#honorary member... SHE IS FULLY WELCOME

[briarrosescurse]

DO NOT RESIST.... I WELCOME THE FOOD....

huehue im so sorry yumeeeee- this clown couldnt resist any longer hhhaskdjhasjd 

(the outfit is from @briarrosescurse​‘s fandorm [Shundain])

“Preserving one’s dignity in the face of even the most harshest of tribulations is the highest form of honor one can have.”

Shundain!Cinis is a lot harder to approach than her normal/canon self– she just gives off these unapproachable vibes, almost as if she’s put a high wall between herself and the others.

It certainly doesn’t help that she’s just as preferring on being alone like her canon self, and seems to fit right in with how the Shundain dorm is laid out which lets her be on her own as much as she can.

However despite her aloof personality, she is very much loyal and listens to whatever orders that Wang Chanyu gives out. Cinis also adheres to a strict sense of discipline and responsibility.

Yu Xiang’s demeanor perplexes her somewhat but she catches on pretty quickly whenever he’s being a (flirty) idiot and does seem to respect him enough. 

She pretty much sees Zhu Chunying as a growing child, a carefree youngster, and thus holds nothing against him. That and she has faith in him to mature sooner or later.

She thinks that Liu Sheng is horribly misunderstood by a lot of people, including even in their dorm, as she pretty easily can tell that he’s a gentle soul in spite of his intimidating and gigantic build. 

[direct0rhutao]

genshin thoughts?? i am curious about whatever hcs or fav canon facts or Unpopular Takes you have etc etc. i trust your opinion 👍

hi hi kit okay first of all tysm im flattered that u r interested in my thoughts that means a lot to me :)

there’s a lot of little details and bits of genshin lore that i love but if i had to choose one it would be that hu tao’s birthday is the same as mine :3 KIDDING one of my favorite random genshin facts is how zhongli once invited xinyan, a rock musician well known for her intense and (literally) fiery concerts, to play some music for the wangsheng funeral parlor

(this is from xinyan’s voicelines btw. do you think zhongli likes rock music because he’s the lord of rocks)

and as for the headcanons!! i can come up with sooo many behold an assortment of genshin thoughts (most of which involve hu tao and xinyan because they are very special to me) (im putting them under a readmore because i got carried away sorry)

• one of my favorite sort-of fanon dynamics is zhongli and his adopted kids ganyu (eldest daughter least likely to get in trouble with the millelith) xiao (middle child whos been an angsty teenager for the last 2000 years) and hu tao (baby of the family with the strongest Gremlin Energy)

• xiao hates zhongli’s new boyfriend childe for Many Reasons such as: he’s spent months in liyue and still can’t use chopsticks, every time he sees xiao he ruffles his hair and calls him “little man”, one time he unleashed an evil god and almost destroyed liyue harbor

• zhongli’s other two children are a little less hostile towards childe. ganyu doesn’t fully trust him because of That One Time He Almost Destroyed Liyue Harbor but he makes zhongli really happy so he’s okay for now …and hu tao thinks he’s kind of a dumbass but his job requires him to kill a lot of people so he’s good for business

• hu tao made childe a customer loyalty card (“10% Off Your 10th Cremation Service!”) however despite childe thinking it was funny, zhongli wouldn’t let her make more copies to give out to the general public

• okay so usually in fanart/fanfics the liyue kids friend group is either xingqiu chongyun xiangling and xinyan or xingqiu chongyun xiangling and hu tao. but why not both. xingqiu chongyun xiangling xinyan AND hu tao AND throw in yun jin as well. all of them are buddies peace and love on planet teyvat

• hu tao has a sort of celebrity crush on beidou (i mean who wouldn’t-) and then she meets kazuha and shes like CAPTAIN BEIDOU HAS A KID?

• hu tao: woaaahh its so nice to meet beidou’s new son… i bet beidou wouldn’t just adopt anyone so you must be super cool and badass because um captain beidou is soooo cool and badass and strong and sexy and did you know she beat a sea monster without a vision and her biceps are big enough to l- kazuha: okay how about we talk about something else

• anyway kazuha is an honorary member of the Liyue Kids Friendship Squad

• xinyan and beidou are also like family but xinyan’s parents are still alive (i think) so xinyan thinks of beidou as more of a cool aunt figure. xinyan and kazuha are kind of like siblings to each other tho

• xinyan is like genuinely very kind and good-natured so i think that aside from people who are assholes to her for being loud/a rock musician she can get along with pretty much anyone. also she just. seems like a really good friend so i think all her friends should love n support her and go to as many of her concerts as they can

• one time when xinyan was having a concert in liyue harbor and chongyun got on stage and started drumming and doing backup vocals bc of his yang energy shenhe passed by and saw them and after the concert while xingqiu was tending to chongyun she approached xinyan

• shenhe: i see you’re a friend of my nephew. your music is very unique. it both soothed and aggravated my homicidal urges at the same time xinyan: uhhh well…th. thank you miss shenhe? i’ll take that as a compliment … if you’re ever in the area again you’re always welcome to rock out at my concerts

• i love yun jin and i love yun jin x xinyan i think they would make a very cute couple HOWEVER. i think hu tao x xinyan would be cute as well. theres a lot of potential there but they barely interact in canon and ive only ever seen one person who maybe ships them uwaaaaaa

• in a modern au hu tao and xinyan would both play gacha rhythm games and they would add each other as friends in-game. hu tao and xinyan are on each other’s bandori friendlist

[harrowharkboygf]

Game Night

a short post-season 5 oneshot. read on ao3

——

Catra liked to think of herself as a dedicated person. There were a lot of things she still hated about herself—the therapist Perfuma had recommended to her had said during their first session that it would take time to fully forgive herself, to get out of the “self-destructive mindset” she had spent so long embracing. But she at least prided herself on her resolve, her resilience, her determination.

However, it turned out that in terms of determination, she was nothing compared to the princesses’ crazed desire to hold as many social events as physically possible.

At first, during the initial celebration at Brightmoon and the stream of Thank You For Saving The World, Princesses! parties that were thrown in their honor as they traveled across Etheria to help with rebuilding efforts, Catra thought that this was just because of the circumstances. Everyone was clearly thrilled to be alive and happy that the princesses were back to being heroes, and they wanted to commemorate the occasion with festivities.

(It was still weird to think of herself like that. As a member of the Princess Alliance. Would it ever get less strange?)

But then Catra learned that the princesses were just like that. There were endless game nights and iceball tournaments and flower crown-making circles and picnics and trips around Etheria just for the purpose of seeing the sights. Late night planning meetings that turned into sleepovers, and visits to their allies under the guise of “checking in” that held no tactical purpose in the end.

This was so foreign, so beyond her reality; she had grown up in the Horde, where her idea of free time was just more training. Her only celebrations came in the form of stolen moments with Adora and extra ration bars, which she hoarded like it was water in the Crimson Wastes.

But despite how skeptical she acted, deep down Catra loved it, even the flower crowns. She discovered that she was very good at iceball—so good that she and Adora were banned from playing against each other on the grounds of being too competitive. (Thankfully, Glimmer and Frosta were equally worthy opponents.) Spinnerella and Netossa were more than happy to teach her all their tricks; Catra found the couple oddly comforting, a nice, stable, older presence that she’d never had before.

But above all, Catra loved the quiet moments the most. Late sleepovers with the Best Friend Squad (her attempts to change the name to something more badass, like the Kickass Comrades, had been shot down) had, much to her surprise, become one of her favorite things. The old Catra would have scoffed seeing her now, eating sweets and giggling late into the night, but she didn’t care. Arrow Boy and Sparkles had actually become her friends, dignity be damned.

And of course, there was Adora. Beautiful, amazing, wonderful Adora, with her sparkling blue eyes and soft lips and strong arms that always ended up wrapped around Catra. She could hardly believe it was real, that Adora loved her. She wondered if she would ever be able to wake up and not stare in disbelief at the sight of Adora lying next to her, staring at her with soft, loving eyes. If one day she would stop fearing that all of it was a dream.

“Hey, lovebirds!” Glimmer shouted. “Quit being gross and get over here so you can finish helping us!”

They had spent the last two weeks in what had formerly been known as the Fright Zone, and what was soon to become Scorpia’s kingdom. The still-newly-minted princess had decided to use it as a refuge for former Horde soldiers who were looking to turn over a new leaf. “After all,” Scorpia had said, “if Catra and Adora and I all changed, everyone else can, too.”

But unsurprisingly, the place was still, as Catra put it, full of shit. So the Princess Alliance decided to clean it up and redecorate.

“You said we could take a water break!” protested Adora.

“Yeah,” said Catra, smirking. “We’re so thirsty.” She blinked innocently up at Glimmer from her perch on Adora’s lap, one arm slung around her shoulders and the other hand playing with her blonde hair.

Mermista, who was carrying a stack of boxes nearby, rolled her eyes. “Yeah you are,” she muttered. Behind her, Sea Hawk gave them a thumbs up.

Glimmer put her hands on her hips, shaking her head. “I said you could take a water break when Adora tried to lift a literal tank without shifting into She-Ra. But that was twenty minutes ago! Let’s go, you two. Chop chop.”

Adora’s gaze was fixed on Catra, a soft smile sliding across her lips. “Just a minute,” she told Glimmer, not breaking eye contact with Catra. Gently, she tipped her head upwards and kissed her. Catra let herself dissolve into the kiss, closing her eyes and exhaling.

They pulled apart only to press their foreheads together. “I think we’re annoying,” Adora stage-whispered.

Catra barely kept herself from giggling. (Giggling. What the fuck, honestly.) “You think?” she asked.

She heard Glimmer say, “Bow! Come help me!” Then she felt hands wrap around her as Bow and Glimmer bodily lifted her up off of Adora’s lap. She hissed in fake-annoyance, squirming in their grip.

“Don’t pretend you two are much better!” she shrieked as they deposited her onto a pile of stacked bedrolls. “I saw you feeding Sparkles at breakfast!”

Frosta scoffed as she used her ice powers to hang a lantern. “I get it, you’re all gross! When can we be done? I’m bored!”

Scorpia delicately set a plant down on a nearby windowsill, mindful of her claws. “Soon! Thank you so much for your help, guys. The place looks great.” Everyone beamed, pausing to look around and admire their handiwork.

It did look great. The walls had been painted a lighter color, and the hallways were now well-lit, filled with softer, more pleasant decor. The clanging of machinery still echoed, but gone was the smoke and pollution; Entrapta had spent a long time working on a more clean form of energy, one that was better for magic and the planet and whatever.

Speaking of the pig-tailed princess—“Where’s Entrapta?” asked Catra. “She didn’t want to come and invent some bot to help us?”

Perfuma adjusted her girlfriend’s placement of the potted plant, trying to give it as much sunlight as possible. “She’s very busy with all her new ethical science projects now—”

“Semi-ethical,” corrected Bow, rubbing the back of his neck.

“—But she was invited to our celebration tomorrow night! Hopefully we will see her then.”

“Another party? It never ends, does it?” Catra said to Adora, who had come back to stand at her side.

Perfuma clasped her hands together. “Oh, this one will just be a small get-together. We’ll throw a big party once all of Scorpia’s citizens move in, but this is just for us princesses!”

“And Bow and Catra and Sea Hawk,” Mermista reminded her.

Perfuma shrugged. “Honorary princesses!”

Adora cleared her throat. “Alright, team, let’s get these last few things in place. We can pick up the little bit that’s left tomorrow morning. I think it’s bedtime.”

——

“And then I said, “Uh, your ship’s on fire!’”

The room burst in laughter. Catra wiped a tear from her eye as she cackled—there was something about Mermista’s deadpan delivery that made all her stories way funnier than anyone else’s. “And did you ever run into that pirate again?” she asked.

Sea Hawk spread his arms grandly. “Why, of course! He approached us a short time later to tell us how our genius and fighting prowess inspired him, and how he had decided to become an artist and build statues in our honor. To this day, his children sing our praises around campfires.”

At the same time, Mermista shook her head and said, “Nope. Never saw him again.”

This unleashed another wave of giggles. Still snickering, Catra leaned forward in her seat and took a cookie off the plate on the table in front of her. As she did so, Frosta opened her mouth wide and pointed wordlessly at it. Catra rolled her eyes and tossed a cookie at her. She caught it in her mouth and gave a muffled cheer as she chewed.

Bow rubbed his hands together. “Okay, guys, let’s get started.” He gestured at the table in front of them, which would soon be the center of Scorpia’s strategy room. Tonight, however, it was covered with a big game board and several playing pieces, dice, and stacks of cards. “Here’s how we play—”

“We’re here!”

Entrapta practically bounced into the room, Emily close at her side, beeping cheerfully. Wrong Hordak followed close behind them, smiling his typical sheepish smile and holding a tray crammed with an almost-impossible amount of tiny pink cupcakes.

Adora stood up to greet them. “Hey, guys! Welcome to…”

Her voice trailed off abruptly as the last guest entered. Catra felt her heart begin to pound; she stood up too, curling her claws into fists. Melog, who had been sleeping next to the sofa the Best Friend Squad was sharing, sprang to its feet, hissing. The rest of the group froze, exchanging shocked glances.

Hordak (the real one) stood in the doorway, somehow managing to look both awkward and stern. “Hello,” he said shortly, his deep voice echoing slightly.

When no one answered for a long, tension-filled minute, Entrapta looked rapidly between the group and Hordak, her eyes wide with confusion. “Sorry we’re late,” she said tentatively. “Did I…did I bring too many people?”

Mermista buried her head in her hands and let out a muffled scream. Sea Hawk patted her arm sympathetically.

Catra struggled to choose between saying What is he doing here and Absolutely fucking not and just straight-up attacking him. Judging by her facial expression, across the table Frosta was thinking along the same lines.

Entrapta twirled one of her ponytails around her nervously, her smile slowing sliding off her face the longer the silence dragged on. Next to her, Wrong Hordak shifted from foot to foot. “Uh…”

Perfuma hastily jumped up, a fake smile plastered on her face. “We’re so glad you could come!” she chirped, flinging her arms around her.

Wrong Hordak joined the hug. “I have missed you, brothers!” he told them tearfully.

At Perfuma’s pointed look, Scorpia and Frosta made space for the newcomers, bringing over more chairs.

“Will you be joining us, Hordak?” Catra asked icily, sneering at him.

“Be nice,” Bow whispered to her.

“She has a point,” Glimmer whispered back.

Hordak glared right back at her. “Entrapta invited me. Am I not welcome here?”

Adora managed to pick her jaw up off the floor. “Uhhh…no, um, take a seat. Bow was just about to tell us how this game works.” She sat down, pulling Catra down with her.

Bow started to explain, occasionally being interrupted by Frosta, Perfuma, and Sea Hawk, who all had their own opinions on how the rules should be interpreted. Meanwhile, Catra hissed quietly, “Are we seriously just going to play a board game with Hordak of all people?”

“He’s changed, I guess,” Adora murmured back.

On her other side, Glimmer rolled her eyes. “Allegedly.”

After the war had ended, the Rebellion didn’t really know what to do with Hordak. Sure, he had saved Entrapta and turned against Horde Prime, but they weren’t just going to let him sit back on his throne. Originally Catra had been in favor of dumping his ass in the Crimson Wastes, but Huntara was having none of it.

So eventually the princesses settled on letting him live in Dryl with Entrapta, as long as he swore never to hold any political power or territory for the rest of his life. An oath they would make sure he held, with magic to ensure it, if necessary.

“I don’t trust him,” Catra murmured.

Adora placed a comforting hand on her thigh. “Me neither, but Entrapta trusts him. And whatever makes her happy, we’ll support.”

They watched Hordak sneer as Perfuma tried to offer him some fruit juice. She frowned back at his rude behavior, huffing in that trying-to-be-dignified-yet-offended way of hers. Frosta looked like she wanted to stick his head in an ice block. Meanwhile, Entrapta was in full science mode, spilling out a detailed lecture about dice and probability.

“Even if the thing that makes her happy is Hordak?” grimaced Glimmer.

Adora sighed, rubbed her forehead. “Even so,” she said glumly.

Bow clapped his hands, signaling the end of his rules explanation. “Okay, does everyone get it?”

“Yes,” said Catra.

“Totally,” said Glimmer.

“Yeah…” said Adora.

