sidney crosby#sidney crosby imagines#Sidney Crosby imagine#Sidney Crosby smut#sidney crosby fic#hockey imagine#hockey fic#hockey imagines#hockey rpf#nhl rpf#nhl imagine#nhl imagines#nhl fanfiction#nhl fic#nhl smut#smut#penguins imagines#penguins imagine#penguins fic#all bets are off#hockey fanfiction#crosby fic#Crosby rpf#hockey smut#nhl writing#hockey writing
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male chivalry
warnings: okay so there is a trigger warning of sexual harassment and attempted sexual assault, language, men being gross, protective!bucky, angst a bit, i think that’s it, if you see anything else let me know
word count: 3230 :)
a/n: idk why it took me so long to finish this, but it’s here now!!! also this is based off this post from @teaboot (just the op bc the rest of it pissed me off :)) i hope y’all like it. i hope it’s what y’all expected idk, i’m proud of it.
i really hope i did the topics justice, if you don’t think i did, please shoot me a message and help me figure out how to do better. <3
p.s.: my requests and tag lists are open! also this is not beta read, so all mistakes are my own.
xoxo ray
ray’s m.list
************************************
It had been about three weeks since Bucky had first met the group of four at the protest. Bucky made sure to check in with Steve and let him know what he was doing. Steve was always worrying about Bucky, which was totally understandable because of everything they had been through.
Bucky’s day was a relaxed one with little to no time to dawdle. Over these three weeks, he had learned more from an eighteen year old than he ever thought he would. It was easier to open up to her, for some reason. Bucky hadn’t fully figured that out yet either, but he wasn’t going to question it.
Bucky had been going to his court mandated therapy with Dr. Raynor, to say they were making progress would be a lie. Honestly, Bucky was making more progress with the new individuals in his life. They knew what he did as the Winter Soldier-- no they know what the Winter Soldier did, Cassie made sure the distinction between the two was crystal clear. Bucky was still a bit cautious around them, not wanting to hurt them or be a burden to them.
It amazed Bucky how open they were with each other. Back in the 40’s, you didn’t express your feelings. Especially if you were a man, for fear of being labeled something unsavory. Even stranger still to Bucky was the encouragement and support that everyone gave to those in hard times. It warmed Bucky’s heart to see Penny comforting Freddie after his recent break up.
“Freddie and Ted had been together a little over six months,” Cassie explained to Bucky one night after the group had dispersed from the dining table. Bucky and Cassie were standing over the sink washing the dinner plates and cutlery. “Freddie was so in love with him. I thought Ted felt the same, but I guess that’s just how it goes, right?”
Bucky shrugged, this was one of his first experiences with modern romance. Dating in the 40’s was very rigid, which was to be expected, but nowadays everything is very fluid. It truly fascinated Bucky.
“I honestly don’t know.” Bucky shrugged as he dried the pristine plates. Just as he began to get lost in thought, Evie pulled him into a subject that he hadn’t thought of in a real long time.
“What was it like with women in the forties, Buck?” Bucky blinked at her and considered his answer carefully. The group had been teaching him how to handle some subjects sensitively.
“To be honest? The last date that I went on was to the World Expo of Tomorrow in 1943, the night before I shipped out to England.” He turned, leaning his weight on the counter behind him and crossing his arms over his chest. “I went with Steve, this was before he was Captain America, so when he was a little ol’ gangly thing. I had hooked us up with two women, one for me and one for Stevie, their names were Dot and Connie, I think.”
“No, no, that’s not what I mean, Buck. What was it like with women?”
Bucky tilted his head in question.“What do you mean?”
“What was it like with them? Like, how were they treated as a whole?”
“Oh, uh I think they were treated well? My Ma always told Steve and I to treat women with respect, so we did.”
“Right, but what about everyone else? How did they treat women?” Bucky was confused by the question and he began to think that he was giving the wrong answers.
“Um, I guess I don’t know. I guess they were treated how they are today?” Both of the girls in front of him released disdained scoffs.
“Well, that’s unfortunate, right Cas?” Cassie nodded at Evie and dropped her head in disappointment.
“Why do you say that?” Bucky asked. He was genuinely curious about what the girls were referring to. “I mean, I get that the treatment of women hasn’t always been good but it’s not that bad right?” The girls shared a knowing look, and then Evie sighed. She hauled herself out of her chair and nodded to Bucky.
“Alright, let’s go take a walk, just you and me.”
“Where are we going?”
“Oh, just a couple blocks away to the Walgreens. Sound okay?” Bucky agreed, grabbing his jacket and waiting for Evie by the doorway. “We’ll be back soon, Cas.”
“Uh, are you sure that’s a good idea, Evelyn?” Bucky had only ever heard Cassie use Evie’s full name when she was getting in trouble.
“Yeah, we’ll be fine, Cas, I swear.” Evie glanced at Bucky, “Besides, I’ve got a Sargent escorting me, so we’ve got nothing to worry about.” She threw a smile to her older sister whose face was just a veil of worry and doubt.
Bucky and Evie exited the apartment building and neither of them had said anything since. Bucky was wondering what this whole exercise was all about, but he wasn’t going to say anything until Evie did. The pair walked up onto a crosswalk, causing them to stop and wait so Evie was able to turn the man beside her.
“So, before we go any further, I just want to set the scene for you.” She took a calming breath and it was now that Bucky realized that this was the first time that she was noticeably scared. His brows furrowed and he nodded as she continued. “It’s ten o’clock on a Wednesday night and you’re in Brooklyn, walking to your local Walgreens because you need tampons.” Bucky huffed out a small laugh as Evie playfully glared at the man.
“Yeah, yeah. The female menstrual cycle is hilarious as is the pink tax that is put on feminine hygiene products. Laugh it up, James.” She shook her head and pulled Bucky closer to the front of a building. “I’m trying to tell you something, ya asshole. So, you see that it’s dark outside because it’s late but you decide to risk it anyway because you have a flight to catch at four the next morning. You leave your apartment and you are greeted with this.” She gestured to the expanse in front of her.
“Alright, let’s go. And just a word of wisdom real quick before we really get going. Women are considered fragile but I’ve never seen anything as easily wounded as a man’s ego.”
“Wow, that’s quite a pearl.” Bucky caught up to Evie as she made her way down the street.
“So being a woman and even more so, being a woman at night, means that you have to constantly be on guard.” As they were walking, a man in a greasy white tank top passed them. The man’s head turned and he scanned Evie’s body.
“Goddamn, that’s a sweet little body there, baby girl.” Bucky’s head snapped around to the man, but Evie kept walking. Bucky looked over to Evie with concern riddling his features.
“Hey, sweetcheeks! Let me talk to you for a while!” The greasy man was now following Evie and Bucky. “I bet I can show you a better time than he can, baby girl. Come on, let me talk to you.” He reached his hand out, gripping Evie’s arm and pulling her to face him.
“Please don’t touch me.” “Get your fucking hands off her, you dick.” The man took a step backwards away from the pair.
“Well, fine you bitch! I didn’t want you anyway, fucking fat ass.”
“Hey, you don’t just get to fucking walk away, you jackass! Apologize to her.”
“Why should I apologize to her? I was giving her a compliment.” Bucky’s eyes widened to the size of saucers. Did this guy just fucking--
“Okay, buddy.” Bucky went to approach the man to settle their disagreement when Evie stopped him.
“James, leave it. Let’s go.” She kept walking and Bucky didn’t want to leave her alone, not after that whole debacle.
“What the fuck was that Evie?” He questioned quickly, she shook her head in response but never verbally responded to him. A few paces later, the pair was about to pass a group of men leaned up against the brick wall behind them. Brown paper bags crunched around bottles were grasped in their hands. Drunken laughter was ringing out through the near empty streets.
“Hey baby! Why don’t you come on over here so we can talk to ya!” One of the men began to step in front of Evie effectively stopping her movement. The eighteen year old took a few steps backwards, coincidentally into Bucky’s chest. His arms came up to meet hers, about to move in front of her in a protective stance.
“Woah, you got a bodyguard baby?” The man tilted his head and stared at Evie. “You know you don’t need him sweetheart.”
“Damn, baby girl. You’re fine as hell.” Another man walked to stand next to the first. “What do I gotta do to get you in my bed?”
“Please leave us alone.”
“No, baby girl I don’t think that’s what’s going to happen.” Bucky stepped in front of Evie protectively.
“I think she told you to leave us alone.” The two men in front of Bucky didn’t waver. Two raised brows and a fit of laughter later, they still maintained their ground.
“Why? You guys going somewhere to fuck? Already got a piece of that ass and don’t want to share it big man?”
“That’s just cold. You gotta share sometime. And it’s just easier to do it now rather than later.” Evie trembled behind Bucky and leaned up so only Bucky could hear her.
“Come on Bucky, let’s just go back to the apartment.” She tugged on his right arm, fingers digging into his soft flesh. Bucky was sure that he would have crescent shaped indentations where her nails laid in because of how much she was gripping him.
Bucky’s eyes flicked up and down the two men in front of him, assessing how much of a threat they were. They were clearly enough of a threat to frighten Evie to the point of wanting to go home. Bucky gave Evie a stiff nod, not taking his eyes off of the men.
“Hey, where do you think you’re going baby? We’re just getting started!” One of them yelled at the pair as he reached out to grab Evie’s forearm. A split second later, Bucky’s left hand balled into a fist and he launched it at the man’s face. A loud crack resounded and a groan left the man’s mouth as he hit the ground. A look of shock fell across the other’s faces as they saw Bucky standing over their fallen comrade. The group took several steps away from the pair, holding their hands up in surrender.
“Don’t you ever touch a woman without her permission, you fucking prick.” Bucky then turned quickly, grabbing Evie’s wrist tightly and hauling her away from the men. Several paces later, Bucky still held a tight grip on the girl's arm.
“Bucky, you’re kind of hurting me.” Evie’s voice broke through Bucky’s barriers. He let up on how fast he was walking and then dropped Evie’s arm.
Worried eyes scanned her body for any bruising, “I’m so sorry, doll. Are you okay?” Evie laughed as she was rubbing her sore wrists.
“Bucky, that’s normal for any woman. Ever.” Shaking her head, she began walking back towards the apartment. “We could’ve kept on going to Walgreens, but I wasn’t sure your fragile heart could take it.” Bucky drew in his brows and a deep frown etched itself into his features.
“What the hell do you mean that’s normal, Evelyn?” He thrust his arm behind them, gesturing to what they just went through. “Nothing about that was normal.” Still shaking her head, the eighteen year old shrugged her shoulders.
“It’s normal for women.” She glanced at Bucky as she continued on her way. “Also, I know that you were probably just defending my honor or protecting me or whatever, but I want you to really think back, Buck. Think about when you were picking up women in the forties, did you ever push when they didn’t want to have that drink with you? Did you continuously ask for them to dance with you?”
“No, I told you. My Ma raised me the right way.” They walked up to the apartment building and Bucky reached for the door handle. Evie began making her up the stairs, Bucky not far behind her. She stopped suddenly, a few flights before Cassie’s apartment.
“What about your friends?” Bucky was taken aback. His memories were still a bit fuzzy about those times, but he could remember clearly enough. Although he wasn’t quite sure what she meant by the questions she was asking.
“What are you getting at Evie?” He huffed while opening the door to Cassie’s apartment. Freddie and Penny were lounged on the couch with an almost empty bottle of wine. Cassie’s head shot up at the sound of the two walking in the doorway. Evie dumped her things off on the granite countertop and turned on her heel to stare at Bucky.
“Did you ever stop your friends when women said no?” The quiet laughter between Penny and Freddie stopped suddenly as Evie’s question hung in the air. All eyes were on Bucky as he gulped and thought back to the times at the bars. Out with Steve and the other Howling Commandos, did they ever do that? He tried to think of a time when they pushed for what they wanted to happen. Of a time when the woman they were pursuing reluctantly gave in because they wouldn’t leave her alone. Evie didn’t wait for an answer, she could see that he was processing everything.
“So why did you stop those guys back there?” Her brows raised and her head tilted in question. Bucky took a deep breath and was about to answer when Evie cut him off. “By punching that guy out there, you’re a hero and we should all thank you and congratulate you for doing the right thing.” She stepped closer to Bucky and the three in the living room understood where Evie was going.
“What do you think would have been said if I would’ve punched him? Sure, you would’ve said something snappy and nice about how I can take care of myself. The general public though? They would say that I overreacted.”
“Easy Evie, he’s still learning.” Cassie said quietly. Bucky was thankful for that, he still did have a lot to learn but it felt like Evie was attacking him. That’s the point, you fucking dumbass. If you had been berating her for putting herself in danger by punching that guy, you would think she was reckless.
“Her point, Bucky, is that the double standard for men and women goes beyond what we expect. Everyone goes crazy for the knight saving the damsel, but everyone hates the damsel for saving herself.” Freddie explained from the comfort of the couch. Bucky nodded, starting to understand the concept. “And her questions about your old buddies. That has to do with the fact that you’re part of the problem.”
“What problem is that?” Bucky was honestly scared to know the answer but he knew to fully learn, he had to get all the facts, both good and bad.
“Stunting the growth of feminism. Being one of the people perpetuating the fact that it’s okay for men to be violent, but not for women.”
“Violence in the form of defending oneself in any capacity.” In Bucky’s line of work, he sees tons of capable and strong women. Natasha, Okoye, Shuri, Sharon, he could think of so many. Then he tried to think of when any of them got the limelight like Steve or himself.
“So it’s like anytime that there would be press releases for the team, and the interviewers would come and ask us questions,” he paused to think how to word what he wanted to say, “they always ask the guys about like super important things like how we’re keeping the city safe and stuff. But when they talk to the girls, they ask about their workout schedule and if they can wear underwear under their suits?”
“Yes, it’s exactly like that Bucky. That’s just a different form of it.” Evie replied quickly. She came up to hug Bucky. “I didn’t mean to attack you or anything, but this is something that we all feel is really important for you to grasp now that you’re back out there.”
“And now that you can recognize when it’s happening, the next important step is to stop it before it happens.” Penny yelled from the living room as she downed the last of the bottle in her hand.
“I’m so sorry, Evie. I didn’t know.”
“I know, I’m sorry too. You’re still figuring stuff out, but I needed you to see what it was really like for women.”
“Okay.” Bucky nodded. “How can I help this situation?” The group exchanged proud looks.
“Well, educate everyone around you. Don’t let it happen when you’re around.” Cassie said as she walked into the kitchen to crack open another bottle of wine. “And just support women. Push our problems into the public’s eye.” Bucky smiled, he could handle that, he was good at that.
Considering he was on his way to becoming a member of the Avengers, he would be able to influence from up high. He could openly support groups that were run by women, for women. He was used to standing in the background for things he didn’t believe in, so standing for something that he did was going to be a cakewalk.
A concern floated into the forefront of Bucky’s mind. He looked down at Evie, who had just recently released him from her death grip of a hug. “You know how to defend yourself right?”
Evie’s brows raised in a challenging manner, “Do I look like I don’t know how to defend myself?” The man shook his head and smiled as the surrounding group laughed. Cassie poured a glass of wine and cracked open a bottle of beer for Bucky.
They all made their way to the comfy couches to snuggle in for a movie night, satisfied with their teachings for the night.
“What are we watching tonight?”
“Well, in the spirit of feminism, we are going to watch Legally Blonde.” Penny commented as she picked up the remote. “And it’s Freddie’s favorite so yeah.”
The lights clicked off as the opening credits ran for the movie. Bucky looked around his group of friends as they giggled at the screen. Evie had her head in Cassie’s lap and she was stretched across the sofa with her feet tucked under Bucky’s thigh. Freddie and Penny were curled up in the loveseat across from where Bucky was. Pieces of popcorn and glasses of red wine were being passed from person to person, with the exception of Evie who was still underage. The energy surrounding the five of them was something Bucky hadn’t experienced in a long time and he wasn’t going to give it up anytime soon either.
A large grin overtook his face, although today was one of the harder lessons for him to learn, he wouldn’t want anyone else to be teaching him.
***********************
@mishaandthebrits
#twenty first century liabilities#bucky x oc#bucky barnes#bucky barnes fanfic#bucky barnes fanfiction#james buchanan barnes#james buchanan barnes fanfic#james buchanan barnes fanfiction#sebastian stan#bucky fanfic#bucky fanfiction#bucky x reader#bucky barnes x reader
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Riding High
Ch18: Sugar
Chapter Summary: It’s July, and Fliss’ birthday…
Chapter Warnings: Bad Language words.!!!
Chapter Pairings: Frank Adler x OFC Fliss Gallagher
A/N: Ok, so I know you’ve all been on edge since He-who-shall-not-be-named was released on parole and I hope this chapter doesn’t disappoint. We’ll be gearing up for a bit of a rough time over the next few chapters for Friss so buckle up…
Disclaimer: This is a pure work of fiction and classified as 18+. Please respect this and do not read if you are underage. I do not own any characters in this series bar Fliss Gallagher and the other OCs. By reading beyond this point you understand and accept the terms of this disclaimer.
Riding High Masterlist // Main Masterlist
Chapter 17
July 2018
“So now what?” Mary looked at Fliss as the two of them sat side by side at the table, both looking at the laptop in front of them.
“See these spaces here…” Fliss said, pointing to two empty squares dotted in the unpublished Internet Page and then to the larger space at the top “Now we need to add the photos…”
They were working on a project of sorts for Sandybrook’s website. They’d decided to give Monty his own little weekly blog for the summer called “The Life of Monty” which Mary had eagerly said she wanted to write, something for her to do over the break. “Ooh, ok!” Mary nodded “I already know which ones I want to use!” “Yeah?” Fliss looked at her.
“I want that one that has me, you and Monty in…you know the one that Frank likes where we are both laughing.” Fliss smiled “Ok, we can use that one.” “And then the other one is the one where Monty had the Party Hat on because it was his birthday.” “Good choice.” Fliss smiled “And what about the one across the top.” “The one of him in the pasture.” Mary said after a moment “Where he is looking up and pulling the funny face, you know with all his teeth out?”
Fliss grinned “Yeah, it looks like he is smiling.” Mary nodded eagerly “Yup.” With a move of the mouse, Fliss set to work selecting the photos, ensuring that they were positioned and sized right for the frames. She couldn’t help but smile at the one of her and Mary. Mary was looking at the camera, laughing a lot whilst Fliss was, in turn, watching her and laughing too. Frank had been trying to take the photo of the 2 of them but Bill had been stood behind him, pulling stupid faces which had reduced Mary to tears, and her giggles had then set Fliss off. Frank said he adored the photo, that much in-fact it was now the screen-saver on his phone.
Fliss clicked save and then looked at Mary. “Wanna give it a final read over, check if you want to add anything else?”
Mary nodded.
“Ok, you do that I’m gonna start dinner.” “What are we having?” Mary looked at her.
“Carbonara. That ok?”
Mary grinned her approval as Fliss stood up, dropped a kiss to Mary’s head and walked into the kitchen.
It wasn’t long before Frank came home and greeted Mary before he headed into the kitchen area. He wrapped his arms round Fliss from behind, dropping a kiss to her neck.
“Good day?” he asked and she hmmed in agreement.
“Not bad…are you filthy, as usual?”
He chuckled as he let her go and moved to the fridge. She stopped what she was doing and turned to face him as he reached in for the water jug. He was, as always, covered in grime from his work and Fliss bit her lip. There was definitely something about seeing him in his dirty work jeans and grubby T-shirts that got her blood pumping.
“Stop it.” he said, giving her a look, knowing full well what she was thinking. She shrugged and with a grin turned back to the food.
“Oh, erm, wanted to check…are you if we use photos of Mary for her blog on the website?” Fliss asked, turning back to him.
“Why wouldn’t I be?” “It’s a public sight.” Fliss shrugged “Just wanted to check that’s all.” “It’s fine.” Frank said, placing a kiss to her cheek “I think it’s a really good idea anyway, give her something to do and practice her writing. Like Bonnie said, she’s sharp on the numbers but could do with honing up her English a little bit. She’s too logical, this should give her something to be creative with and keep her occupied over the break.”
And you…he refrained from adding. In the week following the notification that parole had been granted, John had been released. And this had set Fliss on edge. One night after she had snapped at Frank, causing a full scale argument over the fact he had bought the wrong type of salad dressing, she’d broken down and confessed that she wasn’t sleeping properly and this was causing stupid things, like Ranch v French dressing, to tip her over the edge.
The day after her spectacular salad dressing related melt down, Greg, who had already requested details of the terms of his release, came over and the 3 of them gone through, in detail what it meant realistically for Fliss.
“Basically it’s as good as you could hope for.” Greg explained “He is forbidden from contacting you or any of your family in any way, via any means. He is State-bound to Massachusetts, specifically the Boston area. He’s tagged, and on a curfew between the hours of 7pm and 7am. And moreover the authorities here are following the UK’s lead as well and trialling these new GPS tracking tags, which they’ve deemed him eligible for. So at any time, any place, they’ll be able to lock onto his whereabouts…”
“So if he does breach his conditions…” Fliss started and Greg nodded “They’ll be on him like a shot.” he said, with a gentle smile “Look, I know this is shit…but you really do have nothing to worry about. One breach and he’s back inside. And when he reaches the end of his parole, we’ll file for an injunction with the same conditions. Keep him away from you.”
Since the conversation with Greg, Fliss had calmed down somewhat but still, in week following her confession she didn’t spend a night away from Frank, seemingly coping better with the fact that she was around him, and even when he wasn’t there, the fact she was in his apartment gave her some safety and comfort.
So he’d asked her to move in permanently 3 days ago. Which he was still waiting for an answer on.
“What you thinking?” her voice broke through his thoughts.
“Honestly?”
“Always.” she nodded.
“When you’re gonna give me an answer to that question I asked you a few days back.” She took a deep breath and looked down at the floor before she looked up at him, a soft smile on her face.
“Are you sure you want me here, full time, and you’re not just asking because-“
“Lissy…” he cut her off, shaking his head “I’d have asked you move in here the day I did if I’d thought you’d have said yes. I’d love you to come live with us. And I know Mary would too…” “Ok, that’s blackmail.” she narrowed his eyes at the fact he’d dropped Mary into the equation and he grinned. “Is it working?”
She bit her lip and nodded “Yeah, ok, I’d love to…” “Yeah?” he said, a huge smile spreading across his face, warmth flooding his chest.
“Yeah…” she nodded, and grinned as he wrapped his arms around her, pressing a kiss to her lips.
“Gross…” Mary mumbled as she walked past the pair of them to the fridge, retrieving a juice box. . Frank broke away to look at her as she stabbed the straw into the hole at the top.
“Better get over it Stack.” he smirked. “Fliss just agreed to come live with us.” “Really?” her eyes widened and she grinned as Fliss nodded. Mary moved over to the pair of them and wrapped her arms around them both, Frank’s hand falling to the back of her head as she looked up at him. “Does that mean I don’t need to eat any more of your cooking, like ever again?”
Frank rolled his eyes and glanced at Fliss who was chuckling slightly “Trust me Mary…” she said, grinning “I’ve no intention of eating his cooking either.”
***** Of course Verity and Bill were over the moon when Fliss told them she was moving into Frank’s, and the next week or so they all spent doing various runs with the things she decided she needed to take. Everything else she would be leaving in the annex to either throw or store at a later date.
Considering the amount of time they spent together, it wasn’t a huge change for them, it just meant that the comfortable routine they adopted when they were together became a daily one, and it suited the pair of them just fine. Frank also surprised Fliss by getting her a vanity unit which she had made a passing comment about, making space for it in their room.
After 3 weeks it had become the new normal for them. They shared chores, shared Activity Club runs, grocery shopping, bills…Frank had tried to object to that one but Fliss had put her foot down insisting that if she was living there she was paying her way so he’d caved in the end and agreed. Fliss felt happy, safe, secure, loved...and Frank was over the moon simply knowing he had her to come home to every night.
One particular evening, a few days before her Birthday they were due to meet Evelyn for dinner as she was in town again to visit Mary, but Fliss was running ridiculously late, and as a consequence was in a total flap
“Fuck, fuck…” she groaned, jumping out of the jeep and calling Thor to her. “Come on buddy…”
She hurried across the lawns and threw the door to the apartment open, Thor shooting in before her.
“I’m so sorry I’m late…” she instantly began apologising as she walked into the living area and groaned loudly “The last lesson overran and then one of the waterers broke in the livery barn, flooded Horatio’s stable…” “It’s ok, calm down…” Frank chuckled, dropping a kiss to her cheek. “How did it break?”
“He’s been scratching his arse on it.” she said, rubbing at her temple “He broke it off the wall. We turned the supply off but I had to sort his bed before I left, then call his owner to tell her…” she groaned “Fucking nightmare.” “Want me to take a look at it?”