Bow gave them a look that suggested he knew they hadn’t been listening at all. “Okay, let’s get started!”

Thankfully, Catra was able to figure it out as she went. The game was fairly simple: the players had to try to be the first one to make it around a map of Etheria, while fighting mythical monsters and challenges along the way. She leaned forward, smirking, her competitive nature taking over. “You’re all going down,” she said, making a show of cracking her knuckles.

Glimmer scooped up the dice and began to shake them. “As if!”

Scorpia laughed and shook her head. “No, guys, Perfuma is the champion at this game. She’s beaten me every time, she’s that amazing.”

The flower princess blushed a deep crimson. “Oh, Scorpia!” she trilled. “You are amazing too!”

Catra watched this play out fondly. Despite her and Scorpia’s…rocky history, she was genuinely sorry for all the pain she’d caused her. Although Scorpia had said she forgave her, there was a while after the war where things had been awkward, uncomfortable. She was happy to see that the former Force Captain had found someone who could make her happier than Catra ever could.

Hordak made a strangled noise in the back of his throat. It took her a minute to realize that he was laughing. “This is a childish competition,” he announced, sounding annoyed.

Mermista rested her chin on her palm. “You’re just mad that you couldn’t conquer Etheria and now you can’t win this board game.”

Hordak stiffened. “How dare—”

“Okay!” Bow interceded, his voice hinging on hysteria. “Glimmer will start!”

They went around in a circle, their game pieces slowly advancing with each roll of the dice. Catra was not thrilled when Glimmer rolled four tens in a row and she kept only rolling ones and twos. Thankfully, she was able to get Sparkles back when she pulled a Brightmoon-themed card and “teleported” her to the little red and yellow spot on the board that was supposed to represent the Crimson Wastes.

Scorpia was, unsurprisingly, the best sport about this. While everyone else soon succumbed to playfully cursing each other out as they scrambled to keep their game piece ahead of the group, Scorpia was the one congratulating everyone even when they fucked her over.

Even Perfuma huffed when Frosta got her stuck in the “Northern Reach���. “This is a betrayal,” she sniffed dramatically, crossing her arms. “I will never, ever forgive you.” A moment later, she cracked a smile and winked at the younger girl to let her know she was joking.

Wrong Hordak landed on a “Magic Zone” square and whipped out a card. “Do not worry, sister! This piece of paper says the Sorcerers’ Guild has granted me the power of…time travel! I will reverse your plight!” he declared. He reached down and daintily picked up Perfuma’s piece so he could place it back on the path.

Perfuma giggled. “My hero!”

“That was supposed to be used for your piece,” Entrapta pointed out, fidgeting with a small gear as she waited for her turn.

Adora shrugged. “Eh, let him do what he wants,” she said. She leaned back and not-so-casually draped her arm over Catra’s shoulders. She leaned into her girlfriend’s touch happily.

Entrapta pulled out the recorder she clearly kept with her at all times. “Observation number two hundred and fifty-three: when playing games, rules are to be broken at the player’s convenience.”

“Now you’ve got the spirit!” chuckled Sea Hawk, who was currently attempting to steal alien chips off of Mermista’s plate. Every time she caught him, he gave her the most lovestruck eyes he could pull off until she let her snag a chip.

Wrong Hordak handed the dice to Actual Hordak. “Your turn, brother!”

Hordak took the dice emotionlessly and rolled it. A five. He moved his game piece to the appropriate square.

“You landed on a runestone!” Perfuma cheered. “That means you get to move ahead five spaces!”

Hordak frowned down at the tiny drawing. “This pathetic image looks nothing like the real Black Garnet. It fails to capture the strength, the raw power that eminented from my runestone. How comical.”

“Your runestone?” Catra repeated, raising one eyebrow. “It’s not yours anymore, Hordak.”

He glowered at her. “In a better life, it was.”

Glimmer narrowed her eyes. “Are you saying that—”

Entrapta scooped up the dice. “My turn!” she chirped.

Adora hastily stood up, gripping both Glimmer and Catra’s arms tightly. “We are going to get more fruit juice!” she said. “Bow, will you come with us?”

His grin was particularly strained. “Of course!”

They both looked at Glimmer. “Fiiiine,” she sighed, before transporting the Best Friend Squad to the nearby kitchen.  

Once there, Adora immediately turned to Catra and Glimmer. Melog slunk in after them, not wanted to be separated from its owner.

“He’s a terrible person!” protested Catra, already knowing what she was going to say. “I want him out of here.”

“Everyone did terrible things while they were in the Horde,” Bow reminded her gently as he poured more fruit juice into cups. Including you was the unspoken meaning behind that sentence. She looked down at the ground.

“But,” Bow said, handing her a cup, “what matters is that they’ve changed.”

Glimmer took the juice pitcher out of his hands, kissing his cheek. “I agree with Catra,” she told him as she poured. “Hordak might have said he was sorry, but he doesn’t act like it.”

“ And ,” added Catra, emboldened by someone siding with her, “he’s just straight up gross. How someone could possibly find that greasy-haired stick-up-his-ass attractive is just absolutely beyond me—”

“I know! He’s all—” Glimmer deepened her voice, hunched her shoulders. “—‘Pathetic princesses! You know nothing of true power! I am Hordak, Prince of Evil! Mwahahaha!’”

Catra laughed so hard she choked, and almost fell over.

Even Bow, who was rooting through the cabinets looking for more napkins, chuckled. “That’s cute,” he told her.

She winked at him. “ I’m cute.”

“You are.” He pulled her into a hug from behind, pressing his lips to the side of her head.

Adora took Catra’s hand. “Just please try to refrain from killing him for tonight,” she asked. “Afterwards, you and Glimmer and Mermista can start an I Hate Hordak club if you want.”

Catra tugged playfully on her ponytail. “Don’t tempt me. I will run that club.”

Her girlfriend poked her cheek in return before helping Glimmer and Bow stack the cups of fruit juice onto a tray. Catra grabbed another bag of alien chips, just in case.

“Alright,” said Adora, carefully balancing the heavily-stacked tray and ignoring everyone else eying her worriedly. “Ready?”

Bow winced as the tray wobbled dangerously when she took a step. “Adora, do you need—”

“I got it!”

Glimmer shook her head. “Maybe we’d better walk back to the strategy room. I don’t know if those cups can survive a teleportation trip.”

“We’ll be fine!” Adora assured her, and then promptly tripped, sending the tray flying.

——

“I’m really proud of you,” Adora told her as they waved goodbye to the group. They all had to return to their own kingdoms; it still wasn’t stable to be gone for too long.

Catra looked up at her. “Oh yeah?”

“Yeah, you—” She was cut off by a yell of frustration coming from the direction of the skiff waiting to take their friends back to Dryl.

The two of them watched Wrong Hordak and Entrapta attempt to bodily lift Emily onto the skiff, which was hovering a few feet above the ground. The bot was nothing more than deadweight, beeping irritably.

“Her programming is due for an update soon,” Entrapta explained. “Sometimes she gets sulky like this.”

“She doesn’t wanna say goodbye to her friends,” Frosta said. She seemed particularly pouty herself. She had become particularly clingy after the war ended, and probably wasn’t happy about having to go back to her own kingdom alone after spending so much time with everyone.

Catra could relate.

“We’ll see everyone again soon,” Glimmer reminded her, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. “We’re throwing a celebration once Perfuma and Scorpia get everyone settled here, remember?”

“Yeah,” said Frosta, sticking out her lip grumpily.

Wrong Hordak shrieked as one of Emily’s appendages kicked him in the face. He dropped her with a thud.

“Emily!” scolded Entrapta. “Not nice!” Scorpia and Perfuma moved to help them, which definitely made things more successful. Meanwhile, Hordak watched the whole scene unfold from inside the skiff, not bothering to offer his help.

“As I was saying,” Adora said, still chuckling, “I’m really proud of you, Catra. I—I know it can be hard to keep your anger in check when you’re dealing with…”

“With the former dictator of our childhood?” she finished. “I know.”

“You’ve come a long way.”

Catra laced their fingers together, leaned against her shoulder. “So have you.”

Mermista called Frosta over to their skiff, where Sea Hawk was helping her load up their bags. The game night victor gave Glimmer a hug, then Bow, Adora, and, to her surprise, Catra. “See you later, Horde Scum,” Frosta said, parroting her mentor.

Catra grinned back at her. “See you later, princess.”

From the skiff, Mermista tossed a wadded-up piece of paper to Catra. “I look forward to it!” she shouted as Sea Hawk helped Frosta into the skiff.

“Me too!” Catra shouted back.

Adora looked curiously at the paper ball. “What’s that?”

Catra handed it to her without saying a word, smirking. Adora unfolded it, revealing a flyer.

The I HATE HORDAK Club

Calling all Etherians!

Do YOU hate the former Horde Lord?

Do YOU fantasize about ruining his day?

If so, this is the place for you!!!

Meetings will be held at Brightmoon Castle. Any questions, please see Catra or Princess Mermista.

[camelottree638]

Gabaomi - Between the Raindrops

The goodbye at the harbor was inspired by Laura Schiller's beautiful oneshot "That's When" (that also has an even better sequel!): https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13964404/1/That-s-When

- Thank you to @Nontacitare for suggesting some of the fighting scenes! PLOT:

Naomi and Gabe start talking together at Mateo's Royal Wizard ceremony. They just met but still form a strong connection. Over the years they save each other many times and know to always rely on each other on adventures.

When Naomi prepares to leave for her big voyage she still has to think of Gabe. She didn't want to say goodbye in case he could be able to change her mind and stay in Avalor.

Gabe sees her leave and is disappointed. He felt the growing romance between them during the Norberg Lights and was convinced that she felt the same. Naomi explains that she still wants to have a family one day, but wants to experience the freedom of the sea first, trying out both lifestyles of her parents. Gabe understands how important this self-discovery is for Naomi and wishes her luck with a heavy heart.

Her return is all the sweeterand he is overjoyed that she decides to stay after another mission to stop the giant Kazim. They fall back in their old rhythm, teasing each other, laughing together and saving each other from danger, fighting as a team.

When Scarlet returns from another journey, she has fully accepted Gabe as her future son-in-law, an honorary member of the Turner family ever since Family Day in Norberg. She is delighted to be greeted with a welcome dance by the couple and happily joins in with Daniel.

After the Shade War, right before the Coronation Ball, Gabe picks up Naomi from her parents and is stunned by her new dress. Scarlet gives them a hint to dance together at the ball, making their courtship official and they practice the steps to her imprompu fiddle accomplishment while Daniel teaches Gabe some steps of the Norberg Jig.

[iliveiloveiwrite]

Come What May

Request: hey! can i get a request for an american transfer (i’m not sure if they were even a thing lol but anyways) and she is a hufflepuff? maybe she becomes friends with remus due to him being a prefect and sirius ends up really liking her? if you want to change it up a little bit for your writing that’s perfectly fine! xx

A/N: I loved writing this - it took me some time to start, but I loved writing it. I hope you like it and I hope I’ve done it justice. I’ve no clue whether I’ve made the reader American enough but I still hope its good nonetheless. Moulin Rouge is one of my favourite musicals; the title is the name of the song. Enjoy!! :)

Pairing: Sirius Black x American!Transfer!Reader

Warnings: fluff, mentions of pregnancy, I wanna say swearing but I can't remember, mentions of nausea, mentions of anxiety, mentions of homesickness

Word count: 3.3k

In an attempt to improve relations between the wizarding worlds of the United States of America and the United Kingdom, MACUSA and the Ministry of Magic set up a transfer scheme for sixth years of Ilvermorny and Hogwarts. The entirety of their sixth year would be spent abroad where they would gain the worthwhile experience of receiving an education in a different country.

Some pressure from your mother had you applying to spend a year at Hogwarts. Only ten students from the year group were given the opportunity – when it was offered to you, you took it with both hands. A year abroad would look good on your final transcript when applying to train as a Healer.

Upon arriving at Hogwarts, you were swiftly sorted into Hufflepuff; a kind, gentle house that made you feel welcome. Their proximity to the school kitchens would help with reducing the stress for exam season, you thought.

Your first week was plagued with intense homesickness. The Scottish Highlands were hauntingly beautiful, but they were nothing compared to your surroundings at Ilvermorny. You longed for the familiar sight of the familiar Mount Greylock. You missed your family, but your mother’s letters would still find you at Hogwarts. Professor McGonagall had assured you of that.

Your classes were hard to navigate. Hogwarts was bigger than Ilvermorny and you found yourself running from one side of the castle to the other in an attempt to get to lessons on time.

“Hi, are you okay?” A male voice asks. You turn to find lanky teenager with scars littering his face looking at you in concern. A prefect badge on the collar of his robes had you relaxing; here was someone that could help you.

“Hey!” You shout, eagerly, happy to see a friendlier face, “I’m lost. I’m trying to find Divination.”

He smiles at you, “You’re in luck, I’m heading to Divination as well.”

“That’s great, I’ll follow your lead. I’ve been here three weeks; you’d have thought I’d have the layout down by now.”

He chuckles, “I’m Remus, by the way.”

You hold a hand out to him, he shakes it once, “I’m (Y/N). I’m part of the transfer scheme between Ilvermorny and Hogwarts.”

Remus sits beside you in Divination; helping you when you struggled with understanding the teacher’s accent. Divination was taught at Ilvermorny, and along with Herbology and Potions, was one of the subjects you excelled at. Your four times great grandmother on your father’s side was a prophetess who barely escaped the witch trials in Salem; her talents had been passed down to you.

The lesson is over fairly quickly with Remus by your side, helping to translate the Professor’s words. You’re packing your books up, hoping your usually spot in the library isn’t taken when Remus asks: “(Y/N), would you like to join me for lunch? You’ll have to meet my friends, but they’re mainly harmless.”

“Mainly?”

Remus flashed you a grin, “They’ll talk your ear off, but they mean well.”

“In that case, I’d love to join you for lunch. I’d be spending it in alone in the library, so this is a definite upgrade. Lead the way.”

On the walk to the Great Hall, you and Remus bond more and you can feel the start of a genuine friendship beginning to be built.

By the time you arrive at the Great Hall, you have decided that Remus is in fact a sweetheart with a heart of gold who loves his books as much as he loves his friends. From your limited knowledge of Hogwarts houses, you can see exactly how Remus meets the standards to be a Gryffindor.

Remus automatically heads to the table assigned to Gryffindor, spotting his friends in the crowd. You only hesitate for a moment before joining him.

“(Y/N), these are James, Peter and Sirius.” Remus introduces, pointing to each teenage boy with their name. They look at you with fascination as you take a seat next to Remus, who hands you the pitcher of water without a second thought. Yes, your friendship with Remus would be something you truly treasure with all of your heart.

“It’s nice to meet you all,” You greet, not missing how their eyes widen at your accent.

“Are you one of the American exchange students?” Peter asks.

You nod, smiling at him, “I am.”

If it’s possible, his eyes widen further, “You must be really smart then. Like super smart to get into the programme. The one’s we got in Gryffindor are like geniuses.”

“Thank you, that’s a very nice compliment.”

Peter blushes, breaking the eye contact between you two.

You start placing food onto your plate, eating a forkful in between answering questions.

“My turn now – how did you all become friends?”

James grins, “We all met on train and became friends. It seemed fate was on our side when we were all sorted into the same house.”

You look at the ties each worn by the teenagers; stripes of solid red stand out against dark black. “You’re all in Gryffindor!”

James nods, “We are! And our ever-lovely Remus is our prefect.”

You smile when you see Remus out of the corner of your eye, sitting a little straighter at the sound of his school role.

Sirius catches your eye, a smirk turning the one corner of his lips upwards, “What house were you sorted into?”

You point to your tie, not missing the way his eyes rake up and down your body, “Hufflepuff,” you state proudly, feeling very at home with your Hogwarts house.

“What’s your house at Ilvermorny?” He asks, pronouncing each syllable of your school separately, testing out the sound of it on his tongue.

“Pukwudgie.” You declare, prouder than ever of your house back in America. Those sorted into Pukwudgie are defined by their passions and their desires; they commit themselves fully to everything they do whilst being fiercely loyal caregivers and protectors.

Sirius’ lips tremble; he wants to chuckle at the odd sounding name. You don’t miss the expression on his face, rolling your eyes at it.

“We have four houses at Ilvermorny: Pukwudgie, Wampus, Horned Serpent, and Thunderbird. It is said that my house, Pukwudgie, favours healers which makes sense since that is what I’m working towards. I want to work at the hospital for magical folk in New York City. The other houses favour different positions; Wampus – warriors, Horned Serpent – scholars, and Thunderbird – adventurers. Truthfully, we aren’t that different to Hogwarts expect for the fact that we’re in America. The Hogwarts students over there are probably realising the same thing. ”

The four boys look at you in astonishment, and you realise that since you arrived in Scotland, those were the most words you had spoken in succession.

“Well,” You say, grinning, taking a sip of your water, “we aren’t entirely different other than the fact that we’re better

James squawks in indignation, “How? I think you’re mistaken. I’m going to need a point by point explanation of how that is even possible. Hogwarts is the best school out there!”

You laugh at him, “Hogwash. Are you ready for that conversation, James?”

Sirius grins, showing off his perfectly straight, white teeth, “Oh, I like you. I think we’re going to get on like a house on fire.”

With your heart racing, your answering smile is blinding.

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The Marauders adopt you as an honorary member; Peter had dubbed you the emissary to Ilvermorny with a promise to tell your tales of your time at Hogwarts to the student body of the school; to make them famous ‘across the pond’.

The more time you spent with the pranksters, the more you saw them as themselves. James and Sirius were ridiculously smart but played aloof – happier to marked as the class clowns than the smartest in the class (though they were by miles). James was besotted with a red-haired girl named Lily who never seemed to want to give him the time of day, but he persisted.

Peter had the best stories from his childhood, and he was more than happier to tell you them. But there was something simmering under the surface with Peter, as if he was too close to the flame of something he couldn’t quite pull back from. You hoped he would before it was too late.

Remus confessed to you a month into your friendship, of his lycanthropy – he trusted you, he knew you wouldn’t spread his secret and you wouldn’t. You could see his self-hatred always simmering, but Remus was so pure of heart with a predisposition for trouble that made him a natural leader when planning the school-wide famous pranks, that you knew he would not let the wolf inside him control him for longer than was necessary.

The friendship you had created with all four of them was something you would cherish upon returning to Ilvermorny. In such little time, they had taken you in and made you feel at home within their group.

Out of all them, you felt drawn to Sirius and he was more than happy to entertain you. He found you fascinating as well as extremely beautiful. There was something about your eyes that he couldn’t put his finger on, but they had him from the very moment they fell on him in the Great hall. He could sit and listen to you for hours whether it be a story or a rant. He was more than happy to let you talk and for him to listen. You had bewitched him; mind, body and soul. He’d follow you to the ends of the earth.

It was this that made you fall in love with him.

As cliché as it is to describe, your feelings for Sirius took you by surprise. In a matter of few weeks, you had started to fall in love with the shaggy-haired prankster. He had captured your heart in a way you never thought possible; you found it hard to think of anything but him. Your heart raced with every bit of eye contact made across the classroom; as if you were the only one in his line of vision.

Sirius had a way to make you feel as if you were the only one in the world; he would listen to your rants over the differing education systems between the USA and the UK or if someone had gotten on your nerves. He would defend you if ever a cross word was even uttered in your direction; Severus Snape had been on the receiving end of most of Sirius’ hexes. Sirius had you completely enthralled.

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You spend weeks agonising over your feelings for the Gryffindor; badgering Remus at every opportunity until he cracks and tells you that Sirius feels the same but doesn’t know how to approach you.

You decide then and there that you’re going to tell him; that you’re going to confess your feelings for him. As you rush to the library, you steel yourself in case of rejection. It would break your heart, but you would find a way to repair the friendship.

You find Sirius in an isolated corner of the library, pouring over one of the many leather bounded books. The library had taken your breath away when you first arrived; never in your life had you seen so many ancient and dusty tomes dedicated to the practice of witchcraft and wizardry. Now, your eyes are drawn to the teenager hidden among them.

Sirius is sitting in one of the few arm chairs. You don’t sit down; the anxiety and adrenaline preparing your legs for a quick exit if needed.

“Do you want to go to Hogsmeade with me this weekend?” You ask.

Sirius looks up from his book, wide-eyed, “What?”

“Would you like to go to Hogsmeade with me this weekend? I know it’s a free weekend for the both of us and I’d like to go with you.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I like you, Sirius and I think you’ve known for a while that I do.”

Sirius can’t help the blush that rushes to his cheeks, “I know of your feelings.”

“I need to know: are they returned or am I overstepping here?”

Sirius places his book on the table, “No, no, you’re not overstepping. I’ve had a crush on your for a while.”

Your grin lights up your face and Sirius find himself making the promise of to always be the cause of your smiles and never your tears.

“So would you like to come to Hogsmeade with me?”

“As long as you let me pay; it would be shame on my name for me to let such a beautiful person pay for their date.”

“You are a gentleman. So you will come?”

“Yes, we’ll go to Hogsmeade on a date this weekend. I adore your confidence.”

“I’m American,” You state, shrugging your shoulders, “We’re born with it.”

Sirius barks a laugh as he pulls you into his lap, his hands on your waist. You press not one, but two kisses to his cheek where the blush still remains, savouring he fact that it was you who affects him so, and no-one else.

Sirius relaxes beneath you; happy to have you in his arms for however long you have left at Hogwarts.

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In the muted light of the moon reflecting into his dorm room, you can be honest with each other. Your time at the school for witchcraft and wizardry was coming to a close with little under a month before you were returning to Ilvermorny to complete your final year of education.

You didn’t try to ignore the lance of pain spearing your heart as you imagine that year without Sirius. A little over four months with him and you knew that you have found the love of your life; that there would be no-one else for you.

“I don’t want to leave you,” You whisper in the dark of the night, curled under his arm, your hand pressed to his chest so you can feel his heartbeat under your palm.

“I don’t want you to go.” He whispers against your hair.

Tears sting the corner of your eyes, “What are we going to do?”

“For now, I’m going to sleep next to the girl I love. Tomorrow, we are going to talk about it, I promise. I just want to hold you now.”

“Tomorrow,” You promise, “Tonight, I just want to be held by you.”

Sirius pulls you tighter to him; as if the two of you aren’t already pressed together. He drops another kiss to your head while you press one to his shoulder. You aren’t sure whether of you get a lot of sleep that night; worries of the future working their way down the familiar path of your mind.

The following morning brings lingering touches and unhurried kisses. The anxiety from last night hangs like a dark cloud over the both of you but there is a determination within you to hurry it away.

The day is spent slowly; slowly walking around the grounds, slowly reading in the common room, slowly kissing. As if the slower your pace, the longer you can spend in his arms where you truly want to be.

The topic needs to be approached; it needs to be addressed or else it’ll sour the remaining time you have left with the boy you’ve fallen in love with.

Laying on the couch in the Gryffindor common room, your head in Sirius’ lap, you ask, “What are your plans for the summer?”

He sighs, pretending to think it through as he brushes a hand from the top of your forehead to the tip of your nose, “I’m not sure, I think I’m going to be visiting this really pretty girl that I’ve fallen in love with.”

You beam, “Yes please. Come stay with me! My family is going to love you.”

Sirius’ cheeks warm, “Really?”

You nod, “Definitely, I’ve already told them all about you in my letters. My mom is going to love you. My dad is going to take some persuading though. I think the whole family won’t be able to leave you alone. I go to Scotland and come back with a boyfriend.”

Sirius laughs, warm and rich, “I’ll have to bring my charming self.”

“You do that, and you won’t get to leave.”

“Maybe that’s the plan. I think we can do it, you know.”

“Can do what?”

“A long-distance relationship. I think we can do it; I think we’re strong enough.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really. I know we haven’t been together very long but I’m in this for the long-haul. I want no-one else but you; I love no-one else but you. In such a short time, you’ve shown me what a relationship should be like and I want it. I want it all with you. So I think we’re strong enough to get through it. We can send letters and on the longer holidays, we can alternate between America and the UK.”

“You’ve really thought this through.”

Sirius nods, nudging you to sit up. “I have. I thought of it last night, I don’t know how neither of us thought of it earlier.”

You think it through, seeing no disadvantages to his plan other than the fact that you would miss him dearly. “I like it. Let’s do it, let’s do long-distance. I love you too, I want no-one else either. I hope you’re ready for all of my letters, Black.”

He laughs; the sound music to your ears, “More than ready.”

You can’t help the smile as you lean into kiss him.

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7 years later:

The house is quiet; too quiet, you think as you push your feet into your slippers. You make your way downstairs to be greeted to the sight of your husband of five years cooking with your four year old daughter. 

“I think we’ve been caught, sweetheart.” Sirius whispers to the toddler sitting on the kitchen counter.

Your daughter turns from her place, “We’re making pancakes!”

“I can see that,” You say, chuckling, making your way to your husband – kissing him before kissing your daughter on the top of her head.

“We wanted to give you a bit longer in bed. I know you were up most of the night feeling sick.” Sirius says, a hand touching the barely-there bump.

“You’re my knight in shining armour, Mr. Black”

“Always at your service, Mrs. Black.”

Your final year at Ilvermorny was filled with letter upon letter from Sirius telling you the stories of his final year at Hogwarts. You were very happy indeed when he reported that James and Lily had finally started to see each other, and that Remus was thinking of going steady with a girl in Ravenclaw who loved books as much as he did.

The long-distance relationship was hard at times; always after a visit from one of you to the other but nevertheless, you both persevered – worries always extinguished over written word. Your family understood that your home was now in England; in the arms of a black-haired prankster that had captivated your heart from the very first smile. Your dream of being a healer was still very much attainable in England.

You and Sirius were not long behind James and Lily for marriage. Sirius had proposed one evening after you returned home from your shift at St Mungo’s; bone tired and in the need of a hug, you were shocked to return home to rose petals leading to the living room where Sirius was down on one knee – the only light in the room being from the candles lit on every surface available. You both cried when you accepted; you both cried at the wedding a year later.

You didn’t think there would be any more room in your heart to love someone else other than Sirius.

Then you found out you were pregnant. And your heart made room for one more. Your heart had stretched to fit three when your test came back positive for the baby currently growing in your womb.

As you sit in your kitchen, watching your husband cutting up pancakes for your daughter, you feel overwhelmingly grateful for your mother pushing you to fill out the transfer paperwork all those years ago.

*******

Harry Potter (General) taglist: @slytherinprincess03 @bforbroadway @obsessedwithrandomthings @the-hufflefluffwriter @masterofthedarkness @kalimagik @summer-writes @lupins-sweater @mischiefsemimanaged @soleil-amaryllis

Sirius Black taglist: @cheapglitter @fific7

[msmarvelwrites]

The Winter Ghost - Part 5

Info: A Devastating car crash causes you to lose your memory and start over. The only thing left in the wreckage was the horrific nightmares which plagued your mind. If you knew what today would entail you would have just stayed in bed. But you didn't and because of that, everything you knew was about to change.

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Y/n

Warning: language, PTSD, anxiety, violence, fluff.

W/c: 3.5K ish

A/n : oooh getting serious. Im having so much fun writing this you guys! Shout out to @cutie1365​ for all her support! Go read her fic A Kid From Queens, but dont say I didnt warn you. Its addicting! 

Everything happened really fast after that day in the common room with Wanda. Shuri worked tirelessly in the lab trying to develop a softer approach to bringing back your memories. She believed if she could restore them fully, we would have the last piece of the puzzle.

Becoming the perfect war machine seemed like the most obvious use for the serum, but Steve reminded you Hydra always had something up their sleeve.

You really enjoyed living in Wakanda. Most days were spent in the gym training. Trying to harness the team's abilities was not so enjoyable. You worked with Wanda most. It helped that you were only 4 years older than her. She was younger than most of the team and had a dark past that seemed to mirror yours.

Most of your nights consisted of you, Wanda and Nat settling into the couch and cheesy eighties movies on the plasma TV. Bucky would often come out of his room and sit with you.

You really enjoyed Bucky's energy. Something about him just drew you to him. Maybe it was his smile, or the way he smelled like mint and nicotine, or that he read the newspaper and drank black coffee in the mornings. You weren't sure. One thing was for certain, the more time you spent together, the harder it became to leave him. Bucky would tell you about his past and how he used to have to bail little 'Stevie' out of bar fights and ally brawls every other day. He made you laugh like no one really did. When he told you about his time with Hydra and how they would control his mind you would rake your fingers through his hair and whisper to him he wasn't alone anymore.

As the days melted into weeks, the horrific nightmares began to grow legs. It was one of the many side effects from Shuri’s digging. Some days it felt like Hydra knew you would try to remember and this was their fail-safe. Every time you began to drift off you'd see Tommys pale face, blood oozing from the corner of his mouth. You swear, right before he stumbled off the edge of the bridge you saw him say something. You could never remember when you woke, nor could you recall any other detail other than Tommy. It felt wrong. You felt wrong. Like he wasn't yours to grieve.

One particular bad night, you remember waking up screaming. Your whole body felt like it was on fire as your tears seared down your cheeks. The only thing that grounded you after that was the small knock that echoed from the other side of your door.

“Hey, doll. Let me in?” His voice was soft and smooth and the only thing that seemed to bring you back to the dimly lit bedroom. You stared at the ceiling for a solid minute before slowly rising and crossing the room. Gently, you opened the door just a crack and looked up. There stood a sleepy-eyed Bucky. He sported a baggy pair of grey sweats and an old beat up tank, his arms on full display. In normal circumstances, you believed that that was enough to knock you out of any state. You wondered if Bucky knew the effect he had on people. Or worse, if he knew the effect he had on you.

“Can't sleep, keep me company?” He spoke, huskily. You could tell he had just woken up. Sleep still clouded his eyes, and the yawn he tried to stifle gave him away. You appreciate what he was trying to do, so instead of calling the man out, you opened the door, and welcomed the Super Soldier in.

You talked for hours that night. He didn't ask about your nightmare, which you appreciated. You had recited the images to Shuri about thirty times in the past week. It was the only memory that seemed to come back. It replayed over and over on a continuous loop through your mind. This moment with Bucky was a welcomed break.

“Can I ask you somethin’?” You finally spoke. Bucky and you had found your way onto your bed at some point. His right arm draped around your shoulder, as you leaned on his chest. He cracked his neck to look down at you.

“Of course.” He offered, shifting onto his side so he could really look at you.

“Does it ever stop? I’m so exhausted, all I want to do is sleep but I- I'm so scared. I don’t want to see it again… What if it never-” Your voice broke off, shutting your eyes tight to stop a tear from escaping.

“Hey, hey. You're not alone anymore. Remember? I went through it and came out the other side. And look how well adjusted I am.” Bucky smirked, sarcasm laced his last remark. You couldn't help but smile at that. You didn't know if anyone but you and Steve really knew how funny he was. Maybe he liked it that way. Maybe he was only that way with you? You knew it had been awhile since Bucky had really been this way around others. It warmed your heart how quickly the two of you got along.

“Listen to me, doll.” He started, seriously, lowering his stare to meet yours.

“I’ll be here. Whenever you need me. I know what it's like, to feel out of control. To feel like a prisoner in your own body. To answer your question, yeah I think it gets better. I mean,” He paused then, looking you up and down in a way that made you blush. He started again, words laced with that old Brooklyn charm the ladies used to love. Granted, that worked back in 1940 - something and he had been out of the game for quite a while.

“I’m in bed with a smart, complicated, frankly beautiful dame. I’d say it gets better, wouldn't you?” He gently tucked a strand of your hair behind your ear. His touch sent shivers down your spine. Bucky's stormy eyes bore into yours making your breath hitch in your throat. There was a moment, so brief that when you recanted the memory you weren't sure it really happened. But you thought maybe for just a second he wanted to-  

“Up and at it, Y/n! Training starts at 0700!” Caps voice droned through your bedroom door suddenly, knocking you out of your thoughts and back to the bed you resided on. Your hand reached out for Bucky, who since that night spent most beside you. He would stay with you until you fell asleep and more often than not, when you woke, he’d be beside you, fast asleep. His side of the bed was cold, however. He had been up for a while.

You looked at your phone on the nightstand. 6:15 am it read. You groaned, rubbing your hands over your face and slinking out of bed. Pain screamed from your muscles as you opened the bathroom door. Carefully, you started the shower, steam quickly filled the room and calmed your aching bones. You stepped in and autobly signed.