Fliss shook her head “Dad’s gonna do it tomorrow, keep him busy. He always moans at me for asking you and not…” she trailed off as she spotted Evelyn who was sat on one of the chairs in the living room. “Oh, Evelyn…hi. Sorry, I didn’t realise you were coming here…I thought…”
“We were…” Frank explained “But Mary wasn’t feeling too good so I suggested to Mother she come here instead.” “Oh, no, is she ok?” Fliss asked.
“Too much sun I think, she’s been running around at the Activities Camp all day and hardly drunk anything, despite the lecture you gave her. She’s had some water and gone for a nap. She’ll be fine when it’s time for dinner.”
“I thought seeing as we can’t go out I’d treat you to take out.” Evelyn spoke, standing up. Fliss eyed her for a moment before she shrugged.
“I can make something.” she offered, and Frank shook his head. “No, Lissy…” “I can do chicken with that pear and blue cheese salad you and Mary liked.” Fliss said, “Surely that’s gonna be better for her than a take out if she’s feeling shitty?”
Frank looked at her and then to his mother “That ok with you?” “Sure, that sounds good.” Evelyn nodded “but only if it’s no trouble.” “It’s fine.” Fliss nodded “Let me go take a shower and then I’ll get started ok?” Frank nodded and dropped a kiss to her cheek before she headed off to the bathroom. Thor made his way into the living room and took his usual place on the rug, flopping down as he looked up at Evelyn as she followed Frank over to the kitchen area. He pulled a bottle of white wine out of the fridge and held it up.
“Sancerre?” Evelyn arched an eyebrow. “And a pretty good one too…” “Fliss’ choice, not mine. I assume that means you’d like a glass.” “I don’t want to put you out Frank.” she said, and he shook his head.
“You’re here now so…” he said “Oh, we normally eat outside but I’m not sure if Mary’s-”
“What, in open view of everyone?” Evelyn asked, horrified “It’s hardly-“ She stopped dead as Frank shot her a look, and held her hands up. “Point taken…”
Frank poured her a glass then got a beer for himself and leaned back against the counter as his Mother nodded appreciatively at the wine.
“So, pear and blue cheese…” she said and Frank looked at her “You hated cheese as a child.” “Well, I like it now.” he shrugged “And Mary loves that salad so…” “It’s not a dish I would normally associate with a child to be honest.” Evelyn mused.
“Well, I think we can both agree Mary isn’t a particularly standard child so…”
At that point Fred sauntered into the kitchen, straight to his food bowl. Evelyn eyed him, before she turned to Frank and smiled “I already took a Benadryl…” He snorted and a few seconds later Mary appeared.
“Hi Grandmother. Fliss said you were here.” “You feeling ok?” Frank asked as she walked over to him. He swung her up and she rest her head on his shoulder, nodding. “Want some more water?” “Fliss told me to ask for the elec…erm…the electo-” “Electrolytes” he said, nodding. “Not a bad shout…”
He set her on the counter and then reached into the cabinet to the right of the sink where they kept the medical supplies and pulled a sachet from the box. Grabbing a glass he pulled the Filter jug out of the fridge and made her the drink before he handed it to her. “Take it slow ok?” She nodded and took it from him with a thanks, sipping at it carefully, pulling a face. “What flavour is that?” “It says orange.” he answered, looking at the packet.
“Well it’s wrong. That’s disgusting.” “It’s good for you, so stop complaining.” Frank tossed the empty sachet into the trash.
To his surprise he heard his mother chuckling and he turned to look at her. “I remember giving you something similar when you came home with sunstroke from playing Baseball all afternoon. You spat it out and told me you’d rather die than drink it.” Frank gave a huff and then turned to Mary who was grinning ear to ear “Don’t even think about it.” he pointed at her.
She shrugged and then took another mouthful, grimacing as she drank. “Please can I get down?” Frank obliged and watched as she headed off to the sofa, Thor jumping up besides her, settling his head in her lap.
“Go and talk to her.” Frank looked at his mother “That’s why you’re here, to spend time with her. Not me.”
Evelyn nodded, and for a moment Frank thought he saw a flicker of emotion in the woman’s eyes, but as quick as it had flashed across her face it was gone and she turned and made her way into the sofa. Frank leaned on the edge of the archway which led into the living area and watched as she sat down in the chair she had occupied previously before he heard the door to the bathroom open again, signalling Fliss was out of the shower. He moved to start taking the different things they needed to make dinner out of the fridge and turned on the oven before he seasoned the chicken breasts just as she had shown him with salt, pepper, chilli and a squeeze of lime. He dropped it onto a tray, placed it in the oven and was washing his hands when Fliss walked dressed casually in a pair of shorts and a fading Guns N Roses tank top. She was barefoot and her damp hair was piled up on her head in a haphazard bun. This was Frank’s favourite way to see her. Completely relaxed and at home.
“Chicken’s in.” he said as he turned to the fridge and then poured her a glass of wine.
“Thank you.” she smiled, taking a sip.
“Can I show Evelyn around?” Mary asked, and Frank turned to her.
“Finished your drink?” “Yeah.” “Ok then yes, of course you can.” She stood up and Evelyn followed, giving the pair of them a smile as she passed by the kitchen area of the open plan living space
“Oh, Felicity.” “Fliss, please.” Fliss nodded to her as she turned back to what she was doing.
“Fliss, sorry, but could I be awkward?” Evelyn asked.
“No doubt you can.” Fliss mumbled between gritted teeth and Frank smirked to himself before she tuned to look at Evelyn.
“Could I ask for my salad dressing on the side?”
“That’s fine.” Fliss nodded “I’ll make you a separate bowl.” “Thank you, that’s very kind.” Evelyn smiled before she headed out after Mary.
“If she doesn’t eat this, then she’s gonna be wearing it.” Fliss looked at Frank who let out a laugh as he chopped up the slices of cucumber.
“Now that I would pay to see.” “I’ll do it for free.” Fliss narrowed her eyes.
Frank chuckled again as they continued to make their food. After about 10 minutes or so, just as they were dropping the salad bowls onto the table, Evelyn and Mary re-appeared.
“You’ve made a nice home, certainly considering the area anyway.” Evelyn said, as Frank invited her to sit at the table before he headed back to grab the bottle of wine, a beer for himself and more water for Mary.
Fliss rolled her eyes” The area is fine, and Frank did it all, not me. Well, him and my dad. I only moved in a few weeks ago.”
“Yes, he does speak very highly of your parents.” “Well they love him.” Fliss shrugged “But then again what’s not to love.”
Evelyn looked at Fliss for a moment as Frank made his way back to the table, and they all settled down and began to eat. As she had been at Mary’s birthday, his mother was polite, nodding appreciatively at the food, joining in the conversation and she sat with Mary once they’d finished so Mary could show he the latest installation of Monty’s blog. After another bottle of wine and a few more beers, Frank realised it was getting quite late and then told Mary she needed to be getting ready for bed. Evelyn took this as her queue to call for her driver, which Frank was pleased about as it saved him having to ask her to leave.
Mary headed for a shower and the three adults made small talk until she reappeared in her pyjamas just as Evelyn’s driver called to announce his arrival. She bid Mary goodnight and then Frank made to walk her down to her car when the woman surprised him and looked at Fliss.
“Could you…I’d like to speak to you.” Fliss looked at Frank before she shrugged “Yeah, sure…” Frank frowned, but didn’t object. He looked at his mother and nodded “Let me know when you want to see her again.”
“I was actually wondering if she could come to Boston for a few days.” Evelyn said and Frank took a deep breath. “Obviously, when it’s convenient.” “Maybe.” He nodded “Goodbye Evelyn.” “Yes, I’ll call you.” she nodded and then the two women headed out of the apartment. Fliss stuck her hands in her pockets as they walked.
“I’m glad he took my advice.” Evelyn broke the silence “Regarding you, I mean…”
“Yeah he told me what you said to him.” Fliss gave a snort “Gotta say I was surprised after I’d unleashed quite a nasty verbal tirade on you…” “Well I think all things considered at the time I deserved it.” Evelyn shrugged “And I’m not surprised you hate me so-“
“I don’t hate you Evelyn.” Fliss cut her off, shaking her head “I hate what you did to Frank and Mary, and honestly? I still don’t understand it.”
“I thought I was doing the right thing.” “But how?” Fliss pressed “How was tearing a girl away from the only father figure she has ever known, the man that has cared for her and loved her since she was six months old the right thing?”
Evelyn shook her head “I know Frank and I made an assumption-” “No, you knew Frank.” Fliss looked at her, “It was, what? Almost 8 years since you saw him last when you turned up…and how long was it before he left Boston since you actually had a conversation with him? I just…” Fliss trailed off and looked down at her feet before she glanced back at Frank’s mother “it baffles me how someone can be so callous towards their own child, that’s all.”
Fliss watched as Evelyn stopped and looked at her “What do you want me to say?” “An apology might not go amiss…” “I did that with his birthday card, paying the fees…” “Money doesn’t make it ok Evelyn.” Fliss sighed, “And a card isn’t the same as saying it to his face…” she scratched at her head “If you want to try and salvage something from this mess, have some form of relationship with your son…” “What makes you think-“ “Because I saw you this evening, at various points, watching him…you might be able to keep your face straight but the eyes don’t lie” Fliss said gently. Evelyn looked down at the ground as Fliss continued. “I suggest you start with a verbal apology, a very open and honest discussion, because that’s when you get the best out of Frank. On a face-to-face level, when he isn’t being lied or talked down to”
“You really do know him exceptionally well don’t you?” Evelyn smiled.
“Well, we’ve had enough of our own discussions recently with everything that’s been going on so…” “Right, your ex-husband.” “How do you-“ Fliss sighed, “Mary?” “No, actually, she never said a word. I looked you up.”
“Course you did.” Fliss groaned.
“I was curious about your family.” Evelyn shrugged “You have quite the back story.” “Yeah well, its history.” she said “And long may it stay that way.”
“Well I hope for all your sakes it does.” Evelyn shook her head “Nothing I can’t stand less than a man that deems it acceptable to do that. Lord knows I pushed Preston the extremes at times but he never once raised a hand to me…or his voice now that I think about it. He preferred to argue on a cerebral level...”
“Very like Frank.” Fliss smiled.
“Yes, the two are exceptionally similar.” Evelyn said as they reached the car. “Thank you for dinner Fliss, it was a very enjoyable evening.” Fliss smiled and then as Evelyn opened the car door the woman turned back to her “Just think about what I said Evelyn. You can’t turn the clock back but it’s how you go forward from here that matters.”
Evelyn nodded, and with that she climbed in the car and shut the door. Fliss watched them drive off before she turned and headed back towards the apartment. “You ok?” Frank asked, turning to look over the back of the sofa as she walked into the living area.
“Yeah, fine.” Fliss smiled. “Mary in bed?”
“She’s reading” Frank nodded “Told her you’d pop in and say goodnight.” Fliss yawned as she slid her arms round his shoulders from behind “I’ll go now, then I think I’ll get in bed myself. I’m whacked.” Frank smiled and turned his head to give her a kiss “I’m just gonna finish watching this and then I’ll be with you.” “What is it?” Fliss asked, turning her attention to the TV.
“A documentary on whales, funnily enough. You’d enjoy it…” “You’re such an old man” she teased and he scoffed.
“Not what you were saying last night.”
Fliss laughed “Well you keep yourself in good shape, what can I say.” With that she kissed his cheek and headed down the hall.
After bidding goodnight to Mary and Thor, who seemed very happy to remain in Mary’s room with Fred, she changed for bed and slipped into the sheets, stretching out before she got herself comfortable. She was dozing, drifting in and out of a light sleep when she felt Frank climb into bed behind her, wrapping his arms around her, pulling her to his chest.
“Finish whale watching?” she asked as he dropped a kiss to her shoulder.
“Yeah.” he said gently. “So you gonna tell me what my mother wanted?” “Nothing much…” Fliss turned in his arms so she was facing him. “She was actually quite contrite.”
“Course she was…” “No, I mean it, I think she’s genuinely sorry.” Her hand gently traced shapes on his bicep “Maybe you should give her a chance to apologise properly.”
“That must have been one hell of a talk.” Frank snorted “You were all for dumping salad on her head before!”
“We had a very honest discussion, I got a few things off my chest.” Fliss shrugged “And, well, like it or not she’s still your mum Frank.” “No, she’s my mother.” he corrected her “Your mom is a mom.”
“Was your dad a dad or a father?” “He was a dad.” Frank said, “Most definitely.”
“Do you remember much about him?” she asked.
“Little bits.” Frank’s hand tucked her hair behind her ear. “Mostly about stuff we did. Baseball, football, when he taught me how to ride a bike. All the fun stuff you do with kids really.” he took a deep breath.
“What did he do?” “He was a Surgeon” Frank said “Neurology.” “Really?” Fliss looked up at Frank as he nodded “Well that’s pretty cool!”
“Yeah.” Frank nodded “I wanted to be just like him when I was a kid. I sometimes wonder if I idolise him a bit more because he’s dead you know but…” “Have you ever asked your mother what he was like? You know, since he died?” “Once or twice.” Frank replied “For all of Evelyn’s faults she did love Dad. She gave up her own career and research partnership she had with Cambridge in London to move to Boston when she met him. Then they had me. I think she resented me a little bit at first because me and dad were so close, and then when Diane came along that was it, Daddy’s girl...”
“No longer his main woman.” Fliss smiled.
“Something like that. You know, I do wonder at times why on Earth she had us.” Frank snorted “if we were such inconveniences…” “It can’t all have been bad.” “Well we wanted for nothing. In fact, we were both very spoilt. And yeah, we had Birthday parties, fun, vacations, trips…but when dad died…I dunno, it kinda went to rat-shit.” “It must have been hard for Evelyn you know, losing him when you were both so young.”
“Yeah.” Frank sighed “I’ve no doubt it was. I remember the police coming round and breaking the news about the accident…only time I’ve ever seen her break down.”
“You know before, she said that you remind her of your dad.” Fliss looked at him.
“Yeah she’s told me the same, last time I saw her in fact. Probably why she doesn’t particularly enjoy being around me that much.” “I think she enjoys it a lot more than she lets on.” Fliss shrugged “And besides, I enjoy being around you. And so do my parents…so…”
Frank gave her a soft smile before she leaned up and gave him a kiss. “I know…” he said, as she snuggled into his chest “And that’s all I care about.” ******
Friday rolled around and with it came Fliss’ birthday. Frank was pretty sure Mary was more excited than Fliss to give her the gifts they had bought, and with good reason. Fliss beamed as she opened her various packages from them both, which included a bottle of her favourite perfume, a pale blue and white striped sleeveless button down which Frank had thought was quite nautical so very apt and a box of British chocolate. Bonnie had also stopped round the night before to give her a bottle of her favourite gin and a huge bag of sweets which she declared she was hiding from Frank as she didn’t trust him not to eat them.
Frank then handed her the envelope with her main present in and she opened it, her mouth dropping open as she looked at the Broadway Tickets.
“Lion King?” she said, looking up at him. “We’re going to see the Lion King?” He nodded, smiling “I know you wanted to go so…” “Oh my God…thank you!” she practically squealed throwing her arms round his neck, kissing his cheek.
“You’re welcome.” he smiled, winking at Mary over his shoulder. She gave him the thumbs up. Fliss turned back to look at the pile of presents arranged on the coffee table before Mary handed her another smaller wrapped one.
“This is from me…and Fred…and Thor.” she added and Fliss smiled, unwrapping the small black box. She opened it, and a small card fell out which she picked up and read out loud.
“We hope you enjoy your “Precious Paws” hand-made resin beads…” she trailed off, and glanced down at the charms in more detail. One was green speckled with gold and the other was blue speckled with silver.
“The green one has some of Heidi’s tail hair in it…” Mary pointed as Fliss gently took it from the box to examine it in more detail, clearly seeing where the hair was wound through the resin of the bead “And the Blue one has Thor’s in.”
“I…” Fliss felt herself choke up “Mary these are beautiful, where did you…” “Joanne told me about them.” Mary said, and Frank smiled at her “And then Frank helped me order them…” “They’re not officially Pandora but the woman said when we emailed her they’d fit the standard bracelet.” He said as she turned her head to look at him, her eyes shining.
“Thank you both, so much…” she turned to Mary and wrapped her up in a hug before she did the same to Frank, giving him a soft kiss “Love you.” “Happy birthday Sweetheart.” he smiled, hugging her again.
As Fliss had booked the day off, so had Frank so the three of them along with Thor and Fred spent the afternoon after visiting Fliss’ mum and dad on one of the boats belonging to Paul, the owner of the shop Frank worked in. Frank had deliberately chosen one of the smaller ones so they could access the small stretch of sand just off St Pete’s beach that they all loved. It was quieter than the main beach as it wasn’t reachable unless you waded or sailed over and they spent the afternoon on the beach with a few beers and a picnic, before they headed home. Mary crashed out on the way back, her head lolling on Fliss’s lap as she sat at the front of the boat, her bare feet resting on the bar in front of her, simply watching the dolphins. Thor was barking at them like mad, wagging his tail and then suddenly he shot to the bow of the boat, placing both his paws up on the metal, threatening to throw himself overboard. Frank’s hand shot out to grab his collar.
“Dumbass…” he yanked him back, and turned to Fliss “Does this mutt have a brain in his head?”
“Don’t’ talk about my baby like that…” she narrowed her eyes at Frank as she covered Thor’s ears with her hands as he sat by her feet, tail thumping on the floor. “Fred does his share of stupid shit too, like getting his head stuck in cereal boxes.”
Frank rolled his eyes “At least Fred knows not to jump in the ocean.”
“That’s because he has no sense of adventure.” Fliss shot back, causing Frank to snort. Standing up, Fliss gently moved Mary, so that she was led flat down before she stretched and moved next to Frank who tossed his arm over her shoulder.
“Had a good day?” he asked and she grinned, nodding.
“The best.” she smiled “I love it when you bring me out sailing.” “I’m driving.” he turned to face her, grinning. “You’re sailing.”
“Whatever” he mumbled as his lips pressed to hers. She snaked her arms around his neck as his slid round her back, pulling her closer to him as he kissed her deeply his tongue sliding against hers.
“You can unwrap your last present when we get home…” he said, grinning like a school boy as he rest his forehead head against hers.
“Yeah?” she asked, arching an eyebrow
“I’d let you unwrap it now but…” he nodded to Mary and she snorted.
“You know we’ve not actually done that.” she mused. “Sex on a boat I mean…” Frank let out a laugh “You harbouring a bit of a sailing kink?” “More of a sailor kink” she shot back and he shook his head, giving her another quick kiss before he turned his attention back to the boat as he guided it back into the Marina.
He made good on his promise once they got back, loved on his girl. Once in the shower and then again later on when he woke up as Fliss had done the same to use the bathroom. Frank knew he would never get tired of hearing the soft cries of his names and the various encouragements she gave him when she begged him not to stop or told him how good he was making her feel. As he tumbled right over that edge, behind her 3rd, or was it 4th orgasm, he’d lost count, his fingers tightened slightly on her hips as his head tipped back in ecstasy. He lay still, panting as she collapsed onto his chest, his hands stroking up and down her spine as she lifted her head, grinning as she caught his lips in a soft kiss before falling down onto the mattress next to him. She looked at him, her eyes flashing in the soft light that was sneaking into the room through the crack in the curtains, a look of pure love on her face, as if he had hung the moon and the stars in the sky, and it was enough to choke him up slightly. He still wasn’t sure he was worthy of her unadulterated adoration, but damned it, he’d try constantly to be the best version of himself if it kept her by his side.
He didn’t wake the next morning when Fliss’ alarm went off. Instead he woke to a gentle kiss to his cheek and as he roused himself the smell of freshly brewed coffee hit his senses. Blinking he smiled softly as Fliss placed a mug on his night stand.
“What time is it?” Frank asked.
“Just gone seven. I’ve got an early appointment with the Ariat rep at the stables, remember?” “Oh, yeah…” he yawned, rubbing his eyes.
“You told me to wake you before I left.”
“Yeah, I don’t know why I did that…” he moaned and she chuckled.
“You gonna bring Mary up later?”
“Yeah, I’ll leave he with you for the afternoon if that’s ok? Need to clean the boat and get it back.” “Course it is.” she smiled. With that she bent over to kiss him again and in a shot Frank’s arms were round her waist and she was flat on her back on the bed, laughing as he caged her with his arms.
“Frank…” she whined, as he kissed her softly “I can’t, I’m gonna be late as it is…” “One more kiss, come one…” he pleaded, and she relented as he pressed his lips to hers before she eventually pulled away and shoved on his chest. With a pout he moved allowing her to stand and she shook her head at him.
“You’ll be the death of me Frank Adler.” she said, straightening her top and he eyed her figure up as she did so and gave a shrug.
“What a way to go…” he smirked and with that she reached down, grabbed one of the various scatter cushions that lived on the bed during the day, and smacked him straight on the face with it.
He and Mary shared a lazy morning before they both dressed and headed out going via the bakery at the end of the high street to pick up a coffee and some Danishes for a late breakfast for Fliss as he knew she’d have left without eating any, she always did when she was out earlier than them. As he pulled up, Mary was out of the truck before he had stopped, something which he was fed up of telling her off for.
Frank walked into Fliss’ office where he placed the bag of food on the desk, along with the cardboard carrier which contained their coffee and gave her cheek a kiss. Mary shot into the tack room, grabbed her little box of brushes and shot off to go and see Monty.
“Bye then…” he said sarcastically, and she completely ignored him. He snorted, shaking his head as Fliss laughed.
“Busy morning?” he asked and Fliss nodded.
“I’ll say.” she nodded to the bag “Saturday’s always are…aww, you bring me breakfast?”
“If 11 am counts as breakfast” he snorted and Fliss laughed as she continued sifting through the pile of envelopes on her desk. There was one that contained a few clearly hand delivered cards, he could tell by the shape and the fact they had no post marks, and then another small pile that had arrived in the post. “Bill, bill…oh…” She stopped at a bigger envelope. “A card?”
Frank shrugged. She turned it over, ripped open the envelope and pulled out a white card with simple block writing on the front in multi-colours. With a frown she opened it and scanned the greeting, before her eyes grew wide and she threw it down onto the desk.
“Lissy?” Frank frowned, and he looked at her as she shook her head, taking a deep breath, before she swallowed and turned to face him. “Honey, what is it?” “It’s…” she swallowed, her eyes wide “That card…it’s…it’s from John.”
Frank’s face grew harsh as he grabbed the card and read the greeting. It was 3 words long. 3 simple words, but even he knew from what she’d told him about the name John used to call her, that it was from him. Happy Birthday Sugar. “Fucker.” Frank growled, tossing the card back onto the desk as Fliss turned to him and he wrapped her in his arms, letting her simply press her face into his chest. He rubbed his hand gently up and down her back as her breathing evened out and she stepped back. “You ok?” “Yeah…” she said, “Do me a favour and get rid of it.” “Don’t you wanna call the police?” he frowned.
“They’re not going to do anything about a card.” she shook her head
“He’s broken his parole…” “And they can’t prove its him.” she sighed “They’re not gonna DNA test or whatever on that…” “Fliss…”
“No, Frank…just…” she shook her head. “Please, do what I ask and rip it up, burn it, whatever, I just…get rid of it”
“Ok, ok…” he appeased and she nodded, before she looked to the doorway and hastily her face rearranged into a smile.
“Hi Steph!” she greeted. Frank turned to see a dark haired woman dressed in riding gear, Fliss’ next client. “DJ is ready, get Jo to get you on and I’ll be out in a moment.” The woman smiled and headed off down the yard. Fliss looked at Frank.
“I didn’t think about the fact this place was so easy to find.” she shook her head “The webpage…” Frank sighed, it was something if truth be told he hadn’t considered either “Look, the worst he can do is send you shit.” he said, almost trying to convince himself as well “He can’t set foot out of Mass…he’s clearly doing this to try and upset you so…” “Well he can fuck off and die.” Fliss said venomously, “Ass hole…a fucking birthday card? He’s clearly losing his touch.” With that she gave his cheek a peck and grabbed a Danish out of the bag before she picked up her coffee. “This lesson is only half an hour so as soon as I’m done Mary can ride Monty and then she can do her jobs and stuff. You go and clear the boat from yesterday or whatever it is you were planning on doing and I’ll give you a call later ok?”
“Sure.” he nodded.
“Love you.” she smiled at him, before she left the room.
Frank watched her go before he looked at the card. She’d asked him to get rid of it…but something was telling him not to. He pondered it for a moment before he tucked the offending item back into the envelope and then curled it up so it would fit in his back pocket, before he headed out to the jeep, pulling his phone free as he walked.
“S’up Man?” Greg greeted him as he opened his truck door threw the envelope onto the passenger seat.
“I need some advice.” Frank spoke quietly, glancing over to where Fliss was now stood in the middle of the paddock, the women on the large grey horse was walking around her in a circle. “Can we meet?”