Fifteen minutes later you met the rest of the team in the kitchen. You couldn't help but notice Bucky wasn't in attendance. Everyone looked like they had been awake for hours while your wet hair was pulled up in a messy knot on top of your head. Nat was pouring herself a cup of coffee when she noticed you come in. She smirked, instantly grabbing another mug and gesturing to the pot in her hands. You nodded quickly. ‘Coffee fixed most everything’. That's what Your Dad used to tell you before he left for work and you lived by that.

“Look who's finally up…” Cap announced. You had no idea how he was so chipper in the mornings. Even the sound of his booming voice made you cringe. The man must have coffee running through his veins. Maybe that should be Hydra’s next serum idea…

“I have risen. Just for you, Rogers.” You muttered sarcastically, taking the mug of coffee from Nat. You smiled and mouthed thank you, taking a big swig. Ugh, you grimaced, swallowing the brown substance much to your dismay. You didn't know what this brown water was but it definitely wasn't coffee.

Wanda laughed at your disgusted face, "It's decaf, Y/n '' she rolled her eyes, "Cap thinks decaf is better for the team. That coffee will mess with our 'performance' or whatever." She shrugged. What's even the point? You thought.

“Excuse me young lady.” Cap began, scolding Wanda like she was his teenager. Wanda smirked, turning towards his voice.

“Young lady?” Nat mocked her friend, nudging him out of the way as she reached for the piece of toast she had put in the toaster. She took a bite and over chews laughed, “You're really aging yourself, Cap.” She finished, hoisting herself up onto the kitchen island beside you.

You really liked Natasha. You thought she must have been the most beautiful person you'd ever met. Her red hair always curled around her soft features perfectly. You honestly didn't know how a human could look that perfect and be so deadly. Over the past few weeks, Nat had taught you a lot. You mostly trained with Captain Rogers and Wanda, but occasionally Nat would step in. She was small in stature, but she helped you learn how to use that to your advantage.

“What’cha say we go get some real coffee, babe?” Nat nudged you with a small smile. You looked up at her with a wide eye gaze. She truly was a hero.

“God, yes please.” You beamed as she jumped off the island.

“If you're skipping out on training then count me in! I” Wanda chimed.  Rogers looked frustrated as the three of you started towards the door.

“Nat, you heard what Shuri said. Y/n cannot leave the premises until we know what she's fully capable of. She’s dangerous.” Cap stated firmly, but unmoved from the kitchen. You looked at the floor uncomfortably. He was right. You were a ticking time bomb. You all knew it. Shuri explained with the presence of the nightmares it was only a matter of time before something snapped. And no one really knew how that would look when it happened. For the most part, everyone treated you like a normal person. An honorary member of the team. But Rogers often reminded you that you were anything but. Just an experiment and a means to an end.

"Comeon' y/n. I know a place we can get some real coffee."  Nat spoke, louder than Cap. Venom seeped from her words as she glared at the Captain. She shook her head disapprovingly. Wanda took your hand, pulling you gently out of the kitchen. When you touched you felt your skin sizzle, absorbing the power that surged through her body. You made a conscious effort to steady your breathing and push her power to the back of your mind. As you left you heard Natasha’s booming voice coming from behind you but decided to ignore it, as the two of you headed for the garage.

“Are you fucking kidding me, Steve?” Nat snapped at him. Steve opened his mouth and closed it trying to find the right words. “She’s a person, you ass! You can't keep treating her like some unhinged science experiment. She’s just a person. Just like me. Just like Bucky.”

“She’s nothing like Bucky!” He thundered. Nat took a step back, snaking her head disapprovingly. “I can’t keep thinking, what if we had it wrong. I mean, she can’t remember anything. What if her memories come back and she's not really on our side. I don't think we thought this through, Nat.” He huffed, running his hands over his face in frustration.

“I trust her, Steve. Bucky trusts her.” She started, taking a few steps closer to him. He shook his head in annoyance and scoffed.

“Bucky thinks the girl’s a doll. He’s totally smitten, that doesn't count. I think the guy would trust anything she said at this point-”

“Do you trust me?” Nat snapped, a brow arched, hands on her hips. Stever huffed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“You know I do, but-” He began.

“Then it's settled. You gotta’ let the girl out. She's been locked up here for weeks. I promise, I’ll keep her safe. Besides, I’m getting pretty tired of her stealing my clothes. Coffee, and shopping and then we’ll be back, yeah?” Nat offered, voice dripping with sweetness. She knew she had won this battle. She always did.

“Two hours, Romanoff. That's all you get.” Steve grumbled. Nat smirked, rolling her eyes and spinning on her heel to meet you and Wanda in the garage.

“See ya later, Grandpa. Don't wait up.” She offered over her shoulder. Steve only shook his head and chuckled, hoping desperately he hadn't made a huge mistake.

Nat strutted victoriously out of the kitchen, and almost ran right into Bucky's large frame. She stumbled back, regaining her balance quickly. Bucky raised one brow curiously.

“Where ya’ going in such a hurry?” He asked, watching her carefully.

“I’m taking your girl out for a much needed shopping trip. Anything particular you'd like to see her in?” She quipped, sarcastically, flipping her hair over her shoulder. Bucky choked on a cough, clearing his throat and trying to turn it into a laugh. He failed, of course.

“I- ah, I don't know what- uh, what?” He finally got out. Nat smirkled, and patted him on his stiff chest. It was literally too easy. The man was such a ball of stress. Nat thought it was honestly cute. She’s never seen Bucky like this before. Nervous and blushing. She thought you were really good for him. Maybe you’ll finally take that stick out of his ass. She thought with a smirk.

“Have a nice day, Sergeant.” She cooed, pushing past his rigid body leaving Bucky in shock.

“You ready, babies?” Nat grinned, putting the key in the Jeep’s ignition. You sat in the back seat while Wanda sat in the passenger, both nodding vigorously.

“For the love of coffee!” You shouted, pointing forward. Both women laughed and with that you took off.

……………………...

You practically skipped through the Wakanda market. Beautiful earthy colours melted into the scenery practically taking your breath away. Wanda and Nat had stopped at a small coffee shop, but you wandered around, looking at the beautiful handmade clothing. The smoky smell of something cooking from a nearby street grill filled your senses. It was complex, sweet and spicy and sour all at once. It made your mouth water. Foreign and delicious. You followed the smell to a small hutch where people gathered around, eating and laughing.

“Beautiful isn't it? How food brings us all together.” A man spoke beside you. You recognized him as T’Challa, Shuri’s older brother and also the man who is letting you and your new friends stay in Wakanda. You had only really met him in passing, but never really spoke. Bucky always describes him as a kind, gracious friend. You smiled up at him.

“It is… Really beautiful.” You repeated.

“How are you liking Wakanda, Y/n?” He asked. His voice was deep and rich. Almost melodic. Just by speaking he had commanded the attention of the people around you. The new eyes on the two of you made you feel uneasy and small, but you took a deep breath and relaxed yourself.

“It's so gorgeous here. Thank you for having me, T’Challa.” You spoke his name and it made him smile. You froze unsure if that was the right thinking to call him. He was the King, sort of, but Bucky had always referred to him by his given name.

“Breath, my friend. You have nothing to fear here. You are with good people. Your friend Bucky speaks very highly of you. And any friend of the Sergeants is a friend of mine.” He voiced, placing a warm hand on your shoulder as you relaxed. From behind him you could see Nat and Wanda walking towards you. Wanda waved chaotically making you smile.

An old beat-up SUV made a loud popping noise as it pulled up somewhere behind you. The noise made you shudder. The familiar sound of gunshots rang through your ears as you grabbed your head, trying to make the noise stop. You looked to T’Challa who seemed only concerned, reaching out a hand to steady you.

“Is everything okay, Y/n?” He spoke, trying to gage what was wrong by your actions. The loud deady blows echoed through your head, unrelenting as a scream erupted through the crowd. You weren't sure if you had made the noise of if it was someone else. Everything seemed to fade away and your vision became blurry.

“Y/n, Y/n! Can you hear me?!” You heard a woman yell over the crowd. You tried to focus on her voice, but it was too late. Everything suddenly went black and you felt your body go numb.

You woke up in the dark cement room that plagued your nightmares. A man's eerie voice echoed off the walls.

“Еще раз!” Again! He shouted. Usually when you relieved these memories you didn't know what the man was saying.  But for some reason, this time your brain was translating for you. You didn’t question it as you looked around the room. You felt your body scream as an excruciating electric shock ripped through you. Tears burned down your face as you begged incoherently for it to stop. As fast as it came on, the shock stopped, and you could breathe again.

“Ты сама во всем виновата, дитя мое.” You brought this on yourself, my child. The man cooed, wiping a bead of sweat that ran down your forehead. You winced at his touch, the feeling of him on you making you nauseous.

“Если бы ты только сделал то, о чем тебя просили. Если бы вы только слушали. Может быть, все было бы по-другому, хотя я сомневаюсь в этом.” If only you had done what you were asked. If only you have listened. Maybe things would be different, though, I doubt it. He spat, chuckling as he motioned for the other outside of view to start again.

“Please, don’t do this, Zemo. Обещаю. Возьми мою память. Заставь меня забыть, только не делай этого.” I promise. Take my memory. Make me forget, just don't do this. You begged. You tried to move your arms but they were secured down. The man only laughed at your feeble attempt, building a rage inside of you.

“Oh, don't you worry, мой ребенок. All in due time. When I’m done with you, you won't remember your own name.” He grinned a crooked smile as the machine you laid in whirled on again, sending a volt of electricity through your body. You clenched your teeth and stifled another scream.

Your eyes burst open, scolded by the sun and the tears that now streamed down your face. Gasping for air you tried to sit up, but your body shrieked with pain. On your left Nat sat beside you, Wanda was on your right holding a phone to her ear yelling something you couldn't quite make out.  Your breath slowly began to return and the sunspots in your vision cleared. You looked around, the market was now almost empty but the small street grill was now billowing with smoke and flame. Nat helped you up, body still aching. You looked around, horrified by the mess that was once the lively market.

“Are you okay, Y/n” Nat started, her hands on either side of your arms. You blinked at her, terrified.

“What happened?” You asked, horrified to actually know the answer. She gave you a nervous look and tucked a loose hair behind her ear.

“It wasn't your fault, Y/n. No one was hurt, everyone got out. It’s going to be okay.”

“It most certainly is not going to be okay!” Captain Rogers' voice boomed from behind the three of you. Wanda spun around startled, while you just hung your head low. Whatever lashing he was going to give you, you deserved. It couldn't be any worse than what Zemo had done…  You paused, eyes a gape.

“Oh my God.” You gasped, alerting the others. Steve looked at her angrily, impatient for your next words.

“I remember something… I think- I think I remember who did this to me.” You choked out, eyes glassy as you remembered for the first time the man who made you a monster.

................................

A/N: Thank you for reading! Hope all have a great weekend! As always, feel free to leave me feedback! My inbox is always open!

@projectcampbell​

[yuvon-writes-letters]

To all,

I am sending this, simply as an update.

I have officially put my foot down, Rai will be taking a break indefinitely, until he is stable enough financially and mentally to take on super-natural issues once more, and I will act as a substitute.

I can’t promise I’ll be a friend like he was, or as comforting as he was, but he says to simply ‘watch and see the trustworthiness ooze out of them” his words, not mine.

I won’t be an active letter writer either, I may not be as busy as Rai is, but I’m sure you all realize that I have a job that takes more priority than this, if Rai shared more than just my name.

That is all.

Skie

[Real life update, I’ll actually be temporarily gone for a few days, family trip :) I’ll prolly be back by around Wednesday or Thursday, so not too long. Don’t wait up for me]

Skie,

Well, welcome to Duskwood Detectives Inc., then :) I figure anyone who can and does write letters is at least an honorary member, even if they're not actually a counterpart of ours.

It's probably good that Rai's taking a break. Dealing with these fucking entities tends to be bad for mental health, even people who aren't directly involved with any of the damn things. And now this Lily

Nope, not calling her Lily, we already have a Lilly. Let's call her Flower, why the hell not.

"Watch and see the trustworthiness ooze out of them"? XD Not sure I can promise that, I have a history of lying about important things, though I'm trying to be better about it. Jake's pretty trustworthy, though.

Yeah, no. Message for everyone, though I don't think y'all actually need to hear it: Please don't prioritize these letters over your daily life. Jake and I can get away with it because we're completely cut off from any semblance of a normal life, but I'd hate to be the cause of anyone being hurt in any way.

Then again, I've sort of indirectly already

Alright, moving onto general purpose updates.

Probably unsurprisingly, those white lilies in the death room full of death symbols are gone. I don't know whether it was Flower or the one that calls everyone sweetling who did it, but that's a thing that happened.

I'm fully healed from that whole thing three weeks back. I mean, on a purely practical level, I've been healed for a little while, but apparently in here we heal COMPLETELY. I'm not scarred in the slightest, and there's no lingering pain or anything.

Juvyr gur ragvgl jnf qvfgenpgrq jvgu Sybjre, V sbhaq gur yvtugre V fhzzbarq ntnva. V qba'g xabj jul vg qvqa'g qrfgebl gur guvat, whfg ohevrq vg, ohg V qba'g guvax vg xabjf naq V'z xrrcvat vg gung jnl.

By the way, remember that "cipher" from forever ago none of us could translate and Jake got really frustrated over? I didn't until recently. Well, we've finally cracked it. Want to know how?

Thomas asked if we'd tried lining up the four pages together and holding them up to the light. There wasn't enough ambient light to do it, so we had to use Jake's phone flashlight, but lo and behold, it fucking worked. Now I feel like an idiot, yaaay.

The papers weren't even that helpful, anyway. It just outlined the ritual we'd have to do to pay an even price, which, as we've already established, is not an option I am considering. Ever. Literally no one is okay with using that option.

On social matters: No one from the Crow Crew is precisely pleased that we've been keeping all this from them, especially the stasis, since the stasis directly affected them. They're not renouncing their friendships or anything, but it definitely hurt things a lot between us. I've been trying to patch things up as best I can, especially by trying to involve them in anything of note. Problem is, there's... just not a lot here to figure out right now. Not without more letters coming in.

Speaking of, it's been a really long time since we've heard from Lis or Jessy, or any of Lis's associated honorary Duskwood Detectives Inc. members. I'm honestly really worried about them. I don't think Lis is hurt or dead or anything, because she's got Goldie, Jake, and Max all helping her out. But I'm way more worried about alter Jessy. If Jake's pursuers caught on at all about our letters back and forth, or if the MWAFerfucker became active again...

I'm worried.

By the by, Crow Crew says hi and welcome. And also has quite a few choice words for the entity that's keeping us here.

Well. I'll hand this over to Jake, now. Hell knows I've talked long enough XD

—Yuvon

Hallo, Skie. I don't believe I have written to you before. It is a pleasure to meet you.

I agree with Yuvon and yourself that a break is likely necessary. I will be sad to see him go, however. He is capable of talking sense into Yuvon, a rare trait indeed.

That is... interesting wording on Rai's part, but I do agree on at least one count: Yuvon is very much trustworthy. She may occasionally lie or hide her true feelings, but she quite genuinely cares about the people she is close to, and does what she is able to help them even to her own detriment. She is quite capable of helping as well. Despite her assertions to the contrary, she is quite intelligent.

That cipher Yuvon mentioned and the solution was probably one of the more vexing things I've experienced recently. It does go to show the inherent benefits of allowing the "Crow Crew" to assist in these matters, however. Outside perspectives are occasionally necessary, loathe as I am to say it.

Please do not share this with Yuvon, but she stated that "literally no one" has been considering the ritual. She is incorrect, though I have not shared this with her as of yet and likely will never do so. The ritual calls for a sacrifice, either of the self or of a willing human sacrifice. It claims that if one of the two of us here were to do the ritual, not only would the kidnapper lose his own life, but the other would escape this place.

You see the appeal, I presume. Not only would Hannah be out of danger, (and possibly Richy as well if he is not simply deceased,) but so would (blacked out) Yuvon. While it would be regrettable that I would not survive to witness their subsequent freedom, I feel that this is quite the lucrative trade. The single hitch remains my pursuers, who may attempt to target Yuvon again. Despite the lack of internet access, I have managed to, in my copious free time, upgrade NYM-OS to hopefully better protect her, but my pursuers nearly succeeded in hacking her once.