**** Chapter 19
#riding high#frank adler#frank adler x ofc#frank adler x original female character#gifted#gifted fan fic
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The Agreement (Part 14.)
Pairing(s): frat boy!fwb!Tom x reader, frat boy!Harrison x reader
Summary: Tom is a typical frat boy, his love for partying, drinks and girls are bigger than his ego. Y/N is a whole different dimension, she keeps her circle small, and even though she knows her best friend Tom is a total douche, she can’t say no to the little deal that was sealed between the two of them
Word count: 4.3k
A/N: Well I’m back with a new part! Sooo after this part there will be probably 1-2 more chapters before the ending. Thank you once again for the love and beautiful feedback:)
Warnings: SMUT 18+, oral (f receiving), fingering, swearing, angst
Add yourself to my tag list || Masterlist
< Previous Part
“Need your help.”
Tom was out of breath, his cheeks flushed, and he seemed nervous? Yeah, definitely nervous.
“I’m having History in 10, make it quick.” You sigh, not wanting to talk with Tom right now. Probably the images of him and Evelyn couldn’t let you be all jolly and sweet as always, and they sure didn’t let you read your book in peace before being interrupted.
“Could you like come to my frat after your lectures?” Tom tried to avoid the real reason why he needed you there, he wasn’t sure either about all of it but he thought that maybe this was a chance for a new and fresh start.
“Your frat? Why?” Tom didn’t prefer you spending time together there, you both enjoyed the silent and warm atmosphere in your apartment. You weren’t a fan of his frat as well, you didn’t want to be marked as one of his one night adventures by the others so the question brought you off guard.
“You’re honest and the boys wouldn’t help much with this, I need you to help me get ready.” His jaw tensed, he was admiring your hair that was sticking out everywhere and how you still adored to read in your free time. It was the small things he loved about you that others didn’t possess or didn’t do. Is that maybe why his heart made a little flip while talking to Evelyn? Because you both were almost the same? He hoped not.
“You’re giving me everything I don’t need to know.” You chuckled at the lost, nervous rambling Tom that people never saw because he kept his true personality hidden.
“I will totally understand if you can’t..”
“Tom.” You stood up, eyes on his brown ones that tried so hard not to avoid yours.
“I have a date tonight.” Tom’s voice was almost a whisper, he didn’t want to rub it in your face and he probably came off as a dick, unintentionally now. That night he wanted to respond to your feelings, he wanted to spill everything out, he even typed the response a few times but something was always blocking him to send it.
“That’s great.” Your voice didn’t show any emotions. You swallowed hard, afraid of your own mind and voice after his statement. Most of your time today was spent thinking how would you approach him and start the conversation about the emotions that were bottled up inside. However Tom’s words were loud and clear for you, he didn’t want to talk nor have anything with you, and that’s how things should be from now on.
“Is it? I mean it’s my first real date? You know I’m a bit stupid about these things so your help would be great love.”
Love, love, love.
You will never get tired of that pet name, rolling off his tongue so perfectly. Now you were thinking how the pet name won’t be yours only.
“Sure, your frat?” You asked once again like you weren’t listening in the first place, bringing your book closer to your chest.
“Yeah, don’t mind the boys they are jerks.” Tom smiled brightly, hugging you tightly to say thanks. His heart fluttered when he felt your arms resting on his back. The warmth that was coming from your body didn’t let him break the hug, it felt right, so right to hold you like this. Tom always loved how your whole body was shielded by his arms, your scent calming his nerves every time you were in his embrace. His fingertips would caress your hair tenderly, you were the only one who he showed some kind of affection but he always thought that it was just a best friend thing to do.
“Six?” Tom asked, unwrapping his arms from your body scared he won’t be able to let go if you stayed like that a minute more.
“Six.”
Words seemed so foreign at that moment, it was so strenuous to say anything more at that point. Tom made his decision, it was time for you to respect it. You tried, both of you tried, tried to keep your silly deal, tried to balance it with other things and tried to mend the pieces. You succeeded in something and maybe it’s time to accept how you’re both better off as friends like before. You were delighted how his true nature came to the surface. At least he isn’t into his old habits, it was his chance to turn his life into something he needed and deserved, Evelyn could give him that.
And Harrison could give what you needed too.
Tom could feel his stomach turn upside down after he started to talk to Evelyn today. She was a bit sceptical, not sure why he was talking to her in the first place. Tom was fine with that, it will take time for people to finally believe him he wasn’t that guy anymore. A selfish, egocentric dick that only uses girls for his own pleasure. No one would buy that shit that he changed overnight, but it was the truth and he wanted to prove it, especially to you. If only all of this happened a few months before, if only his best friend wasn’t in the picture he wouldn’t even hesitate to make sweet love to you after your confession. But that was only an if that sounded too good to be true.
-
“Y/N, hello.” The green eyes were basically undressing your comfy clothes that you wore too often lately.
“Ben.” You greeted back politely, hoping he would get lost as soon as you enter his frat. Every guy in Tom’s frat was a pompous ass, the only thing that mattered to them was a good one night shag, nothing else. They were smart, sweet talkers, they knew how to get a girl wrapped around their fingers and it was sometimes disturbing to even watch it.
“What brings this beauty to our frat?” He followed your figure inside, almost attaching himself to your hip.
“Need to help Tom out with some stuff.”
The whistles and claps were roaring through the big space, everyone’s eyes on you. Everyone’s except the ones you needed right now.
“Holy fuck, Tom’s not stopping isn’t he? Man, didn’t think you liked guys like him Y/N you’re a big surprise.” The blonde one spoke, sending you a wink that was anything but comfortable. All of them had a reputation, something that they got from Tom. He was like an idol to him, they always looked up to him.
“I have a boyfriend.” Nothing but whistles again.
“You do? What a shame babe, you’re gorgeous.” Ben didn’t stop, no one did and you still couldn’t believe how girls found that attractive.
“Leave her alone guys.” Tom’s voice interrupted their almost monologue, signalling you to come with him.
“No worries Tom, she is all yours our lips are sealed boss.” They smirked playfully, thinking how you were another one that will be tossed out in a few hours.
“I’m so sorry.” He whispered, embarrassed how he was one of them a few days ago. It was a novelty to see a girl so uncomfortable around them, every other would be throwing themself on his frat mates instantly after they began flirting. That’s why you were special and always will be.
“It’s fine, nothing I haven’t seen before.” You chuckled as you both entered his room that was different from the previous time you were here. It was much tidier, clothes weren’t sprawled out on the floor and his bed looked clean.
“I am so nervous and also don’t you dare to tell them that I am freaking out because of this.” He warned you jokingly, making you smile widely but not honestly like you would always when he joked with you.
“I don’t even know them and they don’t know what a talk is if it’s not flirting.” You followed his movements, how his palms were going up and down his hair anxiously. He took a deep breath before turning his gaze towards you. Everything about tonight was making him feel sick, but in a good way. Tom hoped he won’t block in front of Evelyn and make a fool of himself, he was exhilarated about the date, he knew that Evelyn would see the best in him just like you did but he couldn’t stop the sadness in him, he wanted his first date to be with you. Tom wanted to do everything he didn’t before with you first.
“Tom?” Your angelic voice woke him up, your body near his. His face went pale, offering you a shaky smile hoping you didn’t ask him a question while he was zoned out.
You were so beautiful and your pink lips were irresistible he just wanted to feel them on his for a second.
“You didn’t listen at all. You’re smitten already.” Your voice thick, jealous how he was truly excited about the girl he was going out with.
“S-Sorry, no, no I was thinking about something.” Tom tried to explain himself, but he still didn’t know why because you both agreed to stop whatever was between you in the past.
“No it’s fine. Happened to me a lot when I had my first date with Harrison so it’s all good you’re just nervous and don’t want to listen to anybody.” You needed to bring Harrison in this, if Tom wanted to show you how you were completely done than maybe you should start acting like it. After all it wouldn’t be fair not to be happy for your best friend even if you didn’t work out.
“Yeah I am a bit lost here but I am ready.” His statement came off unsure, he was still questioning it.
“So while you daydreamed lover boy I already got you your combination.”
“You did?” Can you be more amazing? He thought to himself, looking at your proud face while you shoved the clothes in his hands. But he didn’t realise how his thoughts were actually heard.
“Thanks, I could try.” You gave him a shy grin, lowering your gaze towards the red carpet that imitated your cheeks in that moment.
“Thank you love.” His figure disappeared behind the bathroom door, leaving you alone in the room he always imagined about in high school. His walls were full of pictures and trophies. Tom always felt a sentimental attachment to everything, memories were a important thing to him. Just like the picture of you and him from prom. The day was crystal clear in your mind and even if you didn’t go with him it was the most memorable event from high school. You intentionally wanted him to take you on that stupid dance but Elena was the better choice for him after all. Both of you were posing near the decorated wall in the hallway, his arm around your hip and your head resting on his chest. You weren’t a fan of taking pictures but his whines and goofy smile coaxed you into taking one with him.
“Please love. Just one, for my future wall.”
“You and your future wall, bet you have tons of things to pin up, this one will be so dull near the other stuff.” You laughed together in the empty hallway, still not knowing how and who will take the picture.
“I promise this one will be the biggest one. Please sweetheart, for your favourite person here.” The small pout on his face and pleads made your heart melt. You wanted to have at least one picture from this night and if it can be with Tom you definitely won’t say no.
“God fine, just one.” You raised your eyebrows, trying to look serious but his grin from ear to ear made you chuckle like crazy.
Tom wanted to drag someone here to take the picture but he also wanted you to be a bit relaxed, so he will do it himself. The camera was placed on the small glass where the school trophies were held looking right at you two.
“Great, now come here.” He rushed back, grabbing your sides and bringing you close to him. Your head was near his heart that was beating rhythmically, and your palm flush against his chest. Tom’s hand took yours, his eyes lowered down to look at your warm ones.
“See, not that bad.” He didn’t want to force you to look at the camera, he wanted you relaxed and not stiffened.
“You better make this one the largest on that wall.”
“Will do my love.” Tom promised, grabbing the device, before guiding you both back to the room full of people.
And he really kept his promise, the picture on the wall was the most noticeable one.
You were already tired, so tired from this. You didn’t want to be the bad friend, you loved him since you were little and you wanted Tom to be happy but you just couldn’t help it.
“This is brilliant, I knew you would help me like always.” Tom spoke, but your eyes never left the picture that was hanging on his wall.
Tom saw your small smile and emotions in your eyes that were fixed on the wall. His eyes landed on the memory he still loved to remember every now and then.
“I still can’t believe it that you took a picture after I pleaded and pleaded for the whole night.” He breathed out a titter, his hot breath hitting the nape of your neck sending chills down your spine.
“You really put it on your wall.” You said, voice almost cracking from the emotions that were mixed up inside of you.
“I told you I would make it the biggest one here love.” Your body turned to his, your eyes finally meeting. He was looking better than ever. Absolutely breathtaking. Evelyn just hit the jackpot.
“Y-You look wonderful. Told you that it will look great on you.” You forced a smile, admiring his figure and the bright smile on his face.
“Thank you, I owe you Y/N.”
Your heart was beating rapidly, his hands were on your back brushing it slowly in circles. Tom was secretly debating everything, should he follow his heart or mind? As much as his heart says you, it also says let her be happy.
“It’s nothing Tom. Hope you have the best night with Evelyn, you deserve it.” You tried to offer him the most genuine smile, but your lips just curved into a wretched one. Eyes were starting to burn from the tears that began to form and the lack of eye contact was killing you just like it was killing Tom.
“You know that I love you.” Tom swallowed the lump in his throat, looking at your face that got reddish almost instantly when the words slipped past his lips. His lips were dry, he wanted to bring you closer, kiss you continuously until your lips were swollen. Still he knew that things didn’t work like that. Everyone was right, the arrogance and cockiness didn’t give him what he wanted, he was actually paying that stupid price for his behaviour.
“I know.” You couldn’t say it back, it felt like your vocal cords were tied and completely blocked. Tom was waiting, but he understood how though it was for the both of you.
“Call me when you get home, tell me how it went.” Your throat was burning more and more after every word, you didn’t want to ruin his night so you needed to get yourself together.
“Of course, you’re the first one who will know the details.”
“You will have a great night, she is wonderful don’t mess it up.”
“I won’t.” What kind of a coward is he, he wanted to end this right now, but why was his body so tense like he couldn’t move at all to grab your body that was getting closer to the door.
“I will see you then?”
“Yeah, thank you.” He clenched his jaw and shut his eyes immediately after he heard the door close. Tom cursed quietly, running his fingers through the brown locks while he exhaled from the frustration.
He was stupid, he knew that. You were honest with him, you wanted him and now he blew it all.
-
“You seem a bit off today?” Your voice interrupted the silence that started to be a bit awkward between you and Harrison. He was usually full of energy, always around you, but today he was totally zoned out.
“Hm? Sorry, it’s just college and stuff.” College and stuff. Was it though? It looked like he had a lot on his plate today, and you were curious about it.
“You sure? Nothing else?”
“Nothing else.” Harrison was awfully silent and being nosy wasn’t you so dropping it would be the best.
Harrison hated how he was acting now, it reminded him of the times when Emily was off most of their time. Emily.
Emily, Emily, Emily.
She was the main reason for everything that was going on. She didn’t let him breathe normally after that party, her voice and face was everywhere haunting him non stop. Harrison was fighting with himself, he realised how stupid he was for even agreeing to that coffee and for agreeing again to meet her. He had you, you were someone that made him believe in the love that seemed so complicated because of others. You were always here, your presence was like a ray of sunshine to him. The guilt was eating him alive even if he didn’t do anything with Em, but it was eating him because he knew how he would feel if you did the same.
Hey, busy?
His phone lit up, the phone number he recognised very well made his whole body shift in his seat. Harrison was panicking, looking at you that was far away from him, trying to focus on whatever show was playing on the television.
I’m with my girlfriend now.
This should be enough to stop the texting shouldn’t it? God, why was he even responding?
Sorry for bothering, I will text you later.
He didn’t respond, the event from a few hours ago was repeating in his head. When did he become a guy like that? Things like this wouldn’t even cross his mind, and yet Emily was playing with him like he was a toy.
“Are you listening to me?” Your small voice that was full of concern ringed in his ears. You were an angel, he would be a complete idiot to mess what he has with you.
“Sorry.” He rubbed his eyes, ashamed how he was thinking about a girl that was like a nightmare to him a few months ago while the girl of his dreams was right next to him.
“I asked you if you wanted something?” Tom and Harrison were too much, you wanted to have a chill night in Harrison’s arms, trying to forget everything but they both ruined it.
“No, thanks.” His answer was dry, so dry that it made you afraid. What if he also got bored with you?
“Is everything alright?” You tried again, tried to look at his face to get anything from him but he was too hard to read.
“It’s nothing honestly.” Bullshit.
You didn’t have the will nor strength to get him to confess whatever’s been bothering him. You were just tired, aching for some hands to hold you and give you the love you needed.
Harrison sighed, staring at your disappointed face that got lost in the kitchen. He was acting like a jerk, he knew how the feeling of someone ignoring you was appalling and now he was doing it to his girl. There wasn’t an excuse for his behaviour, and there shouldn’t even be one in the first place. His actions were a mistake, you were the one he wanted not someone who swore on his life to give him infinite love and yet left him heartbroken and alone.
Harrison’s eyes were following your steps, how you still brought him a drink even when he was acting incoherently. His arms sneaked around your waist after you put the drinks on the table making you squeal from the sudden touch.
“Harrison.” You whined as his lips pressed a chaste kiss on your cheek, hands still around your sides.
“I’m sorry.” Harrison mumbled against your neck, voice almost brittle. He didn’t want you to find out about anything, maybe it was the wrong decision but he didn’t want you to think how his behaviour could change because of her immediately. He will end it all.
“It’s okay.”
“It’s not, you are my girlfriend, my rock and me ignoring you completely was a shit move. I was just stressing about things and I’m sorry.” Harrison’s fingertips disappeared underneath your shirt, fondling the soft skin while he tried to be as close as he could to you. You didn’t respond, your body just moved closer to his, hiding your face into his neck pecking it occasionally. Harrison’s breathing got heavier, your warm lips burned on his sweet spot while his fingers went higher.
“Let me make it up to you.” The pad of his thumb ran over your nipple, earning a breathy mouth from you. You sucked in a breath as his lips ghosted over your throat going towards the jawline before smashing his lips with your pink ones.
“Let me make it all about you now sweetheart. About you only.” Kisses were sloppy and full of lust, your hand flying up to the nape of his neck gripping it gently, signalling him to continue his actions and do more.
Your lips curved into a smile as you watched his hands travel down to your heat, caressing your skin gently during it.
“God you’re always so good for me I’m such an idiot.” Harrison spoke in between kisses that were left on your lower abdomen making your back arch and stomach tingle from the sensation. His face was much lower, hands around your inner thighs spreading you open for him.
“You’re my girl.” The dominant voice was a novelty but it was still full of love. His movements were painfully slow, he wanted to take his time to remember every moment he had with you.
“Always ready for me. Beautiful.” He praised, placing a kiss on your glistening core that was convulsing around nothing.
“Fuck, please make me feel good.” Your head was thrown back from the pleasure, hands placed on the couch for a second.
“Love to hear you ask nicely, you’re a dream Y/N.” His mouth attached on your outer lips, spreading the arousal all around your pussy.
“Shit, shit don’t stop.” You whined as his lips found your clit, sucking on it harshly. Your hands flew directly to his hair tugging it to encourage him to continue what he was doing. Harrison kept his mouth on your throbbing clit, inserting two fingers inside of you to give you the maximum pleasure. Pleasant shivers went down your spine when you felt him murmur against your pussy.
“So sweet.” Harrison could do this for so long, your tight walls and sweet juices made him harder instantly. You were all wet and dripping on his face for him, your walls squeezing around his fingers as he pushed them in and out of you.
“Be still for me baby.” The free hand pinned you down to the couch while the other found your clit that ached for some attention after he removed his mouth. Your cries and moans were like a melody, he always wanted to hear how you were feeling.
Harrison could feel your walls clenching harder around his fingers, he wanted you to fall apart around his fingers while his mouth was wrapped around your pulsing bundle of nerves.
You here?
She again. He didn’t want this. He won’t mess up this amazing moment. She was a no one.
“S-So close, please Haz, more. I-I can’t.” The grip on his hair got tighter and the smug grin on his face got bigger.
“Come on gorgeous, let me feel you cum on my face, look at me while you cum.” His words were driving you towards the edge, your lips were parted and eyes fixed on his while his mouth worked on your release.
“Oh F-Fuck.” The amount of love and pleasure was unreal, he ignored your whimpers flicking his tongue faster to make you cum. A loud groan escaped from your throat, as the bubble inside you bursted like a bomb. You came hard all around his face, riding a wave of euphoria. Your eyes were still on his, you could feel him smile against your core.
“Fucking hell, you are the sweetest thing ever.” He breathed out a chuckle, kissing your sensitive clit one more time before grabbing your face to kiss you.
You could taste yourself on his tongue that massaged yours gently, this was just what you needed.
“Thank you.” You whispered, wrapping your hand around his wrist.
“No, thank you. I’m sorry and I love you.” Harrison was honest. You, your sweet moans and skin were what he needed, nobody else. This needed to stop. Emily was his past and you’re his future.
“Always remember that my love. You’re my priority and you always will be.” Harrison’s meant that, he truly loved you and he couldn’t even imagine how losing you would be.
However he wasn’t the only one that realised how having you in his life was the most important thing. Tom realised how much his heart ached for you tonight, how much he loved you. He realised it right after he couldn’t kiss Evelyn on the end of their night.
“W-Would you like to repeat this night again?” Tom didn’t know if the stuttering was because he had a good time with her or because you occupied his mind.
“I would love to.” However Tom wasn’t sure. He wasn’t sure about anything anymore. But he was somehow sure about those strong feelings he couldn’t hide any longer.
-
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“ Am I fonder of dolls or of goblins or shoes? “
Ok, tagging @grodygabe because Bastian is here for a moment as well. Some slight angst for you.
Primadonna
The lobby of the theater looked as vibrant and new as the day it’s doors first opened. A polished wood floor with rich red carpets draped over it. Velvet curtains covering windows and the bottles that lined the bar sparkling with whatever substances they held from their corner of the lounge. Plush chairs and couches touched with the slightest scent of smoke. Around the walls was cream colored wallpaper with gold filigree as a border.
It looked lovely and new, which meant it was a collection challenge.
Perhaps that was one nice thing about this map. They could tell what they were in for based on its mood, it’s state of grandeur or decay.
Granted, several killers had collection-type challenges. Collect the thing- bring the thing to a designated spot- win an escape for your efforts.
But Thomas was with the group this time and he shivered the moment he walked in. So… they knew.
“So you just know?” Their newest one-a girl named Chloe asked. “Just get a vibe?”
“Only if it’s the killer you came with.”
She nodded, seeming to relax a little now that she knew how to spot her’s. Thomas almost felt bad for her, should he tell her what was coming?
Mary beat him to it.
“The old hag is a handful and she can get you at a distance. But you just keep running and it’ll be just fine.”
“She’s a hag?”
Mary laughed. From where he stood, Bastian gave a small snicker as well. “You can call her that if you want, just be ready to dodge.”
“Does she throw things?”
Thomas frowned, “no.”
Before he could elaborate the doors to the theater opened with the slighted squeak, the Edison bulbs above flickering out.
Show time.
…………………
“What the hell is she wearing today?”
“I have no idea, but that’s a lot of pink.”
Mary and Chloe hissed to each other as they snuck around the diva. Climbing through a tunnel formed by stacks of clostume trunks and crates.
They froze as The Muse turned in their direction, head tilted to the side as she floated just slightly off the ground. Chloe holding tight to the photograph in her hand. In an instant, she was gone, chasing after someone else.
………………….
One thing Thomas could never figure out was just how lucid Irene was in a match. Between trials she was clearly with it, at least enough to be an absolute bitch to anyone within 20 yards. But it was here that he honestly had no clue. Sometimes she was, yelling at Mary or taunting him, but other times she seemed so focused… but also not. Looking at them like she didn’t know who they were (which couldn’t be true by this point) but so intent on killing them. And then there was moments like right now-
From his hiding spot, Thomas watched as Irene chased Bastian as if she was moving through a dream. Perhaps it was because of the photograph held tight in his hands. Her movements slow but fluid. Her body flickering in and out of existence. She caught him in her strings, only for the new girl to purposefully crash into her.
Irene felt herself slamming back into her own skin at the sudden impact, reeling at the sound of fabric tearing.
“You stepped on my dress why?!” She screeched before turning the swipe at the intrusive nat with her weapon. The girl yelped in pain as the blade nicked her shoulder. The boy- Bastian. His name was Bastian, she knew this by now- grabbing her arm and pulling her to safety. Irene felt a tug at the back of her brain, screaming in frustration before the overwhelming feeling of being yanked back out and to wherever she had come from consumed her.
………………………..
You could hear her yelling in nearly every corner of the theater. The diva’s presence was constant, regardless of whether she was in the room with you or not.
They were rehearsing for A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the very unfortunate girl playing Peasblosom having stood too close to Irene and stepped on the hem of her skirts.
“You stepped on my dress!” Irene screamed down at her. “Idiot girl, do you not have any sense of space! Do you know where your feet go?! Or are they with wherever your brain left?!”
The younger actress was crying by this point, looking wildly around for someone to do something. But even their so-called “director” was suddenly very preoccupied with his notes.
“Look at me when I’m talking to you!” Irene snapped. “I swear I-“
“And I swear I can hear you all the way from the street my dear.” A gentleman said as he hooked his arm with Irene’s and pulled her away from her victim. “My dear there’s no need to ruin your voice with so few days before the opening night.”
Irene snatched her arm back, “you! You don’t get a say in this! You’re late!”
“Only 15 minutes.”
“Where were you?!”
“Forgive me Renie sweetheart, but why fret over such trivial things?”
Irene sneered, “I’ll give you trivial you-“
“Irene.”
“Charlie.”
Charlie sighed with a smirk as he fished a box from his pocket. “I need a smoke, come join me dearest.”
He liked arms with her again and pulled a still bickering Irene backstage. Looking over his shoulder with a wink towards the relieved younger actress.
…………………..
Charlie casually blew a cloud of smoke into the air as he skimmed back over the script. looking up occasionally at his friend as she carefully stitched the torn hem of her dress. Whispering the opening verses of The Habanera from Carmen. When and why she took the time to learn it Charlie had no idea, but he wasn’t surprised.
They lazed on a set of plush chairs, leftover props from some long forgotten production. The crew left them out knowing they were the preferred seats of the primadonna and her co-lead..
“You know, if you went to one of the seamstresses in the costume department, they could fix that for you.”