Given the events in the alternate Jessica's universe, I am quite concerned about what will happen if they ever succeed.

Of course, given that I will be dead at the time, they may simply cease to pursue me entirely and allow Yuvon to live her life in peace.

As you are an outside perspective, Skie, and one without a vested interest in any version of myself: do you believe this trade is worthwhile?

Sincerely,

Jake

(The letter tucks itself into the paper clip with the others.)

[iwillgiveyoumyhappiness]

Kim Donghyun, 김동현

anonymous asked:

Okay, here's my request BUT you can take your time on it and just do it when you're not so busy! I'd like something with Donghyun, a non-idol au, with lots of intense feelings heh. Maybe something like you're college housemates with his friend and he always comes over all the time for literally everything and anything when actually its just excuses to see the reader? Dongdong needs the love :( -1102

Group: AB6IX

Member: Donghyun

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.

.

You stared out into the vast field of flowers, scattered with Sweet Peas, Stargazer Lilies and Daffodils. A warm breeze blew past, gifting you with the blossoms’ sweet fragrance. 

You tucked a lock of hair behind your ear, taking a deep breath and just enjoying the atmosphere around you. It was that kind of calming, yet uncomfortably ‘too-good-to-be-true’ feeling. 

You squinted your eyes, swearing you could see some movement in the distance. Sure enough, a figure drew closer and closer. You could only see the person’s silhouette, not being able to pick out any defining features, but there was a certain aura around him. 

It felt safe, and romantic, and warm.

Even more so when that person held their hand out to you.

Just as you were about to brush fingers with that silhouette, a loud, jarring screech met your ears; a noise that you could recognize anywhere. It was your faithful friend that you greeted first every morning—your alarm clock.

You slammed your hand down on the bedside table with somewhat of a vengeance. Sure, you know the dream was too good to be reality, but couldn’t that damn alarm clock have let you be lost in for just a second or two more?

You huffed, sitting up and running a hand through your hair, almost certainly a greasy mess. You blinked harshly, trying to flush the last remnants of sleep out of your eyes. With sleepy, half-awake steps, you made your ways to the blinds, pulling them up hesitantly. 

Luckily, the sun wasn’t as blinding as you had expected. In fact, there was quite a bit of cloud-coverage. You made the mental note to bring an umbrella with you to school. 

You didn’t bother brushing your teeth, because you could already smell the breakfast wafting in from the kitchen. Your roommate would always say that he wasn’t that good at cooking, but his meals said otherwise. Maybe he wasn’t the best in the world, but you’d never eaten anything made by him that you didn’t enjoy to the fullest extent. 

You padded out into the dining room, hair still a mess, still half-asleep and wearing nothing but an worn, over-sized tee-shirt and some sleep shorts. Your roommate—Jeon Woong—was used to seeing this sight in the mornings; just as you were used to seeing him looking perfectly put-together, despite it being barely 6AM. 

You paused for a moment.

There was another thing you were used to seeing. One of Woong’s close friends from his hometown—Kim Donghyun. Through the last semester and a half, he’d been coming over to your dorm-room pretty much everyday.

Usually for breakfast, but also for some pretty mundane things as well. 

Like the famous, “Dude, I need to go to the grocery store, and it’s late, and I’m too scared to go alone”, or “My roommates ditched me, so I’m stealing you guys as my honorary ones”. 

Or (a personal favorites of yours), “I was reading my anatomy textbook and I read the word ‘womb’, and you know what rhymes with ‘womb’? Yeah, that’s right. Woong! So I knew that I just had to come over”.

Woong didn’t appreciate that one too much, but you thought it was hilarious.  

Kim Donghyun was a strange guy, but he was funny, so you never protested to his constant visits. In fact, you thought it was pretty cute how the two Daejeon boys stayed in touch.

Sometimes, you could physically see Woong getting fed up with him, but you’d never seen them argue, because in the end, they were friends and cared about each other—no matter how clingy Donghyun could be sometimes. 

You still remembered the first time Donghyun had invited himself over. You hadn’t expected him, and he CLEARLY had not expected you, because when you came out into the dining room looking like how you normally did, you both screamed. 6 in the morning, and you both screamed at the top of your lungs.

Nowadays though, it didn’t phase either of you. You’d gotten familiar with the feeling of seeing his dorky smile every day.

In your mind, any friend of Woong’s was a friend of your, so you kind of just let it happen. You and Woong had been friends since you both started college, not exactly clicking at first, but growing very close as time went on.

You walked to the the fridge and pulled out a jug, not fully acknowledging either of the boys milling around the kitchen. Woong was hard at work at the stove-top and Donghyun was sitting comfortably at the table, flipping through a Human Sciences textbook.

He looked up at you with that same smile he always had, giving you an elegant wave that was a bit over-the-top for so early in the morning, but you gave it a pass because it made you chuckle. 

Woong glanced over his shoulder as you poured yourself a glass of orange juice. “’Morning,” he said, smiling a little. You gave him a small wave and a hum. He knew that meant, ‘Good morning to you, too’. 

He went back to folding the omelette he was working on. “Heard you talking in your sleep,” he mentioned, urging the egg onto a plate. “Whachya dreamin’ about?” 

You downed your glass, glad to get the morning breath taste out of your mouth. “Prince Charming,” you said simply, smacking your lips to get rid of the leftover flavor. 

Donghyun’s brows rose in intrigue. “Oh, yeah?” he said. “Prince Charming got a name?” he asked, wiggling his brows. 

You shook your head, leaning against the counter of your cramped kitchen. “Not even a face, dude,” you said. You nodded slowly, as if working something out in your head. “I think he will one day, though.” 

“Why do you say that?” Donghyun asked. 

Woong set a plate-full of food in front of him. “’Cause she’s a closet romantic and she believes that a reoccurring dream like that will have a different outcome as time goes on,” he chuckled. He leaned down, as if he was sharing a secret. “She likes to think that when she meets ‘the guy of her dreams’, that’s where he’ll show up.” 

Your cheeks grew hot. “Shut up, Woong!” you said, chucking a damp dish towel at him from last night. Unfortunately, he dodged. Freakin’ athlete. 

“Weak,” he teased, making an ‘L’ shape on his forehead and sticking out his tongue. He chose ‘weak’ instead of ‘you throw like a girl’, because he’d learned the hard way that would just get his ass thoroughly whipped.

You rolled your eyes playfully. “Whatever,” you huffed.

Donghyun raised his hand gingerly, as if he were asking a question in class to a particularly salty professor. “So,” he started, “you’re into the whole ‘fate’ thing?”

You hummed thoughtfully. Did you really believe in that? “Yeah, I guess I am into it,” you finally decided on, nodding. 

Woong coughed, the words coming out something along the lines of, “Closet romantic”.

You smacked his shoulder. “I said—shush!” you chastised. 

Donghyun chuckled, shaking his head. “It’s all good,” he said, waving a hand dismissively. “Don’t worry about me.” He flashed a cute smile. “It’s cute.” 

It wasn’t long before you were all sitting around the dining table, munching down on another top-class meal by Jeon Woong himself. 

“11 out of 10, Woong,” you said to him through a mouth-full of food. 

He gagged exaggeratedly. “Talk or chew,” he said. “Choose one, not both.” 

Donghyun nodded. “It’s not hot,” he added. “Negative points, my friend.”

You rolled your eyes and swallowed. “I’m not eating breakfast at 6:30 in the morning trying to be sexy,” you grumbled. You made a sour expression and pushed your plate away. “You guys are making me lose my appetite.”

Donghyun chuckled. “Oh, come on! You know we didn’t mean it,” he said. He poked your side. “As your honorary guy friends, we’ve gotta make fun of you.”

You quirked a brow. “Who says your my friend?” you teased. 

“Who says I’m not?” he rebutted, a sly little smirk making it’s way to his lips. He tilted his head. “You’re too comfortable with me not to see me as a friend.”

You dipped your fingers in your water glass, flicking it after him after. “Whatever, Hyun,” you said. 

He laughed, splashing water back at you. “You even gave me a nickname!”

Woong groaned. “Why do I feel like I’m third-wheeling here?” he whined. 

That’s how breakfasts with Donghyun and Woong usually went. More fun than when it was just you. By yourself, it was quiet and lonely. With Woong, it was simple and filled with comfortable silences, but easy conversation. 

With Donghyun added into that equation? 

There was no shortage of early-morning chuckles and juice-out-of-the-nose snorts. It wasn’t even that he was trying to be particularly funny—you just found him amusing in the simplest of ways. 

And even though it was really shocking and annoying sometimes to find him just randomly there, making himself at home on the couch or raiding the fridge, it definitely wasn’t the worst thing to find.

Especially after a crap day, because he had a seamless way of lightening up the mood without feeling like he was trying too hard. You could see why Woong liked him, even if you weren’t a fan of him at first.  

He was just simple like that. 

He sneaked up on you—like the spice after a pepper, or the warmth spreading through your body after the first sip of hot chocolate with marshmallows. You were pretty happy with how your relationship with him had grown, though you couldn’t quite place why.

When he first started coming over, you felt a little left-out. He and Woong would always share funny stories from their hometown, recalling their nostalgic childhood adventures, and you’d feel a slight disappointment not understanding the inside jokes and small situational innuendos.

Though, it didn’t take too long for them to start inviting you into the proverbial circle—Donghyun being especially welcoming. You supposed that’s just how he was; always the campus heartthrob.  

You were happy that, nowadays, all three of you would swap stories, recalling some of your amusing adventures together. 

“Remember when you legit”—you made an exaggerated arm movement, complete with funky sound-effect—“dived into that pile of leaves?”

Woong sighed, somewhat reminiscent of a tired single-mom. “I do,” he said, raising a hand. “I thought you broke your neck, ‘cause you didn’t come back up for like... A solid eight seconds.”

Donghyun choked on his drink; a fruit smoothie that he was always very proud of telling you he made himself. “You remember that?” he asked, a little flushed. “It was such a long time ago, though!”

You rolled your eyes playfully. “Of course I remember!” you said. “I almost peed my pants laughing.” When you really thought about, you’d never had a bad moment with these two.Maybe they were your best friends.

You’d never had a best friend before, let alone two of them.

He smirked a little, looking smug. “Then I did my job well,” he said, taking a deliberately slurpy sip of his smoothie.

You quirked a brow. “Oh, yeah?” you started. “Elaborate.” 

He shrugged with that dumb, yet charming smile. “You looked sad that day.” He met your eyes. “I was trying to cheer you up.” 

You froze for a moment, just staring at him.

Woong looked between the two of you, looking like he was holding back a chuckle, his lips sucked in and chest shaking with effort. You gave him a look, silently asking, “You know something I don’t?”.

You cleared your throat. “Well, thanks,” you said simply. You smiled a little at the memory. “It definitely cheered me up, even though I thought you died for a second or two.”

Donghyun stood up for a moment, bowing gracefully. “’Twas my pleasure, m’lady,” he said. He sat back down and hummed thoughtfully, tapping his fingers on the table in some sort of rhythm. 

Your eyes couldn’t help but be drawn to it. You knew he played guitar, but sometimes, it was more evident than others. His finger-tapping habit could get repetitive sometimes, but in the end, you could always forgive it.

His fingers had a certain strange beauty to them.

Donghyun glanced over, seeming to notice you staring at him. You didn’t realize it at the time, but his cheeks gained a lovely shade of red.

“What’re you looking at?” he asked, chuckling a little. 

You pulled yourself out of your daze, looking him in the eyes. “Hm?” you hummed. The question registered in your mind. “Oh! Nothing really,” you said. “You just have really nice hands.”

All of a sudden, his tapping stopped as he stood up, the chair legs scraping against the floor as it was pushed back by his legs. “Is that the time?” he asked, staring at a non-existent watch on his wrist. “My class is in like, ten minutes,” he said. 

Scooping his bag up off the floor and tying the flannel with the hole in the pocket around his waist, he flashed you and Woong a playful salute. “You’ll see me again, so don’t be too sad,” he said with a wink. 

With that, he was gone. 

Disappeared out the door, just as he reappeared every morning.

Woong coughed, sounding a bit more like a stifled laugh. “Whipped,” he said softly.

You furrowed your brows. “What?” you asked.

He shrugged, making a funny expression. “I didn’t say anything,” he assured you, picking up the empty plates and carrying them to the sink. “Nothing at all.”

.

.

.

2:56AM

It was late. Too late.

You turned the page of your textbook, ignoring the heaviness of your eyelids. You’d already tried going to sleep, but it wasn’t cooperating, no matter how tired you were. 

Maybe this was why Woong had given you the nickname ‘Night Owl’.

Your reading light cast a harsh shadow on the words, but you powered through it, accepting the headache that you’d probably have in a few hours. 

You sighed, resting your head in the palm of your hand. You tapped your fingers lightly against the pages of your book, trying to remember the rhythm that Donghyun had been tapping out earlier. 

It was mid-tempo, calm and smooth, and it made you feel better to try and work it out in your head.  

You almost jumped out of your skin when your heard a tap on your window.

You slapped a hand over your mouth to keep from screaming, all too aware of the fact that Woong was sleeping above you on the top-bunk. You felt your blood run cold, not daring to turn around and see what was waiting for you outside the window. 

As if on cue, your phone buzzed with a text notification. 

You looked over, scanning the pop-up. 

From: Donghyun

Dude... It’s just me. 

Your head whipped around, glaring at the window. Or, more aptly put, the face outside of it. Standing outside of the window, standing on his tippy-toes (you lived on the first floor of your dorm building) was Kim Donghyun, waving sheepishly.

You were about to open your mouth and say something, but he quickly brought a finger to his lips, silencing you. He made a circle with one hand and tapped it with the other, giving you a hopeful look. 

Slowly, the realization dawned on you. He wanted you to buzz him into the building. You nodded to him, flashing a quick thumbs-up. Despite your initial frustration, you couldn’t stay mad at him for long.

There weren’t many people that would come to visit you at 3 in the morning.

You hopped out of bed—fuzzy socks and all—and grabbed your over-sized sweater off the back of Woong’s rolling-chair, meeting Donghyun in front of your building. He wasn’t wearing a jacket, he was panting like crazy and he had a piece of crumpled up paper held loosely in his grip.

He looked up at you with relief in his eyes. “You’re here,” he breathed, creating a puff of heat in the chilly air. His eyes smiled before his lips did. “You came out.”

You crossed your arms, furrowing your brows. “Well, duh,” you said, looking down at him from the top of the steep incline of stairs. “You scared the crap out of me.”

He rubbed the back of his neck, still trying to catch his breathe with the stinging air. “Yeah, sorry about that,” he said. 

You furrowed your brows. “Did you run here?” you asked. “Where’s your coat?” 

He looked down at himself, as if just noticing the lacking article of clothing. “Oh,” he said. “Guess I forgot it. I just—” He was cut off by a sneeze. 

You sighed. How could he come out in this weather in short sleeves? “Hold on a sec,” you said, starting to walk down the steps. You pulled the sweater over your head, offering it to him when you got to the bottom. “Put it on,” you said, having a sneaking suspicion that baby-blue would look great on him. 

He shook his head, eyes wide. “No way! It’s freezing—I’m not gonna take that from you.” 

You narrowed your eyes at him. “Kim Donghyun,” you said, voice lowering an octave. He froze on the spot, staring at you with that ‘yes, ma’am?’ kind of look. “Take the damn hoodie.”

He reached for it tentatively. “Thanks,” he said with a small voice. He took to gently and pulled it over his head, mussing up his hair and making it stick out in funny directions. 

You chuckled. “Cutie,” you teased, flattening his hair back out. You couldn’t help but notice the way his cheeks darkened in color; not even the dim lighting could hide it. You cleared your throat and pulled your hand away, suddenly feeling a little awkward.

“So...” you said, trying to lighten the atmosphere. “What brings you here at 3AM? You know that Woong’s asleep, right?”

His hand clenched a little tighter around the paper in his hand, making an audible crackle. “I know that,” he said quietly. “That guy goes to bed at 11 on the dot, even if he has to study for a test.” He nibbled his bottom lip thoughtfully, not meeting your eyes for a minute. “I came for you,” he finally said.