Irene hummed in response but did not otherwise comment.
He watched as she sewed, noting just a few wisps of gray hairs on his friend’s head. Musing that she shouldn’t frown so much less she gain wrinkles from it.
“You know I do wish we could adjust the lines.”
“It’s Shakespeare Charlie, the lines stay the same.”
“But the part between Oberon and Titania-“
“The lines. Stay. The. Same.”
“The mention of India seems so out of place though.”
“Did you read the books I lent you?”
“Books?”
Irene arched an eyebrow. “Yes, the ones on Celtic and Geek cultures? The ones I asked you to return to the library when you finished?”
“Ah.”
“Ah. So you’re paying my late fees.”
“I bet you were once quite the precocious child.” Charlie teased.
Irene smirked, “I used to lay on my bed and wonder am I fonder of dolls, or of goblins, or shoes?”
“And what were you the fondest of Renie?”
She looked up at him with a smile. “Silence, in a small house with so many people, I was fondest of silence.”
……………………….
The sound of heels clicking broke the early morning. Even before sunrise, stagehands milled about and janitors polished and dusted fixtures. But this woman moved with purpose. Cradling several items in her arms, any of which threatened to spill should she make the wrong move.
She made her way backstage, finding a particular pair passed out on a set of plush armchairs.
Irene and Charlie were deep asleep, legs tangled together as they shared the same automan. Charlie with his hat covering his eyes and Irene using Charlie’s coat as a blanket.
The woman sighed in annoyance, kicking Charlie’s foot. “Charlie Devough how dare you sleep at work again.”
Charlie sat up with a shout, Irene grumbling as she crawled out from under Charlie’s coat and snatched one of the coffees the woman carried. Making a face at the first sip. “So bitter.”
“Because that one wasn’t meant for you,” the woman chastised as she traded coffees with Irene and passed it over to Charlie. “Only this oaf here is foolish enough to not appreciate cream or sugar.”
“Why add sugar when I know you bought danishes? I can smell them love.”
The woman sighed again and handed over a paper bag she had also been carrying. Taking over the automan as she sipped on a coffee of her own. “Did rehearsals run that late?”
“We were running lines and lost track,” Irene murmured as she rubbed at the ruined mascara on her face.
Charlie leaned over to kiss the woman, “thank you for the breakfast Evelyn dear. I’m sorry to worry you.”
“You should have let me know.”
“It’s my fault, Eve.” Irene yawned.
“No it’s not you liar, how dare you cover for him.” Evelyn teased. “Irene, you look like you’ve been crying with your makeup like that.”
“Irene?”
……………………………
Irene looked up.
She hated collecting trials. She never knew what memories it would send her mind tumbling through.
She sat now in her dressing room, roses in various states of decay filling every free space.
The trial was a disaster, her new dress torn thanks to a new brat. She still remembered that young actress. Three productions later and she seems to think she could replace Irene since she was casted as lead once.
Irene also remembered the feeling of shoving the point of her stiletto through the girl’s throat.
Irene sat in her dressing room and tried to wipe her makeup off. For a moment she looked normal, even despite her bluish skin. But then she felt a stinging sensation in her eyes as black tears fell and stained her face again.
She growled in frustration and stormed out of the room, making her way backstage till she found her destination- a set of worn, plush armchairs. Sitting on the floor next to what would have been Charlie’s.
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Riding High Ch 18: Sugar
Chapter Summary: It’s July, and Fliss’ birthday…
Chapter Warnings: Bad Language words.!!!
Chapter Pairings: Frank Adler x OFC Fliss Gallagher
A/N: Ok, so I know you’ve all been on edge since He-who-shall-not-be-named was released on parole and I hope this chapter doesn’t disappoint. We’ll be gearing up for a bit of a rough time over the next few chapters for Friss so buckle up…
Also, I noticed yesterday that Tumblr seems to be swallowing huge chunks of my work on SSB…so I’m going to try and publish this in one, but if it doesn’t work I’ll split it over 2 parts.
Chapter Song: Shogun by George Ezra
Series Masterlist // Main Masterlist
“And we got two in the front, two in the back, sailing along and we don’t look back”
July 2018
“So now what?” Mary looked at Fliss as the two of them sat side by side at the table, both looking at the laptop in front of them.
“Ok, so see these spaces here��” Fliss said, pointing to 2 empty squares dotted in the unpublished Internet Page and then to the larger space at the top “Now we need to add the photos…”
They were working on a project of sorts for Sandybrook’s website. They’d decided to give Monty his own little weekly blog for the summer called “The Life of Monty” which Mary had eagerly said she wanted to write, something for her to do over the break. “Ooh, ok!” Mary nodded “I already know which ones I want to use!” “Yeah?” Fliss looked at her.
“Yeah…ok so I want that one that has me, you and Monty in…you know the one that Frank likes where we are both laughing.” Fliss smiled “Ok, we can use that one.” “And then the other one is the one where Monty had the Party Hat on because it was his birthday.” “Good choice.” Fliss smiled “And what about the one across the top.” “The one of him in the pasture.” Mary said after a moment “Where he is looking up and pulling the funny face, you know with all his teeth out?”
Fliss grinned “Yeah, it looks like he is smiling.” Mary nodded eagerly “Yup.” “Ok…” Fliss said, and with a move of the mouse she set to work selecting the photos, ensuring that they were positioned and sized right for the frames. She couldn’t help but smile at the one of her and Mary. Mary was looking at the camera, laughing a lot whilst Fliss was, in turn, watching her and laughing too. Frank had been trying to take the photo of the 2 of them but Bill had been stood behind him, pulling stupid faces which had reduced Mary to tears, and her giggles had then set Fliss off. Frank said he adored the photo, that much in-fact it was now the screen-saver on his phone.
Fliss clicked save and then looked at Mary. “Wanna give it a final read over, check if you want to add anything else?”
Mary nodded.
“Ok, you do that I’m gonna start dinner.” “What are we having?” Mary looked at her.
“Carbonara. That ok?”
Mary grinned her approval as Fliss stood up, dropped a kiss to Mary’s head and walked into the kitchen.
It wasn’t long before Frank came home and greeted Mary before he headed into the kitchen area. He wrapped his arms round Fliss from behind, dropping a kiss to her neck.
“Good day?” he asked and she hmmed in agreement.
“Not bad…are you filthy, as usual?”
He chuckled as he let her go and moved to the fridge. She stopped what she was doing and turned to face him as he reached in for the water jug. He was, as always, covered in grime from his work and Fliss bit her lip. There was definitely something about seeing him in his dirty work jeans and grubby T-shirts that got her blood pumping.
“Stop it.” he said, giving her a look, knowing full well what she was thinking. She shrugged and with a grin turned back to the food.
“Oh, erm, wanted to check…are you if we use photos of Mary for her blog on the website?” Fliss asked, turning back to him.
“Of course I am.” he said, frowning “Why wouldn’t I be?” “It’s a public sight.” Fliss shrugged “Just wanted to check that’s all.” “It’s fine.” Frank said, placing a kiss to her cheek “I think it’s a really good idea anyway, give her something to do and practice her writing. Like Bonnie said, she’s sharp on the numbers but could do with honing up her English a little bit. She’s too logical, this should give her something to be creative with and keep her occupied over the break.”
And you…he refrained from adding. In the week following the notification that parole had been granted, John had been released. And this had set Fliss on edge. One night after she had snapped at Frank, causing a full scale argument over the fact he had bought the wrong type of salad dressing, she’d broken down and confessed that she wasn’t sleeping properly and this was causing stupid things, like Ranch v French dressing, to tip her over the edge.
The day after her spectacular salad dressing related melt down, Greg, who had already requested details of the terms of his release, came over and the 3 of them gone through, in detail what it meant realistically for Fliss.
“Basically it’s as good as you could hope for.” Greg explained “He is forbidden from contacting you or any of your family in any way, via any means. He is State-bound to Massachusetts, specifically the Boston area. He’s tagged, and on a curfew between the hours of 7pm and 7am. And moreover the authorities here are following the UK’s lead as well and trialling these new GPS tracking tags, which they’ve deemed him eligible for. So at any time, any place, they’ll be able to lock onto his whereabouts…”
“So if he does breach his conditions…” Fliss started and Greg nodded “They’ll be on him like a shot.” he said, with a gentle smile “Look, I know this is shit…but you really do have nothing to worry about. One breach and he’s back inside. And when he reaches the end of his parole, we’ll file for an injunction with the same conditions. Keep him away from you.”
Since the conversation with Greg, Fliss had calmed down somewhat but still, in week following her confession she didn’t spend a night away from Frank, seemingly coping better with the fact that she was around him, and even when he wasn’t there, the fact she was in his apartment gave her some safety and comfort.
So he’d asked her to move in permanently 3 days ago. Which he was still waiting for an answer on.
“What you thinking?” her voice broke through his thoughts.
“Honestly?”
“Always.” she nodded.
“When you’re gonna give me an answer to that question I asked you a few days back.” She took a deep breath and looked down at the floor before she looked up at him, a soft smile on her face.
“Are you sure you want me here, full time, and you’re not just asking because-“
“Lissy…” he cut her off, shaking his head “I’d have asked you move in here the day I did if I’d thought you’d have said yes. I’d love you to come live with us. And I know Mary would too…” “Ok, that’s blackmail.” she narrowed his eyes at the fact he’d dropped Mary into the equation and he grinned. “Is it working?”
She bit her lip and nodded “Yeah, ok, I’d love to…” “Yeah?” he said, a huge smile spreading across his face, warmth flooding his chest.
“Yeah…” she nodded, and grinned as he wrapped his arms around her, pressing a kiss to her lips.
“Gross…” Mary mumbled as she walked past the pair of them to the fridge, retrieving a juice box. . Frank broke away to look at her as she stabbed the straw into the hole at the top.
“Better get over it Stack.” he smirked. “Fliss just agreed to come live with us.” “Really?” her eyes widened and she grinned as Fliss nodded. Mary moved over to the pair of them and wrapped her arms around them both, Frank’s hand falling to the back of her head as she looked up at him. “Does that mean I don’t need to eat any more of your cooking, like ever again?”
Frank rolled his eyes and glanced at Fliss who was chuckling slightly “Trust me Mary…” she said, grinning “I’ve no intention of eating his cooking either.”
***** Of course Verity and Bill were over the moon when Fliss told them she was moving into Frank’s, and the next week or so they all spent doing various runs with the things she decided she needed to take. Everything else she would be leaving in the annex to either throw or store at a later date.
Considering the amount of time they spent together, it wasn’t a huge change for them, it just meant that the comfortable routine they adopted when they were together became a daily one, and it suited the pair of them just fine. Frank also surprised Fliss by getting her a vanity unit which she had made a passing comment about, making space for it in their room.
After 3 weeks it had become the new normal for them. They shared chores, shared Activity Club runs, grocery shopping, bills…Frank had tried to object to that one but Fliss had put her foot down insisting that if she was living there she was paying her way so he’d caved in the end and agreed. Fliss felt happy, safe, secure, loved...and Frank was over the moon simply knowing he had her to come home to every night.
One particular evening, a few days before her Birthday they were due to meet Evelyn for dinner as she was in town again to visit Mary, but Fliss was running ridiculously late, and as a consequence was in a total flap
“Fuck, fuck…” she groaned, jumping out of the jeep and calling Thor to her. “Come on buddy…”
She hurried across the lawns and threw the door to the apartment open, Thor shooting in before her.
“I’m so sorry I’m late…” she instantly began apologising as she walked into the living area and groaned loudly “The last lesson overran and then one of the waterers broke in the livery barn, flooded Horatio’s stable…” “It’s ok, calm down…” Frank chuckled, dropping a kiss to her cheek. “How did it break?”
“He’s been scratching his arse on it.” she said, rubbing at her temple “He broke it off the wall. We turned the supply off but I had to sort his bed before I left, then call his owner to tell her…” she groaned “Fucking nightmare.” “Want me to take a look at it?”
Fliss shook her head “Dad’s gonna do it tomorrow, keep him busy. He always moans at me for asking you and not…” she trailed off as she spotted Evelyn who was sat on one of the chairs in the living room. “Oh, Evelyn…hi. Sorry, I didn’t realise you were coming here…I thought…”
“We were…” Frank explained “But Mary wasn’t feeling too good so I suggested to Mother she come here instead.” “Oh, no, is she ok?” Fliss asked.
“Too much sun I think, she’s been running around at the Activities Camp all day and hardly drunk anything, despite the lecture you gave her. She’s had some water and gone for a nap. She’ll be fine when it’s time for dinner.”
“I thought seeing as we can’t go out I’d treat you to take out.” Evelyn spoke, standing up. Fliss eyed her for a moment before she shrugged.
“I can make something.” she said, and Frank shook his head.
“No, Lissy…” “I can do chicken with that pear and blue cheese salad you and Mary liked.” Fliss said, “Surely that’s gonna be better for her than a take out if she’s feeling shitty?”
Frank looked at her and then to his mother “That ok with you?” “Sure, that sounds good.” Evelyn nodded “but only if it’s no trouble.” “It’s fine.” Fliss nodded “Let me go take a shower and then I’ll get started ok?” Frank nodded and dropped a kiss to her cheek before she headed off to the bathroom. Thor made his way into the living room and took his usual place on the rug, flopping down as he looked up at Evelyn as she followed Frank over to the kitchen area. He pulled a bottle of white wine out of the fridge and held it up.
“Sancerre?” Evelyn arched an eyebrow. “And a pretty good one too…” “Fliss’ choice, not mine.” he said, “I assume that means you’d like a glass.” “I don’t want to put you out Frank.” she said, and he shook his head.
“You’re here now so…” he said “Oh, we normally eat outside but I’m not sure if Mary’s-”
“What, in open view of everyone?” Evelyn asked, horrified “It’s hardly-“ She stopped dead as Frank shot her a look, and held her hands up. “Point taken…”
Frank poured her a glass then got a beer for himself and leaned back against the counter as his Mother nodded appreciatively at the wine.
“So, pear and blue cheese…” she said and Frank looked at her “You hated cheese as a child.” “Well, I like it now.” he shrugged “And Mary loves that salad so…” “It’s not a dish I would normally associate with a child to be honest.” Evelyn mused.
“Well, I think we can both agree Mary isn’t a particularly standard child so…”
At that point Fred sauntered into the kitchen, straight to his food bowl. Evelyn eyed him, before she turned to Frank and smiled “I already took a Benadryl…” He snorted and a few seconds later Mary appeared.
“Hi Grandmother. Fliss said you were here.” “You feeling ok?” Frank asked as she walked over to him. He swung her up and she rest her head on his shoulder, nodding. “Want some more water?” “Fliss told me to ask for the elec…erm…the electo-” “Electrolytes” he said, nodding. “Not a bad shout…”
He set her on the counter and then reached into the cabinet to the right of the sink where they kept the medical supplies and pulled a sachet from the box. Grabbing a glass he pulled the Filter jug out of the fridge and made her the drink before he handed it to her. “Take it slow ok?” She nodded and took it from him with a thanks, sipping at it carefully, pulling a face. “What flavour is that?” “It says orange.” he answered, looking at the packet.
“Well it’s wrong. That’s disgusting.” “It’s good for you, so stop complaining.” he said, tossing the empty sachet into the trash.
To his surprise he heard his mother chuckling and he turned to look at her. “I remember giving you something similar when you came home with sunstroke from playing Baseball all afternoon. You spat it out and told me you’d rather die than drink it.” Frank gave a huff and then turned to Mary who was grinning ear to ear “Don’t even think about it.” he pointed at her.
She shrugged and then took another mouthful, grimacing as she drank. “Please can I get down?” Frank obliged and watched as she headed off to the sofa, Thor jumping up besides her, settling his head in her lap.
“Go and talk to her.” Frank looked at his mother “That’s why you’re here, to spend time with her. Not me.”
Evelyn nodded, and for a moment Frank thought he saw a flicker of emotion in the woman’s eyes, but as quick as it had flashed across her face it was gone and she turned and made her way into the sofa. Frank leaned on the edge of the archway which led into the living area and watched as she sat down in the chair she had occupied previously before he heard the door to the bathroom open again, signalling Fliss was out of the shower. He moved to start taking the different things they needed to make dinner out of the fridge and turned on the oven before he seasoned the chicken breasts just as she had shown him with salt, pepper, chilli and a squeeze of lime. He dropped it onto a tray, placed it in the oven and was washing his hands when Fliss walked dressed casually in a pair of shorts and a fading Guns N Roses tank top. She was barefoot and her damp hair was piled up on her head in a haphazard bun. This was Frank’s favourite way to see her. Completely relaxed and at home.
“Chicken’s in.” he said as he turned to the fridge and then poured her a glass of wine.
“Thank you.” she smiled, taking a sip.
“Can I show Evelyn around?” Mary asked, and Frank turned to her.
“Finished your drink?” “Yeah.” “Ok then yes, of course you can.” She stood up and Evelyn followed, giving the pair of them a smile as she passed by the kitchen area of the open plan living space
“Oh, Felicity.” “Fliss, please.” Fliss nodded to her as she turned back to what she was doing.
“Fliss, sorry, but could I be awkward?” Evelyn asked.
“No doubt you can.” Fliss mumbled between gritted teeth and Frank smirked to himself before she tuned to look at Evelyn.
“Could I ask for my salad dressing on the side?”
“That’s fine.” Fliss nodded “I’ll make you a separate bowl.” “Thank you, that’s very kind.” Evelyn smiled before she headed out after Mary.
“If she doesn’t eat this, then she’s gonna be wearing it.” Fliss looked at Frank who let out a laugh as he chopped up the slices of cucumber.
“Now that I would pay to see.” “I’ll do it for free.” Fliss narrowed her eyes.
Frank chuckled again as they continued to make their food. After about 10 minutes or so, just as they were dropping the salad bowls onto the table, Evelyn and Mary re-appeared.
“You’ve made a nice home, certainly considering the area anyway.” Evelyn said, as Frank invited her to sit at the table before he headed back to grab the bottle of wine, a beer for himself and more water for Mary.
Fliss rolled her eyes” The area is fine, and Frank did it all, not me. Well, him and my dad. I only moved in a few weeks ago.”
“Yes, he does speak very highly of your parents.” “Well they love him.” Fliss shrugged “But then again what’s not to love.”
Evelyn looked at Fliss for a moment as Frank made his way back to the table, and they all settled down and began to eat. As she had been at Mary’s birthday, his mother was polite, nodding appreciatively at the food, joining in the conversation and she sat with Mary once they’d finished so Mary could show he the latest installation of Monty’s blog. After another bottle of wine and a few more beers, Frank realised it was getting quite late and then told Mary she needed to be getting ready for bed. Evelyn took this as her queue to call for her driver, which Frank was pleased about as it saved him having to ask her to leave.
Mary headed for a shower and the three adults made small talk until she reappeared in her pyjamas just as Evelyn’s driver called to announce his arrival. She bid Mary goodnight and then Frank made to walk her down to her car when the woman surprised him and looked at Fliss.
“Could you…I’d like to speak to you.” Fliss looked at Frank before she shrugged “Yeah, sure…” Frank frowned, but didn’t object. He looked at his mother and nodded “Let me know when you want to see her again.”
“I was actually wondering if she could come to Boston for a few days.” Evelyn said and Frank took a deep breath. “Obviously, when it’s convenient.” “Maybe.” He nodded “Goodbye Evelyn.” “Yes, I’ll call you.” she nodded and then the two women headed out of the apartment. Fliss stuck her hands in her pockets as they walked.
“I’m glad he took my advice.” Evelyn broke the silence “Regarding you, I mean…”
“Yeah he told me what you said to him.” Fliss gave a snort “Gotta say I was surprised after I’d unleashed quite a nasty verbal tirade on you…” “Well I think all things considered at the time I deserved it.” Evelyn shrugged “And I’m not surprised you hate me so-“
“I don’t hate you Evelyn.” Fliss cut her off, shaking her head “I hate what you did to Frank and Mary, and honestly? I still don’t understand it.”
“I thought I was doing the right thing.” “But how?” Fliss pressed “How was tearing a girl away from the only father figure she has ever known, the man that has cared for her and loved her since she was 6 months old the right thing?”
Evelyn shook her head “I know Frank and I made an assumption-” “No, you knew Frank.” Fliss looked at her, “It was, what? Almost 8 years since you saw him last when you turned up…and how long was it before he left Boston since you actually had a conversation with him? I just…” Fliss trailed off and looked down at her feet before she glanced back at Frank’s mother “it baffles me how someone can be so callous towards their own child, that’s all.”
Fliss watched as Evelyn stopped and looked at her “What do you want me to say?” “An apology might not go amiss…” “I did that with his birthday card, paying the fees…” “Money doesn’t make it ok Evelyn.” Fliss sighed, “And a card isn’t the same as saying it to his face…” she scratched at her head “If you want to try and salvage something from this mess, have some form of relationship with your son…” “What makes you think-“ “Because I saw you this evening, at various points, watching him…you might be able to keep your face straight but they eyes don’t lie” Fliss said gently. Evelyn looked down at the ground as Fliss continued. “I suggest you start with a verbal apology, a very open and honest discussion, because that’s when you get the best out of Frank. On a face-to-face level, when he isn’t being lied or talked down to”
“You really do know him exceptionally well don’t you?” Evelyn smiled.
“Well, we’ve had enough of our own discussions recently with everything that’s been going on so…” “Right, your ex-husband.” “How do you-“ Fliss sighed, “Mary?” “No, actually, she never said a word. I looked you up.”
“Course you did.” Fliss groaned.
“I was curious about your family.” Evelyn shrugged “You have quite the back story.” “Yeah well, its history.” she said “And long may it stay that way.”
“Well I hope for all your sakes it does.” Evelyn shook her head “Nothing I can’t stand less than a man that deems it acceptable to do that. Lord knows I pushed Preston the extremes at times but he never once raised a hand to me…or his voice now that I think about it. He preferred to argue on a cerebral level...”
“Very like Frank.” Fliss smiled.
“Yes, the two are exceptionally similar.” Evelyn said as they reached the car. “Thank you for dinner Fliss, it was a very enjoyable evening.” Fliss smiled and then as Evelyn opened the car door the woman turned back to her “Just think about what I said Evelyn. You can’t turn the clock back but it’s how you go forward from here that matters.”
Evelyn nodded, and with that she climbed in the car and shut the door. Fliss watched them drive off before she turned and headed back towards the apartment. “You ok?” Frank asked, turning to look over the back of the sofa as she walked into the living area.
“Yeah, fine.” Fliss smiled. “Mary in bed?”
“She’s reading” Frank nodded “Told her you’d pop in and say goodnight.” Fliss yawned as she slid her arms round his shoulders from behind “I’ll go now, then I think I’ll get in bed myself. I’m whacked.” Frank smiled and turned his head to give her a kiss “I’m just gonna finish watching this and then I’ll be with you.” “What is it?” Fliss asked, turning her attention to the TV.
“A documentary on whales, funnily enough.” Frank said, “You’d enjoy it…” “You’re such an old man” she teased and he scoffed.
“Not what you were saying last night.”
Fliss laughed “Well you keep yourself in good shape, what can I say.” With that she kissed his cheek and headed down the hall.
After bidding goodnight to Mary and Thor, who seemed very happy to remain in Mary’s room with Fred, she changed for bed and slipped into the sheets, stretching out before she got herself comfortable. She was dozing, drifting in and out of a light sleep when she felt Frank climb into bed behind her, wrapping his arms around her, pulling her to his chest.
“Finish whale watching?” she asked as he dropped a kiss to her shoulder.
“Yeah.” he said gently. “So you gonna tell me what my mother wanted?” “Nothing much…” Fliss said, and she turned in his arms so she was facing him. “She was actually quite contrite.”
“Course she was…” “No, I mean it, I think she’s genuinely sorry.” Fliss said, her hand gently tracing shapes on his bicep “Maybe you should give her a chance to apologise properly.”
“That must have been one hell of a talk.” Frank snorted “You were all for dumping salad on her head before!”
“We had a very honest discussion, I got a few things off my chest.” Fliss shrugged “And, well, like it or not she’s still your mum Frank.” “No, she’s my mother.” he corrected her “Your mom is a mom.”
“Was your dad a dad or a father?” “He was a dad.” Frank said, “Most definitely.”
“Do you remember much about him?” she asked.
“Little bits.” he said, his hand tucking her hair behind her ear. “Mostly about stuff we did. Baseball, football, when he taught me how to ride a bike. All the fun stuff you do with kids really.” he took a deep breath.
“What did he do?” “He was a Surgeon” Frank said “Neurology.” “Really?” Fliss looked up at Frank as he nodded “Well that’s pretty cool!”
“Yeah.” Frank nodded “I wanted to be just like him when I was a kid. I sometimes wonder if I idolise him a bit more because he’s dead you know but…” “Have you ever asked your mother what he was like? You know, since he died?” “Once or twice.” Frank replied “For all of Evelyn’s faults she did love Dad. She gave up her own career and research partnership she had with Cambridge in London to move to Boston when she met him. Then they had me. I think she resented me a little bit at first because me and dad were so close, and then when Diane came along that was it, Daddy’s girl...”
“No longer his main woman.” Fliss smiled.
“Something like that. You know, I do wonder at times why on Earth she had us.” Frank snorted “if we were such inconveniences…” “It can’t all have been bad.” “Well we wanted for nothing. In fact, we were both very spoilt. And yeah, we had Birthday parties, fun, vacations, trips…but when dad died…I dunno, it kinda went to rat-shit.” “It must have been hard for Evelyn you know, losing him when you were both so young.”
“Yeah.” Frank sighed “I’ve no doubt it was. I remember the police coming round and breaking the news about the accident…only time I’ve ever seen her break down.”
“You know before, she said that you remind her of your dad.” Fliss looked at him.
“Yeah she’s told me the same, last time I saw her in fact. Probably why she doesn’t particularly enjoy being around me that much.” “I think she enjoys it a lot more than she lets on.” Fliss shrugged “And besides, I enjoy being around you. And so do my parents…so…”
Frank gave her a soft smile before she leaned up and gave him a kiss.
“I know…” he said, as she snuggled into his chest “And that’s all I care about.” ******
Friday rolled around and with it came Fliss’ birthday. Frank was pretty sure Mary was more excited than Fliss to give her the gifts they had bought, and with good reason. Fliss beamed as she opened her various packages from them both, which included a bottle of her favourite perfume, a pale blue and white striped sleeveless button down which Frank had thought was quite nautical so very apt and a box of British chocolate. Bonnie had also stopped round the night before to give her a bottle of her favourite gin and a huge bag of sweets which she declared she was hiding from Frank as she didn’t trust him not to eat them.
Frank then handed her the envelope with her main present in and she opened it, her mouth dropping open as she looked at the Broadway Tickets.
“Lion King?” she said, looking up at him. “We’re going to see the Lion King?” He nodded, smiling “I know you wanted to go so…” “Oh my God…thank you!” she practically squealed throwing her arms round his neck, kissing his cheek.
“You’re welcome.” he smiled, winking at Mary over his shoulder. She gave him the thumbs up. Fliss turned back to look at the pile of presents arranged on the coffee table before Mary handed her another smaller wrapped one.
“This is from me…and Fred…and Thor.” she added and Fliss smiled, unwrapping the small black box. She opened it, and a small card fell out which she picked up and read out loud.
“We hope you enjoy your “Precious Paws” hand-made resin beads…” she trailed off, and glanced down at the charms in more detail. One was green speckled with gold and the other was blue speckled with silver.
“The green one has some of Heidi’s tail hair in it…” Mary pointed as Fliss gently took it from the box to examine it in more detail, clearly seeing where the hair was wound through the resin of the bead “And the Blue one has Thor’s in.”
“I…” Fliss felt herself choke up “Mary these are beautiful, where did you…” “Joanne told me about them.” Mary said, and Frank smiled at her “And then Frank helped me order them…” “They’re not officially Pandora but the woman said when we emailed her they’d fit the standard bracelet.” He said as she turned her head to look at him, her eyes shining.
“Thank you both, so much…” she turned to Mary and wrapped her up in a hug before she did the same to Frank, giving him a soft kiss “Love you.” “Happy birthday Sweetheart.” he smiled, hugging her again.
As Fliss had booked the day off, so had Frank so the three of them along with Thor and Fred spent the afternoon after visiting Fliss’ mum and dad on one of the boats belonging to Paul, the owner of the shop Frank worked in. Frank had deliberately chosen one of the smaller ones so they could access the small stretch of sand just off St Pete’s beach that they all loved. It was quieter than the main beach as it wasn’t reachable unless you waded or sailed over and they spent the afternoon on the beach with a few beers and a picnic, before they headed home. Mary crashed out on the way back, her head lolling on Fliss’s lap as she sat at the front of the boat, her bare feet resting on the bar in front of her, simply watching the dolphins. Thor was barking at them like mad, wagging his tail and then suddenly he shot to the bow of the boat, placing both his paws up on the metal, threatening to throw himself overboard. Frank’s hand shot out to grab his collar.
“Dumbass…” he yanked him back, and turned to Fliss “Does this mutt have a brain in his head?”
“Don’t’ talk about my baby like that…” she narrowed her eyes at Frank as she covered Thor’s ears with her hands as he sat by her feet, tail thumping on the floor. “Fred does his share of stupid shit too, like getting his head stuck in cereal boxes.”
Frank rolled his eyes “At least Fred knows not to jump in the ocean.”
“That’s because he has no sense of adventure.” Fliss shot back, causing Frank to snort. Standing up, Fliss gently moved Mary, so that she was led flat down before she stretched and moved next to Frank who tossed his arm over her shoulder.
“Had a good day?” he asked and she grinned, nodding.
“The best.” she smiled “I love it when you bring me out sailing.” “I’m driving.” he turned to face her, grinning. “You’re sailing.”
“Whatever” he mumbled as his lips pressed to hers. She snaked her arms around his neck as his slid round her back, pulling her closer to him as he kissed her deeply his tongue sliding against hers.
“You can unwrap your last present when we get home…” he said, grinning like a school boy as he rest his forehead head against hers.
“Yeah?” she asked, arching an eyebrow
“I’d let you unwrap it now but…” he nodded to Mary and she snorted.
“You know we’ve not actually done that.” she mused. “Sex on a boat I mean…” Frank let out a laugh “You harbouring a bit of a sailing kink?” “More of a sailor kink” she shot back and he shook his head, giving her another quick kiss before he turned his attention back to the boat as he guided it back into the Marina.
He made good on his promise once they got back, loved on his girl. Once in the shower and then again later on when he woke up as Fliss had done the same to use the bathroom. Frank knew he would never get tired of hearing the soft cries of his names and the various encouragements she gave him when she begged him not to stop or told him how good he was making her feel. As he tumbled right over that edge, behind her 3rd, or was it 4th orgasm, he’d lost count, his fingers tightened slightly on her hips as his head tipped back in ecstasy. He lay still, panting as she collapsed onto his chest, his hands stroking up and down her spine as she lifted her head, grinning as she caught his lips in a soft kiss before falling down onto the mattress next to him. She looked at him, her eyes flashing in the soft light that was sneaking into the room through the crack in the curtains, a look of pure love on her face, as if he had hung the moon and the stars in the sky, and it was enough to choke him up slightly. He still wasn’t sure he was worthy of her unadulterated adoration, but damned it, he’d try constantly to be the best version of himself if it kept her by his side.
He didn’t wake the next morning when Fliss’ alarm went off. Instead he woke to a gentle kiss to his cheek and as he roused himself the smell of freshly brewed coffee hit his senses. Blinking he smiled softly as Fliss placed a mug on his night stand.
“What time is it?” Frank asked.
“Just gone 7. I’ve got an early appointment with the Ariat rep at the stables, remember?” “Oh, yeah…” he said, rubbing his eyes.
“You told me to wake you before I left.”
“Yeah, I don’t know why I did that…” he moaned and she chuckled.
“You gonna bring Mary up later?”
“Yeah, I’ll leave he with you for the afternoon if that’s ok? Need to clean the boat and get it back.” “Course it is.” she smiled. With that she bent over to kiss him again and in a shot Frank’s arms were round her waist and she was flat on her back on the bed, laughing as he caged her with his arms.
“Frank…” she whined, as he kissed her softly “I can’t, I’m gonna be late as it is…” “One more kiss, come one…” he pleaded, and she relented as he pressed his lips to hers before she eventually pulled away and shoved on his chest. With a pout he moved allowing her to stand and she shook her head at him.
“You’ll be the death of me Frank Adler.” she said, straightening her top and he eyed her figure up as she did so and gave a shrug.
“What a way to go…” he smirked and with that she reached down, grabbed one of the various scatter cushions that lived on the bed during the day, and smacked him straight on the face with it.
He and Mary shared a lazy morning before they both dressed and headed out going via the bakery at the end of the high street to pick up a coffee and some Danishes for a late breakfast for Fliss as he knew she’d have left without eating any, she always did when she was out earlier than them. As he pulled up, Mary was out of the truck before he had stopped, something which he was fed up of telling her off for.
Frank walked into Fliss’ office where he placed the bag of food on the desk, along with the cardboard carrier which contained their coffee and gave her cheek a kiss. Mary shot into the tack room, grabbed her little box of brushes and shot off to go and see Monty.
“Bye then…” he said sarcastically, and she completely ignored him. He snorted, shaking his head as Fliss laughed.
“Busy morning?” he asked and Fliss nodded.
“I’ll say.” she nodded to the bag “Saturday’s always are…aww, you bring me breakfast?”
“If 11 am counts as breakfast” he snorted and Fliss laughed as she continued sifting through the pile of envelopes on her desk. There was one that contained a few clearly hand delivered cards, he could tell by the shape and the fact they had no post marks, and then another small pile that had arrived in the post. “Bill, bill…oh…” She stopped at a bigger envelope. “A card?”
Frank shrugged. She turned it over, ripped open the envelope and pulled out a white card with simple block writing on the front in multi-colours. With a frown she opened it and scanned the greeting, before her eyes grew wide and she threw it down onto the desk.
“Lissy?” Frank frowned, and he looked at her as she shook her head, taking a deep breath, before she swallowed and turned to face him. “Honey, what is it?” “It’s…” she swallowed, her eyes wide “That card…it’s…it’s from John.”
Frank’s face grew harsh as he grabbed the card and read the greeting. It was 3 words long. 3 simple words, but even he knew from what she’d told him about the name John used to call her, that it was from him. Happy Birthday Sugar. “Fucker.” Frank growled, tossing the card back onto the desk as Fliss turned to him and he wrapped her in his arms, letting her simply press her face into his chest. He rubbed his hand gently up and down her back as her breathing evened out and she stepped back. “You ok?” “Yeah…” she said, “Do me a favour and get rid of it.” “Don’t you wanna call the police?” he frowned.
“They’re not going to do anything about a card.” she shook her head
“He’s broken his parole…” “And they can’t prove its him.” she sighed “They’re not gonna DNA test or whatever on that…” “Fliss…”
“No, Frank…just…” she shook her head. “Please, do what I ask and rip it up, burn it, whatever, I just…get rid of it”
“Ok, ok…” he appeased and she nodded, before she looked to the doorway and hastily her face rearranged into a smile.
“Hi Steph!” she greeted. Frank turned to see a dark haired woman dressed in riding gear, Fliss’ next client. “DJ is ready, get Jo to get you on and I’ll be out in a moment.” The woman smiled and headed off down the yard. Fliss looked at Frank.
“I didn’t think about the fact this place was so easy to find.” she shook her head “The webpage…” Frank sighed, it was something if truth be told he hadn’t considered either “Look, the worst he can do is send you shit.” he said, almost trying to convince himself as well “He can’t set foot out of Mass…he’s clearly doing this to try and upset you so…” “Well he can fuck off and die.” Fliss said venomously, “Ass hole…a fucking birthday card? He’s clearly losing his touch.” With that she gave his cheek a peck and grabbed a Danish out of the bag before she picked up her coffee. “This lesson is only half an hour so as soon as I’m done Mary can ride Monty and then she can do her jobs and stuff. You go and clear the boat from yesterday or whatever it is you were planning on doing and I’ll give you a call later ok?”
“Sure.” he nodded.
“Love you.” she smiled at him, before she left the room.
Frank watched her go before he looked at the card. She’d asked him to get rid of it…but something was telling him not to. He pondered it for a moment before he tucked the offending item back into the envelope and then curled it up so it would fit in his back pocket, before he headed out to the jeep, pulling his phone free as he walked.
“S’up Man?” Greg greeted him as he opened his truck door threw the envelope onto the passenger seat.
“I need some advice.” Frank spoke quietly, glancing over to where Fliss was now stood in the middle of the paddock, the women on the large grey horse was walking around her in a circle. “Can we meet?”
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Warning mentions of past trauma, PTSD, OOC Lulu, OC and AU............(mammon aganst) ..........( some guessing and non cannon ships).....( OH AND SPOILERS ABOUT LILITH!) .......This chapter is dedicated to ShadowsLurk! Happy Birthday!
'Are You Ready?'
You stare out onto the vast horizon, everything was so shiny and bright. You can't say you didn't enjoy it, it was heaven after all. She sighed as an old friend slid into your lap, the touch of their furry body and warmth was just the comfort you needed to soothe your not so mortal soul. Heaven you realized without a heart was really hell. You missed his strong arms wrapped around you, his scent of ink and paperwork after a long day that even after a shower never seemed to leave him. You missed his cologne, a light musty scent that filled your nostrils whenever he leaned down to kiss you, or when he enveloped you in his arms. The night of your first date was forever running through your mind as you preformed your celestial duties, when you baked with Luke, or studied with Simeon. Only your Star, your prideful demon was ever present in your mind during meetings or interrogations with Micheal.
The angel was a lot like Asmo you realized, he loved the sound of his own voice. Leaning in on the table trying to buy you with Luke's baked goods or offers to look down into the Devildom for quick glances at your beloved and all you had to do was tell him what had happened that morning.
The morning that Diavolo ordered Barbatos to kill you. Poison you with your own weapon.
Your body was there, but your mind was with Lucifer in a empty field with Devildom rainbow flowers all around you. You marveled at how something so beautiful could come from such darkness.
Lucifer bent over kissing you with fire and passion and longing. A wave of shock and pleasure ran down your spine. The sound of wind rustling through your body and running in time with your thumping pulse. Your shoes dropped from your hands as you reached over and wrapped your arms around his neck, you sank against his chest, grateful for his support as his arms wrapped around your waist and back, locking you against him with ease.
When his mouth left yours a trill of disappointment and confusion meant to clash in your eyes. Lucifer looked just as pained.
You let your forehead drop to his shoulder. The smooth silk and wool of his signature black and red suit absorbed the cool chill of the night, you listened to the thump of his heart beating. You felt the rise and fall of his chest with every breath.
" I'll never be able to forget you. Forget this" she heard him say. He sounded far from pleased his voice was coated with worry and fear.
"I'll have to live the rest of my eternity with you lurking in my head."
I serve somebody else was left hanging between you. Even absent Diavolo lurked everywhere like a unpleaent, unwanted shadow.
" You'll find somebody else" you said but you voice didn't sound like your own. The unspoken Diavolo will take you was unneeded.
"Yes, but he's not you." pure longing and sorrow coated his voice. He looked so vunerable,so rare and perfect.
Then he stared into your shining eyes and captured your lips with his own once more.
" What do you think sweeting?"
Is heaven heaven without-
Then a bang sounded from the other side of town, you rushed over to see a angry demon girl launching unqunchable fire at angel's left and right. You stopped at the side. A sick angry side of you was telling her to burn the place down and never look back.
"MC?" she smirked and threw a rose at your face before falling back through the clouds you tried to grab her hand.
"Take me with you!" You screamed until your throat was raw and your eyes brurned from crying. You want him and you want him now. A feeling of desperation and anger latched in your heart. You dropped to your knees and slammed your hands into the "ground".
You suddenly paused.
Red.
Red.
Lucifer's nails are red. His color is red.
You grabbed for the rose the golden tag the only thing you had of him besides his memory. You yanked it free and shoved it down your shirt and hugged the rose tight as heaven burned hotter than hell. You held onto the rose like you once held Lucifer's hand as chaos surrounded you.
"Yes"
"Your insane" Mammon paced the carpet. Satan and Belpie looked shocked to say the least. Asmo was huddled in a corner somewhere.
"This is what happens when you spend your night crying and your days walking aimlessely in the gardens. You hire psychopath asassins to bring love notes to your girlfriend." Asmo chided sharping his nails to prepare for the second bloodest battle in their history.
" We're revolting aganist Lord Diavolo?" asked Beel just to clarify. " Is it really worth the risk?"
Lucifer snarled snapping his fingers about to open his mouth when Evelyn landed right in their living room.
" Why not? A little blood will be just what he need to brighten the place up! Beel honestly where are you going to go? DOUBLE HELL?" she laughed a laugh that belonged to a girl in a mental asylm. She had dark circles rimmed under her eyes from no sleep and to much work and stress. Her one eye was covered with a white rose eye patch and her ripped jeans showed an expanse of smooth milky white skin. Her hair looked soft and pliatable as it framed her face.
"Job complete" she smirked " Whoever that was looked like one miserable human"
She sighed in content remembering the tortured faces of the people who caused her unbarable agony as a child. Who sent her down this path of lonilness and despair. Numbing her pain with black out drinking at night and coffee in the day just to stay functioning, sleep only bringing nigthmares from her past.
"I will ask you to refrain from calling him 'Lord'." Satan said "According to Lucifer were revolting." Satan wore a chesire cat smile as he thought of all the ways he could kill Diavlo. Drench himself in his blood-
"Glitched Angel. Will you be joining us?" he smirked
" If it means no more paperwork and a battle count me in." she smirked and it left a chill through every other demon in the room. Lucifer chuckled and they ran.
"Now how are we doing this." Evelyn pulled out a list of plans and weapons from a holographic watch.
"I have axes, swords, scythes-"
"Poison, the most painful, slow acting one avaible." he snarled.
"That's how will steal his strength.-"
The two demons talked stradegy late into the night.
Meanwhile Mammon looked around your room. Your scent still hovered in the air, he saw you sleeping on the bed, laying on your side nose in a book you borrowed from Satan, or a manga from Levi. Laying on the floor with him binging TSL to compete in that stuipd competition.
"I'm your first man you hear me"
You laughed a tinkling sound that made his heart sing. He ached to pull you into his lap and hold onto you until you both became one with the carpet. Nobody could steal you when your wrapped in his embrace.
"You The Great Mammon are my first demon."
HE didn't, he watch you stretch and leave. HE watches as you leave, his feeling unspoken.
He whispers them to the back of your door as you prod down the hall.
His heart broken. As he thinks of you in the arms of his brother.
Since you died he whispered his feeling into ramen, he wrote them on grimm bills and receipts. He left your favorite flowers all around your room. He bought glass versions so unlike you they would never fade, never die.
He whispered his love into candy wrappers and left them around his room. He wrote you dead friend letters and hid them under your bed, under your still half full bottle of shampoo. He bought the same brand and uses it to wash his hair, so now his sheets smell like you. But when he opens his eyes your not there. It's just him and when he reaches for you in the middle of the night he is greeted with the cold sheets instead of your warmth. When he cries into his pillow he pretends its your shoulder and your holding him. Your voice choked with unshed tears telling him that it's okay, the bruises will fade and he'll always have you. You'll always he his friend.
Which probably hurt him more than the lashes ever did.
'Friend' hurt more than the constant name calling and teasing. HE may be a worthless greedy scumabag, but with you, he felt like a prince. When you hugged him he felt invincible, when you laughed his heart soared. He felt for the first time in his miserable life like somebody wanted him. No matter how mean he was, how selfish, how nasty to you- you, you always came back. You held him and he let his walls fall because you saw that he was only laughing to brush off the pain. You saw that he pushed you away so you couldn't hurt him.
Your only sin in his eyes, was loving another man, it was his fault you died. HE should have watched you, taken better care of you and now your gone. Your trapped in a world of blinding light and darkness that was there, but always kept out of sight. Father hurt Lilith and he wouldn't hesitate to kill you, to wipe you from existence like a lesser being would squish a bug.
Mammon leaned aganist the doorway his head only jerking up when he saw Evelyn stride towards him. She wordlessely handed him a bottle of Demonus and walked off. Reconigizing his pain, because she felt it everyday.
Evelyn knew what it was to have everything taken away from you, to not trust anybody, to live in the darkness because nobody ever bothered to show her the light. Nobody reached out a hand to pull her up while she caused her whole family to fall. Her guilt squeezed at her heart steadily like a snake, but she masked it well. If there was anything she learned in her long miserable life it was how to mask pain.
She walked back down the hall and grabbed her coat.
"Are you ready to start the revolution of the century?"
Lucifer smirked and placed one gloved hand on his chest.
"I'm a master at it."
"Whatever just don't have another child while your at it."
Together they walked out the door ready to collect the strongest poison known to any demon, from Micheal.
"I need to know what happened MC" Micheal sounded calm but you could hear the strain on his voice. "What happened that day." It was a question that sounded like an order.
You stayed silent. He knew what happened to you. You got to close to the fallen star and then you got burned. Your hand squeezed the rose. You won't let go of it.
" Lucifer summoned me today." He said causally. Your ears perked up as he walked across the table and took the seat next to you.
" According to him Simeon told him what you said. He denied having any part and-" he looked into your eyes "Wants to over throw the demon prince." He took in your shocked face. He placed his warm hand over your own.
" Barbatos told us your secret." He smiled but it didn't reach his sky blue eyes." Lilith even a descendant of her is still making him revolt."
" She was the most beautiful angel I've ever seen. When she fell in love with the human I feel into a despair unlike any other. I know of your pain, at least some of it. I thought I'd never see her again. Now your here, still out of my reach." He looked pained as of he never shared his feelings, as if she died not knowing his love for her.
"I know what your feeling, but I also know what Diavolo's feeling...I know how strong love can be. Which is why I want
to help you. Let me help you. " he looked into your eyes and you saw the unwashed tears pooling into his eyes, you watched as they slid down his perfect marbled cheeks.
" Okay" you managed to choke out that one word before Micheal became cloudy in your vision. He held you and you both cried for lost loves and maybe for the possibility of justice.
The sun shone bright that morning as you made your way across the lawn. Your sprinklers made rainbows in the sky. You bent over plucking a weed from the lawn, that's when you heard the gate. The creaky metal one that you always said that you'd fix but never did.
" Hello MC." You recognized his voice immediately.
" Barbatos!" You called turning around to face him, his constant smiling face looking directly at you.
" I brought some tea. Lucifer has been raving about your beloved garden and I would love to see it. "
You brightened. You loved showing off your work. So you lead him into the garden. You talked about poison and side effects pointing out the different kinds of families. You laughed and joked. He told stories about Diavolo being Diavolo and how Lucifer was miserable without you.
Then he smacked you over the head with his tea tray. He feed you berry after berry from your Belladonna Bush. You couldn't move, he must have put something in the tea. Then slowly you slipped away. You hot all over your throat was so dry and you kept fading in and out. He could have chosen the oleander, its faster. You were begging for him to kill you, everything was so painful. You tried to tell him to stop, but your tounge was to swollen to move.
Then mercifully he left you. He grabbed the tea and smashed some berries, then got heard the metal of your water system close.
" I am very sorry MC, but this had to be done. If it's any consolation I didn't want to kill you."
His footsteps echoed on the brick walkway as he left you. The world tilted and you couldn't see. Your head was pounding.
As you lay there you thought of Lucifer. Did he know? Even if he did you'd still want him here, with you, you'd even settle for Barbatos, you just didn't want to end like this. Alone surrounded by chirping birds in what was supposed to be your mini paradise. You tried to move but your arms wouldn't move, you couldn't scream. The unspoken word made your throat raw and tight. Why was this happening, how long has it been? Where am I? You were so confused, then you started to cool down, starting with your fingers and toes, the cool felt nice so nice. Then you feel asleep laying in your garden, it was so warm and everything smelled so good.
You felt heavenly then slipping between two worlds, and then the pain in your head stopped.
You saw a black gloved hand reaching towards you and you slowly reached up-"
" Belladonna is also called beautiful death but it felt so awful." You sobbed into Michael's shoulder his arms felt so nice around you. He didn't speak, he just held you and stroked your hair. When you looked up at him he handed you a soft handkerchief.
" That crummy demon!" You recognized the voice and turned to look at the small angel. He looked betrayed, Barbatos taught him endless recipies. He taught him so much, he had endless patience and was never short with him even when he made mistakes or when he dropped things. Simeon never told Luke how you died, or who killed you. He knew what happened but...it was so awful, how you described it. You must have been terrified.
Simeon had never truly felt anger until that moment. He never wanted to watch as blood pooled around him during the war. He scoffed at violence, it was unnecessary.
Now? Now he wanted to rip Diavolo apart and watch his blood make little streams on his throne.
How dare he? He never kept his feelings for you a secret, but to do that? Using one of the most painful posions?
You were always nice to everybody, you let out trapped bugs instead of squashing them, you fed stray animals and volunteered at a church on Sunday.
You played good human got grades to keep his exchange program running and he killed you.
" Since MC is a descendent of Lilith, doesn't that make her celestial royalty?" Simeon looked at Micheal.
" Yes it does." The two men smiled at each other.
" Yes which is an act of war."
You looked at Luke you didn't want to start a war, you just wanted Lucifer, you needed him.
You shouldn't, this is why this is happening. You knew how Diavolo felt, he never hid it.