Your breath caught in your throat.

There he was. 

Kim Donghyun.

One of your best friends.

He was wearing your sweater, his chest was still heaving from his run over, his cheeks, nose and ears were painted with red, and his eyes were glossy with an emotion you couldn’t quite read. For whatever reason, he looked really attractive like this—standing in front of you looking so... Real.

He was like a picture, unedited and unfiltered. Absolutely candid, and in a way, it was somewhat touching that he was your 3AM rendezvous. It felt special.

“Oh, yeah?” you said, shifting your weight a little. This feeling... It was odd. “What’d you have to say?” you asked. 

He took a deep breath, looking like he was trying to hold something back. An emotion, an action—it didn’t matter what it was. It was something he didn’t want to show. “It’s more like...” His voice gave out a little, his eyes watering.

You felt concern build in your chest. You’d never seen him like this. 

You took a step froward resting a hand on his shoulder. You rubbed it up and down his arm in a soothing fashion. “Take your time,” you whispered. “I’m here for you.” 

That seemed to strike a chord within him, snapping the rope inside of him that was restraining his emotions. In a fit of tears and a bitten back sob, he pulled you into a bone-crushing hug. “I’m hurting a lot right now,” he yelled out into the night-air, hiccuping over his words.

He didn’t care if he woke up Woong. He didn’t care if he woke up your entire building. Maybe he didn’t even care if he woke up the whole world. He continued on, “It hurts so much because of the things I can’t say. Because of the things I’m really scared to say.”

You felt your heart racing, feeling his hot tears land in your hair; some on your shoulder. You rubbed his back, trying anything to get him to calm down. “I don’t understand,” you said gently. “I’m gonna try, though.” 

You pulled him over to the stairs, gently dragging him down to sit with you. “Tell me what’s going on,” you said. 

He chuckled a little and wiped his eyes, voice still shaky. “You know,” he started, “I don’t even really know why I’m crying,” he admitted. “Is this what a period feels like?” 

You snorted under your breath. “A little bit, yeah,” you said, nodding. “What—do you have cramps, too?” 

He nodded. “Yeah,” he said. He pointed to his chest, tapping it a few times in that same rhythm that he usually did. “In here.” He sighed a little, letting his shoulders slump. “You know, I realized something today,” he said. 

“And what’s that?” you asked. 

His left hand slowly inched closer and closer to yours, but you didn’t notice, too caught up in trying to read his expression. “When you were staring at me earlier and complimenting me...” he started. “I realized that I don’t regret one second that I spent coming over here instead of studying for tests.”

He continued, “At first, I just started coming over ‘cause school was stressing me out, and I thought that Woongie would cheer me up.” He smiled a little, staring up at the starless sky. “But then I met his cute, funny and smart roommate.” 

Your cheeks heated up. 

“I wanted to come over more often so I could get to know her better.” He shifted nervously, moving away by half a centimeter or two. “You better. Get to know you better,” he clarified softly. “I started coming up with all these dumb reasons to visit you guys, just so I could see you more often.” 

He met your eyes again, but with a shy hesitation. “I realized today that I more than just ‘like’ you. I think I...” He grumbled something under his breath along the lines of, ‘I don’t wanna say it out-loud, ‘cause it’s embarrassing’. 

He huffed, blowing a loose piece of bangs out of his eyes. “I think I really like you,” he settled on, hoping it would get his feelings across. Slowly, he unfolded the crumpled up piece of paper in his hand. 

He chuckled nervously. “I even wrote an entire freakin’ song about you, and I was gonna play it for you when I got over here, but like an idiot, I forgot my guitar at home, so I guess that plan died young—”

You cut him off with a hug that sucked the air from his lungs. “How about you sing it to me on our anniversary?” you offered. 

Why did you decide to fall into his arms? You weren’t exactly sure.

Maybe it was because he gave off the same warm and romantic vibe that the Prince Charming from your dreams did. Maybe it was him, and you just didn’t realize it.

There was a long, drawn out silence. 

Finally, Donghyun’s arms wrapped around your shoulders, pulling you a little closer. “If you’re up for it,” he started, a smile in his voice, “that sounds like a really good idea.”

.

.

.

Here you go, 1102! I hope this can help you finish your 2019 off on a high-note. 😉 Donghyun is such a lovebug and I hope people give him a lot of hugs. ;-; And like... Comforting + gentle collarbone kisses. I don’t know. I just feel like he’d be into that. I’m gonna shut up now.

Love ya, as always! Stay safe and healthy! 

[paper-whales-writes]

Left Behind - Part Two

Pairing: Mal x Reader

Word Count: 1,368

A/N: I personally do not feel like this turned out well, but oh well. I hope you guys like this all the same! I am so sorry this was so long in coming, but work had me so dead this week!

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

After providing Uma with the information of Mal's return, you have become an honorary member of her crew. In fact, you were even one of those who snatched King Ben. Yet, almost infuriatingly, with one glance the pansy king had seemingly understood why. A heart for a heart is fair payment on the Isle of the Lost after all.

Upon her meeting with Uma, Mal didn't see you lurking in the corner of the eatery. The arrogant girl didn't even bother to check who was even in there; still convinced she holds some form of power in the Isle. Her mother wouldn't have made the same mistake. But then again, Mal isn't a villain - she's just a purple-haired brat.

After she had stormed out the door, not getting her way for once, Harry Hook had waltzed over; complete with that sharp grin on his face. A grin that has always seemed to you more out of reflex then actual humour.

"My, my Y/N, if looks could kill she'd be dead in a gutter. I'm not sure how Mal didn't notice you when your eyes were burning into her skin."

You had simply smirked back at him, "She deserves what's coming to her. Mal abandoned the Isle and when it suits her, comes crawling back and expects us to welcome her back with open arms? Please, she's gotten soft as those Auradon pigs."

"I agree, Y/N." Uma's voice sounded over your shoulder. "It's time to teach her a lesson, one that she'll never forget."

And so, that was how you ended up here. Sitting crossed legged; watching the pirate crew prepare for the confrontation with the VKs. You had promised Uma your help should it break out into a fight - regardless of the fact that your expertise is with manipulation rather than a sword. But you have grown up on the Isle where it would be dangerous to not learn to fight. Your double daggers will have to be good enough.

When you told Uma this, her guard lowered just enough to throw you a sweet smile. "I really appreciate this Y/N. If you want it, there's a place on this crew for you."

You smiled back at her, a facial expression that has hardly seen any use since Mal left you. "I'll think about it Uma, thank you for the offer."

"You'd fit in here. Not just because of the shared hatred, though that helps, but we like your metal - you've got something that can't be shaken. I like that."

You look away from Uma and allow your eyes to roam over the deck. To Gil tightening knots, Harry tormenting the King and then back to Uma, who gazes over them all with both pride and, surprisingly, love. A feeling that you never felt extended to you with the VKs.

"Why don't you go talk to the King? It might help you get some closure." Uma suggests.

You nod, following her advice and drifting over to the captive. For a second, you meet Harry's eyes and he gives you a small nod before walking away and leaving Ben to your mercy.

"So, you're the man she left me for."

Ben looks up at you with those puppy eyes of his. There is shock, shame and distrust dancing across his eyes and he says nothing. Prompting you to speak again:

"I hope she loves you. I hope it's worth it."

Then he looks up at you, with pity in his eyes. Pity that makes you mad.

"Because she hurt you?"

"Because she ripped my heart out. You won't understand, living in Auradon, but any shred of love here has to be cultivated and worth dying for. Obviously, I thought what Mal and I had was something different."

You can feel your eyes start to mist over with tears. Something you don't disguise from the King - let him see and let him feel the power of them.

Opening his mouth, the King chokes out: "I'm sorry, I really am."

"Sorry doesn't cut it."

----

Across the bridge she stands: Mal. The girl you once would have claimed to love whole-heartedly. But not anymore. She snapped your heart and with no reason other than convenience. Revenge and understanding is what you need. But you're not sure you'll even get either.

Mal is nothing but crafty.

While she had smirk chiselled onto her face, it quickly drops upon seeing you standing behind Uma. Her mouth opens slightly; with your name coming out of her in a broken whisper. You only give a glare in return.

Things that are broken can never be remade in the same way. You know that now, but it seems that Mal hasn't quite received the memo. And so, you mouth to her 'consequences'.

Your eyes never leave her throughout the exchange. But once the battle starts, you allow Uma to take out her anger on her in a clash of swords. Instead, you clash your daggers with the King - the physical embodiment of everything you are angry at.

"Come back to Auradon with us, Y/N. You could fit in. Have everything you have ever wanted."

You snarl over your locked blades, "I don't need your charity. I don't want it."

With speed, you dance away with your blades; allowing Harry to take your place battling the King. Seeing this, Mal makes a beeline towards you, cutting your escape off by cornering you by the ship's rail.

"Buzz off, Mal." You growl.

Her eyes are seething and the bore into your own with a fierce intensity. "You sold us out. Uma wouldn't have taken Ben if you hadn't told her."

You smirk, slashing you daggers across your sword. "Maybe you should stop underestimating people, you're not all that you know. Just because you're the daughter of Maleficent."

"I don't understand, what was I meant to do? I didn't want to go to Auradon." She splatters indignantly.

"You don't understand how it felt to watch you leave, making all these promises. You never wrote and you left me alone. Instead of helping us and freeing us all from the Isle, it's you four sat there in luxury and conforming to their standards."

Her blade hovers as she listens.

"I look at you Mal and I don't even know who you are any more. You've changed and not for the better. So, in some sort of way, you are wicked after all."

Her blade lowers as she stares at you in part shock and part betrayal.

"You might fool the others, but you can't fool me." And with that you deliver a swift kick into her chest, that sends her sprawling away from you.

The battle continues onwards and you don't see Mal again. Not until they've fled through the tunnel and you are left there - standing between Harry and Uma and gazing at her across the void. Mal's eyes are resentful; flickering between her normal blue and her emotional green. Yet neither of you say anything, merely watching each other in their new futures.

"She doesn't think she's done anything wrong. She thinks she's fully justified in what she's done. But she gets to pick and choose when she gets to be from the Isle and when she's from Auradon."  You murmur to Uma and Harry, watching the one person in your life you truly loved turn and walk away from you. Yet again.

"I want to join your crew Uma. I want to teach her that her actions have consequences and most of all, I want to be with people who will care and love me."

Turning to her, you see her smile at you. Despite the fact that her sworn enemy has triumphed over her again. "Consider it done, Y/N. You're one of us now."

Harry smiles over at you. "Welcome to the crew, lass. But Uma," he continues with a more serious tone "how we gonna bring Mal down when she's back in Auradon?"

"I have an idea." You say, lips rising into a smirk. There's nothing you do better than scheming and plotting. Now is your moment. "Use a love potion, Uma. Hit it where it hurts the most."

[backtothestart02]

The Heart of the Matter - 3/? | westallen fanfiction

A/N: Finally baby Barry and Iris interact! I hope you enjoy! And forgive any inconsistencies as far as dress is concerned, since I’m having this take place in modern times but the movie takes place from 1919-1945, when things were a bit different and girls wore dresses all the time. Lol. Since the movie is fresh in my mind I’ve been tending to write in that way without thinking. Anyway, enjoy! I hope this chap is fun for you!

...

Chapter 2 -

The next memory began to play.

In the scene was a sweet-looking girl sitting on a stool in what appeared to be an ice cream shop.

Well, at least part of it was. Another section was a shoe parlor and candy shop. And in the very back was a makeshift lab for a delivery pharmacy. Mr. Singh was a man of many talents.

Iris was sitting all by her lonesome, her dark curls bouncing whenever she turned her head, and her warm, brown eyes piercingly beautiful to anyone who looked at her, especially when she wore lighter colors like the yellow, lace dress she was wearing today. Her shiny white shoes hardly had a scratch on them.

Moments later, a 13-year-old Barry Allen skipped into the shop. He called into the back to inform his boss about his arrival, and then slid an apron over his head.

Before he was fully ready to serve any customers though, in walked Linda Park. Strictly speaking, she wasn’t any less pretty than Iris, sitting there alone on her stool, waiting for Barry Allen to make his appearance so she could be near him. But she had confidence, and that alone drew the boys to her the older she got. She didn’t have the slightest idea what she wanted in life, but she liked the attention she got, and so sought it without looking desperate and achieved it every time. It was always a good kind of attention.

“Hey, Barry,” she cooed, popping up onto a stool beside Iris’.

“Huh?” He turned to look at her where he stood in the doorway between the back room and the store area. “Oh, hi, Linda. Here for some ice cream?”

“What else could I be here for?” she asked, setting her chin in her hand and smiling prettily.

He shrugged. “Well, I don’t know. Iris was here when I walked in the door.”

He walked away to find the ice cream scoop and Linda’s gaze followed his movements.

“I like him,” she confided to Iris.

Iris would’ve tensed up, but it was hardly the first time Linda had made her affections known, and not just about Barry either.

“You like every boy,” she said, crossing one knee over the other.

Linda turned to look at her over her shoulder.

“What’s wrong with that?”

Iris kept her comments to herself, but she struggled hiding a smile when after Barry had gotten her the ice cream she ordered, he told her bye right away, just as she’d opened her mouth to flirt some more. Surprised and irritated, she frowned, jumped down and grabbed her ice cream before strutting out the door.

Now alone with Barry, Iris felt unspeakably nervous.

“Have you decided what you want?” Barry asked, folding his arms on the countertop and looking her in the eye, completely unaware of how fast her heart was racing.

“I…uh…” She cleared her throat.

“How about chocolate chip cookie dough with sprinkles? That’s my favorite right now.”

He was practically salivating as he said it, probably planning to buy some for himself as soon as his shift was over. But Iris – and she’d come to regret this later – did not immediately cater to Barry’s suggestion in order to keep his attention.

She tucked her feet into the rings on the stool and leaned over to see the flavors.

“What about that green one?” She pointed to the far left. “I haven’t tried that one yet.”

“Mint chip?” he asked, and she nodded, her eyes lighting up.

“Yeah, I guess that one’s all right too,” he allowed, and hurried to give her the scoop. “Better than plain old vanilla anyway.”

She paid for her dessert and started to eat it in front of him, hoping beyond all hope that maybe he’d keep talking to her.

“You know, one day I’m gonna get out of this place.”

Her heart leapt into her throat.

“Yeah? Where will you go?”

“Anywhere. Everywhere!” He pulled out some papers from a cubby hole beneath the counter. “I’m an honorary member of the National Geographic Society, you know. I’ve got books and magazines and posters. I want to see the world! And then I want to design it.”

“Design it?” She frowned, though she was already incredibly thrilled he was still talking to her.

“Yeah, like an archi… archi…” He frowned, unsure of the word now.

“Architect?” she offered, and this time his eyes lit up.

“Yes, that’s it! I’m going to design bridges and skyscrapers a thousand stories high….”

“A thousand?” Her eyes widened.

“Well, maybe not that many,” he allowed. “But I still want to see everything. I want to be a part of something big, Iris. Really big. I want my life to matter. And it’s not going to if I stay here in Central Hills.”

Barry looked down and saw a coin on the floor.

“Oh, shoot, I forgot to give you all your change.”

He started to bend down to reach for it, and Iris rose up in her seat. Testing, she directed her face towards what she hoped was his deaf ear.

“Is this your bad ear?” she asked softly, and when he made no reply, she assumed it was. Swallowing hard, she made her vow, too chicken to say it so he could hear. “I love you, Barry Allen. I’ll love you till the day I die.”

“Ah, here you go,” he said, proudly handing her the penny before she could sit herself back down again. Their faces were inches apart, and he found himself briefly lost for words. “What are you doing way over here, Iris?” he asked – and was that blush in his cheeks?

“I…um…wanted to…uh…”

“See if I was telling the truth?” he asked, feeling slightly annoyed.

She sat back down. “I just thought you gave me all my change is all.”

“Oh.”

She closed her fingers over the penny now in her hand.

“I’m sure you’re right though. Thank you, Barry.”

He nodded and took a step back, still feeling awfully confused but not wanting to show it.

“You’re welcome.”

[bunny-hoodlum]

21 Days | Chapter One

Hinata is meeting up her anon friend 'Swirly_boi'. She's about to meet up with the last person she ever thought she would.

Pairing: NaruHina

Rating: Explicit

Genre/Tags: ModernAU, Smut, Angst, Fluff, PwP

Note: The spiritual successor to my old lemon 'Unless The World Were to End' (2012).

Today her hair is as straight as she can manage it, because normally at work it's done up and iron-curled to all hell.

She can't decide whether to keep it down or up.

If it's down, she imagines his hand will pull it away to access to her neck.

If it's up, she imagines him pulling the scrunchie loose to watch how her hair falls about her like silk.

Well, it's not that silky anymore, but it sure would be ideal if he thought it was.

Her work clothes are unlike herself; ostentatious, shimmering, quite on the revealing side.

Today, despite the intentions of their plans, she would like to go as herself.

To feel like herself.

She gets way too much drunken validation as is. She'd like something honest today, much like the refreshing conversations they've had online the past eight months.

She can't figure out if they're genuinely friends. She can't imagine they could stay friends after today. It would be too weird.

Somewhere along the way, he had mentioned his dislike of being a virgin at twenty years young. And somewhere along the way he got her to admit that she too was still a virgin.

No, actually he didn't 'get' her to admit it at all. She had always been quick to soothe someone else's concerns, to bring herself down to their level or lower just so they can see they're not alone. He told her something so personal that she absolutely had to pay it forward.

But she may have oversold herself a little.

She didn't feel nearly as badly as he did about being a virgin. She always thought she'd die one. Neither happily nor unhappily.

But he didn't want to be one anymore, and she was all too available.

Did she over-commit? Was this decision actually more immoral than it was moral? Was she manipulating someone into bed?

Was she confirming anti-feminist beliefs that women are just sex objects? Or was she supporting feminists beliefs by owning her sexual willingness?

Or was she disrespecting the only friend she had left by secretly providing pity intercourse?

"How do I keep doing this to myself?" Her feet began to drag with the weight of her growing guilt.

She thought she was doing a kindness.

She always thought that.

But it never turned out the way she wanted.

She could only fear how this would end.

Still... somehow, some way, they had formed a pact: As two loveless losers, they would shed their virgin status together and rejoin the world as less of the losers they once were.

When they had the same days free, they would meet up at the red overpass in Akamori Ward, just five blocks from Love Hotel Hill.

And they were gonna…

Hyuuga Hinata slaps her burning cheeks. Even in her own mind, she can't complete that sentence. This curse of hers, of her own dysfunctional traits, has stolen every bit of patience she has left for herself.

She's tired of the way she relies on daydreams to experience flawless interaction with another individual.

She's tired of the way her body jumps and shrinks instinctively when under intense scrutiny.

Tired of the way she feels heavy and dizzy at the same time, all the time. How she would just rather sleep her life away pretending she had lived it well.

Tired of the overthinking, the score-keeping, the negative feedback loop reminding her she should have born as a spirit of seran wrap. At least then, she'd represent something useful, while being every bit as flimsy and invisible as she already is.

But this isn't how she wants to start their day together.

If he picks up on her negativity, he might change his mind. And if he's too nice, he'll go home disappointed.

Stop it! Stop it!

She gives herself another assessment.

She's no good at fashion, but she tried.

She made sure she copied the third image from her 'cute casual fashion' search to a T.

Her hair is pulled to the side so it drapes behind her right ear. She left the ends curled, afraid of damaging it further if she finished off with her straightener.

She's wearing a black pinafore jumper. The straps are pushing the breasts she used to hate so much together even more than her push-up bra is, and the buttoned front stops just beneath their swell. Her white t-shirt is simple, a ribbed high neck style.

Hopefully she looked cute enough to hide all her 'dark, weirdness'.

Her kitten heel mules clap a slow, despondent beat as she nears the red bridge.

She's an hour early because she needs the extra time to pull herself together.

And because she's the type of idiot who physically waffles.

One second, she's about to flake and then immediately ghost.

The next second, she's balling her fists and huffing with the hot steam of fresh determination.

And then she's off to flake, because status quo is her god and everything else is a danger to her mental health.

No, I'm worth it! Therefore I'm staying!

Oh but, why would I ever think that?

Because-- Because I'm also a female!

No, no, that's not a good enough reason…

Hinata drapes across the crimson rail and scratches at the paint.

There was a time when she was a part of something. Sort of.

Junior High at Konoha South.

The second years and third years all referred to them as the Rookie Nine. She doesn't know how she ended up grouped with them. At most she felt like she was an honorary member because she happened to float in their periphery just often enough.

Speaking of periphery floaters, she's starting to see hers, which means she really is getting older. The way they run away the moment she spots them is something she can empathize with. A bit too strongly, actually.

Hinata edges away from the rail, she turns to leave because anxiety has taken the wheel again.

"Hey!"

Hinata stiffens as though a bomb had exploded behind her.

"Are you 'little bird'?"

She nods stiffly. There's scratchy quality to her friend's voice, it's kind of sweet, like they still haven't fully exited their boyhood.

But it's deep enough, too. He's definitely her age.

"Were you about to leave?"

Oh god, I'm wretched. She shakes her head and steadies herself with the rail. Okay. No where else to go. Turning around now. Turning around… turning around…

Black basketball shoes, black joggers, white A-shirt, light orange cotton jacket… tanned skin, almost ruddy… blue eyes, blond--

Hinata locks up. Not because he looks better than she could've possibly imagined, but because--

"You… You moved."

Five years ago.

When their junior high days were behind them and it was time to choose: Stay and finish up at Konoha North. Or move onto a private education.

Uzumaki Naruto didn't have either of those choices.

Wait a second… She no longer sees the immense confusion on his face as she dives deep into her memories.

Exactly eight months ago…

Post: WELCOME HOME ME!

Swirly_boi: Hey, so I just got back in town. I've been in Uzushio for the past four years and I'm feeling like an outsider all over again… Anyone cool wanna show me around? Preferably a hot babe. And by 'hot', I mean H-cup hot.

What possessed her to answer him, she didn't know.

Maybe because she happened to be an H-cup?

Or because he felt like an outsider?

It had taken her two weeks of stalking his thread to work up the nerve. His audacity sure had been his downfall, for no one had taken pity on him until her. Even then, she had to convince herself it wasn't truly pity if she had been curious all along.

But it all made sense now.

Flames crawled from the pit of her stomach up to her face.

Her head craned slowly down in little increments, as each and every conversation they had collided to the forefront.

She had told him… so many things… so many… embarrassing… lurid things…

She turned round to run, but his big warm hand clamped down around her wrist.

For her, it was like red hot iron brand searing her skin open.

"Whoa, Hinata?! What's your problem?!"

It's as if some primitive error code in her brain is going off: 'You're rejecting Naruto-kun. You're rejecting Naruto-kun. You're rejecting Naru--'

Hinata squeezes her eyes shut before allowing her wrist to go limp. She swallows and side-eyes him.

He's more than a head taller than her now. He's wearing his hair all short and clean cut too, that it's not even fair. Her inhibitions are nothing against the might of his good looks.

And yet his good looks are strained by the hurt pinching his face.

She doesn't know how to feel. Happy that she incited such a reaction? That she matters somehow? Awful that she made him feel even more like an outsider?

Awful. Her mind and her heart chooses to feel awful. As always.

"W,Welcome home… Naruto-kun…"

Continue on AO3

[nash-bby118]

Perfectly Perfect: Prologue (Self-insert fic)

Title: Perfectly Perfect

Rating: General for the time being. Maybe Teen and up later for possible swearing(Most likely) and sexy times(I doubt it though) but for now it’s G.

Relationship: Steelbeak x Self Insert Lexi

Genre: Family/Friendship and eventually Angst and Hurt/Comfort

Chapter Summary: Just a bit of backstory for my oc. Steelbeak will appear in chapter 1.

Other: This takes place shortly after the Double O Duck episode and in the year 2019. So the kids are 12 years old. Launchpad should be about 32 years old. I know Steelbeak is in his 20s but I’m going to bump him to be LP’s age. 5 year age difference(roughly) is a lot better to me than like 10 years. Since I think Donald and Della are about 36 or 37 now and she’s the same age as them.

Author’s Note: 

Here’s the other dumb idea I came up with when I was suffering from insomnia the other night. 

I was going to make her a bird but stuck with dog since the main family is all ducks and Duckworth is the only canine honorary family member/friend that I can think of. 

Also the title was between Perfectly Perfect and Lucky One both by Simple Plan. After listening to both several times on loop, I felt PP was the better choice. So there’s a fun fact.

Prologue(You’re here!) - Next Chapter 

During the summer and after her 6th Birthday, Lexi Lulu, a Dognose, moved from Ohio to Duckburg, Calisota.

Her and her family were fully moved in by the time she started Kindergarten at an expensive private school.

Lexi was always super shy and likely has social anxiety. But she still had friends back in Ohio. So having to make new friends at a new school that she never went to before was making her anxious.

To make things worse, she had to do speech classes due to her speech impairment. And as such, would leave during one of her classes every week to meet with the speech teacher. Usually it was during something fun like Gym or Art Class. But it was only once a week.

It was still the first week of school when a duckling named Della came up to her to see if she wanted to play. As the girls walked over to the little kitchen area, they introduced themselves.

“My name’s Della Duck!” Della said. “You weren’t in my preschool class, right? Or were you in the other one?”

“I’m Lexi. And no. I moved here during the summer.” Lexi replied.

“Oh cool! You’ll like Duckburg!” Della grinned.

As the two continued to talk and play, Della couldn’t help but notice something familiar to her.

“Hey do you do speech classes or something?” Della asked.

“Not yet. I think I’m suppose to start next week.” Lexi said.

“Okay. Maybe you’ll have that with my twin brother! He has a speech problem too. But you talk better than him. He’s in the other Kindergarten class though. I don’t know why they split us up both this year and last year.”

“I don’t know either. Does he have lunch at the same time as us?” Lexi decided to ask.

“Uh huh! You can eat with us and I’ll introduce you to him. You already have something in common!” Della nodded.  

Later at lunch, Lexi and Donald met and instantly hit it off. As they expected, they had the same speech class together too. It made them both feel better that someone else had a similar problem and insecurity.

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

The years went by and they continued to remain best friends. She was actually at their Uncle Scrooge’s mansion so often that he took to calling her his niece too and allowed her to call him uncle.

When they were teens, she started going on all kinds of adventures with the three of them.

Donald started college about a year or two after high school and met Panchito and Jose. But Lexi and Della chose to keep going on adventures instead of college for a while. Scrooge decided to let Lexi move into one of the rooms in the mansion since she was going on adventures so often.

At one point, Lexi was in a relationship with Jose, but they mutually broke it off when they knew they couldn’t move permanently from their respective countries. So he moved back to Brazil sometime later.

A few years later when she, Donald, and Della were about 25, Lexi decided to go to college and take a break from adventuring. During that time, Donald had joined the Navy and even started going on adventures again while Panchito returned to Mexico.

The summer after her first year, Lexi’s niece was born. Months later in the following year, Della had three eggs. 

Fortunately, nothing happened to her brother or sister-in-law. Yet she was always watching her niece when they needed her to. Della took to helping more often when she found out about her own kids.

But when Della went missing after going into space, Lexi quit college.

The Ducks and McDucks had become like another family to her. With Della gone, Lexi knew Donald would need help raising the boys.

She tried to talk to Scrooge for months but he gave her the silent treatment. Or started yelling and threatening her. Simply misplacing his anger for what happened and taking it out on Lexi, especially after Donald took the boys and went no-contact.

Duckworth helped her move in with Donald for the time being since she was no longer welcomed to the mansion. But it made it easier to help Donald out while being under one roof.

As the kids grew up, she started being called Aunt Lexi by them. It started when her niece, Hailey, was over to play and called her it to get her attention. The boys asked if they could do the same since she was helping raise them and was basically their aunt despite not being related by blood or through marriage. Of course, they were fine with this. Lexi even saw them as her nephews too.

When the boys were about 5 or 6 and going to school, Lexi felt it was time to move out since the house boat was getting smaller as they grew older and bigger.

Lexi found a house nearby and began working from home so she watched the kids after school at her place since Donald, her brother, and sister-in-law worked until 5 or 6 PM.  

They were still mourning Della and Lexi was still upset at how her friendship with Scrooge ended. But overall, everything was fine now.

At one point, they noticed the boys introduce Hailey as their ‘cousin’ just like how Donald and Della did with her. So knowing the kids were getting along great was enough to make them happy.

Sure there were fights, but nothing more than the usual sibling or other relatives fights.

That said, they struggled with money since even though they weren’t living together, she was still paying Donald child support to help out. After all, she lived with herself and her turtle. That was barely two mouths to feed compared to his four. And Donald struggled with keeping jobs.

When the kids were 10 years old, Lexi had gone out of town to visit family back in Ohio with her parents and her brother’s family. So Donald needed a babysitter since she wasn’t home at the time. His only option? The uncle they haven’t spoken to in 10 years.

She was surprised when she returned home and found out that they had reconnected and Scrooge allowed them to move in with him. Especially after the house boat blew up.

Lexi went to visit one day when she was off work and her and Scrooge had a talk that they both knew needed to happen. He apologized for taking his anger out on her all those years ago. And even offered her old room to her so she can officially join the family again.

She gladly took it and moved in shortly after Donald and the boys did.

Soon, she discovered that she would quickly gain another niece that year in Webby. The following year after Lena was brought back, she started considering her as another niece too.

It was now 2019 and about a month or two after the Moonvasion happened. The aliens that stayed on Earth are living peacefully now.

After finding out she quit college to help raise her boys, Della more or less forced her to go back to school despite being in her mid-30s now.

So here she was at the library. Hailey, Huey, and Violet joined her since they made their own little book club. So while they looked for a new book to read and sat at a different table in her line of sight, she sat at a computer to do her homework.

[chiropter36]

So.  Who hasn’t ever imagined the Greek gods as mortals in a domestic modern setting?  

...Well, okay, there’s actually quite a bit of existing art and fanfiction related to the concept.  But I’ve had this “AU,” of sorts, developing in my head off and on for a while now, and wanted to share it, just for any other mythology geeks out there who might be interested.

To that end: courtesy of artwork by the amazing @thesnadger​, meet the children of the Olympios family!  (Well, the ones from the main twelve at least - there are six more siblings/half-siblings among Zeus’s kids, plus all the cousins and honorary family members and so forth.  It’s a big family.)

Brief character blurbs under the cut.  I don’t really have any specific plans for this AU to go anywhere – it’s mostly just a casual, self-indulgent thing – but if, by chance, this piques any interest and anyone would like to know more about these kids (or any other characters not included here – I’ve thought a lot about this crazy extended family), I would absolutely love the excuse to talk more about them, so any questions are welcome!

(Note: I keep going back and forth on whether they should have more modern-sounding names or just stick with the originals, so I’ve included both, or at least ones I’m considering but haven’t settled on.)

(Note 2: Just for the record, given that this is meant to be set in the modern day, for the purposes of the AU I have taken the liberty of… editing the Olympian family tree a tad, in the interest of toning down the, y’know, incest.  So, no sibling marriage or anything going on, Zeus and Hera are unrelated here.)

Athena (Tiena)

Age – 17

The wise-beyond-her-years, overachieving valedictorian who makes it look easy.  Seemingly popped up out of nowhere to join the family when she was 9.  Rather intimidating, but in a charismatic way; often the “leader” of the kids (much to Ares’ chagrin).  Already taking several college courses (started planning her sociology/political science double major before she hit high school), she balances that with a host of extracurriculars (she slays in debate club just as much she does martial arts) while still making time for her weaving, pottery, and industrial arts hobbies.  Also grows miniature olive trees.

Ares (Reece)

Age – 15

The eldest son, and rebellious “problem child.”  Prideful, temperamental and petty, but very insecure beneath it all; secretly hurt by his parents’ lack of pride in and low expectations of him (a state of things that is… not entirely his own fault).  Talks a big game, but tends to fold easily against anyone who isn’t cowed by his tough-guy act.  Forever bitter toward Athena for “stealing” his position as the oldest sibling.  Idolizes the U.S. military; fully intends to enlist the second he turns eighteen and for all the wrong reasons.  Due for some harsh (but hopefully constructive) reality checks.