This is what happens when you mess with demons. You dont get burned, you die. Micheal wiped away a stray tear from your eye.
He could see why Lucifer loved you, you looked exactly like her. He fought all his instincts to kiss you, to hold you and tell you he was sorry for letting her brother's fall.
But he didn't because you weren't her. She was dead. She will always be dead. He would never be able to fix that, to tell her of his love and pretend it would have changed their history.
But, but he could change this fix this.
" So we agree to help Lucifer revolt?"
You stayed silent. Was this a trick? Would the angels really work with the embodiment of sins?
Simeon clutched your free hadn while Luke hugged your leg.
"He killed you. we're going to get him."
For the first time since you arrived you felt happy and loved.
Heaven felt like heaven.
"My Lord." Evelyn made a shallow bow. Diavolo smiled and beckoned her closer.
" Your ears Evelyn." he smiled at her like a child on Christmas Morning. Evelyn sighed and cute little wolf ears sprouted from her head.
She let him take pictures and distracted her exactly as she was asked to by the first born. She almost lost her mind when he started to scratch behind them. A blush coated her cheeks and her tail swished from side to side.
She distracted him so well that he didn't notice Lucifer, oh so ever loyal lucifer slip holy water into his demonus.
He didn't notice Barbatos lace his food with Glycol.
He didn't notice his perfectly balanced card house come undone around him.
He did however notice when Evelyn pulled a scythe aganist his throat.
When Lucifer pushed him agansit his throne.
"My Lord. I found out something very intresting the other night. When I was crying over my loved ones grave a little bird told me that you, my best friend, my confident, had MC murdered." He smiled a macilious smile at his former Lord.
"I'm not asking if you did it, I'm asking you because if its true......."
"If its true then I want to be your king. You love me so purely, look at everything you've one for me." Lucifer slid into Diavolo's lap. He smiked at Evelyn and looked toward's Barbatos, like all his dreams were coming true.
"You gave me a job, shelter, and a purpose. I don't know what I'd do without you."
Lucifer reached up and fed him some of the cake. His pupils dialated.
"That is so sweet Lucifer. I must admit I love having you here, with me. Like this."
"Told you they'd get together eventually" said Satan, Belphie looked at him and they rolled their eyes.
Diavolo ate the rest of his cake, then Lucifer took the cup and slid some of the tea down Diavolo's throat.
His throat burned off
"Oh so you don't like being mute? What about MC? Who lay paralyzed and dying slowly as poison burned her insides? It doesn't feel so good does it?"
Lucifer moved over to give Evelyn a good look at the dying Lord. HE gave her a look of utteral betrayal.
"Don't give me that look. You see these dark circles? Thee are Lord Diavolo designer paperwork special. Giving me pile after pile of paperwork and then letting you pet me like a DOG!" she snapped and black tendrils circled around his wrists and ankles.
"Let's see how like not sleeping for a month. " Then one tendril circled around his body and neck and squeezed his charring flesh. Then ashes rained from the ceiling where Diavolo once lay. Only his RAD medal left in the ashes.
Evelyn picked it up and handed it to Lucifer.
He looked like he was rethinking his entire life once more.
Slowly he ascended the stairs to where Diavolo's on throne lay.
He sat down and Barbatos placed a golden crown with embedded rubies onto his head.
"My Lord." said Barbatos.
Lucifer looked at Evelyn and smiled.
She gave him a small smile back.
Things just got a whole lot more intrestng around here.
Okay guys I'm going to do a part three but I wanted to finish this before Midnight!
Happy birthday LurkingMonsters!
#obey me#lucifer#obey me diavolo#agnst#pt2#obey me lucifer#maybe she'll let me do this with her whole book because i I totally simp her her
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Believe Again: Chapter 3
Rating: Mature Fandom: Dragon Age Inquisition Relationships: Cullen Rutherford x Female Trevelyan Tags: slow burn, slow build, slow romance, mage/templar dynamics, family drama, templars, mages, enemies to friends to lovers, angst, lyrium withdrawal, crisis of faith, loss of faith, The Chantry, sexual tension, innuendo MASTERPOST: A/N: Tags to be updated. Chapters posted on the 1st Thursday of the month.
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CHAPTER THREE- Elsie
My dear sister Elsie,
Firstly I want to apologise. I’ve spent such an awfully long time practising my penmanship skills (as my tutor insisted upon) and as such I was forbidden to reply to your last note until I had mastered the perfect flicks on my lettering. Well, what do you think?
I am thrilled to hear you’re going to be an Enchanter! I confess that I know very little of Circle hierarchy, but I assume that it’s a promotion of sorts? If so, then hurrah! You deserve it. You’ve always worked hard.
I actually have news of my own. As you know, my studies at home are coming to an end (finally!) and I’ve been deciding what I want to do with my life. Lucetta and mother have always said I could stay at the estate and become a sensible gentlewoman and find a nice husband. Oh, but how dull! I’ve been humouring them for sure. Honestly Elsie - can you imagine me hosting tea parties and soirees?
No… so I’ve had somewhat of an epiphany, I think. I would like to say that I’ve always been a faithful follower of the Maker. So… I’m joining the Chantry. For mother, I think it’s the next best thing so she should be satisfied. But I’m not doing this for her, or even for myself. I truly want to help spread the Chant of Light and help those who aren’t as privileged as us. It doesn’t feel like the noble or honourable thing to do; just the right thing. That’s how I know it’s what I must do.
- A letter from Cecelia Trevelyan to her eldest sister Elsie Trevelyan at the Ostwick Circle. 9:36 Dragon.
3. Elsie
When Elsie awoke the morning after the official forming of the Inquisition, she sat up in bed, felt her head hammer with an awful hangover and flopped back down on the feather mattress, pulling the covers over her head. I never should’ve let Varric Tethras buy me drinks all night , she thought miserably. What made it worse was that whilst she had felt giddy and tipsy, Varric had been jolly and yet Solas - who had consumed just as much ale as the pair of them - had sat all composed with a sly smile on his face, as if he couldn’t feel the effects of alcohol. As such, Varric had continued to buy more rounds of drinks, just to see if the elf would waiver but Solas had only chuckled and drank away whilst maintaining his sober composure. Some of Elsie’s closest friends in the Circle had been elves and none of them had held their liquor particularly well at all.
With a groan, Elsie rolled over, wrapping herself as tight as she could in her cocoon of blankets. Thank the Maker we aren’t travelling today , she thought. Even thinking about the motion of riding on horseback was enough to make her feel -
She gagged and shuddered, pushing all thoughts of motion out of her mind and instead tried to get comfortable again. After another wave of nausea crashed over her and she not-so-elegantly stumbled out of bed and retched in her chamber pot, did she collapse into an almost comatose state on the bed. Oh, if only my noble family could see me now…
Suddenly she sobered and sat up, her breath catching. Family. Her family. Three out of the four Trevelyan daughters had attended the Conclave. All who had attended were dead, except for her. So her sisters -
It was finally hitting her. Her sisters Cecelia and Evelyn were gone. Snuffed out in an instant and yet she remained, her alone. Thousands had died, yes, but to lose not one but two of her sisters…
Elsie pulled her knees up to her chest and hugged them. It didn’t feel real and yet she had always been pragmatic and faced the facts. That's what her father had always loved about her - her pragmatism and ability to look at the wider picture, to think forward and not back. But how could she do that when two of her sisters were instantly killed and she was unable to remember a thing? Not one damn thing! She cursed. Guilt clawed into her belly, pulling uneasily at her gut. Perhaps Cassandra had been right to have her in chains. Maybe she had done something but couldn’t remember?
Idly, as she turned those thoughts over in her mind, she weaved a trickle of fire through her fingers, her movements as delicate as if she were playing keys on a piano forte. Elsie had always been the best at that instrument when they were children, despite the tough and sometimes bored exterior she exuded. The piano forte had been Elsie’s preferred instrument and before her magic had quickened, she and Evelyn would regularly hold small concerts to the servants in their home. Evelyn had been particularly talented with the lyre. But then Elsie remembered that Evelyn was dead and it didn’t matter how good a musician she had been. She was gone, and they had never truly got the chance to reconcile.
A harsh rap at her cabin door intruded her dark thoughts and she absentmindedly said “enter”, even though she was still sat curled up on her bed in little more than a loose fitting shirt and breeches.
The door to her cabin opened and a blast of cold air swept inside, but not enough to extinguish her flames tickling her fingers. Her visitor shut the door behind them and stomped their feet on the mat to brush the snow off. That’s when Elsie snapped her head up as the visitor was not someone she would’ve expected.
The templar - well Commander now, apparently - was dusting his boots off and was not looking at her as he began to speak.
“Herald; my apologies for the intrusion, but I’ve brought with me the latest reports from Corporal Vale-” he stopped abruptly when he finally came into the cabin fully. He stared at her and was transfixed at her control of the fire magic she was still weaving between her fingers.
A lick of anger flared in her stomach and her flames sparkled in response. So she snuffed them out with a wave of her hand. That little action earned her an ill-concealed flinch from the commander, and Elsie wasn’t sure if that was a small victory over him or not.
A thick silence fell between them until Elsie sighed and stood, wrapping her arms around herself. “I’m not an arsonist, don’t worry,” she muttered, taking the papers from the commander's hand.
He seemed to snap out of thoughts when she spoke. “I never said you were.”
Elsie snorted. “And yet you’re looking at me with your other hand on the hilt of your sword as if I’ve grown two heads... or about to turn into an abomination.”
He let go of his grip, as if scolded by fire and frowned at her. “Old habits die hard,” he eventually said but Elsie had turned away to read the reports. She continued to pretend to read until he took the hint. She heard him sigh and leave her cabin, closing the door behind him with a firm thud.
Elsie slouched her shoulders and stared back at the closed door. She had been short with him, but what was she supposed to do? Pretend to be fine with him pretending not to be keeping an eye on her and her magic when he clearly was? Still, as she set the reports aside and looked around for her clothes, it had been rather unfair of her. She thought back to when he had escorted Cecelia to her, before the Conclave. If they had never found Elsie, then perhaps Cecelia would’ve stayed in Haven and avoided -
No. Elsie shook herself. She couldn’t think of maybes, ifs, and what could've been. The Templar had been helping her sister. Surely she would’ve done the same in his place? And it’s not like he knew that there was going to be an explosion, killing thousands…
After getting washed and dressed, Elsie braided her hair down her back and slung her old staff over her shoulder. As she stepped outside of her cabin into the crisp midday sun, she turned her eyes upwards towards the Breach and exhaled slowly. The mark on her hand had flared a little, but had also been stable since their attempt to close the hole in the sky. But it hadn’t been enough and she needed more. The Inquisition needed more.
Putting one foot in front of the other, Elsie made her way through the village, pushing aside all thoughts of the daunting challenge ahead and how it felt like she was tiptoeing on a precipice of change, of something bigger than themselves.
“Dimples!”
Elsie looked up to see Varric waving her over near the Chantry. Cassandra stood with him as well as - oh perfect, she thought. The Commander.
“Finally joined the world of the living?” Varric said lightly. She could feel the Commander’s judgemental gaze on her, but decided to not even acknowledge his presence and focused her attention on Varric.
“I see you’re chirpier than usual, even though you drank just as much,” she replied with a frown.
The dwarf chuckled. “Now, now, you only think I drank as much as you and Chuckles. It’s one of my many talents.”
“And is one of your so-called ‘talents’ to also be a smug know-it-all?” Elsie retorted, using her hands to exaggerate her point. She heard something like a snort come out of Cassandra. Was that a suppressed giggle? Surely not…
“Why Dimples; I pride myself on it,” Varric grinned and Elsie couldn’t help but smile back and shake her head.
Cassandra rolled her eyes. “Must you give ridiculous nicknames to everybody, Varric?”
Cullen finally spoke. “Yes, I was wondering the same thing. And why ‘Dimples’ for the Herald?”
Varric pointed at her, making Elsie’s face flush involuntary as they all looked at her. “Because surely you’ve noticed Curly, that when our beloved Herald smiles, she has dimples on her cheeks.”
Elsie finally looked at the Commander and took her opportunity to have a little fun. Without missing a beat she deadpanned: “And those aren’t my only dimples either, Commander; but not many people have been lucky enough to see those .”
To her great satisfaction the burly and stoic Commander’s cheeks reddened and he looked away, rubbing the back of his neck, whilst Varric burst into booming laughter and Cassandra smirked.
“Ha! She got you there, Curly!”
Elsie didn’t take her eyes off Cullen. Oh, what she would do to be in his head right now to know what he was thinking. “So, Curly is it?”
He refused to meet her gaze. “No.”
Varric pointed to Cullen’s hair, which was a warm golden blonde with a slight wave. “His hair used to be curly, back in Kirkwall.”
Elsie froze. Kirkwall? She thought, her gut twisting.
“The Commander spends more time on his hair than any of us ladies,” a new voice said from behind them. The serious Spymaster Leliana had stealthily approached and even she had a small smile on her face. “Isn’t that right, Cullen?”
The commander stuttered before dismissing himself and headed into the Chantry. Varric laughed again and Elsie plastered on a good-natured smile. Kirkwall eh? She thought. That’s something I need to pick up later.
Later that day, after the final arrangements were made to ready their departure to the Hinterlands, Elsie entered Ambassador Montilyet’s office, following a request for a meeting. With a sinking heart, Elsie knew this was going to be about her family and had already put off meeting Josephine twice already.
She pushed open the office door to find the Ambassador talking with -
Oh perfect. Again?
Commander Cullen looked up at the same time as Ambassador Montilyet. He frowned at her, making her insides lick irritably. It seemed that her little flirtatious joke hadn’t been as warmly received as she had hoped. And yet he was always so cold and impassive; maybe seeing a disapproving or even mildly angry side of him would be more interesting, even if just to convince her he was actually human, capable of some sort of emotion.
“Ah, Lady Trevelyan,” Josephine said, clearly missing the glare they were sharing or choosing to ignore it. “I’m so glad you’re here. I was just reiterating to Cullen the importance of securing more noble allies.”
“So they can clog up the village and come crying when their satin shoes get spoilt?” Cullen scoffed. “We need more troops, not some spoilt arsehole who’s had everything given to them on a golden platter.”
Oh, he really is just asking to be vexed, isn’t he? Elsie forced a smile.
“Normally I would be inclined to agree with you, Commander,” she said, and he blinked in surprise but it soon turned to a frown as Elsie continued. “We aren’t all silk slippers and dainty cakes. What a wide assumption you make of nobility; especially when you - a templar - are so quick to stop rash assumptions of yourself.”
They stared at one another, the air thick with unsaid arguments and tension like earlier that morning.
“What do you mean ‘we’?” he said slowly. “You’re a mage from a Circle, I thought.”
Elsie bristled. “Yes, and I lost all rank and respect when I was forced into the Circle.”
Josephine cut in, sensing a heated argument on the verge of disrupting her calm office. “Lady Elsie is the eldest of the Trevelyan daughters, and was-”
“Was heir, until it was all taken from me: because I’m a mage.”
Another silence, thick and heavy filled the room. Commander Cullen regarded her coolly, his eyes dark with anger and something else, she couldn’t quite put her finger on. Finally he inclined his head. “I’ll leave you to your meeting, Lady Ambassador. Lady Trevelyan,” he said stiffly.
As soon as the door swung shut behind him, Elsie let out a breath and exchanged a look with Josephine.
“What an infuriating man,” Elsie muttered. “He does it on purpose,” she continued, taking a seat opposite Josephine.
Josephine’s eyebrows shot up. “What makes you say that?”
Elsie pinched the bridge of her nose. “I barely know the man, but he baits me at almost every chance he gets. And I can’t help but get riled up.”
“Try not to worry, Herald. Just let him do his job and he will let you do yours.”
Elsie shook her head. “I don’t think it’s possible. As a templar, he can’t help but watch mages. Oh yes, he may say he isn’t one anymore, but just because I’m no longer in a Circle, doesn’t mean I’m no longer a mage.”
Josephine shifted. “What you said to Cullen, about you being the Trevelyan heir… well I think we can use that fact to our advantage.”
Elsie didn’t comment on Josephine’s excellent diversion in conversation to get on to the matter at hand. She looked at the Antivian with renewed respect.
“I was disinherited, my lady. There may no longer be Circles, but there is no chance of my position in my family being restored. Nor would I want it to: I couldn’t do that to my sister Lucetta, when she is on the cusp of taking over from my father.”
Josephine smiled. “That is a noble gesture indeed, but you are right, there is little chance of you being restored to your former position.” She spread her hands. “That being said, now that you are the Herald of Andraste, your situation is somewhat unique, and the Trevelyan name does carry some weight, even in Orlais. If you are happy, I would like to freely distribute your family name when spreading the word of the Herald of Andraste.”
She nodded. “Of course. Whatever I can do to help.”
The ambassador made a mark on her ledger. “And your family: would they be satisfied if we were to contact them? Would they help our cause?”
Elsie smiled humorlessly. “My father loves politics and my mother loves to gossip and both are as devoted to the Chantry as the other. I can’t see it being a problem at all.” Indeed, Mother may even forget the shame I brought to the family as a mage, Elsie added silently. Well, probably not, but maybe she won’t pretend I’m dead anymore.
Josephine sensed something left unsaid and looked at her kindly. “Would you like me to write a letter to your parents? It can come from me, or I can ghostwrite one for you…?”
She smiled with relief. “That would be appreciated, Lady Ambassador. I’m sure you can say things more… eloquently than I could ever hope to.”
“You’re too kind, my lady,” Josephine smiled warmly. “I will have a draft letter drawn up today for you to review and sign before you leave for the Hinterlands in the morning”.
-
The rest of the day was spent preparing for her departure from Haven. She had been used to travelling light from her time as an apostate following the fall of the Circles, so had little to pack in the first place. However, as she looked around the cabin, she felt suffocated by the small space and the lack of freedom she had in the tiny village. Things had changed so considerably, that she just wanted to be herself again, if just for a moment.
Elsie picked up her staff by the door of her cabin and pulled on her boots and a new thick coat which had been given to her for her journey. Outside, the light was beginning to fade and the evening was drawing ever closer. It was the perfect time to slip out of the village and head for a walk without being disturbed, as the soldiers and almost everyone else in the village halted in their activities and listened to the urgent growl of their hungry bellies.
Since she had been in Haven, her appetite had dwindled. She had always been known as the girl with the hearty appetite back in the Circle, and her robes had clung to her quite tightly in places, but she had been happy and eating had been something to pass the time when there was little else to do sometimes. Now after a year of being on the run and having to work or hunt for her meals, her robes had begun to hang loosely and her new outfits courtesy of the Inquisition, were very different and also much smaller… and yet comfortable. She knew that she should eat more, especially in Haven, where food was thankfully plentiful for everyone, despite their remote location. The next few weeks would be different but even so, she couldn’t find it in herself to be hungry. Not when it was a feeling her sisters would feel again.
And they won’t feel anything. Because they're dead.
Elsie kept her head down and pulled up her hood and walked down to the edge of the lake, arms wrapped around herself. Already at the shore, the noisy bustle from the village grew distant, and as she continued to walk further away, it all but faded, so all she could hear was the crunch of her boots in the fresh snow, and the water lapping quietly. She slowed her pace once she was on the far side of the lake and for the first time in a very, very long time, she was totally alone. No one could see her and no one was watching her.
She smiled bitterly. Oh, how she had longed for this solitude when she had been in the Circle. There had been a modest courtyard garden at the Ostwick Circle, but there was always someone else there. A templar, or a mage or a tranquil. You were never truly on your own in a Circle. And on the run she had always stuck with fellow apostates, as it really was strength in numbers. But now…
Finally Elsie came to a stop and looked across the lake. She may have been alone, but she still felt far from it. She didn't need to look up to know about the gaping hole in the sky. Especially when its eerie green hue was reflected in the otherwise calm waters of the lake. No matter where she went, Elsie knew that the Breach would follow her, like a giant eye boring down on her every move.
But she paused at that thought and slowly lifted her head up to look straight into the Breach. Was the Maker there? Was that the reason why she felt this heavy presence ooze from the sky??
Perhaps she truly was the Herald of Andraste. What a ridiculous notion, she thought. If anyone had any right to be the Herald of the Maker’s Bride, surely it would’ve been her innocent and pious sister, Cecelia?
Cecelia. Her lovely round face, dotted with freckles and her bucktooth smile filled Elsie’s mind and she let out an involuntary sob that startled her. Cecelia, whose life was just beginning, was dead. And was it her fault? Why had Cecelia - sweet and innocent Cecelia - died, and she survived?
And Evelyn. Evie, her templar sister. She had also been a faithful woman, bounding herself to the Maker by joining the Templars. And yet her life had been snuffed out too. Evie, with her strong jaw, her cropped hair and her rare smile. She had possessed an intelligence and wit that many underappreciated or took for granted. Their relationship had been strained due to the war, but blood was still blood, and sisterhood was a bond stronger than one could describe.
Tears were streaming down her face now and Elsie clenched her fists, glaring at the Breach. How dare the Maker take their lives from the world. In a world already dark and foreboding, why had He designed to snatch their lives away? The pair of them were worth more to the faith than Elsie by far. And yet here she stood. The lone survivor. The Herald of Andraste.
Her anger flared, her clenched fists shook and without warning her fingers began to tingle and fire licked her hands and forearms. It wasn’t fair and it wasn’t just.
Elsie screamed in rage and fell to her knees in the snow. The fire at her fingertips hissed as they were extinguished. Her body wracked in sobs and her chest heaved, struggling for breath as the reality of her loss, of her survival, of her burden, became a harsh and brutal reality for her.
She may not have believed she was the Herald of Andraste, but as she looked over towards the village of Haven, where the Inquisition banners flapped in the wind, she realised that all of those people did believe she was sent to save them all. That she had survived for a reason. And yet she did not have a clue what to do.
When the tears on her cheeks and dried and the cold air was sharp in her lungs, her breathing steadied and she slowly rose to her feet. Elsie dusted the snow off her breeches and inspected her gloves which were a little singed. She brushed the hair out of her eyes that had come loose from her braid and slowly made her way back to the village.
A shiver down her spine made her look up in the evening light and she stopped in her tracks when she saw that she was no longer as alone as she had initially thought.
Commander Cullen stood on his own, looking right at her, with his sword half drawn. The steel caught the green light of the Breach and Elsie’s gut twisted at the sight of him and his stance. There was absolutely no doubt in her mind that he had been a templar of some authority, and all at once she felt like a shy apprentice, closing in on herself.
But she was so exhausted that she couldn’t even begin to want to fight with him again, or tease him. A wave of cold washed over her as he simply looked at her; his face, as always, an unreadable mask. She wanted to run. She wanted to hide. She wanted to pretend they hadn’t seen each other.
Instead, she walked towards him, never once breaking eye contact, before stopping when they were level with one another and did something that surprised even her. Elsie placed a hand on his arm.
She meant to say something - anything - but no words came to mind. Perhaps she was offering some prospect of peace between them. But as her hand rested just a little longer on his arm, she felt the heat of him. She needed a human touch to not feel so alone and for one ridiculous moment she had wanted to fall into his arms. A funny thought crossed her tired mind that he would probably be a good hugger. He smelt... comforting. Elderflower. Oakmoss. And it startled Elsie that she felt his presence could be to not just foreboding but also a little comforting. She wanted to say more, she wanted to lean in, but she didn’t. She wasn’t sure which thought scared her the most.
Elsie dropped her hand and left Cullen staring after her. But he did not say a word, nor did he follow. Something in Elsie’s gut twisted again, and it terrified her.
<- PREVIOUS CHAPTER | NEXT CHAPTER ->
#Fic: Believe Again#Believe Again#my writing#long post#elsie trevelyan#cullen#cullen rutherford#culsie#cullen rutherford x inquisitor#fanfiction#dragon age
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bitch I bet you thought I’d forgotten about Riverdale, “Chapter Thirty-Seven: Fortune and Men’s Eyes”
I absolutely agree with Archie’s wild careening off the side of the road of justice to plead guilty to a crime he “may as well have” committed. I couldn’t believe Archie was so preposterously on the money about himself: “I didn’t kill anyone, but I could have.” GOOD, ARCHIE. I love Juvie Archie. better than Fascist Archie!!!!
I didn’t google “prison powder” to see if that shit’s soap or for lice or what but y’all’ll fill me in on that won’t you
“Leopold and Loeb” is just the level of allusory on-brand naming hubris I demand
“Captain Golightly” doesn’t seem to be a reference to anything other than a brutal dichotomy between whimsy and a dictatorial prison state
you know they hit us up with that Pop’s lighting not even at Pop’s! I never met a window I didn’t want to have bathe me in God’s light!
Sixth period is Intro to Film: the cross stitch quote on the warden’s wall, which I assume dude’s wife made for him because he and she adhere to traditional gender roles, is of course from Sonnet 29, referenced in the title to a play and 70’s movie very much about sexual slavery in prison (Archie has not seen it)
Day One at Juvie Coif: very good, uplifted, touchable but held fast
they really did the line-up of the Hot Dads of Riverdale right there: Tom seems to be eating pancakes and bacon, and FP is wearing a scarf like a headband but like a necklace
Fred’s flannel is an interesting mix of colors like, for a flannel, and Veronica appears to be wearing subtle yellow eyeshadow to go with her waitress dress
when were we going to hear about the three perjuring thugs? who corroborated Archie’s false confession???? cold
“Shadow County” is the third county in “Riverdale State”
The Blossom spawn: Dr. Patel seems to be the Cooper family GP with specialities in both obstetrics and neurology; Betty is still wearing her hospital bracelet
I never noticed the teensy blackboard under Alice’s kitchen cabinets; the Coopers are truly peak bourgeois chic
Polly’s itty bitty lace headband is good and the Farm has done wonders for her and Alice’s accessory game
Betty’s body language at “Uh...because I saw you and mom throw the twins on a fucking fire” is very funny (Betty has not told a joke yet)
Dilton Doiley is a canonically great dancer: RIP!!!!!!
I want to get out of the way that for some reason Jughead looks really good throughout this episode. I can’t explain why, maybe it’s because he’s finally wearing plaid again, but he looks good. if you thought he looked good in the first place, he’s back
is Betty wearing her Carrie: the Musical outfit?
last week I misheard Dilton and thought he said “Cardinal King,” and I was like, What? and then it got even better
Places Bughead are Fucking: the Blue & Gold office
Archie > Dawson: God bless Archie but he does try to be personable with Mad Dog right away, unleashing one of his legendary “bros.” how old were you when you realized you couldn’t do a pull-up? I’ve never done a pull-up in my goddamn life and certainly not to a vinyl of a piano sonata
Mad Dog (I just wrote “God,” because I guess he’s that beautiful) has approximately 100 cigarettes, which he certainly does not smoke, so he is hoarding them for some grand purpose?
when Mad Dog turned around I swear I saw muscles I didn’t know the human body possessed. I’m talking fresh-out-of-the-science-tube Steve Rogers
Fwoopy hair is the best hair: Mad Dog’s impeccably maintained fade
The 2001 Josie and the Pussycats movie was a masterpiece: Josie has the right attitude about LBJ and Vietnam, except I think JFK got us into Vietnam, but then the Gulf of Tonkin was LBJ. I don’t want to google the Vietnam War. look, McNamara is a war criminal
Cheryl’s sheaths: I wish I had the energy to coordinate my bras with the rest of my aesthetic like Josie, in a leopard print, and Cheryl, in red lace. I will say I have recently discovered unlined bras and they have changed me for the better
do you think Archie + varsity football + theater extracurriculars = Cheryl + student body president + 4.0 GPA + theater extracurriculars?
Serpent with the General-style opthalmic frames and low-rise Chucks intrigues me
Joaquin does Archie so bad!!!!!!! even after he got the fucking tattoo, damn!
Sexy, aesthetic Southside: Joaquin’s eyes are so crystal clear that I don’t think they have a color of their own. he’s wearing the optional grey shirt, so they look grey; if he wore the optional navy shirt (I can’t yet tell a difference in status) they would look blue
oh god, what is that Ghoulie doing at the fucking fence? is he slicing his fingertips for fun? what the fuck, the Ghoulies are so fucking bizarre
Archie calls Joaquin “bro” which means he is fucking serious
we all need to take a moment to ourselves to truly absorb the skull of Dr. Curdle’s son, who is also a corrupt coroner (his name tag says “Dr. Curdle Jr”). of the three most alien skulls so far, this is the most take-abacking (I HAVE seen every episode and my calculations are sound)
he’s really gonna let Dilton (RIP!!!!!) have his arm hang down off the table like that, in this, his final repose? cold
the almost ironic intonation of “signs….of stress….” as he pulls the sheet down is amazingly 50’s horror movie
“Runic, I’d say.”
mmmmmmmmmm Fresh-Aid! I listened to the Jonestown tape in an episode of Last Podcast and was well disturbed!!!!!
you tell me why Jughead is using the camera he used in the pilot instead of like, his phone camera: because Jughead?
because Jughead
Places Bughead are Fucking: coroner’s Office
I want one of these L & L shirts. I would prefer the navy version with the little sleeves
excuse me but one of these Ghoulies has an absolute 2008 sidebang
I’m writing a scene where it’s gay.: “DON’T TOUCH HIS FACE”
Veronica’s flower sweater
BEN BUTTON
Betty’s 70’s-collared Piet Mondrian shirt is super cute, although a white-backed women’s shirt with that thin Forever 21 fabric always fucks you if you have to wear a bra
the actress who plays Evelyn Evernever is named Zoé de Grand Maison and honestly I don’t know who has the better name
DOES KEVIN STILL WANT TO LOSE HIS VIRGINITY BY HALLOWEEN
if homecoming is in September or October, the schedule should be roughly 1) Archie gets out of juvie, followed by 2) Kevin loses his virginity with Moose
Gay.: Kevin’s kiss is VERY good and quite bold! for a hallway, and Moose’s twangy hair is nice
at my high school, everyone just said “rot-see” for ROTC, so surely these hip kids wouldn’t go around saying R-R-O-T-C like that, UNREALISTIC, RIVERDALE
the extremely tall gothy Vixen is even taller than the extremely tall Ghoulie and I would like to take her to homecoming
Summer + Blair = Veronica: “You’re acting like trash, and I don’t want to get a citation.”
what the hell does student body president even do? to the extent I can even recall our student body president, whose name I believe was Lauren, I think she read the afternoon announcements
Ben WAS the kid Kevin ordered that hot dog from during the James Dean closing night! (I’m not double-checking)
Ben WAS the kid Miss Grundy was ~grooming~ when she got merked!
Ben’s mom is such a boring white mom lady that she’s wearing a denim button-down with but a single flower appliqué
YOU KNOW I LOVED THAT BLAIR WITCH TWIG BABY
Officer Henderson WAS the cop who found the “HL” briefcase at the dead Serpent’s hotel room!
I looked into what starting a chapter of the Innocence Project entails for a “couple of minutes.” I assume Veronica is going to go with option one: nonprofit organization, “independently incorporated” with “its own governing board” and fundraising, as I would doubt Riverdale has a local law school or much of a public defender’s office, you know what I’m saying?
What damn high school in America: Veronica is wearing some high-waisted black slacks and quite the polka dot top, which may in fact simply be a bustier. I imagine Principal Weatherbee has battled so many times over the years with Cheryl, who is constantly toeing the line of what a 16-year-old can legally wear, that he has since given up entirely
Jughead crawling over the back of the couch and dangling the totem baby is such a throwback to Jughead crawling over the back of the diner booth and eating the whipped cream cherry that now they are simply teasing me with the grandeur of times gone by, like an Andy Williams Christmas song thrown up on 101.9 KINK
Ethel has on some sort of wicked pin but it’s not in focus!
Betty’s top is very cute, structured
everyone has their own “Yeah, I guess” face at “Dilton Doiley [RIP!!!!!!!] has a secret bunker in the woods?”
Jughead cooly threatens Ethel with quote-unquote telling the police; this of course calls back to Jughead threatening Dilton (RIP!!!!!) in the third episode with Sheriff Keller, but let me ask you this: if Betty & Jughead DID take Ethel to the sheriff, would Sheriff Minetta give a flying fuck? doesn’t he answer directly to Hiram on all things Jughead at this point? could Betty and Jughead POSSIBLY still imagine the cops will heed anything they bring them?
Sheriff Minetta: Jughead Jones now seems to be under the impression that a band of Riverdale High juniors are in an underground RPG cult that has led to a double-suicide
Hiram: Thank God
something about Jughead’s teensy Yes’m head nod is just enough like a chivalrous bow that I have thus taken the time to note how cute it is
Day Two Juvie Coif: visibly succumbing to stress, but with dignity; starting to feather
I don’t know anything about sneakers but I like Mad Dog’s hightops
the cinematography in Archie’s cell is great. I especially like the panning around Archie when he’s not even moving, just listening to Mad Dog talking about, “The moment you set foot in here,” etc.
Mädchen Amick, MÄDCHEN AMICK: FP AND ALICE BOOOOOIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!! missing is the implied scene where Alice called FP to “get over here” so they can “talk to our kids” “together”
50 Shades of Betty: Betty tries hard to communicate with only her left eyebrow, fails
am I imagining a callback to Alice assuming Jughead was the one who railroaded Betty into looking at Jason Blossom? Alice’s stance on Jughead is too exhausting to track
Alice is certainly wearing a sheer floral peasant blouse she would NOT have worn the previous two seasons, SUSPICIOUS
Places Bughead are Not Fucking: Betty’s room
Gay?!: Archie’s incredulous delight at Reggie having helped picked out his RHS-themed sneakers; the Bulldogs are all about that #threestripelife
Veronica was rich: “FRESH KICKS”
Moose is apparently a “straight beast,” if you will
one of these Serpents is holding two playing cards, just chilling and holding two playing cards. I hope his prison name is like SNAKE EYES or THE JOKER
that Ghoulie dude is so striking and elongated, I swear to God he looks like John Travolta in Grease. that undercut, the well-oiled curls on top? can he be Josie’s fall fling?
God bless jingle-jangle: can you DROP OUT of fourth grade? doesn’t the state come for you, what the fuck?
I unironically love Archie’s plan. I fucking love it
“YOU’VE NEVER KNOWN THE EPIC HIGHS AND LOWS”—ARCHIE—YOU’RE A FUCKING SAVANT
I’m looking for other good haircuts in the background. one dude has a solid Wakanda-era Bucky Barnes and there’re slicked up curls aplenty. this juvie is like a candy box
you know this bitch loves a rack focus, especially onto prison wardens
Please protect Betty: “It’s chamomile, Betty. Calm down.”
FREAKISHLY good micromoment of Alice just like wiping away an eyelash or something
aloud, with witnesses, I said “This is like when they first held hands, am I right?” and then Betty said the “kind of reminds me of when we first started dating,” just to prove to you I HAVE seen every episode
Betty calmly checking in with Jughead re: Satan’s Reindeer
he’s most certainly Ethel on stilts (I’m very bad at predicting), but I love the Gargoyle King. he’s just the right mix of she-puts-you-in-the-corner and herky-jerky T-Rex, plus she put paint on him or whatever, in case somebody put a flashlight beam on him? Ethel fucking Muggs or whoever
love the sexy noir diner lighting and I will die loving it
Jughead eats: a toothpick
Day Three Juvie Coif: back at it, flush with victory; firm and wavy
Cheryl’s a chaos angel from hell: I do wish Cheryl were not so permanently a good guy. I wish she wanted to be Student Body President, all of a sudden, so badly that she was trying to keep Archie in juvie so he could never reclaim his throne, like if she were Scar
Kevin’s magenta polo has a subtle wave print
I hope the RROTC is somehow rotting from the inside, like the Adventure Scouts or Aquaholics
The female gaze: Archie’s cranking out push-ups and Mad Dog is doing tricep dips to warm up, for the game and “other business,” respectively. sometimes I like to do tricep dips too, usually for forty-five seconds while I’m waiting for the microwave to reheat my Kraft Thick N’ Creamy
Archie’s “What the hell are you to him?” is maybe his most astute query into something not being right that doesn’t include his remarkable quickness on the uptake of Jughead at the end of season one (I HAVE seen every episode)
These students are legally children: what the fuck did Mad Dog do that he’s been sentenced to like 25 years in prison? he’s a minor for God’s sake. get on this, Veronica
Places Bughead are Fucking: the fucking woods
catch me hightailing it the fuck out of there when Betty and Jughead do anything that even remotely resembles opening a circular hatch to ANYTHING out in a fucking forest clearing and peering down inside. BYE BITCHES YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN!!!!!
someone in the writer’s room at even only one point said the phrase “like in True Detective” while unspooling this yarn
Fifth period is AP English: I have to take Jughead’s word for it that there’re any bunkers in any Philip K. Dick novel
I am STILL salty that the Swords & Serpents thing IS NOT THE SAME THING as THIS RPG and that it was wholly abandoned. I can’t believe we’re not doing Jughead being sucked into the RPG cult and Betty have to haul him out SIMULTANEOUSLY with her mother being sucked into the postpartum cult and having to haul HER out
“He’s also featured prominently on this copper coin.”
y’all can just buy cyanide like that, in that glass growler? it has a “reliable prescription” sticker on it, WTF?
“Drink from the correct cup and ascend to the kingdom” is definitely ripped from one of the tracks on that Avenged Sevenfold album I bought at Borders freshman year
Jughead doubts it: “OR SOMETHING EVEN MORE INSIDIOUS”
I fucking knew that Adventure Scout was gonna be under that fucking cot but it still scared the crap out of me because The Haunting of Hill House exhausted my reserves
I’m going to come out and say that I’ve never cared for Charmed and I’m not watching the reboot. however I am exceedingly ready for Sabrina
“Princess Etheline”
guys, I found the “Jailhouse Rock” dance charming, especially the implication that the boys started the game up again in the middle to like, show off for the girls. am I getting soft in my old age?
Josie’s VERY bright blue eyeshadow
Cheryl’s hair: Cheryl had to have been influenced by the trend started pre-2012 in So You Think You Can Dance wherein dancers with very long hair just leave it down
Hiram…..Archie’s in jail. what else do you want? like, he’s IN JUVIE
am I out of my fucking mind or is Hiram wearing a pin that is PSYCHOTICALLY close to being the Hydra hydra?
Archie overtaking the first few guards with those slow-mo crosses until they finally beat him down by their sheer numbers was basically a scene from Spartacus: War of the Damned
Betty’s bug print is cute while being, subconsciously, slightly unsettling; this is true for Betty as a whole
Ethel’s mustard yellow cotton cardigan has some sort of flower print on its back? COOL
I would like to extend a hearty “fuck off with that for fucking me” to whoever blocked out seizing-Ethel whipping her arm up like that with her jacked hand JUST LIKE IN HEREDITARY. FUCK OFF!, and I mean it
“Damn good coffee”: Evelyn has just the sort of niche superpower I wish I could have: to fuck with other people’s social interactions from a casual remove
Jughead is remarkably polite with 911, much calmer than with the desk nurse after Fangs got shot (I HAVE seen every episode)
(Hereditary was much better than Hill House)
Best costume bit: Monica Posh is hot
Every triangle has three corners, every triangle has three sides: Kevin wants that dick SO BADLY that he has JOINED THE ARMY (or whatever)
how did Pop’s lighting manage to glide all the way over to L&L?
Day Four Juvie Coif: slept on but still truckin’
Archie can only be fucking imagining what is about to happen to him (Archie has definitely seen Fight Club, and Jughead had to explain how it was satire)
Certified pedigree: LEGENDARY SQUAD OF PARENTS!!!!!! Hermione’s getting the band back together à la It
Penelope Blossom has gone full Victorian goth in that floor-length lace Chicago black widow number
“At the mere mention of ‘blue lips,’” Jughead wrote, “a shiver frissoned around the room.”
you can tell Alice is in a hippie cult because not only is she wearing crystals but she has stopped wearing eye makeup (I could never be in this sort of cult because if I don’t smear kohl all over them I look like I have tiny eyes; I am sensitive about this)
I’ve seen Brick like thirty times: the reveal of Ben in the window, bathed in the blue glow of Pop’s diner, was like, ~chills~
“You’ll fly too” is of course also It, which, FUCK OFF
NEXT WEEK: I could be very fucking wrong about this but FP has a tattoo on his left pec that may very well be of a jellybean
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Anxious (Mr. Sinclaire x MC... sort of)
Ok, so, it doesn’t actually include my MC, Isabel. This is a little piece that came to mind that I couldn’t get rid of for Mr. Sinclaire and the Earl. This takes place... sometime... after the opera.
Tagging: @katurrade and @tinygooplandroad and @bexlyp
Rating: G
Word count : 1660 ish and I can’t make read more work tonight, so long post 😭
Not quite the era I wanted, but hey...
The day was beautiful and temperate; a lovely early summer day, warm, but the breeze carrying a crispness resemblant of spring. While waking up the familiar lane, his hands were damp; the palms a little sweaty. He stepped up to knock on the door; then hesitated— and then, a second time. He blew out a breath, muttering, “This is ridiculous.” As he finally knocked at the door, “How many times have you spoken to the Earl of Edgewater? After father died, you nearly spent more time here than at home.”
The heavy door swung open to reveal Mr. Woods; the steward greeted him with a bow, “Mr. Sinclaire! Good morning!”
“Good morning, Mr. Woods, is— is the earl still in?” A tiny part of him hoped the answer was no.
“Yes sir, he is. Allow me a moment to inquire if he is amenable to a guest.”
“Please express my deepest apologies for arriving unannounced.”
“Of course, sir.” Woods replied, pulling the door shut behind him, and gesturing to the settee. “Please have a seat.” Woods then turned on his heel, heading further into the estate, in the direction of the Earls study.
Ernest stood for a moment, contemplating the settee, before he took up pacing. He spoke with the Earl all the time—for pity’s sake, the man had been kind enough to help him learn to run his own manor, and to take care of his family business. He’d become a mentor to the younger man, and a good friend.
“Why, Mr. Sinclaire, shouldn’t you be in London?” The shrill voice if The Countess made him stop in his tracks, “I do hope nothing untoward has befallen my husbands bastard.”
The heat behind her words nearly made him wince. He had entertained the idea that Lady Isabel had exaggerated the Countesses disdain; but clearly it had been an understatement. “I’m quite certain that Edmund or Miss Sutton would let you know immediately, Lady Henrietta.”
Her expression was pinched, “One would hope,” she agreed, “However, I’ve been hearing less from both of them recently. Pray tell, how has the season been so far?”
Mildly, he stated, “It has been pleasant enough. The entertainment has been most impressive.”
“And the companionship? I’ve heard that Miss Holloway is utterly delightful and seems quite interested in you. It would be a good match. Quite respectable.”
“It could be s good match,” he agreed— it would be a wonderful match, if he wanted s marriage like his first. That was not what he was the least bit interested in. “Except that I have no inclination to marry Felicity Holloway.”
The Countess‘ mouth pursed, “No? I have heard she is a lovely girl.” She forced a smile and he noted that it looked a little pained. Honestly, the Countess had never deemed him important enough to speak much with. Only pleasantries; and she had never actively seemed him out. “Any other ladies who have caught the attention of our elusive Mr. Sinclaire? Perhaps that is why you seek counsel from my husband?”
Ernest was relatively certain that his facial features were properly reflecting his feelings on this conversation, he started with a tense voice, “You so is both a disservice by—“
Mr. Woods returned, “My apologies for the delay Mr. Sinclaire, the earl is ready to receive you.” His eyes briefly flicked over the the Countess, “My apologies, madam.”
Sinclaire gave the steward a small closed mouth smile, “Thank you, Mr. Woods if you’ll excuse me,” he added to Henrietta as he followed the steward to the familiar study where he said, “Mr. Woods, *thank you* again.” Mr. Woods nodded once before knocking on the study door again.
All of a sudden, his palms were damp again, his nerves raging to the forefront again as Vincent called for him to come in. He took a deep breath , opened the door and slowly stepped inside. “Ernest! So good to see you.” He stood and walked over to shake Ernest’s hand. He was jovial today despite the amount of paper on his desk. “Very pleasant to see you, but I’m sure there’s a reason for this visit? I know you typically don’t return home during the season unless there’s a reason.”
Ernest blanked— not ready yet, for the conversation he came to have. “How have things been here?”
Vincent winced, clearly not the topic he should have chosen, “You shouldn’t worry over such things.” He paused, “Your first dinner party was a success, yes?”
Ah, that first dinner party. He had known since the garden party in Lady Isabel’s honor, that he’d been in trouble. He hadn’t— until she’d arrived to his dinner part— realized how much. He had simply been driven to distraction by her. Everything about her- from the beautiful red dress, to her teasing him about being a closet romantic— but it was when she followed him outside, when none of the people whom he might call friends would have (or did)- even knowing it could be perceived as improper... Well he hadn’t expected it, nor the conversation that came after. She had expressed concern for him. She’d told him that if the parties he hosted made him miserable, that he should stop. Concerned about his happiness and welfare. She was so unlike the others of the Gentry- likely due to her modest upbringing- she was genuine. Even if she were bound polite society and manners, if she was not pleased, you could tell- if you were paying attention. And he... he found himself paying far too much attention. “Yes, I would consider it successful... Duke Richards decided to... honor...us with his presence.” He just managed to keep the sneer from his voice. The man had always set his nerves on edge— Lady Isabel’s presence only made it worse.
“The Duke... does have a tendency to do what suits him when he wants to.” Vincent’s hand unconsciously went to a letter on his desk, crinkling the paper slightly.
Ernest’s head tilted slightly, “The Duke has contacted you?”
“It is a matter I am not eager to respond to. It requires no urgency on my behalf. While your visit is a pleasant surprise, Ernest, I surmise you did not come for small talk, or to discuss the Duke.”
“No sir, I did not.” ‘Why is this so difficult?!’ He wondered. He hadn’t hesitated when talking to Evelyn’s father before their engagement— he hadn’t been worried, as it had nearly been arranged for years prior to it actually happening. Their families had been close but while Ernest had always been fond of Evelyn, if her father—or she— declined, he wouldn’t have been as hurt as... as he may be now. This— this was entirely different. Ernest was afraid. Afraid he could lose the friendship he’d built with the earl, as well as Edmund but his biggest fear; the one he found hardest to face was the potential of losing her. The most beautiful woman in the world to him, the most challenging, the most worthwhile. The only one he could picture himself spending the rest of his life with. “I...” ‘Why won’t the words come?!”
Vincent gave him a very kind smile, gesturing to the chair across from him, “it’s a rare sight to see you struggling for words, Ernest.” The younger man face him a small smile, “Is this about Isabel?”
The smile came more naturally this time, as he nodded once, “Nearly everything is since she’s joined our lives.”
The earl chuckled, “She does have a way about her, doesn’t she? Even Edmund has taken a shining to her.”
“Yes! She’s helped draw him out.”
“Only him?” Vincent asked, and at the heat that lit across the younger mans cheeks, he added, “I’ve both seen and heard that you’re a changed man, Ernest. All for the better of course.”
“Thank you sir.”
“You are... fond? Of my daughter?”
Ernest sucked in a breath, studying his hands a moment before he met the elders gaze, “You know me well enough to know I wouldn’t be here if I weren’t.”
Vincent rubbed his chin thoughtfully, “Exactly what is it you wanted to discuss, my friend?” His attention was fully on him now.
After gathering his thoughts for a moment, Ernest plunged in, “I want... I want to marry Isabel.” Where as his voice started out a little hesitant, he had ended confidently, “I came to ask if you would allow me the opportunity to make her my wife.”
The Earl stared at him for a long moment, his features unreadable- long enough that Ernest questioned if he’d made a mistake- misjudged their relationship. Ernest stood, the earl did too- his mouth pulling into a huge smile, as he pulled the younger Gentry man into an embrace, “Nothing... Nothing would make me happier. Back at her garden party, even I saw something between you.” When the earl pulled away, Ernest saw that tears had pooled in his eyes, “I did not want to force Isabel into a marriage, let alone one like mine. All I want is for her to be happy. I wish... I wish I had been strong enough to pursue what would have made me happy. You believe you will grow to love her?”
“I already do... If she will have me, I will spend the rest of my days striving to make her happy and proving that love to her.”
“Then go, my boy. You surely don’t have the time to coddle an old man. Go and claim your fiancé.” He took the paper he’d tattered on his desk, “The Duke. He has also asked for Isabel’s hand.” Ernest sucked in a breath again, “ I have... delayed my response, but he will not be put off for long. I was uncertain how to tell him no, without offending- or saying that all my Isabel could write about in her last missive was the incredibly charming and handsome Mr. Sinclaire.” He winked at him, as heat erupted in his face again, “Now I can honestly say that there have been other offers and Isabel is a woman of her own mind. Go claim her.”
#desire & decorum#mr sinclaire x mc#mr sinclaire#playchocies#choices: stories you play#the earl of edgewater#long post
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Tell us about the AUs. all of them.
Friend, that is a lot of AUs.
But okay!!
I won’t go immensely in-depth because a) that’d take forever and b) I want to do separate posts and drawings and stuff for a bunch of these
Okay, so, going in the order that I mentioned them in the tags:
(whoops this is going under a cut because It Got Long)
The Pokemon AU
More of a fusion than strictly an AU, I guess, because it’s pretty much “canon, but there are pokemon”.