Hephaestus (Fess? Jeff? Eustace? Seriously, nothing sounds like this one)

Age – 14

The socially awkward, geeky tech wiz.  Diligent and hardworking, has a strong passion for metalwork and mechanical engineering (huge fan of shows like Man at Arms).  Always busy with some project or other, when not participating in as many robotics competitions as he can manage.  Machines are easier for him than people.  Generally a kindhearted boy, dislikes conflict and often tries (with limited success) to play peacemaker among the family; however, he can also fall into bouts of self-pity, and on the rare occasions he gets pushed too far, shows a rather unpleasant vindictive streak.

Artemis (Artemia? Artie? Temmie?)

Age – 11

Nature-loving wild child and shameless daddy’s girl.  Concluded at age 5 that marriage is stupid and she’ll be taking no part in it.  Rarely indoors if she can help it; most likely to be seen running around the yard or local parks with her dogs and gang of girlfriends (her Girl Scout troop nominally has an adult in charge, but everyone knows who the real leader is).  Has a significant soft spot for baby animals (humans included).  Perpetually vying with Apollo over the top spot in their junior archery team.  Treats any sort of “hunting” game – from hide-and-seek to Pokémon Go – very seriously.

Apollo (Paulo)

Age – 11

The popular, artsy preteen heartthrob.  Along with the archery talent shared with his twin, he is a musical prodigy (favoring string and voice), and not too humble about either.  Writes a lot of original lyrics, and has a passion for poetry in general.  Surprisingly superstitious – knows a lot about omens and divination methods, and his intuitions are often scarily accurate.  Has a reputation for honesty and helpfulness, always stepping up if someone is hurt (has all the relevant Boy Scout badges).  Sense of justice is rather black-and-white, though, and he can hold long grudges.

Hermes (Jeremias)

Age – 8

The mischievous little scamp who everyone can’t help but like.  Whether sneaking extra snacks before dinner or running an elementary school gambling ring, he consistently escapes punishment by being just so gosh-darn charmingly precocious.  (And that’s only if he gets caught.)  Eloquent and possessing a large vocabulary for his age, he’s a natural diplomat and salesman.  Equally at home in the city or on his mom’s sheep farm.  Loves travelling and interacting with new people.  A sporty kid, enjoys running and gymnastics.  Often serves as his dad’s unofficial spokesman, a role he delights in.

Dionysus (Dennis)

Age – 4

The goofy, lovable baby of the family.  A preemie, and a bit developmentally delayed.  Loud and boisterous, his emotions are never a secret – which, combined with his wild mood swings, can make him a major handful.  Throws violent tantrums at the drop of a hat, and snaps out of them just as suddenly.  Loves acting out stories; a definite theater kid-in-the-making.  Doesn’t know the terms yet, but is fully on board with being a boy and/or a girl, whatever suits his fancy.   Enjoys playing in the dirt, and shows an interest in gardening – can name all the fruit crops.  Always leaving juice stains everywhere.

[iamallyetnotatall]

The Day After Tomorrow

Part 57 of 59 in my ‘Turning Tables’ series.

Summary: The aftermath of bringing everyone home.

AO3

The Universe is...

Confused. Cautiously optimistic. Frightened. Excited. Concerned.

Loved ones reappear where they had vanished five years ago. As knowledge of Thanos and his wish has spread as far as possible, knowledge of the Avengers and their victory must go out.

Carol Danvers comes to Earth to visit her longtime friend Nick Fury, but her visit is short. She returns to the skies and the people across the galaxies to give word of the new developments and to give them reassurances. Not far behind her is the Benatar, filled with the Guardians of the Galaxy.

They know Gamora has died and is lost to them, but they gain a new crew member in Thor. He leaves New Asgard to Valkyrie and sets out to find himself again. Rocket is content with Groot back by his side, Drax and Mantis hardly seem to have any understanding of what's happened and they leave it that way, and Quill mourns. Nebula, for now, chooses to stay behind on Earth.

Her sister and father are dead; what little family she'd once had is gone and that isn't new, but there is a sense of finality now that wasn't there before. Nebula's content to stay on Earth and be 'Aunty Nebs' and an honorary member of the Stark family. She's occasionally in Wakanda and they trade off knowledge. They help restore some of her parts when she needs it. They even do a few upgrades to ease up some pain she's simply forced herself to be accustomed to for the better part of her life.

"Thank you for bringing home my nephew," May whispers in the darkness outside the Stark's cabin where both women are sitting in a borrowed home.

Half the universe means little to May Parker when faced with the possibility of living a life without the last member of her family. Or the family she'd had five years ago which has suddenly expanded in the blink of an eye.

"I would say that he's the one who brought me home."

May pats her thigh and gives her a smile, "You're a good person, Nebula. Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise."

"I've done many things that wouldn't make me a good person."

"I think there's always been at least a little bit of good in you."

"Thank you," she whispers softly. It's clear to her, since meeting the infamous Aunt, that she's why Peter is the way he is.

The wind carries her words.

Several thousand miles away in a small city in Norway, Brunnhilde is back to leading what's left of the Asgardians in the same way she's done for the past five years. Only now she's a king. The respect from the people remains unchanged; she's only ever had their best interest at heart.

A few thousand miles south in Wakanda, Bruce steps out of the hospital bed with a functioning arm. The scars won't ever fully heal, but their technology has given him full use of his limb and that's what truly matters. A portal is opened to send him to the Stark's for a brief visit. He chats with his resurrected friend; there's reminiscing and tears and stories.

Stephen opens a second portal to send Natasha to Missouri, where she's the bearer of bad news for the Barton family. She stays there for several weeks to support them in their grief. Once she feels she's overstayed her welcome, she returns to her position at the Black Widow Orphanage. Somehow, there's more work to be done than there's ever been before.

The sorcerer supreme himself stays in touch with the Avengers for those first few days. He keeps them focused long enough to send the Stones back in time.

Once the task complete, anything to do with time travel is destroyed. The technology used is torn apart and thrown into an incinerator, to be safe. All the data is deleted from every server it ever touched, even including the music playlist Peter put together for his research time. No one will ever recreate what they've done, at least not with the tools they used.

Afterward, everyone goes their own way.

Bruce returns to California, back to his home and work and the life he's built for himself there. He remains the Avengers' primary medic but stays apart from the superhero life as much as he can. Steve comes back in one piece and heads out with Sam and Bucky. As Sam had once been his guide to a foreign future, Steve gets to return the favour. The Avengers gain two members; Steve lends his shield to Sam and Bucky and takes up some art classes and hosts more support groups for the people brought back.

T'challa and Shuri are home with their people, a king and a princess back on their rightful thrones. Wanda is in mourning, much like Thor and Quill. She wanders in search of meaning and none of the other Avengers intervene; she needs this time to herself. Scott is back with his daughter and the Van Dyne's and only partially steps out of the hero business.

Rhodey does what he does best. He fights for justice. He stays with the Air Force with the intent to retire once the world feels righted - or as righted as it can be. He only gets a handful of days with his lifelong best friend before duty calls, but there are promises of calls and texts and of future visits.

There's a proper funeral held at the Stark's cabin for Vision, Clint, and Gamora - known only by the Guardians and Nebula, but she's still a sacrifice in this war. Thanos took half the universe, but only three of them haven't been returned. It's a quiet service, and since hosted a couple of weeks after the Snap it's a good reason for everyone to meet up and share drinks in their honour.

"To the ones who gave their lives to see us here."

"To Vision - the most human of us all."

"To Clint - the father, the hero, the friend."

"To Gamora - a sister to the end."

Now for the sorcerer supreme himself. Stephen returns to the sanctorium in New York City to reunite with a Wong full of questions.

"You must tell me, Stephen - the boy kept mentioning millions of failed timelines, what was the beating wings of our victory? What made the difference, how did we win and they didn't?"

"The boy, of course."

"You'll have to give me more than that."

"In almost every timeline, the boy died and Thanos let Stark live. It would take five years for Lang to return from the Quantum Realm, which happened approximately eighty percent of the time. Stark would be the remaining brainpower needed to figure out time travel. They would all go back in time and get the Stones."

"None of this is much different to how it's happened this time."

"Ah, but here is the true butterfly effect. Nebula."

"One of Thanos' daughters?"

"Yes. She, and Col. Rhodes, go to Morag in 2014 and every single time Nebula will connect with the past version of herself. This alerts the past version of Thanos and is our undoing."

"How so?"

"He captures her and uses her, and Stark's technology, to come to the present. The ensuing battle never goes well."

"I see. And you decided Stark needed to change places with the boy. Why?"

"At that point, I knew the solution lay in using the Quantum Realm, however, I couldn't find a timeline where it worked. Then I wondered... The two seemed close on the ship. I asked if the boy was his ward and Stark didn't deny it. I got to thinking that maybe the boy could solve the time travel conundrum in Stark's stead. Then the pieces fell together in a way even I couldn't have expected. The boy has this... sense, so to speak. When he went back in time with Nebula, he could sense there was something wrong and fixed it, preventing Thanos from ever coming to the present."

"How did you guarantee that Thanos would let Peter live?"

"There was no guarantee, per se. It was a gamble. I only ever saw him survive in the one timeline. It rested solely on my intonation, the weight behind my words. It rested on Thanos seeing Tony as a threat. If he killed Tony, the boy would live as a balance. Or so I hoped - I only had one timeline to compare with."

Wong lets out a deep breath, "That was a very risky gamble, my friend."

"Yet here we are."

"Yes, here we are."

...

Oh. That's not everyone, is it? Let's see.

May Parker, one of Morgan's several honorary Aunt's, lives with the Starks for a few weeks following the Snap. She has no job, no bank account, no credit, no home, no anything. Much like hundreds of millions of people across the globe. She accepts their charity only long enough to get back on her own two feet. She moves back to the city with her possessions collected from the Tower and a secured position at F.E.A.S.T.

She believes her time and energy would be better served helping all those displaced rather than in a nursing position. She's one of very few who received answers instantly - she didn't need word of mouth or some announcement to be up to date. She came back to people ready to receive her and she's in the best position to help others. It's also a great way to get her mind off five lost years and a world she doesn't recognize.

Happy remains employed under Pepper, while (mostly) joking that he plans to retire the day before Peter is to become his boss. He tugs a handkerchief from his pocket when he finally makes it to the cabin and sees Tony for the first time.

Turns out Tony's kind of into the forced retirement lifestyle and doesn't take the business back. He doesn't sign the Accords; Ironman's out of the picture. He's a dad now, and that becomes priority number one. Along with charity work and planning a wedding and lending a hand where it'll help that doesn't include needing a metal suit. Let all these Captain America's fight the bad guys; Tony Stark has a daughter. And Peter - whatever that relationship is now.

Peter calls him Dad when speaking to Morgan, and Pepper tells him that's what lead to her being 'mom' permanently. Tony has zero complaints if that's where they're headed. May's had no complaints either, and if she's okay with it then so is he.

Tony is loving the stay at home dad thing.

The only one who appreciates this new change more than Tony is Pepper. Having the love of her life back has significantly improved her overall morale and the fact she gets to keep him close by means everything. Those first few days of seeing him hold their daughter, she'd wondered fearfully when he'd leave to go save the world again. He didn't - he doesn't. She continues her balancing act between CEO and mom in the same way she's done for the past few years only now she's refreshed.

There are no more late-night tears. She doesn't look at her daughter and wonder which parts of her came from Tony (the nose, the soft brown hair, the mischievous eyes that promise trouble). She doesn't, while drowning in her darkest thoughts, think how happier Peter would be if his Aunt or Tony were alive instead.

And of course, there's Morgan, probably the happiest person in the entire universe (and that's saying a lot). Her life in itself is mainly unchanged. There's simply a lot more people in it than there had been a few days ago. To her it's magic - before, her daddy was in heaven, and now he's here. Poof. Like pulling a rabbit out of a hat. She can't fully understand the look he gives her, but it makes her stomach tingle happily and she smiles brightly in response.

One left to go, right?

[libertasrpg]

We welcome Tibbot Gerabby to the city. He’s 26 years old and is a ex gymnast and gym teacher. Tibbot is often mistaken for Joe Keery. He’s open.

→ Background Information

TW: ADHD, injury

Tibbot has always felt like he was the only one like him. Being adopted and suffering with ADHD often made him feel isolated from those around him. For a long time he couldn’t understand why everything around him was so loud and why no one else were had the same heightened energy levels as he did. Sometimes it felt like all he did was ruin and break things around him with his bounds of energy. Along with medication, it wasn’t until he found gymnastics that he really shined. Specializing in Trampolining it became clear quickly that he was a natural born star and was quickly competing. Moving to the top ranks and set on his way to compete in the Olympics from a young age, bouncing was all Tibbot ever knew. And though those around him didn’t always understand it or him, they still loved him so gave as much as they could.

→ Relocation Explanation

It was an honest accident was the truth of it all. Tibbot had been warming up for practice and normally when it came to his career he was focused on ‘the bounce’ which he often called his time to shine. But what no one knew was he’d been trying to find his birth family and with the little contact he’d received his hopeful mind had invited them to one of the competitions. He thought - great I can finally show them -, but the anxiety and dread combined with having missed taking his ADHD medicine made his mind extremely unfocused during the routine. Landing painfully on his tail bone - bruising it badly - and twisting his ankle. That combined with the over energetic apologies made many question raise about his ‘unprofessional behavior’; which led him to be cut for the rest of the season. Ashamed, he moved to liberates to find some kind of safety blanket and break. Needing to rest after the disaster of missing the Olympics because of his injury, Tibbot questions whether it is even the right path for him anymore. After missing the last two years seasons, he’s finally found himself settled here. But could he really be happy being a gym teacher forever?

→ Living Situation

Tibbot lives alone, mainly because he’s found his general excited nature can often exhaust room mates he’s had in the past. But because of the close proximity to the rest of the acre wood gang, it often feels like he is never alone. Though he has his own apartment, he always finds himself hanging out and staying over with the others so he doesn’t have to spend too much time alone.

→ His Personality

Tibbot is known for his bounds of energy. He is a free spirit and has a tendency to bounce from one situation to the other, wanting to make sure he is interacting with everyone and not missing out on anything. Though there is a childish nature to him, he enjoys the lighter side of life and is know to cause a little light hearted trouble around the neighborhood. Accidentally breaking things, sometimes even rudely interrupting people. Though of course he never means it in a malicious way, he is just too wrapped up in his own world to notice.

→ His Qualities

upbeat, carefree, energetic, playful

mischievous, inconsiderate, childish

→ His Relationships

Rupert Roo (Best friend): Meeting when Tibbot taught Roo gymnastics, the pair quickly bonded with one another, having similar personalities and vibrant energy. Bouncing off one another well it wasn’t long before they quickly became friends.

Kanga Roo (Mother figure): Having never had a ‘real and soft’ mother figure in his life, Tiger can’t help but lean a little more on Kanga than he knows he probably should. But she doesn’t seem to mind, if anything it’s like the three have become a little family of sorts; with Tibbot being the honorary member.

Winnie Sanders (Friend): Living in the same neighborhood, Tibbot accidentally jumped into the women’s arms - quite literally - after falling into her. Though with how soft and gentle Winnie is, it didn’t bother her; nothing but a broken jar of honey. Finding they were both in the same building, Winnie introduced him to the rest of the gang and even started to encourage him to come to a therapy group with her, Peyton and Eddie. So he could meet like minded people and start to talk about some of his past which he rarely shares with anyone.

Acre Wood folk (Close friends): Living in close proximity to one another, the neighbors have slowly become each other’s chosen families. Especially when many of them have come to have so little blood relatives, each and every one bring something new and exciting to their group. It’s hard to think where any of then would be without the others support.

→ Possible Connections

Stacie Roberts (Friend & potential crush): Meeting at a teacher training day, the two were put together because they both teach the same subject - gym. Though he teaches high school and she elementary, the pair got on like a house on fire bouncing off each other’s energetic personalities. Tibbot was quite taken with her and always finds himself trying to bump into her whenever he goes near where she works.

Vidia Anluan (Acquaintance): Meeting at the gym, Tibbot like he did with most ran into Vidia much to her dislike. Even since the two have never fully seen eye to eye, though they have started to have a silent contest of who can out run the other whenever they are the track together.

→ Faceclaim Change:

Allowed | Not allowed | POC must | Discuss with admin

Suggestions: TBA

Tibbot is based on Tigger from Winnie the Pooh