I’ve determined full teams for the whole ‘crew, along with the genders, levels, abilities, natures, and movesets of all of their pokemon. I got… really into it. I went way too detailed with their teams. I even know what kind of pokeball each of their pokemon are in. I’m in the process of nicknaming them. I’ve also got scatterings of backstory for how they came to have each of the pokemon in their teams!
For now, I’ll tell you what their teams are, along with the nicknames and such of their pokemon. More in-depth stuff (such as aforementioned abilities and movesets and also the backstories) should probably be saved for a different post.
Diath:
“Cath” - Klefki - ♂
Ninjask - ♀
Scyther - ♀
Liepard - ♂
“Dawnguide” - Absol - ♀
“Gutter” - Aegislash - ♂
The pattern I went with for nicknaming Diath’s pokemon is based off of the one thing we’ve seen him name in canon - Moonsplinter. So the nicknames for his pokemon, when I eventually come up with them, will be two nouns put together into a name that connects what was named to someone or something important to him. Cath and Gutter are exceptions to the pattern because they were gift pokemon and came with the names (…sort of, in Cath’s case).
Evelyn:
“Morning Glory” - Rapidash - ♀
“Periwinkle” - Lycanroc (Midnight Forme) - ♀
“Thistleberry” - Eevee - ♂
“Sunflower” - Larvesta - ♀
“Jonquil” - Solrock - N/A
“Juniper” - Pichu - ♀
The pattern I went with for nicknaming Evelyn’s pokemon started with Morning Glory and Juniper - I figured that since Evelyn showed a predilection towards plant names in canon, it was as good a theme as any to run with. Thistleberry is the closest to breaking that pattern, since I’ve been unable to find out if that’s actually a real plant (I’ve found thimbleberries but not thistleberries, so I feel like they might be a fantasy thing) in which case you could argue that he was named for Evelyn’s favourite pie. The reasoning for Sunflower should be obvious, a jonquil is a kind of flower similar to a daffodil which sort of resembles a sun in shape, and periwinkles mean “early friendship” in flower language, and Evie sure does make friends fast.
Jonquil may or may not mean “I desire a return of affection” in flower language but sshhhh, that was unintentional
Strix:
“Fuzzywuzz” - Venomoth - ♂
“Waffles” - Ursaring - ♀
Mismagius - ♀
“Stinky Junior” - Garbodor - ♀
“Clothy McClothface” - Banette - ♀
“Stinky” - Alolan Rattata - ♂
I don’t think I really need to explain the pattern/theme for naming Strix’s pokemon because, well, *gestures at canon* I just tried to follow the existing naming patterns.
Paultin:
“Palpatine” - Malamar - ♂
Exploud- ♂
“Charlotte” - Chatot - ♀
Gengar - ♂
“Peter” - Baltoy - ♂
Alolan Marowak- ♀
I don’t strictly have a naming pattern for Paultin, wildcard that he is. I’ve just been operating on a general rule of “regular real life name that sounds fitting” (a la him naming Simon) or “reference”.
The Superhero AU
You are getting far less information about this one because it’s going to be getting posts of its own when I finally get the drawings for it finished - I’m going to do character profiles and everything.
The basic premise is a vaguely-modern-era-ish Waterdeep (in a vaguely-modern-era-ish Faerun) has a lot of superheroes running around and the Wafflecrew happens to be one of the teams that call the city home. Diath, Strix, Evelyn and Paultin are all doing the secret identity thing and there will be shenanigans involving those because, well, here’s the thing:
The Wafflecrew is a superhero team who’s members keep their identities secret even from each other, mostly because they haven’t been together as a team for very long yet.
Diath, Strix, Evelyn, and Paultin, however, are a group of friends who happen to share a flat. Who are all trying very hard not to let on to their friends that they’re a superhero.
So. Shenanigans.
(Well, except for Diath and Strix. They know about each other’s secret identities)
I won’t tell you everyone’s codenames, though, because ~character profiles~ :3c
The Daemon AU
This one is more loosely defined than the others, to be honest. I will say, straight up, that I have never read His Dark Materials and don’t have any particular intent to, because I’ve read enough excerpts to know I could never get through it. But the concept of daemons is really cool and fun and I’ve read a ton of daemon aus and I feel no shame in yoinking the concept for an au despite never having read the source material.
Evelyn’s daemon is a Norwegian Forest Cat named Carwyn, Paultin’s is a lyrebird named Leto, Strix’s is a Barred Owl named Cináed, and Diath’s… well, if you were to ask him, he’d tell you that his daemon is a very shy house spider named Perdita. The thing is, nobody’s ever actually seen her…
Diath may or may not be in a Special Situation in this AU thanks to the whole ancient-soul-that-Shemeshka-has-part-of circumstance
The Class Swap AU
This one!! Is one that I love!! a lot!! And also one that I fully intend to give its own post with art.
It started with me realising that Mason Marthain existing presented the perfect Backstory Butterfly to play with things a little and justify Evelyn being a rogue in a class swap AU. From there, I just kept playing with their backstories to see what there was that could be tugged on to shift them to one of each other’s classes. Ultimately, my class swap AU stands as such:
Evelyn Marthain, a swashbuckler rogue. Inspired by a slightly different family member, in this universe, Evelyn decided at a young age that rather than follow in her father’s footsteps, she wanted to follow in her uncle’s. Thus, rather than training at the Spires and taking on the mantle of a paladin, she apprenticed on her Uncle’s ship throughout her childhood, and eventually became a rogue.
Diath Woodrow, an oath of devotion paladin. A childhood on the streets went just a little bit differently for Diath, this time around. After a paladin caught him preventing another street kid from pickpocketing, he got taken in by the Church of Selune and found a calling that appealed to his sense of duty and his desire for adventure at the same time. (How does the oath of devotion’s call to obey just authority mix with being chaotic good, you might ask? Well, how does one define “just” authority? In Class Swap!Diath’s case, as soon as someone abuses their power, their authority is no longer just)
Paultin Seppa, a wild magic sorceror. Paultin honestly doesn’t know where his powers came from. They’ve been at the tips of his fingers for as long as he can remember. It probably has something to do with the big swath of his childhood that he can’t remember but he’s not particularly bothered with trying to figure it out. (The thing is, a panicking, traumatised child, very much going into shock, tearing through the mists of Barovia and out of Ravenloft, all on his own and without parental supervision for the very first time, has so much potential to go wrong. He stumbled through a few less than hospitable places before he ended up on the Prime Material)
Strix, a college of glamour bard. Her years in the Feywild were harsh and this time it wasn’t Baba Yaga whose care she stumbled into. She learned a lot, living amongst the fey, and not least amongst that was how a silver tongue, with words carefully chosen and used, is a magic all of its own and also a very dangerous weapon.
I can’t say anything about the two AUs I’m currently writing fics for because spoilers~ so just know that They Exist
The Star Wars AU is extremely conceptual. It features aspiring Jedi Knight Evelyn Marthain, an Alderaanian human raised in the Coruscant Jedi Temple, travelling musician Paultin Seppa, a human of mysterious origin who has an even more mysterious knowledge of the Force, given that he seemingly has no connection to any known Force sects, galactic treasure hunter/archaeologist Diath Woodrow, a human from Coronet City on Corellia, whose heritage may-or-may-not have originated on a certain planet starting with ‘M’, and Strix, a force-sensitive woman of indeterminate species (at first glance, you might think zabrak, but zabraks don’t have tails. They also usually don’t have hair but it’s not like hybrids are completely an unknown possibility… the thing is, if she’s a hybrid, there’s no way she’s a hybrid of just two)
The RWBY AU is Exactly What It Says On The Tin. It’s just an AU where the Wafflecrew are in Remnant. They comprise Team DEPS (”Deeps”) and all I’ve really figured out is their weapons and semblances and tbh, as an AU, it’s probably not going much further than that.
I had a Lot of fun with their semblances, though.
#dice camera action#dca#dca au#YEAH THIS IS ME /NOT/ GOING IN-DEPTH#I AM INCAPABLE OF BREVITY IT SEEMS#feel free to ask more about the AUs that I haven't labeled as getting their own posts!#I love talking about my AUs!!#anon#ask#THANK YOU FOR ASKING ABOUT MY AUS
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And Then a Hero Comes Along
A/N” Not happy with this, but I’m trying to step out of my comfort zone and write new things, plus this request has been in my ask box for AGES cause I’m a slacker.
Tags: @mysterywriter36, @musicalmoriarty
You take a deep breath as you step outside into the city. Work had been hectic, and you were just ready to get home; maybe to take a bath, cuddle into bed with Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth for the millionth time? You didn’t know, but you were ready to do it.
You loved your work, honestly. As a counselor for troubled teens, you felt the moments of stress and frustration were worth it just to see these kids smile and take the weight of the world off their shoulders; shoulders that were much too young to even think about trying to carry anything they shouldn’t have to.
You tilt your head back as you walk down the street, just admiring the city that you loved and lived in. You’re letting your mind wander, debating on if you should go see a show this weekend, maybe even go for a run in the park when you hear the shout.
You stop and look around you. Nothing immediately looks like trouble, and you wonder if you were just hearing things when you see them. A young girl trembling while a figure tries to coerce her into their car with them. You take stock of the fact that her eyes are wide and teary as she shakes her head, trying to step away from the figure. She takes one step away, and he quickly reaches out and grabs her beaded braids, yanking hard.
You see red as you hear her screech.
“Hey!” You yell, running towards the two. “Get the fuck away from her you creepy bastard!”
The figure jerks back, yanking the girl with her in the motion. You quickly take in the mans features, Caucasian, blond hair, brown goatee, right before he throws the girl down and takes off. You whip out your phone and dial 911 as you reach the girls side. She’s weeping into her hands as she sits on the ground, now that you’re closer you can see her ripped shirt and scuffed jeans and you feel a fury inside of you.
“Hello 911, what’s your emergency?”
You shoot off the information you gathered from the incident while checking over the girl in case she had any injuries, no need to make a separate call if an ambulance is needed. Once you see no obvious scrapes or bruises you end the call, hoping they find the bastard, but sadly knowing the chances of that are slim.
“Hey,” you say softly, trying to appear as unintimidating as possible. “Everything’s alright now, he’s gone.” You hesitate before you place a hand on her shaking shoulder, relieved when she leans into the touch. Rubbing your thumb across the curve, you inquire, “Is there anyone you can call to come get you?”
At this, she looks up, her brown eyes red, watery and thankful.
“M-my cousin.” She stammers, “I’m...visiting my cousin. His…his number is…”
You hum as you input the numbers into your phone, “Is this your first time in the city?”
She nods her head as her lip quivers, “Y-yeah…”
You frown, “I’m so sorry this was your first experience of New York-“
You’re cut off as a deep voice answers the phone, “Hello? Who is this?”
You glance at the young girl and mouth ‘What’s your name?’
‘Evelyn’ she mouths back.
“Hello sir, I’m Y/N. I’m here with Evelyn, who says she’s your cousin?”
You hear a quick intake of breath before the man starts raising his voice, “Evelyn?! Is she okay?1 Where is she?!”
You quickly cut him off before he can get too riled up, “She is fine now. She had a bit of a moment with a stranger before I intervened. Are you able to come get her though? I don’t want to leave her on her own…” You trail off, watching as her shaking intensifies and her breaths become ragged.
You quickly rattle off your location once he gives his conformation to come retrieve her and you hang up. Raising your hand back up towards her shoulder you are taken aback by her slamming her body into yours, wrapping her arms around your waist.
There is no loud sobbing, or gushing tears but the freight is palpable all the same.
You you reach up to lay a hand on her head and wrap the other around her shoulders and make soothing ‘shhh’ sounds. “I’ve got you. Breath, okay? I’ve got you.”
What feels like hours, loud running footsteps near the two of you and you look up in time to see a muscular man looking frantic coming your way.
He stops in from of you and helplessly makes hand motions at Evelyn before speaking.
“W-what happened? Evelyn, are you okay?”
She looks up and starts tearing up at the sight of her cousins face. She launches from your arms to his, and immediately her wraps his large arms around her and lifts her in a comforting embrace and murmurs softly into her ear.
You raise yourself off the ground and smile at the familial scene, a feeling not unlike the one you get when you help your kids in the center overtakes you. You pick up your bag and start thinking about leaving when a hand lays on your shoulder.
You turn and look into the face of a thankful man.
“Thank you so much for helping her.” He starts, “I never think of the dangers for young kids out here because I haven’t been here long enough to really think much on it.”
He looks down and takes his hand from your shoulder, he rubs his own head and just looks so adorably awkward that you smile. “I’m glad I was able to help sir,” You begin-
“Oak.”
You blink.
You look over to Evelyn, who seems to have calmed down some, and she smiles nervously. “His name is Oak, and we want to treat you to dinner as thanks.” She looks down, “It’s a small payment for what you’ve done for me,” Her fingers twist with one another, but her voice is steady, “but we want to try.”
Your eyes widen in surprise and you look over to the man, Oak, in question.
He nods, a smile brightening his face.
“We really would.”
You look back at Evelyn who’s looking at you again, and you can’t help but nod and smile.
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To a Wonder, From a Fool
Request: YOU ARE A HORRIBLE PERSON AND I HOPE YOU ASCEND TO HEAVEN AND LIVE WITH ALL THE BROKEN SOULS YOUVE BROKEN WITH YOUR FANFICS ...On the other hand, i love you so much and literally live for your writings. PART 5 OF To Newt, With Love PLEASE!!!
Word Count: 2,530
Pairing: Newt x Reader
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
Tag List: @red-roses-and-stories @caseoffics @dont-give-a-bother @myrtus-amongst-the-stars @ryeosomnia @fangirlingandcrying @ly--canthrope @heneed-somemilk @gemininomad @adellyhatter-blog @trying-to-benormal @akacheelz @unculturedswines
The evening ends lonely, as it always does. The sun sets in a bath of a million colors, from vivid blues that are deeper than the ocean to pastel greens that remind you of a set of eyes you haven’t seen for a long time.
Too long.
You bite your lip and step onto the walk leading up to your house. It’s a thin trail of concrete that offers little protection from the mud on either side, but, as of a week ago, it’s yours. You follow it up to your new beige front door. After fumbling with the keys, a set of three for the three ways in, you push open the door to a silent house.
You step inside with a sigh, letting the door swing shut behind you as you contemplate the long hours of restlessness that lay ahead. You haven’t been sleeping well since the move. There’s a tree branch outside your bedroom window that screeches against the pane if the wind hits it just right, and the floorboards here make no noise, quite unlike the ones at your old house that would warn you if anyone was passing them. There are no mice running through the walls, but there’s also no lone owl that sits outside your window and sings. There are no char marks on the kitchen wall, no memories of dancing in the main room, no remnants of anything.
A clean slate, or, at least, that’s what Evelyn calls it. “You need a clean slate, a fresh start, and this is it.”
You follow the wide hallway to your kitchen, eyeing the blank walls and trying to imagine what might look good hanging from them. Your frames sit in a box somewhere in the main room, waiting to be unpacked like nearly everything else you own. You’ve only bothered to take out the essentials so far: clothes, some dishes, and a black box you’d promised Evelyn you’d toss.
It sits where it did in your old house: under your bed, pressing up against the wall. That’s where it belongs.
Stepping into the kitchen, you pull open your pantry door, searching the bare shelves for something warm, something to cheer you up. There’s nothing there, though, nothing but a box of crackers and a package of tea left behind by Evelyn when she came to see the house. You decide to make the tea, craving a warm drink and praying it helps you unwind from the stress of work and the move. You listen for your neighbors as the tea brews. Your old house sat in a busy neighborhood, one where everyone was constantly bustling around, talking, shouting, little kids playing in nearby yards, tourists scratching their heads and knocking on doors asking for directions. Here, there’s nothing. Not a sound from your neighbors. They’re all locked in their houses already, reading, you assume, or perhaps knitting or playing family board games. All while you sit here in front of your stove, alone, wondering how long you’ll be lying in bed for before you manage to fall asleep.
The thought surrounds you like the steam from the pot on the stove, more and more joining it every second, and you can’t drive them away, can’t wave away their suffocating implications, their promises that it all meant nothing in the end. Your hope, your days spent next to the window, your jittery excitement as day after day passed right after you sent the letter: It had all been for nothing. You slowly slide down onto the kitchen floor, arms wrapping around your knees as you hold back tears. Newt doesn’t care and, Merlin, you know you shouldn’t either, that after this many years you should be okay with that, but you’d honestly believed he would show up at your house, come in with a grin and open arms and his cute warmth that no one can resist, but he hadn’t. Your front door rested, silent, the entire year after the letter disappeared from your hand. As quiet as your voice when Evelyn asked you if you were all right the day before you moved. As quiet as the house had been the morning after you tore up his letters.
As quiet as your life may as well have been since then.
You’ve traveled, seen the world, gathered experiences most people only write stories about, but it doesn’t matter because you’ve never truly lived them. You’ve made friends, but none of them are friends that understand you like Newt did, that know what you’re thinking before you do, that understand how you tick without having to work at it. He knew you in a way no one else ever could, and you know now that you let that go, pushed it away.
You drop your head onto your knees, small whimper leaking from your lips as two tears drip down your face. How could you have let that go? How could you have given up on him that way? He was all you wanted, not all you had but all you cared for, and you let him go over another woman. God, if you could just go back and take it all back, give him that watch without cursing, hug him and tell him that you love him more than anything, tear Leta from his arm and send her anywhere else in the world, you’d do it. You’d do it in a heartbeat.
Which would be rather quickly, given how your heart slams against your ribs right now as you cry quietly to yourself, tea completely forgotten. You ache to remember the warmth of his hugs, and the way his freckles dotted across his nose, and how he always knew when to bring you a chunk of chocolate. The argument was a silly fight, a battle of pride you never should have given in to.
You stand, wiping away your tears, trying to convince yourself that you believe it’s his fault. He was the one lying to you, he was the one that ditched you, he was the one that gave you reason to push him away.
You find a small comfort in realizing that a small part of you believes that, accepts that some of this is Newt’s fault. The typical anger follows this revelation, a familiar, comforting anger you know you can easily welcome. You can accept it, embrace it, make this all Newt’s fault.
But it isn’t. That would be a lie, just like believing he would show up was a lie, and you’re sick of lying to yourself.
You pour your tea into your favorite mug and hold it in both hands, leaning against your counter as you consider everything from the past few years. The initial betrayal, the way your heart tore when he looked down at Leta, the look on his face when you cursed at him, then the feel of the wood under you as you sobbed over him and his choices. Then finding that box filled with the letters, all fixed, something you’d never expected, never thought would happen, watch and key safely snuggled atop them with a simple note telling you he’d forgiven you. You fiddle with the mug. He’d never replied to your own message of regret, a sign you take as proof that he left his note as a sign of moving on. He doesn’t want to be your friend anymore, doesn’t want to risk the awkward conversations and sad memories. You swallow your grief.
Then you let him go, let go of the old memories, let go of everything you hold for and against him. You turn him into nothing more than a regret you’ll leave in your past. That’s all he can be for your sake.
The sun dips under the horizon, leaving a murky blue blanket behind. A cue to head upstairs. Your new job as a magical creature caretaker starts early enough at eight, a full night of sleep will help.
You walk through the empty hall again, ignoring the spots that stare at you, begging for a picture.
You’ll have to find new ones to fill the spaces.
You’re halfway up the staircase when you realize you forgot to lock the front door. You heave out a long sigh as you turn around, plodding back down the stairs, steps heavy.
A small window near the top of the door offers you the chance to peek out to your front stoop, which has so far been rather useless since the only person that stops by is Evelyn. You freeze now, though, still a quarter of the way up the steps when you see a shadow moving outside.
No one should be here, not at this hour. Evelyn should be at home with Dorothy, reading her stories and tucking her into bed, and you haven’t told anyone else your new address yet.
A burglar. Your hands shake and you bend down slowly, eyes never leaving the shadow, to place your mug on the step, freeing both hands. Your wand appears in your hand with a wordless spell, and you steel yourself for a potential fight.
Then the intruder knocks.
You blink. You’ve never heard of a burglar knocking. Perhaps… perhaps it’s a neighbor, asking to borrow something or invite you to the neighborhood. Weird time, but then again, your neighbors seem kind of weird.
Stepping slowly, you approach the door, wand still ready if it’s necessary.
The room falls silent as you rest your hand on the knob, lip between your teeth, debating whether to open the door. Figuring you should have the upper hand in surprise, you yank it open, stepping to the side with the door in case the person lunges for you.
You look up. All the air rushes from your lungs as you stare up at familiar, green eyes.
“I, um, have a housewarming gift.” The green-eyed man procures a bundle of daisies from behind his back, freckles hidden in his flushed face, hands shaking slightly.
Your wand clatters to the ground as you throw your arms around his shoulders, wrenching him down to your height.
Newt hesitates, arms out, letting you hug him for a few seconds before he wraps his own around you, holding you against him. You don’t care that he waits, that he paused. You just hold him tight against you, breathing in his smell, reveling in the musky scent and the scratch of his jacket against your cheek. He’s back. Newt’s back.
You laugh against his shoulder, squeezing him tighter and tighter until there’s no space between the two of you, until you can’t tell where you end and he begins. You just hold him, eyes watering in exhilaration and elation. Newt’s back.
He doesn’t waver in his own grasp, something that surprises you, given that he’s never been very fond of hugs. He grips you as tightly as you grip him, though, not letting go until you’re a teary mess and step back, wanting to see him, take him in fully.
A new, white scar crosses the bridge of his nose, and black crescent moons hang under his eyes. His hair is a long mess, unkempt curls grazing the middle of his neck. He’s pale, too, as though he hasn’t slept well, which only emphasizes the black circles.
You don’t consider that this should be awkward, should be uncomfortable, should be full of apologies and stuttering. You just reach up to poke the scar.
“What’s this from?”
Newt laughs breathlessly once, still trying to accept that you’re there, in front of him for the first in five years. “Niffler attack.”
You scrunch your face up in confusion.
He shakes his head. “Don’t try to take an emerald necklace. What about you?”
His hand raises to trail over a long scar carved across your temple close to your hairline.
“Horntails don’t like chicken.”
His smile quirks up as his hand drops to his side. “You tried to feed a dragon chicken?”
You shrug, glowing at his smile. You’ve missed it oh so much. “It was my lunch break.” You bask in his warm laugh.
Newt glances around the front hall, eyes stopping on your mug. “Decorating seems to be going well.”
You snatch it up, making a face at him. “It doesn’t usually sit there.”
“No?” Newt says, holding back another laugh.
“No.” You pause, fiddling with the cup, spinning it and watching the liquid vortex inside. “But if you’d like some, I have another glass.”
Newt stills, not breathing, knowing the entire future of your friendship hangs on this answer.
“That’d be lovely.”
You heart starts beating again and you let out a breath you didn’t know you were holding, smile becoming shy as you nod toward the kitchen. “It’s just down this way.”
Newt’s own smile brightens as he nods, swooping down to grab your wand. “Your weapon.”
You roll your eyes at his smirk. “You could have been a burglar for all I know. Does a single person living alone in this town seem completely protected to you?”
Newt’s smile softens as he follows you into the kitchen. “With you being the hypothetical single person? No, I suppose not.”
You fake a scowl at him as best you can with the happiness bubbling from your chest. “Who said I have to be that person?”
The skin around his eyes wrinkles up as he lays the flowers still in his hand on the table. “Experience.”
“Whatever.”
He steps past you, grabbing a tall glass and filling it with water. “You are the one that nearly stepped onto a moving staircase as it was shifting away.”
“An accident, completely.”
He drops the flowers in the makeshift vase as you pour more tea into another mug. “It’s still proof that you’re the least safe person I have ever met.”
You take the flowers, noticing a tag around one stem that says To a Wonder, From a Fool. He takes the mug, not noticing your pause, and you meet his eyes, a weight you’d carried for five years lifting from your shoulders as he sits at the table and continues talking, teasing you, acting like nothing happened between the two of you. He explains that he received the address from Evelyn, who stopped him outside your own house. It had taken him a week to earn her trust enough to receive it, but now he’s here and he’s glad. He’s so glad. You grin at him, sipping your tea, telling him you’ll thank Evelyn the next time you see her. Then you ask about his long hair, teasing him about the mess it has become.
You both said your apologies multiple times over throughout the past few years in notes and actions. There’s no need to give them now, no need to worry if the other harbors resentment. Not when Newt’s jacket sleeve droops down to reveal the heavy watch and your black box sits upstairs under the bed, Newt knowing you never tossed it.
You don’t need to worry about becoming friends again. You just need to worry about remembering every great story from the past five years that Newt hasn’t heard yet.
#newt scamander#newt Scamander x reader#newt Scamander imagine#fbawtft#sequel#requested#yoooooo I hope you all like this!#I'm gonna miss writing this series#it was so much fun#but I hope you all like this a lot and enjoyed the series as much as I did#thank you so much for all the support and kind comments on the previous parts!#they meant a lot#tysm#and have an amazing day!
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